Confession

I may or may not have started listening to a little bit of Christmas music this weekend.
It happens every Summer!
{ While Steve was gone, V. and I may have watched Mickey's Christmas Carol last night as well. }

Funny things V. says

The other day we were walking around the greenbelt and saw a dead fish in the water. V. started telling me about how penguins eat dead fish and she thinks that's gross. I told her other animal ate dead fish as well. Bears, dolphins, whales, etc. I explained that dead fish {or live fish} is perfectly fine for some animals to eat and it doesn't bother them.
She then says," Well, if I was half penguin and half human, I'd still think it's gross and wouldn't eat them!"

This morning as we were driving to tennis V. was chattering away. She was telling me to make sure I wear protective glasses when I cut wood, to insure that I don't get a splinter in my eye. She said that would hurt so bad! She then said," I think getting a splinter in the eye would be the worst thing! Well, that and not having a birthday."
I love the way this girl thinks!!!

 The other day I came across this quote on the internet. I quickly wrote it down but didn't write down where I found it or who said it. But I like it and thought I'd share~ " Your life story is a book, with good chapters and bad~ and anyone can survive one bad chapter to get to one that isn't."

Milkshakes

Yesterday it was hot and we were out and about in town so we stopped at Artic Circle to get milkshakes. I asked V. what kind of milkshake she wanted. She was quiet a moment then asked," What's a milkshake?" What the????? How can my child not have had a milkshake in the 7 1/2 years she has been on this earth? She's had smoothies, and she's had a Wendy's frosty, but I realized she's never had a REA...L milkshake. After staring at options for over 10 minutes, she settled for plain, old chocolate. Needless to say, she loved it! She exclaimed," This tastes just like ice cream!"
I think this will be the summer of milkshakes. Time to go buy some ice cream and milkshake add ins and we'll make some yummy homemade ones this summer!

Yesterday it was hot and we were out and about in town so we stopped at Artic Circle to get milkshakes. I asked V. what kind of milkshake she wanted. She was quiet a moment then asked," What's a milkshake?" What the????? How can my child not have had a milkshake in the 7 1/2 years she has been on this earth? She's had smoothies, and she's had a Wendy's frosty, but I realized she's never had a REA...L milkshake. After staring at options for over 10 minutes, she settled for plain, old chocolate. Needless to say, she loved it! She exclaimed," This tastes just like ice cream!"
I think this will be the summer of milkshakes. Time to go buy some ice cream and milkshake add ins and we'll make some yummy homemade ones like my Mom used to make this summer!

10 years.

Today is our 10 year anniversary. Wow! A decade of life together in wedded bliss!

You can read here , here and here, and also here, {whew!} to see weddings pics, read all my sappy stories, etc. that I've posted on anniversaries past.
This year, I thought I'd try to show some pictures of us through the years. Unfortunately, when we were dating and the first few years of marriage we didn't have a digital camera. We didn't get one until after V. was born. We also didn't get a computer until after she was born.  So I don't have any of those older photos uploaded to our computer. They are in photo albums on the shelf. And we also weren't very good at taking photos of just US until the last couple of years. So here' s few photos, mostly family, of us over the past 10 years.
{If you want to see our photo albums, you are more than welcome to come over any day and thumb through them!}

2003.Our wedding day! We look so young!


 Then we jump to 3 years later{2006} after we got our digital camera and computer and started storing pics on it! We still look so young and V. was so cute and chubby!{ Steve was going through a grow-his-hair-out phase. He's gone through a couple of those...}

 Then 2007 rolls on in. This was 4th of July at the park and Zoo.{Steve's hair is short again. YAY!!!}

 2008. Nauvoo Temple. Steve was working in St. Louis for a couple of months and V. and I went and stayed 2 weeks with him during Thanksgiving. We took the opportunity to drive up to Nauvoo and see some L.D.S. Church History Sites. It was awesome!

.

 

 2009. Our first professional pictures done as a family. These were taken by our good friend Danica.

 And she took a photo of just us as a couple!

 Wow. 2010. V. took this photo of us on the North Pole Express ride we do every Christmas time. You can tell we are looking tired from the fun-filled day! {I could've swore we had nice family pictures done this year but I can't seem to find them. This was all I could find!}

 2011. Our trip to Jackson Hole. We love going every Autumn and had such fun this year!

 2012. We took these photos ourselves. We did the whole put-the-timer-on-the-camera-then-run-like-crazy-to-jump-in-the-photo! Not too shabby.

 V. actually took this one of us. She has some talent!

 

I don't have any pictures of us from this year uploaded yet. So that's it for now.

As I look back over these 10 years I see downs, mainly ups; trials but countless, countless blessings; heartache but also extreme joy. I feel very blessed for all the memories we've made.  Our love has changed over the last 10 years. Living life together, growing and changing together, experiencing hardships and good times together has made our love stronger and deeper.

Steve is my best friend. My confidant. My "woobie" {extra points if you can name the movie!}

He is my constant. He is my safe place.

I can't wait to see what the years ahead have in store for us. We have achieved many dreams and goals together but still have many more to reach and make happen. I can't imagine anyone I'd rather continue this journey with than with Steve.

Love ya lotsa hotsa!

*******Update******
After reading this to Steve he says I make it sound like we've had a rocky marriage. What I mean when I talk about the downs, the trials, the heartache and such, is life. Not our marriage. I mean the things we go through that's just a part of life. Financial struggles, family struggles, miscarriages, health, so on and so forth. Through it all we've grown stronger together and our love has grown.  Our trials help us grow. I'm just glad I have someone to grow with!

*So...after I had worked at the school the other day {um..week} I was trying to decide if I should apply to be a full time cook. I was weighing all the pros and cons. Talked with Steve about it. Prayed. Then, the following week, V. got sick. She had a bronchial infection. She was home from school for 2 days. That was my answer. If I go back to work, I'd have to worry about finding a sub for me on days that V. was sick. I don't want anything to get in the way of my first job and priority; being a mother.

So there you go. For right now, I'm just going to continue with my little crafting business and cook subbing. And as Steve reminded me, I have plenty of years ahead of me. This isn't permanent. I can always go back to work full~time some other time. Right now, I need to be available 100% for my girl.

And yes, I realize how incredibly blessed I am that I have the freedom and the ability to make this choice. I know a lot of moms who would love to stay at home with their children, but financially can't. I am very grateful that I can stay at home!
*On the last day of school I picked V. up and she was in tears. She was sobbing in the car the whole way home! I asked her what was wrong and she said she was so sad because she is really going to miss her teacher. That's the sign of a great school and a great teacher who really loves her class! V. has loved this school! And her teacher was fantastic! I'm sad she won't be V.'s teacher anymore as well! I hope next year her school is just as good and that she has another great teacher!
~To clarify things, yes V. will be in a new school next year. No, we are not moving. In our school district they have only 1 or 2 grades at each school. Until Junior High and High School. At first I thought this was all confusing and was like "what?" But when V. started Kindergarten it was actually very comforting knowing she was at a school with only Kindergartners and 1st graders. No older kids bullying younger ones. No influence from older kids. No being exposed to things that a child this age is to young to be exposed to. So anyway, we are done now with this school and she will be at a new school for 2nd and 3rd grade and then move on to another school after that!
 

Birthday

I think this has been one of my favorite birthdays!
It started out with me going to the chiropractor. Then home to get Steve and V. Then we all went to the dentist for a cleaning. Steve and I had no cavities. V. has about 4 baby ones. :( No good.
After we got all that done with we went to Olive Garden for lunch. It was tasty, as it always is! Steve asked our waitress if they do anything special for birthdays. She said yes, they could sing to me. She left for a bit then came back and said that unfortunately no one else was available to come help her sing. But if we wanted to, she would sing by herself. Well, Steve and V. joined in and they sang "Happy Birthday" to me.
Then we ran some errands. I needed some wood from Lowes. Then Sports Authority for soccer cleats and a softball mitt for V.
Then home to relax for a bit.
And have some ice cream cake!
Then I sat on the porch and watched Steve and V. play catch.
Then we took a drive to the river and walked along the greenbelt there. Sat on a bench for a bit and watched a beaver, and some birds hoping around. Steve and V. skipped rocks then we walked back to the car and came home.
We then got online and bought the birthday gift Steve told me a couple days ago he wanted to get me. Tickets for all three of us to see Josh Groban in concert in Boise! I'm so excited and can't wait!
So, it has been a very nice birthday. Nothing big happened{ except the excitement of buying the tickets!.} But I've just really enjoyed spending the day with my little family.