Two Weeks Ago. . .

I'm gonna make this a short commentary:
1. Because it was 2 weeks ago, and all the details have escaped me
2. Because there are so many pictures (some of them out of order) that I didn't want to bore anyone!
We went to Idaho for my 10 year class reunion (it was fun), and so we also got to spend some lovely time with family. These first pictures are in a park in Nampa with Grandpa Doyal and Grandma Jo. Grandpa decided he would give in to Emmie's pleas, and take her on the swing. I'm not sure who looks more nervous!
Morgan playing a little baseball with grandpa. This was before she started. . .

The BIG swing. . .

AND, the miss. . .

Trying to take a good picture of Emmie is like pulling teeth. . .and Rhyan. At least Rhyan was actually teething, so she had a good excuse to be ornery.

That'll do-er! Rhyan wasn't happy for most of this trip. Blasted teeth!

Off to grandma Johnson's! These next ones are pictures grandma took. Cute cousins. The extra tall one is Grace (Morgan's bff)!

Doesn't Emmie look angelic? Don't be fooled! You saw the previous pictures!

Grandma and the girls (mostly grandma), made these cute tea party hats out of paper. Of course, they had to have a tea party after they were done.

Poor Rhyan . . .Mrrrrr! She was not happy, not even for her very first birthday!
After eyeing the cupcake for a minute she decided it was best to go face first, I concur! Less mess!

She took about 3 more bites (or licks) of the frosting and she was done! It was time for more Tylenol and a nap!

After my first reunion activity, on Friday, Marshall and Maurny had some people over to roast smores and have a b-b-q. It was a good time. Marcee and Jake, Denita and Jeremy were also there. Side note: I realize that it looks like I'm color blind or that I threw-up on myself, but the actual reason behind the lovely ensemble was that it was chilly, so Maurny was kind enough to let me borrow her (normally very cute) sweater, and there you have it. Puketastic!

Saturday night festivities for my reunion. . .with some of my good ol' friends. Marcee and Jandi

Future embarrassment for my children. . .

There was a chair, so I sat down. And people just came to me. They really wanted to be in pictures with me. . . Oh, how I wish that were true.

Marcee wanted us to hide her 6-month prego belly, so we obliged.

Jandrea

My mac-a-doodle-dandy. And my new favorite picture of him

I know I 'll have more pictures that show up from other people or just ones that I decide to blog about later, but for now, I just needed to do a little catching up.

What He REALLY Wants!

It's my hubby's 30th birthday today. Yup, the big 3-0! No longer a child, although he is still mistaken for one, he knows what he wants for his birthday! For some time now I've been contemplating what to get him for this big occasion. I have just come out and asked him, "What do you want for your birthday?" I guess I was hoping it could be something that I could give him or some grand gesture, but alas, this is what he wants:

. . . To ride his treasured bike again! It has been broken apart, sitting in our shed for about a year now because it needs some pretty major parts to be fixed. As a matter of fact they are major enough that we could fix the bike or buy a new flatscreen t.v! Yup! I know. The danger of a new t.v is far less than that of a fixed ridable bike. I know it's all that he wants, and to be fair, he has the money saved for it. I just have a hard time with it. On the other hand, because he is so adamant about what he wants, I don't have to spend countless hours searching for just the right gift, because, McKay, like most guys, is hard to buy for. And I have a hard time buying a gift "just because." I want it to be meaningful, personal, or something that they wouldn't or couldn't buy for themselves. While I may not always succeed in that with others, I feel like it should be done for my hubby. BUT, I guess, he will just have to get what he wants. Which means more time hanging out with the guys up in the mountains, and the possibility of coming home with something broken. SrSLY! If he loses another finger . . .

* Just remember dear husband, after the bike is fixed and you're enjoying the wind in your hair, who keeps you warm at night. Tis I, your wife!!!!! I love you and wish you a very happy 30th birthday!

And I Thought I Loved You Then. . .

Yowza! How time flies. I remember in high school, I would wonder and dream about who I would marry and when. I always wondered if it would be someone I grew up with, or someone I just happened to meet one time before falling madly in love. I never thought it would be someone I knew of, someone from a town only 10 miles away, someone who I thought never could like someone like me, or be someone who wasn't like me. Boy, I was wrong, and now, I'm glad I was! McKay is everything to me. He compliments my personality and short comings in a wonderful way. . .and visa versa. There is a new country song on the radio that a man (I don't know who) sings about each phase of a couples life and how their love for one another grows. With each passing year or event he looks back and says, " And I thought I loved you then. . ." I feel the same way. I knew from our 3rd date that we would be married. Of course, McKay took a while to figure it out. It usually goes that way. When we were dating, I thought, "How could it really get better than this?" Then we actually got married and I thought the same thing. Then we had Morgan and I thought the same thing, and so on. . .until now- Eight years, 1 apartment, 1 duplex, 2 houses, 2 colleges, 4 jobs, and 3 kids later. I love him with a deeper, more understanding, and unconditional love than I ever have before. I have hope it will continue in such a pattern. How we got so lucky, I'll never know, but thank goodness. A good man is hard to find.

McKay and I have never been the pda (public display of affection) type of couple, but we really do have a lot of affection for each other. We never felt the need to make it known to everyone else. . .However, here is a rare picture from our dating days that I love.



Before we were actually and officially engaged, McKay's mom Jeanne wanted to take some pictures of us. Ya know, "just in case" we needed to have engagement pictures :) It's like the women know everything before the guys. Jeanne and I were on the same page. This picture was taken in his parents' back yard on a B-eautiful winter day.

Awwww! The blessed day! Eight years ago, I got to marry a worthy, handsome, honorable, loyal, and intelligent man that I have never stopped loving and learning from. I'm pretty sure he could say the same about me. . . maybe with a few different adjectives. That's what makes our relationship so wonderful. Difference is the spice of life, and we're lucky that our spices actually fit pretty well.

Aren't the women usually the ones standing in the light, while the guys are in the dark? (refer to my above mentioned statement about me knowing we would get married.)

* McKay, you have been my truest, and most beloved companion. You are my rock and the one who will always (whether I take it or not) give me good advice and a listening ear. I have loved you from our first date and even though you kissed me on that first date (we both know you leaned first), I have never questioned your motives or second guessed the wonderful man you are. I know you and I will be together forever, thank you for being with me through most of the happiest moments in my life. Here's to forever. . .I love you!!!!

*Kindergarten Down. . .12 years to go*

Well, it's official. . .Morgan is getting bigger and is now (after the summer, of course) a full time student. I remember really wanting that about 3 years ago, and now it's here, and I only kinda want her to go. I'm not gonna lie, Morgan and I would NOT do well together in home-school, but that doesn't mean I want her to go out in the "world" and come home with all sorts of bad habits and uncomfortable questions!!!!! Nevertheless, it must be done.
Morgan was so cute during her graduation. They did a little skit with sayings that went along with the letters of "kindergarten." Morgan was the last"n" and her statement, which she proclaimed loud and clear with enthusiasm (cause I told her too), was "N is for next year, first grade, here we come!" She was the only kid that got a "how cute" chuckle from the crowd. Way to go Morgs!

Morgan receiving her certificate from the principal, Xena (princess warrior) Young.
In her class room one more time for a graduate picture. I said, "look excited or something" and this is what I got. . .the first time.

Now that's more like IT!

Morgan LoVed her teacher Miss Kanz, from Minnesohhhta dontcha know?! It was her first year teaching, and with all the energy and fun and excitement that new teachers so often have, she did a great job with all the kids and assessing their individual needs. Plus, she said Morgan was one of her favorite students. I'm not surprised. She's a lovable kid.

Thanks Miss Kanz for making our first experience in school such a great one. And Way to go Morgan, you're becoming quite the scholar!

Happy Birthday Jan!!

{ Okay everybody, bare with me, because I seem to have many important birthdays and special occasions in June that I must surely blog about!}


Without this other girl in the picture, there would be no such person as "Jandrea!" But, it just so happens, there is and I get to be a part of that. Jandi and I have been friends for half our lives now. We started slowly hanging out in the 8th grade when we were just a mere 14 years old. What's even more amazing to me is that I could've missed out on a very important relationship in my life, had I continued to be as prejudiced and prideful against her as I was.

*Let me explain: before we had the opportunity to sit next to each other in Mrs. Edward's class in the 8th grade, I thought Jandi was a stuck-up brat, and spoiled to boot! I had no thought of becoming friends with a person like I thought she was. My BAD!! I completely misunderstood her and misjudged her, as I did even my own husband when I first met him. I suppose I needed to work on my judgemental issues and that is why two of the most influential people in my life showed up and opened my heart to help me see the good in all people.


The picture was a senior picture we took together. . .10 years ago. I know what we've been doing all those years, but how did we do it sooo fast? The time has flown by, and through all of our changes in our own family lives, Jandi is the kind of friend that I can talk to everyday or once a month and we can just take up where we left off. When we get together, we are silly and we laugh and dance to our favorite jams, and it is so much fun. There is rarely a dull moment with Jandrea. Especially because the "J" can't sit still!!!! She is a ball of energy and ambition that I wish I could drain some out her and put in me. She was just here in SLC for a wedding and we got a chance to see each other and spend a whole day without kids!!! In that short time, we created some hi-larious moments that we will never forget. Some of the key phrases are: hookeroni, breakfast for 8, good thing you brought that noise maker, and a table at the Cheesecake Factory on a Saturday night in less than 15 minutes. . .yeah that's right. I can't tell you our secret! Let's just say, we still got it!!!MMMMKAY?!

Our friendship continues to become stronger with each passing year, with each child and address changes. We have never lived close to each other since she got married almost 9 years ago. But someday, we've decided that we will live next to each other and open our own little shop. Maybe we can call it Jandrea's Treasures, or Jandrea's Junk. . .however you want to look at it! OR maybe we'll just move to Rome like an all-knowing quiz we took told us is our "perfect place to live" on Facebook. Either way, I love Jan and I can't really imagine my life without a friendship like ours.


*Happy Birthday Jan!! You're the best. And I love you and hope you have a really, really great birthday. Even without me. . .PA-HA-HA. Srsly, enjoy. . .we're almost done with the 20's, so live it up! Kthanksbye.

Happy Birthday DAD!!

I love that my dad and I have been able to sort of "make up for lost time" as we are able to get to know each other continually better with each visit. I always look forward to time spent with him and the family updates on people living and those that are gone, as they are still an important part of my genealogy. I have always known the love that my dad has for me, but as a child only seeing him once every summer, I knew that my relationship could never be the same as the ones my siblings were able to enjoy with him. That always made me a little jealous of them. However, I wouldn't trade the new and wonderful relationship that we are now creating. I feel like, for the most part, I have the best of each of my parents personalities. I can be outgoing and full of energy, like my mom, and yet reserved, thoughtful, and cheesy, like my dad. I am ever grateful that they decided to have a child, and even more honored that it was me.

*I love you dad and am grateful for you and the example of humility and love and kindness that you are to me. I hope you have a wonderful day!!!!