A Dozen

Yesterday, T and I celebrated twelve years of wedded bliss with its occasional hurdle and unexpected bumps. I am a lucky gal, and I count marrying T in the temple as one of the best decisions I ever made!

What HAVE I done??!!
No, the wind was blowing and took me
by surprise--about knocked
my veil off. ...really!

Every year around our anniversary, T gives me roses--the number of roses equaling the number of years we've been married. So this year he gave me a dozen roses--my first ever. He even gave them to me early so they'd be in full bloom on the 26th. Now that's thinking ahead. So here are a dozen memories of our dozen years together.

1. Having my wedding dress and the temple scheduled even before T proposed to me! I knew a good man when I saw him and was prepared.
2. T's heart pounding a million miles a second before he kneeled to propose to me at the temple. Wonder why he was so nervous? Hmmm... His proposal led to our 3 1/2 week engagement.
3. Getting called into the principal's office, so my fifth grade students could hide and surprise me with an engagement party of donuts and milk.
4. Being sealed for time and eternity in the Manti Temple during the best month of the year to the best guy in the world.
5. Bringing B home from the hospital in a stocking.
6. Knowing heaven was very near during B's baby blessing.
7. College, work, teaching, surgeries, dime removal, stress, and lots of understanding, support, and love from family.
8. B excitedly welcoming A into the family. She "knew/remembered" her sister.
9. Graduation for T followed by living in the glamorous "brown hut" while waiting for T's clearance to go through.
10. Moving near family and Aunt D!
11. X makes an entry into our family two days before a blizzard makes us home bound!
12. Moving near doctors yet far from family. Welcoming sweet L into our family. Finding that family comes in all forms--blood relations, friends, and church family--we are cared for.

It has been a dozen years of fun, happiness, responsibility, friendship, hardship, reality checks, and love. Now continuing on to eternity!

Chugga chugga choo choo

Yesterday L and I met up with some friends at a RS Enrichment activity and went for a train ride. The weather was perfect for riding. We counted squirrels, watched turtles sunning on their rocks, and chatted all along the way. I love being with my buddy! After the ride, we went to a park for some fun on slides, ladders, and swings. We had a grand day.

L with his buddy, C.

Can't wait until I'm 16, Mom!

P.S. to my last post: A's toe isn't broken, just badly bruised. Now I don't feel so bad for making her go on a walking adventure with a hurt toe. I'm glad it's feeling better.

This Beautiful World

Saturday we went for a walk and a dinner picnic. It was so beautiful to be out in nature. The little folks were looking for armadillos and snakes, but their loud cries of, "I wonder where the animals are? Where's the armadillo?" might have caused that guy to curl up in a ball and roll to some place quiet. We did see some deer tracks and other evidence of animals (poop). We had a great time and the kids are clammering to go back. T didn't even get bit by mosquitos, and he's a mosquite magnet! So all in all we had a terrific time.

Say cheeeezze! L puts on his best grin. T just squeezes.

Buddies

X and L had to have their sticks. Is it a boy thing?

Prior to our adventure, A stubbed her toe while playing Cats with L. She complained that it hurt, but we just thought it was another one of her "injuries" which usually just require some attention, a hug, and some more attention. Then they go away. She complained that it hurt to put her shoes on ("Oh, just squish your toe in. The pain will go away). She spoke of pain as she hobbled along during our walk. Hmmm...thought I. She usually forgets the "injury" when the fun happens. Perhaps I need to take a peak at this throbbing toe. Well, the pain hasn't gone away, and we are thinking she might have broken her toe. So chalk one up for mom--I took my daughter on a walk with an injured, maybe broken, toe!

Buddies, in spite of a stubbed/broken toe!

I am Special

Today L had some friends over and we decided to make self-portraits of ourselves to show how special and important each one of us is. L was into the details of himself and even drew his teeth. Which is the real L?

Is this the real L?

How about this cutie?

Or this little face-maker?

We love our sunshine guy!

In Honor of Craniofacial Awareness Month

Did you know that September is Craniofacial Awareness Month? It is, and it's been made official in at least two states with more to come. It's a month where we encourage all to look beyond the face and into the heart, but shouldn't we do that every month, every day? We happened upon an organization, CCA (Children's Craniofacial Association), that has helped our family tremendously as we deal with issues related to craniofacial differences. They help families with travel costs, medical costs, and hotel costs. They provide information on different cranial facial conditions, as well as support and networking with other families for families dealing with craniofacial conditions. They also do annual parties and an annual retreat for families with craniofacial people. We went to our first one this year at Myrtle Beach and had a blast. We are very grateful for organizations like CCA who have helped our family and our B know that she isn't alone in her journey!

Tryin' the Blog

O.k. So here goes. I'm joining the world of the blogger. My friend, R, has convinced me that a blog is a fun thing to do. After spending hours mezmorized by all the choices (blue backgound or purple, polka dot design or plain, bold text or italics, big pictures or small), I am tentatively sticking my blogger toe out to test the water. It's my hope that the family who isn't so close will be able to keep up (good luck!) with our little folks and experience some of their adventures. So here's to the advent of my blog!