Another new friend, I'm so lucky...

Ya'll should know by now that I do NOT do reptiles. So imagine my elation at the worker installing our new fence finding this little guy. Nasty! It's an Australian Blue-tonged lizard, and I did see one of those Animal Planet guys on Jay Leno with one of them. And he wasn't happy! I got to hear it's famous HISS!

So, I was thrilled that the worker man wanted to take him, and happily and hastily grabbed the first box I could find. He said they are worth $ and he wanted to take it home and breed it. However, hours later I saw the box had been moved and tipped over. My heart sank, he must have changed his mind, and now that thing is back to stalking me in my garden!

I went to ask him about it, hoping he'd just found his own box and decided not to take mine, which wasn't so much a box, but a toy holder I had grabbed in my haste. I said hopefully..."Did you change your mind and let him out?" and he said, "No... he got away and I didn't have time to chase 'im" and I replied, "oh, wow, he climbed out of that tall thing?" and he said, "No... the little fella pushed it over"

Oh. my. gosh. Gabe you little ratfink... you buttmunch!

Gabe had been all bent out of shape from the first minute that monster was put into his 'toy.' And he sabotaged my efforts to get rid of the creature! For 2 days now my mind keeps replaying that hilarious / depressing moment. I keep hearing the man's voice with his thick aussie accent saying 'little fella' and me discovering brave little Gabey had taken on the lizard, which he knew was in there. Who knew Mister Scaredy Pants had it in him?!

Bondi!

Yeah, another repeat from HG, but at least these pics weren't included! They have nothing to do with the story, but there isn't a pic to go with the story, and there really isn't much of a story behind the pics other than: we went to the beach for a nice family outing last Saturday. It was great. It was fun, sunny, and beautiful. It was amazing to be at a World Class, World famous beach it really was absolutely gorgeous! We went to lunch after. It was pizza. It was, myuh... just okay. The end.

So here's the repeat story: I chopped my hair off! Two long hard years of hard work growing it out wasted! {I started from about Sharon Stone length, so it wasn't like it had grown that long, but the longest it's been for me in at least 10 years, if not longer!} I am not sure if I made the right decision, but I refuse to cry! Ben is out of town, so no one has really seen it besides about 5 neighbors and friends and I am left alone with my own opinions on the matter.

The lady I got it cut from is a lady I had cut my hair once before. I can't be sure, but I think she may have sabotaged my hair on purpose, which maybe you will find amusing, I kind of do! Since my last visit, my poor stylist has had a wicked flare-up of psoriasis on her scalp. It is dry and she said she is loosing MAJOR chunks of hair, {I know, not appetizing}. She can't style it at all, the blow dryer and flat-iron dry it out even more and make the problem even worse. So then she has to continue on with her job of making other people's hair look fabulous, and she is miserable doing it, that much she confessed. I agree, it would be difficult to want to make people look great when you can't style your own, poor Jo!

I brought in a picture of this girl I had seen on TV and then googled to get the image. Her hair is one of the most adorable things I have ever seen. But the stylist refused to comply give me this hair cut, and instead cut the top as pictured, but left the bottom long. She took forever, or I would have pressed her to fix it. Not only that as time {2 hours!} went on I could tell this cut was above her skill-level anyway, and I can probably just fix it myself once the top grows back. I feel bad for her, even if she did sabotage my cut. That would be so difficult!

Anyway, I am not convinced I am at an age for a 'cute' hair-cut anymore. I styled it, and I think I can cover most of the major flaws and perhaps I will do some fixing and reshaping too, but so far it does look 'cute' -but I'm not sure it's me. I will get a pic up soon. For now I give you -Bondi!

Sorry for the repeat! Ben suggested I post this story on Rileyfamily too, so if you read HG, then this will be a skipper for you -but there will be another all new post tomorrow

I was recently reminded by Jenny, of Picky Palate fame, of my quest to make the perfect vegetable lasagne. She made a TDF-looking version that made my mouth water just looking at it! Hers was a red-sauce variety whilst I was striving for white -since I'm a cream sauce girl! Anyway, I started this quest a few years ago and gave it up. However, I recently decided to jump back on the old horse... and when I say 'recently', I mean about 5:45 last night, the very hour dinner probably should have been coming out of the oven. Oh well! These kind of spontaneous moments are what husbands w0rking late are for.

In my hasty excitment, I neglected to remember that I didn't have most of the vegetables or cheeses, let alone lasagne sheets. Dang, I wasn't going to escape my usual emergency trip to the store. You will probably learn more about me and how I roll from this post and what you are about to read than any other post I've ever written, starting with what I just wrote. So if you want to siddle on up and be my bff for 2 minutes, read on.

So I load up the kids and head to Castle Towers. I was in my sweats, which was embarrassing. Not even at 9 months pregnant, in my wheel-chair, throwing up all over the place, heart palpitations and all, did I ever leave the house in sweats. Yes, I am that vain. However, at this hour and with my excitement brewing at the thought of my creation, not to mention in an attempt to curb my vanity, there simply wasn't time for wardrobe attention.

I rushed through the store, loaded the car up, buckled the kids in, and was ready to set off for home. Then I realized I somehow didn't have the keys anymore. They weren't in my pocket, they are ALWAYS in my pocket. I have real trouble with loosing things, so I've developed the highly sophisticated pocket system, which up until now had never failed me. I thought and thought about it, and came to the conclusion that they musn't be far, because I unlocked the car in the first place to put everything and everyone in.

So I start with the bags, unloading and reloading each one. Check the cart, check the kids, check the ignition, check the nooks, check the crannies... It was around this point that I realized, that, in my haste and excitement, I had already turned on the oven. Fear sets in. Visions of fires and screaming and damnation. Yes, for sure, the house is on fire. I know it!

Still no keys. I do the whole routine again. Unbuckling the kids, re buckling the kids. I had probably had some divine intervention earlier in the store, because I did something I also NEVER do. I bought the kids toys, which praise the heavens, they were playing happily with. A little too happily with. Gabe got some power wheels and Laine got a 'flute' {recorder} and she kept playing and playing and PLAYING it saying "Mommy, I'll find the keys with my magic flute!" It was really sweet, and annoying... but now as I look back, more sweet.

By this time I have gone for a third round. And as I rifle through bag after bag, I know it is all in vain. The keys are not in the bags, you wouldn't have to look a third time to discover them, they are pretty big keys! By now I am saying hasty, on your death-bed, type prayers with all sorts of covenants and promises. I am near tears, stricken with fear about the house being on fire, exasperated, starving. I realize I have no phone. I forgot it, which was stupid because the gas light was on and I was running on fumes, but the nearest gas station is so terrible for traffic at that hour! I couldn't be bothered to grocery shop AND fill up!

Not only that, but I went to Bi-lo rather than the usual Coles because no one, and I mean NO ONE shops at Bi-lo, which was the point, because of my 'casual' attire. I had the sweats to thank for getting me stuck where we wouln't be found until morning, if even then.

I was seriously about to crack, when all of the sudden, on my 4th round around the every nook and cranny in the car, they magically appeared on the floor near Laine. Was it, could it be? The flute WAS magic! Not sure how they got there, but we were finally on our way to sweet, sweet lasagna. And boy was it! The kids gobbled it up, however, I think not feeding them lunch was really the key there. It's not rocket science people. You want your kids to eat a nice, solid meal of vegetables. Just starve them.

Enjoy!

Featherdale WILDlife Park

This past week we finally had the motivation to go out and do and see some of the things we have been really excited for locally. We had so much fun with Dave and Kendree. The first stop on our trip was Featherdale Wildlife park, located just 15 short km's from our house.

It was GREAT! Unlike a zoo, there are several places in the Park that have animals OUT of their cages just wandering around. Typically the animals are native to Australia, so there were Wallaby's, Kangas, Wombats, Kookaburras, Koalas, Dingos... the usual. There were many other interesting animals I had never seen or heard of before as well.

This is us FREAKING-out at the one little baby wallaby as we came through the door. Little did we know there would be PLENTY more where they came from! They are so cute! Yes, Gabe does think Business Casual is appropriate ZOO attire.

I wish we had a better pic of this goose! It had a tiny LIME green beak and MASSIVE black feet

Besides the goat story coming up, I probably laughed the hardest at this juncture in our journey. We arrived at a place where there were tons of little wallabys and kangroos running around. You could buy these ice cream cones and fill them with food to feed the little guys. What luck! Laine and I were having the time of our lives feeding them, at least until the obnoxious emus would come from no where and snatch the food. It was very scary! Please enjoy the following montage I have prepared:

Laine, peacefully enjoying feeding the kangaroo

Oh, what is that coming up behind her. An emu. At this point she suspects nothing. Notice the crowd who came to see the show. There were many more on the other side where I was taking the shot. This actually was like the 5th time we'd put her through this. Girls gotta learn.

Wait for it, wait for it... Here he comes, she is about to discover the large bird, 3 times her size, pecking at her hand.

She peers around to see him, throws the cone, and runs away screaming.

Laine discovered she likes her birds muli-colored and behind a cage.

This was the most fascinating creature we saw! Isn't he amazing! And definetely the most adorable!

Next Montage:

"Oh, sweet little goat. Hello!" Isn't he cute!?

"Wait a minute, get out of there! Mom! He's eatin da stroller!"

This was followed by some SERIOUS finger wagging at the goat, of which I am extremely disappointed we didn't get on film. The goat didn't like being bossed around. He SERIOUSLY backed up and came running and RAMMED Laine! Also of which I am extremely disappointed we didn't get. Since she wasn't hurt, it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. It was like circa 1925 when in Heidi of the move "Heidi" gets rammed by the goat as she bends over, and is sent sailing like a sack of flour. Good times.

Not sure why I thought Gabey would want to ride the goat after what he just witnessed, but it was worth a try!

We made it through, and everyone is still smiling! Cheers!

Oh Canada, Our Home our Native Land...

Ya. It is going to smell like Canada up in hurr for a long, long time. I left the kids {Gabe} alone for 5 minutes {okay, probably more like 20-25, yeah, I was 'internetting'} and came back to see my new and improved sofa. Laine said they were 'making turnups potions'. Yes, that is my Butter Flavored Maple Syrup that I schlepped over in my suitcase because the syrup here is 'shocking' to say it in true Aussie fashion. It is now plastered all over my living room. Don't forget to notice to the left where it is dripping down the edge and side of the couch like Niagra Falls onto the carpet.


Look at that face! Could you just die!?

I haven't had a mess that rivals what my sister's kids could do. But now I proudly post this, I think we may have finally won, or at least we are a competitor to take seriously.

This was all while Ben was out of town this weekend. I was also busy scurrying to finish putting together the house. As in, finally finish half-started projects, finish unpacking, painting, decluttering. It was partially for Ben, partially for me, mostly to just have it overwith, and had a smidge to do with the fact that today our first houseguests arrive to Casa de Riley!

David and Kendree Brough arrive sometime this afternoon. If I can manage to take a few shots of the immaculate and mostly finished house before they get here I will post them soon. I am so excited to see faces from home. They will be doing some stuff on their own, but we are going to do the zoo and some other fun stuff this week so that will be fun. Anyone else ready to book tickets yet?!

Okay, and in closing, I had to take some pics of the winter flora and fauna, so enjoy a little journey through some of the things we love most about living here:

Really pretty birds that come around once in a while

My two little Kookaburra buddies. They are so cute!

Look at those blossoms! In the middle of winter! This is the view of the tree from our backyard

A plant that just started blossoming a few weeks ago. We have several more of these plants throughout our yard and about 10 of them with hot pink flowers line our driveway

Some plants in the backyard that I love. You will see many featured as garnishes in my photos on Hot Garlic

Lainey Spider & Daddy Spider

I forgot to mention in the last post that even more than Laine's accent, it is her new word choice. Like when she tells me she is cold and needs her jumper. No, not the tacky dress from the late '80's / early '90, they call sweaters 'jumpers' here. She asks me to take her to toilet. And the last straw was when she called me MATE! She now says I am her best 'mate'. Such a crack-up.

In other news, Ben and Laine invented this little game they play together called Lainey & Daddy Spider, it is so cute I had to post it so we'll never forget! Sometimes Mommy spider comes to hang out, but mostly it is Lainey and Daddy. The talk to each other and give kisses and Lainey spider spins webs for Daddy spider, you know, just typical spider stuff.

Mwah! Spider kisses

It is hilarious to see your kids pretend. The things she comes up with to say to Daddy Spider and just what she does and the way she is when she is being Lainey spider, it is so cute. Uh, no need to click on this text, it went all blue and underlined for no apperant reason.

Daddy spider eats all of the foods that Lainy spider finds for him to eat, but what really fills him is up is a bite of Laine's belly. Here is is asking for his favorite treat, Laine is not so sure...

Typical spider convo

laine

Where do I even start?

I'm sorry my updates haven't been as frequent lately. In all fairness, with it being summer, neither have your visits or comments. Which is fine, enjoy the sun and water! I know I complain some about it being winter. However, these pictures were taken on Thursday and I am afraid they are going to expose me as the big fake that I am. We've had some nasty days, but usually it is nice and sunny and pretty warm here too. There are blossoms everywhere and everything is green and flowering. It is a nice place to winter...

But still, summer is about more than nice weather. For me, summer is a feeling. It's like, even though I am not in school anymore, summer still means freedom and fun like it did in the school days. Anyway, it's fine, just remember how much I was missing the summer when it is a blizzard up there and I am lounging by the pool.




So we've been busy and sick this past week, but have still managed to squeeze in some fun. Here are the kids after Laine's dance class. I think I mentioned that it was in a clearing of a Reserve and is really beautiful. Having the park there is great too.



Gabe has been busy being his usual mix of fun and destruction. He is such a crack-up. He has now decided to refuse to wear clothes. I knew this day would come, it's been building up the last few months. The other day he had a bath and then refused to get dressed all morning and ended up taking his nap just in his diaper. He had just woken up by the time it was time for dance and still refused to get dressed. I finally threw him in the car and brought the clothes along. I had an appointment with a friend during dance and got lost and had to pull over and ask a woman for directions with my naked baby in the back. By the time I got to my friends he still refused, and let me tell you how 'classy' it is to pull up to a friend's for a visit with your naked, snotty-nosed baby. I finally had to wrestle him to the ground as he continued to arch his back and cause a scene. Then of course the next minute he is sweet and then funny and making you laugh and smile... typical.

So. Laine has decided she wants to call us by our first names... exclusively. It is something she has done off and on since she was two, and every one has gotten a huge kick out of it. But now that she does it exclusively it makes me a little worried. She makes me feel like a step-mom! I'm sure that is what people have to be thinking when say says, "Natalie! Watch me slide! Natalie, can you catch me? Natalie, can you help me climb this?..."

In other news of days that I knew would come, she has started developing her Aussie accent. I was intrigued by the thought that my kids would have one, but now that the day is here, it is weird for me that she doesn't sound like us! So far it is only the EE sounds like 'mommay' and 'dadday' -though that is a poor example since we haven't actually heard those words, but you get what I mean. Perhaps it will be different when her transformation is complete.

This is the best, it's Laine's new Eeyore hunching walk when she is 'depressed'. I'm not quite sure you get the full feel of the sulking. For some reason, all emotion she expresses I simply find hilarious, especially negative ones. Then again, there is the possibility that I am just a bad Mom who lives to laugh at my kids.

Here it is again in better form. DRAMA queen! I love to laugh at her to show her not to take herself so seriously. She usually responds well to it actually and it makes it fun for me.

Okay, I have 2 other posts I will do this week but I just need pictures so stay tuned, I will try to be better.

Cutest girls in the whole world!

Oh man, do we love our neighborhood. I could just gush for hours about Clara, the Korean next door, or Ray and Christine and their 3 girls on the other side. Love them! And then we have Dawn and Richard, the Britons from across the street. They emigrated here 3 years ago and we have so much in common with them where we are both foreigners here alone without our family or friends. We both love it here, but have a real twinkle in our eye when we talk about or reminisce of home. They are great.

They are the parents of the two girls I wrote about last post. Chelsea is 11 going on 37. She is your stereotypical Brit with her refined speech and all, so it really comes out of no where that she is so hysterical and fun! I wish I had a few good quotes for you, but the only one I remember offhand is when she came and knocked on our door a few months ago to invite us over for "nibbles" at her parents home and as she left she said, "Well, the offa is thea {there}" It was such a crack-up for this tiny kid to talk like that!


Chelsea and Laine kickin' their dogs up to watch a movie together. Ignore Laine's belly hanging out

Amber-leigh is 15 and is still has managed to not reach the age where she isn't too cool to hang out with a 1 and 4 year old. She is so cute with the kids and in news that is sure to make my sister Katie jealous as all get out, they absolutely adore her.

She is so great, even though Laine calls her 'Molly' much of the time. Yeah, Molly is their dog. Laine is not so good with names... She calls Chelsea 'Jocee' a lot too, Jocee is a girl from school. In other news, she also calls our babysitter Nikee {yeah, like the shoe} 'Nugee', not sure where that one came from. In other randon tidbits Nikee has a sister Demi, as in Moore, and L'oreal, just thought you'd like to know.

Anywho, I always knew I wanted to be the "cool" mom and have all of the kids meet over at our house. I just didn't realize it would happen when my kids were only 1 and 4. I knew the girls liked the kids well enough, but I had no idea they liked them enough to hang out almost every day of their school holiday! I was so happy when they came 'round knocking on the door to see if the kids wanted to go to the park with them. We had so much fun that we made it a daily tradition!


Last week the girls did sidewalk chalk with the kids and ended up making this great track for Laine to ride her bike around. It was complete with carpark, round-about, flower patch, and bridge. Laine LOVED it and since it hasn't rained yet, she still has it and continues to ride around on it everyday. It doesn't look NEARLY as cool as it does in person, it was pretty freakin' awesome, I'm not going to lie.

Anyway, we love these girls! We'll miss you when you go back to school!

Cutest Boy in the Whole World

Thanks for all of the encouragement, pity, advice, and listening ears. In true fashion, by this week I am now thinking I'm an idiot for making such a big deal out of something so stupid. But thanks, it means a lot to just be understood and know that others out there have challenges too!

We have been busy! In between weekend trips from Hell to Ikea and visiting the 90210 of Australia, we have also kept busy with kids in the neighborhood who have been enjoying their 2 week school holidays. It's been great. I will have to finally get around to doing a post about the cutest girls in the whole world who have been thoroughly entertaining the kids the last 2 weeks. I'm sad the honeymoon is almost over, school will be back up and running Monday, boooo....

...just chewing on the 'ol pram...

So I just want to give a little shout-out to this kid. Every boy needs a Mom who thinks he is the greatest. And that is what I do best. I know many of you all have your own cutest boys in the world, but this one is mine, and I just can't look at this kid without thinking he is the cutest, smartest, funnest boy ever.

And as for a little advertisement for any young ladies out there, ages 0-2 years, this kid is a catch in the making! Get him while he's hot! Not only is he adorable, but he is such a gentlebabyman and he LOVES to help! Somewhere the recessive helper gene got passed on to him, and little boy lives to help. We do the laundry together, he helps me unload the dishwasher, he is in heaven when he gets to help with the grocery shopping... the list goes on and on of all of his "chores" that he so looks forward to. {but yeah, he's not perfect, sometimes he "helps" me with things that don't need helping}

is that magnum... or is it blue steel?

When I hold or carry him he still gently and tenderly rubs my back. It's so sweet! And the other day he even helped guide me in through the door as I was walking in! He couldn't quite reach the small of my back, but my leg was just as good. He is always looking out for me and looking for what needs to be done.

...how you doin'?

He is a good brother to Laine and now has even joined in with the "good girl Laine!" after she goes potty. It's actually hilarious. Now we all 3 say it together....

He's a really good eater too. See. And not even picky.

And he's a really good sport. Or maybe he likes being dressed up like a girl? He was waiting for the camera to go off before he put on the coconut bra.

Anyway, we love our little Mr. Man. Let me know if anyone is interested in some cute baby matchmaking...

The Second Installment in the "I'm an Idiot" Series

I had a bad day again...I love that song.... What I don't love is being an idiot and being wrong. Pride is some nasty, awful medicine to swallow. I have come up to the computer to post several times in the past few days, I've even opened up the new post page and just stared at it, wondering what to say. I get mad writer's block when I am depressed. Has anyone ever made a huge fool of themselves publicly and in a way that you couldn't take back? I'll start from the top.

I started Hot Garlic as a way to keep track of my own recipes and so I wouldn't have to email my recipes out to a few of my friends and family that had requested I do so. It has been so fun and is really growing, which has been really exciting. I decided I wanted to get involved in more things food, and I heard that recipe forums were a great place to start. It wasn't like I wanted to just plaster myself and my blog all over the place like some ink cartridge toner refill place. But I had never participated in a forum, and only realize now how confused I was as to what it was. I thought it was more like a digital advertisement or message board kind of a thing where you just post whatever you want that you think people might be interested in, and ask questions too of course.

So I went to the forum on a site recipezaar.com, and introduced myself and my blog. I had been involved on a few other sites before, and the reception had been warm and welcoming. I usually get great feedback back, with the occasional constructive criticism, all of which have really helped me to shape my blog into more of what I want it to be. Either way it has been fun to put myself out there and connect with people on a positive level.

So I introduced myself and Hot Garlic on the newcommers forum and met some great people who were welcoming as I had expected. I was encouraged, and the next day I thought I would post in some other categories. I found a recipe request forum. I saw that someone had done a shameless plug for their new recipe she was asking for other shameless plugs, so I listed my blog. I was then inspired to do a new thread of my own, and went and made a post about my blog, thinking this was the kind of thing that was perfectly expected and welcomed. I thought I was on a site full of hungry foodies looking for more, looking for what else is out there, looking for new ideas. It was really exciting.

Or, at least until I got my first email that said one of my posts on the forum had received a response. I quickly and excitedly clicked to open and see what had been said. I couldn't wait! I wasn't prepared to see the forum host calling me out, chiding me publicly for my shameless self-promotion. There it was, undeletable, in full view of everybody, and staring me in the face. It was like a kick in the teeth and a punch in the gut all at once.

Now that I realize what forums are and how they are used, I see things so clearly from her perspective. They must get this kind of thing all of the time, I think it can be a common misconception for many people. But isn't there a better way to handle these people than to humiliate them? I wrote back and it was smoothed over a bit, but I still was so sad that what I thought was this great idea turned out to be major drama. The next day there was another host calling me out as well, she even wrote "no thanks" to my blog at the end of her reply with a cute little winking emoticon next to it. It was so snide {she may have not meant it that way} and it was again like a personal attack.

It has been hard these past 2 days to realize how much I was in the wrong, despite my not knowing any better. I was completely ignorant to the protocol and broke the rules, but I didn't mean to or even know I was! Like I said, not only did I not think I was doing anything wrong, I thought my little advertisements would be welcome and people would be glad to find another outlet for their passion for food. To be so wrong, and be called on it, it's been completely humiliating. Especially where these are complete strangers and this is their first impression of me. They aren't like my friends or people who know me who can give me the benefit of the doubt.

I have been moping around the house for two days. But today it's done. I've allowed myself to grieve, and now I am purging myself of this. I once again can't believe how supportive Ben has been. He listened and validated me in a way no one else can. Instead of ranting about what idiots they are for getting on my case and being "rude" to me, which is not what I wanted to hear, he reitterated how easy a trap that was to fall into. He could plainly see where I was coming from, and that was all I needed. It is so great to have such a level-headed sounding board who doesn't get all riled up in drama. He is a great diffuser.

Anyway, it's been painful to say the least. Please tell me some one else out there has had to swallow their pride and claim defeat at some point in their life. Isn't harsh criticism combined with having to realize you were wrong almost the worst feeling in the world. We all just want to be loved and accepted for who we are. We want people to think the things we do and say are great. To hear that someone thinks otherwise is really, really hurtful. Any thoughts or stories? I'd love to wallow with someone else besides myself.

Happy {Birthday}

I'm not about to get all mushy on your ashes, but it is my BFF's Birthday {or atleast is was here yesterday, it's still going on there} and I just want to give him a shout-out.

He is such a great father and the kids just can't get enough of their Daddy. Laine is always saying {seriously, many multiple times a day} "I miss Daddy. I want him come home wif us" -pouty sad face ensues, violins play. She is daddy's girl all the way, and since day one he has been her #1 fan too. These two just can't get enough of each other.

Gabe is always asking for Daddy too, and has some meltdowns in the morning when it's time for him to go. He loves to wrassle and play with Dad and has now begun asking for him all day, on Laine's que.

As for me, we always eat at the restaurant I want to eat at, watch my favorite shows at night, go to movies I want to see. Ben understands that I am the woman, and so I need to get my way. Oh but I kid. But seriously, Ben is very thoughtful and generous with his will, which makes him the perfect husband. He really is very good to alway give in to keep the peace, and he is usually first to say "I'm sorry". He is a lot of fun too! The man comes up with some serious puns and one liners, I don't care what you say Jess!

Happy Birthday ya Bastage! I picked the photo where you look the best and I look not-so-good to show you how much I love you.