10 Years

10 years.   10 years of being married to Cody.   10 years of loving and learning, fighting and forgiving, patience and praying, kids and craziness, laughter and living.   10 years of me being too messy and him being too clean.   10 years of  me in fast forward and Cody is slow motion.   10 years of me thinking and Cody working.   10 years of me planning and Cody surprising.   10 years of navigating life.

Since this blog is really for my kids, I want to take this opportunity to tell you how much I love your Dad.   In many ways, we are opposites.   But we are similar in many ways too.   Your dad is the best man I know.  He is a helper and a hard worker.  He is calm in the storm.  He is solid, he is even, his is faithful, he is stable.  His life has been hard.  His trust has been shaken.  He has had to be self reliant.  

Then God saw more than we are as individuals.  I truly believe He saw a plan for us together.   Noone is more fun for me than your dad.  Noone is more loving than your dad.   There is no one I want to live life with and be in love with.   I hope we end life with a beautiful, non eventful love story.  No drama.  No big moments, just a life well lived and a person well loved.


For out 10 year we went to Santa Fe for a few days.  We shopped, we ate , we strolled, we laughed, we napped, we hung out.   It was wonderful.

We bought  a piece of art that said

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Very true.   10 years down.   100 to go!

Foot Surgery

 I am really behind on blogging.  The reason is pictured above.  I had foot surgery on January 15th.  I had my to bunions fixed, my hammer toe fixed, my joints untwisted and a broken bone set.  (the red spot is where I burned my foot spilling brisket marinade on it)   It was a longer and harder recovery than I thought.  I didn't get to drive for 5 weeks, had to really stay off of it, live life in a boot, and just let go of lots of things.   But it gets better every day and my family, especially Mom and Cody, was great.

Man Baths

Cody and Corey take "Man Baths" together.   I do not really know what goes on in a Man Bath.  I know it involves hot water, blue soap, bubbles, and chilling out.   I know the boys talk.  I know Corey loves man baths sooo much and asks Cody to take one with him every day..  I also know they have my heart swell.  :)

My Funny Valentines

Our little valentines got Legos as their gifts from us.   They were super excited.      Their posing in the picts below make me laugh so hard.   This really is what our life is like!

Snow Day

We had some snow in early February.   It was SO fun!  The kids finally got to have a snowball fight and play out side.   I was indoors with my surgery boot propped up.   The kids laughed and laughed.   It was such a fun day!   And for the first time in 10 years, Cody Wayne Nelson, my ultra safe fireman, let me have a fire in the fireplace.  It was such a perfect day.   I just wish I could have played too!

Date nights

 We decided to take the kids on separate dates every few months.   Cody and Carley got dressed up and went to Chilis.   They had a table for 2 and had a great night talking.   This girl is so lucky and blessed to have this man in her life.   He devotes so much time to her and really invests one on one with her.   It is such a good good thing!

 Corey picked Furrs for our date.   He wanted so sit on the same side of the booth as me and hold my hand.   It was really sweet.  Corey is so very loving and affectionate.   He has a natrual zeal and happiness for life.  I love that!   Thankful for this cutie!

Saturdays are made for

 cuddling and caring for American Girl Dolls

 IPAD games and cuddling with Dad (Best Buds)

and push ups.  

This stage of life is one of my favorites.   Very simple, very sweet.   We have chosen not to add on extra sports and events for our kids right now other than Monday gymnastics which they do together.   They love our home and hanging out here and we love them doing that.   It really is a sweet life!

Nothing Cuter

Than 3T and 4T super hero and thematic underwear.   It really is so cute.   Corey is so proud in his tiny hiney and I love that too.   He started sleeping in underwear and not having any accidents at night either.   We are officially a pull up free family!   YAY!

8

I know I say this every year, but how can my baby girl be 8?   She has grown up so much this year.  Carley is very responsible and caring.  She is smart as a whip and is always taking things in!   Time is flying!  In some ways when I see her, I see the beautiful young girl becoming a preteen.   Other times, I still see my baby.   She still loves cudding, Elly, hugs, talking, reading, chilling out, watching TV and eating.   She loves to do grown up jobs all by herself.   She wants others to like her and interact with her.  She is very sweet with a quick smile.   She is an EARLY riser and usually early to bed.  

Favorite food- cake, ice cream, scrambled eggs, bulls eyes, steak
Favorite restaurant - Souper Salad, Lin's Buffet, Breakfast House
Favorite Books - Magic Tree House, Rainbow Fairies, and Cul De Sac Kids Series
Favorite Friends- Elise, Nathan, Annabelle, Hallie, Anna Wren, Lauren, and Camryn, Addison, Addisyn, Corey
Favorite TV Shows - Jesse, Austin and Ally, Good Luck Charlie, Dog with a Blog
Favorite toys - American Girl, IPad, Lego Friends, art stuff

This year she got to spend her bday with her very favorite people, her family!   Carley wanted an American Girl Doll that looked like her, so she used birthday money from Grammy and PawPaw to get Corene.  (pronounced like Corinne).   She used money from Uncle Tim and Aunt Mandie to pierce her ears.   And Nana and Papa took her shopping for clothes.  We had brunch in the bistro.  It was a really fun bday!

Then we had cake and opened a few more presents.  Such a fun day for a fun girl!   And a little shout out to my sister who made these delicious sausage cream cheese croissants that are my favorite!