The Toy Box Years: Wordless Wednesday

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Happy Anniversary to my mom and dad! 48 years ago today my parents were married! May 18, 1963.

I emailed my dad the other day. I wanted to hear (again) the story of how he and my mom met. I knew, though, if I told him that I was going to write about it on my blog, he'd never tell me. So I told him that I was doing a project for Nani at school. So below - is the sweet story about how my mom and dad met - in my dad's words!

Well as I remember it, ( I"m sure your mother will have a different version ), I got hired at Green's 5 & 10 as a part time custodian, (ie flunky but what the heck it was more than my $2.00 allowance at the orphanage). I got the job because my aunt knew the chief custodian there and he said they were looking for some PT help. Needless to say I got hired. One of my jobs was to empty the trash cans at all the counters and that's how I met your mother. She worked at the China counter downstairs near the back room where all the trash was loaded into the freight elevator. So I made it a point to try and pass by her counter as I emptied the trash. We struck-up conversations because she recognized me as the celebrity I was. (Shortly before being hired one of the Pittsburgh papers ran an article about Auberle Memorial and my picture was in that article). When she asked if I was the one in the paper she wanted my autograph (just kidding). Just think if my picture hadn't been in the paper you might not be here. (PS I think I still have that picture - if you mother hasn't disposed of it. And after 53 years history is still being made.......dad

I just love that story -- but I love these pictures of my parents even more!

Probably shortly after they started dating - late 1950s?

Wedding Day 1963
(A little bit of mindless information - my wedding dress was almost EXACTLY like my mother's!)

LOVE this photo of my parents! This was taken right shortly after My Marine and I got engaged.

Family vacation to Busch Gardens

Mom and Dad -

I know over the years you two have gotten on each other's nerves and have wondered if it's even all worth it. But you know that it was. You two may fight. You two may squabble. You two may fight over the recliner and remote. But the one thing you two still agree on is how much you love each other -- even though you grumpily joke it's not true! You have two kids that love you more than you'll ever know and two beautiful granddaughters who think the sun rises and sets on you both. None of that would be here if it hadn't been for a shy kid gathering up the guts to start a conversation while emptying trash. And on that note.....when you want to yell because he doesn't listen or you want to yell because she rolls her eyes just one more time....remember what you've created and what your legacy now is.