Tag, I guess

Note: During the making of this post a child was nearly killed. Actually the near death came after. While typing about my lovely husband, his #2, el diablo was eating blueberry muffins on my nice duvet cover. I am freakin out here. He is such a shit!



My sister-in-law April tagged me to write about Stephen. I
don't know why I have struggled with wanting to do this, but I have. Of course I love my husband and think he is the bomb. But, I am a little uncomfortable getting all mushy out loud. But, I will try.

*Where did you meet? We met sledding on "TV" hill in Oak City. My friend Angelica and I had been dropped off by her dad. (We were both still 15 unfortunately) He failed to mention to her mom that we changed the location of our days events from the sand dunes to TV hill. She did not know where to find us at the end of the day. We had showed up to hang out with Angelica's soon to be beau, who shall remain nameless. Well, Mr Knight in Shining armor got cold and left us up there by ourselves to wait it out. Stephen could not leave two mildly attractive girls to freeze to death in the dark. He stayed with us until her dad came and got us. He started a fire to show off his mad scouting skills. Wow, we were certainly impressed. Come to think of it, Angelica why in the crap did you date "leave us in the cold?" He was a bum! Okay that is not really fair. He was a cute bum. I forgive you.

*How long did you date before you were married? Well, we started dating pretty much immediately there after. That was January 1997. We got married December 16, 2000. Stephen took a break from me for about 2 years to serve an LDS mission. We wrote back and forth as much as you can when one lives in the jungles of the Philippines. He came home Oct. 12 and we were married two months later.

*How long have you been married? Almost 8 years.

*What is your favorite feature of his? His big blue eyes.

*What is your favorite quality of his? His mad scouting skills! Actually, he is really likable. It amazes me how many people like me. I guess he does not tick people off like I do. He is just so nice. He does bed time with the kids every night. He gets them all ready, says prays with them, and puts them down, every night without fail. I can't hardly do it when he is not around.

*Does he have a nickname for you? He calls me by my middle name, Marie.

*Does he have a favorite color? Utah Ute red.

*What is his favorite food? Ughh, I actually have never really thought about it. He likes whatever I make. I know he loves Mexican food though. Honestly, who doesn't?

*What is his favorite sport? Football. During football season very few channels work on our dish when Stephen is watching the games.

*When and where was your first kiss? Hold on to your hats. We were at a dance on Valentines Day in 1997. We were arm in arm swaying to the music our faces all nuzzled into one another. He was breathing really heavy on my neck, ooh la la then he planted one on me. Right there in the middle of the dance floor where everyone could see. I almost died.

*What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? As a couple, what does that mean? Oh time, without children. We usually rent a movie and I fall asleep. We used to be a lot more exciting. We would rock climb, hike, golf, snow board (on my honeymoon even) but now we don't do much together that does not involve sleeping.

*Do you have any children? 3 - Hunter, Remi, Bentley

*Does he have a hidden talent? Cooking. I guess it is not that hidden for anyone that knows us. But he is the cook in our family. In fact I used to be in a supper club. We met once a month, had dinner, then exchanged recipes for the entree we brought. I never had a recipe to give because Stephen, or Angie a couple of times, made my contribution.

*How old is he? 29

*Who said I love you first? Probably him, he is such a sap.

*What is his favorite type of music? Rock n Roll baby! (Metallica, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin)

*What do you admire most about him? I admire how forgiving he is. He never holds onto anything. He just forgives and forgets. He puts up with a lot from me, and he never complains, as far as I know. He is just a darn winner! He is definitely a keeper.

So, I guess now I need to tag someone else to continue the chase. I tag Angelica, Brooke, and Angie.

It's rude not to

Well, I haven't written for a while. Truth be told, I haven't had much to say. Rural America is treating me good. For those of you who haven't had the distinct pleasure of visiting my home town, let me explain a little bit about it to you. It sits in a valley about 100 miles wide. There are about 3000 people in Delta itself. There are several smaller communities that surround Delta. One of the smaller towns is called Oak City. My husband Stephen actually grew up there. I think it was settled by two or three different families and then expanded slightly after that. Everyone is pretty much related, with the expection of my in-laws, of course.

Well one thing I think is so funny about Oak City is that everyone waves to one another. I am not exaggerating when I say EVERYONE. Maybe it is a town law. I don't know, but I find it particularly funny. I asked Stephen why this is so. He said, "Everyone waves because it is rude not too." Granted there are probably only 200 or 300 people that live in this little wonder, so the odds of knowing all occupants are pretty good. But still, somehow someone must have passed a waving law. Maybe it is like the good samaritan law on Seinfield. I haven't had the guts to test the limits, I always smile and wave back, no matter what. I had to laugh this morning on my way to my in-laws home. I saw this huge truck pulling a horse trailer full of horses. I was prepared for the waving rule, so I looked the driver right in the face. She was turning and had a cell phone to her ear. I figured that cell phone and trailers had to be among the expections to apply to always waving. One shouldn't have to wave if he or she is chatting on the phone while pulling a trailer. Rule #275 after the rule about not having to wave if the driver is trying to hand a toddler a sippy while changing the music from AM 700 to something without static. (Good luck with that!) Anyway, so I figure there is no way this lady is waving, right? Wrong, she waved. Not just a hand up and down wave. She actual moved her wrist. Keep in mind she was turning right onto the highway, pulling a horse trailer full of horses and talking on the cell phone. Obviously she had no choice. Because, after all it is rude not to.