12

 I used to miss the newly wed stage which now I think is hilarious. Love after 12 happy years is becoming more magical by the minute. 

Happy Anniversary!

This guy is the best decision I ever made. 

I was 9 months pregnant and dying to never be pregnant again but now it's cute and kind of sad that part of our marriage is over. Kind of.

We look like babies!

If we only knew... 11 years of no sleep and diapers coming our way...

2002

2014

I like this excerpt from Elder Holland's talk However Long and Hard the Road:

Even love at first sight—if there is such a thing—is nothing like love after nineteen years, seven months, and eleven days, if my marriage to Sister Holland is any indication. Indeed “the best is [always] yet to be” (Robert Browning, “Rabbi Ben Ezra”).

In that sense Troilus, whose impatient love for Cressida makes him something of a basket case, teaches us a valuable lesson. “He that will have a cake out of the wheat must tarry the grinding,” Pandarus says to Troilus. “Have I not tarried?” Troilus pouts.

Pandarus: Ay, the grinding; but you must tarry the bolting.

Troilus: Have I not tarried?

Pandarus: Ay, the bolting; but you must tarry the leavening.

Troilus: Still have I tarried?

Pandarus: Ay, to the leavening; but here’s yet . . . the kneading, the making of the cake, the heating of the oven, and the baking; nay, you must stay the cooling too, or you may chance to burn your lips.

[Troilus and Cressida, act 1, scene 1, lines 14ff]

The baking of life’s best cakes takes time. Don’t despair of tarrying and trying. And don’t “burn your lips” with impatience.

Turtle Doves

This was date night. Do you like how we match ;0) Timmy always arranges it so we can get out together once a week. Sometimes its a hassle to get organized but it is WELL worth it.

Breathtaking

BEST. GRAMMY. EVER. LOVE. HER.

My mom knows each specific characteristic, talent, personality, and whim that these kids have, and with exactness. She spends hours with them on the phone, reading books, making lists, teaching them all kinds of neat things. She listens to them and remembers her promises no matter how small. She will spend days with them, on the floor playing, quality time, laughing together. She LOVES her grandchildren more than I ever could have imagined. This last weekend we were home visiting and I couldn't take my eyes off her. She's so beautiful and youthful and smart, and happy. One can see in her countenance the peace she has in her life from being so Christlike. We are all so blessed to have Grammy in our lives.

Bundles of Joy and lots of PAIN

As you can see by the picture I was completely enamored by new, little Julia. She was an ANGEL the entire time we visited, she smelled yummy and she let me cuddle her while she slept the afternoon away. Never have I seen a more winsome baby. 

The kids of course made her some fairies.

Now to applaud this new mommy. Amy was a lovely, happy mommy. GORGEOUS as always, healthy and well adjusted. Pat was pretty impressive too, even though he demanded I bring him cookies when I come :0) I have to tell one story about our visit because nothing like this has ever happened to me. Amy was telling me all the labor and delivery details, which I always look forward to hearing from new moms but this time, I don't know what happened to me. I don't know if its because I love Amy so I was really trying to empathize and imagine what it was like or what but Amy put me into labor! I am not kidding. She literally had to stop telling me about the delivery because I was about to pass out. When she started talking about it I was fine but then all of a sudden I got so warm and queasy and light headed. My kids can never tell me I don't have an imagination after that. I think I've been traumatized by pregnancy one too many times that I can't even listen to stories about it lately because the same thing happened last night with Tim. We were talking about when we want to have another baby etc. and I got a queasy tummy again. Apparently the memories of pain have not faded yet like they are supposed to. Anyways, Amy and I must be best buddies since I felt her labor pains cathartically!!!

SOOOOOO excited for Amy and her sweet family.

All you need is LOVE

So tomorrow is our anniversary. We've been married so long that we're starting to look the alike... o.k. maybe 8 years isn't long enough for that. But it's long enough for all this:

 *why I love him*

1. He is a funny guy and makes me laugh.

2. He loves to read and reading is sexy.

3. He writes copious amounts of love letters and poems for me. HOT.

4. He's from Chicago. Super hot.

5. He has these steel blue eyes.  They look deep into your soul.

6. He has a deep understanding and appreciation for motherhood.

7. He tells me he wants to give me wings to fly.

8. He encourages and takes part in my ideas, projects and new interests.

9. He has worked hard since I met him to provide for our family- when we were first married he 

took a side job at a chocolate factory so we could afford our apartment.

10. He has an intense resolve to do what is right.

11. He has taught me to communicate when we disagree, so that we work things out quickly.

12. He prays with me in the morning before he leaves for work and gives me "I missed you for real" hugs when he gets home.

13. He says he can never fall asleep without me there.

14. He folds every speck of laundry always. It makes me feel guilty sometimes.

15. He loves/needs order in his life. Me too.

16. He is a writer and can spell your head off. That's hot.

17. He is happy about any meal I make, as long as there's lots of it.

18. He is a journal keeping dude (love him on Sundays with his leather-bound, inscribed journal 

from my mom on his lap).

19. He grew up with a solid rock of a mom from Vermont that loves traveling, mailing special packages to loved ones, and the gospel. He calls her every Sunday.

20. He tells me he loves me even when I am pretending to be mad at him. Love his brave heart. 

21. He gets scared when he goes over to the church at night to play basketball by himself.

22. He is a very present father to our 4 biscuits.

23. He is an awesome singer and sings around the house all the time. He makes up 

little tunes for each of the kids names.

24. He strives for transparency. Its inspiring.

25. He is very thoughtful when discussing delicate matters.

26.  He lives the gospel.

27.  He wears a suit 6 days a week.  HOT.

28. He wants to go on a mission with me someday.  

29. He is extra mindful of me when I am pregnant and loves the belly.

30. He reads my blog.

31. He likes me to get away once in a while and keeps house flawlessly.

32. He loves to snuggle.

33. He appreciates my style.

34. He'd rather hang out with the family then go out with his guy buddies 

and is not afraid to admit that.

35. He shows up during the daytime to meet up with us wherever we are, even if its just for a few minutes.

36. He calls me from work every. single. day.
37. I often get surprised with flowers for no reason. 

38. He gave me the William Blake poem, The Clod and the Pebble and I know why.