Wow, it has been a long time since I posted anything. Now I have to try to remember what has happened in the last few months...

In October I went to Hawaii to see Shawn for a few days. Four, to be exact. That is a hard trip to make for four days, but it was worth it. We both needed a break from our daily lives, and more importantly, time together.

One thing I was able to do on this trip was go snorkeling for the first time. It was so amazing. I think it was by far the most relaxing recreational activity I have ever done. Shawn told me you kind of forget where you are at because you become so mesmerized by everything. I would agree with that description. I hope we get to go again!

Shawn will be home in four days!!! I am starting to get nervous, which always happens before he come into town. I think it's kind of cute that after two (almost three) years of this, we still get nervous to see each other.

Ellie was a tiger for Halloween this year. She was such a cute little tiger. She is getting so big! I miss the days when she was a little baby and wanted to cuddle all the time. Now she only wants to cuddle when she is sick! She is a really good kid. Some days, I could sell her to the gypsies though!!! I know it is just a part of growing up, learning what she can and can not get away with. She has such an attitude sometimes! She likes to yell at me and say rude things to me. She gets this tone in her voice that makes my skin crawl. I try really hard not to let her attitude get to me, but sometimes I get too frustrated. The new thing I am telling myself is that she is a little person, figuring out how a big world works. I need to explain to her (over and over again) how it works. As smart as she is, she is still a kid...

She is really excited for Shawn to come home. She talks to him just about every night she is home. She really does love him, which I am grateful for because I thought it would be hard for them to forge a relationship given the situation. But without any pushing from me one way or the other, they have bonded, even over the distance.

I have always just let Ellie figure out her own relationships with her father and Shawn. I decided, given my own relationships with my father and step-dad, that forcing her to "love" Shawn would not allow them to create any real lasting bond and sharing my negative opinions of her father will only make me look petty in the future. There may come a day when she hates Shawn because he is not her father. We will cross that bridge when we come to it. I trust Shawn will handle the situation with the same amount of respect for Ellie that he has always shown. For now, I am just happy knowing that Shawn, Ellie and I love each other very much.

That is really all... I am incredibly grateful for my life. The past few years have been full of happines, and they seem to get better and better. Shawn and I are closer than ever, which is difficult to manage sometimes with him so far away. Ellie is a smart, healthy little girl who is independent and full of love. We have hit some bumps, but have come out of the situation just fine. I can't begin to count all our blessings, or express my gratitude for all we have received. I am not sure why Shawn and I have been so lucky, why things seem to just "fall into place" for us, but I am grateful beyond measure.

It is time for me to get a move on cleaning this house and wrapping the rest of the presents... Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!!!

-Nic

Ellie's Fourth Birthday

The birthday princess!

Grandma Jamie and cousin Hayden

Nic and I with Damien and Gabriel

Presents galore!

Update

I haven't written anything in a while... I am pretty bad at updating this thing!

Shawn is home from deployment, but still in Hawaii. We have less than eight months left before he is home with Ellie and me in Salt Lake City!!! We are getting pretty anxious now and the reality is starting to set in. We are excited to finally be together as a family.

Ellie turned four last week. My baby girl is not a baby anymore! She is a big girl! I look through pictures of her and I can't help but feel like time is flying way too fast. Yesterday I was at my cousin's wedding, and I was thinking about when we were kids. Now she was getting married and starting a family of her own. It made me think that one day I will be sitting there watching my own daughter dance at her own wedding. It was kind of a bittersweet revelation. I can not wait to see what the future holds, but it is crazy to think how fast the past four years have gone. If the rest of our years go this fast, I better not blink.

More to come later, I promise.
-Nic

Kids Say The Darndest Things...

Today Ellie and I had the following conversation:

Ellie: "Momma, does Daddy Shawn kiss you?"
Me: "Yes, because he is my husband."
Ellie: "Does he pick you up?"
Me: "What do you mean, like in his car?"
Ellie: "No when you get to Hawaii. Does he pick you up?"
Me: "Do you mean does he pick me up off my feet like I pick you up?"
Ellie: "Yeah!"
Me: [chuckling] "Sometimes, why?"
Ellie: "Does he spin you around?"
Me: [shocked] "What? I don't think so. Why are you asking this?"
Ellie: "Because when I get big like you I want Chase (her "husband" from daycare) to kiss me and pick me up and spin me around."
Me: [laughing] "Oh, I see. Should I tell Daddy Shawn that he needs to pick me up and spin me around when he kisses me?"
Ellie: [laughing] Yeah!
Me: "Ok, well I am going to tell him you told me that, ok?"
Ellie: [mortified] "NO!!"

It was the funniest thing EVER!

Home Sweet Home

I have been living in my new apartment in Sugarhouse for a week now. I haven't finished unpacking yet, but I have my bathroom almost t together. I guess I started with the smallest room first.














Ellie is having a blast here, especially since our cousins live right next door. My cousin Kate has two boys- Simon, who is 7, and Jack, who is 4. They are such good boys and Ellie thinks they are so much fun. I think this summer is going to be great! Today, Ellie and Jack walked around catching bugs. My three year old was less grossed out by them than I am! Simon is teaching Ellie how to ride a scooter.




















Shawn is on deployment. We got to talk a little bit a few days ago while he was in Hong Kong (I think that was the port he was in). Now we have a month until we will talk to each other again. Now it is just sporadic emails. Some days are harder than others. Some days are easy peasy... Some days are down right unbearable. But we are still doing this. Every day. And we are closer now than we have ever been. Each day brings a new chance to connect, to grow together. Despite the distance.

Well, that is all for now. I will write more once I have time... and more pictures!

I have been working on a new CD for Shawn today and realized as much as Shawn and I have in common, I know that he is really going to hate my music. I listen to way too much pop music.

Still, finding songs that remind me of Shawn and arranging them on a CD is not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon/evening. I am sure that he will like it simply because I made it for him. But it is a strange mix- there is a Tiesto song, a Foreigner song, a few Chris Brown songs, Dave Matthews Band, Yellowcard... I am kinda glad that he will be underway the first time he listens to it! That way I don't have see his reaction.

I miss Shawn a lot. I can't wait to be done. Almost there...

My Husband At His Finest...

... or not... but this shit makes me laugh really really hard! So enjoy. Oh and by the way... he says it is PG-13 and then proceeds to curse like a sailor (pun intended, sorry...)






Oh, and PS... he was slightly intoxicated...

Aquarius and Leo (Nicole and Shawn)

I found this online and liked it so much I thought I would post it here.

When Leo and Aquarius join together in a love match, the merging of Aquarian foresight and Leo creativity causes people to take notice. This partnership is energetic and unstoppable, and although occasional competitions may occur, there is never a dull moment for these two. Their Signs are congenial and have a good relationship. Both tend to be idealistic and highly motivated. Both are attracted to all things novel, and are thrill-seekers; they may even occasionally turn life into a giant game of Truth or Dare.

Many Leo-Aquarius relationships thrive on unending mutual admiration. Leo admires the individualism, vision and creative characteristics of Aquarius. In turn, Aquarius admires the Lion's zeal, charm and dignity -- Aquarians always have new ideas, but they don't always have the drive to make those ideas real as Leo does. Both Signs pride themselves on their independence, but conflicts can arise if Leo seems too demanding or Aquarius seems too aloof. Both partners should respect differences of perspective in the other. Leo can be too dramatic for Aquarius' taste, but Aquarius in turn could be too unsteady for their Leo counterpart. If they communicate to one another the value of the relationship, everything will be okay.

Leo is ruled by The Sun and Aquarius is ruled by the Planets Saturn and Uranus. These three Planets form a sort of cycle indicative of the Leo-Aquarius relationship and their ability to come together to create new institutions. Uranus is the Planet of new ideas and creativity; it's from this Planet that Aquarius gets its great vision. Then The Sun gives life and an identity to their collective ideas. Finally Saturn keeps the process going to completion, following up after Uranus's inspiration has been exhausted and The Sun's energy moves on to new things.

Leo is a Fire Sign and Aquarius is an Air Sign. Air fuels Fire and keeps it going; Aquarius can not only keep pace with the motion and fireball of energy that is Leo, but can add special effects. They can soar to astounding heights together. Aquarius is able to use intellect to inspire Leo's ambition and feed them new ideas to put into practice -- they are very stimulating to Leo. Together the two feed a process of mutual personal growth and development. Both Signs have a multitude of interests, and Leo's desire to be original leaves them more than happy to carry out the ideas of the more withdrawn Aquarius.

Leo and Aquarius are both Fixed Signs. Leo gives Aquarius the courage to charge ahead and take action, rather than just sitting in the lab formulating ideas. Aquarius's originality can impress Leo, as can their unique vision. They are both loyal and extremely devoted to one another, and when they understand that they don't necessarily need to be in charge all the time, they can succeed side by side.

What's the best aspect of the Leo-Aquarius relationship? It's their ability to create magic when they're together. Fixed Fire and Fixed Air cover all the bases -- these partners get an idea, plan how to put it into action, get the ball rolling and see it through to completion. This cycle makes theirs a love match of vision as well as practice.

Our Wedding Day

Welcome to our blog. I am going to attempt to keep this as current as possible.

Right now all I have had time to do is create this slideshow of our wedding day... (click on the little speech bubble to see the captions if interested).