Ten years ago today, inside the walls of the Mesa Arizona Temple, I became Mrs. Bruce Wayne. I can't believe it has already been 10 years. I remember our wedding day so vividly. It was scorching hot and I had on a heavy dress with a huge petticoat underneath, but I didn't notice the heat at all. I was so thrilled to be marrying the man of my dreams that I didn't even realize how hot it was until someone else commented on the heat after all was said and done. I couldn't stop grinning as we celebrated the beginning of our life together, a life that has ended up being far more wonderful than I ever could have imagined. 

We've come a long way in 10 years. There have been ups and downs, trials and heartache mixed with the greatest of blessings. There are times we drive each other crazy, but through it all, we love each other deeply. There is no one else in the world I would rather spend eternity with and I am so grateful that Bruce chose me. 

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2015

A Pre-Baby Getaway

At the end of May, Bruce and I were able to take a little overnight getaway thanks to our amazing friends Blas and Barb. They offered to take our wee ones for a night before the baby's arrival so we could have a night away. We tried to take a childless vacation this time last year, but ended up being asked to be trek parents, which nixed our plans. Sure we were without OUR children, but trek meant caring for 8 other children of the teenage variety, so this was the first time Bruce and I have been truly alone together since Sunshine was born. It was strange but oh-so nice! 

We went up to Prescott for a night. We got there in the late afternoon and checked into our hotel room before heading to the historic area of Prescott to wander around. We tried checking out some of the little stores but most were closed, which we found a little surprising. There were a couple of shops that we wandered through and one had my favourite potato chips from our trip to Hawaii. $6 a bag, but Bruce bought them for me and I rationed those things out and made them last! So, so tasty. 

We then headed to our favourite Prescott restaurant for dinner. It's one of those places that we go to so rarely that we always wonder if we've built it up in our heads to be better than it actually is. Luckily, dinner did not disappoint. Especially the raspberry chipotle boneless wings. I love those things so much!

Once we finished eating, we walked around Lynx lake for a bit and watched the sunset over the water. It was absolutely beautiful. And on our drive back to the hotel, we almost hit a deer! So glad the deer (and our car!) walked away unharmed. It was fun to enjoy a little bit of the great outdoors since we knew we'd be heading back to 110+ degree temps the next afternoon. 

Back at the hotel, we ate dessert (Culver's Concretes... so yummy!) and lounged around. We watched a movie completely uninterrupted and went to bed early. We slept through the night without little ones crawling into our beds... it was all so bizarre! And the next morning, we ate breakfast then went back to our room and took a nap! I wish I could say I finally caught up on sleep, but after 8 years of motherhood, is there even a chance of that ever happening!?

After waking up from our nap, it was time to check out of our hotel. We once again headed to the historic downtown district to wander some of the little antique stores. We didn't come across anything we just had to have, but it was fun to look. I didn't last as long as I had hoped with our wandering... The altitude started to get to me and I was swelling and uncomfortable. We decided to get some lunch then head back to the valley a little earlier than planned. We had lunch at The Lone Spur Cafe, which is owned by the family of a little boy that Sunshine went to preschool with. The food was yummy and the newly remodeled cafe was fun to eat at.

The drive home was uneventful, though I really did not enjoy watching the temperature on our car's thermometer climbing as we made our way back into the valley. Luckily, the closer we got to home, the less swollen I became.

The wee ones were happy to see us, though Man Cub started to cry for Papa Blas as we drove back to our house. I love that we have such wonderful friends who care for our children as if they were their own. We are so grateful to Blas and Barb for taking on our mangy crew for a night and giving us a chance to get away before Little L joins our family. Though, now I'm thinking I might need more nights away, just Bruce and me!

Date Night | Chihuly In The Desert

Fact: Bruce and I never really dated.

One day I'll have to type out our love story, but the short version is, we met when he was on his mission. When he got home from his mission, we got in touch and eventually started talking on the phone a LOT. After a few months of talking on the phone for hours each night, he decided to fly up to Utah and visit me. By the end of the five day visit, we were engaged, two weeks later I moved down to Arizona to be near him and 2 months later we were married in the Mesa Arizona temple. And {almost} nine years later, we are still going strong. Despite our lack of dating. 

After we got married, we never really made dating each other a priority. Sure, we'd do things together, but actual dates were few and far between. Last Valentine's Day, I decided that had to change. I felt inspired by the dating posts of a favourite blogger and I put together a year of date nights for Bruce. 12 envelopes with a handwritten note and a preplanned date inside each one. We had so much fun working our way through the envelopes and for the first time ever, actually dating each other. The gift was such a success that I repeated it again this year.


This month, our envelope held two tickets to the Chihuly in the Desert exhibit at our local botanical garden. Neither of us had ever visited the garden, and neither of us really knew what Chihuly meant. Now we are "experts" on both.

The botanical garden itself is absolutely lovely. I am going to have to look up their photography policy because I would LOVE to do my girls birthday photo sessions there at some point. It really is amazing how beautiful the desert can be.

Then there was the addition of the Chihuly exhibit. Oh. My. Goodness. Going in, I had no idea just what Chihuly meant, so in case you are like me, I'll explain! Dale Chihuly is an American artist who specializes in HUGE blown glass sculptures and installations. They are bright, vivid colours and did I mention they are huge!? Bruce and I enjoyed looking at each of the Chihuly pieces and picking our own favourites as well as deciding which ones we thought each of the children would have liked best. It was a beautiful exhibit and we both walked away saying we'd love to go again sometime, and take the wee ones with us.

My favourite piece... it was absolutely magnificent and the colours really popped against the blue sky and green foliage

We decided this would have been Man Cub's favourite... not because he'd care for the piece necessarily, he'd just be all about the water!

This piece was incredible... each piece was moving independent of the others. I can't imagine they were floating, so I'm not quite sure how they were moving around. It was so calming to watch

Bruce's favourite... the pictures just don't do it justice. This piece was gigantic

Our top pick for Beebs... she loves purple, and she loved this picture when we showed it to her

Bruce really wanted to get a picture of me with "blue hair", so I obliged Ü

We picked this one for Sunshine... and we were right! After showing her all the different pictures, she decided this was her favourite.

And a couple of iPhone photos, to prove we were there together Ü

We ended our date with a stop at our favourite deli for hot pastrami sandwiches, followed by stops at two different Paradise Bakeries looking for chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Then it was back home so I could relieve our babysitters and Bruce could head to work. But the final consensus- Chihuly in the Desert makes for a great date night.

8 Years Into Our Happily Ever After

Today marks 8 years of marriage for Bruce and I. 8 years. Wow. I feel too young to have 8 years of marriage under my belt already. And not just 8 years of marriage, we've also racked up 7 years of the law enforcement life, 3 children, 2 houses and a whole bunch of my crazy, hairbrained ideas that Bruce has supported me through. Ü He sure puts up with a lot. And boy do I love him for it!

I was looking through our wedding pictures earlier, trying to pick a few to share, and I cannot get over what babies we were! Bruce had been 22 for a whopping 7 days and I was just shy of the 20 and a half mark. Babies! But we were so in love, and we still are. Our 8 years of marriage have brought plenty of challenges and hardships, but with Bruce by my side, I know we can handle anything life throws at us.

Happy Anniversary to my superhero. 8 years down, and an eternity to go! I'm so glad I get to spend it with you.