Anniversary Video

Our Anniversary Video
Here it is, the video documenting the goings on of July 8, 2010 to July 8, 2011. It was a great year.

Six Years

Today is our sixth anniversary. A lot can happen in six years and the usual ups and downs of life are always there, but it has been great to be on this journey together. I am so lucky I get to spend eternity with Jeff!

  

 Backing up a bit, this was 6 years and three months ago. It was cold, thus I am wearing Jeff's coat, it was Downtown Salt Lake City, and yes he is holding a ring on his finger that was about to be on my finger. Right after our carriage driver took the picture I asked Jeff "What was your hand doing up by my face? That will look so weird." Ha! 

 There are almost no cars in this parking lot. There are pretty much always cars in that parking lot, but when the temple is unexpectedly closed due to a power outage (and there are floods on the roads you use to get there), they have to turn people away, even a bus of people who came from Puerto Rico. They'll turn you away unless you were one of 4 couples scheduled to be sealed that day; they'll let you stay. You are trying to figure out what to do because maybe only your parents can attend your sealing and no one else.  A sealing by lantern light?  What about all those people who flew from so far? Mom says "we're still having a party tonight no matter what!" And Grandpa jokingly chimes in, "You could always go on the honeymoon first!" And then, a miracle: the lights come back on, right as you and your soon-to-be spouse are heading outside alone to discuss things. You hear the groaning sound behind you as the automatic doors switch back on. You have the chance to have all of those people there for your temple marriage. Your future mother in-law is crying tears of joy because all of her children will be in the temple together, just as she'd hoped. And the cloudy morning turns into a most glorious day with blue skies and plenty of sunshine!

I remember distinctly feeling that despite all of the craziness of that morning, when the lights came back on I was thinking: Light prevails. Regardless of what the world says about marriage or raising children or any of the myriad ways that Satan can attack families and couples and individuals: Light will prevail. It has prevailed, and it will continue to prevail. 

I still love my dress, the blue hydrangeas, and the yellow and blue together. I still love the temple. I especially love going with Jeff. I love that we made up acronyms for things when we were dating but we can't remember what they stand for. I love seeing Jeff so happy as he prepares for his future duties as a professor and researcher. I love our children and I love that I can just be myself around Jeff and that we can both laugh when I say really ridiculous things when I fail at trying to say something witty (he is great at it). I love the life we are building together and I'm so grateful for the amazing support he has given me, particularly in this last year.  

Happy sixth anniversary to the greatest guy I know! 

Need good ideas for read-aloud books?

I guess if I had a twitter account I would post/retweet this on there, but I just saw on PW's homeschooling site this great Community Question from one of her readers, Leah and thought I would do a blog post about it here in case any of our 2 readers was in the same predicament:

“I have a question about the read aloud time. I have two sons, ages 2 and 4, and I’d love to start a read aloud book at night, beyond our normal readings of Go Dog Go and the likes.

I’m ready to incorporate longer stories that spark their little imaginations as part of our nightly routine. Any suggestions for read aloud books for younger children? I think that my 4 year old, especially, is ready for more interesting stories, but I don’t know where to start.”

Check out the post's comments for fabulous ideas about books to read to your kids if you are in need of some new titles for summertime for your young kids!  I saw some great chapter books recommended that we've either read to our kids or loved on our own (Shel Silverstein, Roald Dahl books, Winnie the Pooh, E.B. White) as well as picture books that are great for reading aloud (The Napping House and many more!).

Rebecca's words

why all the boxes in the background, you ask? we moved in May.

About a month ago Rebecca started putting more and more words together and it has been very fun to hear what she has to say.  I thought I'd write just a few of her words down, some with translation. Jeff & I have spent many a prayer asking Heavenly Father to help her and help us help her learn how to talk better - isn't it wonderful that prayers can be answered?

• libaryaryary - library (She even said this as we drove by the building the other day on our way to storytime.)
• diosaurs - dinosaurs
• milko - milk
• noonies - noodles
• broccoli
• "Milko, heady!" - said as she handed me an almost-full gallon that she got out of the fridge
• Daddy...work! - if Jeff leaves before she gets up this is what she says to me in the morning. She is usually shaking her head. I don't know if that is her way of asking if he is not at work yet or of wishing that he was still home. A hopeful head shaking. :)  
• airplayed - airplane
• dollies
• bear
• bed
• couch
• book 
• Becca
• Brother
• she can say many of our friends' names and likes pointing out their toys/houses/cars and parents
• floor
• bus
• bike - the other day she wanted to ride Jacob's bike and so I helped her sit on it while I pushed her. She kept saying "Becca ride brother's bicycles!"
• toast pop!
• play dough
• read
• seat
• shower
• bath
• she loves singing "Happy Birthday"
• butters - peanut butter
• Holdgie Becca - "pick me up"
• herey-go Mommy
• she talks about how we went to "Brampa's House" or "Gooey's House" sometimes (as in Grandma Gooey in the CandyLand game, but it really means Grandma McKoy)
• Saturday night last week I asked her if she was excited to go to her nursery class. She said, "Becca, class. Brother - BEAMS."  That would be Sunbeams. :)  
• She ends prayers very enthusiastically: AAA-MEN!
• She will say prayers with help and she usually repeats as follows (her words in parentheses): "Dear (Dear) Heavenly (Heavdya) Father (Daddy)..."   

We love the way she says hi to us in a low tone of voice: "Hey, Daddy."

We sure love Rebecca and we're so proud of all the things she is learning and doing every day, such as canoeing on the Little Miami in Ohio:

current favorite picture of her