25 Years and Counting

Today my parent's are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary! I can't believe so much time has passed. As the oldest child, I have been around for the majority of these 25 years, and experienced with them many of their joys, sorrows, excitement, and worries. I remember all of the babies, the diaper changes, the ball practices, the choir concerts . . . and it has truly been a pleasure to be a part of this family. I don't know why I was blessed to be sent to such incredible parents, but I wouldn't want to be with anyone else!

As the time goes by, it is so fun to see the ways my siblings and I are similar to our parents. It is becoming easier to see the similarities!

I think I have a mix of both parents, but my dad may be more present. I have many genetic traits from my dad in appearance and health. I am also very opinionated like my dad. But that is a good thing, right? ;) I also inherited my mom's perfectionism. We like to have things done well. If they aren't done right, what is the sense of doing it in the first place?

Chelsea is almost an exact copy of my mom -- she has the sweetest heart and would do anything for those she loves. But don't think her kind heart makes her a pushover -- she is so stubborn that she will accomplish whatever she sets her mind to do, and she will do it perfectly. Or she will explode with frustration. ;)

Dallin looks like my mom and the Sandberg side of the family. He is tall, blonde, and tan -- the lucky devil. But his personality is more similar to my dad in some ways. He loves kids, and he really knows how to make them feel special. I think this is something he learned from my own dad.

Andrew is truly a child-version of my dad. They have the same eyes, smile, facial expressions, and personality. When Andrew speaks, he says things my dad would say, with the exact same inflections. It is incredible! His personality is the same, and he loves to be outside working in the garden and doing manly things.

Rylee is only nine, so it will be interesting to see what characteristics she develops from my parents. She is very similar to Chelsea in that she is very stubborn and will accomplish whatever she sets her heart to. She also has an intense love of learning, and loves to share her knowledge with everyone. We will see what happens with her!

We were able to celebrate their anniversary with my parents over this weekend with a family party and dinner together. We did all kinds of things that we did as I was growing up -- we played tennis; roasted s'mores; played games like Fruit Basket Turnover, Spoons, and Oh Shucks!; and shared photos and memories of the past 25 years. It was a great weekend! I felt like a kid again. :)

Here is a small photo tribute to the last 25 years. I can't wait for the future years to come!

Chelsea and Lindsey

 

 

Chelsea, Lindsey, and Dallin

 

 

 

Andrew and Dallin

 

 

Andrew and Rylee

Sweet Rylee girl!

 

Dallin and Rylee

 

 

Jeff

This morning was beautiful. It started with an hour of cuddling and dozing with Jeff, just feeling so happy. We made muffins and eggs together for breakfast, and while everything was cooking we sat on the back porch blowing bubbles. I truly felt like everything was perfect.

Cheryl happened to sneak a picture of the moment, and I am so grateful! I love that man and his one little bubble.

I realized today that just over a year ago I wrote a post about the reasons I love Jeff. All of these reasons are still very true! But it is so interesting how things grow, develop, and change in relationships. Now that we have been married almost three years, people frequently ask how how things are going for us -- and I always respond that I love him more now than I ever have before. It is funny because I loved him so much when I wrote the previously mentioned post, but there are so many different things I would add to that list as our love has grown.

1. It merits mentioning that Jeff will sit on the porch with me and blow bubbles. I don't know many 25-year-old men who blow bubbles without a child present. But the fact that he did that with me makes me feel incredibly special, and I appreciate that we have a youthful and playful love.
2. I was having a conversation with Jeff's mom the other day, and she tearfully (but happily) told me how she loves that Jeff will do anything for me. This made me cry, but she is so right. Jeff always does the hard things purely out of love for me. I hope he knows I notice it. 
3. Jeff is very playful and loving with me. He never hesitates to sweep me up in a big hug, pinch my bum, or dip-kiss me in the kitchen. Even in public he will stop what he is doing just to hold me for a second and kiss my fore head. An older woman in our ward wrote us a note a month or so ago noticing the special love that we have, and admonishing us to always keep it. I know that we will, because it is just who Jeff is.
4. After work or school, Jeff is incredibly excited to see me. The first thing he does when he gets home is find where I am. He will run up the stairs or run after me into the kitchen to give me a big hug and kiss. This utterly delights me.
5. One of my favorite things about Jeff is his absolute love for our 9-year-old Primary class. He is so excited to see them, and we laugh for the next week about the hilarious things they say in class. He frequently mentions that he just wants to "squeeze them" because they are so awesome. He even wants to invite them to his birthday party this week. :)
6. Jeff is an amazing teacher. I have had opportunities to see him teach in multiple settings, and he has a way with words and a way of bringing a special spirit to the room. People listen when Jeff speaks, and I admire that about him.
7. Jeff has some classic magic tricks that he likes to perform, and it is so nerdy I can't help but love them. He excitedly performed them for a couple of our Primary girls after church today, and he was delighted by their looks of amazement as he made a nickel disappear. 
8. Jeff is my very best friend. He is there for me to giggle, cry, vent, snuggle, talk, and dream. It is the little things like these that make my relationship with him so special.
9. I receive phone calls from Jeff at least once a day. Sometime between the 8-5 hours, I know I can count on a phone call from Jeff during the day, just to say "hi" and he loves me. The phone calls usually begin with something like: "Heyyy sexy lady!" I don't think I realized how much I rely on these phone calls to make my day better. It is an even bigger plus when he surprises me at work after his classes end at 3:00, and we take a short five-minute break to go on a walk outside and talk about our days before he heads home.
10. The most important thing I have learned and love about Jeff is that he absolutely loves me. He shows me by taking out the trash, showing me affection, scraping my icy windshield, surprising me with cupcakes, eating at my favorite restaurant when he doesn't like it, cleaning our room, and dancing with me in the kitchen. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

And like the previous post, I have to say it is a huge plus that he is pretty darn good-looking!

Kids Say the Darndest Things Weeks 7 & 8

It has been a few weeks since I posted about the funny things our kids say in Primary. This is not for lack of humor, but because I have been trying to collect a large number to post at the same time. I realized the only thing I post nowadays are Primary quotes, so I need to save them and add more variety to my blogging life! haha That being said, here are some gems from the past month!

During music time, we sang a song and the leader asked how the children felt while singing the song.

Olivia quietly to Jeff: "It makes me feel all tinkly inside. But not like a tinkle in my pants!" Abrupt pause and embarrassed face like, " I can't believe I just said that out loud!"

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Lindsey asks a question pertaining to the lesson.

*Hayes raising is hand like crazy and lifting out of his seat.*

"Ooh oh me me!"

Lindsey: "Okay, Hayes?"

Hayes: " Wait . . . What was the question?"

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Lindsey: "Do any of you have characteristics that you inherited?"

Cooper: "I have a butt-chin."

Rylie: "I'm cranky when someone wakes me up -- just like my dad."

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Lindsey: "You guys look cute today!"

Rylie: *dead serious face* "I always look cute."

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Hayes: "Why are you wearing those flip flops?"

Sariah: "I like them."

Hayes: *very seriously and emphatically* "Never wear those again!"

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Jeff: "Cooper, why are you such a good kid?"

Cooper: *submissively* "I just don't like getting in trouble."

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While trying to emphasize the importance of the promise Heavenly Father made to Abraham when he said he would give him seed greater than the sands of the sea, we put a pinch of sand in each child's hand and asked them how many grains of sand they could count.

Olivia: "There are like seven thousand! . . . or a million."
Lindsey: "Those are pretty close numbers."
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Lindsey: "Do any of you know who Abraham was?"
All the kids in scattered voices: "The president."
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The bishop was giving a lesson in sharing time, and was passing out wooden tops for some children to participate.

Bishop: "Okay, who likes black dots?"
Hayes: "Oooh, me! Me!"
(sideways to Lindsey)
Hayes: "What are black dots?"
Lindsey: "Umm . . . just black dots."
Hayes: "Oh, okay."

Ice Castles

 

In January my family was able to go to the ice castle in Midway for Dallin's birthday. It was truly incredible! Sorry about the quality of these photos, but it gives you an idea of how magnificent it really is. Also, that guy next to me is pretty darn handsome.

 

 Jeff wanted to try and lick an icicle, but I wouldn't let him. This is as close as he got. :)

Public Restrooms

We've all been there . . . the dreaded public restroom. I don't say that because of germs, really, or because of smell. I mean that people are seriously stupid in there sometimes. And I drank waaaay too much water at work today, so I got to experience this 10 times today. Does this story sound familiar?

You walk in to the empty bathroom at work. The entire room is empty. You half-smile, and pick your favorite stall. Commence doing your business. Fifteen seconds into the business, someone else enters the bathroom. There are six empty stalls, but this person goes to the one stall that is CLOSED (yours) and tries to push it open.

You think, "Next stall, lady! The door is closed, the stall is taken!" But the person doesn't move. You watch their feet slightly shuffle under the stall door. They try again. "Seriously?" you think. "There are five other empty stalls!"

You look up, only to see an eye staring at you and your white thighs through the crack in the stall, and you quickly try to pull your jeans up and your shirt down.

"IT'S TAKEN!"

Finally, after getting a free peep-show, the person moves to the next stall. One of the five empty stalls with the doors hanging open!! Then, the whole time, you are trying not to do your business too loudly or awkwardly, because the lady clearly knows what you look like now, and you have to see her at the cubicle four down from you for the rest of your career.

So I know this is crazy, but for the sake of our society I have to say it. If the door is closed, there is a person with their pants down in there. Please use one of the many other open stalls, for the sake of everyone involved.

Kids Say the Darndest Things -- Weeks 2 & 3

Oh, you guys . . . Primary is awesome. I have to fight to keep a straight face EVERY SUNDAY. It is the best. This week my little sister was able to come to my class, and it was so fun to have her! I am so impressed by how confident and smart she is. It is a gift. Anyway, without further ado, here are our favorite funny quotes from our nine-year-olds these past two weeks!


Me: Sariah, do you have any food allergies?
Shayla: No she doesn't, but she is a vegetarian!"
*Sariah head nods*
Cooper: "Well I'm not a vegetarian. I have a hunger for meat!"

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(After completing and sharing his get-to-know-you sheet)

Hayes: "Things I don't like . . . ugh, . . . TOILETS."

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Me: "Why do you think it was important that Jesus created man last, after he created the earth and the animals?"
Shayla: "So that they could kill the ducks and use their feathers for bows and arrows."
Me: ". . . . Um, . . . yeah, . . . that could maybe be a part of it." (Continue trying to tie that in to the real reason.)

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(After my sister shared her get-to-know-you sheet)

Olivia: "Wait, did you say you are afraid of cuddly bears??"
Rylee: "No. I said spiders."
Olivia: "Ohhh."

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Cooper: "I am special because I like weapons."

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(In sharing time, Jeff was sitting by Camry, Olivia, and Hayes. All four of them were wearing glasses.)

I look down the row at Olivia, who passes me tiny, vibrant, lime green pipe-cleaner glasses to wear.

Olivia: "Cool people wear glasses."

(All four of them nod.)

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Me: "So because Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, they 'fell' from the presence of God." (The lesson was titled "The Fall of Adam and Eve".)

Camry *raising hand*: "They fell? Where did they fall from? Did they fall to Earth?"

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Riley S: "I am special because I'm beautiful."


Well, I think that about covers it! I couldn't help but laugh again as I wrote all of these down. Until next week!

Halloween 2013 - Mario Kart!

I know how bad this looks . . . it is January and I am posting pictures from Halloween in October. But it is better late than never!

This year my family decided to dress as characters from Mario Kart for our family's annual Halloween party. Everyone looked adorable! I will pretty much let the pictures speak for themselves instead of writing all about it.

Yoshi (mom), Toadette (Rylee), Wario (Andrew), Mario (Dallin), Luigi (Jeff), Princess Peach (Lindsey), Bowser (dad)

Miss Toadette :)

I love these three! Wario, Mario, and Luigi :)

Her hat thing kills me! So cute!

Bowser and Yoshi

My dad enjoyed his character way too much.

Somehow this was the only picture we got together all night!

My office also had a competition for the best carved/decorated pumpkins. So Jeff and I had a pumpkin carving night while we watched Ghostbuster! I ended up winning Scariest Pumpkin and Most Creative Pumpkin.


The beginning . . . Jeff carved out the eyes, nose, and cheeks.

The finished product!

 

Primary Quotes Week 1

Jeff and I were recently called to be primary teachers for the 9-year-olds in our ward. Yesterday was our first time teaching the lesson and, as you can imagine, we were not sure what to expect from seven adorable, but terrifying, 4th graders.

As it turns out, it was awesome! And seriously hilarious. I have a really fun 8-year-old sister, but who knew how fantastic they could be as a whole group?

We have five girls and two boys in the class. The girls are adorable and extremely well-behaved. Each has their own little personality, and we just want to squeeze each of them. The two boys are very different from each other. Hayes is very small and talkative and a little rambunctious, but he is fun to have in class. Cooper is really well-behaved and smart and gets annoyed by Hayes's behavior very easily.

Because these seven kids are so funny, Jeff and I decided that we would blog about our favorite quotes each week so we can remember and laugh about them in the future.


Hayes (after making multiple irrelevant comments up to this point): "This week I went to my friends house and we watched Awesomeness TV channel and . . ."
Cooper: "Ugh, does this have anything to do with the lesson??"
Hayes: "No." (Continues talking about the TV show.)
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The bishop came into our class and told the children that he would be setting us apart as their teachers in class that day.

Olivia (in a panicked voice): Wait, you're splitting them apart?!"
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While taking turns putting parts of the Plan of Salvation on the board with paper cutouts:

Hayes: "I have the Terr. . estr . .ial and I have no idea what the heck that is."
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We were passing out Hershey's kisses and mini-Reeses for participating. All of them thought it was hilarious when anyone told Jeff they wanted a "kiss" for their treat instead of the Reeses.

Hayes: "I want a Hersheys kiss."
Other kids: "Oooh, Hayes! You want a kiss!" *giggling"
Hayes: "I said HERSHEYS kiss!"

*more giggling*
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Until next week!

Breaking the Habit

Every year, my New Year’s resolutions are the same – to lose weight, eat healthy, pray daily, be on time . . . and although these are good things, these resolutions only scrape the surface of who I am. I have decided it is because it is incredibly difficult to consider your heart and your actions to determine what really needs to change. But this year I resolved to set a New Year’s resolution that would truly impact my life, more than simply losing the same five pounds over and over again.

This year I am going to stop talking about people.

Frankly, I am sick of myself. At home, at work, or in the car, I talk about people, whether good or bad things. I talk about who is getting married, who gained weight, who didn’t show up for work, who is frustrating me, who has incredible hair, who has cute children. And in all of this talk I don’t have time to think about things that really matter, or to talk about things that will uplift me and the person I speak to.

Enough is enough.

Perhaps you are like me, and we rationalize gossiping, talking, and even cynicism by saying we are participating in a “discussion”. It isn’t harmful to anyone if we are purely “discussing” someone’s actions and trying to “learn” from them.

Oh, please.

Every thought we say aloud or share with someone (for me it is usually to my poor husband) becomes internalized by both participants, and it can’t be forgotten. If we share some anger with a friend about a family member, that friend never hears about the resolution; all she remembers are the bad things we said and she continues to develop a poor opinion about the person. But even worse than creating a negative image of someone in a friend’s mind, is growing and feeding a poor opinion about someone in your own mind. The more we speak negatively about someone, the more negativity we see. If we allow ourselves to be bothered and annoyed by one thing, the easier it is to be annoyed by three things, then five things, until eventually all we see and feel is annoyance.

The world is such an incredible place that it is a real shame to miss it by being consumed in discussing the lives’ of other people.

The benefits of purging our lives from gossip are endless, and we hear them all the time. Things like gaining higher self-esteem, learning to listen, and developing better conversation skills are some of the many things we hear. But there is one benefit in particular that I really want to gain in my life – feeling compassion, love, and patience for others. If I talk about people’s imperfections, I cannot possibly see the good in the person and I continue to bring negativity to my life and the lives of those around me. And the person I think has an annoying quality probably has a dozen other qualities that I would absolutely love if I were able to open up my eyes and see it.

So this year I resolve to change. I resolve to see the good in people.  I resolve to change the way I talk, to change my attitude, and ultimately to change the way I see people and see the world.