Happy Anniversary! Twelve years!

I'd say our twelfth year was our best. I love Chris more now than I did when we got married. I loved having a fourth baby with him and enjoying a little man around the house with Chris has been so much fun. I feel like we are better at putting each other first and it makes us happier together to think of each other. That may be simple for some, but it isn't for us. We are naturally selfish! I used to think Chris was an Ace at parenting and could earn maybe an average grade at the whole marriage thing...but I don't feel that way anymore. He is a straight A kind of guy. I think this is due to both of us average spouses becoming better at being together, certainly my complaints have never been just about how he made our marriage hard...but how we both do. Anyway, I think we are pretty darn good at being married to each other at this point...I know it is a continually shifting things, I mean now that we have the new baby stage mastered we are done having children and moving on to parenting tweens and soon teens...that could be a challenge. (I hope not.) Who knows what the future holds for us, but I do know that whatever comes our way we will eventually figure it out and rise to the occasion together.

Chris got me something I have been wanting for a couple of years...a handgun! Without knowing he got me one, I planned a date night to go shooting so I knew how to handle his handgun. So I got my Christmas present early and got to take her shooting the same night. Right now it is locked up tight but after ruby and Alice take an 8-hour gun safety course and I am through nursing, I will concealed carry. I plan to wear it without the clip around the house only for awhile to get used to never, ever, ever removing it from my person. If I feel sure that I am always aware of it and locking it up when removing it, I will wear it in a bra holster. I know this is a controversial thing, but the passion felt by those who don't believe in protecting themselves is equal to my passion to protect myself. I will not remove it in my house to accommodate anyone but I will of course if asked to do so at someone else's house...if I ever do carry.

There really is nothing about shooting that I like. I don't ever want to aim a loaded gun at anyone or anything. That said, I do value having the ability to protect myself and my family if I ever needed to, which I sincerely hope I never do. The times when I feel this is most important is when a natural disaster strikes and victims who are not prepared to deal with that kind of situation become more victimized by the additional reality that the people who have guns are in charge. I have felt this way since hearing about what went on after Katrina when masses of people were sheltered in a big sports dome for days and scary, bad people who had guns did heinous things to innocent people. I don't want to be a sitting duck in a situation like that. While we are on the subject, all my my five readers should know that they should seek shelter at an LDS church building over any other option. Seriously, find your closest LDS neighbor and go to them and or to the nearest church building if you need help or shelter. Don't go anywhere else. Okay?

Back to the anniversary...we went shooting and I learned to how to use my gun. We both like it a lot. It is small and powerful. I was surprised how easy it was to hit the target, even with my first shot ever.

Our actual anniversary was on Sunday and the kids made the nicest celebration for us. See these cute spirals they cut? Cute.

They set a pretty table and made deviled eggs for us. Yes, yes, they did...it was a mess. Chris asked them if maybe the devil made the eggs because the mess wasn't our favorite. The kids that made the mess saved the whole situation by being so cute and proud of their hard mess making work.

Yes, there were place markers. Betsey wrote the words. So darn proud.

See the candle? It's a Yankee candle and Ru removed the label and made a new, anniversary appropriate one. We may have dined with grilled cheese sammies and tomato soup from a Campbell's can.

Another party favorite...a banner..."Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad". Gosh. Ruby needs to go into party planning business. She gets such a thrill out of being fancy and spotlighting those who have a need to celebrate.