Lucky me!

*DISCLAIMER* This is an icky, sweet, disgusting post. Don't say I didn't warn you!

I am the absolute luckiest woman in the world. Yesterday Kirt and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary. I really can't believe it's been 13 years! Since we have an almost 12 year old, I guess that's a good thing, but it really feels like we've only been married a few years.

One of the things Kirt promised me when he asked if I would marry him, was that he would make me laugh every day. I can honestly say that he has followed through on that promise. :) Now, for those of you that know me well, sometimes that isn't too hard, but sometimes it's a real chore!

Not everyone gets to spend the rest of their life with their best friend...but I am BLESSED! I do. :) Kirt puts up with a LOT at times. I can be grumpy, moody, bossy, loud, obnoxious, even unkind at times...and the list goes on and on. Kirt looks past all of that and puts his focus on my good qualities. He is always positive and upbeat and sets a great example of love and service in our home.

Last night he pampered me by asking his parents to come and tend (even though they had JUST pulled back into town from a long trip to SLC-thanks Mom and Dad K.!) and taking me to eat at my FAVORITE restaurant: Olive Garden. He even went Christmas shopping with me after. (Wow. That means A LOT, considering how much he hates to shop. :)

Thanks for the BEST 13 years of my life, babe. I'm looking forward to mAnY, MANY more! I love, love, love you!

Happy-Sad

I first heard the phrase "Happy-Sad" in a Cabbage Patch storybook that I owned as a kid. Since then, I have experienced many "Happy-Sad" moments in my life. Getting married, moving to Cedar City, leaving my baby (Dallin) to finish my student teaching, moving from the Washington 5th Ward. Right now I'm living a "Happy-Sad" moment once again.

I am so excited to move into our new house. We walked through it again a week or so ago and I still LOVE it. I want to have more room for all of us, a place for everything, and kids over to play with my kids without going NUTS because we're all in the same room. I want the front door to open and everyone NOT to see the mess we live in. I want my kids to have more personal space because I know how it feels not to have any. This is a GOOD move for us. In so many ways.

On the other hand, the reality hit me today that I will be moving away from some VERY good neighbors and friends. We have become close friends with George and Heather Claseman, who live right across the street. Their youngest, Jenni, is Dallin's age, but my little ones (actually, all my kids) LOVE to hang out over there. Heather also tends the kids for me when I have to be out of town for work. This morning when it snowed here in St. George they all ended up "playing" over at Claseman's. Heather sent me an email with some pics of the kids drinking hot chocolate and told me how much she was going to miss them just dropping in. Honestly, I think she's a better mom to my kids than I AM!

Mia also walks right next door to preschool right now. All of my kids have attended Miss Keri's preschool and she is SO good to them. We have lived in this house while all of them attended preschool, so it's going to be a bit of a change for me to actually have to TAKE her to school. :) I'll have to set a timer to make sure I'm there to pick her up on time instead of her just coming in the door and yelling, "Mo-om! I'm HOOOOME!"

OK, I sit here bawling, as I type. What's wrong with me? I could be moving hundreds of miles away! I could be moving out of the country! Those are things to cry about. I'm not even moving a mile. I think the pregnancy hormones and emotions are just getting to me. That's it. I'm sure of it. :)

"Tis the season

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season has become attending this little cutie's dance recital. She did SO great tonight up on the big stage. It's funny to watch her boss everyone around and tell them where they should be on the stage as she dances. Gee, I wonder where she gets that!! And yes, she's wearing make-up, which she is ONLY allowed to do for recitals!

Great job, Mia!