Date Night

Last night Morgan and I went on a date. We got Shannon and Kyle to watch Eli and Josh and headed out for a Pita Pit dinner and then to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II in 3D.
It was Morgan's first 3D film, and I was excited to be there with him.

First a review on the movie: I really enjoyed it. It felt like a fitting ending to a wonderful series. Naturally there were some things changed or left out that I wish they had followed the book more closely, but overall it was a really good experience.

I didn't cry as much as I thought I would, which I think is in part due to the 3D nature of the film. I know it is supposed to make you feel like you are there with the characters, but I think it was a little distracting. I couldn't see everything at once because I was too busy looking at the little pieces. Morgan said they may have done their job too well, because at times it was like looking at cardboard cut-outs.

I don't think I would recommend anyone paying extra to see this in 3D, of course, you must realize that I probably won't go see anything in 3D again either.

It was so nice to go out with Morgan. I think we are going to try and have dates monthly, the money we spend is worth the time we get to have together.

Best...Husband...Ever

I am feeling very grateful for my husband and thought I would sing his praises to the world. He came home Monday of this week with a beautiful red rose and a bag of Airhead candies for me. He told me that it was the 7 Days of Valentines. Tuesday he brought me a Symphony bar and a movie, Wednesday I got a beautiful bouquet of lilies. I feel so loved and appreciated. I know that they are just flowers and little things, but he has gone above and beyond anything I expected for Valentines. (I thought I would get a bouquet of flowers on the 14th and that would be that.)

Eli and Josh have been helping him a little. Tuesday when he wrapped his gifts they made some little Valentines for me as well. Then when I was opening the present they told me that it was the Count of Monte Cristo. I think they helped Morgan wrap another present because Josh told me I got a book (I haven't received that one yet). I told Josh it was a secret and he can't tell me about it. So I don't know what my future Valentines might be.

Anyway, I love Morgan. I am really grateful that he is doing this for me even while he is busy every night working on our bathroom. Thanks, Morgan!

Father's Day and Fun!

Josh loves phones.

Morgan's talking on one end (to a real person), Josh is talking on the other.

We made Morgan play "Hot/Cold" to find his Father's Day present.

First Fishing

Memorial Day Eli got to go on his first fishing trip with Dad. Morgan has gone a couple of other times with a friend of his and Eli is always begging to go too. So when Morgan talked to me about his going early Memorial Day morning, I asked him if he could see if Eli could go with them.
They went and had a great time. They even got to stop for ice cream on the way home. :0)

Car Blessings

Tuesday I went to the church for the Relief Society meeting. I had a really good time learning about self defense. I've realized I'm not prepared should something happen. It is hard to learn to try and hurt someone else with everything that you've got. There was talk about doing another self-defense class for R.S. that would be more involved, with mats and stuff, so we can really go for it.

Anyway, as Shannon and I were leaving my car would not start. There was hardly a turn-over of the engine at all. And I had checked before we got out that none of the lights were on. So I went back in the church and Brother Boeck came out, I had jumper cables in the car and Sister Keefe was parked next to me so we hooked up to her car.

I got it started, and as Bro. Boeck undid the cables my car died again. Not a good sign. So we redid the jump and when we took of the cables this time it still worked. Shannon and I had hoped to stop at Walmart on the way home, now we just went straight home. It was dusk, but I didn't turn the lights on because I didn't want to use more of the battery than I needed to.

We made it home, Morgan and the boys were still outside and he could see that the dome lights were pulsing. We turned the car off and it didn't start again. Morgan is smart with cars so he knew that the alternator needed to be replaced.

So Wednesday I went to an auto shop and bought the alternator. Morgan came home early from work so he could change it out himself. I had to run to the shop two more times to get a tool and a belt that Morgan needed. But he was able to get it almost done before Shannon and I had to leave to Young Womens.

We got home and Morgan hooked up the jumper cables from the van to the car and we started it up. We left them hooked for a while then undid them, turned the car off and started again. It worked!

We wanted to let it recharge so Morgan and I took a drive to McDonalds to get an ice cream cone (that was my idea!) The great part was, that our "check engine" light has been on for over a year and it is no longer on. (The manual did not mention the alternator as a possible reason for it to come on) the car is shifting a lot better too.

So the car working better is a blessing, and we realized that this car has never stranded us anywhere. We have always had some sort of warning before we needed to do major work to it. We are just really grateful that even though it isn't the best of cars, it has been really good for us.

I just remembered another reason the timing of this was good. Friday morning is leaving with the van to go on a work retreat for the weekend. I would have had the car with the boys all weekend, and if it had broken done sometime then I would have been stranded without a way to church or anywhere.

Bald is Beautiful

Last week Morgan shaved his head. About 21 people shave their heads to support a boy in our ward who has cancer. Here are pictures from the event.

Morgan with his "before" pose.

The kids loved playing around.

Here's the guest of honor getting his head shaved.

Morgan going bald.

Should we should leave it like that?

Josh isn't bald, he was just checking things out.

"After."

Josh isn't sure of it.

Lots of hair.

One friend cut off her ponytail in support.

They had pizza too, which made Eli happy.

Yummy!

Morgan's Birthday!

Morgan had a birthday before Thanksgiving. He only got one wrapped present, but we went down to Nauvoo, stopped at our favorite sushi restaurant and went to on a date to see New Moon. Pretty good, I'd say!

Morgan Eli and Josh working together to open the present.

Edward Scissorhands!

Josh really wants some pie.

Here he is asking for it.

Lighting candles

Blowing candles!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MORGAN!
WE LOVE YOU!

Food?

Morgan and Josh were reading a book about food and naturally had to taste some of the pictures.

Jokes

Today at lunch Morgan decided to start telling jokes. He began with one of his, and his mother's favorites.

Morgan: Eli, ask me if I am a tree.
Eli: Are you a tree.
Morgan: No!

(Followed of course but mounds of laughter - Eli especially thought that this was funny.)
We continued with jokes, Eli then having Morgan ask him if he was a squirrel, but the best was yet to come.

Eli: Daddy, say Eli are you a horse.
Morgan: Eli are you a horse?
Eli (after a short pause): Neeeiiiggghhhh!

HAIRCUT!

Joshua got his haircut. Morgan has been after me to let him cut Josh's hair for several months now. I had trimmed the front, back and ears when Josh was about 6 months so that they weren't hanging down and that bought me 4 more months. (Josh is 10 months). But with Morgan's constant nagging (this is my blog, I get to exaggerate) and the fact that Josh's hair was getting long and beautiful and I want my boy to be seen as a boy I gave in. I told Morgan that I would probably let him cut Josh's hair after I got back from Jacob's wedding.

So we get home Saturday and before the evening is over Morgan has Josh downstairs with the buzzer cutting off his beautiful locks. I'm okay with it. It still takes me a second to recognize him sometimes - especially at church, but he is still a handsome little boy.

BEFORE


DURING
AFTER

Family Disc Golfing

Seven Years

Morgan and I have been married for seven years! As Morgan was saying it seems like it has flown by but at the same time it is hard to remember a time when we weren't married.

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Flood

Sunday night we had a big storm with tornado warnings and LOTS of rain. Monday I went downstairs to start some laundry and was surprised to find the floor wet. We had about 2-3 inches in our basement at the deepest spot. The entire floor was covered. Luckily we had recently bought some shelves so all of our storage boxes were above where the water was.

Morgan was still out of town and I really had no clue what to do. I called our landlady (who never stopped by :(. and got Morgans laptop off the floor. The water did start going down later in the morning.

As it turned out all of the carpeting in the basement was ruined, and we are going to have to throw out the couch. Morgan worked really hard cleaning everything up and figuring things out. He ended up going to Menards and buying a sump pump because we tried to do a load of laundry and it made the water start coming up again. Our friend Michael L. called and came over to help Morgan. (I would not have wanted to have to carry that couch up the stairs!)

Morgan's laptop is fine, but we think his power cord has gone the way of the world. Our scale is most likely a goner. We haven't tried to turn on our desktop computer yet. Luckily it was off when the water came up...I think that will help. Hopefully the cords, etc didn't get damaged and it will work as well.

So tonight after dinner we are going to finish trying to clean everything up. Sweep the floor, mop it with bleach water and wash off everything else.

Hopefully this is the ONLY flood of the year.

My Days

Yesterday: made croissants, swept the floor, cleaned up toys, made dinner, made croissants, made brownies, had book club, went shopping, did laundry, and who knows what else.

Today: had visiting teachers over, went to playgroup, went to the library, made dinner, went to a camp meeting that was canceled.

Yesterday just seemed to be a lot crazier than today, and most days in general. Granted I did do a lot, but I think the main thing was that I knew Morgan would not be home until late (he left by 8am and didn't get home until after 8:30pm). Its amazing what knowing you'll have a second pair of hands can do for your day.