An Afternoon In The West Village.

Last weekend we celebrated our 29th anniversary and it was the simplest one yet. I'm not one to brag or post about every little thing we did or place we ate. I just love the fact that our son was with us for a couple of hours to take our pictures for free! Noah loves the west village and so we went ahead and walked around and Noah just captured us so well. For a moment I felt like we were in a scene from "When Harry Met Sally". It was so much fun. He's got a good eye and there were a couple of moments where I told Noah to just keep clicking that camera no matter what we were doing. He's learning and loves photography. I even captured a few shots of him as well. I love this kid and I think he did a pretty good job!

And The Adventure Began 29 Years Ago....

So yesterday was our 29th wedding anniversary and I honestly can't believe how fast this past year is already flying by. I look back at last years photos when I still had a little bit of brown hair and now we are both completely grey. Okay, he's pretty much bald but I have gone completely grey! And it all honesty feels good to me. I love how we both embrace our age and don't give any mind to it. We love it and it is liberating to just grow old and let go! Sure we feel our age physically but not mentally. We have young hearts and we love adventure! We love to goof around and dance like it's 1989! So here's to 29 years of youthful living. With the same boy. Still surviving. Still living and loving on each other. May we live to see the fullest as we age. Cheers to 29 years with the sweetest boy I've ever known! 

28 Pretty Good Years.

 

December 15th definitely creeped up on us and to be honest I personally don't mind having a low key anniversary this year. It's nice to just wake up in the morning and lean into each other with a soft kiss (bad breath and all) saying "happy anniversary babe." And that's enough. It's simple and sweet and don't need the gifts of the world to prove our love for one another 9although he did give me some chocolate and a sweet card!)

Time, hugs, great conversation, laughing and just being together watching a movie on Netflix while it's frigid cold outside is good enough for me this year. I am so grateful for this time in my life to feel that I don't want or need a lot. I have what I need right in front of me. my family. Living and breathing the same air as me. My husband, my kids, and my love for God. Just being together for another year is survival. No matter how happy one may seem or how much one travels and explores with their kids-times can get hard. And just celebrating another year of marriage is a milestone. It doesn't matter if it's your 5th, 8th, 13th, 19th, 25th, or in our case, our 28th anniversary. Each passing year together is special because we made it. And we didn't even realize how fast it came upon us. Not that's saying something. Happy anniversary to us! 

27 Years In Marriage!

An odd number and not a milestone but to me 27 years in marriage means a lot. I mean that's almost close to 30 years so I feel that every year Jon and I make it in marriage that counts for a lot! Especially in a pandemic that is ongoing which caused so many of our friends to split up. I am grateful for the patience that my husband has for me because menopause isn't fun! Amidst all the trials and small disagreements and all the every cursing I do under my breath we continue to endure and hang on for dear life with this thing called parenting. There's truly no one else I'd rather be stuck with in marital bliss/stress on occasion than with this guy! Happy Anniversary babe! 

Today Is Our 25th Anniversary!

“There is no greater risk than matrimony, but there is nothing happier than a happy marriage.”

–Benjamin Disraeli, 1870

(in a letter to queen victoria’s daughter louise, 

congratulating her on her engagement, 

via the book committed by Elizabeth gilbert)

Today is our 25TH wedding anniversary, and it seems as if I married this Utah boy yesterday. I will always remember the day we joined hands in unity while then Bishop Lloyd was uttering those words of two people coming together in union. Although the ceremony was a civil one the words "till death do you part" didn't matter to me, because I knew that eventually we would be sealed for "time, and eternity."

And we were!

More of our eternal story can be read in this article I wrote that was published via Deseret News. 

Twenty-Four {24} Years!

December is the month where we are so sleep deprived, but we are still laughing, and no matter what daggers get thrown our way we always manage to never call it quits! We’ve jam-packed so much into these past 24 years with having four kids, living in four states, and about 12 apartments/houses that sometimes it feels like we’ve been married for 40, while other times it feels like it was just yesterday that I said yes to marrying you. Thank you for loving me through my good times and bad, and for always putting our family first. We have a lot to celebrate around these parts this month with your birthday next week, Christmas and New Year's so with all that being said I'm off to find myself a sweet treat before we really get this party started. Thanks for being my best friend Jon, and for taking me to the places you know make my heart sing! I do love you, even if you have to work this weekend! 

Happy 24 years!

23 years.

Today is our 23 wedding anniversary! The past 23 years have been filled with trials, and triumphs, but there is no one in the world I'd rather be enduring them with than with this guy! Happy anniversary Jonny! xoxoxo

Here's to 21 Years.

We fight, we make up, we yell, we cry, we laugh, we frown, we smile, and sometimes we agree to disagree.

Why? 

Because no marriage is perfect.  

I write, I walk, I clean, I read, drink Dr. Pepper, and watch reruns of Downton Abbey, & Felicity. 

Why? 

Because that's what keeps me sane! 

You cook, you work, you teach, you serve, you read the hobbit 50 million times. 

Why? 

Because that brings you peace.

We care, we hope, we pray, we dance, we communicate, and tell each other everything, but most of all...we forgive.

Why?

Because that's what has kept our marriage strong for 21 years. 

Happy Anniversary my love.

Here's looking forward to another 21 years of all of the above! 

Our 20th.

There's nothing like venturing to New York City during the holidays. Everything looks so festive, and "Christmasy" and everywhere you walk is lit up with lights...especially on fifth avenue! There's so much to do, and see and if we lived here we'd be doing something different every day of the week. Date night would certainly be interesting, and affordable too because there are so many things we could do that are free, and without spending too much money. 

Ever since we moved to New Jersey our love for New York has increased. There's so much to see & do here compared to where we live. I just love the energy and adrenaline that this city gives. We fell in love with this city 15 years ago when we visited here for the first time. I was told that you'll either love it, or hate it, and we absolutely loved it! It is totally like the movies where you see cabs driving like bats out of hell, and all the sounds, sirens, and noise that this city gives makes you feel energized! 

Just the other night our neighbors car alarm was going off, and stayed on for like 10 minutes. It didn't even dawn on me until Chelsea blurted out how loud their car alarm was. I told her if we were living in New York that we would be hearing more than one car alarm go off, plus sirens, people talking, dogs barking, and possibly some laughter as people meander though the neighborhoods. She nodded her head and said, "your right, mom there would be more noise over there than here so I shouldn't complain." 

We love the city so much and try to make a few trips here throughout the year especially during the holidays, and since our wedding anniversary falls smack in the middle of December we have managed to come out here to celebrate, and this year we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in the city. 

I felt a little guilty leaving two kids at home who are getting over a cold, but Lexie insisted that we go, and have fun. She's such a good sport, and so we left early in the morning so that we could catch an early session of the temple . I just love attending the temple, and whenever we do sealings reminds me of our own! It was a beautiful time, and then we had the rest of the day enjoying ourselves in full merriment! 

We happened to come on the weekend of Santa Con. For those of you who are wondering what Santa Con is, it's when a bunch of adults dress up as Santa, and they galavant all around the city. It can get a little crazy, and super crowded on that weekend, but it's so fun seeing all the different styled Santa's. It also happened to be their 20th anniversary of celebrating Santa Con as well. 

After enjoying a walk on fifth avenue, and taking in all the sights & lights (it never gets old) we were starving so we happened to end up (we are so spontaneous) dining at a place called David Burke inside Bloomingdales. Oh my gosh their food was fabulous!!! I've never had talapia grilled fish tacos with pineapple salsa before, and I was in heaven! I originally ordered the juicy "burker" with fries (and boy was it juicy), but I couldn't help but to take a bite out of Jon's talapia fish taco! We ended up sharing each others food. Now that's true love! Ha ha! 

The hours go by so quick when you're in the city because when you're walking everywhere, and not really paying attention to time it flies. The fact that it gets dark like at 4:30pm makes it impossible to take good photos so I didn't bother. Besides...I wanted to pay attention to the hubs and our surroundings while walking around this magical city. 

Here's to 20 years of marital bliss, along with a few downers in between that have made us strong. An unconditional love and friendship with a man who is honorable, watches over me, protects me & our children, loves everything about me who has made my life come true! 

And here's to looking forward to another 20 years with each other. 

19 years and counting.

December has got to be one of the most exhausting months of the year (at least for us) for the mere fact of celebrating three very special occasions. 

Our anniversary, Jon's birthday, and Christmas. Especially with Jon driving for UPS five days a week, it seems that all he wants to do these days is take a long winters nap. But he doesn't. And no matter how many times I tell him to rest, he won't. Because he loves meeeee....We are sleep deprived, but after 19 years we keep smiling. We keep keep having trials, and disagreements, but at the end of the day we laugh, and keep it together. 

No matter where we have celebrated our anniversary dinner whether it be a simple meal at our daughters fundraiser, or a very nice restaurant every year has been precious. This year we celebrated our anniversary in NYC, and it was surreal. Surreal because this was the very first time that we have gone without the kids. Alone. Sans bambino baby. Surreal because we were celebrating a special occasion in one of the worlds most magical cities. 

We ate dinner at one of our "new" favorite restaurants, and we had so much fun. I think finding the photo booth downstairs (as i was heading toward the restroom) was the highlight of our evening. We felt like little kids again acting goofy, and laughing as each photo was being taken. I hope when our kids look at that photo that they will think of things like love, hope, and faith. Because those are the three things that have kept our marriage going. I am so happy that we have made it this far, and it's not going to stop there. 

Reflecting back on our wedding day brings a huge smile on my face knowing that I am still with the man of my dreams. Nineteen years...not quite a milestone, but it's still a pretty big deal to me. I'm sure when we hit the 20 year mark it will be huge!

Happy anniversary to us!!

a perfect match.

"Find one thing every day that your husband
 does nice/well for you
 or for your children,
 and then compliment him on it...
with Sincerity."

I am totally guilty of this sometimes. Not all the time... just sometimes, and I want you to know how much I appreciate you! You are such a hard worker, and with the kind of year we've had I don't think I've said it enough. We are blessed beyond measure and no matter what obstacles come our way we confront them with all the strength that we can muster, and resolve them the best way we know how.

I love the relationships you have with the girls, and how they can talk to you for hours...especially Lexie! I have to admit I get a tad bit jealous of that because I never had that with any of my fathers.

Thank you for being a great father to Noah, and for being the girls knight in shining armor when times get tough for them, and for me as well. You have saved me from the stresses of the world, and although you tell me you learn a lot from me... I have learned a lot from you.

 Okay...we both learn a lot from each other. That's what makes us a perfect match.

And that's why we got married! Okay...a sweet baby named Sierra was a bonus!

Now we have four precious children.

And they are ours.

I love you always and forever!

"Grow old with me...the best is yet to be." 

Happy Anniversary my love!

Today is our wedding anniversary

"Grow old with me...the best is yet to be."

Our wedding reception~Circa 1994

Happy Anniversary to the hubs who has known me for 19 years! Today is our wedding anniversary and each year it feels like our first! Sometimes I can't believe we have made it together for all these years. I know that it is because of the hard work we put into our marriage, and never give up in times of stress. I also know that having the Lord in our life helps us through any trial. I look forward for many years to come. 

I still dream of our 'dream house' just like our gingerbread house that your mother made as one of our wedding cakes. It would be nice if it looked like the one shown in this photo. 

If it never does...it's okay.  

Us~December 2011

I'm grateful for the life that you have given me in the home that you have provided for us!

xo