11 years

Happy 11th anniversary, Ben Tuel. Can you believe it's been 11 years? (Our anniversary was actually yesterday . . . )

I'm going to go ahead and say that this has definitely been our best year. I think we've come a very, very long way this year. Maybe it's because we both weren't running around like crazy people. Maybe b/c, for a time, we were all the other one had. Maybe it's b/c we were together and very like minded in very big things. Maybe it's b/c we looked to the other's interest above our own a little more. Maybe it's b/c we tried to speak each other's love language a little bit more - or the language of love and respect. (Both of those books are on my top 10 lists!) Maybe it's a combination of all of the above. However it looks, I loved this year. 

I'll just say this - I don't think Ben and I have a "naturally easy marriage." Whatever that means. We are 2 very different, very independent people. There have been seasons where we shared responsibilities but that's about all. We don't think alike. We don't act alike. So when I see growth, when I see victories - I am proud of us. I really am. Because I know how much work it took. I see that we've really grown and changed as individuals, and, as a result, our marriage has grown and changed in such huge ways, it's exciting. Encouraging. It makes me so thankful. Really thankful.

The other night we were talking about me going back to work and Ben said he wished he had a job that made a lot of money. So that I didn't have to work or we could buy a house that we actually wanted to buy. I've thought and thought about that. And I don't. I don't wish he worked a job where he made lots of money. Well, sometimes I do. I'm not going to lie. I struggle with jealousy sometimes and wanting what others have. But when I sit down and think about it, I realize how crazy that is. I realize the experiences that we would miss out on. The things our kids would miss out on. Living right on the edge of where God wants us. Not that people who make lots of money don't experience those things. I just like what we have. And I'm thankful for that. And I know we're right where God wants us. And all of those things are temporary. And I'm just darn thankful to live this life together - no matter what we have or don't have, no matter what we do or don't do.

So, here's to year #12. Cheers!

April Showers - a lot of them

Last weekend we went to New Martinsville to celebrate Doh's birthday. Andy and Courtney came too. We did the fish fry, ate Pasco's, stayed up late, got up early, signed people up for twitter, played outside, had dessert with random family members, ate birthday cake, dyed Easter eggs and did an Easter egg hunt. Good times!

 

This week Ted finally had soccer. Three weeks of practice have been cancelled due to rain (2x a week). Ted was so excited for Monday to play. Of course it was picture day so we spend 35 of the 55 minutes waiting for or getting pictures taken. Ted was the only one on his team to not get individual pictures. Oh, and practice was cancelled Saturday b/c it was Easter weekend. So he's played 20 minutes of soccer out of the 8 hours he should've. Glad I paid for this.

 

 

Sophie has taken to snacking on raw lasagna noodles lately. And she went to her friend Anna's 3rd birthday party - her first friend party. Very cute and lots of fun.

 

 

 

Watching TV in their new outdoor chairs. They are ready for soccer, campfires the river and other such fun outdoor events.  We've been spending a lot of time indoors. It's rained pretty much everyday the month of April. We're hoping May is slightly (or a lot) drier.

In one hour, I'm feeding 12 people Easter dinner. Yikes! I was planning on an Easter egg hunt outdoors for the 5 kids. But guess what? It's raining. Surprise! So far, the ham is cold and I've forgotten 3 ingredients. I'm thankful Kroger is open today. I feel like I should give them a "Sorry you had to work on Easter Cup." Oh, and the people at McDonald's too.

sophie-ism's

I'm so behind blogging. But I've been thinking about this one for awhile.

Sophie is a funny kid. We really get a kick out of her. Here are just a few things from recent days.

- Sophie and Ted have started to play house together and they call each other "honey." Except now Sophie call Ted "honey" all the time. He hates it. He tells her over and over again that you just call people "honey" when you're playing house. If she doesn't call him "honey" she calls him "Teddy". NO ONE in our life calls him Teddy (thankfully). I have no idea where she got that one. Also, makes Ted nuts.

- The other day she busted out "dum dum daddy" in the car. Made Ben so proud.

- I've had raw carrots and broccoli for the kids to snack on. You know us and our fiber issues. That child will chew on a raw vegetable for an ungodly amount of time. Seriously, well over 10 minutes. There's not one ounce of exaggeration in that. Sometimes I have to threaten to spank her if she doesn't swallow. It's either that or choke on it. Gross.

- Whenever Ben asks who's going to pray at dinner, she jumps right in with "Dear Jesus, Thank you for mommy and daddy and ted and sophie and millie and mommy and daddy and millie (goes on) . . . and thank you for the food." One night she forgot the "and thank you for the food" part. So halfway through dinner she says, "And dear Jesus, thank you for you the food. I forgot that part."

- Tonight at dinner Ben asked what they learned at church today. The conversation:
Sophie: Jesus died on the cross.
Ben: Oh yeah. Why did Jesus die on the cross?
Sophie: Because he had a tummy hurted.
Ben: Oh, I've never heard that part of the story.

We're getting there. Love this little girl!

not a lot happenin' here

Last Monday night, UHS & MHS clubs did a mall scavenger hunt. The leaders dressed up and the kids had to find them. There were way too many kids and it got shut down pretty quickly. But fun none-the-less. My kids love Jimmy & John - not to be confused with Jimmy John's! And Ben gave a club talk in the middle of the mall food court. It was a fun night.

Ted & Jimmy

Sophie & John

Last week I put some leftover sand we had from banquet decorations into an under the bed storage container. Instant fun! And mess. The bathtub has seen lots of sand - unfortunately so has the couch. Ted was expertly making a sandcastle. He informed me that he learned that from Max & Ruby. Glad tv viewing has some benefits!

I took Sophie to Starbucks after bible study Tuesday b/c I had to meet someone about some work stuff. I mistakenly did not take her to the bathroom. While I was waiting, Sophie PEED ON MY LAP! As soon as I felt the warmth on my legs, I pushed her (gently) off my lap and she continued to pee on the floor - a steady stream for what seemed like forever. I couldn't run to the bathroom b/c then we'd have a trail of pee across Starbucks. Thankfully, our friend Derek was there. In the middle of gut-busting laughter, he was able to help me get some paper towels and get it semi-cleaned up. This is her less than 5 minutes later - good things she's so cute.

We got Ted a United States map. He's always asking questions about where things are. It's fun to be able to show him.

bowling

We took the kids bowling last week at the Mountain Lair. Very fun. Sophie ran around - a lot. We used bumpers and the first half of the game Sophie had 3 strikes and Ben was loosing to all of us. He made a comeback though at the end with a turkey. The alligator slide thing was a hit. Sophie didn't give two hoots about her game. Pretty much pushed the ball down the slide and ran to wait for it to come back up - except the one video below. Ted changed up between the slide and the old granny shot.

After bowling we took a walk down High Street for dinner at Black Bear. It was a great family night. We will definitely do this again!