Kaytlyn is 2 years old TODAY!

KAYTLYN

You've had a birthday; shout "HOORAY"!

WE want to sing to you today.

One year older and wiser too,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to YOU!

(HINT: click on picture to make bigger)

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad

I just wanted to wish my

Mom and Dad

a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

40 YEARS!

Visit to Utah

In April I flew to Utah to see Kaytlyn and her mom and dad!

I'm a bit behind on my blogging, but better late than never.

We had tons of fun, jumping on the trampoline,

going for walks, and just hanging out.

Imaging that... I'm blogging

I know, you are all in shock, you are not seeing that Paradise Salad when you open to my blog this time. Some would say, "It's about dang time!" Well, while you all had your eye on my yummy salad, I'm sure some have even memorized the ingredients by now, a lot has happened here at the Fritz's.

Whitney turned 18, yes I missed her birthday blog, I'm sorry Whitney... maybe Kayla won't feel so bad now. No worries I'll devote a whole blog just for you.

Whitney officially graduated high school... another blog just for you Whit.

I welcomed several new babies to the world, but I don't have permission to blog all their stories, so those maybe coming, but maybe not. I'll make up for it though, as I have others I can blog.

Another grandbaby is coming to our family. Jamie is due with a grandson in October. I can't wrap my mind around a boy in our family. But we are all anxiously waiting to see this surely adorable baby boy.

So, there you have an appetizer of what's to come in the next few weeks/days on my blog.

Thanx for being so patient with me, (well at least most of you). I'll try not to procrastinate too long.

Not our BEST look, but we know how to have FUN!

One of our favorite things to do is 4 X wheelin',

It was a perfectly sunny day in town, but at China Camp peak it was SNOWING!

Prom 2009

It's that time of the year again PROM!

This year, Whitney stole Andrew's heart,

actually he may have stolen hers,

ether way, they make an adorable couple.

They spent the day in Tombstone,

Paul took their pictures in our front-room,

then they walked down a path lit by a string of lights along both sides leading to

a candlelight dinner on the pool side deck.

They danced the night away at the dance on Ft. Huachuca.

Whitney say's Andrew's perfect!

Happy Birthday Kayla!!!

Happy Birthday KAYLA!  

Thank you for choosing us to be your family!  We love you!

I can't count the number of smiles and laughs you have brought to us over the last 22 years!  We love you and want you to know how blessed we are that you chose to come to our family!  You have blessed our home with TONS of laughter.  You have tried to impart your organizational skills on me, I'm sorry I'm not so receptive.  You continue to be an example as you remind me of the things we taught you. 

Kayla, with your determination, and motivation 

you will make all your dreams come true!

Happy Birthday my SWEET!

 

MOM MISSES KAYLA'S B-DAY BLOG

MOM MISSES KAYL'S B-DAY BLOG

and you thought I just forgot...

it's coming..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!

You are the SUPER HERO of our family!

Thanx for defending our country!

We love you, and hope your Birthday was the BEST!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESTON!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESTON!

I am catching up on a few Birthday's, yes I got behind, so this really is...

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!

Just know Preston, we love you and are so glad you joined our family!

Ryan - my HERO!

Ryan and Kayla went to Myrtle Beach with some friends over the weekend.

Friends run marathons, but wife wasn't up to this one even though she had registered already.

Husband talked Ryan into running with him.

Ryan has NEVER run a MARATHON,

he hasn't trained for a MARATHON,

he is pretty buff, and fit, but a MARATHON???

Thats 26.2 MILES!!!

No one I know could wake up one day with no training, and say...

"hmm, I think I'll run a MARATHON today" 

except RYAN!

You are my HERO!

Ryan is NUMBER ONE!

He finished in 4 hours and 45 minutes, running the WHOLE  26.2 MILES!

He's gonna be sore tomorrow!

12 miles down, 14.2 to go!

Ryan getting ready for the BIG run!

I can't tell if he's posing for a picture, or really stretching!

You ROCK!!!

FLOWERS from Kayla and Ryan!

Thanx for your words of affirmation!

They are JUST what I needed!

Valentines Breakfast was a HIT!

VALENTINES BREAKFAST!

I plan it a whole year a head, I know, you're thinking what's the big deal.

But...the one time a year I cook breakfast for my family is VALENTINES!

CHOCOLATE waffles, (Paul added white chocolate peanut butter to his), strawberries,

whipped cream, pecans, chocolate shavings.

Home Cooking for 2009

This year, one of my goals is to be a healthy weight.  That means REALLY watching what I eat and paying attention to how it is prepared.  Friday night is "date night", it has been for almost 27 years!  Even when our girls were small, we always found a way to spend one night of the week out, alone together.  It usually involves dinner, and since we just have Whitney at home now, and she has a very busy social life, we end up going out a couple of times a week sometimes more, depending on our schedules.  Anyway....since I can't get to my healthy weight by going out to eat as often as we have in the past, we are enjoying home-cooked meals EVERY night.  Now for some of you this may be the norm, but it hasn't been for me.  So... as Friday night approaches, I'm having a hard time transitioning, and giving up my favorite restaurants.  We've never been movie buffs, but we may be loving more movies this year.

Blast from the Past!

My daughter has become best friends with one of her co-workers.  She has spent many hours in her home (she still lives at home with her family).  Her friend’s mom has taken Jamie in as another daughter.  When I talk to Jamie on the phone, she always has stories about being with her Danylle’s family.  I was so grateful Jamie had a friend that was of like mind, and raised with the same standards.  Jamie and Danylle have said over and over, our moms should meet, they would probably get along really well.

Danylle moved to Sierra Vista, and her mom was coming down to see her for the weekend.  Jamie called me to let me know if I had a “care package” to send her this would be a great opportunity, because Debera was coming to SV to see her daughter and she could bring it back with her.  I quickly put a package together and was glad Jamie was helping me keep my title “the best mom ever”!

Debera called me Friday night to introduce herself over the phone, and said she wanted to meet me and pick up something I might have for Jamie.  We visited on the phone for a bit, she said she felt like she already knew me, and I felt the same.  I was so grateful Jamie had another mom figure to watch over and be there for her and it was nice to finally meet her.  She commented over and over again how much she loves Jamie, and her friendship with her daughter.

Saturday morning Paul and I went for a walk, we were on our way home and Debera called to let me know she was on her way over.  She was waiting in the driveway when we walked up.  I was a little embarrassed, as she was all decked out looking very cute, and I was just up, no makeup, probably still bed hair, and sweaty from my walk.  Oh well, I’m not out to impress her I thought.

She came in the house; I grabbed a drink of water while she was looking at pictures on my family wall.  She turned to me as said, “What was your maiden name”?  I thought, “ well you won’t know me, but whatever...”, “it’s Bailey”,  She said, I’m Debera R…..”  I couldn’t believe it, we were both in shock!

We grew up together, we lived in the same neighborhood, we went to school and church together since kindergarten, we were good friends.  We both got married and went our separate ways, and I haven’t been in touch with her since graduation, though I have thought about her MANY times through out the years.

Who would guess that our daughters are best friends?  NOW I was embarrassed, your supposed to look cute when you reunite with a friend you grew up with.  We had the best 2 ½ hour visit, we caught up on each of our experiences that brought us to this point from the last 28 years, and laughed at the conversation the night before about feeling like we already know each other.  Talk about a Blast from the Past!

Green Smoothies °Ü°

This picture of my granddaughter made me smile today.

She is learning at a young age (18 months) to make

green smoothies.

What an awesome mom she has!

Christmas Cruise!

We have talked about taking our family on a cruise for Christmas for years.

Well... it finally happened this year!

All 10 of us on a 7 day Mexican Riviera Cruise.

It was FABULOUS!  In Puerto Vallarta, we swam with the dolphins,

in fact they took us on a belly ride!

We went kaiaking around an un-inhabited island in Mazatlan,

and in Cabo San Lucas, we parasailed over whales, toured in a

glass bottom boat, and jet skied in the ocean!

We could not have had any more fun!

Ate way too much food, enjoyed sunny warm

beaches with clear blue water.

Tons of ship activities everyday/night.

I was in heaven to have a date with my husband EVERY night!

No stress,

No cell phones, 

No computers, 

No beds to make,

No house to clean,

No food to cook,

No dishes to do,

it just doesn't get any better than that!

The best part was having our family all together!

I am so blessed to have the amazing, adorable, sweet, thoughtful,

good looking family that I have! 

Thank you family for giving me the best Christmas ever,

and for all you contribute to

making our family so fun to be with!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE  you!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

I have the most amazing husband/best friend EVER!  There were way too many pictures to choose from, and most of them are of him with his family because they are the light of his life.  You have heard the cliché “my better half”, well Paul is DEFINITELY my better half!  He is my "behind the scene guy" that helps me look good!  I love and adore him!  He is my very best friend, and I am SO grateful he came a into my life.  

I am grateful to his parents for raising such an AMAZING husband and father!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you Sweetie – I hope this year is AMAZING!