Making Time

Hubby and I were able to sneak away on a sleepover date night to celebrate our sixteenth wedding anniversary. 

(Thanks Cindy for taking my rug rats!) It was so needed and so appreciated.

Twenty four hours of uninterrupted time with my husband.  Focusing on us.  Reminiscing, laughing, relaxing.  Taking time to care for our most important connection.  Making time for each other.

a few pictures from our mini vacation - even the artwork screamed love, check out the bunnies and the rock statue!



Sixteen

we were young,

best friends,

the first of our friends to get married.

i'm pretty sure that at least a few
of our wedding guests 

thought that we would fall apart.

and to be honest, even though

i loved him and he loved me,

part of me questioned

what the heck i was doing?

i believed that anything i wanted to do in my life,

i wanted to do with john beside me.

cheering me on, laughing with me, loving me.

and through it all,
the hard times that were harder either of us expected,
the good times that have been sweeter than i could ever have hoped for,

we didn't fall apart.

i still believe that anything that i want to do in life
i want to do with john beside me.
cheering me on, laughing with me, loving me,
falling together.

 

Dance Nights

I'm a terrible dancer.


Not kind of bad, really bad.  Think Kate from Dancing with the Stars, or Elaine from Seinfeld and you'll get an idea of my dance ability.  Not being a great dancer has never stopped me from breaking out into random dance moves.  Often times, I will put on my IPod, or turn the stereo up and have my own dance party. 

My husband isn't a great dancer either so I don't feel that I am holding him back.  On our wedding day, we stumbled through U2's All I Want is You.  As awkward as it was, it was the best six minutes of my wedding day.  Because even though I can't dance, I love to dance.

Early in our marriage money was tight.  Music and dance became a way for the family have fun and connect.  We would have Friday night dance parties with the kids.  It was so cute to watch our little blond ragamuffins dancing to their favourite songs.  Later, once the kids were put to bed, the tempo would slow, and the music would get turned down. John and I would have the dance floor to ourselves.  Our Friday night dance parties are some of my sweetest memories of our life together. 

We still have family dance parties, they are just more random now.  Just the other evening we cranked up the tunes and danced for an hour or so.  My boys and I cut up the rug.  The Kid and her Dad didn't get up to bust a move, but I could tell that they were both enjoyed the nostalgia of the moment.  The evening ended with a slow dance.  Charlie and I danced to  U2's One. 

Our dance parties that remind me how sweet life is.  I will hold these memories close to my heart forever.  I have blessed - with two left feet and a family loves my quirky moves.

appy birday baby

appy birday to you

appy birday to you

appy birday dear John,

appy birday to you.

I love birthdays.  What I love the most is that birthdays are a day to celebrate one person.  This Friday, we celebrated my husband's birthday.  John is my favorite person.  I am proud to share my life with him. 

What's more, look at the kids faces in the pictures below (ignore the crappy lighting/flash.)  You can see the pride in their faces.  He honestly is our rock.  I am so grateful for him.   





Josh and his dad.

being silly



what you cant see in this picture, and my favorite part,
 is the way the little man is proudly patting his dad's back



How To Stay in Love

kiss

cuddle

share

say please

say thank-you

validate

appreciate

giggle

say sorry

forgive & forget

accept

make time

make conversation

make love

nurture

prioritize

fight fair

learn from mistakes

be venerable

be kind

be interested

be interesting

say i love you

compromise

"see" him

"see" yourself

hold hands

celebrate

give up the notion of "my job" or "his job" - you're in this together

explore

play

dream

set goals

remember

be friends

be a soft place to land

take time for yourself

dance together

embrace quirks - yours and his

try hard

laugh together

laugh at his jokes

brag about him

turn off the tv

be intimate - mind, body and soul

let go

be careful; egos are fragile

focus

invest in each other

ride it out

be deliberate

create rituals

honour

respect

have faith

spoil him

be aware

slow down

get lost on adventures

talk to each other; the "big" talks and the "nothing" talks

plan together

sympathize

grow



Did I miss something?  Add it below in the comment box!

 



Father's Day

June 20 - Drive by Visit-
I am so lucky and honoured to have both of these great men in my life. My husband is a great father. He is patient, kind, and understanding. My kids know that their Dad always has and always will have their back - but at the same time he pushes them to spread their wings and try. He is the one who has taught them to tie their shoes and ride a bike ( there is no way I would have had the courage to let go of the bike.) He is just as proud of his children as they are of him. I have heard all of them brag about their Dad when they think I can't hear. They brag about his strength, little do they know just how strong their Dad is - inside and out.
My father is wise, and kind. I have always known that he was there for me no matter how far away he is. In my adult life, Dad has moved around a lot for work, and right now is doing a job in the United States, so I felt very blessed that he just happened to be around for Father's Day. I understand my father - in a way that can be described as heart felt, he doesn't talk a lot. I know that he has suffered great loss, but continues to try his best, and learn from his mistakes.
These men make me so proud. One choose me to share in his life, and one fate choose me to share in his life. I have learned so much from both. Dad and John

My father and I

Dad and Lynda

June 9 - 11

June 9 - Beat it
For real. I get me a little sad for my hubby because he doesn't have time for his hobby, drumming. If and when Hubby gets free time it is usually after the kids are in bed - not the ideal time for banging out a beat. poor guy.
June 10 - Funky Fungi
We have had so much rain in the last few days, that these Funky Fun Guys showed up on an old stump in the back yard.

June 11 - Suck it up Buttercup

Okay so I realize that it is not a buttercup, but the colour is right. The day lilies are so much happier since I removed some of the huge hostas from my garden, ( which, I just learned are another type of lily.) -now the lilies and cone flowers have room to stretch out and grow.