love day

we had such a wonderful valentine's day this year. since i've been awful at writing in my journal lately, i'm hoping this blog can help me remember some details that would otherwise be lost.

i think a lot of the fun of valentine's is planning and doing things for tannon. usually i'm not this ambitious, but i wanted to make this year somewhat special. i think i had more fun than he did.

**this was the most corny v~day yet, so if you can't take it, please stop reading.**

i wanted to type up how we met/our love story from my perspective and give it to tannon. he already knows it, but it's so fun to re-live those memories every once in a while. since our first date happened to be February 14, 2003, i figured it was only appropriate. i typed it up as a "story" format. a lot of the details are fuzzy in my head, so i had to make do and embellish them a little. it makes for a better story, right?

i slipped the 5 page essay into his backpack so that he wouldn't read it until he was at school.

that night, we decided to steal our friends' tradition and make a heart-shaped pizza. i love pizza.




i had mentioned the night before that i was craving vanilla ice cream, so he surprised me with homemade vanilla ice cream.


after we ate, i busted out my cheesiness.

i had 4 small gifts for him, but in order for him to open them, he had to do something first. each gift was accompanied with a corny poem.

i won't bore you {or gross you out} with the rest of the gifts/poems, but i have to say it was the most memorable/fun valentine's day since our first date.

i love being in love.

love week: things i love

i love having things to look forward to. this is especially critical during the late winter. it keeps me going.

feb. 14 ~ v-day

feb. 24 ~ confirm munchkin is indeed a boy

march 3 ~ quick boston trip

april 22 ~ sissy & family come visit

* * * * * *

i love a great book. this month's book is the book thief. i have heard such wonderful things about it, but after reading the summary, i'm not so sure. i really hope i like it. i'm desperate for a book i don't want to put down.

* * * * * *

sugar cookies. they scream valentine's to me. i don't make them over the holidays, but you better believe i make them every february.

* * * * * *

enya. i could listen to her at any time throughout the year. her music is inspiring and invigorating.

* * * * * *

mac & cheese. the character kind. i had to save the best for last.

the birthday boy

for tannon's birthday, his brother & his wife gave him 2 tickets to go to a concert. tannon & i are kind of "over" concerts, since they are usually expensive, crowded, and most the concerts we attend are general admission. my back usually starts hurting if i stand at concerts for more than 30 minutes. i'm an old lady, i know.

neither of us had heard of this singer, so we didn't quite know what to expect. the concert was last night and it. was. awesome.

it was at club cafe on the southside and the setting couldn't have been more perfect. we walked in about 30 minutes before the show was scheduled to start and they had little tables set up. we sat down and there was a menu, so we ordered dinner. during the concert, a little waitress would come around to refill your drink or you could order anything at anytime.

the place probably only seats 60 people MAX. no one stood up. my back didn't hurt. my stomach was fed. my man by my side. it was a perfect evening.

and the best part was that it was a smoke-free club.

the opening band was a local band called the wreckids. they are a darling husband & wife who are acoustic and hilarious.

then david berkeley. he is also acoustic. i LOVE his voice. he is very talented. i guess there were supposed to be 2 others there with him, but they didn't get on a flight due to the storm, so it was just him.

here is a clip {not from last night}, if you're interested. i always love finding new music.



brinton & caitlin - thank you for the perfect gift.

munchkins & lollipops

the past four {ish} years have been a bit of a roller coaster. i never thought it would be easy for us to start a family, but i couldn't have dreamt how difficult it's been.

{cue sappy full house music}. i can honestly say, though, that i am truly grateful for the time tannon and i have had to grow together. i feel that we have been strengthened as a couple and i have developed a deeper love for him.

there was a time that i was really struggling and it seemed that every time i turned around, clicked on a blog, or checked facebook, someone was announcing their 2nd or 3rd pregnancy. i couldn't help but wonder if i would ever be in that position.

so, if it seems as though i am not excited, i can assure you that i am. but, i am also very cautious. i have been let down too many times to skip right to the excitement.

can't wait for the munchkin to make his* debut.

*i think it's a boy

all you need is love

i think i'm the only person who actually looks forward to valentine's day. yes, it's a sappy holiday where stores make too much money off of stuffed animals, chocolates, and corny cards. but it also happens to be the day that tannon and i enjoyed our first date.

and because i think it's fun to do dorky things for tannon. my favorite was the year i made up little poems and sent him on a scavenger hunt through our 500 square-foot duplex.

and because it gives me something to look forward to during the long and dreary winter.

* * * * * *

the other day i came home from work to a package with my name beautifully written in red marker. inside was a little note from my darling caitlin {sis-in-law}. she had made me a valentine's banner. it meant so much to me, i almost cried.

and now? my house has a darling valentine banner hanging in my front room.

christmas 2010

i wasn't planning on doing a christmas post, but... here i am. i love spending christmas with just tannon. we missed our families, but christmas really is special with just our little family.

on christmas eve, we went to a movie {how do you know - lame!} and then we followed the movie with a romantic, cozy dinner at Olive Garden. once we stuffed ourselves into a food coma, we came home, snuggled up on our air mattress next to the tree in the family room and fell asleep to Christmas Vacation.

christmas morning, we woke up slowly

opened presents

{hudson got a new toy squirrel}

ate our very healthy breakfast, monkey bread.

and played a lot of rummikub.

we were supposed to end the night by going to our friends house for dinner, but instead my body decided it would be a good time to catch the flu. so, we spent the night on the couch watching LOST season 1.

i love lazy christmas's.

i'm still alive

we've been doing a lot of playing, running, and getting dirty. i love my boys.