Trip To Utah - Cousins

The last time Baby Girl saw her cousin WF, she was five weeks old.

WF now had a brother LF and a sister EF.

Athough WF is almost a full year older than Baby Girl, they got on really well. It was so nice for her to have a playmate there almost 24/7. There were almost no disagreements and lots of giggles.



Here, Baby Girl and WF are watching a show. Baby Girl loves her dresses and princess hair so there you have it. She's on vacation and dressed to the nines.



I realize this may seem like a recurring theme, but honestly, it's the only time any of them will sit still long enough to take a semi-focused photo. Seriously.
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Coming Up For Air...

So, my life is crazy busy with work and musical groups and blah, blah, blaugh....BUT - We had family photos taken a few weeks ago and I just got them back so I'm posting them.


These will probably be on our Christmas card (if I actually get around to sending them this year), so if you want to be super surprised when you get our card, stop reading here.











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5 years

So, we celebrated our 5 year anniversary last Friday (the 30th)

DH and I are a really great fit. After 5 years (including a sort of rough 1st year) we still like being with each other. In fact, we like being with each other so much that we don't have to do anything on our anniversary. :)

So we got home from work and were about to go out to dinner when we both realized that we were beat and we didn't want to have to deal with "restaurant stuff". So we made home made pizza (see, I DO love him) and watched TV. It.was.awesome.(not the pizza part, that was just whatever...)

We also decided that this would be the last year for gifts because we've finally reached a point in our relationship where it is no more validated with something than without.

Needless to say, DH got me this:





and because it was a custom ring and he had it made over Christmas - he couldn't wait a WHOLE month to give it to me, so I got it on Christmas day.

On our actual anniversary he got me lovely roses. I really like flowers. There's something about the complete frivolity of flowers that feels so decadent.



So...what did I get him? Well, like a genius I ordered something that was on back order so it's still not here. In the off chance that DH might actually read this post, I'll have to write about it later, if it ever gets here.
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Pizza

Do you ever have those days?



I got home on Monday, DH had class and wouldn't be home until long after I went to sleep. I didn't feel like cooking and there was no food in the house (i.e. nothing I thought I wanted to eat).

So I ordered pizza. In general, I don't like pizza, it's greasy, cheesy, and heavy. Most pizza places are dark, serve root beer and beer, and all their appetizers (veggies included) are batter dipped and fried.

Often DH has to do something extraordinarily nice for me to even consider the thought of eating pizza. So you can imagine how DH felt when he got home and saw a pizza box with pizza still in it and he didn't suggest that it be purchased.

It's like I'm compromising my morals.

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He Won One

So Saturday Morning, we were in the car on the way to my parents house. It's pretty much what we do on Saturdays.

We were driving along as we normally do, and DH decided to take a different road than we normally took. Right as he was turning he asked me if I thought it was a good idea. I told him, "No, this road is longer than the other one, it will take us longer to get there". To which he replied, "Why didn't you say something sooner?"

Often this is how our driving conversations go. To most it would be sad, but it's just normal for us.

So anyway, we were talking about other things and he explained why he picked the road he did (he just can't let things go...) and he started talking about speed limits, and traffic and it actually made sense. I looked at him and said, "That makes sense, I rescind my previous comment" - because that's how we talk to each other.

To which he replied the following...












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My DH, what a guy

So this is why I love my DH. While I am gone at seminary, he gets up and makes me a lunch and packs it in my appropriately girly lunch box. What a guy...


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Conference Weekend

I stayed in all weekend and watched conference.

For those who are unaware, I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I really enjoy our semi-annual conferences. They are so very uplifting and hopeful. I felt like a bit of a boob this weekend, because I was tearing up at just about every talk. Two that really struck me this weekend were in the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning sessions.

Saturday Afternoon Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke about the ministering of angels and how the Lord sends special messengers to deliver ordinances and doctrine that are too important to miss. Being that I'm a seminary teacher and we are studying the New Testament, I think about how often Christ was ministered unto, and how many of those key players in the restoration of the Gospel in the meridian of time also played key roles in the final restoration in this dispensation.

The other speaker that really resonated with me was Elder Henry B. Eyring. He wrote the home teaching message last month and it was on a similar topic. He spoke of Unity and it's importance in our lives here on earth and in the life to come. I thought about Dave and I, how we are unified as a couple as well as being a part of a unified extended family, both on his side and mine. It reminded me to be more of a peacemaker and advocate for my family so as to help build a greater unity of purpose and inclusion.

If you're interested in seeing these talks, or missed them the first time. Click here, and then select the speaker that you would like to hear.
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Looking Out My Window

This is the view from my office. I have a nice office with a door and a window and real wood cabinets. My favorite part has got to be the view from my window. It doesn't show very well in this picture, but I can see the Chicago river from my office and all of the goings on in the plaza. It makes my day great.

So I was watching people out my window last Friday and I saw them constructing this goofy looking Chicago sign, so after work I went to take a look...

I'm not completely sure what this is about, but it is TOTALLY awesome. The entire sign was made of "green". It wasn't up when I got back in on Monday so I'm not sure what purpose it served over the weekend, but it was still neat to see.

So yesterday I came in to work, sat down and got to work on some leftover projects from Monday when all of a sudden I heard a thud...and then another...and another. This is what I found.

Yep. I had a feathered friend attacking my window. Apparently when the sun hits the window just right it becomes a mirror and this little guy was defending his territory (against himself). It always brightens my day to see wildlife downtown (other than pigeons and purse dogs), he only stayed for about an hour and then I guess the sun no longer reflected his image.

Funny Story. Tribune Tower just recently unlocked all their windows so that people can open them and get a little fresh air. A lady on the 6th floor left her window open overnight and came back to an office with a trespasser. A bird had flown in during the night and couldn't get out! It had ruffled all her papers and made a royal mess of her office...I guess this isn't that funny. Seriously, you had to be there.
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Saturdays in a small(ish) town

I love Saturdays in our little town of Downers Grove.




We have a farmers market that is open every Saturday right outside our Apartment.

It's literally, across the street from our apartment and as you can see, right next to our train station. We have lots of organically grown produce as well as organic meats and breads. Local artists and retail shops set up booths as well, so it's a pretty fun time.
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