For Monica

Please come to Phoenix to watch New Moon with me. I'll make you a shirt. And the Thanksgiving food of your choice. 

P.S.  For those of you that don't know, that is my mother-in-law right there, second from the left. She is wearing a classy shirt, in which I photoshopped her head next to Emment's and gave her gorgeous, flowing blonde hair. I have the best MIL ever. 

To Jenna

Two weeks.
Sweat drops! Sweat drops!

Numero Cuatro

I mentioned that Craig was taking me to Mexico, right? Well he did. It was freaking sweet. Craig always plans really fun anniversaries, but I would have to say this was top two. We rented this lovely beach house:

The view from the patio. In high tide it was like 20 steps to the ocean. Love.

My man. He's a hottie.

We lived in these beach chairs. We only left for tacos. And helados. Case in point:

Coconut is the best, btw.

We ate enough tacos to feed the entire country. Viva Mexico.

Don't mind my ghost face. SPF 70 really works.

And more helados.

Our last sunset. So sad.

Four years ago today Craig and I were married in the Manti Temple. It was the best choice Craig has ever made. Oh, and me.

Photo by Jami

But in all seriousness, I bet if we would have been able to see all of this when we were first dating we would have been so excited. Because even now, whenever I take a step back and really look around and see our life I am amazed. I love you. I love us. I love all that is ours.

And I couldn't ask for a better husband.

Vamos a la playa!!!

(Directly translated: Craig is taking me to Mexico tomorrow!)

In my sexy voice: Happy Birthday to You

Craig turned 27. He is inching closer and closer to thirty every day. Thirty is when you become a real grown-up. So watch out, real world.

27 candles create so, so much smoke. Seriously. I bet the neighbors were considering calling the fire department. And Calvin got the black lung. You can get that from candle smoke, as well as mining. Just a quick FYI.

Things Craig has done with his 27 years of humanhood:

1. Be born.

2. Grow up.

3. Go to so much school.

4. Marry the coolest girl around. Have you met his wife? She is pretty great.

5. Not become a dad. (This is a feat of strength! He is basically the Superman of willpower. Which makes me Lex Luther. And I'm not done with my evil scheming.)

6. Get brain surgery. 

7. Make a miraculous recovery.

8. Still go to so much school.

9. Join a motorcycle gang. 

10. Just pretty much being the sweetest, smartest, handsomest guy I've ever met.

Happy birthday husband. I'm glad you were born.

And a big shout out to Lynda for birthing him.

For Monica

Riding your bike in 115 degree weather can really take it out of you. Dunkin Donuts is a must for proper hydration.

Apparently the coffee and biking is not unique to Utah.

Also, the cup holder is classic.

The debate

We've found ourselves in the middle of a housing debate, friends.

It goes a little something like this:

We love Central Phoenix and want to stay here. We are five minutes from my work and Craig's school. We love our ward. But...

This is what we can afford in our neighborhood:

1500 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. Built in 1950s.


And this is what we can afford if we make the trek to the burbs:

3,000 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, brand spanking new, two car garage, fanciness.

BUT....

It is 45 minutes from downtown. With no traffic. And its in the East Valley. Which reeks of broken dreams.

Are Craig and I ready to settle down in the burbs? It is SO FAR from my Flavors of India. If we stopped going they would probably think we died. Do we really want the nice Indian guy think we are dead? Am I ranting?

What do you think? Vote. Its a democracy. Sort of. My vote counts for 100.

Oh, I don't want to figure out how to put a poll in. Vote over there -------->

xoxo