We blessed our darling Charlie today. Mike said Charlie was trying to sit up the whole time during the blessing. Mike almost cracked up, but kept it under control and the blessing short. We admit Chuck's a little big for getting his blessing. But due to procrastination, I mean, RSV season, we decided now was the best time. It was a gorgeous day. We so loved having family around and missed those who couldn't be here.

We conducted our traditional Shake Test at Bear Lake this past weekend. We are fatter. Still. The results are here.

And the winner is . . .

On Saturday, Mike and I celebrated ten years from the day we met. My brother said, pointing to a picture of him and his friends, "That's Mike, he's awesome! You should marry him." I trusted Joey's opinion, so I said, "Okay." That night (I think) I went to a fireside with Joey and some friends. I saw Mike and said, "Hi. You're Mike." Then we started talking...

What a good decade. For me, the day started with sleeping in, one of my favorite gifts. For Mike, the day started when the girls got up. He cleaned house, fed kids, and also found time to put together a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers and a poem for me -- which I found when I finally woke up. What a good man. We farmed the kids out to various babysitters and caught a play and dinner. And we played "Remember When" for hours.


Remember when . . .

Mom: Ellie! Do you want to come have some sandwiches? Peanut Butter and Honey!

Ellie: Not yet! I'm still making a mess!

Here's the joke Chloe shared with me the other day:

Chloe: Why did the hippopotamus slide down the slide?

Me: I don't know. Why?

Chloe: To crush the bird. (pause) Because, you see . . .

(And she proceeded to explain what the mass and velocity of a hippo going down a slide would do to a bird perched at the bottom. Such a tender-hearted girl.)