Anniversary Reflections: The Engagement

Eight years ago today, I walked down the aisle and married my best friend. But since I’m fully aware that that phrase sounds too sentimental for me, let me tell you more about that day and all the crazy that led up to it.

 

 

Mr. Bug proposed on February 19, 2005 (I really need to write out how he did that because it was so cool). After the down-on-one-knee moment and my six-tear acceptance, we headed to Perkins to iron out some details. It was late at night and I like Perkins hot chocolate. Don’t judge.

Something important you should know: I grew up watching old movies. I told you a while ago about The One and Only Genuine Original Family Band, and I listed The Way We Were in my favorite movies post here, but I don’t think I’ve told you about another old-time favorite—Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I grew up on this movie. Adam, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim, Frank and Gideon. If you don’t get that, you NEED to watch this movie.

 

 

In that movie there’s an entire song dedicated to June brides. “OOOOooohhhh, they say if you marry in Juuuuunnne…you will alllwaaays beeee a briiiiiide.” You’re welcome.

 

 

Once Landon knew that I needed wanted to have a June wedding, the big question was whether we wanted to plan a wedding in four months or if we wanted to wait 16 months to get hitched. As two virgin kids with the honey glow in our eyes, we decided on the four month route. ;) So June 24 was the date set, and I was absolutely positive that God would NOT let it rain or be ridiculously hot on my wedding day. He just wouldn’t. Ah, to be 21 and naïve.

The next four months included dress shopping (thank God for floor models!), putting together bouquets (silk flowers save the budget!), wedding registries (no dear, you cannot register for that Star Wars spaceship), and deciding on a location for the big event.

 

Dress shopping. Apparently I was saving all of my cheesy smiles for my wedding day.

 

 

Why yes those ARE giant underpants! Our wedding shower gift from Mr. Bug's parents :)

 

My sisters and I before the wedding shower. I don't know why. I just don't know.

 

I knew I wanted something a little less traditional than a church building, and I found this beautiful bed & breakfast in a little Nebraska town that was perfect. (Note: Their website has music on the home page so don't let that scare you. Sorry!) The wedding would be outside—which would be fine because of my previously mentioned deal with God—and we could have the reception there too. Jackpot!

 

 

 

So there you have it. The lead-up to the big day. I’ll tell you all about that later this week, but I will let you in on one little secret: if you’re planning a wedding and hope everything goes off without a hitch, take a deep breath and get ready for a ride. It ain’t happenin’ sister. But it usually all works out well in the end : )

Found Treasures

Something hit me tonight as I got up to use the restroom before bed. First, let me tell you that Adaleine has this apparently unfixable problem with getting her toilet paper in the toilet. I’m sure it’s that she’s not paying close attention and she’s just trying to get back to her game. But so often when I go into the bathroom and see a little wad of TP on the floor, it frustrates me.

So tonight when I walked into the bathroom and automatically grabbed the tissue off the floor and tossed it in the toilet, I was struck by how funny the things are that we find on a daily basis. I wanted to share them with you, because the more I thought about it, the more precious these little ‘discoveries’ seemed. Some of my favorites are:

-Hot Wheels in the bottom of the hamper

-a dozen school lunch notes from Mommy tucked neatly in Eden’s backpack

-used Kleenex stuffed back into the tissue box

-the gift of a carefully drawn picture resting on my pillow

-a notebook filled with Adaleine’s unsteady handwriting

-superheroes in my purse

-colorful little hair clips in my shorts pocket at the end of the day

-cars parked in a line on the coffee table

-the crusts of the sandwiches in Eden’s lunch box

-dozens of books pulled off the bookshelf by a little boy wanting to read about trains

-a new toy clutched in a little hand at bedtime

And then there are my favorite discoveries, my little babies. There are mornings when I wake up to find a sweet face sleeping next to mine on the pillow, or find two little sisters snuggled asleep in one twin bed. I’ve found Judah on the floor between his sisters’ beds and once asleep teetering on the foot of Eden’s mattress.

 

 

 

As I tossed that wad of tissue into the toilet tonight it occurred to me that I am so blessed by the little treasures I find every day, even if I feel exasperated at the time. I was reminded of The Nester’s mantra; it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. Such a true statement and one I hope to keep in the front of my mind when I step on yet another Polly Pocket in the middle of the night. Enjoy your treasures!

 

 

Summer Reading Plan

Eden has turned into quite the little reader lately, so I'm looking for a Reading Rewards Program that will challenge her to keep reading over the summer. I am also looking forward to spending time reading to Adaleine and working on her letters to help her earn rewards too!

Here are a few different systems that I'm mulling over. There are a TON out there, so you know I'm completely overwhelmed trying to figure out which one is the 'best' one. I give myself more grey hairs...

Yes, I know we're in the second week of June and I need to get on it already, but cut me a little slack. I'm a hard-core procrastinator.

This blog called To The Moon and Back has a list of different businesses and organizations that participate in Summer Reading Programs. Bonus!

This balloon pop idea by Chicken Babies blog seems like a lot of fun, and she's also got other programs she's used for past summers including this bookworm chart!

 

 

 

 Jamie at This Lunch Rox used these Summer Reading printables from HowDoesShe to motivate her kiddos, and she includes a really great list of books to add to you little munsters reading list. Check that out here.

 How do you get your littles to read during the summer? What system do you use? I can use all the advice I can get! :)