Five Years

Joseph and I just celebrated our five year wedding anniversary.


I feel so old. But I also feel like not much time has passed.

He's my best friend. I can tell him anything and he doesn't judge me...or think I'm being weird.
Sometimes I try to be extra-weird just because that's when he flashes his big dimple-grin and shakes his head, as if to say, "I don't even know what to do with you." As I am running around with a bath towel pretending to be a butterfly.

I appreciate that I can ask him to do something and he will do it. Yes, it's a little frustrating that his "clean" tolerance is a different level than mine, and I will let the dishes sit in the sink to see if he notices and does something about it (he doesn't). But the second I mention them, he is all over it.



I like that when we have fights, he apologizes even when it's not his fault. Because it makes me feel like a big jerk. I still pout a little bit, just because I have a temper. But it makes it easier for me to accept responsibility once I've calmed down. Because, let's face it, I'm usually mad about the dishes in the sink, and that's dumb.

I like to tease him. I will very stealthily lick his neck and then deny deny deny. The only problem is that he will ask me if I just licked his neck when we are cuddling at night, when I honestly did not. He now experiences phantom licks.

He makes me feel loved. He makes me feel adorable.



When we are hanging out after dinner, he will ask me if I need anything. Sometimes it's just because he is going to play a game or work on his blog, and that's his signal that I shouldn't be bugging him (which just makes me want to more). But mostly it's because he is a sweetiepie.

When I need to go to the music store to get a book, he will go with me. Just to keep me company. And when I tell him to back away because there is a guy who flirts with me and makes me feel good, he smiles and gives me some distance.

He loves our two little cat children. So much so that when we were watching my mom's dogs and Marley ran away, he was worried. When she finally showed up, he grabbed her, even though she spotted the dogs and scratched and bit, he held on until he had her in the house. His hand later swelled up with an infection.

He is good humored. He doesn't get offended when people tease him. He doesn't judge other people (trust me, I've tried, but he won't). The only people he's ever been upset with are people that have hurt members of his family.


He is a nerd, but not the awkward, geeky kind - the knowledgeable, useful kind. There is something incredible attractive about a man who can fix your computer. I don't understand what he's talking about with dual-cores, DSS and logic boards, but I like to gaze into his eyes as he says it.

He makes me dinner. He thinks I'm funny. He has initiative, and goes after his dreams.

He has enough confidence to wear a European swimsuit, even though I'm pretty sure Brian was joking.

He values my opinion.

I can't believe I love him more now than when we first got married.

Lilly and the Sugar Gliders

My sister Danielle has sugar gliders. When she went to North Dakota to visit family this summer, she asked us to watch them. Now she is in Hawaii and we got Sugar Glider duty again.

Lilly is in heaven.

Can you see the brave sugar glider right next to her paw? Pixel wasn't afraid (but Cocoa was hiding).



Lilly thought we brought her new friends. I'm curious how she would react if we took them out of the cage. But those little ladies are dang fast, and I am not going to explain to my sister that I lost one of her babies. So they are staying in the cage.

If this is making you want a sugar glider, don't run out and buy one. They are high maintenance. They need constant care and attention or they can get mean. You also need to buy at least two because they are social creatures (they live in colonies in the wild) and can become depressed. Do your research and be prepared to devote time and resources to them.

The Circus

About a month ago I was watching a documentary on the circus and immediately wanted to go. I did an internet search and found out that I had just missed one by a month. I couldn't find anything indicating there would be another soon.

I was bummed.

About a week ago we stopped at the corner Walgreens to get some ice cream and I spotted a flyer on the counter. What was it advertising? THE CIRCUS. I told Joseph it would be so much fun to go. And could we please take my three nephews?

I have such a great hubby.

Some delicious (and quite expensive) food to start.

This was our view from our seats. They had the ring open before the show and during intermission to ride the elephant, get your face painted, or jump in one of those inflatable jumping castles. It was all quite expensive, so we sat in our seats waiting for the show to start. The next few pictures aren't very good because the lights were off during the show.

A contortionist.

Two tight-rope walkers, sitting on chairs. One of them fell (twice!) and managed to save himself by hooking his leg around the wire, and he spun around. It was very nerve-wracking.

Tigers jumping through hoops lit on fire.

Hanging out during intermission.

I took other pictures of the trapeze artists, the magic show, the motorcyclists in the iron cage, etc., but those pictures really didn't turn out.

The show was over and we were walking back to our cars. Can you believe how tall this kid is? I love that he threw his arm around his mom.

After the circus we came back to our house for a sleepover. It was a little crazy (with three boys, it was to be expected) but they said they had a lot of fun.

Jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler underneath.

They kept themselves pretty entertained throwing a ball around the house, playing video games, helping me paint my trunk (another blog post when it's finished), and teasing each other. It was a good weekend.