the Big D

We spent the better part of last week and the weekend with Nelson's family in Dallas. We met our new nephew, got to spend lots of time with our old nephew (old as in age, not in that he is not our nephew anym0re- in case you were confused), and spent time together just as a family. I am not sure anyone could want for anything else.

on libraries

It seems like people are always updating their blogs about the books they read or recommendations of books they might have for others. I have nothing against that, and in fact, I thought about trying to write one myself (so that my blog would not always be about Tripp). But then I realized that would be futile seeing as though I really do not like to read and I actually have a pretty strong hatred of libraries. It all started in highschool when I would be studying away during study hall (read: trying to get a certain boy's attention while pretending to work on my homework). Then Ms. Peters the librarian come by and ask if I had gum in my mouth and of course I did, so I then I was always faced with a moral dilemma: do i lie and keep my piece of gum hidden under my tongue (seriously, I just put it in, it is such a fresh, juicy piece of gum. and you want me to waste that!?!) or should I tell the truth, get up and spit out my gum all while risking getting a detention for breaking the stupid "no chewing gum in the library rule." I will be honest- I was usually fifty-fifty on this one (and it usually was depending on if I could afford a detention that day- like if I had a game instead of practice so I didn't have to be somewhere right after school). Ms. Peters also made us be really quite and actually study. I am not sure what that was all about. I mean, come on, it was my senior year- I didn't think anyone was supposed to study their senior year. But she made us. So my hatred of libraries began slowly. Then in college, it grew. See, we were given SIP carels (little study places where we could work on our senior integration papers) and that was nice, but the library smelled. Sometimes it gave me a headache. And then that is when I realized that libraries are just a stop on the drug trafficing train. How is that, you ask? Well, let me tell you. It's quite simple. You know those little plastic flaps on the covers of books, well, drug dealers just slip in the drugs underneath those flaps and return the book to the library. Then they tell their compadre to go check out "The Grapes of Wrath" and lo and behold, when their friend gets the book, the drugs are right there under the cover. I know, it's a pretty genius idea, but it is illegal and it makes the library smell. So books and libraries and reading pretty much went to the bottom of my "things I like" list. Until Tripp was born. Then I was re-introduced to books. Granted they are kids books, but they are books none-the-less. And now that Tripp does some talking, his favorite thing to say is "Ahh More!" after we finish a book and are about to move onto the next. Well, since I don't like libraries, this reading habit was getting kinda expensive- since the only way to get books without a library is to buy them. And it was also getting really old to read all the same books over and over again. So seeing as we live one block from our municipal library, I thought it was time I sucked it up and got a membership (or whatever you call it there). Tripp and I bravely ventured out recently and went the library. And we checked out five new books. Five books! For free! And we even were encouraged by the children's librarian to sit in the rocking chair and read. Read aloud? In the library? I was shocked. But we did it. And we had fun (I think I was even chewing gum, but Miss Karen didn't even get mad). We went home with our books, read them over and over and then went back the next week for five more books. For free again! This time we even stayed and played with a few toys at the library. I even plan on going back this week, for more books. So while I am not ready to write any book recommendations for people (I will leave that up to the serious book worm in the family), I have to admit- my like of libraries is growing. Slowly but steadily. And I am looking forward to the day when I might possibly be able to write a blog post with my own book recommendations. Don't hold your breath though, seeing as though it has taken 28 years to get to this turn around point in my life, it will probably take another 28 years before I am ready to make any recommendations to the public.

apple picking

Toothpaste, mushrooms and roses

I have always thought it was weird when one of the first things that is discussed in pre-marital counseling is if you roll or squeeze your toothpaste and how so many fights break out over this controversy. I always thought there are a whole lot more important things to be talking about instead. Besides, why doesn't anyone ever say, "who the heck cares, just buy two tubes of toothpaste!" (which is what we did cause we both like different kinds of toothpaste).

Marriage is hard- it takes putting the other persons needs ahead of your own, it also takes compromising, loving unconditionally, and choosing to work hard to make sure your relationship lasts- not just giving up when it gets tough. To steal from Gary Thomas, who wrote Sacred Marriage (highly recommend this book), I agree that marriage exists to make us more holy. It is a spiritual discipline that is part of our sanctification process. I also think that children are a HUGE part of this as well. I didn't come close to understanding my own selfishness and sinfulness until after Tripp was born. I have also learned that being tired, spit-up on, and un-showered-for-a-few-days does not in anyway justify treating my husband poorly.
But marriage is also awesome. There is something that is so comforting about the fact that Nelson knows every little detail about me and yet he still loves me. I love the feeling of cuddling up to him at night while we watch our favorite TV shows. I love that we email many times during the day just to hear what the other person is up to or what weirdness is happening at our respective workplaces. I love that we have our own "dialect" when talking to each other (if you don't believe me, just ask my brother and sister-in-law, they are really good at imitating it). And I also love that Nelson knows and loves all the little things about me that make me who I am. Like the fact that I am really clumsy, that I love mushrooms even though he hates them.

And I love that when Nelson gets a burger at a fast food restaurant, he folds the wrapper into a perfect square that fits directly under his burger and eats off of that and that he always makes sure his cup holders are closed in his car (of course they are always open in mine- they need to be ready for a drink at a moments notice).
It is really nice too when you show up at home after a long, hard day and have a dozen of these waiting for you.

So fight for your marriage. It is probably the hardest thing you will ever do, but it's the right thing to do and it's totally worth it.

"Oh Boy!"

One of Tripp's newest phrases is "oh boy!" (He also says "elbow" so this can get confusing to all of us at times). Tonight, though, was definitely a night of "oh boys" (and a few "wows"). Our municipality is having a festival with free rides, food, fire engines and even a police helicopter landing. To a 16 month old little boy, that was almost too much excitement to handle (so we saved the pony rides for tomorrow). Even though he was pretty tired, he loved it and had many "oh boys" and "wows" for us to night.

the helicopter was flying in from above

Door County 2010

We just spent last weekend and part of last week up in Door County, WI. It is one of my most favorite places to go. My grandfather used to go there when he was young, my mom went every summer as she was growing up, and we did the same. Now Tripp got to enjoy it for the first time. I would say he thoroughly enjoyed it. Although we almost missed the plane on the way there, we made it there safe and sound.


We did some playing in the sand,

visited THE Farm (yes THE is supposed to be in all capital letters),

played on some tractors,

and went on long walks,

and got to ride mopeds (picture taken by Steph).

We even finished celebrating Big Bill's 60th birthday. This time, Tripp didn't get sick.

And we got a great family picture.

It was wonderful to be together, and I am already looking forward to our next time there together!

The Other 20%

So a while back, Tripp got diagnosed with strabismus. The doctor told us then that he had an 80% chance of needing surgery to correct it. But, there was also the other 20% chance that he would not. So we started with patching. He had to wear a patch on one of his eyes for a couple hours a day for a three months. It seemed to be very helpful. We went back for his final check up today to see how his eyes were looking. The verdict- as straight as straight can be! He's in the other 20%! We are very thankful, and I know he is too (as you can tell by his big smile)!