Eight Years

Once upon a time, an Idaho piano girl

and an Idaho farm boy (who is really a genius)

felt a connection they chose to explore.

Here we are…eight years later…still trying to perfect the art of being in love, becoming one tree, not two.

Picture of the two of us should be inserted here.  I’ll work on that.  Maybe it’s appropriate that I don’t have one seems how I’m a widow at the moment.

I can’t decide what’s more shocking to me  – the little fact that we’ve been married for eight years or the sad fact that we’re spending our anniversary away from each other.  My in-laws took me out to my favorite restaurant tonight.  Very nice, but we were definitely missing someone. ;)

I love you Jared.

Morgan Weekend

I arrived in the United States just before Memorial weekend.  My journey stopped in Salt Lake this time which I was very happy about.  I’m not sure I could’ve prodded the girls back onto another plane to Idaho Falls. 

My sister-in-law, Kristen, picked us up and took us to her house in Morgan for the weekend.  This was a very good thing.  My girls were dying for some much needed cousin time, and I was dying for a nap. ;)  Kristen is an awesome mother.  Suffice it to say that this woman knows how to get things done with a smile on her face.  I look up to her…a lot.

Carlie & Claire are little buddies AND they have the same letters in their names.  Now that’s cool.

AnnMarie moniters the two of them, but mostly hangs out with her debate partner, Drew.

I’m sad that I didn’t get any pictures of AnnMarie & Drew together, but I will later on this summer.  They’ll both be starting kindergarten this fall, & they’re both too smart for their own good.  Their conversations are worth documenting. 

Drew: This particular animal has particularly long legs.

AnnMarie: Is it a grasshopper?

Drew: No, I think that’s an insect.

AnnMarie: What about a sloth?

This next one was pretty good, too:

AnnMarie: Drew, you need to eat your eggs.

Drew: I know AnnMarie.

AnnMarie: They’re loaded with protein, and they’ll give you lots of energy.

Drew: Yeah, I know.

Too funny.  Little Einsteins I say.

Kate & Will are both amazingly talented – loved loved hanging out with them and getting to know them better.  They both helped prepare a pre-birthday celebration for Carlie.  Will was awesome at helping me make the cupcakes by the way.

Each cousin made a homemade card for her.  Yeah, we’ll be saving those forever.  Check-out AnnMarie’s homemade sticker book.

I wish I had more pictures. :(  My brain is in a hundred places trying to hold it together with this new transition again.  Still waiting for Captain Wolfley to join us.  All is well, but I can’t wait to see my hubby again in a few more weeks.

Baby Shower

A few days before I came back to the United States, the Relief Society in our branch threw me an amazing baby shower.  I feel so blessed.  I didn’t deserve it.

A recent reactivated member insisted on playing live music.  It was priceless.

The sister missionaries were more than supportive as usual.  I love these American girls so much.

They even sang a special musical number in my honor – Enrique Iglesias’ ‘I Can Be Your Hero, Baby.’  That’s right, it was awesome.  I didn’t know whether or not to laugh my head off or cry.  I did both.

The food was fabulous.  Our Relief Society President is a professional cook, and I’m not just saying that. For real, she’s amazing.

A few ladies that I’d never even met came out.  They caught word and decided to join the party.  They were really getting into the matching game.

I was surrounded by dear friends like Elsa, my visiting teaching companion.  Her laugh is contagious.  The first time we went visiting teaching together, we had a misunderstanding about who was suppose to drive.  When we finally figured out that it was in fact me, I rushed to pick her up, but she was already walking to our appointment down a busy road in her dress & high heels; sweet dedication at its finest.

My visiting teacher, Maria:

Rocio – this girl is one of the most compassionate people I’ve ever met.  She always tries to talk to me in English to help me feel more comfortable.  She always offers to babysit our girls.  I just love her.

Almost every gift I received was handmade – clothes, blankets, diaper holders, burp clothes, everything.

Thank you so much Venado Tuerto RS.  I will miss you.