our special day

Happy Anniversary to my man.  Thanks for marrying me four years ago.  I love you with all my heart.

Here's to forever together.  Let's kiss.

meet the dads

I thought it would be fun to do an ol' twist on the traditional father's day post.  First of all, I love my dad.  He's one of the best people I know.  And of course, I'm pretty lucky to have this man as the father of my children.  Now on to the good stuff.

They say you will marry someone like your dad.  I certainly wasn't shopping for a husband with a master list of dad-like qualities in my back pocket.  But it is seriously crazy how much Jeffree and my dad have in common. 

Jeffree and my dad both measure in at 6'3".  Both of them weighed about the same when they got married (around 150-155 lbs). 

They are both teachers by profession.  My dad taught math for 30+ years.  The hubs teaches elementary school.  Both are great teachers.

My dad is deaf in one ear.  My husband is also deaf in one ear.  True story.  My dad was injured when swimming when he was younger and is now deaf in his left ear.  Jeffree lost hearing in his right ear when he was about 10 or 11, due to some serious infections.  He had surgery to remove the infection, and was left with about 40% hearing in that ear.  I'm pretty sure it's gotten worse since then.  Take note, I always sit to Jeffree's left so that he can hear me. 

Both my dad and Jeffree are super funny.  I seriously laugh at almost everything they say.  My dad is probably the most clever, witty person I know.  Jeff's not far behind him.

Their favorite candy bar is Reeces. 

They both give really great hugs. 


I love them both.  Happy Dad's day!

today

 Early morning snuggles.  She always chooses daddy to cuddle with in the morning.

She only wears skirts these days.  

Getting kisses from daddy while she helps him grind the wheat to make bread.

Working on the piles of sorted hand me downs that need to be washed before baby brother gets here.  This is my family room... not my laundry room.

Sidewalk chalk before it gets to warm to play outside.

The six feet in our little family.  With a blurry belly in the way to prove that two more feet will be joining us soon.

 Walking around the neighborhood in order to complete one of Jeffree's school assignments.

Stopping to say hi to our favorite neighbor.

 

Hours later, after naps and baking bread.  Waiting for a client at our photo shoot destination.

Playing frisbee with daddy while we wait.

Happy Thursday!

why i still love my man

Despite crawling into my shell the last 3 weeks due to the longest most nasty cold ever, I still love my man.

He takes care of me when I'm sick.

He makes me laugh.  All the time. 

He loves his little girl.  And makes the perfect "horsey" for her to ride.

He thinks I'm pretty.  Although he did laugh at me last night when I tried to be seductive while rubbing lotion on my belly.

He's tall.  Seriously.  Living with a man who is 6'3" has lots of advantages.

He hugs me for long periods of time.  I love a good hug.

He listens to me when I cry.  And when I tell him I don't ever want to be pregnant again.  He knows that I really do want to have more babies, but he doesn't say that.  He just thanks me for sacrificing for him and our family.  And then he loves me some more, even though I'm an emotional mess.

He does the dishes and helps with the laundry.  Not just sometimes, but all the time.

When I ask, "Can I keep you?"  He always says yes.

He's fun to kiss.

He's mine.

I love you, sweet Jeffree. 

Why I love my man

Yes, I still love him.  I've just been a little down and out with a dreadful cold.  Congestion headaches are the worst.  Which brings me to one thing I love about my man.

He is sooooo helpful.  Like, he helps with the dishes, not just every now and then, but every day.  And he scrubs toilets.  And helps with the laundry.  When I'm not feeling well, he whips up a great dinner.  He gives little e her bath at night.  He massages my feet.  He makes sure I always have what I need.  He is consistently working to ease my burdens and is always helping with the housework.

I'm sure some of that stems from him growing up in a spotlessly clean home, so that's how he likes things.  But it's also just cuz he's sweet and thoughtful and wants to do whatever he can to help me out.  Even though he works full time and is taking a full load of classes, he still manages to make my life easier by cleaning here and there.  Every day.  Very attractive. 

happy march

some people don't like march.  that's fine.  but i think it's a wonderful month.  especially since it's the month that brought my man into the world.

yep, mr. shirley is about to turn ancient!  and i'll be getting all mushy about how much i love him.  

in no particular order, i present to you the love series, "why i love my man."

let's get started. 

reason number 1:  he doesn't play video games.  i'm serious, ladies and gentleman.  i think it's so hot that he doesn't play video games.  of course, when we go visit family, he'll join in on the friendly competition (and he's usually awful).  but it's not a habit of his to play regularly.  and it turns me on.  i tell him all the time, too.  that's how i hit on him. 

here he is, not playing video games:

and again, not playing video games:

and one more time

see what i mean?  love it.  love him.  for reals.

date night

I love a good date night idea, but have you noticed that everyone goes out to dinner or to a movie for their dates these days?  Jeffree and I just can't justify that expense all the time.  We have to come up with less expensive, more creative dates to "flame the fire." 

Jeffree likes to have a theme or a title for each date he plans.  Last week's date night?  Plane Chocolate. 

First, we made paper airplanes from online tutorials.  We each made a few models, then headed out for a little competition.  Let's just say that my paper airplane making skills have never been that impressive.  Neither have my paper airplane aviation skills.  Jeffree blew me out of the water.  And the air.

After that, we hit up the local Starbucks for some hot chocolate.  Jeffree got a gift card from one of his students, so we used that for a little chocolate-y warmth. 

It sounds a bit silly, I suppose, but it was just the break we needed and we had a lot of fun.  Love my creative, silly, frugal man!

our sweet girl

I'm sitting here watching little e twirl and dance as one of her little toys sings songs.  (There's a reason she's so skinny, all the working out she does.)  Becoming a mom was the hardest adjustment of my life.  But as I sit here and watch my girl, I have to say that nothing else in the world brings me as much pure joy as she does.  She lights up mine and Jeffree's world.  She is so funny and silly and cute and sweet.  Not to mention ridiculously adorable.  She loves her Daddy (but I'm her favorite) and she's finally all cuddly.  She cries when Dad goes to work, she always wants to play outside, and she asks us to tickle her.  She could read or dance all day long and she usually does. 

I love my sweet girl.  Thank you, little e, for bringing so many beautiful moments to our family.  Love you forever.

 

a little love

I was searching for something in my email and I came across this beauty.  Here is a little story to grace your Friday.

Yes, that is a FAKE wedding announcement.  read on. 

Jeffree and I were at an institute dance only 3 days after our first date.  Jeff had a friend coming through town and thought it would be pretty funny for us to pretend we had just gotten engaged.  We borrowed a ring from his mother and sat out on his front porch, waiting for his friend to arrive.

We gave the performance of a lifetime.  We totally nailed it, right down to all the cliche phrases ("when you know, you know").  Jeff's friend, along with his traveling buddies, totally ate it up.  We had them completely convinced.  I remember that night as he drove me home, I told him, "I enjoyed being engaged to you."  The best part?  He wouldn't even let me hold his hand.  I tried to convince him it would be impossible to pull it off if we didn't touch each other.  He finally consented to my putting my hand through the crook of his arm.

A couple of days later we had these photos taken and Jeff's brother made our fake announcement, just to relive the glory.  Yes, it does say we are registered at pizza factory and D.I.  No, one cannot actually register at D.I.  Jeff checked.  I'm not sure about pizza factory.  :)

feel the sunlight kiss my face

Have I mentioned that the J man ran the Wasatch Back Ragnar?  It's a 198 mile relay race over the course of 2 days.  The runners run anywhere from a total of 13 to 25 miles divided into 3 legs each.  They run all day, all night, and well into the next day.  Jeff came home dead tired, but was so glad he competed.  (It was his first ever running event.)

Say hello to team "12 runners.  24 feet.  36 legs.  Do the math"

The team consisted of my siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and some family-in-law.  I had to back out to attend a wedding, but plan on seeing me with my ragtag running for 8 miles uphill along a dusty trail next year.  After all, I can't let Jeffree's awesomeness surpass mine :)

p.s. each team chooses their name and there were some pretty funny team names.  my personal favorite - a team of all girls called themselves, "Not tonight, honey - I'm on the ragnar."  I had to explain it to Jeff. heehee.

lunch date

I really heart lunch dates.  But when your man is a school teacher and his school is a few miles away and he has the car, well, you can imagine that they're hard to come by.

Two summers ago before we had little e, Jeff worked a summer job and got home by one every day.  We could always be found outside grilling something or chilling with our lunch in the courtyard of our apartment complex.  Sometimes I miss those days.

Today I was missing my man, so little e and I decided to have a lunch date with dad.  She loved it, of course and had the cutest smile on her face the whole time.  (except the time she was sobbing because it was time for her nap.)

We love our dad.  He does what he loves, even though it means he'll never be rich or famous.  He works hard all school year and he'll be starting his summer job after only a three-day weekend.  He's fun and sweet and so good to us.  Plus, I think he has a cute smile.

Only two days till summer, Babe.  Hang in there.  We love you.

you're the ultimate

I can't help it.  I think he's pretty cute.  Plus, it's sorta fun to hear his voice on the radio and see his commercial on t.v.  Here's half a minute worth of my man.   enjoy.

like you are center stage on broadway

Welcome to the world première.

(and since I can't upload the video, here is the youtube link... anti climatic, I know)

Shirley Studios presents 

Battle of the Books Commercial

brought to you by Jeffree's third grade class

sometimes love

Sometimes love needs a little pick-me-up.  Or in this case, the world's longest love note.  It started by the garage door where Jeffree walks in from work.  After greeting him there, it went down the hall, up the stairs into the kitchen...

then through the front room, up the main stairs and down the hall.  Jeff loved it.  Well worth the hour + it took me to make.  Success.

Try it.  He just might love it.

enchanted to meet you

Today little e is missing her Daddy.  She is Daddy's little sweetheart and shows Jeffree quite a bit more affection than she shows to me.  It's Jeff's first day of school and I know when he comes home little e will be so excited to see him.

She tried to let him know he was missing out by rolling over this morning for the first time.  Unfortunately, she thought rolling over from her back to her tummy while Mommy was out of the room for 20 seconds was the opportune moment.  Little stinker.  I suppose she'll roll again and hopefully we'll both be there to enjoy it.

                            

She is no doubt head over heels for her Daddy.  And he is hopelessly mesmerized by his little girl.  I love them both so much!