The Magic of 12

12 things I love about Jeff

1. He is a hard working man.
2. He works so hard, I get to stay home with the boys.
3. He is patient with the boys.
4. He loves me despite my short temper, lack of patience, and through all my rants.
5. He will surprise me with flowers for no apparent reason.
6. He tolerates the dog being in the house even though he would rather her be outside.
7. He doesn't complain about my clutter piles....I am getting better at these.
8. If I am having a hard time he will take the boys or send me out the door to cool off.
9. He is patient with me, no matter how ridiculous I am being.
10. He doesn't complain when our school auction takes over our time together.
11. He takes the boys on Sunday's so I can go play soccer with my girlfriends.
12. He has been known to surprise me with a babysitter and a dinner on our anniversary when I had planned on a quiet evening at home.

A Decade Long Love Affair

Unless you count the years before the marriage.

Am I a sap? Not likely.
Romantic at Heart? Definitely!

Jeff and I got married 10 years ago today. I love him now as much as I ever have (trials, tribulations, frustrations and all). That's what it's about right? Loving your significant other despite the rocky, rough patches. When we got married we went the non-denominational route. So we didn't do the unity candle but did a rose exchange and we used the Apache Blessing as one of our readings. I have to say I still like it, it goes like this:

Apache Blessing

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
You are two persons,
But there is only one life before you.
Go now and enter the days of your life together,
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

I think it just about says it all.
Happy Anniversary Jeff!

The Impressionable Stage - Random Thoughts

I am joining Keely's Random Thought Tuesday today. Thought I'd give it a try regardless of how random, possibly weird my thoughts may be.

Does everyone have an "impressionable stage" in their relationships early on or is it just me? My dear, loving hubby went through what I like to call an "impressionable stage." This consists of doing things I am interested in such as hiking, mountain biking, snow/water skiing, etc. I'd like to think he was wooing me, but I could be wrong. Why can't this stage go on forever? Or is this just a ploy to give me what I want early on and then drop the act as soon as he gets what he wants.

Why is it when a family goes camping the woman gets to do all the work? Packing, shopping, unpacking, cooking, cleaning, organizing, reorganizing, etc. Men, they get all the fun! Fishing, 4 wheeling, dirt biking, socializing, etc. Don't get me wrong, I love to go camping, I just hate that most of the "duties" of camping are left to me. This must have been another of the "impressional stage" things because I recall getting more help with the duties before we were married. Hmmm, beginning to see a pattern here.

Am I the only living mother who doesn't have any interest in "throwing" my kids a birthday party? I mean honsestly, they are way out of control! Spend all kinds of money on gifts, party favors, food, decorations, etc. just to have it all unappreciated. Besides, party favors end up being junk that breaks in a matter of minutes because they are ALL made in CHINA. Half the stuff my kids bring home ends up in the garbage with in 5 minutes of playing with it. JUNK I tell ya.

When did the movies get so expensive? I took the boys to see UP and it cost me $50. Really? $50? I bought 4 tickets......matinee tickes, a small popcorn for the boys to share, a soda for each of the boys, and a box of Junior Mints for us all to share.......$50! Unbelieveable. As if those actors/actresses didn't make enough flippin' money! Thank goodness for $1 movies in the summer time.

What is it with boys and destruction? I am telling you, I can't have anything nice because they destroy it. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. The kicker is that they destroy MY stuff, not their or their dad's, but mine. The latest? The CD player in the truck. Boy #1 thought it would be cool to put a CD in the player with the truck off and the player totally full of CD's. Result? Can't get ANY out! Try as I might, I get CD ERROR every time I attempt to eject. Nothing of mine is sacred.

I think I may be a little crazy in the head. I am contemplating another 1/2 marathon, just 2 weeks before the Nike 1/2 marathon. I said contemplating....but am leaning heavily towards doing it. Keely how is the training going?

9 years and still going!

It has been 9 years since we tied the proverbial knot. Nine years, who would have thought? Yay for us right?

I met dear, loving hubby through a mutual friend. At the time I had just started SJSU, was homeless, and really didn't have a job in the area. I house hopped for 6 months until I could move into a brand new apartment and went home every Thursday, which was a 3 hour drive, to go to work. Tuesday morning I would be up at 4 AM to make an 8 o'clock class. I did this for about 6 months. I did land a job at a child care center where I met Laura....the mutual friend. Little did I know that she had plans for me. She had the grand idea to set me up with Jeff, despite the fact I had a boyfriend (eventually I came to my senses about the boyfriend and moved on....with Jeff).

Every time we went out she would make sure Jeff was around. Was he a good guy? Absolutely! Was I interested? Absolutely not! As I said before I moved on from the boyfriend, but kept Jeff at an arm's length for a long while.....I didn't want a boyfriend, I wanted to have fun. Well I did have fun, but Jeff was persistent. Obviously I caved.

We were married 9 years ago in the middle of the redwoods. We rode on a steam train....guests too and had a great time. I'm not your sappy type, but I love him very much and wouldn't change a thing. After all he puts up with my nonsensical rants, bouts of fury and frustration, and on top of it all he is very patient with me and the boys.

Happy Anniversary and I love you Jeff!