Last Day of March, So About Valentine's...

March has been a busy month of traveling! The kids and I went to Californa again (pictures to come) and then upon return, approximately two weeks later we went to Florida to see my brother/sister-in-law and niece and nephew! Pictures to also come regarding FL... We just got back this last Friday and have been playing catch up with the house and Carl's school.

Before I let another week go by, I wanted to share some pictures of Valentine's day! This is how I roll- posting about V-day 1 1/2 months later.

I bought the children and Carl some electric toothbrushes and a few little treats- nothing fancy, my kind of gifting. They seemed pleased, I was pleased, sweet. Carl and I also bought these awesome nesting bowls:

Carl was in school for most of the day, so after I came back from the gym, the kids and so dear friends came over to decorate cookies eat frosting for a little bit. It was fun! And surprisingly not terribly messy- I have an aversion to messy activities.

just a little cookie with the frosting

 

goob.

cookie pile!

v-day lunch

Carl came home and he had mentioned that he had a date planned out for us earlier in the week, so I was looking forward to dolling up. When the sitter came over, BAM- there it was, secret spilled: I overheard him talking about breakfast plans for the kids.

I was very surprised. We have never left the kids with anybody but family! But we love these two sisters that frequently watch the kiddos and so I was at ease. It was one night only, anyway.

So we started by being foodies and trying some local fancy eats. Let me just add now that Carl and I are not fancy. We ordered steak tartare and were surprised to find a plate of raw ground steak looking back at us. Mooooooo it echoed as we tried a bite (only one bite for me). It was ok though, it made a delicious scramble in the morning (ha!)

We then drove to the Pfister, a fancy hotel and had some late night appetizers at the lounge while listening to a pianist serenade us with his beautiful tunes. In the morning, free in-room breakfast was provided, so we ordered everything. Salmon and a cream cheese bagel was one of the items, only the salmon was raw. What the heck is with fancy people and raw food?! Just cook your dang meats, ya crazies. No worries, I broiled it when I got home and had it with crackers.

carl even took the time to make a slideshow of the last 6 years with our song (this magic moment by Jay and the Americans) playing in the background! This is my lame picture post-slideshow.

The pleased wife!

the happy couple!

breakfast time!

the spread

nom nom nom.

After breakfast, we decided to run home and grab the kiddos to go swimming at the pool! That was definitely one of my favorite highlights. My kids just LOVE the water! Very opposite of me, but a very Leder-esque quality :)

sound of music plays in my mind every time I look at this picture!

view of the Lake from the pool!

So besides my really lame gift to Carl (c'mon, who can beat a surprise getaway?!), Valentine's was amazing and so wonderful to be able to just talk and dream about our future and reminisce about our past. Love you, Carlo!

snagged this pic of the art museum on the way home. gorgeous day!

Day(s) of Love!

I know I might have some feelings of guilt after this entry because I have tests in Sociology and Pathophysiology this week, both which have not had any time dedicated to them for study. Carl and I have had spring fever since we've been married- we want OUT! Seriously, I would drop out of school if I didn't already spend 3 years of time, classes, and money on schooling. I just want to play. and so does Carl. 

Perhaps I can't stand school because Carl and I will be split up this summer due to it! The nursing program is year round and since Carl makes the bling so that we can afford to be married and go to school, he will be in Dallas, TX working for Pinnacle Security again. Terrible, terrible things you do for love... BUT there is a way we will be staying connected and that is through other people's love. Yes, that's right, WEDDINGS!

Between April and July, we have a wedding to attend each month!

First, on April 11th, my dear friend Dustan Millward, whom I've known for several years, is getting married to a beautiful gal named Jenessa. They are great together and I'm so excited for them! Dustan is awesome because he helped teach me about LDS church and baptized me when I decided to join the Church! I don't know if Carl and I will actually go to their sealing at the Boise temple, but we'll definitely go to their reception to support and cheer them on for reaching such a wonderful step in life.

 

totally stole this from facebook.. so cute!

Next, we have Devin Moore- he is Carl's best friend, room mate for several semesters, and his best man from our wedding! Carl was also Devin's trainer on their mission to Malaga, Spain back in the day.  So, he will be sealed to Karina, a darling lady, on May 21st in the Salt Lake temple. They are a perfect couple. We are so happy for them and can't wait to see them tie the knot! 

ok, so I'm stealing ALL the pics from facebook. they're adorable!

Ok, this one is exciting because my best friend Kimberly Harrison is the story! Kim and I have known each other since our freshman year of high school (unless you count the dance class we took together in 4th grade..)! We've been through thick and thin, communicated all the while she traveled the world, AND she introduced the gospel to me! I love her to pieces and I am absolutely stoked for her to get married to this amazing dude, Jason. She wrote him through out his whole mission and they are such good friends, I couldn't think of anyone better who deserves Kim.  On the 26th of June, they will be sealed in the most awesome and holy temple (j/k! kind of.. :)- the Oakland temple! ok so that is a little biased since Carl and I were sealed there (and Carl's parents too!), but what the heck, it's also an excuse to visit the wonderful land of California. Carl and I are again so happy to see another great couple married.

they are so stinking happy :)

Last, my beautiful sister-in-law, Catie, is getting married!! She is so sweet in every way! Catie is Carl's older sister and she is a hoot! I think she is so funny, talented, and lovely. By the way, to give some insight on how nice and amazing she is, Catie moved her wedding date one week down in order to make sure I could be there AND save us a couple hundred dollars in flights. I don't know anyone who would be that selfless concerning their own wedding. SO Catie will be marrying this handsome (and also funny!) guy named Brandon on July 26th. We love him and think they are a fantastic pair. Can't wait!

yay!!!! we love them!!! wonderful couple 

I love that Carl and I get to unite once a month at weddings. What a great time and place, right?? I mean it's not sad like a funeral or just some ordinary trip. It's true, we'll probably be spending well over a $1000 in flights, but I am proud of all these people we know taking this brave step of marriage- all who have been married understand that it takes some degree of bravery and courage for that committment, but the hard times and struggles are all worth it when it means you are getting married to very person you love and adore most :)

Love

This is a poem we're reading for class:

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red:
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound.
I grant I never saw a goddess go:
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
~William Shakespeare, Sonnet CXXX

It sounded terrible when I first read it, since you usually compare your love of someone to beautiful things like roses and sweet perfume, but then I kept reading it over and over. I realized that he says in the end that he cannot compare his love for her to anything because it is so rare! It's so romantic and different than other love poems. I guess I love it because it is the most realistic love poem I've ever read. I'm such a sap for chick flicks, love songs and poems, but I really love this one because it speaks about true beauty and they way really love is. Carl loves me for me, not because I'm tall and have blonde hair and blue eyes (ha. i am the complete opposite). This is how love really is. Shakespeare really understands love. By the way, I read somewhere that "reeks" is used differently in the Elizabethan era than it is now, where it is usually defined as "stinks." It's using it as emanating. Also, hair back then was referred to as "golden wires."

Here's a good definition of love by Shakespeare (sonnet cxvi):

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.




Last week we spoke of death. It made me realize how much I want to improve in myself and all the things that are worth more on focusing like spiritual learning verses academic learning. If I focus on the former, than the latter will come :)