It's the little things

L.O.V.E. 

the truth is i needed this small gesture...isn't it the weirdest thing that the people you love the most can hurt you the  most? someone else can say something rude/mean/insensitive and i hardly notice. then daron says something nice/funny/ingenious and i find a way to take it wrong. seriously...i think i almost have a talent in it. (i know i know, no bueno)

anyway, he knew i was sad but we couldn't talk so he decided to send me a little message. when i saw these heart hands i just couldn't help but forget why i was even being a sensitive weirdo. i really do believe its the little things in life. the more we appreciate those the happier this world would be.

well i have one word for this weekend. FAMILIA. all of the them. that's right. the whole gang. and i am excited as a jumping jelly bean. i am prepared for:

~stadium of fire

~swimming all day long

~getting absolutely no sleep

~chatting till i can't chat anymore

~not being able to walk ( the machine, oh oops sorry, i mean courtney is training for the st. george marathon and needs a "running partner." i am so scared. i am going to die. sisters. what we do for each other. crazy things i tell you.)

~and most likely a rodeo, because that is what we do almost every 4th of july. 

sure do love independence day. i am one proud citizen of this country.

Opposites Attract ain't no lie

tall - short.
blonde - brunette.
fair - olive.
blue eyed, brown eyed.
logical - emotional.
predictable - spontaneous.
articulate - rambler.
intelligent - getting there.
a facts guy - a feelings girl.
mountain man - beach gal.
morning cuddler - night cuddler.
impressive - herself.


each week i realize just how fitting the name really is...

tid bits from grandma JO

i spent the weekend with my grandma JO. she told me so many things i had never known before that i just don't want to forget. here are just a few:

*i am a tinsy tiny part swedish! who knew!? i always tell daron i feel bad i am ruining his practically pure swedish blood, which i still am, but i didn't know i was adding a drop of that swedish blood to the mix! my great great grandmother was from sweden. Her name was Carolyn Nelson.

*my Grandpa Lou was a funny guy. i never knew that. my grandpa died when i was in the 5th grade and he was sick my entire life. he actually forgot who i was on occassion. one time, my grandparents were babysitting us kids and my brother b.j. lost me. he frantically ran up to my grandpa and said "Grandpa! where is Dani Bree!? I can't find her!" my grandpa responded "who the hell is Dani Bree?" haha (sorry Mom) but seriously, how funny is that. anyway, i had never known where my dad got his skill of story telling and now i know.

*i have ancestors that were in the Willie handcart company. Sarah Ann Oakey was 4 years old when she crossed the plains (my 3 greats grandmother). Her sister, Rhoda Rebecca Oakey was the last person to die on that trail. She was 10 years old and was piled in a grave with several other children. Recently, she was depicted by an artist who has started painting people of the Willie handcart company. the painting gives me that fiery burn inside.

(her grave in the slc cemetery, also makes my heart swell)

*Life gives you circumstances and you do the best with what you got.  As i would talk to my grandmother about hard situations of her life (ex: her husband being diagnosed with liver disease and having 10 more years to live) i would ask her how she handled news like that. she consistently would say "well, i didn't think about it much. that is how it was and i just did the best i could." not everything about handling things in this way is perfect, but it sure eliminates complaining...and that is one thing i learned. my grandma JO does not complain. what a slap in the face to me. i complain about the dumbest things possible while my grandmother is 88 years old, has lived alone for 11 years (which has to be lonely at times) and never complains. incredible i tell ya. she has motivated me to cut down on my "wo is me" comments (which just so happened to be in large quantities this past week) and get a grip. sometimes a slap in the face is good.

Grandma- you are an example of strength and courage to me. i am so glad i got learn more about you and the family. until next time :)

hey look, i met the maybe future president

fact: my mom and i waited for over an hour outside on burning hot asphalt to meet the GOP candidate
fact: Mitt Romney is h.a.n.d.s.o.m.e. (my mom and i both agree)
fact: Ann Romney had a more moving speech. i am pretty sure i was almost choked up.
fact: i got to shake Mitt Romney's hand.  Instead of having something important/intellectual to say (like everyone else) i started screaming like he was a rock star. i am pretty sure i don't really fit into these political rally things but it was still quite the experience.

look for my hand.. it comes on at second 32. sure wish i got my face after

fact: a guy from FOX news came over to me and asked me all these questions. my mind was completely blank and the only thing i can remember saying was "uhhhh cause i agree with him...??" i hate when i crumble under pressure.
fact: i was SO close to getting a picture with Romney. my mom told me to run over to a woman in a wheelchair and stand next to her because she was sure Romney wouldn't pass her up. (is that terrible or what) anyway, Romney was JUST about to us when a guy ran over to him and told him there was a guy leaving that he needed to talk to. total bummer. next time. that's probably what i get for using the disabled.

well, it was a first for me. and i really love experiencing "firsts" i am glad we went. thanks to NieNie for filling me in. i wouldn't have known without her.
and look at this car. i was in love. i may want to add this to my horses and tree house... convertible style.

                      Dreamin'

 

Someday...

i am always telling daron that if we end up living in utah that will be fine but i have 2 requests.

1. horses

2. a beloved tree swing

Oh how I have been dreaming of having these 2 things for a long, long time. Grace, Idaho...it was here that i experienced horses and a tree swing for the very first time. i can remember climbing up that tree over and over with all of the millions of cousins. daron, as you can tell, is a little too big for it. but i made him try it out anyway because he had to experience something i love so much.

now, i just have one problem. i am pretty sure daron doesn't realize when i tell him this i am serious...dead serious. so for now, i can dream and slowly but surely convince my man that horses and a tree swing are "logical and make sense for us to have."

crap, wish me luck. this may take a while...

yes and no, facts that make me, me.

if you don't enjoy random, this may not be for you.


-no, i do not own an iPod (that works). i listen to the radio everyday. switching stations every other minute trying to avoid commercials. 


-yes, i sit so close to the steering wheel it physically hurts daron to enter my car and the air bag is sure to kill me instead of save me. 


-yes, i really do not like shopping. ("h" word not used only because i was taught that word is not nice). it is true that i have slowly started/am trying to tolerate it only because i entered a family that loves (understatement) it and i don't want my children to look like homeless hoodlums. it's possible they still will but hopefully that is where daron will do the whole "make up for where i lack" thing


-no, i do not like doughnuts, mayonnaise, alfredo sauce, asparagus, jicama, mushrooms, and grapefruit.


-yes, i am trying to like all of the above.


-yes, i am obsessed with one piece bathing suits right now. looking at them of course. not buying. i wish. ha


-yes, i have a habit of talking to myself. yes i have been caught by my husband on several occassions. and my imaginary friend when i was younger was named kelly (she was from colorado). ironic eh? what can i say. i tell myself i am imaginative.


no, i do not own a straightener, or blush, or face make up, or deoderant. no i have not worn deoderant for years. gasp? t.m.i. definitely. it all started cause my mom told me they think deodorant may be causing breast cancer in women. haven't worn it since.


yes, my new hobbies i want to pick up include: sewing, family history/geneology, learning spanish, and making my own earrings. 


-no, i cannot work a computer. i am of the first generation of the technological boom and still cannot "search" well, figure out twitter, upload pictures, videos, etc. i didn't even put this blog together. the credit of that goes to the hubby and friend shelby.


-yes, i like canned pineapple better than fresh pineapple. and the pit of an avacado makes me go wild.


-yes, i take prenatal pills. 


-NO, daron and i are not trying to make babies. they are for my hair, of course. and hey, accidents happen. better to be prepared, don't ya think?


-yes, i may be in my birthday suit, while in my house, more than i am clothed.


-no, i do not have a career path ahead of me, and no i am not sure what i am doing after i graduate


-yes, the greatest thing i look forward to in this life is being a mom. as of now, i am hoping 6 little ones will call me "mom". but who knows, ask me after 1 and maybe i will say 3.

learn something new?
tah tah!

a picnic for lovers...inside. darn weather.

daron is no daddy yet. but i sure look forward to the day when he is. that is why we still celebrated! with a picnic that resided in our living room. 


marriage. it's a wonderful thing. 2 people together bring different strengths and weaknesses. where i am a slacker, daron makes up for it. and vice versa. (hopefully). daron has the ability to love people for the good and the bad. accept all of someone. as i am married to him longer i realize what a precious gift this is, especially for when we have little ones one day.

ironically i found a letter from my dad about 2 days ago. the date on it: 5-30-07. still have it. i can't really describe how this letter makes me feel. overwhelmed (in a very positive way), with feelings like gratitude and luckiness. (a word? debatable). 

Dad. You mean the world to me.

i can't wait for the day when i get to tell my children all about you.

i will tell them of your hard work, commitment to God and family, your integrity, honesty and diligence. how loyal you are. and of course, how you are the best story teller of all.

one day, they will see you tell your stories. and we will laugh till we cry.

i love you. 

and i have to say how blessed i am to have the wonderful father-in law that i do.

and thank him for being the incredible father he is and raising the man i get to spend forever with. thank you.