Loving this sofa, loving this bed....

(so not a great pic of the sofa...the un-justice!)

Loving this light fixture, table & chairs!!!

Jess & I went out last night. A lovely few hrs away from our parental duties...
We drove through the quaint streets of our downtown and decided on Thai.

After an indulgent meal of yellow curry, orange chicken & brown rice we strolled thru Heritage Square to listen to the live music... One of the galleries has a photo booth.

s. "Hey, we're taking pictures."
j. "uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" (trying to avoid the demand)
s. "Yes. c'mon! I love these things!" (it'll be FUN attitude)

I finally get him inside the booth, only to realize it WASN'T working! BUMMER.

But not so much, because we have a little 'photo booth' of our own at home... He soooooooo did not want to do this. (hence the sticking out his tongue.) He's a sport, and I love the kid.

Goals this week:
-Get my closet cleaned out, devise a plan, execute! (wait, didn't I have this one like MONTHS ago?)
-Make dinner for a family with a new baby
-Plant some GIANT sunflower seeds. hmmmmmm. Where to put them?
-Get visiting teaching done
-Be 'present' with my boys & conquer my calm.
-Read/Listen to an old conference talk

Looking forward to:
-Camping for a night w/ Jess & the boys! :)
-Sunshiny days by the pool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Father's Day!!!

more of what I've been 'learning'...

I fell, and I fell HARD for Jess, but sometimes -in those *special* moments ;) I have to remember why. It's # 6. on the list in this article...
Love this picture of us in Yosemite. We had been married only 3 months! (Ahhhh, sweet, fresh, young LOVE!)

Sometimes I think to myself, "How would I treat/react to Jess if we were dating?" Usually it's different than how I want to react at the moment, but the outcome is ALWAYS positive. (Example)
It makes me sad to hear of marriages that aren't working out. Marriage is hard (I guess not for everyone), but that's why I think it is so important to remember why you fell in love! I want to be that couple that's been married 60+ years and is still holding hands walking down the street.
Keep the love alive, let it thrive! (It's the "greatest gift we can give our children") read this AWESOME article.

This was a really, really, really, really happy day E I G H T years ago...

We were so young...and so in love...The last 8 years have flown by... It is hard to believe. It is really fun looking back at these photos and remembering this day and the feelings I had, and everyone that came to support us. It is fun to remember how giddy we were and head over heals for each other we were - and how much we've grown and matured together in these past years, (and multiplied).
It all puts a smile on my face.

For my blogging girls...

h A p P y V a L e N t i n E s D a Y!

I am giddy, happy & in love. It feels so good.

We made Abby's sour cream sugar cookies last night (mmm) and Bodie wanted to make Valentines for his preschool class... He signed them all himself! wow.

One of Jess's friends on the Dept. is really sick w/ pneumonia and is in the hospital - so we made him a Valentine too...

...and we are getting lots more of this today!

Does this ever happen to you?

wife: "So are you sure I can get a babysitter? You'll be done with your stuff?" (whatever that may be...in this case, getting loose ends tied up for his trip)...
husband: "Yep. Get us a babysitter, we'll go out."
LATER
wife: (calling husband on the phone) "Alright, I got a babysitter! (after several failed attempts) - She's coming at 7:00 - will you be ready to leave by 7:00?" (wanting to believe that this is in all actuality do-able.)
husband: "Yes. That should work - Let me just tell you what I have to get done between now and then...." (proceeds to tell wife what's on the To Do list.)
7:00 - babysitter arrives. Wife looking good. Husband M.I.A. Wife phones husband.
wife: "Hey, hon - what's going on?"
husband: "Uh, I'm on my way home, I should be there in about 20 min. or so." (ya right)
wife: "Riiiiiiiiiight. And you still need to shower."
Wife deciding not to be annoyed
wife: "Well, would you like to meet me somewhere?" (wanting to get out of the house asap and not caring if husband comes to dinner grubby)
Husband relieved wife is not annoyed.
husband: Sure! Where do you want to go?
couple decides on a location, wife leaves to meet husband, arrives first, of course, and sits to wait for a table, grabs a magazine.

Okay, enough of the dialogue! This was my night. But something happened that was TOTALLY unexpected. I glanced up and see my man at the door - looking at me, finishing up a phone conversation. We exchange smiles, he nods. I look back down at whatever I'm not really reading and before I know it he is by my side, lifts me up, sits down and sets me on his lap. We start talking, my arm around his neck, and all of a sudden I want to just start kissing on him! I really didn't care how packed the place was - but I reigned myself back in, got a cold glass of water, and he knew none the better. :) When we were seated I couldn't stop smiling at myself and at the sudden desire to love on my husband in public.- He thought I was laughing at him, and I would've told him my little secret, however we were dining with a friend, so I held off for the moment. Dinner was fun - good food, good conversation, great company. I was sad when I had to drive myself home...I actually thought of the possibility of leaving my car in the parking lot just so I could ride back home with my man, but that only lasted .05 seconds because it really wasn't a possibility with him leaving again in the morning and all. So as I started the drive home, I called him up to tell him my little secret, like a little giggly 5th grade girl. Gosh. sigh. I L-o, l-o, l-o, l-o-v-e falling in love all over again. (I know that last part was cheesy, but hey, if the shoe fits) So glad I decided not to be annoyed with him.

What a great band. I love this video because of it's raw, unpolished qualities. - and the sweet feelings of being in love. The other night I was taking the kiddos to the 'Movie in the Square' downtown and as I parked the car I saw a couple sweetly kissing. Awhhh. I love seeing people in love!

I love this man. Usually when he is around, I don't have a chance with my kids. They just want their dad. They get SO excited when he gets home from work, sad when he leaves, and love, LOVE to visit him at work most of all (mmm, I think the firetrucks have a lot to do with that!)

A few months ago, when putting the boys to bed, they asked for their dad to come sing to them - (of course I thought Jess just sang the song I always do) It was a sweet surprise to hear a different tune, -Bob Dylan's "Forever Young". Here are the lyrics:

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,

I love those lyrics! Bodie totally knows all of them! It is the sweetest thing watching him put those boys to bed.

A few other reasons I love this guy:

His curly hair, of course! Which is now ALL gone - he shaved it all off, which I think was a good decision on his part - it was getting just a tad scraggly. :) But he is very handsome, no matter the do!

He is adventuresome and has introduced me to so many things I don't think I would have tried otherwise (rock climbing, surfing, mountain biking) I love to snow ski - but the thought wouldn't have occured to me to hike (or skin) up the mountain and ski down. :) It's a great feeling. He also introduced me to playing guitar. THANKS babe!

He believes in me. He has so much confidence in what I can do and my abilities and talents. Wow. It almost gets me emotional. :)

He is calm and laid back.

He is good with his hands. When we bought this house, we took it down to the studs - totally gutted it and replaced everything (literally). He did most all of the work, and it looks amazing. The guy is talented.

He's a hard worker and provides for our family. What a responsibility! I am so greatful to him.

His domestic qualities. He is a great, great cook, and yes, can sew better than me too. Who would've thought!?

And last but not least. After 7 years of marriage I still can get the chills.