Our summer getaway

This summer, James and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary.

Because of the family reunion last year, we didn't get to do anything just for us for our 10 year, so we made sure we got away and did something special. And because of having so much family in town now, I was able to get my cute sister, Emily to stay the night with the kids. It's been yonks since James and I have been able to get away for a night.

James took a holiday from work, so we spend all of Friday and Saturday together.

Starting at the restaurant that James knows I love best, Hoffbrau. 

Have you had their steak salad?? Yum.

After lunch, we spent some time scouting out jewelry stores. I wanted to have my engagement ring diamonds set into another ring....turns out that cost mucho mucho. So, I opted to have them replace some prongs with a bevel and it turned it into a brand new ring. I love it.
I also loved looking at all the bling....
yowza

We did some looking for a bed & breakfast in Ft Worth and settled on Lockheart Gables.
Such a beautiful place.

We stayed in the Sweetheart Cottage, which wasn't in the main house, but a separate building with a cute little porch.
It was very interestingly decorated....lots of vintage furniture, mixed with some marble, including a faux marble wall...a great heart shaped tub and a walk-in shower. The owners were so very proud and spent a good amount of time showing off the room to us. That's the charm of a B&B, I guess.

And then these beauties...
The TV was in the cabinet behind it....so the doors were open, thank goodness. The couple kinda creeped me out.  I don't know why, but I kept having visions of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. I expected the eyes to follow me around.

We were met with chocolate covered strawberries, ginger snap cookies and fresh lemonade.
I love the little touches.

That night we had dinner at Pappadeaux.
We like our food. It seems most of our life "events" revolve around where we go to eat.
I love this fella....
Sometimes we look at each other and think "holy shenanigans, we're old" {of course, we really aren't}....
I'm so glad I get to spend all my younger old years and my older old years with him. He puts up with a lot {and so do I! ha!}....but I'll always be convinced that we are at our best when we are together.

The next morning, the B&B owners brought us breakfast....omelets and cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate and fruit. I felt so spoiled!

Before checking out the next morning, we sat out on our porch and James tried to teach me how to play cribbage. Which was a complete fail, whatwithall the counting numbers and such. I'll leave that fun game to James and his daddy....I'll be over in the corner playing Phase 10....or scrabble....or wrapping a wreath {which, yes, I did bring with me on our romantic weekend! crazycakes}

LockHEART Gables.
All the little accents had hearts intertwined in them. Adorable.

So grateful for the chance to get away with my hubs. 

So grateful he took a chance with me, way back on June 1st, 11 years ago....

So grateful for the path our lives have taken us.

Our Valentines Day

Note to self: Make reservations on Valentines Day.

Yes, that's right, we didn't make reservations for Valentines Day...I don't know why not. I don't think I was waiting for James to do it, and I don't think he was waiting for me. I think it was just one of those things that just never gets done! lol. On Friday, James found out no one had any reservations available...but that Razoo's and The Cheesecake Factory didn't take them, just first come-first serve. So we thought, eh...we'll go up to Cheesecake (at the mall) early, put our names in and then go get our tickets, check out some mattress stores, go buy me a dress (my present)...la di da, we'd be set. Holy crap, it was SO BUSY.
Well....it turned out to be a 2 - 2 1/2 hour wait...we put our names in and the hostess told us to come back in an hour to get a buzzer-thingy. So...with only an hour, we went over to get our movie tickets, and happened to walk past a mattress store...so we took a big chunk of time and tried out some Sleep Number beds....James is a 55, I am a 45 ;).
So, dinner turned out to take about 3 1/2 hours...but did I mind? Nope. I was with my sweetie. I think my upcoming trip to see family, the idea of not seeing him for 3 weeks....it was nice to just hang out with him, hold his hand and just be.
After dinner, we went and saw "My Bloody Valentine" which, thought it was a slasher-horror film, we laughed thru the whole thing. It wasn't cheesy...it was just FUNNY. The fact that it was in 3D was even more funny...with the ax getting thrown at your head...and sitting next to this dude saying to the screen "Girrrrrl, you better not look in that closet". It was just FUNNY. lol.
Anyways, I couldn't have asked for a better Valentines Day.

And there were an abnormal amount of blackbirds hanging around that part of Arlington. They were everywhere. Very Alfred Hitchcock.

Get your {LOVE} on.

Eu te Amo, James.

I {HEART} February

This month of LOVE is one of my favorites, coming in 2nd after December.
I LOVE it for so many reasons, some of which include:
*red and pink displayed everywhere, with stores selling over-sized teddy bears and stuffed animals playing "All you need is love" (which the girls love to play over and over again) and chocolate...tons and tons of chocolate.
*that one day dedicated to LOVE, when my sweetie and I will go eat somewhere fabulous and treat ourselves to "My Bloody Valentine" in 3D (seriously, we are totally going to see it...reminds us of one of our first Valentines together going to see the horror-flick "Valentine").
*making pretty, heart-felt crafts with the girls to send to family.
*And OH the birthdays:
Emmalee turns the big 1-8 (woohoo).
Jen turns 22
And I actually get to see my Grams on her birthday!
*there is one fantastic trip planned for the end of the month that stretches into March....so excited!

This is one of my favorite Beatles songs...I came across this version during the movie "Across the Universe" (LOVE IT).
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you
in time - It's easy.

Happy *belated* Father's Day!

It's belated and it's OK...because....
YOUR NOT MY DAD!
hahahahaha....

But....you are a swell dad...the girls are very lucky to have you! I don't think they realize it yet...but we're gonna have lots of fun!
I love the way you are with them...you are their friend, their protector...
Thank you for all you do...I could not do it with out you!

Today

....I love you.....

...not more than I did before and not the same as I did in the beginning. The love has grown and deepened to the point where I could not be separated from it. The love has strengthened to the point where silly fights and disagreements can be looked over and forgotten. The love has changed over the days to a comfortable place where I feel at home.
You have been the strength I've prayed for, the happiness I dreamed about, the caring man I need, the sadness that passes, the fights that come and go, the craziness we call life, the laughter that is constantly with us and the LOVE I carry with me always.

Thank you for these past 7 years....our ups and downs have made us who we are. I hope we can always remember the beginning and that the ending years are full of happiness, love and posterity to make us smile.

FORENITY.

A Love Story: the Finale

Engagements seem to never end....you think your wedding day will NEVER.GET.HERE. But...then one day you have 2 weeks to go and you're stressed and cutting all your hair off Ü! Those two weeks fly by with Mom and Bride putting the finishing touches on everything, making sure everything is rented or bought. Mom and Bride going toe to toe...the mother/daughter bond being stretched to its limits. I never realized how much my mom did for me...and probably still don't, not until helping plan Bella' Wedding. I look back at the pictures at how lovely everything looked and I must stop and say.....THANK YOU MOM, it could have never been so wonderful without you.
Then...you wake up and it's THE DAY. Oh this day that is dreamed about as a little girl...this day that is anticipated and planned for years and years even before the boy has been met. The day where you and your eternal companion will be sealed for time and all eternity.

I woke up early, unable to sleep with the butterflies dancing in my tummy. Make-up on and perfect, hair done and sprayed.

Our wedding took place on Friday, June 1st at 11am, at the Las Vegas Temple. By the time we arrived, the temperature was climbing up and past 100 degrees....the hot, dry wind slightly blowing. The temple is a wonderful place, just stepping on the grounds can calm your soul....it's on the edge of the mountain, higher up than the rest of the valley....you can look out and see the entire valley, a feeling of floating or being raised up above it all resonates through the soul, which is as it should be.

Our ceremony was performed by Brother Alger, a long-time family friend. He spoke of the eternal bond and covenant we were making, the ways to keep our family on the right path and to always love the person across the altar.
Sealed for Time and all Eternity....looking in the mirrors that represent eternity...
Matthew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mark 10:9
What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

We walk out of the temple, to be with family and friends mirroring our joy in their smiles...sweating in the summer heat!

That night, we celebrated at a reception....a Luau! The gym of a church building was lovingly decorated in all things Paradise. Our friends, the Lacy's, a Samoan family, donated authentic decorations and had an awesome surprise for us! A BAND with a hula dancer!
We danced, at good food and yummy cake...we're toasted by my Pop Pop Jones....and danced some more, barefoot and doing the Electric Slide! I still remember what fun we had!! I got to dance with my dad to the traditional, "Butterfly Kisses"...James and his mom were supposed to dance to "You are my Sunshine" though it ended up being miscommunicated into "You are the Sunshine of my life" by Stevie Wonder. So the tears of the give-away dances were soften a bit in the silliness of James and his mom fast-dancing away....it was perfect. James and I danced our first dance together....it was either "Home to You" by John Michael Montgomery or "Best Friend" by Tim McGraw...remember the debate?

We then rode off into the night in a Limo...with a driver complaining about all the birdseed that had been chucked into it (thank you Grandpa Sargent, we love you!)

This is the end of the beginning....

Celebrating....

Since our anniversary falls on a Sunday, we decided to celebrate last night with Steak and a Movie.....

But not just any steak....we overstuffed ourselves at a Brazillian Steakhouse...one of our favorite kinds of restaurants! We've been to several...Rei de Gado in San Diego, Yollie's in Las Vegas (home of the ruuuuude server), Samba at the Mirage in Las Vegas (too fancy schmancy), and another one I cannot remember the name of in Vegas...but it was one of my favorites because on certain nights they would have live music. We can't forget the Rodizio Grill at Trolley Station in Salt Lake City.
I hardly ate all day yesterday...gearing up for the "big event" ...I cannot even tell you how EXCITED I was! I don't know if it was the fact of how much yummy meat I was about to partake of...or the idea of going on a date! WITHOUT KIDS!

We went to the Texas de Brazil in Ft Worth, which I liked alot better than the one in Dallas, where we went last year. It's alot bigger, the salad bar is ginormous! And the walk from the parking garage to the restaurant was so pleasant....not so crowded!
James' face says it all:

We were both STUFFED beyond stuffed!

After our awesome meal, we made it just in time to see some sweet previews (can't wait to see Wall-E and Hancock) and were very entertained by Indiana Jones!

I know there has been mixed reviews about this movie, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! James and I were talking about it afterwards...and we really do need to re-watch the first 3...but the whole alien point of view is SO right down Indy's alley. And even at a ripe ole age of what? 80? Seriously...Harrison Ford might be a tad cheesy...BUT...still entertaining! Did someone say he did his own stunts?
Tonight reminded me that James and I need to make it a point to have more dates, to not let another 6 months go by before we spend some one-on-one time together again! I truly do enjoy his company!!

Love Letter: To the Two.

Dearest Isabella Ruth and Aubree Susanna,

On this Mother's Day, I wanted to tell you two how much I love you and how much I enjoy being your mother! I couldn't ask for sweeter children! You make it easy to be a mommy sometimes. I feel that I'm not always the mommy you deserve, though....I let things bother me, I let the world tell me that I don't get enough from being just your mom. Being a mother can seem to be un-rewarding....there are days when I cook for you, clean you, play with you, teach you, keep you busy and what do I get.....what would seem to some as a whole lotta nothin'.....
But deep in my heart, I know this is not true....I know that my "reward" for mothering won't come in the form of money or presents or something I can see...my reward will be in the small things, the things not seen or heard, but sometimes will just be felt. Please look over this fault of mine...for on the outside I may seem disappointed but on the inside I will always know what I am doing for you is important and guided by the Lord. Being a mother may feel unrewarding, but it will never be unfulfilling!
I hope for you on this Mother's Day...that you will know how much you are loved. The love that I feel for you is so true and so deep, you will never find another (maybe your Dad...but I'm still first in line) who will love and care for you as I do. I would do anything for you.....

There is a saying that I love:
Before you were conceived, I wanted you. Before you were born, I loved you. Before you were here an hour, I would give my life for you. This is the miracle of life.

You are my miracles.
LOVE-Mom

A day late, a dollar short.....whats new?

Excuses, excuses...good thing my dad has a good sense of humor Ü.

I did CALL him on his birthday, sent him a gift
he probably got 2 days late....
But I neglected to do my honorary
"Happy Birthday" post! You know life
wouldn't be complete without getting a
Happy Birthday from me on my blog! Yup.

Happy Birthday, old man!

I hope your Birthday brought you smiles, fun
and un-burned steaks.

Thank you for being the greatest dad,

you truly make us proud!
We may make fun, we may make jokes....
but without you, our lives would not be complete!

Thank you for teaching us as we grew...
Being there when we cried....
cheering for us when we won or lost.

I'm thankful that you and mom were able to
be sealed for Time and all Eternity...that b/c
you love the Gospel and its teaching, we can
be a family forever!
Thank you for your example in love.
You love your wife with all your heart,
it shows in your daily life....
I'm very lucky to have parents with
such a love and friendship!

Thank you for being a wonderful Grandpa!
Bella, Aubree, Cayden and all those to come are
lucky to have such an influence in their life!

WE LOVE YOU!

Before I leave...

Yes.....just one more thing! I know, I know...leave already!
But, I have to give a big Congratulations to my sister Laura, she graduates from BYU-Idaho this weekend. My heart swells with joy thinking about all she has accomplished in her life so far! Graduating high school with honors, a mission in Indiana, marriage in the temple and now a college graduate!

I wish you all the luck and love in the world, my sweet Laura! It is just the beginning of great things to come! I love you and miss you and hopefully we will see you soon!

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Way-back Wednesday: The Way-We-Were Edition

Ever since James got his new job...
he has been a totally awesome
husband and dad....not that he wasnt
before...BUT...he has stepped it up lately.
(hopefully not jinxing it Ü)
This is a picture from the very beginning of US.
Valentines Day Dance 2001
A little bit after we got engaged...

And then I thought I would include some
pictures from BEFORE us....
James and his friend Gareth in the MTC.
(this one's for you Julie! LOL)
And then me when James and I first FIRST
started dating....

I have been meaning to get around to writing our
engagement story....but haven't found the time
just yet...all I know is that I am grateful
I fell for such a funny, smart, helpful, crazy guy.

Remembering.....

I woke up late this morning, after a late shift last night,
and found 3 text messages and voicemail from my Father.....
letting me know that my Grandpa Sargent
had passed the night before.
We received an email earlier in the week
from my Aunt, advising us on his deteriorating condition.

My heart is filled with a mix of sorrow and joy.
How can you not grieve for your loved ones...
though you know they are in a better place,
a place away from the pain and sorrow of sickness?
But would I wish him back to this earth?

No...I hold a wish in my heart that
I could have seen him one last time,
to introduce my children to him...to let him
know I loved him and appreciated him.

Thank you, Grandfather.
For your legacy.
Because of you and your example to
YOUR children, I am able to raise mine
in the pathway of Christ, and we will one day
all reside together in the glory of Heaven.
For I have a testimony of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ, I know that it is true.
This is where we rest our strength in the time
of loss and be not afraid of what is to come.

Way-back Wednesday

My Way-back Wednesday pictures
are dedicated to my Grandma Jones.
GRAMS.
I'm doing this b/c I've been a very
BAD grand-daughter.
Her birthday was last week, and I got
her a card that I forgot to send AND I
topped that off with not calling, too!

So, I wanted to post these pictures...
some of my favorites of she and I together.
And also let her know how much I truly
do love her and think of her often.

I remember your hugs when I was
a child, filled with love....
I would breath in deep when you had
me in your arms, the smell of your Jergen's lotion
still reminds me to this day of that love I felt!
I remember my heart breaking when
we would have to leave Las Vegas
to drive home to Missouri....all I ever
wanted was to be able to come and see you
and spend time with my Grams and Pop Pop.

Happy Belated Birthday Grandma!
I love you so, so much!

belated Valentine's gift!

For this Valentine's Day, I wanted to send some
special LOVE to the grandparents, great-grandparents
and sweet little Rylee (who misses her La-La so very much)

Of course...I got it done a TAD late...hmmm
*that doesn't surprise you, does it?*
and now I can't send them b/c of our shortness
of cash with the switching of jobs...UGH.
So...here is a sneak peak...I'm so excited
for ya'll to get them b/c there are some really
cute pictures involved! As soon as I have some
extra money, I'll send them your way!!
Enjoy this little glimpse!

post-Valentine's Sweetness

Now that the post-Valentine's sugar buzz
has worn off...Im gonna show off our loot:
This is what my sweet sweetie
got for me...an orchid (I finally figured it out!)
Hopefully I don't kill it, b/c she is so pretty!

And this is what I got for James:

mmmmmm.....
Pan-fried steak-heaven-in-a-skillet
Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks
Earlier in the day, I debated on actually cooking
steak at home...determined that it might actually cost
just as much to just go out and have someone cook it
FOR ME....ya know? BUT...I didn't want to be out
in the dining-out-mayhem known as Valentine's Day-Eve
so...I bought the steaks, cooked 'em up...
and GLORY GLORY HALLELUJIAH, to my surprise
it was DE-LI-CIOUS! Yum yum....
And I cooked enough to even have leftovers
for lunch tomorrow! Thank you PW!

10 things I LOVE about my valentine <3

10. He lets me be me, no matter how difficult that may be.
9. He loves his children with all his heart.
8. He loves my cold skin.
7. He can make me laugh and make me want to hit him all in the same milli-second.
6. He makes me laugh...yes, I put this twice...because its just not a ha-ha laugh...he makes me feel JOY.
5. He is thoughtful, especially when given the benefit of the doubt.
4. He's a good kisser Ü.
3. He takes care of his family....a good Patriarch of our family.
2. He still loves me, even though Im fatter, uglier and meaner ;) than I was when he married me!
AND NUMBER 1 THING I LOVE ABOUT MY VALENTINE:
I love that he and I are a perfect match....no matter how hard it gets or how much frustration is felt, I know that he is my eternal mate, bound together for Forenity.

pre-Valentine sweetness

Family...please accept my apologies...I just
realized it has been at least 5 days since posting
pictures of my cuties!
So....needless to say I have a PLETHORA
of pictures to post....get ready. set. GO!

I found this shirt at WalMart
and couldn't resist...she is going to get
plenty of wear out of it by St Patty's Day!

I know...horrible mommy, taking
pictures of her baby-girl crying..
I thought it was ironic that she fell
about 2 seconds after the first picture...
I took her luck, I guess...rubbin' that belly!

Look at what my daddy did to me...
In another life he was a hairstylist.