This is Barrett's favorite comic.

The reinactment part is kinda irritating at times, but if you will listen to the whole thing, he is very funny.

Feel free to add to the list...

S-smile, sarcastic, sensitive, smart, silly, sweet, sunshine, singer

K-kidder, kind, kettlecorn,

Y-young, yardage, yuletide

L-loyal, loving, little, likeable, lovely, 

E-enthusiastic, eloquent, edifying, entertaining

R-reader, righteous, real, 

It is hard to put you into words. You are everything I ever dreamed my daughter would be, yet so much more. You are secure in who you are, even when you are not. You are a trend setter, and WANT to be different, something I never wanted to be. You have gone from a baby who smiled all the time, could entertain yourself, and who loved music, to a beautiful young woman who still smiles most of the time:), can still be by yourself and not be lonely, who is the best singer I know, and it is not only me who feels that way.

I have always told you that we were not friends yet. That if we were friends, I was not being the parent I should be. That someday, when you were grown up, we would be friends. It is amazing to me that we are just about there. I see in you the friend I want to be, and look forward to being just that--friends. I will always be your mamma, and you know I love it when you call me that. You can always ask for advice, and for yet a little while, I will still be in charge. But now, the picture of us as friends is becoming clearer. I cherish you. I love you. Happy Graduation. Happy Growing Up. Happy looking forward. You are my gift. 

Lorraine

Everything old is new again

Ryan B. is over hanging out with Barrett. This is the first time we've seen him since his family moved to San Diego last year. It's nice to sit and listen to them talking. Like they've never been apart, except Ryan's voice is deeper, and he is taller. Same easy banter, griping, and Ryan can still beat him in slugfest 2003.
I changed my post name to cin. This is what almost everyone calls me, even my dad! It's not that I am no longer hillenblogshappywife, i definitely am. No complaints with him, us, any of it. But it is just easier to write cin, or cindy. And unless I remember to sign in, it puts me as cindy anyway. So I just decided to change it.
Getting ready to go to a wedding rehearsal. I hear the auditorium looks amazing. Can't wait to see it. Some kids we have known for like seems forever are getting married. Wow, I am old.
Just a note to say, if you don't read Bybee's Blurbs, get to it. Probably everyone else does but I got caught up today, and that girl is hilarious. Plus I used to want to teach English(believe it or not), so it is fun to see the poems, and the topics her classes write about.
I emailed Becky today. I wonder when it will sink in that they are really in Italy. Despite the pictures, which are great, and the posts and emails, it still feels unreal. I guess this is good in some ways, and learning how it will feel when Min & Perry go to the Philippines.

Food for Thought

So tonight I grilled some steaks, made mashed potatoes, broccoli, shell macaroni(for Barrett, who does not enjoy the potatoes), and the Gorgonzola cream sauce that Brittany suggested several weeks ago to go on the steaks. And, even tho Hillenblog is sick in bed, and probably can't taste much, he loved the sauce! He only had 1/2 of a steak and a small spoon of potatoes, but he said we have to have the sauce again soon, when he feels like eating. It is wonderful! I was a bit concerned, because I am not a fan of the blue cheeses, but it is pretty mild, and really was wonderful.
I am still in process of trying the other ideas, I used most of hillen's first, since he is the main one I am trying to please, so now it is on to the other ideas. Thanks again to everyone who contributed.
And with THE RECIPE BOX full everyday, I should never run out of ideas!

My New Look

This is Opus, the Penguin. If you are around my age or older, you may remember him from the funny papers. He and Bill the cat had many adventures, and even a series of cards at Hallmark. Always funny, and many years ago my dad made me this magnet for my frig. Barrett asked if he could redesign my blog, and I told him of course, my only request was it have a penguin and an umbrella. Good job Barrett! Opus is my favorite penguin in all of penguin land.
So in other news, Sky and Chad have gone to prom tonight. As you will see from Hillenblog, they both look great! Skyler looks so pretty, and it was so fun to see them head off to prom. Rachel and the kids and Chad's parents came out to see them off. And Missy was texting about pictures before they even got to the stop sign. I just can't believe it is here already...when did she get to be a beauty? When did he grow to be so tall? Wasn't it yesterday when they were small? When they were very small???
Now, with the house clean, mostly anyway, and pictures taken, dinner cooked, by Barrett, what a great kid, we are sitting to watch "Phantom of the Opera", one of my favorites. Hope you have had as great a day as we, blog ya later.