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.

Nathrena



CONGRATULATIONS

NATHAN & SARENA!

It rained ALL day during their (outdoor) wedding, but in a sheer stroke of genious last winter, they decided to order a white umbrella for each guest on the off chance it would rain on their wedding day. I think the pictures are going to be positively charming. A sea of white umbrellas. The wedding party also did a series of pictures with the umbrellas, which I am just dying to see. It was a gorgeous wedding, and everything went amazingly well. And the dance was a riot. Fun times had by all.

Nate and Sarena, we pray that your marriage will reflect Christ's love for the Church, just as it was created to do. We pray your marriage is centered always on Christ, and that you grow together in love and devotion, so that you may experience a small taste of the extreme love Christ has for us. WE LOVE YOU!


Huz and Wife



First dance

Cake!

My new sis and me

Me and my dearest Love

Mr. and Mrs.

Last weekend, I got to play wedding coordinator at Kyle and Haylee's wedding! It was a long couple of months, and a lot of work, but it all paid off that night. It was the best wedding I've been to in a long time. (Thank you AGAIN, to everyone who helped set up/clean up!! You made my job easy!) 

Me and the GORGEOUS Mrs. Sommer





BFFs



Fine By Me

Six

Marrying Jared six years ago...? Best decision EVER!

This is what I was doing six years ago at this moment...

Photos from the past six years:

Photos from the dating days:

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

We Tried Really Hard (to get a nice photo)

And then we gave up.

"Awesome"

Naomi: "Did you tell Nate you have an awesome wife who said you could upgrade your computer?"

Jared: "Pretty much!"

Naomi: "Except you left out the awesome part?"

Jared: "Pretty much."

New Year's Resolution

One night, a couple of weeks ago, we were laying in bed talking before falling asleep. The things that are said in those before-bed conversations can be dangerous! I mentioned to my darling husband how I had secretly always wanted to dye my hair blue, just for fun, but had never had the guts to follow through. He let out a little laugh and said, "If you dye your hair blue, I'll bic my head." (Came to find out later he didn't think I'd actually do it! And yes, it turned out purple, not blue. Good enough. I'm not trying again.)