The Whole Nine Yards

Jim and I have been married for nine years. Below is "our story." I mostly wanted it documented some place other than our journals. Feel free to read it, but be warned; there are some gushy segments -- even from JIM (gasp!).

Eleven years ago I sat outside my dorm building at Utah State University with a group of other LDS peers. We were meeting as a ward for the first time, and our bishop and his counselors wanted to introduce themselves to their new flock. It was a casual meet-and-greet type scenario. I sat in the grass, next to my best friend, Abby (we were both accepted to USU), and scanned the crowd. I remember turning my head around and noticing a boy sitting behind me with the most striking blue eyes I had ever seen. They kinda took my breath away, but I was dating someone else at the time, so I thought, "I'll have to point him out to Abby."

A few days later I heard a knock on my dorm room door. I opened it and found this same blue-eyed-boy wearing a golf hat and holding a telephone. My floor of the dorms didn't have phones installed in the rooms yet. Mr. Blue Eyes volunteered to deliver the phones to all the girls' rooms. I quickly learned Blue Eyes not only had gorgeous oculars, but he was a huge flirt. What better way for him to meet girls, than to go door-to-door in the girls' dorms delivering them their phones. I soon found out the biggest boy flirt I'd ever met name was Jim.

A month or two passed and Abby and Jim, did in deed, start dating. Right around this time I had my first real heartbreak. The guy I had been dating wasn't at all who I thought he was. To be fair, I wasn't my real self either around him. The relationship was doomed for failure. And good thing it was. A few weeks after my heartbreak, I had been hanging out with a guy I thought was pretty cute. He wasn't relationship material, but a whole lot of fun to flirt with. One night this new guy dropped me off at the dorms and I saw Abby and Jim, and a few other people, climbing into Jim's car. Abby waved me over and invited me to come to Ogden with them to watch a USU vs Weber hockey game. I happily obliged and climbed into Jim's car for the very first time.

On the drive to Ogden Jim had everyone cracking up. He was goofy, flirty, crazy, and silly. At one point I think I cried I was laughing so hard. When we got to Weber, we all sat down to watch the game. A few minutes later I turned around and saw one of my ex's friends a few seats behind us. I told Abby and said something like, "I wish I was here with a guy so word would get to my ex that I had moved on." Abby said, "Why not use Jim?" What a good friend -- the best! Abby explained to Jim our plans, and a few minutes later I found myself sitting next to Jim, holding his hand, and staring longingly into his eyes. I knew it was all for show, but I also really liked the feel of Jim's hands in mine. But I knew it would never work. 1. Because Jim was dating my best friend and 2. Jim's name was Jim! My dad's name is Jim and my brother's name is Jim Jr. Too Freudian for my liking. So all thoughts of Jim and me EVER being a real item escaped my mind as soon as they arrived.

One day after the hockey night I hung out in Abby's dorm room with her. Amongst our topics of conversation she mentioned that Jim wanted to name his first daughter Tralee, after his favorite city in Ireland, where he served a two-year mission for our church. I fell in love with the name and the story behind it. Something deep within me wanted my first daughter's name to be Tralee.

Jim and Abby broke up after Christmas break. They left on good terms, and remained friends. I found myself at Jim's house he shared with some roommates a few times. There was usually a big group of people over there for Sunday dinner. Jim usually cooked blueberry pancakes served with orange Tang for his guests -- mostly girls. I ate a few of those famous meals, continued to date around, but mostly hung out with my roommate, my BF Abby, and some other girls in the dorm. I also had a few guy friends I hung out with. One of which, my roommate really wanted me to start dating. She said we'd be perfect for each other. Before anything could happen with my roommate's pick, it was time to go home and visit my folks for spring break.

After a week in Cleveland, I flew back to Utah and waited in my dorm room for my roommate to return. It was St. Patrick's day. One of my guy friends came in to hang out. We were talking, and after a little while there was a knock at my door. When I opened it Jim was standing on the other side holding a sour gumball. My guy friend left and. . .

I'm going to let Jim and my journals tell the rest of the story (we both kept journals during this time in our lives, so "our story" is well documented) Jim's journal entries will be in blue, mine will be in pink:

Saturday, March 24th 2001

". . . It was just Jim and I. As we were talking Jim put a sour gumball in my mouth and I made a sour face and told Jim it hurt my tongue. Then Jim's all, 'here, let me kiss it better.' WELL, Jim started kissing me, and I didn't really know what do do, so I kissed Jim back. It was kinda thrilling, because it was completely unexpected!!!"

Sunday, March 25th, 2001

". . . I found another girl who I, and all my friends thought was perfect for me! I thought everything was going perfect, we laughed, had a good time, and I treated her like a queen. Then she went cold and didn't return any of my calls. I could never catch her her at home. I ran into her best friend, Abby, the other night and she told me that Leslie wasn't interested anymore. She has me feeling just sick to my stomach. I am one crushed little Canadian."

Side Note: I was the only girl to ever break up with Jim. I did it for two reasons: 1. It got REALLY serious REALLY fast and I wasn't ready for that, and 2. My roommate wanted me to see how things would go with her pick for me. Nothing happened with that guy by the way, he was kind of clueless. A few days after I ended things with Jim, I found a sour gumball taped to my dorm room's door. Sad. Anyways, back to the journals:

Oh wait! One more side note. I wrote this next journal entry EXACTLY one year before our wedding day. Okay, continue:

Friday, May 11th, 2001

"I've been praying about my future husband lately and this morning, while I was on the airplane, I started thinking about Jim. I got the strongest impression that that's who I should be with now. The only reason I stopped liking him was because [my roommate] didn't like him and wanted me to date this other guy. Well ya know what? Jim is super awesome. I mean, he's silly, but he honors the priesthood. He goes to church, he's hard working, and good with kids. . . "

Friday, May 18th, 2001

"Wednesday night Abby came over. I told her my feelings about Jim. She said, 'I'm taking you over [to his house] right now!' The plan was I was gonna go up to the door and say, 'can I have another chance?' when he answered the door. BUT Jim wasn't there--so I left a note. . . "

The note said:

"Jim-

Just came by to see you. Gimmee a call

***-5323 (LEAF)

Heart, Leslie

P.S. It doesn't matter what time. :)"

May 27th, 2001

"I was leaving for work last Thursday morning and I found a note on the ground that said something to the effect of 'I stopped by to see you, give me a call. It doesn't mater how late!!' It said heart Leslie on the bottom! So at noon on Thursday I gave the phone number a call and it was the Leslie that broke my heart!!! She wasn't home though. I tried her again before we left for Canada but she still wasn't home! So I took off to Canada."

Side note: I waited up all night for Jim to call. He never did, so I thought he wasn't interested anymore. He found the note the next morning on the ground, and when he DID try to call, I was at work. Then he left for Canada, and I didn't know it. A few days later I was at a mutual friend's house and found out Jim had gone on a road trip -- I still had some hope!

Tuesday May 29th, 2001

". . . I knew Jim was back from Canada --cause he called and I called and we talked. When I got home from work there was a note from [my roommate] saying Jim had called. He wanted to take me bowling. So, I hurried and got in the shower, only to miss his call, but he left [his roommate's] cell number. So I called and talked to Jim. He invited me over after he bowled to see his deck that he built. . . "

May 27th, 2001

". . . Much to my surprise she said, 'yes.' So sure enough we got home from bowling ad Leslie showed up! It was so cute how she approached the door. There's one step that is a bit higher than the others and she tripped on it and fell on her face!!! I couldn't help but laugh at her!! I brought her out on the deck and we stared talking. Well, pretty soon she was right next to me, we just kept getting closer an closer until I grabbed her hand. Then in the sweetest voice I ever heard she goes, 'Jim, I've really missed you!' That's when I looked into her beautiful brown eyes and I knew she was serious, so I kissed her!!!"

Wednesday, May 30th, 2001

"Jim's here right now. I have to give him a kiss or I'll just die!!!!"

June 6th, 2001

"Leslie and I have been together again since May 24th, two weeks tomorrow!! I've spent pretty much every free minute with her!! She is amazing, she's the nicest sweetest girl that I've ever dated!!! All she wants to do is make me happy and it's working really well!! She made me a CD with all the songs that remind her of me, she gave me some pictures, and she always worries about me!!! I've never felt like this with any other girl!! I know it's only been two weeks since we've been back together, but I think I'm falling in love!!!"

Tuesday, June 5th, 2001

"I'm in love!! I have a feeling this one is for keeps. Jim is absolutely amazing! I feel complete with him. The other day as we were looking at each other I started to cry. I was so happy! I've NEVER felt this way. Jim's absolutely brilliant, amazing, EVERYTHING! Last night we told each other that we love each other. It wasn't wrong or scary at all!! He tells me I'm beautiful all the time. He makes me feel like a queen!! The more I'm around him, the more I love him. We're made for each other!"

June 24th, 2001

"This week Leslie and I started talking about marriage. In the past, whenever the girls I dated would mention marriage, I'd get turned off and run the other way, but it's different with Leslie. I want her to be the one I wake up to for all eternity!"

I'll stop the journal entries there. But the story continues. . .

On December 13th, 2001 Jim proposed to me at the movie theater where we had our first date. He invited all of our friends, and before the movie started he excused himself to use the bathroom. All of a sudden our song started playing through the speakers and a slide show began of all of our favorite pictures together. At the end of the song, Jim came out of the door at the bottom of the theater holding a red rose, and tiny velvet box. I ran up to him as Jim got down on one knee, and said "Leslie, my life began when I met you. Will you marry me?" I answered, "Of course I will." Once the ring was on my finger, Jim picked me up, spun me around, everyone clapped, and we took some pictures with our friends. After all the pictures and congratulations, Jim and I left the theater to be alone. We went to the next place we also went on our first date: Sizzler!! I know, nothing but the BEST for us! (sense the sarcasm, but what do you expect? We were both poor college students!)

Actually, you should know something about our first date. On our first date, while at the fancy establishment known as Sizzler, Jim looked into my eyes and started singing Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl to me. I was completely shocked because I had a little secret thing with that song. When I was in high school a dumb boy looked at me and said, "You should have blue eyes because you have blond hair. I bet you'd look super hot with blue eyes." That dumb boy gave me a huge complex about my brown eyes. I vowed that I would marry someone who LOVED my brown eyes. In fact, I thought to myself (keep in mind I was a dramatic teenager), "the first guy to sing to me, Brown Eyed Girl, will be the one I marry!"--not kidding. So, when Jim sang, ". . .you're my brown eyed girl" to me on date numeral uno I think my jaw hit the floor. I had told no one of this secret pact, knowing full well of its sensational fool-hardyness. Leave it to Jim to be fool-hardy! That wasn't the only time in our courtship Jim left me speechless.

There was another day, when I served a party of 40 people, all by myself, for USU catering. It was a long, tiring process, and all I wanted to do was go home and relax with my boyfriend. Jim picked me up from work, and when I walked into my room it was filled with balloons, flowers, and a love letter from Jim. He spent the day working on this surprise, since he knew I'd have a hard day at work. But that's not all. . .

On March 17th, 2002, the anniversary of Jim and my first kiss, I left my job at the telecommunication center to find my car FILLED with sour gum balls. There was a card on the steering wheel which read, "Tis the luck of the Irish that brought us together, 'Tis the love of a life-time that will keep us that way. I'll always be there to kiss it better. Love, Jim." Again, I had to lift my jaw off my lap. I knew Jim was a keeper.

So . . . we made it official on May 11th, 2002. Jim and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple. We were surrounded by family and friends, and it was one of the best days of my life. I remember staring into those bright blue eyes across the alter, knowing I was marrying not only the love of my life, but my best friend.

Another best day was January 23, 2007. We had our daughter, Tralee. Deep down I always knew Tralee would be mine. Actually, I kinda think our little munchkin had a hand in all this. Strange as it sounds, I have a feeling she picked us for the job of her parents!

My next best day happened when Hunter joined our family on May 8th, 2009. He wanted to join in all the crazy fun.

To be honest, most days spent with Jim are a little bit crazy, and a whole lotta stupid-silly. He still has me laughing so hard I cry, and those blue eyes still make my knees go weak. I still find unexpected cards from him with a little poem inside, and on occasion Jim will sing to me -- and now to Tralee -- "You're my brown eyed girl." Jim still goes to balloons as his favorite decor of choice, although it's mostly for the kids now. And every once in a while, I'll find a sour gumball taped to our bedroom door. Jim is everything I dreamed up for myself. He's not "the perfect husband" but we're perfect for each other. He and I, we've had some amazing days together in the last decade, as well as some doozies. In fact, there were moments when I contemplated a frying-pan-to-his-head as a perfectly rational way of dealing with a disagreement. Luckily for us, all of our moments of vagary have lasted about 2.5 seconds, and usually revolve around absolute ridiculum. It's not long before we're laughing again and our heated debate is all in the past.

Ups and downs, highs and lows, and all of it with my blue-eyed boyfriend by my side. I can't believe I've known Jim for eleven years, that we've been together for a decade, and married for nine! It still seems like just yesterday that I turned around and saw him sitting behind me in the grass. He took my breath away then, and he still does today.

Thanks for the crazy adventure my Lil' Running Man! I can't wait to see where our story goes next!

But before we start the next chapter, let's take a moment, eat some sushi, and celebrate still being madly in love after nine years of marriage!

Always Your Love,

Sunshine Head

Hunter's Two-Year Well Check

I took Hunter into his doctor today for his, you guessed it, two-year well check. The doctor and nurse were surprised at how well H-dizzle talks for his age. While in there, Hunter was playing in my purse, pulled out the hand sanitizer, and asked, "What's this?" I answered, "Hand sanitizer." Hunter echoed back, "Oh. . . hand sanitizer. Got it." Then chucked it back inside my purse. Dr. B looked at me and said, "I'll say he can talk all right if he says hand sanitizer!" I was proud. That being said, Hunter was not at all a fan of Dr. B's. I guess Hunter still doesn't want to be friends with him. I can't say that I blame him. I might be a little weirded out if a stranger looked in my ears, mouth, and at my (ahem) nether region among other things. Hunter kept saying, "Mama! Mama! I want Mama!" during the whole examination. I was holding him, but I guess that wasn't close enough. Silly boy.

Now for stats, which surprised me! I'm so used to having the doctor comment about Tralee's unusual tall-ness that when I found out Hunter is in the "slightly above average" zone I was taken aback. Anywho. . . to make it official here are the numbers:

Height: 35 inches -- 63%

Weight: 28 lbs -- 49%

As you can see, Hunter's average for weight and a little above average for height. Whatever size, I love my little love nugget of delish boyness!

Hunty did not enjoy the shots, but that's to be expected. He only cried for a minute, and once handed a sucker, all was right in his world again.

That's all.

Zoo

Hey Moms, do you ever feel like a boring mom? You know, so busy dealing with your own projects/errands that you feel like you owe your kids a day of fun? That was me the other day. I had been busy, the kids had been bored waiting for me to unbusy myself. So, on Thursday I promised them a picnic lunch and day at the zoo. We even invited Tralee's second cousin/friend Brinley along. Tralee was SUPER excited to have a friend come play. Plus, these girls are really cute together. So here are some pics/videos from our day at the zoo.

Picnic lunch

Lion!

Video of kids and lion:

Hunter walking through the groundhog tunnels.

Feeding the goats/sheep:

Goats waiting for Hunter to feed them more.

Hunter the turtle.

Tralee the turtle.

Playing on a camel.

Playing on a slide

After the zoo I took the munchkins out for ice cream. I think they had a great day! Mission accomplished! Added bonus, I didn't hear Tralee say, "I'm bored" once this day!

Crime Scene Turned into Memory Maker

I knew this day would come. I really really hopped that it wouldn't, but it did. Tralee finally managed to find a pair of scissors and cut hair. Granted, it wasn't her own or any living thing's, but it was still painful for me.

I have an old doll my grandmother made me when I was a little girl. I LOVED it, and knew it was special because my grandma made it just for me. When other toys found their way to thrift stores, I hung on to this doll to give to my little girl someday. Never once in picturing my little girl playing with my childhood toy did I envision this:

I cried.

I know it's just a doll, but there was a lot of sentimental value attached to it. I think I also cried cause I've caught Tralee with scissors before "trimming" her stuffed animals' fur. We've had the "scissors are JUST for cutting paper" talk. . . A LOT! So, I think my tears were a culmination of Tralee's disobedience as well as a bit of my overly-sensitive side worrying about my childhood doll's hacked off hair.

On the other hand, after I had Tralee help me clean up the yarn-hair and put the scissors and doll away, I had a moment to reflect. I remembered when I was a little girl sitting in my room with a Barbie in one hand, and a pair of scissors in the other. I remembered the panicked exhilaration I felt as I snip snip snipped. I KNEW (if caught) I would be in trouble, but I also felt curiously powerful. After my Barbie's hair was a few inches shorter and there was still no sign of adults around, I decided no one would know if I snipped a bit of my own hair--just a little off the top. Turns out, a little hair off the top IS noticeable, and I DID get in trouble for cutting it, but I don't think anyone ever noticed my Barbie's new do (either that or they just didn't care).

Twenty-five years later I looked into my daughter's eyes (that people tell me look just like mine) filled with tears and listened to her ask, "What can I do to make it all better Mom?" I thought of myself at her age, feeling so excited about doing something no one could undo. I wondered if she felt the same exhilaration or powerfulness I had felt as she cut? And suddenly I realized that we (the doll, Tralee, and I) had come full circle. The very reason I gave Tralee this doll was to share a piece of my childhood with her. And isn't it some sort of right of passage to cut someone/thing's hair. I did it, and now so has Tralee -- to the very doll from MY childhood. It's almost as though it was meant to be; the doll, a symbolism of childhood. Or maybe I'm just being my usual overly-dramatic self, trying to make something bigger out of this scenario than what it is. Maybe it is just this: Tralee cut a doll's hair. Period.

Even if it is that simple, I somehow love this homemade doll more now. There's nothing Tralee can do to fix the bald spot she gave it, and even if there was I'm not sure I would want the doll fixed. With each chunk of yarn-hair cut off, more history was created. So Little Munchkin, the answer is, no. No, there's nothing you can do to make it all better, because it already is. I only ask that you hold on to our dolly, and give it to your baby girl one day. And maybe someday, she'll finish the haircut you started! At that point, we might want to sew on some more hair.

Hunter's Turn

Here's Hunter's rendition of the Sixth Article of Faith. Don't mind the sneezes in the beginning and the false start.

Both of my kids learned this in a week. It got me thinking that I should do more memorization type things with them. Poems, plays, speeches. Nothing big. Just little things I think are important/fun for them to know.

That's all.

BURSTING!!!

Jim and I were bursting with pride today at church. Tralee was asked to give the Sixth Article of Faith in Primary last Sunday, and all week we've been practicing and preparing her for it. This was the first time Tralee was EVER asked to do anything in Primary (besides singing in Sacrament Meeting for Mother's Day last week -- which she NAILED by the way). When the moment of truth came today, Tralee marched right up to the microphone (she didn't even ask for us to stand by her), did a shy little head tilt, and clearly and PERFECTLY recited the Sixth Article of Faith. You could hear all the adults whisper about how awesome Tralee did. I don't think I've ever seen a little Sunbeam shine so bright!!

I got a video of her singing and saying the Sixth Article of Faith when we got home from church today. Enjoy:

We've been practicing so much that even Hunter can say most of the AOF #6. I want to get that on video too, but Hunter is currently having a little meltdown. Hopefully later.

Have a good one.

Festivities

Hunter turned two on Mother's Day this year. We chilled at home on Sunday, and then went out and celebrated our two-year-old's birth on Monday night when Jim came back into town. Where else do you go to celebrate two years of life? Chuck E. Cheese's, of course! Hunter is a little obsessed with "monies" right now. Any coin catches his eye, so a whole tub of tokens was right up his alley. Another obsession of our little guy's is pushing buttons. He LOVES to hit any button, key on the keyboard, or number on my phone. Chuck E Cheese's is chuck full of buttons for this little boy to hit. So, he had a blast. We steered clear of the creepy animatronics though, those things are weird. Tralee also enjoyed the festivities . . . until she decided that going to the ladies room was too much of a bother. Jim caught her accident just in time; before she made a mess out of anything besides her clothes. After this incident it was time to go. Luckily we had already used up our tokens and ate most of our food. We still had a coupon for 20 free tokens left over that I decided to give to the next person to walk through the door. The lady I handed it too seemed pleased. While Jim and Tralee waited in the car for us, Hunter and I redeemed our tickets for a ball. Hunter loves balls. Perfect! Here are some pics and vids from our adventures at Chuck E Cheese's:

Tralee wanted to do the Dance Dance Revolution game. She did GREAT, even if she missed just about EVERY arrow. Little cutie!

Here's another video of Tralee dancing with Chuck and the kids She has some sweet kick moves at the end:

After Chuck E. Cheese's we came home, Hunter blew out his birthday candles, ate cake, watermelon, and then opened his gifts.
It's a tradition in our family (as it was in Jim's) that every kid gets a chance to blow out the birthday candles. So, Tralee had her very own to blow out. Here's a video of them blowing their candles:

Hunter dug right into his cake.
I was proud of my babies. They actually wanted to eat watermelon more than the cake.

Here are some videos of Hunter opening some presents. Don't feel obligated to watch. They're mostly for a few Grandmas that live in the Midwest and can't get enough of their grandbabies. In the second video I ask Hunter how old he is. He answers, "fourteen." For some reason that's what he says every time we ask for his age. Silly boy!

I think this little guy had a great birthday!

Happy Second Birthday Hunter!

We love you!!

Jacobs Girls

We hung out with these girls last Saturday. Tralee and Hunter LOVE them. Their mom is my bestie in Boise. Jim and and their dad are not only cousins but friends, so it works from every angle. Love it when that happens. Anywho. . .we (minus the men who were out of town) had fun walking to the Saturday market, picking up some yummy finds (who knew raw milk was so delish?), and then walking back to their house and hanging out.

I tried to get a picture of all three of the Jacobs girls, but it didn't turn out quite as cute. Tralee looks less than pleased, Oakley's probably looking at her new sandals and thinking how pretty they are, and it looks like Jovie's thinking, "who farted?" Hunter was resting in his stroller, so he's not in the shot. Oh well. Despite how the picture looks, we had a lovely Saturday.

Where did the last two years go?

Two years ago, after all our visitors came and left the hospital, and my husband, Jim, went home to shower and check on our two-year-old daughter and Grammy Char Char, I walked over to the crib that held my newborn slumbering son. I put my cheek against his and felt his warm baby breath kiss my skin. I marveled. I studied. I breathed him in (is there any smell better than that of your baby?). I wondered whose nose he wore, what color his eyes would turn, and who he would grow up to be.

Hunter wasn't more than a few hours old and already proved to be an "easy" baby. He slept. . . a lot. He ate when I wanted him to, and even then it took some coaxing. I remembered my hospital experience with my first-born daughter, Tralee, and prepared myself for endless nursing and all nighters of bouncing and pacing the floor in hopes that the tiny being I had created would finally go back to sleep. Tralee protested us in every step of the way. If something wasn't HER idea (yes, even from her first few hours of life) she wouldn't do it (a personality trait that has continued to this day). I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered the saying, every baby is different, was, in fact, true. Where Tralee was demanding Hunter was laid-back. Where Tralee was unwilling Hunter was patient. I remember getting an unprecedented four hours of sleep in the hospital after having Hunter and asking Jim, "Can you IMAGINE if we had Hunter first and Tralee second? We would be horrified right now and thinking something was terribly wrong with our baby!" I could find no fault with Hunter. He came to us with a mellow attitude that fit right into the mix, and we all adored him for it . . . and for his squishy baby cheeks we couldn't kiss enough.

Two years later those squishy cheeks are still just as kissable. Hunter continues to be pretty laid back, but is also discovering his independence. He's so cuddly, loving, funny, sensitive, and eager to please. And smart too! Hunter's really starting to talk now. He started talking right around nine months old, but now he's saying full sentences and we're sharing actual conversations. Some of the stuff he says cracks me up. I just can't believe he's already two. Why-O-why do children have to grow up so fast? It's not fair. Where is the magic spell that keeps them little forever? I know another year will fly by as fast as this last one. And on the night of his next birthday I'll do what I did tonight. After everyone was settled for the night, I walked over to where Hunter slept, leaned over, and rested my cheek against his. I felt his warm toddler breath kiss my skin. I marveled. I studied. I breathed him in (is there any smell better than that of your sleeping child?). I still wondered whose nose he wore, was happy his eyes turned from baby blue into the color of warm maple syrup, and wondered who he would grow up to be. If the last two years are any indication, I KNOW he's destined for greatness!

Celebrating two years of Hunter's life is the best way to commend Mother's Day! Thanks to both of my children for making me a mother! You're the best things I've ever done!

Bears

Yesterday Jim called me from work and let me know he would be bringing home some surprises for the kids. When Jim got home he knocked on the door, and two giant bears where staring at the kids and me on when I opened it. I guess they marked these suckers WAY down at Costco so Jim snagged one for each kid-o. They LOVED this surprise.

Comments like, "Oh Daddy! This makes me so happy," and "Oh I love my giant bear," and "Thank you! Thank you!" were heard all night long.

Tralee named her bear Brownie and Hunter's Cheese Sandwich. But Tralee's bear's name is also Cheese Sandwich for short.

My mother would have NEVER. EVER. allowed something like this in the house when I was growing up. She would have said it was a waste of space and not practical enough. Don't get me wrong, my mom was/is very giving and loved to spoil us in very sensible ways, she just wasn't the biggest fan of any kind of stuffed animal in general. Therefore I always wanted something like this growing up, but never got it (I know I know. Poor spoiled me. Boohoo). Anywho, I kinda love that my kids have these giant bears. They love them. I love that they love them. And I love that my husband loves to show up with surprises like this for no other reason than knowing it will make his kids happy.

And to end this post, here they are jumping on the trampoline together:

Living with these giant stuffies will be more BEARable than my dear mother would think. Jim really is as sweet as honey for surprising his kids like this.

Hardy har har.