R is for Ronnebeck!

I got a little love from home today via text! Shannie Sent me a picture of Erica and her BFF Michal at the Lutefisk capital of the USA.... Madison Minnesota. Shannie works in Madison and they were there hanging out today. That's one big fish. Additionally... Here's Shannie's entire Kid Caboodle - Cooper (5), Baylee (7) and Erica (too old... 12). Love getting love from home.

I had the phone conversation of my life time last night. I called Julie’s phone to talk to Carter for his birthday, they didn’t answer so I left a voicemail, and an hour or so later Carter called me back! He didn’t let me get a word in edgewise and I liked it that way! He was telling me all about Indiana Jones, Beetle Bailey and his birthday presents! He even went a little more into detail about what a droid was for me (the things from Star Wars ; not the phone). He chatted, and chatted, and chatted. He definitely didn’t inherit those conversation genes from his Daddy! So, yesterday I posted that I had lost him to Eric… but maybe he’s not so far gone after all, maybe there’s still a little auntie admiration in there somewhere! It was such a great phone call that left me smiling all night long! Thanks Carter! Hope you had a great birthday buddy!

Today is a great day for a couple of reasons, Carter turns 8, and today we celebrate the anniversary of the day I brought Aquaman home to live with us. It was a beautiful sunny Saturday in 2008. I had gotten all the “permission” forms signed from our neighbors, the okay from our landlord and dug the cat kennel out of the back of the closet to put our new bundle of puppy in. I had an idea of which one I wanted based on the descriptions and pictures Laurie (the breeder) had posted on NWSource.com (classifieds). His Classified ad read like this… “Shih Tzu Pups $350-450… Shih Tzu Pups, home-raised, 1 st shots, Will deliver! Born April 20 th ” The ad goes on to talk about each puppy individually, but I’ll just post which one was Aquaman’s (then ‘Charlie’) ad. “Charlie – He is just a cuddle bug & wants to lie in your lap or play tug of war.” Looks like not much has changed since this ad, he’s still like that. I had went out for coffee with Katherine the morning...

My Godson turns 8 today. (He's the one on with the YELLOW moustache) He has stolen my heart since Day one. Then he traded me in for Uncle Eric... But I don't mind... because I can share! All of Carter's baby pictures aren't digital in my world, weird to think that's all I have now. He makes me smile! I hope he has the best day turning Eight! Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday Dear Carter... Happy Birthday to you! (*and many more) I wish I was there to celebrate and eat cake, I wish I would have gotten your address right so you had a card to open from us today (but I guess I'm stinky like that). Love you baby Boy! Auntie Abby

My dear friend Mariya brought her Niece over today. I asked if I could take a couple pictures of her just to get some "child" photography practice. I don't spend much time around kids, but love to take pictures of them when I do. Especially if they're her age and are very active little ones! I got a lot of shots of her funny little faces, and these pictures can tell you a lot about her personality. A few turned into 180 so, here's photographer's choice! This beautiful little girl is Serenitie! I love thoes little baby toes... I could eat 'em up! I love that determine look on her face! And those baby blues! Thanks for sharing your time with me Mariya & Serenitie And for sharing in my something new... "Child Photoshoot!".

Okay, so the Eclipse background was too dark, and too much... even for me... So I've revamped it (no pun intended) again. But know that the spirit is there!

I really hated everything about being a teenager. I didn’t have anything that I really “fit in” to. I was constantly trying to be part of the popular crowd; I wasn’t “popular material”. I tried my hand at being a rebel and a druggie; but I didn’t want to break rules or try drugs. For a short time I dreamed of being a cheerleader; I had a lot of school spirit, but I wasn’t very graceful. I wasn’t smart enough to be a smart kid, or dumb enough to be a dumb kid. I just kind of floated through Jr. & Sr. High as a nobody. I had my friends, and we had fun, but I was always trying to fit myself into a little crevice that made me “Somebody”. In the 11th grade I was leaving my sociology class I accidentally bumped into one of the popular senior girls, I fell (remember, I’m not very graceful), and scattered my books and papers all over the floor ( I was anti-backpack in 11th grade, it wasn’t “cool”). The girl, in a very high school kind of way told me to “watch where I was going”. The Quar...

It was a mighty uneventful weekend for the Ronnebeck family! We started out our Friday night with a chilled cup of Starbucks and a trip to El Habanero which is a little Mexican market in Burien. We went in looking for some Chorizo (also something new for me) and a few spices Eric was on the hunt for to make a recipe he’s been studying. We picked up a few pastries out of pure curiosity and the fact that they were 2 for $1.00! We were on our way out the door when the lady behind the counter asked us to take one more pastry each since it was our first time at El Habanero! We were delighted to try more! They were delicious, I found myself drooling in anticipation of going back and trying more! After much googling, this is what I found that kind of looks like what we picked up, and I found a little ad for El Habanero! They’re good people, go shop there; for the pastries if nothing else. After El Habnaero we went home and Eric cooked the most fantastic pulled pork quesadillas and I wor...