Friday's Letters

Dear Park City: Thanks for being so wonderful to us last weekend. I really do love you. You remind me of up north Michigan and when I'm with you...I feel at home. Dear H: I hope you had a wonderful birthday! I love you! Dear Snow: THANKS for coming so early this year. Can you come around more often this year? I really like you a lot. Dear Thanksgiving: Can you get here already? I'm ready for some sissy/mom/Jacky bonding time. Dear Mom: I think we're going to FINALLY paint our door this weekend. I can hear you cheering already. ;) Dear Weekend: Thanks for being here. I needed you. 

More letters

HERE. 

Happy Birthday!

Hubband. Hubs. Hunnie Bunnie. 

It's your birthday!

Today is one of my favorite days of the entire year. Because if you hadn't been born, well this blog probably wouldn't exist and Charlie and I would be very sad and lonely. womp womp. 

 I hope you don't mind that I outed my nicknames for you up above, but they're just so cute. Like you. 

You know what else I like about you and would miss if you weren't in my life?

Your blue eyes (which I hope our kids get) 

Your laugh. It's contagious 

Your devoted nature

Your testimony

Your smile 

Those dimples. They slay me

The way you call me honey muffin

How you always tell me you love me

Your voice

Your kisses

Cuddles 

I mean, let's get real here. I love everything about you. 

So, I hope you have a very happy birthday and know that I love you very much. 

xoxo

your wifey

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Yesterday, between sessions of General Conference, Todd and I took a drive up into the mountains (finally). I've been watching the trees slowly changing colors and have been itching to go up and take some pictures. Big Cottonwood Canyon was simply gorgeous and I can see this drive becoming a tradition in our house.  

Friday's Letters

Dear pup: I really hate when you look at me like that when I leave. Dear self: You really need General Conference this weekend. Pay attention, kay? Dear Doctor Who: I think I'm in love with you and your antics. (sorry Mr.) Speaking of, Dear Mr: Your birthday is coming up! You're getting so old! ;) Dear new sewing machine: Please be nice to me when I use you for the first time this weekend. Kay? 

love, 

me 

You can see other Friday's Letters here 

Planting Time

That ^ is our pathetic excuse for a front yard. Our house was a flip, so there hasn't been anyone actually living there for over a year. The yard got a little very neglected so we're working on bringing it back to life. 

We (and by we I mean the husband) spent all day Saturday digging up ancient rose bushes (don't worry, we moved them and they're still sort of alive) from our front garden. Those suckers were hard to dig out. It took us well over 5 hours just to get them up and out of the ground. 

 and replacing them with these beauties: 

(source)

Okay. They don't look like that yet. They look like this:

But they'll get there. Hopefully. We're taking out the sidewalk that goes past the porch on the left next weekend (and again, but we I mean the husband) and I'll be painting the front door this awesome rich red that is to die for. Next year we'll work on the whole grass thing. Ugh. 

And last night I made Baked Potato Soup. Which, oh my gosh, was the perfect start to fall. Even if it is still 80* outside. 

My Co-workers Love Me...I think...

I walked in to my office this morning to find my desk like this: 

There was confetti everywhere. It's my birthday tomorrow (today technically since it's now midnight in Michigan) and apparently my co-workers wanted to celebrate it early since I'm leaving for a short trip to Michigan tomorrow (!!) Thank heavens we're moving back down to our real office this weekend because that stuff is everywhere. I mean, there was a trail of it leading from my desk, outside the office, and into the rest of the office. 

I also got a cute 'happy birthday' sign featuring the Sesame Street characters and balloons all over the place. 

The people who clean our building are going to hate me. 

Other than getting older, we've been just hanging out around here. Not much to report, which is why I haven't updated. But, if you don't follow me on instagram (@jmarie13) here's a little of what you're missing:

Baby cows at the State Fair (and corn dogs, popcorn, cinnamon almonds. All which were eaten before pictures could be taken sadly) 

And some San Diego pictures from a few weeks back: 

Have a great rest of the week and weekend! I'll be back Sunday night! 

Saying Goodbye

This post is incredibly hard for me to write. I've started it about 5 times in my head and 10 more times on here. (In fact, it's been sitting in my drafts for about a week now.) Last Monday, the world lost an amazing woman. A wife, mother, grandmother, friend. Saying good bye to her was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. 

It was even harder for my grandpa. That's them up there. They'd been married for sixty years this past June. I can't even fathom spending 60 years of my life with one person. Their souls were inextricably linked. They didn't even have to speak to one another anymore to know what they were thinking. To say he is heartbroken is an understatement. My grandpa called my grandma her bride until her very last day. That kind of love just doesn't happen anymore. 

Instead of being sad (I had my fill of that last week), I want to celebrate her life in this post. I want to always remember her how she was before she got sick. How she was when she was happy and full of life and healthy.

 How her eyes would light up when one of her four cherished grandchildren walked into the room. How she would always bring me exactly 2 chocolate covered graham crackers up to bed with me when I stayed over at my house. How she hung a pair of my toddler shoes from her rear view mirror in every car she and my grandpa had since the time I was born. That pair of shoes still hangs in their car today, 24 years later. 

I am so glad she got to see me in my wedding dress and meet my husband. I am so glad I got to see her one last time in May and talk to her shortly before she left us. 

I'll never listen to bagpipes the same way again. We love you grandma and we miss you more than words can express.