Monday, February 28, 2011

L-O-V-E

During the month of February there is always talk about love because of that wonderful Hallmark Holiday a.k.a. Man's worst enemy a.k.a Valentine's Day. I know as a girl I always look forward to this holiday because of what it will bring, but I am not sure why. Why do I say that?? Because every year when this holiday comes around Clay and I always fight about it. He always tells me it is a stupid holiday that does not mean anything. So last year I made a big deal about it, and what it meant to me because he never does anything out of the ordinary to show his affection, and all I told him was I am not asking for diamonds, going out and buying me a Diet Dr. Pepper and a treat is good enough to show that he cares, but no he always thinks I mean a giant 3-ring circus to celebrate Valentine's Day. He bought me flowers last year, but as he is giving them to me said, "Don't expect anything ever again because I will never buy you something on Valentine's Day again...or something like that. Greatest way to receive a gift right??!! Well anyways this year I was not expecting anything because of that whole argument, but Clay surprised me with a boquet of spring flowers, and I was so thrilled! But this is not the reason I am writing about love because it was not about the flowers it is about what love is.

This year for Clay and I has been very trying, we have faced some major bumps in our marriage that I will not go into detail about, but because of these bumps I am now reflecting on our relationship as a whole. Clay and mine's relationship started out like everyone elses; young and head over heels in love, but it did not continue on that loving bliss, but hit a major bump from early on. When we got married it was not that feeling either, it was pretty much just being married because we were parents. I went so many nights thinking, Is this really what marriage is???? Always being away from each other physically and pretty much emotionally too? I always tell everyone that marriage is the hardest thing you will ever do, and when they ask me why I always say: Because you have to share ABSOULTELY EVERYTHING with that other person. And it is not a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship when you can just get up and leave when things get tough you have to stick it out with each other and endure. But it is not just sharing a bed it is sharing everything else: debt, abnormalties (or anything that you think the other person does that is odd lol) finances, closet space, bathrooms, ect. When we finally got to that point it had been a good couple of years...which I'm sure is pretty normal. But now it has been 6 years of being together and we are still facing big bumps, but inbetween these big bumps I have learned a great deal about the two of us and especially what he means to me.

I am not a person who has been blessed with the talent of having lots of friends...or at least keeping them. I am not sure what it is, because I get along with people fine, but I guess it is the loner inside of me that gets the best of me because I sometimes dread being in public situations such as birthday parties, showers, ect. and I am sure it is the brattiness inside of me that escapes from time to time too. Well anyways I have one best friend and that is Clay; he is the calmer during my rages, the first person I call when I have something to say, and someone I can talk to about almost anything (except cheer and that is why I have a few girl-friends :)) But because he is my best friend I am very thankful for our relationship. It is not perfect and I will definitely not blab about him being the perfect husband because he is not just like I am not a perfect wife, and I do not truly believe that there is one perfect husband/wife out there no matter how many people post it on facebook. Everyone fights, cries, screams, and gets annoyed of their significant other at some point or other. Pretty much there are great husband & wives, but never perfect.

I am just thankful for love and how it brings people closer together. It has been the one thing that has tied Clay and I together to keep us going even when either one of us wanted to throw in the towel and call it quits. We have now been together for 6 1/2 years and during that time I have learned a lot about him and he has learned a lot about me. Our love is much stronger today then it was 6 1/2 years ago when we first met. We have faced finances, children, moving, school, job changes, good times and bad, and everything in between together.....L-O-V-E is different to everyone but I am glad I have it to share with him and hopefully it will continue to grow as the years go by.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Playing Dress Up

When Brittley goes to school Tate likes to go into her room and play with her stuff. I always find it funny because he looks forward to playing with her doll house and girly stuff because she will not be around to tell him no. Well one afternoon in February he went into her room and I was on the computer doing homework. It got really quiet so I was thinking he fell asleep...so I looked around the corner and there he is with all of her dress up clothes and he yelled, "Get out mom!" So I backed up saying, "I'm going, I'm going."

I just started laughing because how funny was that to find him in the dress up clothes, but funnier that he was embarrased. Well being a mom I went and grabbed my camera and headed back to "check" things out. I snapped the first two of him digging through the clothes, and afterwards I told him he needed to pick them up, but he said, "Mom, I'm trying to put this dress on." I said, "Which one?" He held out the Tinkerbell Costume and said, "This one."

So I agreed to help him but only if I could take his picture! He of course being three agreed! So here is my little man dressed up as Tinkerbell and then in a tutu! When I showed Clay after he got home he looked at Tate and said, "Tate! We don't wear dresses we're guys!" Oh so stinking cute! According to Clay I should not let him do it, but how can I not let him?? Especially when I have a camera on hand at all times!!!






Monday, February 7, 2011

Resolution Update

It has been a month since I started my New Year's Resolutions and I want to keep track of my progress this year, so I am going to blog it! Starting out with #2: To be a full time: church-goer, tithing payer, prayer, & scripture reader; I can say that we are a full time tithing payer!! BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT, but everything else is not up to 100%. I was doing really good with scripture-reading but once school started I had to start reading other materials, but I am still trying to get myself back in the habit. Praying is at about 90% because I say my personal but I also pray with my kids every night and I absoultely love that ritual. Nothing excites me more than hearing their sweet personal prayers. Usually Tate just copies Brittley and that is so stinking cute!
#3 Was reading to kids every night and that has been about 90% as well because sometimes I have to work and do not get home till the kids are asleep, but we have been staying on top of reading!
#4: Sew, Sew, Sew! Well I busted out the sewing machine and the first thing I did was sew a curtain for Tate's room. I do not have a picture, but it was not very professional looking, but it serves it's purpose :) Next I did a reuseable bag & my latest project was a skirt for Brittley. I did not do too bad, but I want to do more clothing and I am going to venture into pillows and window treatments.



#5: Keep on top of school work-Definitely 100% on this one! I am really hoping for a 4.0 this semester! Fingers crossed because I really want it!
#6: Run 10 miles this year: I got up to 7.5 last year, but where it is still FREEZING and I cannot handle the cold yet I have not started up running again...hopefully next month I will be able to start!
#7: Definitely has not happened yet..I am really hoping to get pregnant in the summer, but you never know!! :)
#8: Pay bills off: So far that one has not come true (I wish the magic fairy would take care of this one!) but I am a step closer...I have both credit cards 1/2 way paid off & one hospital bill will be over next month!
#9: Shop less....um.....let's just say I went WAY AWAY from this one. I will not even go into detail, but I added it all up at the beginning of this month and could not believe the number...I think I may make that in one month but I'm not sure. This month I am trying to be extremely careful about where & what I make my purchases on. I am going to try for one week to go nowhere unless I need necessities...that will be one of the biggest accomplishments of my life!
and
#1: Number 1 goal ties in with number 2 and if we do not get our butts in gear it will take us a year and a half instead of one year. I really want this and so does Clay so we are doing all we can to work on our marriage, our home life & our spiritual life to be sealed together for time and eternity.

Now the question is how are you doing on your resolutions???

Sunday, February 6, 2011

January 2011

January once again was another....BUSY MONTH, but not without its merits! The start of the month brought on resolutions and feelings of excitement/starting anew. I had one class to finish up when the new year began and got an A! I was very excited about having a little break before classes began again...and got to finish up some projects I was working on. When the school year began up again for the Bruins we were super busy getting ready for our first competition. January 8th we had a practice from 1-4 and I was beginning to feel a little bit better about their performance. That following week was Bruin Week; on Thursday night they performed their show routine for the first time during a boys basketball 1/2 time show & Friday during the assembly they performed their sideline routine. They did pretty good for both performances; had a few wobbles but pulled it together a lot better than what I was expecting. The next day we left for Pocatello High School at FIVE IN THE MORNING!!! Oh what an early morning! They competed against five schools and for their first competition in the season they were not too shabby. They received 3rd in sideline and 4th in Show (we got a 25 point deduction too!) When we got home we had lots to fix and time to shave off in order to be ready for districts in February.

I began school again on January 18, 2011 at CSI. This semester I am taking EDUC 202, EDUC 204, EDUC 205, GEOL 102, and ENGL 268...seems like a lot, but I am thoroughly enjoying my classes so far. I have to do observations for both 204 and 205 and then do 30 hours in the classroom for 202 so I am very excited to begin working in the classroom!

January 21st we headed to Boise for a wedding the next day. We went to the mall(of course) and ate at Panda Express! Then we headed back to our hotel for swimming! The kids had so much fun and the room was really nice. There was this old guy in the pool with us at first, I did not think much about it, but then he really started giving me a creepy feeling. Needless to say I was very glad when he left. The next morning we ate at Denny's for breakfast (Clay LOVES that place) then drove downtown Boise to look at stuff and then headed to the wedding. My cousin Lisa was marrying Sean Cook; it was a small wedding but the bride looked gorgeous like usual. After the wedding we stopped at Panda again and then headed to Jerome to celebrate Vanessa's FOURTH birthday! Oh I cannot believe she is four. She is such a sweet little niece who absolutely LOVES green! I asked her during dinner, "Vanessa are you excited to open your presents?" and she replied, "but there isn't a Christmas tree?!" Oh so cute. She had a 3D Toy Story Birthday and got lots of fun stuff. The kids had a blast hanging out together as usual!


Pocatello Competition 1/15/11


Swimming at the Hotel
Getting Ready for the wedding


Lisa and Sean's wedding 1/22/11

Snapping pictures during the ceremony :)

Vanessa's Fourth Birthday!



3D Glasses