Six Years

Yesterday was our anniversary. It's been an interesting, and sometimes rough, six years but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Here's to another sixty years up ahead.

Man, we look so young (and thin?) in that picture.

"Can We Go To the Temple Today?"

Elena's been asking me all week if we can go to the temple and telling me that she wants to go to the San Antonio temple because "[she] went there when [she] was a little girl." This was not all that bad, in the way of semi-unreasonable preschooler requests, so Thursday evening I called the temple and asked what they had open on Saturday morning. 10:00 was full and 12:00 cutting it too thin to get back home before Jonathan had work, so I went with 8:00. No, I'm not insane (5am is really early for anyone in our house to get up), I just really wanted to go. It's the anniversary of my first time through the temple and I like to go back each year on this day. It's a little more special feeling, I guess. Since the kids wanted to go so much, Jonathan offered to watch them while they explored the grounds to see the flowers and touch the water. It was a beautiful day for wandering outside, too, with bright sunshine and cool breezes. They had so much fun.




It turned out to be a good thing we went so early because we acquired two (yes, two) punctured tires on the way down. Jonathan changed the worse for the spare while the kids and I explored the bookstore across the street. The blessings of the temple being what they are, there was a Firestone nearby and the tires were under warranty. After lunch and just $15 on a warranty for the new tires, we were on our way again with both children asleep in the back seat and just enough time to make a late lunch/early dinner at home before Jonathan headed out to work. A very good day!

A Few Days Off

Marin has been in town the last week and we finally found time to hang out, Tuesday night. I'd never realized how much fun Dance Dance Revolution was. So, of course we were up late that night. Then Jonathan and I went to San Antonio Wednesday morning (Elena and Joseph played with Abigail and Blaine at "Auntie" Jessica's house). It's been almost almost a year since we've carved out some temple time (I was 7 months pregnant and all the temple ladies were fluttering around me making sure I'd be OK) and even though I had my own appointment for Thursday evening, Jonathan wanted to come too and Wednesdays are his day off. It was fantastic! The whole city was fogged over and, while the sound of traffic was muffled, you couldn't see anything but yourself and the temple. It was so quiet and serene. Thursday night was just for me, though. Brave Regan took in the kids while Jonathan went to work, and I drove back down to San Antonio to be by myself for a bit. I turned off the radio and let my thoughts roam. I sorted through everything I have to deal with every day. Best of all, I didn't have to be chef, maid, nurse, nanny, referee or security blanket for 5 straight hours. The one thing I miss the very most about when I was working was that I could leave every one of my cares and troubles in my locker and just be me for the duration of my shift. Not having that release has been rough on me, the last six months, and this was the first time I've found a way to replace that feeling. Now if only I can get a sitter that's willing to take us a second time...