Six Years

When I was back in college I thought I had it all figured out (what college student doesn't). I was sure I knew what I wanted. I had a direction I was going in and someone I was going with. I had been dating the same guy since my senior year of high school... I thought we were a pretty good match (at the time.... looking back now we were horrible for eachother but hey like I said I knew it all back then) We had similar values, He wanted the same number of kids I did, he wanted to raise them the same way, he was supportive of me being a stay-at-home mom... you know all the usual "questions" you ask someone before you marry them. On paper it looked good. There was just one problem in this little plan.

I was falling in love with someone else.

I was forced to make a choice. One... or the other. I couldnt have both (I didnt want both) I couldnt have a combination of them both (not that I wanted that either) just one of them.... forever. One was very familiar. One was new and exciting. One was predictable and one was not. One of them told me everything I wanted to hear and the other told me everything I needed to hear. Suddenly everything that I had ever thought about love was being questioned. It didnt take me long to realized I was concentrating on all the wrong things. Love is not a list of questions. It is not a "type", it is not a "thing." Love is a feeling. Love is looking into someones eyes and realizing that you can never live another moment without that person... no matter what... and live without that person was something I didnt want to do. Not for another second. And what seemed like a difficult choice at one time became a very easy choice. 3 months later I was engaged and 4 months after that I married that man.

Six years ago today I realized just how crazy I was about Stephen as I looked into his eyes and vowed to be his wife.

And I fall in love with him a little more everyday...

Happy Anniversary baby... I love you so much!

Death of a snowman....

A few years ago I bought this cute snowman. He is about the size of Reagan. He stood inside by our front door....

that is until Brody got a hold of him this year....

Our poor snowman has been beaten up beyond repair. The only thing he is seeing this christmas is the inside of my trash can.

RIP Mr. Snowman

Cavalia

This past weekend Stephen and I went out for an early anniversary celebration and saw Cirque Du Solei's Cavalia. It was an awesome show. Stephen bought these passes that were called Rendez-Vous and we had our own separate entrance with appetizers and horsdevours. We got free drinks and programs. It was kind of luxurious. Stephen only bought the seats because they were the only aisle seats left but I appreciated the extras =) It was a really neat show. The horses were georgeous! I havent been dissapointed by a Cirque show yet and this one was no different!

More than just a box....

This year at Reagan school they coordinated with Samaritans Purse and did the "Operation Christmas Child" where you fill a wrapped shoe box with things that a child from another country might need/want for Christmas. I decided that this was the perfect opportunity to teach Reagan about children that are less fortunate and the joy that comes from giving.

Since you can pick the age range and sex of the child you want to give to I decided for Reagan to best relate we would buy for a little girl age 2-4. I explained to Reagan that there are children all over the world that don't have a warm house and lots of toys like she does and that we were going to go to Wal-mart and fill up this shoe box for a little girl that was 3 just like her (hey... we will never really know if she was actually 3 or 2 or 4 but for all intents and purposes I thought that would hit home for Reagan.) And hit home it did! She was very involved in everything we picked out telling me things like "I don't think a three year old girl like me would like that mommy." She was telling everyone in Wal-mart that she was buying presents for a little girl that was 3 just like her that didn't have any toys. The most amazing part of the trip... she didnt ask for anything. She was so concerned with finding just the right gifts for this little girl that she didn't even think about herself. Here are some of the things we bought for her.

Hairbrush and hair clips

A princess toothbrush and toothpaste

Chapstick

A purple dress and purple socks

A pair of shorts and a shirt

A baby doll

A princess flashlight

An etch-a-sketch

Crayons and 2 coloring books (one with stickers)

A My little pony

Some bracelets and necklaces

A bag of suckers

A bag or hard candy

We crammed it all in a shoe box and Reagan made a card with a picture of her in it. She was so proud of it. She wanted to show it to everyone that came to our house for the next week. I really think she understood (as much as a 3 year old can) what we were doing and while I know that one little box cant change the world, I do believe that one little box changed a little girl (and I am not talking about the little girl that was receiving it.)

What she doesnt know....

Reagan hates two things more than just about anything....

1. Wedgies

2. Tight shoes

If she only knew that in about 15 years she will actually pay money to wear

high heals and thong panties!!!!

Brody's Favorite Book

Brody is obsessed with this book. I am not sure what it is but we read it morning, noon, and night. If you say anthing about reading a book he starsts walking around saying "Gerald-Gerald-Gerald" (that is the giraffe's name in the book). We read this book so much that the other night I was reading it to Brody before bed and realized that the words on the page didnt match up with the words I was saying.... I have this whole book memorized- word for word. To Brody's defence it's a really cute book!!!! If you havent read it you really should.

Santa Baby

Reagan: LOVED Santa this year!!!

Brody: Not a big fan!!!!

He was a great looking Santa dont you think?