Secret Code

I really felt like I needed to write to Ryan today. So forgive me Internet. Forgive what is sure to be the most annoying blog you have ever read on my website. But with kids, work, and family, I never get to write about the man who is helps me hold my shit together.

You hear all the time that to make a marriage work you need romance, candles, flowers, and private dinners for two in dimly-lit French restaurants. But after being married for 3 years I have realized that although those are nice, they aren’t what keeps us going. (Yes Mom! I know…you are going on 28. But let’s be honest, lots of people don’t make it past 2 years, so I am going to praise myself.)

Every couple has their own secret language. Their own lexicon — phrases that have come out of some shared experience and have become an inside joke for them. I think it is that type of bond that really makes a marriage work. Knowing each other so well that you can communicate an entire feeling or moment with a word as simple as “Tam-poon.”

Allow me to explain. Ryan and I went to a restaurant close to our home one night for dinner. Towards the end of our meal, I had finished but Ryan was still picking at his steak. Our waitress, clearly distracted, came to the table and asked to clear our plates. I handed her mine but Ryan said, “I am still working on mine. Thank you.” The waitress then absent-mindedly grabbed his plate and began to remove it. Ryan held on and said “I am still eating.” But the waitress was looking in the other direction and kept pulling on his plate. Ryan then said very loudly and in one of the saddest voices I have ever heard, “But I still want it!” The waitress then realized what she was doing and apologized.

We can still look back on this moment and laugh. It was the look on Ryan’s face combined with his tone of voice added to the fact that his was holding onto his plate like a hungry kitten that made the situation so funny. And now when we want to describe a pathetic situation all we have to do is look at each other and timidly say, “But I want it.”

This is not funny to other people. In fact, you are probably reading this and wondering why you are still reading . But it is moments, like those, that in a very strange way make you closer as a couple. Those moments that you share and you can always look back and laugh about. They are what make my marriage stronger. And they always end up making me love Ryan a little more.
Ryan is an incredible man. Yes we have romantic dates and flowers. But I appreciate even more the special friendship we have together. He makes me smile and we always end up laughing even when things are not going okay. So to Ryan: thank you for being my friend and my husband. Our secret language may never make sense to anyone else but you will always know the following:

“By the rules that bind us…”
“Cause you’re the Queen of the Night”
“Seriously!”

Although we may NEVER make sense to anyone else, at least we have each other.

4th of July Fun

Not only did this 4th of July mark Gabe's first 4th but we also got Sera this year as well. Ryan gets Sera every even year so we were really looking forward to this holiday. Sera is so much fun and Ryan and I miss having her around. We feel very lucky that it was Ryan's year to have Sera because we were needing to spend some extra special time with her.

We went to Veteran's Memorial Park in West Jordan on Saturday July 3. There was a HUGE carnival with rides, food, a movie in the park, and of course, Sera found the petting zoo right away! There were goats, bunnies, sheep, a pony, and the cute pig. Sera said that is was really hairy but I still think it was pretty cute! And a special thanks to Ryan for getting this cute picture. I had to wait outside the pen with Gabe and Linda.






After Sera spent a couple hours riding on rides with her Grandma Linda, we all settled in to watch the movie flushed away but as you can probably guess, we had more fun playing then watching a movie. And Ryan being the great guy that he is, went and bought a glow stick and some flashing devil horns which Sera thought were AWESOME!


And even though it may not look like it in this picture, Gabe loved them too! It was so much fun hanging out at the park with our family, Grandma Linda, and our neighbors Jay, Rosie, and Logan. We snacked on chips and cookies and just had a great time watching the kids hang out.

And when it finally came time for the fireworks, I will admit that I was a little worried about how Gabe might react. But let me tell you something Internet, this picture below says it all! He sat in Ryan's lap the whole time and could not take his eyes off the fireworks. No crying or screaming. He was hypnotized by all the lights and sounds. It was cute to watch Ryan and Gabe share that moment together while I got to cuddle with Sera while we watched the fireworks together.

The next day on July 4th we decided to take a family trip to Hogle Zoo with Grandma Linda. It was great to be able to spend so much time with Ryan's mom this past holiday. It made everything even more special. Linda is always so much fun to be around and it is great to she her relationship with the kids.

And of course no trip to the zoo would be complete without a ride on the carousel. This time Sera decided to ride the kangaroo because...wait for it...she wanted to slide down the tail once the ride was over. She is always good for a laugh. Her sense of humor is truly one-of-a-kind.

And Gabe also got his first ride on the carousel. We chose something a little less exciting and went on the peacock. Gabe was having a great time until the end of the ride when I smacked his head on the giraffe. OOPS! But eventually he forgave me.

When all was said and done, I felt like the weekend was way too short. We had so much fun with kids and I wish we had another couple days. Thanks to Linda for coming down and spending the time with us. We could not have asked for a better holiday weekend!

10 Month Birthday

HAPPY 10 MONTH BIRTHDAY GABE!

Oh our Sweet Baby Boy! 10 months has gone by so quickly. And you are getting bigger and brighter all the time. I know that in your 10 month picture you are not even awake but we take what we can get these days. Whenever I pull out my camera you automatically think it is something you should be eating. So we sneak pictures when we can of when you are restrained like in the picture below.

As you can see in this picture you were so happy to see me. Over this past month your emotions have become much more intense. And your facial expressions are so vivid. You have the most expressive little face and it is becoming easier to tell what it is you want or need. And let me tell you, that smile kills me every time. It's getting really hard not to spoil you.

This past month you have really started to be fascinated with everything you shouldn't. It can be the T.V., the dog dish, or something like baby powder, but you must have it. We have become pros at getting the baby gate up quickly before you can get into the kitchen and destroy. But even when you are being naughty, you are as cute as ever.

You are also talking more and more. And guess what my little Angel??? MA MA MA! That's right! You have finally started to say it. I am still unclear if you really understand that I am MaMa but just like DaDaDaDa, I am taking what I can get. You have also started using the Ba, Na, and Pa sounds. I am hoping that soon enough it will become real worlds.

Also you have started "cruising" which means any day now you are going to walk. You will grab the couches and go from one end to the other. You will also do the same with Entertainment Center. It is so cute to watch you go. But the down side is that you are having more bumps now. It seems like at least once a day you are bumping your head on something. In fact tonight, you were attempting to throw an empty soda bottle over the baby gate into the kitchen and it slipped from your hand and hit you on the head. You cried for about 30 seconds and then went right back to smiles.

This month we have also started you on more solid snacks. Things like bread, bits of lunch meat, chunks of cheese, green beans, Oreos, Goldfish crackers, and lots of other things. You seem to love solids even more than your baby food. And it is so cute to watch you shove all these new foods into your mouth. You will smile and clap and it is so much fun. P.S. Your favorite thing so far...green beans straight from the can. That's my boy!

Gabe, you bring so much joy into my life. I know that I say this to you EVERY birthday blog but I don't think you can ever hear it enough. You have a the greatest personality and so many people love you. Perfect strangers will stop and smile at you. They comment on your big blue eyes and your infectious little grin. It is nice to see that it isn't just your Dad and I that think you are adorable.

I see you learning more and more every day. You love your blankie. You hate having your diaper changed. You like the sound of your hands and feet slapping on kitchen floor. You like playing catch with your Dad. You love things you can stack or things with wheels. You LOVE music! But most importantly you love your family. And Sweet Baby Gabe, WE LOVE YOU TOO! Happy 10 Month Birthday!

Mick Jagger

This post is dedicated to my father, Chad Paulsen, who always reminded us that no matter how much we complain and yell and beg, sometimes...You Can't Always Get What You Want. I think that there is one person in my life right now that really needs to learn this same lesson.



I saw her today at a reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she would meet her connection
At her feet was her footloose man

No, you can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
And if you try sometime you find
You get what you need

I saw her today at the reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she was gonna meet her connection
At her feet was, footloose man

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well you might find
You get what you need

Oh yea-ay (hey-hey-hey, oooh)

And I went down to the demonstration
To get my fair share of abuse
Singin', 'We're gonna vent our frustration
If we don't, we're gonna blow a 50-amp fuse'
Sing it to me, now

(You can't always get what you want)
(You can't always get what you want)
(You can't always get what you want)
But if you try sometimes, well you just might find
You get what you need
Ooh baby, yeah, ooh

I went down to the Chelsea drugstore
To get your prescription filled
I was standin' in line with Mr. Jimmy
A-man, did he look pretty ill

We decided that we would have a soda
My favorite flavor, cherry red
I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy
Yeah, and he said one word to me, and that was 'dead'
I said to him

(You can't always get what you want) well no!
(You can't always get what you want) tell ya baby
(You can't always get what you want) no
But if you try sometimes, you just might find, mmm!
Mmm! you get what you need
Ooh yes! Woo!

(Instrumental & choir) Ooow-ooh!

You get what you need
Yeah!
Ooow, babe!
Ooh, yeah

I saw her today at the reception
In her glass was a bleeding man
She was practiced at the art of deception
Well, I could tell by her blood-stained hands
Say it!

(You can't always get what you want) yeah!
(You can't always get a-what you want) ooo-yeah, baby!
(You can't always get a-what you want)
But if you try sometime, you just might find
You just might find
You get what you need

Ooh, yeah!
Ooh, baby!
Woo!

Ah, you can't always get a-what you want
No, no baby

You can't always get a-what you want
Tellin' you right now

You can't always get what you want, mmm!
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find, that ya
Get what you need
Oooh, yeah!

I'm tellin' the truth, babe