You're no longer number one

top: old navy   skirt: target   sandals: ?   necklace: gift (groopdealz)

Can we say fourth of July outfit?  Too patriotic looking perhaps? 

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned before Chris' extreme amount of love for our dog Molly.  Now I certainly love Molly and give her quite a lot of attention.  But it can't compare to Chris. 

Sometimes it's almost disturbing how much he treats her like a person.  Playing hide and seek, carrying her around, talking to her like a person.  
The other day I overheard Chris talking to Molly, telling her that once our baby comes she will no longer be number one around here. (Let's just ignore the fact that he was saying that Molly was number one and not me). 
I'm glad he knows that our baby girl will get moved ahead of Molly, as I used to be a little concerned. 

Doesn't everyone carry around their 50 pound dog like this? 

Thankfully Molly is so good around other babies and kids, but I am a little worried how she'll handle our new addition! 
Oh and I've never entered any kind of style or fashion contest until yesterday when I found one that's all about finding good deals, which I think I'm pretty good at. I'm sure you want to help me win! Vote here! 
Thank you!

Happy Hour

 
tee: old navy    jeans: ross maternity    vest: loft

I know I've written a similar post before, but here's yet another example that Chris and I may as well be in our sixties. 
When we went away to Wisconsin a few weekends ago we looked up restaurants that had happy hours.  I think for a normal couple in their late 20's, early 30's this would be a happy hour that started around 9 or 10 o'clock. 
Not for us though.  We went to a 4 - 6 happy hour and were the first to arrive.  Slightly embarrassing, we were followed by couple after couple in their sixties at the youngest.  
Proof.   

There were even two oxygen tanks attending.  We definitely had anyone beat by at least thirty years.   
At least the fact that we like to be home early, eat early and avoid those young, rowdy crowds will only prepare us more for our baby.  Speaking of baby preparation, rather than going to Friday night happy hour we will be going to a childbirth class.  They told us to bring pillows and blankets and I fear having to mimic labor positions and laughing awkwardly as if I'm too immature to birth a baby.   Hopefully it doesn't scare me too much either.  
Hope you have a good weekend!

To my husband

Let's just start out by saying that it's time I give my husband some major credit.  

December was a rougher month in the Vale household and he definitely stepped it up.  I was pretty much on bed rest for four weeks and was incapable of cleaning, cooking, getting food, all of it.  And then I'm going to add the next two weeks in there too, which weren't doctor ordered but still happened due to nauseousness and tiredness.

He even told me that he had no idea how much work I did around the house, which let's just hope he doesn't forget that now that I can do things.  Let's be honest, if he does - I will remind him.

I thought I would save this gift until Valentine's Day but decided it needed to be a "thank you for everything you've done the last month and a half" gift instead.

Enter Datevitation.

This company allows you to create custom made coupon books with over 200 date ideas to choose from.  While it would be a perfect Valentine's Day gift, you could give it for any occasion.  I loved this company even more after I watched the video of the owner proposing to his girlfriend.

Being very indecisive it took me forever to choose what 5 coupons I'd make for Chris.  I may have looked through all 200 of them.  I'll tell you ones that I didn't choose, although Chris probably wishes I did:

A coupon for skydiving together. 

Flight lessons.  

Being the cheaper and less adventurous type, I went with some of the safer versions like, 

I even offered to play chess.  See? I really really love him.

I'm glad I could add the "within reason" to that one. 

But if you are the adventurous type, there are quite a few exciting options, as well as some more "adult" ones too.  Just don't tell me you picked them because Chris would probably be jealous I didn't. 

Today you have the chance to win one of your own coupon books to customize and give to someone you love!  Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AND I get to share with you a code to take $5 off any order, which means your coupon book would be only $15!  Just use code: lauren

High Five for Friday

 shirt & skirt: jcpenny  belt: target  shoes: dsw

 1. This skirt is in desperate need of some ironing.  I really only use my iron when I am making a project, but should probably take it out more often.  The intended pleats of this skirt are pretty impossible to find. 

2.  One of my students just told me last week that his last name is not spelled Elliot but is spelled Elliott with two t's.  I've been spelling it wrong on everything the entire year, and he decides that I should know when we have three weeks left of school.  

3.  I plan on making this popcorn this weekend as a thank you to my parent volunteers.
And I look forward to many taste tests along the way.

Cinnabon Popcorn


4. Tonight is open house at my school.  Today I had the students write a little thank you flower to their parents for something they've done throughout the year.

Apparently I've failed to teach my students how to spell. 

And it appears that one of my students had a life crisis this year without me knowing it.

5.  Monday was our 7 year anniversary and I woke up to these beautiful flowers and a card titled The best 7 years of my life.  

If I knew how to use twitter I believe I might write something like #luckywife

One summer goal - figure out twitter.  

High Five for Friday    5 Days 5 Ways

Happy Anniversary

On May 14, 2005 my dad walked my 20 year old self down the aisle to marry you.  

My first boyfriend and my best friend.    

Sometimes I think the last seven years have flown by and others I can't even remember life without being married to you.  

The other day I was looking through our wedding scrapbook and found our wedding vows written out.  While we've both made mistakes and have had to ask for forgiveness many times, I'm so thankful that we have held true to our promises to each other.   God has blessed our marriage, year after year, for the last seven years.  

I know without a doubt we've made each other better people.  

We balance each other out in so many ways, 

and have grown and changed so much in the last seven years.   

Our first year of marriage seems like so long ago.  Living in our 700 square foot duplex and both being full time college students.  While marriage took some adjusting to, our life together was pretty easy and wonderful.

This last year has been by far the most challenging year we have faced.  God has broken us and drawn us closer to Him and closer to each other.  Even though this year has been incredibly tough, I wouldn't trade it.  We've become a different, stronger and closer couple.  

I couldn't ask for a better man to go through life with and daily thank the Lord for giving you to me.  

Whatever is ahead for us I know we will spend it loving each other and growing together.  

I love you Christopher Jason Vale. 

Happy 7 year anniversary! 

Love, 

Mingle Monday

Birthday Boys

dress: thrifted  belt: target  cardigan: old navy  flats: kohls

This dress is the first item of clothing I can say I've actually "thrifted." 

I was probably a little too proud of myself.  

May 5th and 7th are the birthdays of my two favorite boys. 

Chris - I couldn't ask for a happier, more positive, encouraging and loving husband, who listens to me and makes me feel loved constantly.  I am one lucky woman to be married to you.  

Tavis -  I am so lucky to be an aunt to the cutest, most loving, funny and sweet boy.  I knew I would love you but had no idea that I could love you this much!   I wish more than anything that you lived closer so I could see you all the time.  I can't wait to give you the biggest hug on Wednesday!   

 Happy birthday to my two favorite boys!

I love you both SO much!

a confused husband

Sometimes I think my husband is confused about my blog.  

He is confused that I know about other bloggers and talk about them like they are my friends. 

He is confused because he thinks that soon I could easily have 30,000 followers.  

He also fails to remember sometimes that I have a blog and rarely reads it (which really is okay with me).

Last night at my parent's house, my sister, Chris and I were talking about my blog and my sister asked Chris if he reads it.  

After he said that he doesn't look at it often and sometimes forgets I have a blog, I told him it's a good thing because I write about him at least once a week.  I told him I even had a whole day a week dedicated to things that annoy me about him. 

  So maybe he should start reading it more often.  

Speaking of annoying, I am incredibly easily annoyed.  Definitely makes the list of my personality flaws. Chris does a lot of things that annoy me, like pick at his teeth, and chew really loudly. 

 If you ask Chris what annoys him about me, he would say that I have so many things that annoy me.

Here's a picture of Chris picking his teeth.  

Now I know I'm making a ridiculous face, but mine is intentional.  I was trying to get Travis to make our monkey face.  

Here's the monkey face. 

and Chris is still picking his teeth. 

While there are some things that annoy me about him, no doubt in my mind that I am an incredibly lucky woman to be married to him! His positive qualities FAR outweigh his annoying habits.

More about why I love Chris and our marriage.   

and I figured I should end with a more attractive picture of both of us. 

Happy Tuesday!

Mingle Monday