How I Feel About Kids...

Derek and I have been babysitting my cousins ranging from 6 (and 3 quarters) to 13.  They are insane I tell you!  We have found that we don't really have enough time for each other while watching the kids. We are either playing with them constantly, cleaning up their messes, or trying to get them to stop fighting.

I love children!  Though, when people tell newlywed couples, to wait to have them, I agree because right now, I just want my husband to myself!  However, if there is a surprise child, then we would be okay with that...but hopefully not!

We have jumped on the tramp with the kids, took them on a hike which they practically ran the whole way up, visited Grandma, make cookie dough to bribe them, and played the game of Life with them. We also videoed the 2 youngest of them singing their own rendition of a Jason Mraz song titled Give Me the Phone.   All kids want to do these days is play with electronics.

My Special Needs Aunt...

My Dad's youngest sister, Amy, has down syndrome.  Those with down syndrome think at a certain age.  Amy is 40 but thinks and acts like she is 6-9 years old.  She has come so far with learning things such as the piano, singing, dancing, writing, doing simple math, and MORE!  She is beautiful inside & outside and she makes everyone around her smile.

This last weekend we had the opportunity to see her compete in a ballroom dance competition at Brigham Young University.  BYU Ballroom dancers paired up with special needs adults and children.   They danced 2 dances and each special needs adult received a trophy!  We had fun cheering Amy on as she twirled around and shook her booty on the dance floor.

Married Life...

I have been married before and it didn't end well.  I won't go into details of that previous marriage, though I will say, being married to Derek Afton Nielsen is so much better!  From day one, he has opened any door for me, stayed by my side as I walked slowly day to day recovering from surgery, he cooks with me, listens, we never argue, etc.

The only adjustment I have a had hard time getting used to, and Derek can probably say the same, is sleeping in the same bed.  He informed me, that last night, I almost kicked him out of the bed...literally. He tried to sleep with my knee in his back and my elbow in his face.  Someone told me, "We just got a California King Sized Bed and it saved our marriage!"  I can see Derek and me saying something similar in 5+ years when we can actually afford a new mattress. 

I think it's common in most newly wed marriages to be poor the first couple years.  I have to say that I'm glad I get to be poor with the husband!  I'm glad that I get to learn to budget with Derek and learn new things every day with him that help us become closer.  

A couple days ago, as we were refinishing our end tables for our bedroom, Derek knocked over a can of paint.  The paint got all over the carpet and I was really upset!  Derek tried to help, though I knew if he did, he might have made it worse.  He felt so bad as he watched me clean it up.  I knew that I would be able to clean it up with a little dish soap and warm water...I was just frustrated that I had to spend 20 minutes doing so...although, a few days later I was laughing about it and I came to the realization that I'm so glad I married someone imperfect, who makes mistakes...I make mistakes too.  It is so nice knowing that Derek and I can make mistakes together, yet grow together as well.