Happy Second Anniversary, my love! It is so hard to believe that Tom and I have been married for TWO years already! It has flown by so quickly! Here are a few reasons why I love him so much! (one for each month we've been married)
1- He tells me he loves me at least 6 times a day.
2-He is so patient (especially with my wacko mood swings).
3-He tells me I am beautiful at least once a day.
4-He compliments my cooking... even if what I made isn't really very good.
5-He gives great hugs.
6-He gives me neck or shoulder massages after a stressful day.
7-He is so go with the flow. He helps calm me down... you see, I am a bit of a worrier.
8-He is fiercely loyal.
9-He puts his family first. We are THE most important thing in his life.
10-He leaves me random love notes.
11-He cuddles with me when we fall asleep... and even a dead sleep he will scoot over to wrap his arms around me.
12- He dreams big.
13-He is a hard worker. He works jobs he hates to help support us.
14-He is so excited to be a dad. I can't wait to see him hold our baby girl.
15-He is generally optimistic.
16-He loves to be outdoors... he has taught me to enjoy it more. Although I still don't like to get dirty.
17-He will listen to me ramble on and on as we are trying to go to sleep.
18-He is very confident about himself and his abilities.
19-He honors his priesthood. I am so grateful to be able to ask him for a blessing any time I need it.
20-He always holds my hand as we are walking.
21-He is willing to help others.
22-He encourages me to try new things and believe in myself.
23-He gives me his shoulder to cry on.
24-He makes me laugh everyday.
I'm not saying we have a perfect marriage and that we don't occasionally drive each other crazy. But we often talk about how lucky we are to have found each other. I am so grateful to our Heavenly Father for allowing me to become friends with, fall in love, and marry Tom. He is such a great man! I know that He knows what is best for each and every one of us. I could never have imagined how happy I could be...being married to my best friend. I am a very lucky girl!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Finding Happiness
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about happiness and the things that bring us true, lasting happiness. I have been reading a little bit about being happy and wanted to share a couple of quotes I found that spoke to me.
"Happiness is a journey, not a destination; happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over ant it's too late. The time for happiness is today not tomorrow." -Paul H. Dunn
I remember thinking when I finish college and get a real job...then I will be happy. When I am seriously dating then I will be happy. When I am married then I will be happy. I think of myself as a generally happy person... but I thought I would be completely happy when I met these goals. This is a powerful reminder to me to find the happiness in the journey; if I don't- I sure won't feel it at the end.
"Happiness does not depend on obtaining all the desires of our hearts. In a large measure, happiness depends on our ability to feel gratitude for the abundance we already have."
-Carolyn Wright
This quote struck me. How often do I forget all the little things that I have been given? How often do I stew over the things I want but don't have? I decided to compile a list of some things that have made me smile or laugh in the last couple of months. Then when I am feeling discouraged or down I can be reminded that happiness can be always be found... if I am just grateful enough to look for it.
1. Sometimes I crawl into bed after Tom has been asleep for awhile. I say good night again. I LOVE that he will always say I love you... mumbling and still asleep. I know that he means it...since he is dead to the world.
2. I have the pleasure of working with 4 and 5 year olds. They can be so frustrating... but they are also so funny. I was testing one of my kids this week. We tell them we are going to try to trick them and ask if we can or if they are too smart to be tricked. One of my little guys said, "I am allergic to tricky!" I had to laugh.
3. My nephew, Avi, is just beginning to speak. Yesterday I walked into my parents' house and he said, "Heather!" It melted my heart...it is only the second time I've heard him say my name... and the first time it has been spontaneous!
4. Having one of my girls in class, Cierra, whisper to me, "I really like sitting on your lap."
5. A couple of days ago Tom whispered into my belly, "Hi, Aileah. It's Daddy. You hang on tight in there." He is going to be such a great dad!
6. A girl in my class, Autumn, asked if she could kiss my baby. I told her it would probably be better if she blew the baby a kiss. She did and then she got three of the other girls in our class to blow kisses to the baby.
7. I love holding my newest nephew, Itai. I love getting him to smile his huge toothless smile.
8. I was eating snack with my class and one of the boys at my table turned to me and said, "Guess what. I love you." And then he just went back to eating. He has done this a couple of times... just said I love you in passing.
9. I love that my oldest nephew, Alex, tells Dad jokes. You know... those corny, "punny" jokes. He is a master of them. He spent the night a few weeks ago and boy, was he ever on a roll with them! Funny kid!
10. I love that my oldest niece, Elisa, is so gentle and loving to everyone. She is a great helper with Avi. He loves her to pieces and often wants her to carrying him around. Sweet girl!
11. My youngest niece, Sabrina, is so funny...sometimes without meaning to be. Tom and I were watching her and her two siblings for 5 days. She is a fairly picky eater and everything I suggested was turned down. Finally I said,"Do you like frozen pizza?" She said, "Um... a little. But can you cook it first?" My favorite Sabrina story!
12. I smile every time I have to get out of bed in the middle of the night. When I get back in Tom will scoot over to me and wrap his arms around me before going back to a dead sleep.
13. Feeling Aileah move, kick, or punch... or whatever she is doing in there. Tom is anxious to feel it too!
14. When we told Bella, my niece, that we "had a baby in my tummy." She tried to lift my shirt to see it. I tried to explain she couldn't see it yet. She leaned down and very gently kissed the baby. What a cute girl!
15. Being married to my best friend! I cannot imagine traveling on this journey with anyone else! I am so grateful for Tom in my life. I could list a million things he does to bring happiness to my life!
"Happiness is a journey, not a destination; happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over ant it's too late. The time for happiness is today not tomorrow." -Paul H. Dunn
I remember thinking when I finish college and get a real job...then I will be happy. When I am seriously dating then I will be happy. When I am married then I will be happy. I think of myself as a generally happy person... but I thought I would be completely happy when I met these goals. This is a powerful reminder to me to find the happiness in the journey; if I don't- I sure won't feel it at the end.
"Happiness does not depend on obtaining all the desires of our hearts. In a large measure, happiness depends on our ability to feel gratitude for the abundance we already have."
-Carolyn Wright
This quote struck me. How often do I forget all the little things that I have been given? How often do I stew over the things I want but don't have? I decided to compile a list of some things that have made me smile or laugh in the last couple of months. Then when I am feeling discouraged or down I can be reminded that happiness can be always be found... if I am just grateful enough to look for it.
1. Sometimes I crawl into bed after Tom has been asleep for awhile. I say good night again. I LOVE that he will always say I love you... mumbling and still asleep. I know that he means it...since he is dead to the world.
2. I have the pleasure of working with 4 and 5 year olds. They can be so frustrating... but they are also so funny. I was testing one of my kids this week. We tell them we are going to try to trick them and ask if we can or if they are too smart to be tricked. One of my little guys said, "I am allergic to tricky!" I had to laugh.
3. My nephew, Avi, is just beginning to speak. Yesterday I walked into my parents' house and he said, "Heather!" It melted my heart...it is only the second time I've heard him say my name... and the first time it has been spontaneous!
4. Having one of my girls in class, Cierra, whisper to me, "I really like sitting on your lap."
5. A couple of days ago Tom whispered into my belly, "Hi, Aileah. It's Daddy. You hang on tight in there." He is going to be such a great dad!
6. A girl in my class, Autumn, asked if she could kiss my baby. I told her it would probably be better if she blew the baby a kiss. She did and then she got three of the other girls in our class to blow kisses to the baby.
7. I love holding my newest nephew, Itai. I love getting him to smile his huge toothless smile.
8. I was eating snack with my class and one of the boys at my table turned to me and said, "Guess what. I love you." And then he just went back to eating. He has done this a couple of times... just said I love you in passing.
9. I love that my oldest nephew, Alex, tells Dad jokes. You know... those corny, "punny" jokes. He is a master of them. He spent the night a few weeks ago and boy, was he ever on a roll with them! Funny kid!
10. I love that my oldest niece, Elisa, is so gentle and loving to everyone. She is a great helper with Avi. He loves her to pieces and often wants her to carrying him around. Sweet girl!
11. My youngest niece, Sabrina, is so funny...sometimes without meaning to be. Tom and I were watching her and her two siblings for 5 days. She is a fairly picky eater and everything I suggested was turned down. Finally I said,"Do you like frozen pizza?" She said, "Um... a little. But can you cook it first?" My favorite Sabrina story!
12. I smile every time I have to get out of bed in the middle of the night. When I get back in Tom will scoot over to me and wrap his arms around me before going back to a dead sleep.
13. Feeling Aileah move, kick, or punch... or whatever she is doing in there. Tom is anxious to feel it too!
14. When we told Bella, my niece, that we "had a baby in my tummy." She tried to lift my shirt to see it. I tried to explain she couldn't see it yet. She leaned down and very gently kissed the baby. What a cute girl!
15. Being married to my best friend! I cannot imagine traveling on this journey with anyone else! I am so grateful for Tom in my life. I could list a million things he does to bring happiness to my life!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Ultrasound results
So... on Tuesday Tom and I went in for THE ultrasound. Since our trip to the ER in early December, when the ultrasound tech gave us a 85% chance I was carrying a boy, I have been convinced that we would be welcoming Elijah into our family. At our latest appointment the tech tried to find out the gender right away. The baby has, apparently, inherited my over modestness. It wasn't cooperating! After a wee while she tried again. Imagine my surprise when she said we are having a girl! We are excited. I didn't really care either way- just as long as the baby is healthy. To top it off we get the girl name we like. We were competing against my brother, Jared, and his wife. Hee hee (that is my diabolical laugh for you, Jared) We will be welcoming Aileah Brooklyn around May 30th, 2009!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
So I am a slacker...
Not too much has happened since my last blog. Kind of a sad state of affairs, isn't it? I feel like I lead a really boring life right now- thus no blogging. Blame it on morning sickness (that strikes at night), or being exhausted after work, or that I am just plain lazy. Just a quick blurb about some fun things that have happened recently.
One of my old roommates, Chrissy, came for a visit. We were able to get together with Tina, Nicky, and Jessica for the traditional Chili's dinner. It was so wonderful to see my girls again! It was fun to see them as Moms. What a lucky girl I was to have had the chance to live with them and learn from them. They are a pretty amazing group of women. I am so lucky to have them in my life!
One of my old roommates, Chrissy, came for a visit. We were able to get together with Tina, Nicky, and Jessica for the traditional Chili's dinner. It was so wonderful to see my girls again! It was fun to see them as Moms. What a lucky girl I was to have had the chance to live with them and learn from them. They are a pretty amazing group of women. I am so lucky to have them in my life!
We had an ultrasound last week! It didn't happen with the best circumstances. We had a bit of a scare and ended up in the ER. Thankfully, the baby is doing well. I just had to go on bed rest for a few days. I didn't think it would be that bad....but I greatly underestimated how boring it would be. So the happy result of the ER trip was the chance to hear the baby's heartbeat and to see it moving around. I was so relieved to hear that whoosing sound! We are anxiously awaiting the 30th... we will find out if we will be welcoming Elijah or Aileah.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
This is such a yummy recipe. I love pumpkin chocolate chip cookies... but not the chunky cakey ones you get in the store. This are just like normal chocolate chip cookies...with the delicious hint of pumpkin. YUM!!!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 C. unsalted butter, softened
1 C. white sugar
1 C. light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 C. canned pumpkin
3 C. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
2 C. milk chocolate chips
Heat the oven to 350. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat in the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove from oven and let them rest for 2 min. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool on a wire rack.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 C. unsalted butter, softened
1 C. white sugar
1 C. light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 C. canned pumpkin
3 C. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
2 C. milk chocolate chips
Heat the oven to 350. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat in the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove from oven and let them rest for 2 min. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool on a wire rack.
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