{girl time}

Yesterday was declared Family Fun Day! We started with a long bike ride together through the Baylands to brunch at Michaels. After we returned home, Phil suggested we play croquet in our backyard. While he and the kids got the game set up, I was busy inside the house. Will called out that they were ready for me and I told them I would be there in "just a minute." Several minutes later, he called out again and I heard Phil tell them that I said I would be there in just a minute. Will responded, without hesitation, "Yeah, but that's a woman's minute!"

{It's a love fest people!}

Last night Olivia and I were watching the Dancing with the Stars finale. We watched this season because Candace Cameron-Bure (aka DJ Tanner from Full House) was one of the stars, and if you know Olivia, you know her love of Full House runs deep!

We both love Candace and her willingness to share her love for God and her Faith.  She is a great role model for young girls and moms alike! She has three kids, two boys and a girl. She loves being a mom and often talks about how her faith and her family are her everything.

During one part of the show, Candace got emotional when talking about her daughter Natasha, who was cheering on her mom from the audience. Olivia sighed, "Oh wow. She really loves her mom so much, doesn't she?" I nudged Olivia and jokingly said, "Yep. Must be nice." Olivia looked at me and replied, "Oh come on, Mom, you know the feeling!"

What would I do without this sweet girl of mine? Who can melt my heart in a matter of seconds.

{Wanted: Cute Workers}

As I pulled out my sewing machine in preparation for making "CTR Baptism Towels" this morning, Olivia remarked, in the same voice typically used when she sees a darling baby or small child, "Oh mom, I love watching you work. It's so cute!"

{Note to Olivia's future husband: Here's the secret to winning her over.}

Olivia's favorite song right now is "ALL OF ME" by John Legend. We listen to it in the car over and over and she knows each and every word. We've talked about how amazing the lyrics are and I said to her one day, "Olivia, make sure you marry someone who feels this way about you." My favorite line is "[I love] your perfect imperfections."

Yesterday, after dropping Will off at soccer, and listened the song yet again, Olivia said to me. "Mommy, you know how I said I would DIE if my husband sang me this song one day? Well, will you please tell my husband to sing it to me on my birthday?" It was adorable and hilarious and wonderful. To think that her husband would, in 20+ years, sing her this song. I love it.  I asked, "What if he sang you this song when he proposed?" At that, she "fainted". And then made me PROMISE that I wouldn't forget to tell him. So I'm recording my promise here. It will be cheesy and sappy and over-the-top, but the boy who will sing this song to my girl, and mean each and every word, will have a place in my heart and our family forever.


"All Of Me" John Legend

[Verse 1:]

What would I do without your smart mouth?

Drawing me in, and you kicking me out

You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down

What's going on in that beautiful mind

I'm on your magical mystery ride

And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright

[Pre-Chorus:]

My head's under water

But I'm breathing fine

You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

[Chorus:]

'Cause all of me

Loves all of you

Love your curves and all your edges

All your perfect imperfections

Give your all to me

I'll give my all to you

You're my end and my beginning

Even when I lose I'm winning

'Cause I give you all of me

And you give me all of you, oh

[Verse 2:]

How many times do I have to tell you

Even when you're crying you're beautiful too

The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood

You're my downfall, you're my muse

My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues

I can't stop singing, it's ringing, in my head for you

[Pre-Chorus:]

My head's under water

But I'm breathing fine

You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

[Chorus:]

'Cause all of me

Loves all of you

Love your curves and all your edges

All your perfect imperfections

Give your all to me

I'll give my all to you

You're my end and my beginning

Even when I lose I'm winning

'Cause I give you all of me

And you give me all of you, oh

[Bridge:]

Give me all of you

Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts

Risking it all, though it's hard

[Chorus:]

'Cause all of me

Loves all of you

Love your curves and all your edges

All your perfect imperfections

Give your all to me

I'll give my all to you

You're my end and my beginning

Even when I lose I'm winning

'Cause I give you all of me

And you give me all of you

I give you all of me

And you give me all of you, oh

{the talented Mrs. Marsh}

Tonight we celebrated Will's birthday with dinner at Amici's "fancy pizza". We scored a table next to the guys who make the pizzas and Olivia spent the majority of the. Light watching them work.

At one point a guy was tossing pizza dough over his head with ease and I commented, "Man, I am jealous of that talent!"

Olivia replied, "You have a better talent anyway mom."

"Being awesome?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes and answered, "I was going to say mom. But pretty close anyways."

I hope she always and forever thinks that about me.

{Surviving Taxes}

While watching Survivor this afternoon with Will, he told me that if we were playing together (as family members are this season) and he needed to vote me out to have a better chance of winning, he would still share the winnings with me. Then he did the math and realized that would only mean 250,000 each because taxes would take half. I said, yep, and he replied, "seriously? We have to pay taxes even on awards you win?" "Uh huh". He paused for a second and said, "Greedy suckers!" The ultimate greedy suckers. 

{Personal History}

On Saturday Phil stopped by CVS to get some "scar away" cream and asked Will if he would like to use it on the scars he has collected over the years. Will pondered this for a moment and replied, "No. I don't want you to use it on my scars. My scars tell stories of the past. They are like little time capsules on my body."