9 years ago...

9 years, 4 kids,2 continents, 2 apartment, 2 houses and countless cars later we find ourselves here. Today. Celebrating! Thanks for always being there for me. I love you!

Happy Anniversary KWP!!!

love,
MEWP

p.s. how sad is it that this is the only picture I could find of us without children. This was taken on our last trip alone...before the boys were born!

Pros and Cons

Do you ever have a day where you feel like you need to list the pros and cons of the day to realize that it really isn't that bad? I had one yesterday.
Kent has been out of town since Thursday morning and comes home this Friday and yesterday was the half way mark. That means that it was pretty much a crappy day. I don't really know why it was but the entire day just felt "off". You know what I mean?
So in order to combat it by the end of the day and countless moments of losing my patience with my children I listed the pros and cons.

Here is what I came up with in no specific order...please don't judge me!:)
Cons:
-I am flying solo which means no down time.
-Emma is sleeping now officially in my room on the floor which means she goes to bed with me and wakes up with me. I don't know about you but with the down time I need my alone time. Selfish I know but that is the truth!
-Claire's fish died and I had to be the one to tell her and dispose of him. She did not take the news well...ask Aunt Hannah. RIP Bobby!
-Mack and Morgan both have double ear infections which does not make for pleasant babies. Need I say more?
-I had McDonald's for breakfast and dinner. No lunch. (this could be a pro as well I am not really sure!)

Pros:
-I have an amazing family on both sides who call and check in to see if I am still sane.
-I have a wonderful bed which when I finally crawl into I can't keep my eyes open for more than 2 seconds. Not to mention a home and food and clothes. ALWAYS a bonus!
-The girls bought the boys birthday presents with coupons I got in my first Sunday paper. (see it is all ready paying off!)
-I am healthy and well.
-I have a wonderful mom who came and helped me fold every clean article of clothing that I had in the house!
-I have a wonderful husband who is working hard to provide for our family
-I have a great job that enables me to work on something besides kids which in essence gives me a few moments of sanity.
-I bought "New Moon" the DVD and watched half of it. I plan to finish the other half today. (again please don't judge! It is like candy to my brain. No need to think just sit and veg.)

I found this to be incredibly therapeutic and helpful to my mental state.
What are your pros and cons? Do you ever have to do this?

A Chorus Line...

This is where I will be for the next three weeks. I will not be viewing the show but will be underneath the stage in the pit. It is NOT a family friendly show so kids under 18 don't go but the music is fantastic! I can't help but smile when the number "One" comes on...that is if I could stop counting all the bars!:)

Playing until October 10th at Pioneer Memorial Theater, U of U, Salt Lake. Opens tomorrow night. If you need anything...ask Kent. He is the man in charge of our chorus line at home!:)

7 years ago today....

Seven years ago today Kent and I were married in the Bountiful temple. I can't believe it has been 7 years because it seems so long ago and yet where has the time gone?!
When we were married we didn't have the usual courtship that most couples have. Kent and I met in our sophomore english class and with a couple of rocky moments in high school (let's be honest, who doesn't have rocky moments in high school!) I left for Prague and he went to college. We then had 4 years apart while he went on a mission and I went to London and we had about 2 1/2 months face time in 4 years before we got married. Many people thought we were crazy. I even had one professor in college ask why we had to get married at all! Why couldn't we just live together?:) But I am grateful that we didn't listen to those people and went ahead and just did it! I have never been more happy and felt more blessed than when I reflect at everything we have been together as a couple and how it has only brought us closer together. I love Kent and am so grateful that he has stuck with me through the years.

Thanks sweets for the last 7 and here is to 70 more!:)

love,maria