Valentine 2 0 0 9

I look forward every year for my home-made, hand-drawn Valentine card from Dave. They are not the most romantic cards that you could imagine... Pirates, Napoleon Dynamite, and this year: Osama Bin Laden are not the most tender of images, albeit...they sure have made me smile--inside and out. Along with the lovely card, Dave bought me beautiful flowers and made my favorite meal: salmon, potatoes, peas, and carrots... YUM! (He even made the table and got the fancy goblets out!)

For dessert: roasted marshmellows!

Five Years Fly...

Dave and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary recently. It is truly amazing how those years have flown by. With each year, our love has grown deeper.

Then...

Some facts, events, or experiences we've had together these past 5 years:

• Traveled to places such as: Florida, California, Brazil, New York, Pennsilvania, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and many Utah sites (our favorite being Lake Powell).
• Dave graduated with his B.A. in Medical Biology. I graduated with a B.A. in Dance Performance and a Minor in Nutrition.
• I taught modern and social dance our first 3 and 1/2 years of marriage... I also worked at my mother's amazing store, Secret Haven (free advertisement for ya, mom!).
• Dave worked with his Uncles constuction company, until I (playfully) tackled him in the snow and injured him, leaving him unable to do such work.
• Dave worked as a Teller for a Wells Fargo Bank in SLC (after the snow incident).
• We moved to Illinois, almost two years ago, for Dave to attend Medical school. When done (2 years left, plus 3 years of residency) he'll be a podiatrist.
• We had our first child, beautiful Susie, in 2006.
• Our second child (also beautiful!), Lennon, joined us this past November.
• Along with great additions, we have had some great losses. We lost my dear brother, Aaron, over a year ago. Dave's sweet father, Robert, also past last April. We have also lost my Grandmother Tora and Dave's Grandfather Travest.
• We have learned that life happens fast...

Now...

Truly, truly... Forever, not a day less will do.

Drink away those brain-cramps

You know your husband has had a hectic day at Podiatry school if you find him guzzling down a whole bottle of martinelli's.

Lennon's Blessing

While in Utah, Dave gave Lennon a baby blessing. It was a beautiful blessing for a beautiful boy. My brother Steve and his wife Christa (so kindly and with very little notice) let us use their home for this family event. Dressed in White To help bless: Dave's brother Scott, Uncle Jeff, Grandpa John, Uncle Scott, Dave and Lennon, my Dad Steve, and my brother Stevie.

Grandmothers, mother, and child.

We love this little guy... he is a great blessing himself!

Watching Out for Brother by Reasoning with a Lion

When Susie saw her little brother under a Lion's open mouth, she had no fear to make sure of his safety.

"GASP"

"Lion, Don't you eat Lennon..... Okay?"

(Bean Museum in Provo, Utah-- December 2008)