One Year Ago…

Just one year ago we were in Park City for the weekend, for our honeymoon, and I had the flu, then passed it to Nathan. Boy am I glad this year I don’t have it!!

Just the other day Nathan told me I better not get it, and I sure was hoping that it wasn’t going to come.

We have now celebrated our year Anniversary, it was great. Nathan spoiled me with a wonderful Sushi dinner, I almost threw up because I took too big of a bite and the texture was slimy. Really besides that it was really good. Upon our arrival to Koyotos as we got seated I saw a beautiful rose on our table then realized it had a note in it, and it was a cute simple note from Nathan. He had arranged to take the Flower there and get it to our table while I was teaching a swim lesson just before dinner. It was a great surprise.

In the morning I spoiled him with yummy Crepes for breakfast, and half of his gift. He had his eyes on some Sambas (soccer shoes for those who didn’t know like me), they just happened to be on Sale, so I was happy to get them for him. He bought me two tennis rackets, well one for me and one for him. My reaction to the rackets probably was not what it should have been. I just have always hated tennis due to my lack of coordination, and my mom and grandparents being amazing players. Though its not my forte we still had fun playing together after dinner. We both sucked, and it was fun.

To continue our tennis experience we went again on Friday in midday in the blistering heat. It was fun. I hid in the shade, while I made Nathan be on the side with direct sun. We hit the ball around, no one really winning but just laughing and having fun. These times are just the greatest. Neither of us are pro at it, and we can learn together. This is the way games should be played, but with us, that hardly happens.

We have had a great weekend together. Spent a lot of time together, more than usual. Today I got a little annoyed because I had been with him so much and I am not used to it, but I still enjoy it. I took the weekend off work thinking we’d go somewhere fun, but we’ve had a great time here. And not to mention his soccer team Something United (that is there name, I didn’t forget), Won for the season. They played two games straight today, and they did so well!! I am so proud of their whole team. Nathan gets a Championship T-Shirt from winning.

I am so glad to have these times with my husband to build great memories and to keep close to him, and it will help us be stronger even in the harder days. I love him so much. He is such a hard worker, and works really hard at xbox, one day he will beat Robert. :)

~Linn

Journals

Over the years I have kept Journals and written frequently, not much about anything specific. Usually wrote about boys I was dating, decisions about school, family things. After going back and reading them, they are pretty funny to read, not going to lie. I also had terrible handwriting.

After some events today, I have decided to keep a Gratitude Journal, now when I write I will think of specific things that have been going well, to remember those that are special to me, and to remember all the blessings that I am given.

To start off, I have decided to write a list of a few things that I am grateful for. I want you all to think on the last time you sent someone special a Thank You card, or let them know how much to appreciate them. I used to write cards all the time but have since become lost in my daily duties. So my new Summer Goal is to frequently thank those I am thankful for, and to be more optimistic and happy about each situation.

Today’s List:

• I am grateful for Nathan, this week he has been sick so I’ve been able to take care of him, but even though he’s been sick he has been home each day and has helped me with things on my to do list, he did laundry and the dishes, and helped clean the apartment while I was too busy to do them. Thank you babe, for helping me out even though you’ve been under the weather.
• I am grateful for my Mom, she is a great example to me, she serves so much, and is always looking for opportunities to do something for someone else. That is a trait I wish I could carry on to my own children one day. She loves unconditionally and is so supportive of my dad with his busy work schedule, as well as all of us kids, and the decisions we each make. Thank you Mom for being there for me all the time.
• I am grateful for DeAnne, my amazing mother-in-law. She has truly opened her arms to me and really welcomed me into the Sweeney Family. She is also a great example of service, she does so much for everyone. After spending a week with her in Florida, she is so patient with the grandkids, as well as all their kids. She is so loving and supportive of every decision they make. Thank you DeAnne for loving me, supporting Nathan and I, and welcoming me into the family.
• I am grateful for the Utah weather, I know what your thinking I am crazy. If it weren’t for the annoying Utah weather that can never make it’s mind I wouldn’t appreciate the beautiful summers that we do get, when it actually is warm, and the amazing weather of Florida while we get to spend time there. If we didn’t have the snow, I don’t know if I’d love summer as much as I do. Thank you crazy weather for helping me love the warmth and summer more.
• I am grateful for Water. Over the years we have had a great relationship. I’ve been a swimmer, a swim coach, a swim instructor, a water aerobics instructor, a life guard, as well as a Head Life Guard. I have had many jobs with water, if we didn’t have pools and such a demand to learn to swim I would not have the amazing opportunity to share my ability to know how to swim. I would not be able to support my family, as well as support my body. Our bodies have so much water in them, and we need to drink a lot of water. I am so grateful for the Job I have because of water, but also the health I have with the amount of water I drink and the time I can spend swimming.

These are a few simple things that I am thinking of today. I am grateful for all of you. Thank you for all being examples and helping me to become a better person. I have so much room to improve, so thank you all for being patient and loving me. I am excited for this summer. It will be a wonderful summer!

~Linn

Kitchen Attempt #1

In our small apartment there is not much organizing we can do, and not too much storage either. We are learning to be creative with how we are organizing everything, it’s fun. We have two cabinets that we can put pots, pans, cutting boards, and other containers, so we have decided to have one for our rectangle things, and the other is for circular. It’s working well for us, our things are stacking better, and we are able to fit more in the cabinets. I love it, and Nathan knows where everything is too.

Our dishwasher is me, mostly, so it makes it hard to have the dished caught up all the time. But it is getting a bit easier with our organization, and that I am able to be home a little more so I have more time to keep up on the cleaningand do projects like this one. 

Before…                                      After..

Since I have done this project our kitchen feels a lot more clean, and is staying.

~linnley

Projects

 

It is that glorious time of the year, that my favorite seasons are coming about, the sun is shining more, flowers are starting to come up, and we get to look forward to planting a garden. There are so many joys to having Spring and Summer as a part of our year, and I am so grateful to have these wonderful warm seasons to look forward to each year.

I am extra excited this year because we have applied to get our own garden plot at our apartments, and I have volunteered to help them divide them and get them ready to plant. I have never been one to enjoy planting with my parents, but there is something so special about it being yours, and to be able to share it with Nathan is so exciting.

As I am still trying to add things to my bucket list, I have decided to do a projects list. These are going to be things that I need or even just want to do to prepare for the wonderful seasons ahead. Each week, or maybe twice a week I will fulfill a project, and blog it. (My sister in law Jessica is so good at this and gets her adorable children to help, in which I have taken the idea from her and getting ready for spring and summer). This will give me something to do in my spare time, and will help me better organize my home, and to use the things I do already own and know where everything is.

I look forward to starting this week. Stay tuned for details on the new projects for 2010.

 

~Linnley

Crafts??

I've been trying to discover my creative side, especially when I worked at Emerson Elem. School, I did a lot of crafts with the kids. I just have not been able to accomplish a project that worked. When KC or Mackenzie or even the boys would show me up always. It was embarrassing, and rather discouraging. I have quit (not because I could do the crafts, but other reasons) and now waiting to start my new job, I have time on my hands and I have made some fun things.

On Saturday I got a final wedding gift from Pampered Chef, it was a cookie press, and I was just so excited to make some spritz cookies. So, Sunday afternoon I made some Spritz Cookies, chocolate and regular. Nathan actually enjoyed them quite a bit! I was excited.

After finishing the cookies we decided to take some around to our neighbors, we don't have much to take them in, so I put them in sandwich bags, but luckily they turned out pretty cute! I put a few cookies in each bag, with cinnamon hearts, as well as some fruit sours, and to top it off I tied a pink ribbon around them to add a little more valentines twist.

My creative days are not totally over yet. Today I decided I wanted to make my valentines cards for my family, and for Nathan. I found myself at Roberts Crafts today, and it was all so overwhelming. So many pretty things, and hard to pick the things to make cards out of. I called my mom to get a little help of how to pick, and just to talk to her. It was so great to get her help, and just to talk to her too.

After an overwhelming trip to Roberts Craft's I was able to make a decision, and make two cards to start off with. I am rather excited at how well they turned out.

I am so thrilled at how well they turned out, and am looking forward to making more, and hopefully, getting a hang of the whole crafty creative side of things. I am so so excited to show Nathan and to see what he thinks.

A word to everone, crafty or not, there is some spark in everyone, but for some of us it may be a bit of work, but it's there promise. If I could make something like this, then anyone could make something.

~Linn

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2010, it is time to look forward to a new year, a time for more adventures, laughter, fun, as well as a time to learn, grow, and love. I am excited to start this new year with Nathan, and that we are able to start traditions, goals, and help one another improve.

It wasn't until this week did I get to understand the value of having a spouse to help me figure out what should be my new year's resolutions, and the areas of my life that are important that I need to work on, and to have his support and love at this time.

I am excited to help him, to drag him to the gym with me a few times a week, and to remind each other what we should be doing, not that it is going to be hard, but it will be fun. Nathan is a good hard worker, but also loves his play. It's been a great break for him to play Xbox everynight with his brothers, though it's not always been enjoyable for me, it has been nice to keep him busy and preoccupied with it, rather than pestering me ;)..

I want to wish everyone a happy new year from Nathan and I. I hope that it will be as fun of a year as it will be for us.

Happy New Year.

~Linn Sweeney

Snow Day

All this snow has covered our homes, our cars, as well at the roads. Traveling in the slick roads has not been fun, but sure has been interesting. After a long day of work for both Nathan and I, we were able to relax at home and stay out of the cold snow. I was excited to be home and rest, but Nathan must have had too much sugar or something because he was bouncing off the walls saying all sorts of crazy stuff trying to be annoying.

Wanting to take a nap or just read, I sat on the couch with Nathan, but that didn't last long. With all the snow we had recieved he wanted to go sledding. I've not been the biggest fan of sledding, tubing is fun that is different, and being in the snow when you actually have snow clothes is more fun than jeans and sweats getting wet. After much asking, I gave in at we took our green and blue saucers out in the snow to sled down the hill next to our apartment.

It was getting a little dark out, but we were still able to see pretty well. We weren't the only ones out in the snow, a couple of kids and their dads were out sledding with them. It was rather funny to watch. As a two kids were walking up the hill another kid procceded to go down on their sled taking out one of the others, now if that was me I'd be laughing, I actually was when I saw it. Much to our dismay he started to cry, which was surprising because he was probably 10 years old, once he got up the hill after he finished being a baby, he told his dad "Sledding is more dangerous than it is fun." I thought it was funny, only because it is true, every time I've gone I've gotten hurt or someone I was with has.

We went down the hill a couple of times, on our bums, and on our stomachs, then we discovered a jump that had been made last time it snowed. Nathan went off the jump and loved it, so I ran in grabbed the camera and tried taking a picture of him going off, I kept missing him, so he had to keep walking up the hill. He was getting tired and complaining but that's when I thought it was funny was when he had to keep walking up the hill. He got a picture of me going down, I do have to say that jump was pretty good, I had a lot of fun going down it. Though your hands get cold, your bum starts to freeze, it's quite fun being able to sled for a few minutes just right outside our apartment.

Being a recently married couple is fun, we get to enjoy things with each other and when we want to, for the most part, but we can come back in warm up and have some soup when we are ready. The adventures we get to have are great, and I look forward to many more.

~Linn Sweeney