Sweet Sixteen

Maybe it goes without saying, but I am not one of those girls that can expand their closet by wearing their husband clothes.

Awkward photo here

We've enjoyed some of the madness so far. Hoping the Heels can pull it together for tomorrow night missing their #1 player and point guard! However, we won't be watching. We'll be at The Hunger Games... oh the excitement.

Burke's memories (#1)

Hello to all who may read this. This is Burke. I want to thank Jessica for the effort that she has put into this blog. She has invited me many times to write something ... here goes.

For some time I have felt that I should capture many of the memories that I have from my childhood, but I haven't known quite how to do it. This evening I had the thought that writing my memories here would not only allow me to save them, but also to share them in a way that can hopefully provide inspiration to others as well.

So ... I make no promises of a weekly post, but I will try to do my best with this.

Today I had a song come to my mind that I haven't heard for years. It's a song that I heard on Sesame Street as a little boy. I remember that Mom really liked this song too. I remember her singing it from time to time while I was little. When I hear it today I think of her and of those days when everything she did and said meant so much to me. So it may not mean much to others--hopefully it's at least a cute little song--but for me it brings back the sweet memories of my mother's loving influence in my life.

-Burke

Williamsburg #2

Living Social was selling half-off coupons for Colonial Williamsburg a while ago. Ever since last year when Burke's mom, dad, and sister Bonnie came to visit and we spent an hour or two walking around without being able to go inside anything, I had really wanted to go back. So we bought tickets and so did my mom and dad. Unfortunately they expired quickly, so we had to hurry and use them. Mom and Dad came up for a weekend so we could go. Well, the weather wasn't cooperating and it was a rainy day, plus Burke ended up having to be at a young men basketball game, so we got a late start. A very late start. But at least we only paid half price!

We really enjoyed touring the governor's palace and we learned a lot. That took up a lot of our time, though, so we peeked into a few other shops and the courthouse and the weapons storage place before we ran out of time. It was all really cool and a fun time to be together.

We also saw The Lorax while Mom and Dad were here. And um, I loved it. I may or may not have even cried a little bit.

Thanks for visiting, Mom and Dad! We loved to have you come!

Backyard beach

You might have heard through the grapevine, but we haven't been the biggest fans of our apartment. Last fall I did say we were planning to move to a different apartment, and we were looking pretty seriously, but in the end we decided not to. I'm glad for that decision. 

Living in a dumpy apartment isn't so bad. In fact, we have a lot to be grateful for. For instance, we don't have rats, or roaches, or serious plumbing problems (just a few small issues now and then). Mind you, I am doing some serious knocking on wood right now. But truly, it's not the end of the world to live in a small place with terrible floors, terrible windows, and blue fixtures in the bathroom. Besides, we have our beach.

And today, I'm really grateful for that beach. We took a walk out on our beach on this 65 degree Sunday, and it was another one of those days when I just have to thank my Heavenly Father. I miss being near mountains, or surrounded by lots of beautiful trees, and this area is just full of people. I do want to be in a place were you can  get away and "escape into nature" a bit easier. But if we have to live in such a crowded place, at least we live on the end of a tiny peninsula on the beach of the bay. There are still lots of people around, but if I look out just right, all that's in sight is the wide open ocean. 

Skipping rocks...tide was low

"...and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." 

Alma 30:44

We're worth it

Oh hi, Friday night. Just thought I'd share my current song obsession via blog while I am shut up in my bedroom as Burke hosts a Young Men dessert making/video game-playing/birthday party. (They are making desserts because tomorrow is the annual dessert auction youth fundraiser...) 

Why am I not joining in on the fun? First of all because I'm not invited. But mostly because I do not even want to know what is going on in my kitchen right now. So I'm listening to lovely music with my headphones in, working on my research paper, and I am staying here until the guests leave. I thought about going to the library but I didn't feel like making the trip.

So here it is... my favorite love song today. Sigh. I even downloaded it the same day I heard it for the first time, which ought to tell you what I really think.

Gift cards and coupons

make for some lovely last minute dates!

Burke was planning to go camping and leave me stranded at home alone for the 3rd weekend night in a row, but the weather got crazy and the weatherman said "tornado watch" and some parents started calling, and Burke didn't go camping after all.

So last minute we decided to go to Macaroni Grill (gift card--thanks Mom and Dad!) who are having a little special right now so we ordered appetizers and entrees and a dessert... way more food than we usually get when we go out. Theeeennnnn we hopped on over to an ice skating arena and used our groupon. Burke and I had never been ice skating together!

He held my hand lots, especially during my first go-'round, so I could let go of the wall. It's nice to go from actually being scared about getting on the ice to racing around. We ran into one of my professors who was out with her husband and son... that was funny.

It was so so fun and a lovely way to spend the evening together. Normally a "real date" takes a whole bunch of planning, and more money too...thus I stand by my claim that groupons are worth it.

P.S. This little girl skating in her flowery dress, white sweater and tights was cracking us up.