A Night Out

Our anniversary was very low key but fun all the same.  The day started with Russ surprising me with two large canisters and some cash to buy clothes with.  He always gets me thoughtful gifts.  He took notice that I've been trying to find some canisters with rubber gaskets in them for my sugar and flour.  That way bugs will stop getting in them and we'll stop having "protein" added to everything we eat.  He of course managed to find the perfect size and color that I've always been wanting {clear in case you were wondering}.  I laughed when he handed me the cash since that is what he gave me last year.  All my clothes were threadbare and wholly last year at this time so Russ thought I should finally spend some money on replacing them.  I held off for about a month because I kept feeling like I should wait for something.  Well that something was me being pregnant with Charlotte.  I had to spend the cash vamping up my threadbare and ill fitting maternity clothes, instead!  Apparently my clothes are pretty bad so he repeated his gift.

Russ mowed the lawn and while he was out I layed out some nice clothes for him and set his brand new watch on top.  Russ tends to need a new watch every other year or so.  They keep breaking on him!  He came in and saw the watch and clothes.  He was so excited about it he got dressed in different clothes, after I took all that time picking ones out for him, lol!

We went grocery shopping together with the girls and made home just in time to put them away and get ready for our night out.  We left and headed to the mall where we found Charlotte's Easter dress and I spent some of my new cash on a pair of heels for church.  Can you believe I haven't worn heels to church in about four years?  My last pair broke right before I had Allie and I just never replaced them.

We then headed over to Red Lobster for some dinner per my choice.  BAD MISTAKE on my part!!!  How was I to know the Red Lobster in our area wasn't a very good restaurant.  Russ also reaffirmed that he doesn't like sea food.  

At the end of our meal Charlotte was starving and I tried to give her a bottle which she wouldn't take.  Somewhere in the past month she has gotten the idea in her head that she doesn't like a bottle.  Shame on us for not giving her one more often to keep her adjusted to it!  So I sat in the backseat of our van for 45 mins or so nursing Charlotte.  Russ and I were able to talk without interruptions which was nice even thought the situation wasn't ideal.

We did a bit more shopping for clothes for me, which Russ was a good sport about, and then we came home.  Nothing grand but a nice night away for Russ and I.

Seven Years and counting

{A bit sad that this is the only recent photo we have of us together!}

Where we've been in seven years!

2004

Young newlyweds living in Rexburg while Russ goes to school.  Jewelle commutes to Idaho Falls to teach.  Money is tight but our love is growing each day.

2005

Lillian has joined the family and now the two lovebirds have become inexperienced but very eager parents.  Russ plugs away at his Bachelors while Jewelle stays home with their new bundle of joy.

2006

Russ has graduated and now is working towards his Masters in Nuclear Engineering.  We have moved to Idaho Falls to a duplex with a backyard!

2007

Enjoying our little family in Idaho Falls.

2008

Three becomes four as we welcome Allie into our lives.  The newness of parenting has worn off and we are working our way to becoming "seasoned" parents.

2009

Changes, changes, changes!  Russ finishes is Masters in Nuclear Engineering and is offered a job in Texas.  After many prayers our family leaves all we have known behind and head south.

2010

We purchase our very first home!  We enjoy our first family vacation to Disneyland.

2011

We now are outnumbered as we add Charlotte to our growing family.  Still in Texas with Russ having a slightly different job description.

These seven years have been a wonderful ride with many highs and a few lows.  I'm forever grateful that I was able to marry Russell. Being with him makes life bearable.  Whether it is his quick whit making me laugh after a long day or his willingness to help out with the dishes, everything he does shows me just how much he loves me and I acknowledge how lucky I am to have him.  Here is to seven wonderful years and counting!

6 years

The other day I was telling someone about the unusual circumstances surrounding mine and Russ's marriage.  As I was talking it donned on me that our anniversary was just around the corner and it would be our 6th anniversary.  Where has time gone?!  I still look at us and see the two goofy kids that everyone asked if we were even old enough to get married. LOL!

 

Russ very slyly got me some roses' last night after his dentist appointment.  He knows how much I love getting flowers and always spoils me with them whenever he can.  These ones were particularly gorgeous I thought.

Early morning I got to go garage saleing with a friend.  It was the first time I've gone to more than one garage sale at a time.  We had a lot fun giggling, and finding treasures.  I was pleased with myself for only spending 25 cents. This little excursion started my day off on the right foot.

Upon returning home I found a card addressed to me sitting on our computer.  Apparently the mail man came early today, or so Russ says.  Inside was a funny card, and some money for me!  Russ noticed my clothes are starting to get on the tattered side, and he also knows I have a hard time spending money on me instead of the girls.  He also said he is going to set aside some time for me to go shopping by myself.  Let me tell you what a luxury that will be! I felt horrible after this because I had forgotten to pick up his present from the store the day before.  I had it all planned out too, but it slipped my mind.  I guess he'll just have to get it late. A week late since he is going to Cali on Sunday.

The rest of the day was spent working on our front flower bed....or maybe I should say shrub bed.  We now have an "almost" finished shrub bed.  We can't decide if we need to relay some mulch or not in a corner of it.  For some reason that section of mulch was a different size than what we covered the rest of the bed with.

Early evening we cleaned ourselves up from gardening, and some neighbors {who are also in our ward} came over and babysat the girls.  Russ and I went out to eat at La Casona, our favorite Mexican restaurant.  It was so good, but I ate way too much.  Afterwards we wandered around the mall talking and in general just killed some time.  Now if you want to feel old go to a mall on Friday night.  I swear there were first graders there without parents!

Around 9:00 we went and saw Clash of the Titans.  Horribly made movie, but it was fun to watch together because we kept comparing it to the Percy Jackson books we just read.  We even were lucky enough to get a drink and some candy with some "date" money my parents had sent us in a card.  Finally we got home and relieved the babysitters.  They talked to us for awhile at the doorway.  It is nice to have adult conversation every once in a while :D

Even though we didn't do anything spectacular it felt great to go actually carry on a conversation with Russ.  Not only that but strengthen our bond as a husband and wife.  I'm so grateful that Russ and I found each other.  He makes me laugh every day with his sense of humor, and that is something I look forward to doing the rest of my life with him.