Husband Tag

Since I'm really having trouble coming up with anything to write about these days, I'm very willing to fulfill the tags I receive. This one is a husband tag. Derrick and I are about to celebrate (ha ha) our 14th anniversary in December. Why the ha ha??? Well, because we NEVER actually celebrate our anniversary! The first couple of years, we tried because we thought we were supposed to, but that eventually wore off. One year, we both completely forgot! When he finally remembered, I pretended as though I hadn't forgotten too. Our justification....'We should show our love to eachother every single day of the year! Not just once a year, on our anniversary!' So ya, I'll go ahead and wish Derrick a happy anniversary while I'm remembering! And now back to the topic at hand...the 'husband tag'. I learned so much about Jordan and Maria in reading there's, so here goes...

1. Full name: Derrick Lamont Swaner. He's named after his grandpa, Lamont Harris.

2. How long have you been married? 14 years on December 16th

3. How long did you date? Tricky question. We dated for about 6 weeks before his mission, and then two months after his mission before we got engaged. We were married 3 months later.

4. Who eats the sweets? I like baked goodies and dark chocolate. Derrick likes candy (Dotts and licorice are his favorite)

5. Who said "I love you" first? He did. That must be a scary move for a guy!

6. Who is taller? Ha, do I really need to answer that?

8. Who is smarter? Depends on the subject. We each have our territories of brilliance and we both have our areas of complete ignorance!

9. Who does the laundry? I'm not sure Derrick knows how to run the washing machine. But he helps me put the sheets on the bed sometimes!

10. Who pays the bills? I do. I hate it, but I do it...when I get around to it.

11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Doesn't matter. No preference either way.

12. Who mows the lawn? I prefer to, but Derricks wants the boys to learn how to work. Sometimes I sneak out and re-mow it when they aren't here. Derrick does the trimming. The edger is too heavy for me.

13. Who drives? Derrick. I have no sense of direction.

14. Who admits they are wrong? Both of us. But he's usually the one that's really wrong. ha ha

15. Who kissed who first? He kissed me, of course! It all goes with being taught to NEVER call boys (or kiss them)

16. Who asked out who first? Derrick asked me out. I was so very happy! The first summer we met, we spent almost every day together until he left on his mission. Then when he came home, we spent almost every day together until we got married.

17.Who wears the pants? I pretend to. Derrick usually lets me think I'm the boss, until there's something really important, and he'll take charge. I like that about him.

Derrick is my six foot three, tough but tender, backpacking and hiking, movie loving, sometimes quirky, amazing and funny, 'tall dark and handsome', great example, talented and unselfish, husband and best friend!

That's it! Now I'll pass on the tag....to anyone who wants something to write about. But I'd love to hear from Victoria and Maryanne and anyone else! Have fun!

Did I Miss Something?

I was driving in the car today...and realized something. Actually, I realized a few things. I feel like I missed something, because it all just snuck up on me!

First...I realized that I am the mother of a teenage boy, who is now taller than me, and wears a size 10 1/2 shoe! When did that happen?

Second...I have gray hairs. I'm not going to say any more, other than...It sucks.

Third...I have 5 children! Only middle-aged people have 5 children!

Fourth...I've been married for almost 14 years. Derrick should be translated for dealing with me for that long!

Fifth...I have 5 children! ....oh, I already said that! Sorry! But seriously...I know 'how' that happened, but HOW did that happen??? Shouldn't we have to fill out an application or something to be a parent to that many little spirits?

So I guess that my thought today, besides wondering where the time is going....is that the time is going very quickly, and I ought to make the most of every minute! I guess that means I ought to get off of the computer and go play polly pockets with Myah, or something.

My Little Peeps

Have you ever noticed that when we have babies, we give them the most ridiculous nicknames ever? Maybe it's because they can't really protest. While we were eating our Saturday morning waffles today, the kids were asking what their nicknames were when they were babies. I thought it was kind of funny to start listing them all...
Skyler...Puba
Zac...PeeWee
Tannon...PipSqueak
Myah...Pippa
Desmond...Little Prince
And if you put them all together....they're my little Peeps!

I wonder if I have some deep psychological connection to the letter 'P' that I never knew about. I mean, my favorite show is Prison Break, I love potatoes and pancakes, and I even love bacon and sausage (aka 'pork' which comes from pigs), and I'm sure if I really thought about it there may be more! So what is it with the letter 'P' anyways?

PRIVATE!!!

I've been meaning to do it for a long time, but today is the day! I've gone private. You know, just to be safe. I would really hate to put these cute little people in any danger!

Thanks Shaleece, for the ksl link....I'm going to pass it on. It's just a story about blogging safely!

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=4699330

Vote Vote Vote

Free speech. Why is it that one side of the free speech isle can make those of us on the other side feel.....silly, dumb, like bigots, wrong...(and the list goes on)? Sometimes I get to feeling like I don't have the right to voice my opinion just because the 'other side' is so verbal about theirs.

Well, today I learned a lesson from my nieces. They made me proud. They live in the great state of California, and don't have the privilege of being quiet about their beliefs. They've had to stare the 'other side of the isle' straight in the eyes and stay true to their beliefs! They've done everything from making phone calls to registered voters, to standing by the street holding signs. I'm sure that they had all sorts of nice and not so nice reactions to that! Way to go girls!!! It seems like when we're teenagers, being popular is oh so important, and I'm sure that their point of view probably isn't very popular among their peers.

It's funny that people all over the country are so worked up over this. I hear that the Idaho and Utah Mormons are 'involving themselves' in something that's not our concern, yet the person who I hear this from lives in New York. So I guess that New Yorkers have a right to care, but not those of us in little ole' Idaho. Funny how that works.

When we had this same vote in Nevada a few years ago, we were asked to go door to door. Not because we wanted to convince our neighbors one way or another, but because the way the proposition was worded on the ballet, was very confusing (on accident? I don't think so), and was stated in a way that would favor the vote for changing the definition of marriage. How do you just change a definition anyways? I'm going to post a couple pics of these awesome nieces (borrowed from Nicky). So my goals today...go vote, and to NEVER let fear get in the way of my beliefs!

That's all! I'll get off of my soap box (for now).