This Love Tag was on a friends blog (thanks Kristine). I decided it would be fun to go through memory lane. She tagged a few of her friends to do this. I am going to do the same. I will Tag Shana and Julia.
1. WHAT IS YOUR HUSBAND'S NAME? Daniel Evan....(but he goes by Dan)
2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED? Wow the big 10 years!
3. HOW LONG DID YOU DATE? We hung out for 2 months and had our first real date in September before I left to go back to school in Utah. And we were apart two weeks and then he moved to Utah. We were engaged after a twelve hour drive to Utah. We were engage for 1 year. Don't recommend long engagements. Our parents freaked out after two months of knowing each other. So, I guess when you really add up how long we dated...I guess you can say we only had one real date.
4. HOW OLD IS HE? He is now 36. I have been planning his "Over the hill" party for the last 7 years. Yeah, I started when he was 29 and complaining he was an old man. He has been complaining every year, of every month, of every week, of every day, of every hour, and of every minute. I am trying to decide if I should really wait for his 40th Birthday or do it sooner.
5. WHO EATS MORE SWEETS? Definitely he does! (He even eats it in front of the kids when they lose their snack)
6. WHO SAID 'I LOVE YOU' FIRST? He whispered, "I love you" in my ear. I was asleep on the floor at my parents house. And the funny thing is that we weren't dating at that time. Boy, did I wake up pretty fast and said, "Thank you."
7. WHO IS TALLER? Dan is 6 ft. I am 5'7'
8. WHO CAN SING BETTER? Funny question. Not me and not him. I guess, you can say I do. He likes to sit next to me and change the words of the song until he gets me to start messing up.
9. WHO IS SMARTER? We have not discussed this one who is smarter. I guess, there are somethings that are still unanswered. We are both smart in different things.
10. WHO DOES THE LAUNDRY? I have to say we both do. Before we had kids it was mostly ME! He was shrinking my clothes or mixing certain colors that bleed all over the other clothes. Or ironing clothing that end up changing colors or leaving a light imprint of the iron. He learned to sort HIS and HERS. If he was trying to be helpful; He did the House laundry and His laundry. ...Leaving my alone to avoid a very expensive shopping spree to Nordstrom to replace damage clothing. Now I have kids; I feel they just empty there drawers of cleaning laundry back in the hampers for me to rewash. As I am doing laundry and sorting them, I come across several clothing items still folded. I have a lot of things to teach my kids.
11. WHO PAYS THE BILLS? Me, for now.
12. WHO SLEEPS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED? Dan and I decided it does not matter which side of the bed we slept on. Well, technically I sleep on the Right and he sleeps on the left. If I sleep on the left, Dan seems to find him self rolled out of bed and right onto the floor. I guess you can say I am a roller. That darn daybed growing up.
13. WHO MOWS THE LAWN? We both do yard work. Most of the time it is Dan. One year I hired a neighborhood boy to mow our lawn. Which meant more time for Dan to spend with me since I fractured my tail bone and he had to do everything; house work, laundry, cooking, yard work...everything. Boy, I missed my Man of a Maid.
14. WHO COOKS DINNER? I love to show off my cooking skills. Dan was so excited to marry someone who can cook. Now we both do. And let me say, "I love it." He has surprised me with dinner on many occasion.
15. WHO DRIVES? I do a lot of the driving. When we are on the go; he just got off of work, taking his pills (drowsiness hits), or he is usually changing in the car. When we drive to California he usually will do most of the driving.
16. WHO IS MORE STUBBORN? It is me. Poor guy, he doesn't have a stubborn bone in his body.
17. WHO ASKED OUT WHOM FIRST? Well, he made the first move in come up to me and start talking to me. He called me up a few days later and asked if it would be alright if we can go out sometime. Nothing, so I starting inviting people over to hang out my parents house. And then I started inviting less and less guys. It ended up it was just him and my brothers at the house. Oh yeah, it took him a few weeks to figure out my brothers were my brothers. My brothers wanted to play a joke on him. I'd figure, why not.
18. WHO PROPOSED? I don't know. After a twelve hour drive from California to Utah and I might say very interesting and enjoyable conversation. I asked him, "If we were engaged." He said, "Yes." He then tried several times to surprise me and do a real proposal. That didn't work for him, I always ended up asking him, "If he was proposing tfinally gave up.
19. WHO HAS MORE SIBLINGS? He does. He is the oldest of 8. Yes, eight kids in his family. In his family there are 3 boys and 5 girls. We figure his mom was pregnant the first 10 1/2 years. Two weeks out of the year Dan and his sister are the same age. I am the 3 child out of 6. I have 5 brothers. I am smack in the middle of boys. No wonder I was a Tom Boy for most of my childhood. It wasn't until freshman year; I started to change.
20. WHO WEARS THE PANTS? Ha ha ha! Quoting from the blog of Kristine regarding this question. She said,"I'd say we're equal, but I have more opinions." Of course, it's me. If he made all the decisions we will still be on our first date; starting to expire and smell; while he is still deciding what to eat off the menu. He is much better now. Just after we were married his Uncle gave him some advise, "Yes dear, anything you say dear." And of course, my parents advised him to succeed or to have things go his way to use one of the following phrases, "Do you have anything else to say?", "Regardless!", and "Nevertheless."
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Love Tag
For those who have sons & for those who are happy that they don't.
I received an email today and I had to post a few of the photos and some interesting thoughts on boys on the blog. Growing up with boys and now having a son of my own...I never know what he is really thinging when he does something. It is just a boy thing. If you would like me to send you the full email with all the other really funny photos; send me an email and I will send the rest of the photos. These two remind me of my son Ryan or something my husband would do when he was little.
And you also find out interesting things when you have sons, like ...
2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3. A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceilin g fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9. A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.
10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old Boy.
11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12. Super glue is forever.
13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15. VCR's do no t eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20. The fire department in Austin , TX has a 5-minute response time.
21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24. 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
25. 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid
Friday, February 22, 2008
Asked to Speak; "What?"
We were asked to speak for the UFCF to a foster care pre service class were other families working on getting their license or relicensing. They wanted us to share our experience in adopting two children from foster care. We were bribed to get credit hours; since we are renewing our license. They have been asking since we adopted our two children to come and speak and share the good, the bad and the ugly of our children.
It was sad to think of all the bad and the ugly. But it was wonderful, to remember all the good. It was nice to share that we have a lot of good days. We wanted to give the children a history or a life book for them. We started it but have been so busy we could not keep up with it. We now have the kids story down and are ready to put it into scrapebooks. A scrapebook they can always look at and a scrapebook they can have when they turn 18 years of age and ask for the information.
It is not a baby book; but we are going to make a special book for them. We will see if we get ask us back or if we get blacklist to not be asked to speak again. Maybe, we scared to many foster care potentionals.
The snow keeps coming down.
We have been having snow storm after snow storm. The kids have been excited to go out side in the snow. They were acting as if it was a day at the beach. Lindsay wanted to wear her swim suit instead of getting dressed up in warmer clothes; she was too hot to wear her jacket. When she came in she said, "Mom I told you I will get wet. Now, I have to change my clothes".
If you are not careful....You might get hit with a snowball.
"We didn't throw the snowball in the house. Our hands are clean."
They want you to think they are just innocent and full of gigles.Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Our beloved Prophet Gordan B Hinkley
Our family was able to take part; along with thousand of others to stand in line at the Conference Center to have the opportunity to say Good Bye to our Prophet Gordan B Hinkley. We were prepared with snacks, warmer clothes, and quite games for the kids. We ended up leaving the games in the car since we were racing to catch the trax. Lindsay and Ryan had to learn another way to entertain themselves; quietly.
Our family experience was standing in line for about 2 and 1/2 hours; only a few feet from doors. We heard once you entered the Conference Center it would be another 2 or 3 hours. Lindsay said, "Mom, I am ready to go home, to our home." Ryan said, "The last time we waited in line for long time was at Disneyland. What is the ride at the end." We knew it was time to go home.
We will have the memories of standing in line. The comment's the kids shared and moment we had to teach our children. A few of my favorite comments was Lindsay explaining to everyone in line; "the Prophet died and we are getting a clean Prophet." Her replied when asked Why; "Because he is a dirty prophet with all that dirt." Lindsay and Ryan, both were singing "Following the Prophet" and telling everyone they were married in the Temple.
We warmed up in the Visitor Center and gave the kids a tour of the Visitor Center. A nice way to finish our first FHE.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Dan's Family
Dan's family is not small. His parents had eight children; 3 boys and 5 girls. We had it figured out that his folks had eight children in the first 11 years of their marriage. This picture was taking in 2006. Dan is the eldest of his family. At the time of this picture we had no children. Dan and his sister Becky are the same age 2 weeks out of the year. Becky is married to Chad and they have two girls and one boy; Kacie, Logan, and Jessica. Debbie is married to Brett and they have one girl; Ellie. Rachelle married Richard and they have one girl and one boy; Kamae and Kyle. David married Jennifer the honeymoon is over; they had a little girl Katelyn. Still living the single night life are Mike, Marie and Sarah.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
My Family
My Family has grown in the last 13 years. My Parents had six kids; 5 boys and 1 girl. Of course, that means I was the only girl. I remember telling myself; one day I will have my sisters. Bill married Kathryn and they have three beautiful girls; Hannah, Eliza, and Sophia. Mark married Staci and they have two girls and one boy; Emma, Rebecca, and Matthew. I married Daniel in and we now have one boy and one girl. Jared married Miriam and they have one girl and one boy; Eva and I call my newest nephew Gavin (aka baby Jared Jr.). Joshua married Lorretta and they are still the newlyweds. And my youngest brother Andrew enjoying the single life. The count today is Girls 13 and Boys 10. As you can see the girls are out numbering the boys. And that is just on my side.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Snow Angels
Lindsay just turned four last October. She is a girly girl all the way and loves to be the Princess of the house. She loves her ballet classes and is excited to start a new preschool. She laughs everytime she says her preschool name. She thinks it is funny to have a school named Dancing Moose.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Lindsay's ballet recital
Lindsay started ballet at C & C Ballet after her 4th Birthday. She has been very excited to finally be a ballerina. She had her first recital December 19th, just before the Christmas break. Lindsay was wearing a cute red outfit and antlers; dancing to Rudolph the red nose reindeer. She did great! The ballet recital was held at a high school gym instead of an auditorium; due to the auditorium was vandalized two days before the recital. She is third ballerina from the left. Enjoy the recital.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
2008 Family News Letter
We started the year off as a Foster Family for a sibling group that need a home. It was not easy going from nine years of marriage and have placed with us a little boy 4 1/2 and a little girl 3 years of age. They were placed in our home October 2006. The honeymoon was over the first hour after having them in our care. It started out to be a hard adjustment. We wanted so much for this to be a positive experience and share our home with children who need a safe and loving environment.
We have been told things will come around once you give unconditional love. That was one factor in the equation. The problem we did not know how to give unconditional love to not one but two children who so much did not want it. They did not know what was going on and why they were not with their family. It was hard to see them and their sad brown, teary eyes look at you and not understand.
These two silly monkeys brought the good, the bad and the ugly all at once and it seemed a little to overwhelming most of the times. For a couple, who did not have children for 9 years of their marriage; it made you think of the years of not having children look better and better.
We did not want to spoil them, but we want them to have some good memories and some fun experience. Things changed because we were not giving up on them. We took them to meet our Family and go on a Family Vacation. Things were looking good. Both Ryan and Lindsay were growing and learning to play catch up to all the other kids.
Ryan and Lindsay are both happy to be adopted and sealed to our Family. They can't believe how many cousins they now have. Ryan is almost six years old. He is in all day Kindergarden. There are days he wishes he could stay home and play instead of going to school. He enjoyed playing soccer when it was not cold and rainy. Lindsay just turned 4 years old and is in preschool a few hours durning the week. She enjoys her ballet class and just had her first receital. She loves telling everyone we are married now.
We are happy they are able to be adopted and stay in our home as a part of our family. We thought that day would never come. We are able to start 2008 off with a new start as a Family and put some of the unhappy memories behind us and move forward. We wish everyone a Happy New Year.
And may your dreams and wishes come true.....For us it has, especially now we have finished the downstairs basement as a playroom and a functioning toilet. The toilet started off as a joke, "What would you like for Christmas? A toilet." Thanks to my Mom and Dad for letting that happen. And to Dan's Mom and Dad thank you for your contributions for a soon to be bathroom sink. I am just waiting on Dan to finish hooking it all up. This joke finally came true and makes a good family story.
Of course, we will still be sending stories and photos of our Dogs; Koda and Bauer from time to time. Just because there are grand kids from us now; doesn't me I am going to stop with photos of just the kids. Let's see I will have to send the update on Koda's Hello and tricks. Oh! and Bauer can crawl. We are still working on Bauer's Hello. Our two cats have hit the up tight old maids.
Again Happy New years from our Family to yours.
Dan, Mel, Ryan and Lindsay.
(koda, bauer, parie, and pacey too! we can't forget them too!)
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Our First Real Family Photo
This Family photo was taken at the beginning of November in Memory Grove with our two dogs Koda and Bauer. This is our First official Family photo. We are glad to have Ryan and Lindsay as part of our Family.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Two Kids
Our two "silly monkeys", Ryan and Lindsay. They love to laugh and smile. We call them our "silly monkeys" because of how giggly and silly they can be. They love calling everyone silly monkeys; hence the name.
Our Annoucement
Daniel and Melissa
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