10 Years

The traditional gift for a 10 year anniversary is tin or aluminum. 

Seriously.  I looked it up. 

Since I am really into researching things, I also decided to look up why tin is the traditional 10th anniversary gift.  While it can't be confirmed why exactly tin seems to be the universally accepted gift, there are many theories, there are a couple that seem to be at the top of the pile.  

Tin is soft and very flexible material.  It is said that the flexibility of the tin represents the flexibility of a good relationship, the give and take that makes a relationship strong and lasting.  A relationship can't last if the people involved can't bend a bit, give a little or a lot as need.  This seems like an apt representation of what my marriage is like these days.  There has had to be a lot of fexibility on both our parts to make life work with four little kids and a job in the military.  We also have had to trust that the metal we are both made of can give as much as needed without breaking under what sometimes feels like extreme pressure.  I trust that he can bend to the needs of his job and training, some that often require him to be out of arms reach, and still be true to me and to our family and it's needs. He trusts that I can weather whatever hits the home front, that I will keep our children safe and teach them to be strong and good, and be true to him and the life we are building together. 

The other theory is, I think, just as powerful.  In 1810 Peter Dunard patented the use of tin coated steel for the use of making cans to preserve food.  The tin coating the iron prevented corrosion and kept the food safe. Many believe that the gift of tin for this anniversary symbolizes the preservation and longevity that tin coated cans represented. This is also apt at this point in my marriage.  Despite what the world seems to think of love, it is something that needs careful preservation to maintain it's longevity.  It will change, yes.  It has to change to stay alive.  It changes with age and circumstance, but it can remain strong in it's many variations if we are careful to preserve and maintain it.  

I'm not going to lie.  It's not hard for me to keep loving Brady.  I don't know if he is special or if we, together, are unique.  I don't think we are, because I know lots other people who manage to keep loving their spouse year after year.  When I look at him I still see the man I fell readily in young, idealistic love with, but I also see the man that has gently held our once tiny babies in wonder and awe. The man that gave up time away from us to join the military and make a better life for our family. The man that loves to play computer games. The man that patiently teaches our children to do hard things.  The man that listens to me whine about life in general and still loves me. The man that keeps himself worthy to hold the priesthood and uses it to bless us, and recently to baptize our eldest.

He is all those men.  He wasn't always all of them.  He adapted as our life together changed.  He has bent and flexed in new and interesting ways to keep loving me, loving our family.  It's work, the bending, the flexing, the preserving and I think the only way you can keep loving each other through it all is to do that bending, flexing, and preserving together.  

Ten years ago today Brady and I were sealed together for time and all eternity in the Las Vegas, Nevada LDS Temple. 

It was a very hot, very sunny, very beautiful day.  I spent so much time grinning and laughing. It was amazing. 

Yes.  We had a donut tower and snow cones at our reception.
I know you're jealous. 

It was the one of the best days of my life and with out it most of the other best days of my life would have never happened.  The last ten years has been full of change and surprise, but mostly it has been happy and full of wonderfully ordinary days doing wonderfully ordinary things with a wonderfully ordinary man.  

Happy ten years to my wonderful husband.  I love you more now than I did the day we were married.  I look forward to were the next ten years will take us.  

And I can't wait until you are home with us again.  

Fun on an air-o-plane...

Because I like to challenge myself on a regular basis I took the kids on a two week trip to Las Vegas to visit our family.  We have done this before, but Brady is usually with me and we almost always drive because flying is so freaking expensive.  

So.  I spent a week preparing for our trip while my kids took turns puking up their guts at all hours of the day.  Then I took those four children to the air port, parked in long term parking, strapped Owen to my chest in the Ergo and loaded our five duffle bags onto our double jogger (that sucker really is versatile), made sure all the kids had their back packs and I had both my back packs (mine and Owen's) and we waited for the shuttle to the air port to arrive.  

This guy pulls up in the shuttle.  He is eyeing me like I'm an escapee from an asylum who picked up four random kids. Then he eyes my luggage-on-stroller and his look goes from wary to impressed.  I get the kids on and the guy asks me if I think we could just pick up the stroller and put it on the shuttle.  I tell him that if he thinks it can fit then I'm game.  

So with Owen still strapped to my front he lifts the front and I lift the back and we lug that sucker onto the shuttle.  I admit, I was skeptical but it fit with plenty of room. 

We picked up a few more people, who also gave me the side eye, and then we made it to the passenger drop off.  Once we got the luggage-on-stroller safely down to the ground in the same way it went up the shuttle guy told my kids to, "Mind that mother of yours.  Anyone who can manage that much luggage and you four at the same time is impressive so you mind her."  

We made our way to Southwests counter line.  More side eye from people hoping I'm not flying with them.  In short order we have a lap child ticket for Owen and have checked all luggage including the giant stroller.  

Next up was security.  This is where I'm thankful that we are a smaller air port.  TSA is pretty much what I remember as a child out here.  Don't get me wrong, they follow the rules, but they are very friendly, explain everything as they go, and are super nice to me and my kids.  It's really the best and the short lines are really nice too. 

Then it's a really short walk to our gate.  We sit and immediately a Southwest agent sees us and decides to come chat us up.  Steve was amazing. Listened to all the kids off the wall stories (from "I lost my tooth" to "Our old cat we don't have anymore bit me a lot.") then told me I had the loveliest family he had ever met and wished us a really good flight.   

Waiting for our plane after talking to Steve

 Then the fun started.  The storm that had been hovering in a threatening manner on the horizon all day decided it was time to hit Omaha. The woman in charge of boarding told us all that if we could get on the plane as quick as possible we might be able to beat the storm and get out of here instead of waiting for it to pass us by.  

That plane was boarded the fastest I have ever seen.  The staff even said they thought we set a record, especially considering the flight was packed to the gills. 

But, alas, the storm was faster. 

Watching it pour barrels of rain and blow like mad out our window while waiting until it was safe to take off.

  We had to wait.  And wait.  And wait some more.  Waiting in a small space on a stationary manner isn't easy for anyone, but especially not for small children.  We blew through our snacks (thank goodness I packed a LOT of snacks for just this occasion) and even shared with a cute little boy who kept eye our goodies from the seat in front of us. 

Yes.  It was like torture.  Be glad it wasn't you. 

FINALLY we were cleared to take off after 40 minutes in the plane, just waiting.  Take off was rough and there was another 40ish minutes of bone rattling turbulence once we were off the ground, but we were finally going somewhere!  My younger two promptly went to sleep.  That wasn't ideal for me as I had Owen on my lap and my bladder was screaming obscenities at me in several languages.  When Owen eventually woke up we crammed ourselves into the tiny bathroom.  Of course the second I had to set him down he started screaming like I was killing him.  Must have been concerning for the flight attendants outside the door, but to their credit they didn't break the door down while I relived myself. 

About an hour from Las Vegas, Beckah had the following conversation with the man in front of us (to set the stage it was the man with the little boy we shared with and said man had very elaborate tattoos covering both arms):

Beckah (after eyeing his arm on the back of the chair while the man waited for the bathroom to open up): Hey!  You really shouldn't color all over your arms like that.  You can get in big trouble.  I colored onned my legs and my brother and mommy got real mad cause she couldn't get the oranged lighter off Owen's ears. 

(note: it was an orange highlighter and it was IN Owen's ears) 

Man with Tattoos (gives her a surprised look then looks at his own kid):  Yeah, you could get in trouble for that. 

Beckah: Yeah! And that's a DARK markter.  What kind of markter is that?

Man with Tattoos: Uh. I guess it's an adult marker?

Beckah: Oh. That's bad. So bad.  You should really wash it all of really good before you get in trouble. 

(I was just trying not to laugh out loud at this point)

Man with Tatoos (grinning at her now): You're right.  I'll make sure I wash them off really good so I don't get in trouble.  Okay?

Beckah:  Okay.

It was awesome.  Man with Tattoos just smiled at me after and told me I was going to have my hands full with her.  I told him I already did.  

Then we finally landed in Las Vegas.  My mom and dad were waiting for us in baggage and the kids were so excited to see them!  So was I.  

Our visit was awesome!  We stayed with my brother and his family.  Their two boys were so much fun and Owen was pretty much in boy heaven. 

We proceeded to spend the next six days in the pool at either my parents house or my in-laws house.  We celebrated our June birthdays (my mom the 4th, my mom's mom the 5th, my dad the 6th, and my nephew on the 7th) with gusto.  We got to see our two cousins on Brady's side as well which was so wonderful. 

Then early Sunday morning Owen woke me up by putting his insanely hot hands on my face.  102.5 hot hands to be precise.  Freaked me out and he slept for most of the day, causing us to miss out on church and a friends baby blessing. 

Cadence holding a sun-sick Owen so mom could shower.

Thankfully he was better by the next morning, but we were more mindful of our time outside after that. 

We had a blast with all the cousins!  My sister Whitney came down from Utah for a week and so we had all nine of my parents grand-kids in one place.  It was wild and crazy, but awesome. 

Back: Avery (6), Tyson (6), Cadence (8)    Front: Aidric (5), Owen (23 months), Beckah (3), Rory (5), Liam (3), Gage (3)

   I got to take my older girls to see Maleficent, which was amazing.  We also took all the kids to see How To Train Your Dragon 2 on Friday.  We found them matching t shirts at Walmart and smuggled a bunch of candy in via diaper bag.

Not pictured were Aidric and Liam, I missed that photo op cause I was too slow.  

It was a great movie and totally worth going to see if you haven't.  

Then we hung out and had a good time until we left.  We even let the kids learn to ride on the four wheelers my parents have at their house.  Cadence was a very quick study, Rory won't be far behind her once she gets taller, and Beckah and Owen are complete adrenaline junkies.  They weren't nervous, not even close to scared, and wouldn't get off for anything (including offers of Popsicle's and ice cream). 

Our return flight was great.  Owen and Beckah slept most of the flight home which made it go quicker.  We ended up having to fly circles around Omaha waiting for a storm to blow through before we could land, but that was actually fun for the kids since we were moving and the clouds were moving by the windows too. 

Then we landed.  I strapped Owen back on in the Ergo.  We used the bathroom.  We got our luggage-on-stroller again and found the right shuttle back to our car.  We loaded the car and then went to start it.  No juice.  Battery had died.  Not sure if it was the one or two really cold mornings they had, or just sitting in the parking lot for 15 days.  I called for assistance.  The shuttle came by again and they also called for assistance, bless them. Not long after that assistance arrived in the form of Stanley.  He works for the airport and had my van starting in a matter of minutes.  It was great! 

We picked up our well tended cats from our friends house (thanks again you guys!  You are the best!) and we are all now safe at home relaxing.  It's so very good to be home. I can't wait to sleep in my bed. 

To our family, it was a blast and we already miss you!  You all should move closer.  Just messing.  Till next year!