Coping

Dear Colin,

I went shopping today. I hope it doesn't become my coping mechanism for when you are gone. Because I went crazy. (Well, crazy for someone like me who hates most shopping...)




I miss you. I want to show you everything I bought, but that will have to wait.

Love
me

Beginning

Dear Colin-

I just said goodbye to you. It was harder than I actually imagined.

Saying goodbye to our home was hard- it's been a good home for two years.







We've been through earthquakes and hurricanes and tropical storms here. It has treated us well.

Saying goodbye to you was not fun. (To say the least...)




I miss you.

Love
me

A Bit Belated

This post, inspired by Emily, is late.  But I wanted to share. 

Lessons I've Learned from My Mom:

- Cookies are made from scratch

- Everything can be improved

- A clean house is a happy house

- Laugh at your husband's dumb jokes

- Support family in the things they want to do

- Take piano lessons.  Or dance lessons.  Or do choir.  Choose what you want.

- Service is as much intent as it is action.

- Service is a daily activity.

- Serving someone is loving them.

- Make up covers acne.  Sort of.

- Always be modest.  It's classy.

- I am a child of God

- The home is the happiest place on earth.

- Disneyland is the second happiest place on earth.

- Always wash your hands

- Prayer works

- It's ok to rely on others when you need help

- Travel is better than toys. The memories last longer

- Keep family traditions

- Make family traditions

- Don't microwave butter when baking.  Unless it's Lavonne Maloney's bread recipe

- Dont go into gift shops.  Too much temptation

- Read your scriptures every day

- Study the Ensign

- Always wear sunscreen

- Don't get your hair stuck in a round brush

- How to get your stuck hair out of a round brush

- Gold and silver can go together

- Take pills in a spoon of jam.  "A Spoonful of Sugar" and all that.

- Molasses is good to eat by the spoonful.  As is butter

- Don't pop your knuckles

- Sex is great

- Always wear a slip

- Watch General Conference- all four sessions.  Always.

- Know how to sew.  At least a little

- Take photographs and display them

- Adoption is awesome

- Family is forever

Happy Mother's Day to my mom. :)

Colin's Bricks

This is what Colin is doing right now. He got them for our anniversary. He's pretty excited.

April Anniversary

Four years ago today I was married.  I say it all the time, but I love Colin more every day.

We still hold hands.  We still kiss.  We have had a lot of practice with that, so I'd say we are professional  kissers.

We still laugh at each other.  We still dance together.  We still tell each other everything.

I still look at him every once in a while and just think how handsome he is.  He doesn't wear glasses now- which I used to think he looked weird without them.  Now I think he looks weird in photos with glasses...  His hair is greyer.  I don't know what that says about our time together.  He still can't grow side burns.  He still wears flip flops as often as he can, a token of his mission in Tonga.  He still sings to me, every day.  He is my best friend.

As an avid Pinterest-er, I see all the pins about making your marriage better.  I think- our marriage is pretty awesome, but maybe something will make it even more so.  So I look.  100 ways to make your marriage rock.  5 rules for marital bliss. 60 things to improve your marriage.  One thing that will change your marriage for the better.  

To be honest, nothing in those lists are things that we don't already do.  It's true.  We have been making our marriage rock since the beginning.  So while those lists all have nice ideas, nothing out there has been a new tidbit of advice that will make our marriage better.  Ours is pretty close to perfect.  Is that bragging?  Maybe we should make our own list.

Bragging or not- our marriage is awesome.  And I wouldn't change a thing.

Love.

Creativity in Academics

I have to present my thesis proposal this coming Wednesday.  I had to make a poster and everything.  

But let's face it.  Academic Posters are pretty boring.  This is mine:

So, I think mine is really nice.  Especially when you compare it to the "Award Winning Poster" designs I was directed to...

 
Just tell me mine is ok.  That it does look better than most.  That you would want actually read what is written all over it...

Courtship part II

Colin and I went to the restaurant Chasin' Tails tonight. It's not as scandalous as it sounds.




We wore bibs. And it was messy. And so tasty. Shrimp. Crayfish. Mussels. Yum.







Isn't it good that we married each other? Who else would make faces like that with me? True love is wearing bibs.