SHOULD-BE-MORE-THAN-ANNUAL POTLUCK

The not-so-annual-not-so-monthly-but-should-be-one-of-those cousin potluck was tonight. It was originally going to be tomorrow, but we messaged everyone with the news that tomorrow Aubrey would be going through the temple making many of us unable to attend. Everyone graciously agreed to move it to tonight, but unfortunately, Tyler and I felt like death. We went back and forth all day on whether or not we were going to make the trip or just sleep the night away. Right up until the very last second we weren't going and then changed our minds. We were very conscious the whole night about making sure our hands were washed and not breathing on anyone (especially since Alisha was hosting and she is very pregnant). We had a lovely array of food, followed by a spot of Times Up, a game that Tyler and I completely rocked.

DEAR NOSES

This week Tyler and I have been a bit on the sick side of the street. It kind of started out on Monday and has unfortunately progressed to today. Tyler can't afford to get sick with his new job and his school starting up again and I can't really afford to either with the book, the wedding, and a huge project at work just taking shape. Despite our sickness, Stephanie came over for a much-needed hang out; I made her dinner and she brought over the movie This Means War—it was funny. Do you know what else is funny? My dear friend Stephanie has quite the obsession with Chris Pine. Tyler got home from work and we visited a bit, but boy are we in for it. As the lovely Karen Carpenter likes to say, "We've only just begun…"

STAMPED, SEALED, DELIVERED

Tonight Tyler and I had set aside time to help Aubrey stuff all of her wedding announcements and stamp the back of all of the envelopes. My mom and Aubrey have spent the last week addressing all of the envelopes by hand. A week later than our original timeline, we picked up the announcements from the printer. Tyler also picked up this stamp that I designed and then we all met up at my parents' house. We had quite the system going: Aubrey would stuff the envelopes, I would stamp them, and Tyler would walk the freshly-stamped envelope over to the window seat to dry. After the twentieth envelope, he would gather up ten and put them back into the box that Aubrey had taken them from. The announcements turned out for the most part; I am very happy with the printing of the white text on the front of the announcement, but I am very disappointed with the trim job on the back of the map. All in all, they are done and will soon be sent off. One more thing we are ALL glad to check off of our lists.

PASSPORT

I left work early today to go and meet Tyler at City Hall. It was raining and pouring (but was the old man snoring? We'll never know.) as we ran from our cars through the parking lot into the building that would award me with my token to leave the country. We remembered everything but the checkbook, so Tyler ran to the nearest post office; I waited and hurried to snap this photo before the lady at the desk came back to discover me documenting this boring office. I took my passport picture with my glasses on; that felt awesome. We then got into our cars and went our separate ways for the rest of the day. Can't wait to get that baby in the mail and have my first stamp be for Australia (Oh pinch me!).

FORTUNATELY

Oh Memorial Day, what a memorable one you'll be. Tyler had a job interview today after three long and fabulous weeks of being unemployed. He was a tad nervous, but I knew he had nothing to worry about—I mean look at how dashingly he is dressed (ain't nobody gonna turn that down). I did some things here and there waiting to see what the verdict was. Finally he walked in the door and held up a victory bag of Chinese food (that is our go-to celebratory food whenever we get a job or raise). I squealed with delight and helped him spread out our Asian feast as he gave me the details. They offered him the job on the spot and he starts this week. Oh glorious day! May, you have been too kind, but by all means, don't stop!

PRELIMINARIES

I gave my sisters the deadline of June 1 to have all of their advice done and ready to go for the book we're gifting to Aubrey and Jordan. Today, after church, Tyler and I were brainstorming ideas of what to title the book. Advice, it's to the point and I can see it being in small caps centered among a kaleidoscope of colors. The Know-It-All Book, (this one is my favorite) it's a bit snooty, but in a facetious way. Knowledge And Advice On Everything Under The Sun From Three Wise Sisters and Their Husbands, this one is pretty great too—I love a good long title—it's like a joke within a joke. I emailed my sisters to get their opinions. Sara had a great suggestion and I think it's the one that everyone is leaning towards: A Year's Worth of Sense. What do you think?

NEVER FORGET

Today was probably the closest we've come to completely failing at life. We were doing fine and dandy all day, thinking we had everything under control; by mid-afternoon I took a nap and Tyler did some homework. I woke up at 5 p.m. in the kind of groggy state where you can't remember what day it is and if it's morning or evening. I then remembered, and blurted out for Tyler to hear in the other room, that we needed to be at the temple in thirty minutes. Tyler plum forgot and I don't know how I even remembered, but we dashed to get ready and barely made it by the skin of our teeth to the Draper Temple to celebrate Kevin receiving his endownment. After this snapshot, we all went to Olive Garden to feast and met Peter there. We still are in awe that we made it—we would have been devastated if we had missed it. Congrats Kevin! The day is drawing closer that this boy will leave us for the great state of Kentucky.