heart to heart we stand

Recently I found out a friend is struggling in their marriage. They're going on 15 years together. It seems to be a common theme among many couples we know that hit the over 13. One of my friends admitted that year 14 was by far their worst. Law, (yeah I've been stuck on The Help all week) Aaron and I have had a roller coaster ride of a marriage. Is it because I'm crazy, perhaps? But he has an equal crazy that makes us balance out in the end. At least I think it does.

Since we've hit the over 10, we've found we actually fight, I mean, vigorously discuss issues less and less. In fact, minus the dog (whom I will always love/hate), I can't remember our last argument. Mostly the struggle, at this point, is just living with each other and the things we know we can't change. It is brutal, the things that drive Aaron crazy are also things I can't stand about myself. But it seems, even when I'm trying to be better, I still fall short.

Many days, I feel Aaron and I are polar opposites. And other days, I feel like my challenge is just to live with a MAN, not just Aaron. If Aaron were gone suddenly, I think I truly would become a hermitesque man hater. Well maybe not that extreme, but you get the idea.

What holds us together on the off days: the promised reward of this challenge called life and marriage. I heard a really great talk once, where the speaker said: remember your spouse at their best, when you truly fell for them, and then realize that's what eternity will be like. (Not now in the thick of the marriage when it's a struggle to be selfless or even touching.) I know I want an eternity of the best Aaron. So the rest of it is just life. . . a short, short life that we'll eventually remember as a blink.

go dogs go, it's not to far

Morgan, Ava and I just returned from sledding...in about 1 inch of snow. But when you've got the itch to sled, 1 inch will have to do. We tracked it out in a half hour, and we made a sweet jump. I'm raising tough girls and I love it. Now I gotta go. We're going to get comfy cozy and read some books then play a game before the other girls get home.

TGIBC

TGI Fridays...I hate it. Mostly for the name and the flair. But Book Club, it saves me. We're discussing The Help tonight. Should be good. Where I'm stressing: we need to bring book recommendations for the 2011 list and I'm out of ideas. Books I think would be great, end up having vulgarity in it that I can't recommend. If you have any ideas, send them my way.

I'm gonna

clean up puke all day. Morgan got up at 4a with the stomach flu. The best Jerry, the best. And of course it is crazy Tuesday. I so tired and it isn't even 1p.

Yesterday sidebar: we spent 3 hours jumping our guts out at Pump It Up. (One of those inflatable playground places.) Morgan and Ava were flying up down and through the obstacle course like spider monkeys. Morgan made the other 3 yr olds with us look like sissies...and one was a boy. Although Aaron got him to go through by the end of the day. Kids were so wiped out, it made for an easy day...until the puking.

You never go full special

Why do people clap with their fingers spread apart?

This is not a good look for anyone. If you do it, I promise, you look....special. Like breathing with your mouth open.

Don't do it.

You're in my world now grandma

"Mom, I can't wait to be a mom!"

"Oh yeah, how come?"

"You get to have babies and fun." (spoken with authority)

I must be doing something right because my day job is looking pretty glam to Ava.

Although, Morgan had a screaming fit all through Target today. As she was melting down (face down pounding and laying on the ground), the checkout girls and I were having a good laugh about it. I've come a long way. If that was Lauren melting down at 3, I would have been close to tears. Today, I just called her bluff.

We finally got some good snow. I'm taking the girls sledding after school. No, no snow day...it has to be 3 feet for that. But we did get a "late start day." No one complained about sleeping in till 8a...except for Morgan. Get up, I'm hungry. Make breakfast.

oh no here go hell come

Aaron backed into the garage (not with the new car---shew) but with my commander. It only left a scratch on the car but our garage door has a nice divot that won't punch out. So he might not have hurt himself in 2010 but he took out his truck, the garage door, and left a flesh wound on my car. I let him off pretty easy because we were on our way to go sledding with the kids. The first sled day of the winter. Seriously, everyone else is getting pounded. Denver needs snow. We tracked out the hill within an hour.

The kids are back in school and they came home tired and cranky today. Maybe by Friday we'll find our rhythm again.