10 Years of Wedded Bliss?

I really can't believe 10 years of marriage has come and gone. We celebrated our 10 year anniversary yesterday. All I wanted was a night at the temple we were married and sealed in, with my honey.

 

So I reflect on the past 10 years. Has it been wedded bliss? Um, no. Not always anyway. There's been lots of happy times for sure, but there's been far more growing than anything and I'm grateful for that. Here's my top 10 things I've learned in the ten years of being married.

 

10.  Learning to communicate is essential

 

9.  Serving each other is key

 

8. Support each others dreams

 

7. Laughing and crying are a good part of marriage

 

6. Don't keep secrets

 

5. Know your roles and embrace those roles.

 

4. Let go of pride and say your sorry.

 

3. Live within your means

 

2. Be forgiving

 

1. Marriage is worth it! It's worth the work and effort it takes to keep the flame alive.

 

Aaron and I are so different in so many ways. I have come to really appreciate our differences. He has made me stretch and grow and I know I have him too. I'm grateful to this man who loves me fiercely. I'm honored to share his name. And I feel intensely blessed that I have a companion who feels the same as I do about marriage and knows it's worth every effort!

 

Spencer W. Kimball said: "While marriage is difficult, and discordant and frustrated marriages are common, yet real, lasting happiness is possible, and marriage can be, more an exultant ecstasy than the human mind can conceive. This is within the reach of every couple, every person."

Pioneer Day

One year, I may find myself ambitious enough to take my kids downtown for the fantastic 24th of July parade that Salt Lake puts on to commiserate our pioneer history. Or, maybe we'll find one of the ample pioneer activities that have the children dress up as pioneers and teach them all kinds of historical facts of that time. For now, I'm sticking with things like, swimming all day and BBQ's with family in the evening. Fortunately, Dad always is prepared with some good 'ole fashioned pioneer games and we usually listen to him share some family history of our great pioneer ancestors.

No pictures will be posted of our swimming, as I promised not to post them of two siblings that were with us. Lame! Just know we had a rip roaring time! Fun was had by all!!!

Kids who test limits

All kids will test their parents to some degree. They want to know what they can and can't get away with. Will parents be consistent? Well, we have a little man who tests us constantly. It's amazing to me really! I'd like to say that Aaron and I are pretty darn predictable with what the rules are in our house and what the consequence is if the rule is broken. We always give a warning, so their is no room for confusion when or if the rule is broken. And STILL he tests us. It's remarkable.

Last night was family home evening. There's always a treat that the kids can hardly wait to have. It just happened to be ice cream and Abby was in charge and passing each cone out to everyone. When Nathan got his, he immediately got upset that his wasn't big enough. We immediately told him that he could have none or he could say thank you to his sister for serving him. He continued to throw a fit. Aaron took the cone away from him and ate it himself. (We actually gave him a couple warnings instead of just the one we normally give...it was ice cream after all!) Of course, the tears really began to flow now. He was devastated and instantly decided that his cone was just fine and that he really did want it. Too bad. Too late. He was one sad boy watching the rest of us enjoy our ice cream. And no, we don't enjoy the sadness. But I desperately hope that these simple and harmless lessons will pay off when really big choices will come to him as he grows up.

He may always be one who tests the limits. After all, one of his parents was a bit of tester growing up. (wink! wink!) In the meantime, it's a bit exhausting since he can be almost as predictable as us.

Lagoon and some really fuzzy pictures

Ivory Homes took their employees and families to Lagoon yesterday. I was sort of excited. Excited for Aaron, Hannah, and Nathan. Our last Lagoon experience was a nightmare for Abigail. She hated almost every ride, and how much fun would Joe be able to have at Lagoon? Well, apparently a lot! We had SO much fun! Even me!

My favorite part, Lagoon A Beach. Heaven! It was 97 degrees yesterday and sitting my pregnant self into that cool water was divine! The kids had a ball and Aaron is in his element whenever there is water. Joe was exhausted and very content to hang out on my shoulder with an occasional splash in the water to cool him off.

Abby did MUCH better this time. She actually enjoyed most of the rides she went on and Nate and Hannah loved them all!

Joe was pleased as punch to watch them from the sidelines.

Joe didn't get a nap longer than an hour. He was exhausted and kinda a spaz!

I wish I had gotten a picture of us all, but we were too busy running from ride to ride and having way too much fun! Lagoon, you didn't disappoint as I thought you would. We had more fun than we could shake a stick at!

7 Months

I'm heading into my 7th month of pregnancy. Here's what I can still do at 7months.

- make meals
- make my bed
- get myself ready
- vacuum
- do the dishes
- mow the lawn and edge (but I want to die every time I do it lately)

Yep, that's about it. And I can see in the very near future (like maybe tomorrow) this will all change and I will throw up my hands and say, "I'm taking the next 3 months off because I'm way too tired!" Ha! We'll see how that works out for me. If only and I wish.

On top of these things I regularly do, I'm super busy getting our home school ready. I feel so blessed lately and things are coming together in ways I never could have thought possible. There is a movement of homeschooling in my area that is truly exciting. I'm THRILLED to be apart of it. I'm meeting incredible women and feel inspired just being in their presence. My children are going to be apart of something I could have only hoped for.

With summer coming to an end and school starting just around the corner, I'm amazed at how quickly time is slipping by. My kids are growing and changing. We've lived in the pool this summer and I have good little swimmers. We've played A LOT inside too and I have good little imaginationers, We've been to the mountains a handful of times and it is their haven on this earth. We've read the first two books in the Chronicles of Narnia series and Hannah is reading the Book of Mormon to us each night as a family. She's getting to be such a good little reader. The kids have taken theater lessons this summer and will be performing for us on Friday night. I can hardly wait to see it. We have our Eyre Family Reunion next week and I'm praying it's a success. Aaron and I have worked so hard to make this a special time with lots and lots of fun memories to be made. There's been projects around the house that seem to be never ending and ones that seem to never get started. Aaron is a working machine and makes his time at home count. The kids think there is nothing better on this planet than daddy time. I would agree. Little Holland is starting to move like a banshee in my stomach and sometimes it's fun to watch my stomach have a complete spasm as if she is really having a fun ride in there. There is still so much to do before she comes and I have little confidence that it will all get done, but oh well. Tomorrow we are off to Lagoon. Aaron, Hannah, and Nathan will love it. Me, Abigail, and Joseph will hopefully find some nice shade and some yummy ice cream to pass the time. Life is good. I'm tired, life's busy, my kids are happy, Aaron and I have some intense goals (when don't we) but we thrive off of goal setting and accomplishing them.

And now, I'm going to attempt to throw some food at my kids for lunch. Maybe I'll just pop some popcorn! I think I can push a button.


Fun in the pool with our favorite Uncle Dave

 pool friend - love that they were holding hands

 pool buddy - two peas in a pod

 fresh peach pie from our very own peach tree!

 Joe's one true love

 Squishy bum. Squishy kisses

Grandmas are for spoiling

We've had a near week of being pretty darn spoiled around here. Aaron's mother came to visit and each of the kids have asked if they could fly home with her tomorrow. But who wouldn't after the week she's given us? Each of the kids had a special night staying with her at the hotel. It was full of candy, movies, swimming, gifts, and activities catered to their specific interests, but mostly just personal attention that they each thrive on. I know she enjoyed it as much as them. It was a special treat for them indeed.

Aaron and I were lucky enough to steal her away one night for dinner and a show. Honestly, the play we went to was funny, but you would have thought that Aaron and his mom had never seen anything so funny in all their life! I laughed more at them than I did the show.

We visited the dinosaur museum. Always a favorite! We barely made it out alive!

 Joe's first sand experience. He really enjoyed eating it.

And a picnic up at beautiful Sundance! Love it there!

It was a wonderful visit. Come visit us again soon! I'm sure I won't hear the end of it until you do!!!



Summer Toes and Legs

Learning

So Aaron conceded to my great desire to buy a fancy schmancy camera to take even better pictures of my little brood. I'm having so much fun with it, but boy do I need lessons on how to use it and how to capture images in just the perfect light. So, we went for a picture walk tonight so I could practice. Fun stuff! Got a few I really like and about 150 that are no good. Blah!

 Love this one, but it's too orange and too dark on the faces. Bummer! Have no idea how to edit this kinda stuff, but I know it's possible.

 My fav since these two really LOVE each other. If Joe had an order of who he loves most it would go, Aaron, Hannah, and then me.

 Another one that's too dark on the faces. But isn't this so cute? I don't even mind the hair in the face, because let's be honest, this is exactly how my kids look all the time!

Well, and this one too is really more like it.

Not too bad though for not editing these one little bit!