10 Years

Remember
"Remember the first flush of love
that drew you powerfully together?
It still feeds the unassailable bond
that makes your marriage so secure.
Remember all the qualities about each other
you found so endearing?
They are still there,
and new ones create sweet surprises.
Remember thinking that this love
would last forever?
Your love has strengthened and grown
into eternal affection and admiration.
Years from now, you'll look back
at this anniversary
and realize you love each other
more than ever.

I know it sounds lame and cheesy, but I still vividly remember the very first time I saw Ray. I thought wow this guy is pale.I remember talking to each other on the phone for about a month before Ray worked up the courage to ask me out. I remember our first date, we went and saw " Big Daddy". Ted and Mark walked up behind us as we sat in our seats waiting for the movie to begin, Ted grabbed Ray at the back of the neck and said "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!". Of course I was super embarassed, Ray was surprised having never met either Ted or Mark. I remember all of our firsts vividly because they were all of my firsts with anyone, First time holding hands, first hug, first kiss, first "I love you!". I remember telling Rochelle that he said he loved me and asking her if she thought that I was in love with him too. Poor guy went out on a limb to say it and had to wait nearly 24 hours before I said it back. Then I remember Kimi saying " When did they start saying that?" I remember deciding that we were going to get married only 3 months after our first Phone call. I remember picking out our rings and then Ray confusing the crap out of me by taking me to riverton music for trombone lessons, I remember thinking what the heck am I taking trombone lessons for. The guy giving the lesson distracted me by telling me that I was doing better than most 4th graders, so I didn't even notice when Ray disappeared, to return minutes later holding a boquet of orange roses and my ring, getting down on one knee and proposing to me. I remember coming down the stairs at the reception center in my white dress, feeling very self concious and then seeing him, I forgot all about the other people in the room and only saw him. I remember him rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb as the bishop read the vows, I remember that my " I Do" was so quiet that the bishop had to double check that I said it. I remember Rochelle crying standing beside me as my maid of honor and I remember Roby saying "Kiss her again." when he didn't feel that the first one was good enough and being completely embarassed when Ray did kiss me again, for far too long than was comfortable in front of family. And then our life together began. In some ways 10 years has flown by in others it has seemed long. The trials in the beginning with Ryan felt like they would be neverending, and then looking back, we recognize how very, very blessed we are. We have the most beautiful children in the whole world (even if they do somewhat resemble Patrick Stewart). Life has definitely had it's up's and down's. We have had our struggles but we are stronger for them. I could not imagine my life any different than it is now. I love you Raymee, Thank you for a wonderful 10 years.

Another Year
Another year to create
precious memories together.
Another year to discover
new things to enjoy about each other.
Another year to build
a life rich in love and laughter.
Another year to strengthen
a marriage that defines "forever."

Wow

OK, now it really has been forever since I have posted. Ray and I have had a busy couple of months. We listed our house for sale on Sep 12 and had accepted an offer within 1 week. We closed on the house on Oct 16. We put brand new carpet in the entire upstairs and the stairs to the basement, we also re-tiled the upstairs bath and painted the whole interior or the house in two-tone paint, off white on the walls, and super white trim. We also did a bunch of stuff with the yard. I have to say that Kimi has a very handy husband Jesse did an amazing job helping us with the yard and helped us to fix the sprinkler system that hadn't worked since the fist winter we lived there. We still owe you guys and Shane and Anngee a steak dinner. Thank you guys so so much we never would have gotten every thing done without your help.

I painted some cute pictures on Suzan's windows that I need to get pictures of posted. The Halloween painting was probably the best painting I have ever done, I loved it. The thanksgiving one is cute and I am just getting ready to paint the Christmas one. I am grateful that Suzan has allowed me to use her window, I would be very sad if I didn't get to do any holiday paintings.

We had a nice thanksgiving, I had to work but I got double time so that was nice. I also got a two hour break to go have dinner with the fam.

Raymond has wanted an E-reader for quite a while so I finally got him one for his birthday this year and he has been reading non stop since I showed him how to download books on to it. About a week after his birthday I got home from work and he surprised me with one of my own, I asked him why he didn't save it for Christmas and he said that he had been looking for something for me for a while but he couldn't find the right gift for me, he said that I just deserved it for being such a good wife and mother and he already had plans for something else for my Christmas gift. What a sweetie huh?? Love him!!! After I got that I finished the rest of Sword of Truth series in 3 days. I absolutely loved that series but now I am sad that it is over and I don't know what to read next. Suggestions???

I have been having a lot of upper back pain for the past few months and I honestly think that I probably just need to lose some weight, OK a lot of weight (mostly from the front of my chest, B-cup Oh how I miss you!!) anyway I finally went to the doctor because I just couldn't move anymore. He ordered 2 MRI'S and blood work, turns out I have two herniated discs in my low back (congenital defect, FYI family members suffering from back pain) and my upper back pain is caused by my muscles, I will be starting physical therapy this week, my doctor appreciated that I don't like taking medication so he didn't make go on any regular anti-inflammatory regimen, hooray. Hopefully the physical therapy will help quickly. I also have personal training and nutritional assistance provided at no cost to me through my employer so hopefully by this time next year I will be wearing a much smaller pant and cup size.

My kids got school pics done and they turned out super cute I will post them and mail them out as soon as I get a chance. We were able to get Alex and Soren's pics done as well and I have to say that I am fairly certain that I have the cutest kids in the entire world.

Well that is all for now, happy blogging everyone.

Wow I haven't posted in forever...

So Rayden did get baptised, here are a couple of pics.













We have had a busy month. Raymond went to Montana for a week to try to find a job in Kalispell or Misoulla, so far no luck. A lady at work said that means that we aren't meant to move, I guess that also means we aren't meant to stay here because he has had no luck finding a job here in the last 6 months. Very frustrating.

We have been applying for pretty much any maintenance job we can find. There is one in Boise, Id that seems promising but I don't know if I want to go to Boise, I would like to end up in a smaller community than we are currently in. I did some research on population in Salt Lake County vs. Ada County (weird that Boise is in Ada county instead of Boise County) Salt Lake had 1,000,000+ and Ada had 100,000+, so it is quite a bit smaller. I talked to Chelle and she said it is a lot smaller, full of Llama and Alpaca farms and there is never any traffic.

Kimi and Jesse came over while Ray was gone, Kimi made some super yummy enchiladas and Jesse fixed my sprinkler manifold, thanks guys you are awesome.

Raymond's cousin Joelle watched the kids while I was at work and even slept over every night to ensure that I wouldn't be late the next morning, she is so nice, I just love her.

Raymond's uncle Urcle and his son Heath were in town for about a week and we had fun getting to visit with them.

We all went swimming as a family last week and it was so much fun that we are thinking about making it a weekly event. I guess that is all of my updates, hopefully I will get more chances to post in September than I did in august. Thank you to everyone who helped out while Raymond was gone it was much appreciated.