Once there was a snowman, tall, tall, TALLLL

Ooof. So much catching up to do.

It's like staring at a primary room full of nine and ten year old boys and just not wanting to go in. Oh, wait. 

That job belongs to THIS lady who I love:

One of the boys moved away to South Carolina this month, and she had all the primary boys in her class over for an evening of games, legos, a campfire and FUN.

She deserves a Congressional Medal.

Not even kidding.

Families (and we hope ice cream) are forever

Five and a half years after we were married for time, we were married for eternity. It was May 20, 1995, and we were living in sunny Sacramento, California. Some local friends and a few family members made the two hour trip to the Oakland temple, where we were sealed to each other and to our two sweet little boys.

A lot has happened in the twenty years since that day in Oakland, and we're still working hard to keep the promises we made.

 We're banking heavily on the fact that our marriage is going to last forever. And that we'll be able to continue celebrating milestones with ice cream for just as long.

She turned 19 and WHOOSH!!...

Birthday Pie(s)

on cinco de mayo.
Now you know why we DON'T sing in church.

there was a wedding...

It wasn't THE royal wedding, but let's face it: when it's your kid getting married, and he chooses a brilliant and beautiful bride, you expect red carpet and paparazzi. I mean HELLO:

 They were stunning.

And smitten.

 There were a lot of cameras, mostly because they had such a big gathering of fans/family/friends in attendance.

(an extra big THANKS to my sister-in-law Alana, who took most of these pictures)

 It was great to have Grampy and Mimi there, and even more special because Grampy performed the marriage.

 We LOVE our new daughter-in-law/sister.

She laughed when it rained.

 Which helped us all take it in stride...

Look how well she fits:

 They say that rain on your wedding day is good luck.

 I'm inclined to agree

 They're off to a great start.

   

25 years - that's silver, right?

Silver anniversaries, or in the world of old cars, officially antique. Since we both love antiques, we love that 2014 marks 25 years of being married to each other. We celebrated early--more than a month early actually, by taking a long weekend trip to Salt Lake City in October. We saw some sights, ate good food, met up with good friends, did some hiking and thoroughly enjoyed our weekend. We crossed some items off the bucket list by attending our first couple of live sessions of General Conference together, and also spent some time inside the Salt Lake Temple. I have some really great pictures on a memory card somewhere... for now, these pixel-y cell phone pics are all that I've come up with.

Looking forward to another memory-filled 25 years together!

over the river and through the woods (and down the New Jersey Turnpike) to Grandmother's house we go...

 ...past miles and miles of rolling farmland

 to Palmyra, Virginia.

It was GOOD to visit.

 and GOOD to be reminded of what great parents Dub has. I often tell my kids the story of how his family was the catalyst in my decision to marry him (way back when).

 they still bring me great joy.

 It's clear that our children feel the same when we're together.

 Hooray for family!

And hooray for family selfies!

They both make me laugh.

skipping rocks

This guy's got some pretty great talents--many of which do not get spotlighted in any way, including his ability to skip rocks like no one I've EVER met.  He's good.

He's also good at his job, and it's been keeping him away.

Which is NOT good.

Last week he spent on the sunny California coast.

This week? St. Louis.

Tonight he's headed home, and I feel an analogy coming on.

He's got a pretty firm grip around the smooth parts of my heart, and tonight his arrival is going to send it skipping across the waters of happiness. That is all.

XOXO