Quirks

I had the hardest time falling asleep last night.

11 PM- Watch The Amazing Race

11:45 PM- Watch Witney on the laptop.

11:45- 12:25- Proceed to catch up on all the old Whitney episodes that I have missed. Proceed to cackle like an old woman all by myself because I think it's hi-larious!

12:25 - 2 AM- Pinterest

I have myself a problem.

When I finally started to wind down and just relax I looked over at RJ all snuggled into our blankets and sleeping so quiet and peacefully it made me realize how much I love him.

How much he means to me.

And started to think about the reason that I love him above anyone else.

Here are a few of the quirks that RJ has that makes him one of a kind.

1. He's not cheesy (or the slightest bit romantic :S) but he is very genuine and honest.

He isn't a poet and he doesn't spout lyrics to songs despite what I thought guys were like when I was a teenager. He does tell me I'm beautiful though, and he does lean over and kiss me goodnight every single night.

2. He is an early riser. I on the other hand, am not. When I tell him that he needs to push me out of bed in the morning, he takes that as literally as possible and uses both feet to push me onto the floor in a big messy heap. It's hilarious. He never complains that he has to hear me whine for the first half hour of my morning and also tell me I need to wake up approximately 8 million times.

3. He's very gracious about my family. I'll admit. We're a lot nuts. Batshit crazy really. He never gets in the car after a weekend in Idaho and tells me that we're a whole crew of crazy. After they stay the weekend with us he never slams the door after they walk out and hollers, Thank Goodness They're Gone! He waves goodbye and tells me he's excited for the next time they visit. He's very kind and you'll get the occasional smirk, but he's very gracious and accepts my family for who they are and their flaws.

4. He puts up with my quirks. Hello, my name Charise and I am a movie repeater. I could watch Modern Family and The Proposal, oh and Tangled over and over and over again. I'm not even exaggerating this at all. When I was young I used to love a movie called The Big Green. I would put that in when I was falling asleep for OVER A YEAR! I watched the same movie for an entire year every single night. RJ begs to watch different movies. We have 10 zillion, but unfortunately only 3 get played on a regular basis. He kindly waits until I have fallen asleep and then when I wake up The Hangover will be on the screen. He can watch his childish crude movie and I can still believe in fairytales. It's perfect.

5. Lastly, the kid is just so stinkin cute. And happens to be my best friend. Not gonna lie, we're really weird. We Google to weirdest crap and we laugh like donkeys over the stupidest things. I like that we have some of the same quirks and that I can be myself around him. I don't care that he sees me cry over a stupid commerical and he doesn't care when I tell him that he's the most irritating person that I've ever met. I think we fit perfectly together. And that's all that matters.

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Snow

I love the snow!

Not to be confused with wind and rain.

I hate the wind slightly more than I hate rain.

Today it is snowing and I couldn't love it more.
It makes me want to curl up with a fluffy blanket, turn the lights down low while watching a movie and sipping hot chocolate.

Mmm... I love hot chocolate too.

And sweatpants. The icing on the cake would be that I am in my big grey sweatpants.

Today's snow is light and fluffy and coming down in little flurries. I call it "romantic snow". It's the kind of snow that you stick your tongue out and try to catch a few flakes.

RJ laughs.

He thinks I'm funny.

I ignore him and try to catch more snow.

I love this time of year. When it's still cold on days, but other days the sun peaks out and lets you know that Spring is just around the corner.

I don't think it gets better than that.

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{Lance & Nicole}

On January 13th I got a call from my sister telling me that my brother was driving to Vegas to get married...

Say whaaa?!

Even more, he was marrying a girl that he had known in high school, but they had only been recently dating for a handful of weeks. 

I called and he smartly said that he wasn't doing anything fishy, he was eating Orange Chicken at Panda Express. When I asked him which state he was eating said Panda Express in, he laughed and I can imagine his little grin that only he has and told me in RJ's hometown... the cover was blown; he was in Las Vegas.

As I didn't want to be out of the family gossip I quickly asked him if he really was going to marry this girl. He proudly said yes, and told me that he loved her very much.

Lance & I are both dreamers. We don't really see the realistic way that life should be lived. We're spontaneous and emotional and usually do things before we really think about it.

 We have a "what the hell, why not?" kind of attitude.

We've grown up really close, running track together and riding the basketball bus in high school together. That one summer job moving irrigation lines really helped us set aside our differences and learn to respect each other and help each other in hard times.

I love my little brother more than words can say. He reminds me of myself.

He's charming and funny and has this little quirky side that you have to get used to.

He's quick on his feet and beats to his own drum.

On a serious note, Lance has the biggest heart of anyone that I have ever met.
I have never seen someone that cares more about other people than he does.

He would literally do anything for anyone. He sees potential in people that others don't see.

He is kind and giving and does not judge others and is so accepting of everyone.

  

These are things I've always known, but what I have learned in the last few weeks is that he married the most wonderful girl.

Nicole is beautiful and smart. She's funny and caring. From the second that I got to know her, she has been warm and kind. She's outgoing and outspoken, traits I've always wanted more in myself.

She laughs often and brings an atmosphere that you want to be around. She's the kind of person that you meet and you instantly want to be friends and cultivate that atmosphere that she brings.

She's thoughtful, always saying thank you and making sure that your life is going well.

I don't think that Lance and Nicole could be any better for each other. They're both so loving and kind to each other. They flirt and tease each other endlessly, but then turn around and they're asleep on the couch together.

They're inspiring.

I cannot wait to see them grow together and fall even more in love.

Congrats Lance and Nicole!

I wish you all the best.

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One Year

I just saw that I never posted this on our 1st anniversary.

I still feel the same so I thought I'd share it now. 

RJ,
Time goes by way too quickly. We'll blink and it'll be our 20th anniversary. I can say that knowing without a doubt that 20 years will happen. I'm a pretty indecisive person, but you're something that I know I can't let go of. I love being married to you. You are my best friend and knowing that you come home to me every night gives me butterflies. Everything makes me think of you and puts a smile on my face.
Getting married was the best decision I think we've ever made. This last year has been full of new experiences and big decisions but knowing that you're there holding my hand is enough. Knowing I can always go to you to yell, to cry, and for good advice shows me that I'm lucky to have you.
As a teenager when I imagined dating and getting married, I envisioned fancy dinners and convertible cars.. (I know what you're thinking... someone needed a reality check :]) Instead I got Costco hot dog night and big tires and lifted trucks. I wouldn't change anything and most of all I wouldn't change anything about you. I married you knowing that we would struggle and that somedays your socks on the floor would put me over the edge. But in return I got you. You, who is always willing to watch The Proposal just one more time and who would do anything for me or my family. Someone that always kisses me goodnight and that will pull me close.

You have changed me so much for the better. You're always there to guide me and tease me when I am getting a little too uptight. You're such a great example to me. You show everyone you meet kindness and acceptance. You don't need someone to tell you to be a good person, you just are. You spoil me with kindness and shiny cars and you make my life worth living.

You're who I want to be sitting next to in 10, 20 and 50 years. I want you have your children and watch them grow with you.

Mostly I just want you.
Forever.

I love you.
Your wife.

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And The Beat Goes On...

So the weekend started a little bit wobbly.. literally.

RJ and I are in love with making home decor with pallet wood. Seriously. It's borderline an obsession.

So we weasled our way over to RJ's work to get a few more pallets and as we were loading them in the car RJ decided to fall on the ground.

Don't worry, I'm a great wife and I [almost] didn't laugh.

Instead I shouted, This is no time for a nap!

These are day two of the wreckage. This was after hours of whining and squirming from RJ. He thought he was near death. I was loving it up because RJ didn't want to do anything all weekend but stay in and cuddle. I love weekends like that!

The DEMON pallets.

On Sunday he was feeling a little better so I made him go on a run with me. He rode his bike while I ran.

I'm getting terrible Spring Fever so I spent the afternoon riding around.

Sunday wouldn't be Sunday without coffee- decaf now because RJ is a dud.

And no showers...

and motorcycle rides...

and making fun of the duck face.

{Don't worry, I was starting to wonder if his foot was even hurt too}

We ended the weekend {not watching the Superbowl} and cooking pulled pork in the Crock Pot along with rolls in the cast iron skillet. It was delicious.

All in all good it was a great weekend!

 



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