RE: Ode to My Spouse

Eric thought he was being funny and on his personal blog he posted a poem titled "ode to my spouse". He made some somewhat humorous jabs at me - the link is here - http://cragmonkey.blogspot.com/

So I thought that this deserved a response and for that here goes (Clearing throat)

How is it I love you after all of your tricks?
You like to poke fun at me to get your kicks,
yet day after day with your hair getting stubbly,
you make my lips smile and my heart still feel fluttery

you talk endlessly of your X-box and Mac,
Its really not if but when will I crack.

You think that you're funny,
you think that you're cute -
but my guts turn inside- out
every time that you “toot”

I'd love help with the laundry and even the dishes
but despite all my pleading those thoughts just stay wishes

Yet there's something to be said for a man that plays dress-up
with his little girl in all her pink get-up.
You prance 'round with pride and sometimes say 'nay'
when you give her rides on your back everyday.

And don't forget there's the little man too,
that picks up all the bad habits you do!
That's why he's a stinker and you know its the truth,
he's a hairy little guy with stinky loud farts just like you!

So regardless of faults and virtues to match,
to me you will always be my perfect catch!

I am by no means a poet, I don't even like poetry, but this is my best effort in all of 10 minutes, I hope you have enjoyed this ode to Eric as much as I have!

Fall is here

Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year. The weather cools down but is not too cold, the leaves are changing colors that are equal in vibrancy and beauty and it is the start of the holiday season. My favorite (pagan) holiday is in the fall - Halloween. This year I have decided to push my sewing skills to the max (which isn't very far, Im not that good) and make Tay's costume this year. Since she is already fair with blue eyes and blonde hair,I thought I would make her an Alice costume from Alice in Wonderland... we'll see though, time is a-tickin' and I have done little to start it. Carter on the other hand will be sporting a store bought costume - a puffy little skunk!! I find this especially humorous because he is such a little stinker, and thats what it says on the bum. The start of school traditionally begins in the fall and for our family this is no exception. I am back at it as always and Tay has also started preschool! I can't believe how big she is getting and its just amazing to see her start this new chapter in her life. While Carter may not be starting school, he is however getting his fifth tooth and is on the verge of walking. He has already taken a few steps and cruises along furniture and walls. Eric is also doing great, he is working on the house more and its so nice to see those improvements.

Ya BABY!!

Well Eric did it... He finally updated the fireplace and put up my mantle that has been sitting in our garage for nearly a year now!! He told me he would 'pencil it in for august' many months ago and on the last day of the month we tore down the old brick, plastered and sanded and textured and he built out the step and covered it with hardy backer and tiled and then painted the wall and hung the mantel!! Wow thats a lot to do in just one little weekend!!I took many pictures along the way to document the project because it really was a lot of work and really dirty at points too, like during the whole thing! Anyway here are some pictures to show Eric's labor day project!!(the first picture is from when we bought the house, before we ripped out the shag carpet)

The Kennedy family Reunion!

We are finally home from a whirlwind adventure in one of the most beautiful places in the world - Hood River, Oregon. Eric, Tay, Carter and I flew in to Portland monday afternoon, we wound up being on the same flight as my sister and her friend and so there was plenty of conversation in the airport to keep us busy until the plane left. Carter had a bit of a rough flight because he was so tired but other wise it was an enjoyable flight! Once we got there and said our hello's and hugged a few times we were off to pick up a car rental for Eric and I and then from there we were more or less on our way to the family reunion held at the Panorama Lodge in Hood River. after settling in and getting the run - d0wn for the week, we headed to bed. The next day we woke early and left for Bremerton, Washington, where my great-grandma lives to visit her and have a picnic. the drive there was around 5 hours and was the longest carter had ever been in the car at one time and it was a frustrating drive because he was so miserable but we were able to see a lot of beautiful sights along the drive and remember things like stopping in Kelso as we did nearly every time when my sister and I were kids. After the brief visit with Great grandma, we left for Tenino, WA where my Jenn's parents live. It was wonderful to see them again and to introduce them to Carter but the best part was something little that they said to me as we greeted - "welcome home" for whatever reason that really struck a cord with me. We had a wonderful time and Lew made an amazing dinner for us, and we got to take Taylor and Brenna out on the 4-wheeler they keep for Brenna. Taylor was a hoot because she wouldn't look where she was going and would accelerate awkwardly. afterward we made the last leg of our trip back to Hood River. the next day we went on a hike as a family to a waterfall, and it was FREEZING but some of the prettiest greenery around. that night our family made dinner with Eric manning the grill, and the next day we spent time at my grandparents house and in Hood River, wandering the town like tourists. Eric absolutely loved it there and the weather that day was much warmer. The following morning we packed up and headed for home. The trip was such a whirlwind adventure that its all blurred together in our minds but I am so glad to have had the opportunity to reconnect with my family!

The Triciathon!!

Well the kiddos and I just got back from a whirlwind adventure at Grammy's house, Eric calls it the "Triciathon" because my mom believes in the philosophy that we need to make a concentrated amount of memories during the small amount of time we have together. Its really fun though! My step mom was once famous for saying " I want to reminisce now!" and my mom is equally famous for saying "Lets make memories now!!!"This trip was by far no exception. We walked to the neighborhood park a few times and played with Tay on the very hot toys, which she always loves and begs for every morning we are there. We also spent a day at the zoo, which despite being very hot was was very fun. We brought my cousin Shannon and her son, James with us and had such a good time. Here is a picture of Carter at the zoo, we are on our way home and I was about to take him out of his sling and put him in his carseat, anyway you don't catch smiles like that everyday on camera! My mom and I also watched a few movies and went shoe shopping at a place called "Off Broadway" or something like that - wow!! we also had a family get together and took Taylor swimming, carter wasn't really interested as the water was from a hose (brrrr!) and went up to the Denver area to have Lunch with Greg at a favorite of ours - Cinzettis, its a really nice italian buffet but its quite nice and the food is great! That is one of Eric's favorite places to eat too and he was quite bummed to have missed out on it! Anyhow one of the best parts about the trip was something I had nothing to do with. While we were gone, Eric installed canned lighting and a chandelier above the dining table - this picture doesn't do them justice (mostly because the kitchen is FILTHY!! Talk about Being a bachelor to his full extent!) but I am so proud of him! He did that for me for our anniversary. Anyway it is nice to be home and we will only be separated for a little bit, my mom is coming out to Utah to see one of my sister's plays down in Cedar City and we are planning a Thacker Family Reunion for the same weekend.

The funeral...

Well the funeral was a beautiful service. Aaron's mom spoke and so did my Brother in law - Adam and both of those messages were beautiful. There was not an actual viewing of her body but we did have a "viewing" to go and see the casket and to be close to our families and friends before the funeral. At the entry to the relief society room there were programs and some of Aaron's scrapbook pages of her and Cameron when they first were together and they looked so young! Cameron looks especially different as he has started shaving his head like Eric and weighs a bit more (also like Eric lol) Inside there were also pictures of her and their family that were so wonderful, it was such a blessing that they had gotten those done recently so that all of them were in the picture. She was a very beautiful person and I only wish we had the opportunity we were planning on having - which was to live close to each other and become better friends. Since then Cameron moved into his new house yesterday with a lot of help from his new ward and also family and a few from our ward as well. I am so grateful for how openly our friends and ward members have reached out to help him and us during this time. I truly feel so blessed by the people and in particular a few of my girlfriends that have done everything and anything they could. We are so grateful to everyone that has reached out to us during this time of sorrow.

my heart breaks...

For the loss of someone dear to our family. On Saturday May 24th, my sister-in-law(Eric's twin brother's wife) and her kids were traveling to Utah to move here and were in a car accident just outside of Aurora CO. Aaron died at the scene of the crash. The driver of the van ( a young girl that Aaron had taken under her wing and convinced to move to UT with her) veered off the road to the right, hit a pole and swerved left but doing so caused the van to roll 2 1/2 times landing on its top and crushing Aaron. She leaves behind three beautiful little boys ages 4,3, and 1 . All of them suffered minor abrasions and some broken capillaries in their cheeks from being upside down for so long before the police got there. Cam is devastated as anyone would be from the loss of a spouse and we are all in shock. She was 25 which is in my opinion much too young to pass away. Cameron's new ward will be taking care of the funeral services this Saturday.