I Love You Because...

Easter 2013

Oh how I love Easter! Always have, Always will. This year was no different and certainly did not disappoint. We searched for easter baskets as soon as we got up (the Easter Bunny must know we homeschool because the kids baskets were FILLED with books this year!), we went to church in matching clothes (Even Doug got in on fun), and we enjoyed our traditional easter festivites with the Kelley's, Cottrell's and Tait's. I seriously have 6 people in my life that I would consider life long BEST friends. You know the people that you haven't seen in 10+ years but that the minute you see them it's like no time has passed? The people the you could never lie to or even omit the truth because they can see right through you and know what you are thinking? The people that know you and have seen you at your worst and forgiven you and love you anyways? Yeah, I have 6 people in my life like that and I was lucky enough to spend Easter this year with 3 of them! 

Husbandface did his always tricky, always fun scavenger hunt. It was rainy so we had the egg hunt upstairs in the kids room and that was certainly memorable. Luckily I only had about 150=200 eggs this year so it wasn't as crazy as in years past. Of course the kids loved the money but I think the biggest hit for surprises in the eggs this year were these tiny little finger lights, it's funny what kids gravitate to. Oh, and I came this close to winning the egg races this year! The kids were soo crazy adorable. I can't find a picture but the little girls all got these WAY cute butterfly wings and the little boys got nerf bow and arrow sets... watching them run around the house trying to shoot and the dancing fairy girls was perfect. I love the traditions that we've given our kids and it's good for me too. It's good to be able to step back and realize how good you have it. How much support you have in life and how much the Lord has bless you with. I'm trying to enjoy my moments more this week and that tiny change has really magnified my life this week.

Ethan's scout leader is this amazing, beautiful and crazy talented lady who everyone just loves and she suffered a serious stroke this past week. All week I've been thinking about her and her family and the trial that they are going through and it has taught me to just take in the good when you have it. Enjoy it and treasure it.  Life is too short to take anything for granted. It's too short to worry about the petty and insignificant. You have to go out of your way and pour love onto those that you care about so that no matter what happens they know that you loved them with all your heart. On this Easter, I find myself grateful for my Savior and his resurection and the wonderful peace that it gives me to know that He Lives and because He Lives, we will also. 

Happy Easter.

Huggin' my kids tighter tonight,
Joanna 

 

 

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We took the kids to the circus this past weekend.... oh my goodness were they ever cute! I was shocked at how excited Cameron was about it all, clapping the enitre time and giggling at random. I knew Ethan would love it but given his history I was terrified he wouldn't be able to get over the noise and crowds. By the end of the show he was still happy and the noise was really getting to him but it wasn't anything a little downtime at home afterwards couldn't fix. Lorali and Owen had just as much fun although for Owen his funnest part was the treats and not the show. I remember my parents taking my sister and I to the circus when I was younger and still love those memories, hopefully my kids will have the same. This year Husbandface and I are trying to focus more on having moments and quality time and experiences with the kids and I'm thinking it's off to a great start.

J

Family Pictures

Early in November we were lucky enough to catch up with BlueLily... two of my favorite photographers that I've been following for years and years... and they worked thier magic on our cute family and the results are perfection. I loved the location, I loved how they made my kids feel at ease and I love every picture! I can't wait to blow up and frame these. Seriously, how cute are my kids?! 

Feeling very thankful today for my wonderful family.

J

Our Thankful List 2012

Silent Saturday

Dear Husbandface

Dear Husbandface

It is 4 am and I am up. Can't sleep tonight so I'm attempting to be productive, ya know? Catch up on blogs, check out the latest gossip on facebook and surf for the latest pintrest ideas to add to your honey-do list. The thing is, I'm trying to do all that and I want to be productive but all I can really think about is you.
You and Me.

and Us. 

and our family. 
I think about that first day you took me to Beaver Tail Lighthouse. I think about how young we were and how little we slept. We could get enough of each other. and we weren't even dating, yet. you were my best friend. it was awesome.

I think about the day you proposed. Walking up the trail, holding your hand, the sunset reflecting off your red hair. I think about your nerves and I can still hear your voice when you asked me to be your eternal partner. I responded by kissing you and you got flustered because it wasn't a yes or no. really? how could I ever turn you down? I remember your hand on my head. and smiling so big my cheeks hurt.

I remember being newly-weds and laying in bed telling stories. and coming up with dreams of our own. thinking about a future home or names for our someday kids. I remember talking about retirement and travel and you whispered in my ear that none of the specifics mattered as long as we were growing old together. it made me giggle. you were already old, right? 

Remember when Ethan was a baby and you'd lay on the bed with him on your chest? I'd complain that you weren't sharing him. You'd laugh and hold him tighter and as soon as he was asleep you'd hold me tighter. I like you holding me, I wish you were holding me now. but I won't go up and wake you now, because I love you too much.

I think about the trials we've been through. The scary moments and tears and lonely times that were only lonely because we loved each other so much. I think about how close I came to losing you and losing those dreams and it still hurts to remember how much I had forgotten that you love me. That's that hing though, you did always love me. even through it all I knew we had something special. I just didn't know what our forever would look like anymore. 

This past year in our lives has been amazing. The growth and the peace and the smiles and your strength. You were the best husband in the world this pregnancy, you know that? and I wasn't the best wife, which makes it even more amazing. You know the other day when you pointed out my first wrinkle? it bugged. but it didn't. you touched it and you loved it. then you kissed it and made me laugh. you're always making me laugh. probably because no matter how old we get together you will still be my 11 year old. Our kids are wonderful and lucky to have a Dad that plays legos with them and goofs off with them and answers their questions and shows them by example how to work hard for others. 

Speaking of lucky. The thought of spending eternity with you as your partner still gives me butterflies. Eu Te Amo.

Forever,

J

 

 

We don't wanna grow up!

One last summer hurrah with the family before school starts.... and continuing my efforts to expose my kids to the arts and instill in them a love for theatre I surprised the ENTIRE family with tickets to see Cathy Rigby in Peter Pan at the Fab Fox Theatre. It was fun and kinda magical and everyone loved it... even if Cam slept wasn't quite as mesmorized as the others. 

This has to be one of my favorite things about living closer to the city! Beauty and the Beast in coming in November, anyone want to come with us?

-Joanna

Boys Night Out

Joey is running for position as favorite Uncle.... tonight he might have solidified Ethan's vote. He woke Ethan up from bed, told him to hurry and get dressed then took him to an 11pm showing of Spiderman complete with popcorn, drinks and Ice Cream afterwards.  Forget favorite uncle, he might have the title of favorite relative of all time. Yeah, that is just something that Mom and Dad's just can't compete with. 

Grandma's House is the place...

the place cousins go to become best friends...

and it's the best place in the world to get ice cream!

 

My Thoughts at Thirty

This birthday came with the perfect surprise!  Friday night I got home from dinner with a friend only to see one of my favorite families piling out of thier suburban. My big brother Chad had brought his cute family up from Florida to spend the weekend with me. We hung out here at the house, we teased eachother, we relaxed, we played games, we watched the cousins play and giggle and wrestle. It was the perfect weekend! 

Surprisingly, being married to an almost fourty year old didn't prepare me for turning thirty the way I thought it would. Numbers and Age never really meant anything to me.... until this last week. Not that I care how old I am but it make me realize how much I've changed in my twenties. How different I am and how much more comfortable I am, being me. Don't get me wrong, I still have a lot of personal progress to make but, as I look back on the last 10 years I'm kinda proud of who I've become and how I've grown. I like who I am, I love my family and my relationships within it and I love my friendships and how even those have grown over the years, I love my marriage and how that has evolved and grown over the last ten years, I love my life! So, my thoughts on being thirty? I am so blessed. I am so happy and I can't wait to see what the next thirty bring me! 

Hopefully it will include lots of fun family time just like this!
THANKS CHAD, TERI and DOUG for making my birthday PERFECT!

Love you!
JJ