Me and my Hunka Hunka

I feel like ever since our anniversary, a lot of my posts have been about me, myself and I (and Rich).

Sorry about that.

Just one more and then I'll get back to the real reason you check us out - the four cute little people...

But I just had to post a few of these photos that Marky took of Rich and I for our #10.

Thanks Marky - they turned out great!

TEXT ME...

...but don't use any of those abbreviations because I don't understand them.

After having two flip phones broken by my kids the last phone I bought was an old, sturdy kyocera. No camera. No Internet. No MP3. No texting!

I needed a phone and that's what I bought.

My husband has been frustrated ever since and has decided it's time to change all that.

Rich has made me the proud new owner of the instinct. It is everything my kyocera wasn't...and then some.

It's a phone, Internet, calendar, camera, camcorder, GPS, MP3, email and it even has TV capabilities. Oh yea, and I can text now.

My days of simple are gone and I'm sure it will only be a matter of months (weeks?) before I'll wonder how I ever lived without this piece of technology.

So shoot me a text.
I'm not exactly sure how to respond, but when I figure it out I'll send you a text back.
Who knows, I may even start dropping the vowels out of all the words I write.

Kthrn

Why didn't I think of that?

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I'm blue, aba dee aba DYE!

I haven't had many laundry misaps in my career as homemaker.
Which makes this all the more frustrating...

The middle shirt is the new white shirt I purchased for Cason to go back to school in.
The two outer blue shirts are the new white shirts I also purchased for Cason to go back to school in.
Last night I realized that in all my laundry loads of the day, I'd overlooked Cason's laundry hamper. So I threw in a "quick" load of whites.
They came out a faint blue.
So back into the washer they went, with a large amount of bleach.
They came out a deeper shade of blue.
WHAT?
Turns out that a single dark blue sock (that is nearly impossible to see in the depth of the washer drum) was to blame.

In my attempt to look at the bright side...
I'm grateful that it was a small load of whites and not my earlier (huge) load of whites.
I'm grateful that one of Cason's white shirts was placed in my laundry hamper so as to not be washed in this load destined for blue.
I'm grateful that Cason probably won't even notice the blue underwear - he's a total boy in that regard!
I can't think of any other good things....three is probably a stretch when I'm stuck going to Target tomorrow to replace shirts that were only worn once each.

Does anybody have any tips on removing stray dye before I invest in new shirts?

San Diego Temple

On our way out of town on Sunday, we stopped by the San Diego Temple and walked the grounds with the kids.

Jake noticed Moroni almost immediately and I was doing some of his speech techniques to try to help him say "Moroni". He got pretty good. Each time we would come around a corner of the temple he would look up at that spire and say "no Moroni" and then find the spire with Moroni and say "that Moroni". I thought it was cute.

Beach Bums

We spent the weekend in San Diego, all around Cason attending a Padres game.
Prior to the game on Saturday we went to Coronado and enjoyed the afternoon at Imperial Beach (my favorite!)

Ty was SO good! Very busy, but that shouldn't surprise anyone. He loved to follow the birds, was willing to venture into the water even after taking the salt water in a face plant and didn't mind eating a little sand with his snacks.

Jake didn't need anything more than a bucket and a shovel. He ventured into the water once and promptly declared he was done. He literally sat in one spot the entire afternoon and just played in the sand. He was in heaven!

Cason could be found wherever Rich was. He spent some time digging in the sand, some time hitting a baseball on the beach, some time jumping waves and enjoyed it all.

Kaitlyn is our fish and spent every moment she could in the water. She fell in love with the boogy board. I think that we need another beach trip in the near future because she didn't even come close to getting enough of that.

Cardinals 7 - Padres 0

Cason attended his first major league baseball game on Saturday - in San Diego with Rich.
Unfortunately they were cheering for the Padres and the Padres were shut out!
But to hear Cason tell it, between the pizza, the peanuts, the drink and the ball thrown out between innings - the score was merely a minor oversight.

It sure is quiet around here...

Jake and Ty are sleeping right now...
Kaitlyn and Cason are at school...
It's so quiet. What is a mom to do?



Yea...whatever!
How about TIME TO CELEBRATE!

Truthfully, a week ago I was still bemoaning the fact that the kids were going back to school today.
I wasn't ready (can you believe it?).
Then, this showed up on Kaitlyn's door...

And then there was a reciprocating one on Cason's door.
And then, somehow, Jake ended up with one on his door.
Do you see where I'm going with this?
It was time for summer to be over.
The fun has been had and (little) people were beginning to mark their territory.
Fun over!

So, ready or not, today was the big day!

Cason is in the FIRST GRADE and he was SO excited!

Kaitlyn is in the THIRD GRADE and was not quite as excited, or at least she wasn't admitting it.

Excited or not, don't they both just look cute!

Ty

I was a month late in getting Ty in for his 1 year photos. Then another few weeks in getting them picked up. Thus the posting of 1 year photos four days before Ty is 14 months old!

These photos were NOT easy. Ty was all over the place and not about to sit still. Jake was with me and he was not liking all the attention Ty was getting. Couple that with the fact that our favorite photographer, that we have used for 4+ years, is no longer at the studio. The results were so-so. I still think my Ty-guy is one of the cutest ever, I just don't feel like these photos captured his personality as much as I would have like them to.

So quickly, Ty at 13 7/8 months old:
* waves bye-bye backwards (meaning he waves at himself)
* has 8 front teeth and has broken one molar and working on his second
* will defend his toys with a fierce scream if he feels threatened by certain siblings
* eats pretty much anything, but especially loves bananas and blueberries
* loves to go to the pool
* LOVE, LOVE, LOVES his daddy
* has a smile to melt any heart
* finally reached 20 pounds (as of Saturday) and is now forward facing in his car seat!

Then and Now

I have to admit that I am a bit spoiled.
And who spoils me? My husband.

We celebrated our 10 year anniversary last week and Rich treated me like royalty.

We kicked off our anniversary the weekend before by going to dinner at the Eiffel Tower restaurant at the PARIS in Las Vegas. We've always wanted to eat there and our anniversary seemed like reason to justify the splurge!


Then last week we headed up to Utah to drop the kids at my parents. I had no idea what our anniversary plans were. Rich had kept it all a surprise. There is a saying that it's not about the destination, but about the journey. I think that that truly sums up what my husband did for me - a celebration of our journey together to get to where we are today.

Once the kids were settled at my parents, we went out for lunch. Over lunch Rich gave me a hint as to our anniversary - three nights in our own cabin at the Alaskan Inn. Beyond that, he kept each days' activities a surprise until the morning of.

Then (8.05.99): We spent the night at the Alaskan Inn in Ogden Canyon on our wedding night before heading off to our Florida Honeymoon.



Now: We spent THREE nights at the Alaskan Inn in the same room. Additionally Rich had adorned it with photos and pictures from our engagement/wedding and stocked it with every Trader Joe treat imaginable (does this guy know me or what?)

Then (10.28.00): We were sealed for time and all eternity in the Portland Temple.









Now: Rich arranged for us to enjoy a temple session at the Salt Lake temple to remind us of our eternal commitment.



Then (8.05.99): My dad walked me down the isle at the Lion House Gardens.




Now: Rich coordinated a tour of the Beehive House, which we followed with a walk through the gardens where we were married.



Then (3.12.99): Rich proposed to me at The Roof restaurant on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.



Now: Rich had reservations for our anniversary dinner at The Roof.




Then (3.12.99): Rich gave me a gorgeous diamond engagement ring.








Now: Rich gave me an anniversary diamond ring, with 10 diamonds - one to celebrate each of our years together.







Then: We smiled for the camera for engagement photos.









Now: Rich asked Marky to take anniversary photos for us. We may not be as young, but we still have that sparkle in our eyes.



Then (8.09.99): We drove from our honeymoon destination in Florida to New Orleans, all in the name of some good Cajun cooking and a little adventure.


Now: Rich and I enjoyed some deliriously good Cajun cooking at The Bayou in downtown Salt Lake City (I'm highly recommending this place).

Then: We enjoyed a week of white sandy beaches in Florida.

Now: Rich had the best intentions of spending an afternoon at Pineview Reservoir - unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate with us on this one.

Additionally we enjoyed sleeping in, breakfast in bed, watching our wedding video, watching three movies while eating way too many treats, taking long scenic drives, taking an 8 mile adventurous hike and shopping at the Gateway. All WITHOUT KIDS (thanks again mom and dad)

I told you I was spoiled!

ONE thing TWO say THREE words FOUR you...I LOVE YOU!

10 years ago, today, Rich and I were married.

I'll spare you all the mushy sentiments, but I do want to recognize the man that has been next to my side for the past 10 years.

Thanks honey. I love you.

And to all of you who want to wish us "Happy Anniversary" - Don't worry about calling, we won't be answering :)

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Oops...

This photo may have been snapped by accident, but it may just be one of my favorite summer photos to date...