A Lesson Learned

So I learned a great lesson yesterday... on our BIG one year anniversary. And no this is not going to be mushy- I think J covered the whole mushy blog quota thing! JK I really appreciated the sweet post. Actually that's kind of where I learned my lesson. I woke up... It was Wednesday... I had to work...Jason had to work until 7:00... and it was our 1 year anniversary. I guess I had expectations of anniversaries (being that I had never had one before) and I expected the first one to be especially important and celebrated in a big way. We had already discussed not getting each other gifts (and I am a gift person- I love giving them, I love getting them) and that we would not be able to do anything too expensive to celebrate. Even though I had tried to prepare myself for a less than spectacular celebration, I was still feeling sorry for myself when I went to work. And as self pity always does it built-up...FAST. And I broke down and cried, tried to play it off as allergies to my co-workers (who are women, and knew that my anniversary was coming up so of course they didn't buy it). And then I got a text from my J saying he didn't have time to clean up the house because he had spent too much on our blog... so I immediately went to our blog because he usually spends no time on there. As I was reading his post I started crying again- but not out of self-pity and maybe out of a little embarassment, a lot of gratitude, and a lot of love. I felt like someone had hit me in the head when I was reading it, as if to say "DUH Nicole!" Then I remembered why I married this man, because he will always be there to remind me what is important in life.

It ended up being a really nice night. We ordered in, watched our favorite show LOST (it was the season finale so it was 2 hours- can there be anything better than 2 hours of LOST?) After LOST was over, Jason turned on the DVD player. I was pretty confused and excited at the thought that maybe, just maybe, he had our wedding video in the dvd player. We haven't seen it yet because we have an awesome friend who offered to do it for us for free 99(who can resist that deal?). And lo and behold it was our wedding video! I started bawling again (yes, by this time my eyes are burning). I was so excited to see it and sort of relive the feelings of that day. It was such a wonderful day and one of the most spiritual experiences thus far in my life. Once again, I was reminded of what was important, not getting expensive gifts or going somewhere fancy for dinner, but that we were together, in our pajamas, watching our favorite show, and just being together. For some reason my husband has learned this lesson, while it will probably take me 16 more times to get it through my head. So, I just wanted to thank J for helping me to realize the important things in life, the small things, small moments, a kiss, a smile, a laugh. (OK so it got a tiny bit mushy).

After we watched our video (twice) we had some fun with our wedding cake.

This was our wedding cake 1 year ago...

This is our wedding cake today... Looks kinda gross

This was the piece that we cut out 1 year ago....

This is the piece we cut out yesterday....

This is how nice we were to each other 1 year ago...

And this is how nice we are to each other now...

It was so much more fun this way! But very messy! (Don't my eyes look like I have been crying all day, that's cuz I did)

No Idea What I'm Doing...

Anyone reading this first needs to know this post will be the first on our blog spot not posted by Nicole. This is Jason. I've thought about doing a Revenge of the Husbands Post for some time but have never taken the time to figure out how to "blog". Don't worry, this is not a husband defending other husbands for bad pictures and embarrassing stories posted for all to see and read, that'll come another time. (I really regret putting those Christmas tree ornaments on my ears). I'm not computer illiterate because my degree requires me to spend most of my time on a computer; however, I am blog illiterate. This is my first and may very well be my last blog. This is mostly for Nicole and I tend to get long winded so if you don't care what I have to say or don't have the time you should stop reading now.

After taking 15 minutes trying to figure how to get to the right website, login, and create a post I am finally to this point. May 13th is mine and Nicole's anniversary. I know most of you reading this have been married more than a year or were married soon after us so you can all just nod your head in agreement with what I have to say... Has it really been a year already? Is time going faster now then it did when I was 9? When is there going to be time to stop and catch my breath or does life only move faster? For those of you who don't know I drive a short bus right now and it gives me a lot of time to ponder as I'm sitting in traffic around 12th and Wall Ave. (I hate construction). I'm trying to put in words my thoughts and feelings I've had while sitting on a bus over the last couple weeks.

I often look towards the next "phase" in life thinking things will get better when there's a little more money and a lot less school. We'll feel more financially stable and probably want to have kids in the next "phase". However, whenever I think of the next phase I also remind myself of extra responsibilities that we will face. A job where I have to interact with "normal" people who really aren't normal at all. They'll probably be stupid bosses or co-workers who aren't humble and don't teach me eternal lessons like the clients I have now. There will also be providing for extra people in our house and maybe even a new one in the next "phase". So as always there's opposition in all things.

I then remind myself how good I have it right now. I have a job that's not so bad except the occasional waking up at 3:15am but I'm actually getting pretty good at it. I have a wife that I love unconditionally and who I know loves me and we get to spend time together without the interruption of a crying baby or poopie diaper. We have a townhouse that is ours and we love doing projects to it that make it feel like home. Plus it's only 20 Jason size steps from our front door to the pool. I know Nicole thinks I'm crazy for marrying into her family that does come with a little extra baggage but whose doesn't? I look at it this way. I have 3 beautiful little sisters when I've had to deal with brothers my whole life. I have another little brother who I get to pick on and play basketball and football with. I have my first nephew who at only 5 months old loves watching the NBA playoffs with me. I have another mom and dad who have accepted me and love me from the first time I met them. (At least they acted like they accepted me and loved me until they found out I wasn't all that bad). I have a second extended family (the Thomas') full of good people who are always fun to be around and go to Bear Lake with. I love my life and I love being married to my best friend. We have so much fun together and we don't even have to be doing anything. I love that she puts up with me and the crap that I sometimes give her (ok, so the occasional 3:15 alarm clock wears on me sometimes). I love that when I'm lucky enough to see her during the middle of the day it makes the rest of the day easier to get through. I love that everytime I come home and see her it puts a smile on my face and I'm reminded how lucky I am to have her. (I say have because she's stuck with that whole time and all eternity thing). I love that she's an example to me by waking up early on Sunday mornings and going to extra church meetings. I love her testimony of the gospel and her desire to do what's right for us and our future family. I don't know anyone more perfect for me to learn and grow from and progress through life with. To quote the great Lou Gehrig (you didn't think I was getting through this without a sports reference right?) "I consider myself, the luckiest man alive."
Thanks Nicole, I love you.
I hope anyone who took all the time to read this maybe got a little something out of it or could reflect on their own life and say to themselves, my life really is pretty good. (Sorry there are no pictures but I'll save the adventure of learning that for my next blog post... next year.)

What's For Dinner?

So last night me and two of my sisters, Hailey and Carlie, went to an event at WSU called Cooking Up Summer or something like that. It was Hailey's birthday and we both enjoy cooking so we thought it would be fun, (I think Carlie just came along to hang out with her two super cool big sisters). Basically they had alot of vendors set up trying to sell you stuff before the show began and there was one thing there that I just could not pass up! This....


This book is going to be my life saver! It is a cookbook with a weekly guide on what to make for dinner each night of the week! So every day there is a new meal (including a dessert). And these are real recipes, that real people eat. Not the fancy stuff, I'm not into the fancy stuff. Here is a sample menu that I found on the website, just to give you an idea of how awesome this book really is...
Sample Week
SundayMalibu Chicken
Mashed Potato Casserole
Stir Fried Green Beans
Strawberry Fruit Salad
Cinnamon Crinkles
MondayCreamy Chicken Noodle Soup
Corn Bread with Honey Butter
Relish Tray - cheese, celery, carrots, pickles
German Chocolate Cake
TuesdayLasagna
Cheesy French Bread
Layered Vegetable Salad
Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Oatmeal Jam Bars
WednesdaySweet & Sour Pork
Rice
Wonton Salad
Hawaiian Dessert
ThursdayMeat Loaf
Baked Potatoes
Baked Banana Squash
Waldorf Salad
Brownie Bottom Pudding Pie
FridayLeft Overs, Go Out or Try New Recipe
SaturdayFrench Bread Pizza
Lettuce with Ranch Dressing
Banana Splits

Don't those recipes just sound yummy? And they seem fairly simple to make, not the kind of recipes where you are in the kitchen for 2 hours before dinner and eat for 15 min and then in the kitchen for another hour cleaning up. The author has even placed little "looking ahead" tips periodically throughout the book. So when your cooking chicken for one recipe she tells you to cook more chicken and lists 3 other recipes that you can make and put in the freezer for later on in the week. Oh AND there's a substitution guide that tells you what to subsitute if you don't have honey, or buttermilk or something like that. I bet some of you already know alot of these things, but some of these tips take years to learn! So I am so excited that this lady wrote this cookbook sharing all of her tips so I don't have to wait until I'm 50 and all of my kids are out of the house to figure out what I'm doing. (By the way, I think I should get a little kick-back for advertising) So, if anyone is new in the kitchen like me and you want this book (it's pretty inexpensive too) follow this link http://www.whatsfordinner1.com/