eighteen months.

jonas,

i love dressing up and going out to a movie with you. and all those other times that we look back on and say "that was a good day".

i cherish the life we had in Germany. it was so hard sometimes, but you held me when i cried and helped me to be happy.

i am so glad we have grown together these eighteen months. and that it was possible because we worked hard at our marriage. 

i love that you forgive me of all those unkind words i spoke to you when i was hungry.

 thanks for always scratching my back and for checking all the closets for bad people or monsters. and for not laughing.

thank you for patiently waiting a really long time for our home. and for the times we visit and you let me tell you where everything will go..and you sigh and say "i really want to live here with you". 

i think the world of you. my dear, best friend.  

your faith in me..and in everything..is magical. 

someday i will write vividly expressive letters just for you.

happy 18 months.  ich liebe dich.

we don't care about the young folks. talkin' bout the young style.

a sunday walk. and we talked and talked.
and decided to take a trip to toronto in august.
kind of a big deal. it is our first real trip since being married(we did not go on a honeymoon).

february temple date.

tonight we went on our temple date for the month. out to the red pepper deli too. and it was super warm today, i just wanted to play outside, but i had to work. at least it smells like rain now, there might be another thunderstorm tonight!..in february.

happy birthday dad!

we really had a lot of fun last night celebrating my dad's birthday. it is so good to spend time together like this, especially with my little sisters. birthdays are just happy. i like it.

i’ll be your emmylou and i’ll be your june if you’ll be my gram and my johnny too.

 this morning we cuddled, read a little of the ensign and then went out to a couple antique shops. i really love this new-ish one called yesternook in germantown. and we found a great bedside table for me, we already have one for jonas- from a yard sale last summer :) we also tried joe davola's. it was really yummy, i love the bread they use and that there are not tons of choices. too many choices is a prison. the weather is great right now- no winter here. so i did not even need a coat! in february! not having to wrap myself up to stay warm means i can hold jonas' hand when we walk. i like it that way. 

ps- i have lost about 5 pounds on WW so far. yay!

valentine's day. 2012.

i accidentally celebrated valentine's day. i was not planning on it but we actually had a pretty fun evening and it might have been in the spirit of this "holiday". we have gotten in this wonderful habit of trying new restaurants and food. annie's cafe was delightful. jonas wrote me the sweetest little letter and he yes, he did get me the new twilight movie. wish he would stop giving me twilight gifts, people might think i am crazy ;) or just really lucky.

come on home. walk through the door.

  "...a home is a place one wants to return to. It is about family, birthday cake, and feeling safe. It is the laboratory for learning and practicing fundamental principles and useful life skills. Indeed, it is the best place on earth to learn charity."-pillows by poppy

i am getting so excited about finally creating our home. without our own home, there has been a gap in our life. we still feel like we are in limbo and we have missed out on those important learning experiences. trust  us, we never imagined going this long without our home( i never want to call our space a house or apartment, or even space. just is not right). but now it is in the final stages, and we are thrilled. with all this time, i have thought a lot about the home i want to create with jonas. i want it to be an inspiring place that changes and evolves along with us. i want to come home and sigh with relief because it is just so comforting to be there.i have many treasures to find and put together, but here are some of the spaces by emily winfield martin that i really fancy:

emily winfield martin of the black apple is such a genius. and she has the coziest looking home. http://www.theblackapple.typepad.com/

lotsa pasta.

because jonas likes it better if i eat. and this place is awesome.

happy birthday, silas!

all of us together to celebrate the best little one year old.