Day 4: Something I crave

Wintertime craving:
Peppermint ice cream
Even better...Chick-fil-a Peppermint shake

New Years Eve craving that I crave seriously all year long:
Cheese and chocolate fondue
Even better...Clementine oranges dipped in chocolate fondue

Since I gave birth:
Rootbeer
Even better...Rootbeer floats

Summertime craving:
Homemade ice cream
Do you see an ice cream trend here?

Candy craving:
Dove chocolate and Reese's Peanut Butter cups BUT only if they are the holiday editions (ie. Valentines hearts, Halloween pumpkins, Christmas trees) because they seriously taste way better than the normal ones
Sour Patch kids and Sweet tarts  :)

All-the-time craving:
Just talking and hanging with my husband.  Love that man!  Can't wait til 5:30pm rolls around every single day.

Day 03: A favorite photo

Just met this little girl 17 days ago, but oh, I'm so in love!

My newest addition who is yet to be Road-sign-named.  Photo by artbyashleyphotography.com 

Another sheet of jokes.

the 10 year milestone.

I got the jitters this morning at 4am and couldn't go back to sleep, just the way I did 10 years ago.  Who'd have thought 10 years could go by so fast, yet be so jam-packed full of goodness?  I can't hold back the tears when I think of all that we've become through this journey so far together.  An RM marrying a teenager, feeling so ready to take on life but being so naive all at the same time.  We did it though.  And we've done it the right way. 

10 years later, we find ourselves with a family, three beautiful children and one more on the way.  We've trekked through nine years of student life, late hours, neverending study sessions, and bringing three children into the mix along the way.  We've suffered through tragedy, comforted in wee morning hours, and joyed in triumphs.  We have changed diapers, heard first words, taken Emergency room trips, cuddled up to small warm bodies, rocked and bounced, and have begun to see the little personalities we created take shape.  We've turned to the Lord in times of need and times of plenty and have always been blessed immensely.  We've attended the temple often, learned in it's beauty, and tried to become better through it.  It's all so beautiful.  

I'm so glad that I can be one to say that I love my husband, even more than I thought I loved him then.  And I can't wait to take on the next 10 years.  I love you, baby!

Dropoff.

As I was dropping off Green Light at preschool this morning, he kissed me goodbye and signed "I love you" as he was walking in line back to put his lunch bag away. I walked outside and was getting ready to leave when his teacher came running out the door calling for "Green Light's mom"!

As I went back inside, there he was standing with tears welling up in his eyes. Nervousness had gotten the best of him and he had forgotten our previous kiss. As I knelt down to receive his tight hugs and sweet kisses, he embraced me with arms tight.

Then, he stepped back and in his most manly, deep voice said, "Mom, you can go now. I'm gonna be okay here."

9 blissful years for me and the doctor.

Nothing says "Happy Anniversary!" better than a broken septic system.



Nothing except a wonderful husband
Who washes a full load of dirty dishes
Out back on the deck
Using a garden hose and toy boxes
Just for his wifey.

You're out of this world, babe. I love you so much! Thank you for all that you do to love and serve our family. Thank you for these past 3,285 days. They've been blissful.

Optimism Illustrated.

One of the most optimistic people I have ever come across, this little munchkin is full of rambunctiousness. Even through the most dramatic of times, he is resilient, full of compliments, and never loses his gift of optimism. He's the cheerleader of our family, always ready to lend a helping hand and a kind word. He has to get a wrestle in every now and again and has taken full advantage of his growing brother. He's a man made for the morning; loves to rise early, cuddle, eat breakfast, and start the day off right. A fan of cold sheets on his bare skin, he still prefers to sleep without clothes. Like a true kid, he's full of energy and chooses to play over eating and using the bathroom for that matter. He's bursting at the seams with kisses, hugs, and well, licks too. He loves pretending, especially to be a dog, a mouse, or a worm. He's the greatest brother and friend. He strives to be the best he can be in all he does. I love this little boy more than I can tell him. I often squeeze him tight and tell him I'm just going to hold him forever. I'm the luckiest mom in the world to have a son like him. The world needs more of his cheerfulness. It would be a happier place indeed.

I lOvE this girlie girl! Of course, I've always loved her. But lately, I don't know if it's the move or just being cozy with each other here on the homestead...but I just love her. She's so compassionate, so caring. She's one of my best friends. She trusts me and I do trust her. She's honest and wants to do good. She's responsible and loves to learn new skills. She loves serving and loves working. Watering flowers is a favorite pastime. She's intelligent and wise beyond her years. She's funny and silly like a 5 year old should be, but she's serious and inquisitive. She's the best daughter a mom could dream of. She assures me that she has to grow up, but promises to come back to visit. ;)

I'm the luckiest mom in the world...and a fly on the wall is sure to hear me tell those munchkins that most every night.

A journey in the making. A new beginning.

It's been an amazing journey. To see a man's tender heart heal from heartbreak and long for love. To see him go down a long, hard road of loneliness. To see my eldest child try to cope and find a replacement for someone she loved so much. To see a transformation come over our family; one that made us all closer as a family. To see that companionless soul yearn for companionship. And to see him find her. The one. To see them fall in love. To see the bright future ahead. To see her enter the waters of baptism. To see my children fall in love all over again. To see someone love them again. To see our family embrace her. To escort her through the temple ceremony to receive her endowments. And then again to be sealed for time and all eternity. It's been a journey well worth the wait. Oh, it is so beautiful!

Photos courtesy of the amazing Katrina Anderson. She captured every moment so magically. Lucky Utahns, she'll be moving to a town near you very soon. Check her out!

Struck by love.

February 6, 2000 taken in front of the Joseph Smith Building on BYU campus

{the beginning}
BYU Days.
18 years old.
A first-week Freshman.
Tricks vs. Lies.
Curly hair.
A Returned Missionary.
Deseret Towers.
Late nights.
Provo Canyon.
Princess Bride.
3am Denny's anyone?
T Hall lobby.

{i love you, baby.}

9 years ago today, I met my loverboy.

9 years and 1 day ago, I didn't even know you. What a strange thought. Baby, I love you always.

Watch out ladies! He's taken!

Basically. Here's the scoop.
You know you're a Daddy when you find yourself rounding the Dairy aisle sportin'

Thanks Scooter. You know how much I absolutely hate pushing those obnoxious things. But you also know how much the kids just love them! And...you willing volunteer to chauffeur them around!

And while I'm at it, might I add that you look so studly wearing baby and pushing the mind-of-its-own-cart...if I say so myself.

Why I Love You: Reason #276

Yes, yes. It is a reason that is rather far down on the list. It obviously isn't the most important of qualities, but it is one that makes me laugh. And we all know that I love to have a good laugh...and as you say, even if it's at your expense. :)

Reason: Your silly faces whenever a camera is pulled out. I do know that sometimes your silliness is just to appease my fanatic camera clicking. You know that I won't stop until you make a silly face for me. But sometimes...the silliness is just there without my prodding. And I love it!! Thank you, baby!

I love it when you make faces like "this" just because I begged you by saying "that":





And after all of these episodes, your comment to me is "I hope you know that I love you."

Well, don't worry. I do!

Happy Anniversary!!

Well, it's official. We passed the 7 year itch with flying colors, defeated the 8th year, and we are on our way now to 9 happy years. 8 years ago, I married the perfect man for me! What's it like being married to him? Absolutely wonderful.

It was 8 years ago that we were married. Whew, how the time flies...and crawls. Some of the things I remember about that day are:

• the heat (I don't remember how hot it was, but it was HOT!)
• the sun...it was so, so bright
• the temple opened JUST for us making us the ONLY ones there
  
• how handsome he was
• the butterflies in my stomach
  
• his curly hair (the stress from being married to me made it fall out shortly thereafter)
  
• sitting in the temple holding hands with him
  
• Straight Arrow's suit fiasco (the tuxedo didn't arrive)
• the store credit we received because of the late tuxedo
  
• having the Bride's room all to myself
• feeling like a Princess
  
• all of our family and friends who were there
• Straight Arrow's family barely arriving in time from Utah!
  
• the strange bugs that were highly attracted to my white dress
• the mad rush to spray paint the bridge white for the reception
  
• the first walk outside of the temple as husband and wife
  
• feeling really shy on our first walk as husband and wife
  

.

Reflections on these last 8 years,

we have had one short wait and two long waits for pregnancy,

we have had 1 gorgeous girl

and 2 healthy baby boys,
all in under 5 years.

.

In the last 8 years,

we have lost 4 relatives,

been to the emergency room 3 times,

and have had 4 surgeries (all me!).

.

In the last 8 years,

we have moved 7 times,
lived in 6 homes (1 house, 5 apartments),

had a total of 4 used cars (1 truck, 2 cars, and 1 minivan)

and bought 1 brand new mini van.

.

In the last 8 years,

we have been through 3 graduations (Me, Scott, and then Scott again),

helped our family through a tragedy,

gained 3 sister-in-laws,
and gained 2 brother-in-laws.

.

In the last 8 years,

we have attended two universities,

flown back and forth to Utah 7 times,

and have never had our luggage lost.

.

In the last 8 years,
we have said "Happy Anniversary" to each other every single 28th day of every single month,
have remembered our Engagement date of February 6 every year,
and celebrated the day we met every September 3.

.

In the last 8 years,

we have successfully split our Christmas time between Utah and North Carolina families,

have never had a real Christmas tree,

and still keep our original tradition of putting up the tree the day after Thanksgiving.

.

In the last 8 years,

We have visited the Magic Kingdom 1 time,
went on a fantastic getaway cruise to Key West and Cozumel, Mexico before we had kids,

had an amazing time in San Francisco and San Diego after kids,

and been to various amazing places in North Carolina.

.

In the last 8 years,

We have changed countless diapers,

said countless prayers,

and had countless blessings.

.

Baby, I am so, so lucky. I am so grateful for you and all that you do for me. You put up with so much from me, but I feel so grateful that you chose to spend your life on earth (and forever) with me. What a lucky girl I am! I love you so much and I am so glad that we have each other. Thank you so much for holding my hand though everything. You never cease to show your love for me.

Love, me

Any man can be a father...

But it sure takes someone special to be a Daddy!

I'm that privileged girl that got to marry this special Daddy. I'm also that special girl that got to have a great Dad. How did I get to be so blessed? I am so thankful!

Here's some of Roundabout and Green Light's favorite things that they love to play and do with their Dad:

1. Lion (Dad roars and chases them on all fours while they try to get to base on the couch. If they can manage to sneak up behind him and push him down, it's extra funny.)
2. Any kind of tricks (the funniest are ones that involve Dad pretending to get hurt...isn't that slightly twisted?)
3. Listen to Dad's iPod when he gets from from school each day (Straight Arrow has a year's worth of General Conference talks on his iPod and the kids love to listen to "talks" and guess who is speaking)
4. Steal Dad's hat
5. the Sleep Game (Dad pretends to fall asleep and miraculously when he wakes up, his shirt is all unbuttoned)
6. Spray Dad with anything (water bottles, Silly String, anything)
7. Jungle Gym (climb all over Dad as if he is literally a playground toy)
8. Knock Over (Dad sits on the floor and the kids run as fast as they run into him to see if they can knock him down)
9. Tickling and Wrestling wars
10. Walk on the ceiling (Dad holds them upside down and lets them "walk" on the ceiling)
11. Books (It's always special to get Dad to read a book.)
12. Fast carts (Dad's more fun to go shopping with because he will take the kids on cart rides ie. run fast with the cart and then hop on for a ride through the aisle or the parking lot)
13. Car Carts (Another reason they hope Dad goes shopping with us...He is willing to push those rascally car carts that you can now find in any grocery store.)
14. Cuddles with Dad in bed (I'm not sure why, but Dad is always the first choice of cuddlers.)
15. There's a Spider on your Head (They LOVE to tell him there's a spider on his head so that he will slap himself in the head to get it off. It's even better to tell him "April Fools" after he hits himself.)
16. London Bridge
17. Baseball
18. Basketball
19. Ring Around the Rosie
20. Prince and Princess

S once saw a friend's Priesthood Line of Authority framed and matted like this and has wanted it ever since. I've been meaning to do that for him and I finally remembered in time for Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, Baby! I sure love you!

So, what's your story?

Excerpt from our story--

"I was sitting in my dorm room at DT, talking about boys to my roommate Sacha, when the phone rang. I was for me...a guy named Gary who I had met last weekend at a BYU dance. He wasn't a BYU student and so he technically wasn't invited to that dance. Ooooo, how exciting to a freshman girls racing heart! He was calling to see if he could come by my dorm with his four roommates to see me? I got all prettied up, you know the way an 18 year old boy crazy girl would, and went downstairs to meet them. And there they were; Gary, Straight Arrow, Chad, Tim, and Peter. I introduced myself to everyone, chit chatted with Gary for a minute, and then took my place squished in between Straight Arrow and Chad on the hard, blue couch. There I was sitting with two Returned Missionaries. It's the infamous RMs that everyone back home had bets on that I would get married to as a freshman. I denied such speculations. But, back to the story...They both served in Mexico and had only been home from the missh for 3 months. A girl from my ward, Kristin, came over and sat with us. Little did I know that this would be the beginning of a great friendship between Kristin and I. She and Chad flirted while I really hit it off with Straight Arrow. Although Straight Arrow and Gary were hiding it, I discovered that Gary and S were brothers! We all talked for more than an hour and then the boys had to go. They offered to take Kristin and I to Salt Lake City with them to go dancing, but we declined. We had a dance of our own to go to! So, they were off...but before they left, Straight Arrow slipped me both his home and cell numbers and told me to call him sometime. He left and I was totally crazy for him!

We danced the night away at the BYU dance and got back home at around midnight. Here's where the fun began...I couldn't contain myself...I just had to call him! That sometime was now! I called him around 1am and left a message that I'd love to see him again. It took a lot of nerve, but I had a lot of nerve. I had only known this guy for 2 hours, but I was totally crazy for him! I resigned myself to going to sleep for the night. My excited little mind was almost asleep when the phone rang and it was him! He wanted to go out for Denny's and would pick me up at 3am."

I love telling our story. I also love to hear stories about how other people met. Sunday is a slow blogging day anyway, so I have come up with a challenge for my fellow bloggers.

Please share your story of how you and your other half met.

Posting day, Sunday June 8. Leave a comment if you are participating.

Dear Husband of Mine,
Thank you for being so wonderful. I love to hear the squeals of the kids when you arrive home each day and the pitter patters of their feet running to greet you at the front door. You're always so excited to see them. You even let them listen to your Conference Talks on your iPod upon your arrival each and every afternoon at their request.
Only a Daddy would do that.

I love it when you watch my little shows with me. American Idol probably isn't your first choice of television shows, but you were still excited to watch it with me. Only a Husband would do that.

I love to hear their laughter as you wrestle them on the floor while I finish up dinner in the afternoon. I know you're exhausted and it would be much more enjoyable to take a breather on our bed while you wait to fill your belly. Their laughter carries with it all the joys of being a child. Only a Daddy would do that.

I loved it when you arrived back home after 5 long days in Denver. I know you were exhausted and deserved a backrub, but you immediately kissed me and then dropped your bags and rubbed my leathery feet. Only a Husband would do that.

I love it how before you go to bed at night, you always tiptoe into the kids' room "just to check on them" and give them a little kiss on the forehead. You worry that D will be cold without any pajamas on his little body and that K isn't under her covers. Only a Daddy would do that.

I love it how even after 7 3/4 years of marriage, the "Happy Anniversary" game is still going. The 28th day of each and every month since July 2000 has been celebrated in one way or another. I'm still winning, by the way....but I'll admit you're making a comeback lately. Only a Husband would do that.

I love it how you sing "The Wiseman song" and "Follow the Prophet" for the billionth time during Family Home Evening. It's D and K's favorite songs after all. You make it special every single time. Only a Daddy would do that.

I love it after we have the kids in bed for the night and I look at the heaping pile of laundry I need to fold, the massive heap of dishes that needs to be washed, and the toys that cover the floor so abundantly that you can't tell what color our carpet is...you say, "Don't worry about it. Just go relax." And then you do it all for me. Only a Husband would do that.

I love it how when the kids don't want to eat their dinner for the umpteenth time, you sit by them and poke, prod, and play airplane until they eat just one bite. And then for the second bite, the negotiating power comes sneaking in. Then even though they only ate two whole bites of the whole meal, you throw them a party like it's 1999 all in the name of not going to bed hungry. Only a Daddy would do that.

I love you.