Chalkboard.

I finished (with some help from Jeff) this chalkboard wall right before (24 hours before) the Open House. This is the side entrance to our kitchen and laundry area. I actually painted three coats of metallic paint under the chalkboard paint but it doesn't have much power. Too bad. I would have loved to have the ability to use magnets. Too bad I didn't take a before. There was a white board. Not too attractive. We can still write notes to each other. Most everyone proclaimed their love recently. Fun.
I love how it turned out!
 

Just around the house.

Have a great weekend!

Change is a constant.

I have been sick and not doing much but recuperating.

These pictures are from Chris's Birthday dinner. I LOVE to be with my family (and their spouses or soon to be spouses). I LOVE each and every one of them with all my heart....head, brain, and my mind too.

Sheyla is getting married in March.
My family is growing and changing at the speed of light.

"The art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on."   Havelock Ellis

Marriage is hard work.

"Marriage means commitment. Of course, so does insanity."

Lest one think that marriage is just like running through a field of daffodils after reading my post yesterday, I will clarify and admit readily that marriage takes a lot of work and can be hard at times.

"I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life." Rita Rudner

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person"  Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

"In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage." Robert Anderson, Solitaire & Double Solitaire

"A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year."  Paul Sweeney

"In a time when nothing is more certain than change, the commitment of two people to one another has become difficult and rare. Yet, by its scarcity, the beauty and value of this exchange have only been enhanced."  Robert Sexton

I'll take the beauty and value of commitment and tolerate the insanity.

Happy Anniversary!

Today is our 24 year Anniversary.
In some ways it feels just like yesterday that we walked together, hand-in-hand, through the light sprinkle and fog on the grounds of the beautiful Oakland Temple.
In other ways it seems like much longer than 24 years. How is it possible that so much has happened in only 24 years? How is it possible that I could have lived without him?
Yes, there have been good times and bad times. The good out weighs the bad and the bad has made us stronger and is a part of life. Jeff makes it possible to get through it all.
I feel like such a lucky girl to have married Jeff.
He makes me smile and he makes me laugh, every day.
He helps balance my craziness, moves the furniture, opens jars for me and buys the perfect ice and he still loves me anyway.
He's smart, hardworking and amazing.
He's handsome, strong and loving.
He is the peanut butter to my grape jelly and I still love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!

Life catching up with me...

Jeff said I coughed much of last night. I feel it. I hope I'm not Typhoid Mary of the Open House. I washed my hands after every time I coughed in them (my hands that is). Really.
I took a truckload to the dump. Projects and cleaning over the last many months, Christmas, wedding Open House and life have a way of accumulating garbage. I loaded the truck all by my self and felt pretty macho slinging that garbage in a heap of a pile.
I bought "thank you" cards and a few gifts, picked up some medicine, got us lunch, dropped off Sheyla and picked up the meowing cat and stressed out dog.
I'm sick and tired and need a nap!

Should I start panicking now that Sheyla told me they may get married in three months?

It's over!

I don't have the best camera because my house is not this dark. I wanted to show the very few pictures I did take from today. 

Britni made the Chris and Amanda sign. I got the idea from a blog that had the cutest Christmas carol banners.
These adorable kids were so helpful.

Davis made 3 beautiful white snowflakes. Sheyla even helped clean.
Really. My house is not this dark.

The dessert table turned out fabulous only because several women let me borrow fabulous multi-tiered serving plates and frames and I had people help set it up. One friend made peanut butter bars and candy cane brownies.
Wow. Amazing!
One friend brought over brownies.
I made 3 pumpkin rolls yesterday and 4 trays of brownies today. Jeff got the rest at Sams Club. Yeah for Jeff and Sams Club! Jeff helped me so much. I couldn't have done it without him.
I appreciate all the help I got! My Dad even came yesterday and helped me clean my house. He is amazing.
Yes, that is a swamp cooler in my sunroom.

View from other side. Delicious!

The happy couple right before they left. They even opened the rest of their presents and cards (which makes me so happy that I got to watch). What wonderful gifts! They are really loved. I think there were about 200 people that came, over a 2 1/2 hour period. Wow. That's alot of people!  
I had two ladies help me in the kitchen that were such angels. One of my friends that helped me so much today, came over early and ironed my table cloths. She later came and helped me in the kitchen and brought over a very large crock pot brimming with yummy chili and a sleeve of crackers. It was so perfect because I hadn't planned on anything for dinner (I only planned till the end of the Open House). Amanda's nice parents and a couple of her brothers stayed for a while after the Open House and we had Britni and Adam too. I was able to feed 10 people for dinner. I wouldn't have been able if she hadn't brought dinner. Very, very kind.
It was a great day but I am so relieved (and very grateful) this day is done!