To My Valentine(s)....

I love you with all my heart, and am so glad that we found each other. You are everything to me, and I love you for all that you put up with me. You make me laugh, and help me calm down when things get crazy. I know sometimes I give you a hard time about bringing me here to Congo, but I'm glad you did. It has brought us closer together and our family closer together. I love having these adventures with you and hope we can do more adventures in the future. You push me and encourage me to do things I never thought I would be able to do, and I'm grateful you do because I find out later you were right all along that usually I do love it. You know me better than I know myself, and I'm truely blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for all the love that you give me. I love you!!!!

TO MY OTHER VALENTINE:

I love you Spencer. You bring a smile to my face everyday, and we are so lucky to have you. I love how smart, sweet and charming you can be. Sometimes we spoil you rotten, but how can we not with a little boy that tells us he loves us everyday, and usually out of the blue. I love that you love to dance with me and be goofy. You can be crazy at times, but so loving at others. You always are there to help Mommy out when she is having a hard day. Thank you!!! I love you Spencer!!!

Week 2 and Disneyland

Okay so this last week I did not lose any weight. I lost 2 pounds, but over the weekend I did not eat as well as I should have and ended up gaining those two pounds back. I did exercise three times during the week and I have started taking my cholesterol medicine every day. I have been eating alot of peppers sauteed in olive oil. I think they add alot of flavor to rice, or spaghetti, or even a wheat pita.

DISNEYLAND
Okay so Becca and I have finally decided it is time we take Spencer to Disneyland. He is always hearing his cousins and aunt Ally talk about it, so we plan on taking him for his birthday in August. We plan on being back in the states in between our move from the DRC to Zimbabwe, and 5 days of that "vacation" (I say it in parentheses because alot of the time will be spent going to the dentist, doctor, buying new clothes, and buying a whole bunch of food, like 1000 pounds of food, to ship to Zimbabwe so we will have food when we get there.) will be spent at Disneyland. As I was talking with my mom about the trip I was reminding her of the one time we went to Disneyland when we were younger, I think we were around 8 years old, but I am not sure. I had alot of fun on the trip but this one story sticks out so I will tell it. Now some people will say I am exaggerating in parts, my mom and dad, but I don't think I exaggerate that much.

"It was the last day of our Disneyland vacation and I had been bugging my parents for money so I could buy a delicious, sugar coated churro. I have always loved churros and think they are one of the best foods you can buy at fairs and amusement parks. Well my parents continued to tell me "NO!" Well eventually my parents made a deal with me. On the last night they said if I was able to stay awake for the electrical light parade then they would give me money to go buy a churro. I thought this was a great deal and knew I would be able to stay awake. So during the whole parade I kept thinking of the warm churro that would soon be mine. Eventually the parade was over and my parents holding to their end of the bargain gave me the $1.50 for the churro, in pennies, nickles and dimes. Normally I would have been annoyed with carrying all that change around, but not tonight, because I knew a churro would soon be mine. So I began walking through the park in the dark, now remember I was only eight and have no idea why my parents allowed me to walk through the park all by myself. I searched all the churro stands I had memorized throughout the week, but because the park was closing all the churro stands were closed. As I headed back to my parents I remember that there was one stand I hadn't checked and as I ran to its location I could see the light was on and that there was one person standing in line. As my heart jumped with the anticipation that my blood would soon get a sugar kick, I ran toward the stand only to have my heart drop at the empty churro case. As I walked back to where my parents were, head hanging low, 10 pounds of change rattling in my pockets, I realized that Disneyland was NOT the happiest place on earth.

When I finally wondered back to my parents the only thing they asked me was if I they could have the extra change back (I think they could hear it in my pockets as I walked). They did not notice that my lips were not caked in sugar, or that my hands were not greasy, or that I was frowning. As we walked back to the hotel I couldn't help but think that my parents had planned this all along. They must have been aware that the electrical light parade would have lasted until closing, and that all the food vending places would have been closed. They must have known that in the end I would not have obtained my churro."

Now although I do make this story sound really bad, and yes I do exaggerate for dramatic effect, I actually had a great time and was happy my parents took me.

Spencerisms part 2

I was trying to get some videos of Spencer dancing on here, but our internet connection must be too slow, so I couldn't get them on. But I will continue trying. For now though I have a couple of funny stories to share with ya.

Sat. night we were having breakfast for dinner. So we had pancakes and bacon. Spencer was eating a piece of bacon and was just gnawing on it with the rest of it hanging out of his mouth, without holding onto it.

Mommy: Spencer take a bite, and put the bacon down. Nobody wants to see you gnawing on your food like that.

Without missing a beat Spencer says: Well then they don't have to look at me.

How he figured that out so quickly I'm not quite sure, but Tyler and I couldn't help but bust out laughing.

Today, Sunday, Tyler woke up sick, so we didn't go to church. While Spencer was eating lunch he was asking about things we were going to do today and tomorrow.

Spencer: So are we going to church tomorrow?

Mommy: No, we were suppose to go today, but Daddy isn't feeling good, so we aren't going.

Spencer: Oh, well, I don't think Heavenly Father is going to be happy with us.

Such a sweet boy! I reassured him after that that Heavenly Father would understand.