Happy Anniversary

Monday was mine and Todd's eighth anniversary.  We celebrated all weekend long.  Our good friends watched Jack and Hazel overnight Friday so we could have a get-away.  We ended up staying local and sleeping at home, but it was a gift in itself to sleep in until 8:45!  (Jack's been coming in our room about 6:15 every day since Daylight Savings Time ended.)

Friday night we went out for a couple's massage.  I was really looking forward to it, as my back has been hurting a lot lately and I've had two fabulous experiences with professional massages.  Unfortunately, this experience was not fabulous.  It's our own fault for trying to book an appointment last minute (the day before).  The only place that could get us in at the time we wanted was half price - and you get what you pay for.  At the end of the hour, I stood up and the first thing I said to Todd was, "My back still hurts."  He said his experience was pretty good, but that he never needs to go again.  Either Todd really, really doesn't care for back massages, or his guy wasn't that great, because when it's done right, you feel like you're made of butter for the next twelve hours.  It is heavenly! 

We went out for steak and were back home by 8:30.  We spent the night reading The False Prince aloud, munching on popcorn and feeling weird that the kids' bedroom was empty. 

As I said, we slept in the next morning.  Then we grabbed some fresh bagel sandwiches for breakfast and drove up to Oakland to do sealings in the temple.  Afterward, we snagged the kids.  They had nap/quiet time, and it was over to a friends' house for dinner.

 Sunday I taught about temple marriage (coincidentally enough) to the 12- and 13-year olds at church.  Preparing that lesson throughout the week beforehand, along with our anniversary coming up anyway, gave me a lot of time to reflect on the gift Todd and I have been given to be sealed together, and what our temple covenants have done to bless our marriage.  I am grateful for the long-term perspective we have of being together for eternity, and for the respectful and joyful way we treat each other because we know our relationship is a forever one.

I'm overwhelmingly thankful to be married to a man so courteous, so hard-working, so fun-loving, and so darn good looking. 

Chicago

Last weekend I went to Chicago to visit my sister Emily.  Just me.  Todd and the kids stayed home.  That was strange for me.  I've never left them all before.  It was nice to spend the plane ride reading and listening to my iPod, but more so, it was a gift to be able to spend three happy days trying to focus on my sister.  She and I were the very best of friends as kids, and I cherish the little time I get now to be in her presence. 

water taxi with Sears (now Willis) Tower in the background

authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza - yum!

the "El"

Emily and her husband Doug

 We went to the Field Museum, which is huge, and had two hours to see what we wanted.  Emily and Doug let me choose any exhibits I was interested in, and all I wanted to see was the stuff I wished I could show Hazel.  We spent all our time checking out dinosaur bones, mummies, and African animals.  Haz could have spent a week inside that place! 

T-rex skeleton

real mummified human - check out the peeled back layers!

We had just learned about skeletons in preschool and seen a picture like this of a snake with all its ribs. 

Cloud Gate, aka the Bean

We had a blast playing MASH for all our single siblings.  Ha ha!

We toured the Skydeck of the Willis Tower and got to stand on this glass outjutting 103 stories in the air.  

Thanks for letting me visit, Emily and Doug!  I had a wonderful time.