Come Rain or Shine or even snow

7 years ago Bart asked me to marry him. As a tradition on November 20th we go back to Baskin Robbins each year for an ice cream date. Now our girls are included. This year I had to stick to my guns to keep the tradition alive. All day Saturday I was running around first working then taking Emily to a birthday party and then coming home around dinner time. I had a little break before I needed to head off to a bridal shower. I'd been working all week and the laundry was piled up high in my kitchen, I needed to make dinner, and the first big snow storm of the season was barreling down. What I really wanted to do was stay home and catch up on life. Bart also had no desire to go get ice cream in a snow storm but I stuck to my guns to carry on the tradition and I forced us into the car. As a side note my girls needed no coercion. They were giddy as can be to go get some ice cream despite not having any dinner or the freezing weather.
As we all ate our kiddie size ice cream cones, it was much to cold for bigger ones, I realized that even though in life we can feel overwhelmed in a snow storm the most important thing is to take some time to step back remember how and why it all started!

FYI (the proposal story)
We had been talking about marriage for a while and we were finally ready to move forward and tie the knot. On November 19th, 2003 we were talking and Bart brought up his desire to get married right away. Christmas time was just fine for him. I told him that was too soon and besides I didn't even have a ring yet and I refuse to be engaged without a ring. Bart in such a cool manner replied I guess I should look into that huh? I over reacted to his reply (I wish I could say I've never done that since) and I got so upset and I started to cry. Well the night didn't end so well and the next day I spent some time convincing myself that I should just relax and try not to control everything. The next night (November 20th) Bart picks me up for a date carrying the prettiest purple roses. I loved them and thought it was Bart's way of apologizing for our argument that we had the night before. Looking back I should have clued in because Bart is not a flower type of guy. So we proceed with the night and attended a UofU gymnastics meet. Again I should have clued in because that was the first thing we did together, but it didn't even register. I remember Bart seeming like he was in a hurry that night but I didn't question it too much. After the game Bart casually states we should go get some ice cream. We head to Baskin Robbins which was the same place we went the first time we hung out after the gymnastics meet. I being so predictable couldn't make up my mind and sampled a few flavors and then turned and asked Bart what I should get. As I turned around, Bart was on one knee with a ring in his hand and said "How about this one?" Very seldom in my life am I truly surprised. I've never had a surprise party that I didn't figure out was coming but that night I was blown away with surprise. My only reply was "Where did you get a ring?" Bart, who's sole goal was to completely surprise me just smiled and put the ring on my finger.

Hola

Emily's preschool teacher knows Spanish and uses some Spanish in the classroom. Emily came home one day and said Hola Mom. Do you know I just spoke Spanish. Emily thinks this is fabulous that she "knows" Spanish. Sometimes I tell her I have a friend from Mexico that I work with and she speaks Spanish most of the time. Emily is in awe with that. She is always telling me about her "plans" to go on a walk and tell everybody she sees Adios (Hola and Adios mean the same thing to Emily). If only Emily wasn't so reserved around strangers she'd probably try this.
The other day we were eating lunch and Emily was asking me to translate words to Spanish. I consider myself to have the Spanish skills of a language delayed three year old (since that is the majority of my speech students right now) but amazingly I was able to translate what she was asking. She asked me how do I say I have to go to the bathroom in Spanish and I replied Nessisito Bano. She repeated it and ran off to the bathroom.
Later that day we are walking through Sam's Club and Emily repeated a few times the phrase that was something like this Nepblabla Bano. The first 2 times I simply ignored her thinking she was just blabbering. The third and fourth time she was insistent I have her attention but I kept saying I have no idea what you are saying. A couple of more times and I got it and we rushed to the Bathroom.
If you know Spanish try saying Hola to Emily the next time you see her. She'll probably light up in delight that she has a Spanish partner to converse with.

A little gratitude

I have a tendency to be a ungrateful at times. I'm still living down Christmases from days long past from my immediate family members. Since this is the month of gratitude I feel like sharing a little here.
I am so grateful that my handsome husband is 6'5. Yes a very tall man he is. Of course it's nice to stand next to him and feel so small or that the tall genes are in my children's favor but the real reason for gratitude came to me a few days ago when my light in my clothes closet burned out. As I was figuring out a way to maneuver a kitchen chair into the closet and change it an idea came to mind. Why not ask Bart to fix this. I hand him a new bulb and ask in my best "honey do voice" to help. In a moment Bart reaches up unscrews to light bulb and screws the new one in all done flat footed. I then remember I have a Jack O lantern decoration hanging on my porch that needed to come down and once again Bart to the rescue, no ladder needed.

Zuzu pet

Emily has been wanting a zuzu pet like this for a while now.

Her preschool class has a pet gerbal or hamster. I really don't know the difference but I guess it doesn't matter because if you call it a hamster or a gerbal Emily will argue until she is blue in the face that it is neither because she believes it is a real zuzu pet.
While visiting her Grandma Becky, Emily discovered this old McDonald's happy meal toy. Yes it is small plush hamster but to Emily it is the Zuzu pet she's always dreamed off. After a little persuasion she convinced Grandma Becky to give it to her. She named him Geek and now "Geek" is Emily's BFF. She sleeps with it and plays all day with it and even produces all these annoying squeaks as if "Geek" is talking to us. I guess you never know what will float a 4 year old's boat


Since Jane continues to want to be just like Emily she has "Toothy" as her playmate. Toothy was given to Emily by her Papa (he won it at a benefit meeting at work and Emily happen to be at his house when he got home from work so he gave it to her). She graciously gave it to Jane when she inherited Geek and Jane was indeed honored. Now whenever Emily has Geek Jane yells for Toothy and totes it around just like her big sister.