this time..

this time...

... yesterday

we played on the beach, took impromptu family photos, and reminisced about the last time the two of us were posing for cameras (was it really 7 years ago? we probably need to take more photos of us- right after we lose a few lbs).

we ate dinner out- but planned our "fancy night" for this weekend.

I think we also need to plan a fancy vacation.

... last year

an afternoon phone call from the Stake President asking us to meet with him that night, led to a change in our dinner plans. Fortunately we already had the babysitter arranged and having the kids taken care of, gave us time to wrap our heads around the new responsibilities John (and our family) would soon assume as he agreed to be president of our church unit (branch). No fancy dinner. Plenty of fancy emotions.

...2 years ago

new to Dubai (in town less than 2 wks). no babysitter so we went out to dinner out with the kids- Asian noodles. Afterwards John dropped me at the church for a party with all the women (aka enrichment) because I desperately needed to make friends. or even just a friend.

the next weekend we hired a babysitter and went out to Lebanese food in the Dubai Marina. It was probably our first date in 3 months and my first time away from both kids in about the same length of time. We needed it just as much as I needed a friend (in town).

...3 years ago

high heeled and VERY pregnant (Ivy came 2 weeks later), we headed to the Boston temple and the not-so-fancy-but-yummy-Cheesecake factory for dinner. Sometimes when you're hungry, and craving- predictability is in order, not fancy or unique. Asher was in the loving care of our favorite Brooks family- and although they told us to take our time, for some reason I worried about over-burdening them (boy- I think I've come a long way since then.)

...4 years ago

He got in!!! John's scramble to study, test, essay and apply to grad school paid off and he was in! Wish I remembered which room we were "finishing up" in the house that week. Our plans to go biking down in Monterrey were cancelled due to rain, and never re-scheduled due to the discovery (in prepping for the trip) that my bike was stolen. Our friends the Voydats let us borrow (and then keep) their bike trailer for the ride and our kids (and groceries) are still enjoying the very same trailer today.

...5 years ago

left 3 month old Asher with his first babysitters, our good friends Teri and Ben. I gave Asher his 7pm feeding and then left, hoping that he wouldn't need the 10pm feeding as I had been working on dropping it. Hope prevailed!! Fondue for dinner and a baby that slept 11 hrs all the way thru- for the first time- Mmmmm!

...6 years ago

spring break trip to Utah, hotel get-away, wedding of close friends, visits with sisters and brothers. Sleeping in!!! It was a refreshing and much needed escape from work, early morning seminary teaching, and our construction-around-every-corner-house. In fact, so refreshing and relaxing that 9 months later- Asher was born. (uhh... is that too much info?)

...7 years ago

friends and family spring-breaking with us in Phoenix.

loving, supporting, advising, photographing, dancing, reminding and making our wedding and marriage what it was and is.

this is our life.

and I love it.

and him!

John was embarrassed that I might re-cap years and years of failed fancy anniversary celebrations.

but I quite like the ways in which our celebrations give way to the other happenings in our lives because the other happenings in our lives are why {I think} we are worth celebrating.

don't get me wrong, I also enjoy a little fancy planning/gifting/ dining every now and then too. Who doesn't?