Date Night!

Jared

Just a few reasons

                                           I love this guy...

1. He loves me.
2. He helps with the house.
3. He wrestles with the kids.
4. He gives me the last bite.
5. He wants the best for our kids.
6. He helps with the kids at bedtime.
7. He's passionate about our family.
8. He's a good leader.
9. He sacrifices for us daily.
10. He's not a whiner.
11. I can trust his judgment completely.
12. He does the right thing, even when he doesn't want to.
13. He tries to please me.
14. He's methodical.
15. He's extremely inventive and creative.
16. He loves babies.
17. He's loves family adventures.
18. He's dependable.
19. He takes command.
20. He can still sweet talk me.
21. He handles the finances and pays the bills.
22. He is not careless with our money.
23. He is proud of my accomplishments.
24. He doesn’t get angry when I change my mind... again.
25. He doesn't swear.
26. He uses words well.
27. He knows how to reason through a disagreement calmly and logically.
28. He can fix just about anything.
29. He is generous.
30. He's stays calm in stressful situations.
31. He is the best birth support person on the face of the planet.
32. He changes diapers.
33. He can be trusted to care for all four of our children.
34. He marvels at our children.
35. He asks my opinion.
36. He's committed wholeheartedly to our marriage.
37. He's realistic.
38. He surprises me with flowers and gifts.
39. He compliments me.
40. He tells me I am beautiful several times a day.
41. He's consistent.
42. He helps feed the kids.
43. He thanks me at the end of the meal.
44. He is not picky.
45. I'm still attracted to him.
46. He worked his butt off to buy us a house.
47. He doesn't make excuses.
48. He handles my mood swings with patience and grace.
49. He knows me.
50. He takes care of me.
51. He has insanely beautiful eyes.
52. He helps with laundry.
53. He looks at me with wonder, like I am the most beautiful creature he’s ever seen.
54. He loves me as I grow older.
55. He wants to be a good husband and father.
56. He values my job as a wife and mother.
57. He is encouraging to our kids.
58. He takes the kids on dates.
59. He's silly for our children.
60. His eyes don't stray.
61. He makes me laugh.
62. He doesn't get drunk.
63. He doesn't do drugs.
64. He understands what's important in life.
65. He has a great sense of humor.
66. He would lay down his life for us in a heartbeat.
67. His arms are protective.
68. He keeps our cars running.
69. He pursues a relationship with God.
70. He let’s things roll off his back.
71. He shows excitement about my interests.
72. He'd rather be with me and the kids than anywhere else.
73. He is so giving...of his time, knowledge, help, love.
74. He'd give a stranger the shirt off his back.
75. He's honest.
76. He questions the “facts” until he knows the truth for himself.
77. He's not scatter-brained.
78. He's always prepared.
79. He's a great provider.
80. He thinks of small ways to be helpful to me, and does them.
81. He's intuitive and understands women.
82. He tells me if he's running late.
83. He's predictable.
84. He's happy to work behind the scenes.
85. He fills the cars with gas when I leave it on empty.
86. He drives when we are together.
87. He opens the door for me.
88. He takes out the garbage.
89. He is a friendly, talktative, extrovert.
90. He considers the needs of our family first when making decisions.
91. He's got a really cute butt.
92. He's kind.
93. He lets me talk and he actually listens.
94. He helps me make decisions.
95. He is incredibly patient.
96. He has a job.
97. He works hard.
98. He desires to understand how things work, and figures it out.
99. He's a man of his word.
100. He chose me.

House Cancer

Our house has cancer. Ceiling cancer to be exact.

The tumor

The surgeon

Here Comes the Bride(s)...

With all of the wedding buzz we are in the midst of, the girls have discovered the transforming power of a veil. It instantly makes them feel like the most beautiful princess that ever existed. That much is apparent with one glance at the tender glow emanating from their eyes. Their whole face and body language changed drastically as soon as that veil touched their little heads. It made Mama a little emotional.

Jazlyn Lucia

Here comes the bride

Ready to kiss her groom



Sophia Colette



The bride and her daddy

Step Aside, Elvis

We are getting festive over here this afternoon. I have my "Christmas Tree" candle burning. We're sipping on egg nog. I set my phone to the Christmas station on Pandora, and let the music blare. After a few minutes, a deep, sultry voice crooned, "I'llllllll be hoooome for Christmas..."  Sophia's eyes light up. She looked up at me with excited eyes and squealed,

"That's DADDY singing!! Mama! It's Daddy!!"

"Oh! Really? I think that's Elvis."

"No! It's DADDY!"

Ring Bling

I guess Sophia thought Daddy's ring needed a little... something extra. She asked him to take it off, and handed it back to him like this a moment later...

I think it's an improvement.

Shout Out

This one's for you, Jared.

I had a prior commitment on Sunday evening this week (Halloween night), and I missed part of our girls' first time trick-or-treating (I was able to join them later). As I drove away in one direction, and watched Cinderella, Tink, and Blacktooth pile into the van with Yanni, I lost it. I cried hard. I hated missing this. And it was just Halloween. Not that important, but I wanted to be there. I wanted to see their shining faces, and hear their shouts of delight.

Driving away and missing it because I was honoring my commitment was difficult and I only got through it with tears.

This is what Jared does every day. He goes to work nine hours a day, five days a week, knowing full well that he is going to miss a whole heap of "firsts." And yet I have never once heard the words "It's not fair" fall from his lips. I have heard the way his heart aches over missing these treasured moments, but I have never once even detected an attitude of resentment. Every time he leaves this house, he honors the commitment he made to provide for this family. Every time he walks out the door, he ensures us of the extreme love bound up in his heart for all of us. Every time, he knows he will miss something amazing, but he sacrifices the joy I get to experience daily, to provide for our needs.

Jared, you are quite a man. Thank you for sacrificing so much for the sake of your family. It does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. You are a hard worker, wonderful husband, and amazing daddy. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you.

Daddy of the Month Award

Both of these clips were caught candid this morning as Jared interacted with the girls. I ran to get my camera when I saw it. He is an incredible Daddy.

Ten Year Plan

I got tagged from Erin.

10 Years Ago

1.) How old were you? 16
2.) Where did you go to school? Homeschooled. Went to a homeschool co-op.

3.) Where did you work? Papa Murphy's Pizza

5.) Where did you hang out? At Abby's house

6.) Did you wear glasses? Nope!

7.) Who was your best friend(s)? Abby, Hannah, Megan
8.) How many tattoos did you have? Zero

9.) How many piercings did you have? double pierced in each ear

10.) What car did you drive? A huge blue, full size Ford van called The Blue Whale

11.) Had you ever been to a real party? Yeah right
12.) Had your heart broken? That would mean I would have to talk to a boy, so no! (Don't let the prom picture deceive you. I didn't really talk to Nate much at all. I held my bouquet of wrapped flowers so I wouldn't have to hold his hand in the picture. Yeah, I ruined his senior prom I'm sure.)

13.) Single/Taken/Married/Divorced/Bitter: Very single

5 years ago

1.) How old were you? 21

2.) Where did you go to school? Already graduated from Winona with a A.A. in Liberal Arts

3.) Where did you work? A Montessori

5.) Where did you hang out? with Abby & Ben, our house

6.) Did you wear glasses? No

7.) Who was your best friend(s)? Abby, Megan, Jared

8.) Who was your crush? My huz, Jared

9.) How many tattoos did you have? None

10.) How many piercings did you have? 3 in each ear, nose, and belly button

11.) What car did you drive? 1996 Mazda 626

12.) Had you had your heart broken? Hmm, not really.

13.) Single/Taken/Married/Divorced/Bitter: Just married!!

December 2009

1.) How old are you? 26
2.) Where do you work? At home, caring for my two beautiful baby girl
4.) Where do you hang out? At home and my mom's

5.) Who is your best friend? Jared

6.) Do you talk to your old friends? Yes! Most of my "old" friends are my current friends, with a few additions!

7.) How many piercings do you have? One more added to the left ear, minus the belly button

8.) How many tattoos? Still none

9.) What kind of car do you have? A Mom-mobile-- 2003 Dodge caravan

10.) Has your heart been broken? Nope, happier than ever!

11.) Single/Taken/Married/Divorced/Bitter? Happily married to the best man ever

Prayer Support

Would you please consider praying for Jared this week? For the past couple of months he has had a second shift position at Delta. He used to have first shift, which we loved. But we have both had a very difficult time with this new schedule. We don't get a whole lot of time together, and he really misses being home during the girls waking hours.

Delta is doing a "realignment" this week, which basically means everyone looses their current position and they all re-bid on the positions in order of seniority. Jared is the last person to bid (least seniority), and we are really hoping and praying that he gets the option to go back to first shift. Please join us in that prayer. We are so thankful that Jared still has a job, and trust God will put him where He wants him. Thank you!

Married to McGyver

Last night, my husband got locked out of his car.

To unlock his car, he used:
2 coat hangers,
the cone end of a light wand,
a rolled up newspaper,
a tin of snus,
a windshield wiper,
3 forks and a spoon.

Daddy's Little Helpers

It's a wonder he actually cooked the meat to perfection with no hands...

Jared's New Blog

My husband started a blog!!! (But readers beware: He tends to have a strong opinion on every subject except the color of my hair or what I should wear any particular day.) Check it out!

Jared Jr.

We Tried Really Hard (to get a nice photo)

And then we gave up.

A Woman's Toolbox

I know that I am not alone when I say that some days, I just don't feel pretty. I am not sure if it is hormonal, my perspective that day, the weather, the lighting, or simply the mirror's honesty.

It seems that these days most frequently occur on Sunday mornings.

Last Sunday was one of them. Jared and I have discussed these "non-pretty" days before, so at this point all I have to do is sigh, and say "It's just one of those days, Honey," and he knows exactly what I'm talking about.

So on the way to church, I told him it was one of those days, even though I was wearing a new shirt that I was initially really excited about. But today, it hung all wrong and was not flattering in the least. What had I been thinking when I bought it?

First, he assured me that I was, in fact, beautiful. Then he said, "I look at clothes like tools. I use my tools to fix a problem on the car. Women use clothes to fix a "beauty problem." You need the right one to get the job done. Every morning you wake up with a different beauty problem, that needs a different tool to fix. But it's not only clothes in a woman's toolbox. Make-up is like the Armor-All. Fingernail polish is like the car paint (well, literally). And so on. If you don't have the right tool, the problem won't be fixed right."

Very insightful, Honey. I love your mind.

This is Why I Married Him

We went to Kara Jo and Wade's for dinner tonight (thank you KJ!), and had a great time. Here is a tidbit from the evening, when both Abby and Emily were dangling from my husband...

Abby: "You look like some movie star."
Jared: "Well don't say Brad Pitt, cuz I get that all the time."
Abby and Emily: "Pit! Pit! Ha! Pit! ARMPIT!! JARED ARMPIT!! YOU ARE JARED ARMPIT!!"

Which we called him for the rest of the night.

Pathetic

Jared and I are a pitiful pair. I pulled a muscle in my shoulder and can't hold anything heavy. Jared sprained his foot and is limping.



Did I mention that Gary got a Wii this week?

The Aftermath

...of getting out on the ice after 12 years.

The Longest Hour

Dearest Husband,
There is no hour in the day that lasts longer than 2pm-3pm, as I await your arrival from work. Mysteriously, during this hour, the minutes multiply by three. Our precious daughters, young as they are, somehow understand the weight of this hour as well (no pun intended). Everyday, they cry in unison from 2:01pm until the moment you walk through the door, when they magically return to their natural angel state.
So today, when you walk through that door, know that three girls adore you and have been awaiting your arrival for a long time. (Oh, and that the biggest one needs an extra long hug.) We will always be here waiting for you, My Love.
Love,
Your Loving Wife