52 Years

Tomorrow will be my Grandparents (on my Dad's side) wedding anniversary. On June 1, 1957 my grandparents promised to love, care, and stand by each other every day for the rest of their lives. Now as a married woman, I can only see the love and patience they both have to have been married this long. The stories I have heard from my grandmother have just blown my mind at the thought that this woman could take care of her husband and child, work in a very intense job, and still sneak away time for herself. For those 52 years they have stayed together, I have only known them for 19, and I do have to say I have learned a lot on what can help make a marriage grow and stay strong.
I remember my grandmother waking up at 4:30 in the morning to excercise, but she always had breakfast for my grandfather when he would wake up in the morning. She had time to clean the house and kitchen after breakfast, but then would have enough time to make lunch for him when she knew he would start to get hungry. And even after lunch she would have time to water her plants, and take care of errands, maybe even have time to have afternoon coffee to herself and would still have dinner waiting for him. Like I said, her house is always clean, I mean ALWAYS. I don't think I've ever seen a dead plant or a spec of dust in her presence. This is also the same woman I've heard stories of while she worked across seas with a gun to her head, or surviving an earthquake. She's also the same woman who has no nonsense. I heard one story where she found out my father had bought a motorocycle and she flew back to San Antonio to sell it, because no son of hers would own a vehicle on two wheels.
I remember my grandfather having such a stubborn personality he would never have a problem telling her what he thought, but would still retreat from the conversation when he knew he had been beat. I've heard stories of how he has protected her in moments of need, especially after her mother died after one of their first dates. He keeps her on her toes and will always make her feel needed. They've had trying times and wonderful times, but still they have stayed married. Even when they would live on different parts of the globe, they still made it work and continue to make it work. Watching my grandparents through all these years, as long as you have love for yourself and the other, then you can work anything out. I know in marriage there can be times where it's a little too much, but if I have learned anything in my year and a half of being married, it's that as long as I have what my grandparents have, then David and I will be just fine.

Brother Time

I know that this blog is out of order according to the time line that my brother came in on Thursday, but my excuse for that is that I have Linux and Windows, and unfortunately not all of my pictures are on the same account. So now being on Linux I can share some pictures and memories my brother and I shared while him being in Austin!
I was so excited with Michael coming into town, I woke up a little earlier than usual and headed to the store. I wanted to make sure I had everything that could make him happy so whenever he would think of me or Austin he would smile. So really I tried to bribe him with enjoyable treats. I loaded up on Vitamin Water, extra homade popcorn, freshly squeezed Lemonade, and Limeade, and a freezer full of all the frozen food I could throw in the oven to make his tummy happy. I will have to admit that even though my brother is of the rightful age of 18, I can still see him as my little brother when he was 5.
So Thursday I picked him up from the airport with his flight delayed an hour and a half, but sure enough when i finally saw him, me jumping up and down, and giving him hugs and kisses somewhat scared off the other passengers of his plane. But sure enough I picked him up, and took him to the best BBQ in Austin, Vic's BBQ! Which followed a day of relaxing until night fell. I had a photoshoot to do Thursday night, but from what I understand my husabnd and Michael went to a friends for more BBQ. (Which is something we love to do in Texas). Friday consisted of going to Mt.Bonell and eating Whataburger to an amazing Hillcountry view on the Lake and then chasing around peacocks at Mayfield Park. We drove around downtown to show him what 6th st. looks like in the middle of the day, and found ourselves relaxing at a pool til it turned dark. We got dressed and enjoyed some bowling until it was time for bed, and enjoyed our Saturday with just relaxing and hanging out. I've loved every minute I had with my brother, and it just goes to show, even in you live in a town like Las Vegas you can still have a blast in Texas!

Old and New

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but there was of course a great reason for it. My brother came in town from Vegas!! We had such a great time all weekend, and I will blog about him in the next one since I'm on Windows, and don't have the pictures to go with the story. But what I do have it truly amazing! While I was dropping my brother off in San Antonio, I notice a big red box on my parents counter with paper and junk resting on top. Of course being me, I immediately move the papers aside and open it. It really felt like coming across a buried treasure. I open this box to find film slides. Nothing but film slides! All different in years, and some souvenirs. Here are some to look at, and I hope you enjoy them!

This is my Dad growing up .


This is my Grandfather.

I spoke too soon...

Ella is an amazing little one. David and I love her so much. But more and more every night, Ella finds it necessary to cry as long as she can until someone wakes up to play with her or maybe let her sleep in our bed. I've started to learn more about her personality. There are little things that she does that makes me worry what kind of pet she is going to be.
Like for example, shes already running the household by crying the loudest I've ever heard a dog cry to get what she want. When shes really mad, she will do her 'business'
right next to the potty pad, but not on top. This little 4 and a half pound ball of fluff with chase around Copland and Johnny when in the backyard, already getting her hearding skills out! She's so persistant about getting what she wants, but it's so hard since she's so cute! All she has to do is shake her little but or look up at you with those big blue eyes and I melt. My brother is coming in town today, so I've decided to start up training on Monday, since I want to be able to set out a time schedule Ella and I can stick to for puppy training time. If anyone has any great websites, please let me know, new ideas are always much appreciated!

World! I'd Like you to meet Ella!

So as some of you might know, David and I just recently added a new member to our family. Everyone, meet Ella Fitzgerald Balentine. We drove 2 hours east of Austin to some little town to go meet a litter of pups. And sure enough when Ella was brought out, my heart skipped a beat, and I knew she was it. So we took her home and now she is ours!
David and I have been discussing for a while about adding another member to the family. Most always the conversation ended up in no, that is wasnt our time. And on Sunday (Mother's Day) we went to Jims and ate some lunch while njoying conversation. I have no idea how we began talking about it, but this time the conversation was different. We discussed about how we have the finances to take on another pet, and we definitly have the love and patience. The only sacrifice that we werent sure about was our time. With our two boys its easy to go out of town, and stay our certain times. But with a puppy all those things need to be considered. And i was sure before we got her, and even more sure now shes here, I have all the time in the world for her.
Here are some pictures of Ella, and I hope you enjoy. I do have to warn you that looking at these, will not even do Ella justice. I swear if you see her in person, your heart will melt.

Graduations

David and I went down to San Antonio last weekend for a very special event! Saturday was the day that my mom graduated! I don't think I could ever be more proud of her than I was on Saturday. I remember when she said she was going to go back to school, and for those years I remember her taking night classes, working her butt off every semester available, while still going to work, taking care of her family, and her self. And she finally did it! Now for nest semester she is going to go to A&M in San Antonio and get the rest of her bachelors. I'm so proud of you Mom! Ans I love you more than you know!

Cleaning Day

My husband and I keep a pretty busy schedule on our hands. Nothing of great importance usually but mostly just social situations that are known to catch our time. We like to go out of town, hang out with friends, attend social functions (parties) and even for those bad days at work we love going to our local watering hole to just complain and have a beer. Even on a day were we might be low on cash or just want to hang out at the house involves us sitting in the garage catching up on laptops and watching a movie on our huge projector screen. Obviously after describing the things we enjoy to do, never once have I mentioned how much we like to clean.
I love a clean house, I love walking into a clean house, sleeping in a clean house, having a party at a clean house, but I HATE TO CLEAN! I would love to put some money aside in our budget and just hire a maid. That is something that would be superb. But if I have learned anything from my mother its that no matter how many hours there are in a day there is still enough time to clean. Growing up with a slightly OCD mother, I had the tendency to rebel in not cleaning my room. I quickly learned how a clean room can turn into a mess. Sometimes growing up I would be gone for a weekend with my room spick and span, and my mother would tell me magical elves came and cleaned my room. But what becomes unfortunate is that when you get older these magical elves hold no pity for someone over the age of 18 and just stop dropping by.
So yesterday when my husband and I woke up (at 1:30pm) we decided that it would be cleaning day. We took a shower, and had a nice sit down lunch, and then I proceded to clean. I found myself with a sink full of dishes and 7 loads of laundry, yes 7. Trying to figure the best way to get started, I started the laundry, worked on the dishes, had time to go shopping for neccesities, upload all my recent pictures on the internet and add a post to my blog. But for some reason the dryer was taking an awful long time. Turns out, the exhust from the dryer fell out which led our garage to feel as if it was 101 degrees inside, and then the tube bent to the outside so was the drying the right way. In the end of it all I was left with 3 loads left and 4 loads to fold today. I woke up with full intent to get these things done before I had to go to work (which is 1 pm) but after realizing I woke up past 11, my hopes started to disappear. I decided to take a nice shower, make some lunch, and catch up on some emails and would attack the monster load of laundry when I got back home. After work, I went to drop by a friends house to drop off the new key to our house, and of course I got caught up in wonderful conversation. So by the time I left her house, I had to stop by the grocery store, come home, and cook my amazing meatloaf dinner for my husband. That is where I found myself with still the 4 loads of laundry to fold. I was in no way shape or form ready to attack it by myself. This is where the magic elves came in.
I know what your thinking... the magic eleves showed back up after all these years? And what does a magic elf look like? How much do they charge? And where can I get one of these myself. Well surprisingly a magic elf isnt short, or with pointy ears, or with a fashionable outfit made of hemp and twine. It was a very sexy amazing man, that came from my garage and helped me with my chores. He looked a lot like my husband, and even sounded like him too. He even kissed me! Can you believe that? He come along and helped clean the kitchen after the mess I made cooking, and then proceeded to hang the clothes on the hanger.
Now we both know that it wasnt a magical elf, but my husband, and I can not think about how lucky I am that he actually helped me out. I was raised in a idea that the woman is suppose to clean, cook, push out babies, and take care of them, and the man to make money and relax when at home. I've even heard from different women about waking up early to get their chores done before they go to work so they dont have to worry about it when they get home. But honestly that just isnt for me, or better said that isnt for us. I might make dinner, but my husband and I both ate it, so we both help out with the cleaning. I might have dirty clothes, but do does he, and we both work on cleaning it together. We enjoy the little things in life, but we both have to work at it to make it happen.
The idea of waking up early to get things done is something that I respect, and if anyone can pull it off, more power to you. But my husband wakes up between 8:30 and 10, depending on the weekday. If I ever woke up before him, and started doing chores, I would have a very grumpy husband on my hands. I don't clean quietly, and if Im awake I might selfishly want him to wake up too. But never on purpose. :) I would rather spend that little extra time in the morning cuddling with my husband and enjoy waking up with each other in the beginning of our day. And doing chores together is honestly a lot of fun, and allows us to joke, and laugh, and make me happier. I know I am not the perfect housewife. I don't clean all the time, and I don't come home to make a full dinner every night. I may hang out with my girlfriends on a weekday and not come home until 10, and I don't remember to get my oil changed, but I am so lucky to hane a husband that is happy, and helps, and everyday has the one goal of just to make me smile. Thank you David for all the things you do!

Another Wedding?

David and I were married on December 30, 2007. I can only remember that day with the moment the doors opened, and I saw David standing at the end of the walkway. The way he looked at me, with tears in his eyes, and the biggest smile on his face.
Recently, after telling the story of our wedding over and over again, I started to think that maybe the wedding we had wasnt my perfect wedding. Mainly since my aunt blackmailed me to get the family invited, and my cousins crashed my wedding after being asked not to join. It was something that really did just upset me ever time I thought about it. I even had the nerve to tell my husband I wanted to renew our vows, and we would sit together discussing the concept of disappearing on a weekday and going out of the states, to stand on a beach and get married the way we intended.
Just this past Friday, we went to a friends wedding, and walking in the building to the candles and flowers, dance floor, and all those people, I couldn't help but be grateful for the wedding I had. I even thanked my husband for never allowing me to convince him that we should have run away to elope or even renew our vows. After seeing my friend go through the stress that she went through, and the stress of other involved, I knew that my wedding was the right wedding for me. In the end of it all, I had my perfect wedding because for the one day I stood in front of the people I care about and said that this man is the one I'm going to spend the rest of my life with.