Say Cheese

Before Kevin and I were sealed we had a few family photos taken. I mean if I'm going to go through all the trouble of making sure everyone is dressed in their very best and showered, I should have it documented to say the least.
I got all the photos back last week and as it turns out, those kids of mine are pretty freakin' cute.

I'm so glad I have this beautiful day captured; it just makes me so happy. The problem is now deciding which ones I love the most.

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the first year

A burst of energy settled in this household yesterday and I conquered cleaning out the storage room; mostly all the books that were stacked around the luggage they were once in. I was sorting them out to place them in the proper place on the bookshelf and I stumbled upon a journal of sorts. It only had a few pages written in it; all written during sacrament meetings during the first year of my first marriage. As I read through the journal my eyes welled up with tears. I am so happy now. A year ago I said yes to marrying Mr. Brimhall on the front porch and since then it's felt like 5 years. We settled into married life like it was fresh air we were breathing. Changes happened, decisions were made and we progressed. We grew stronger and depended more on each other. I can't think of any major fight that altered the discourse of our relationship or happiness. We decided to have a baby, a decision that terrified me. The affects and taste of pregnancy still lingered in my mind and I wasn't sure our union could handle it. Kevin reassured me that it could, that he would be there, that he would support me regardless of my mental state. It's not over, but the worst of it is, and I've never felt more stable in my life. He makes me a better person. He makes our family better. Something I wake up in the morning trying to reciprocate. I am more in love with my tall friend than I ever thought I could be. The kind of love that country music sings about and poems are written for. I am so grateful that I found him, that he found me. It has been a fantastic year, the best starting point I could have ever asked for.
Happy Anniversary Tall Friend!

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9am

 I love 9am church. I'm just going to come out and say that this hour of church is the very best. Even with young rowdy children it is far better than 1pm church. Kevin and I had a lovely weekend this past 3 days, one where the children were with there other dad and we were enjoying it. We wandered the mall. That husband of mine let me wander the mall! We don't so much go to the city anymore so when we do I get all excited. We stopped at all the favorites along the way, starting out with a fairyfetti cupcake and finishing it off at JCrew where I can spend hours.

We slept in on Saturday and then that husband of mine let me browse JCrew again! We ate sub par gnocchi at my favorite gnocchi place and I left a little disappointed. Smooshy gnocchi is never good. We came home and he tucked me in bed knowing very well that the clocks were going to change tomorrow and I would be sleepy. We arrived at church on time and I doodled all the way through sacrament meeting, except for the 20 minutes before the silly boys passed the bread and water and the darling family across from us sat as quiet and calm as could be. The 5 year old, 4 year old and 2 year old all sat for 20 minutes with their arms folded and didn't say a word or wiggle. Seriously.
I was intently studying them and watching my clock change. How is that even possible? How does the 4 year old and the 2 year old do remain in one spot for 20 minutes? I can't even do that. Then the moment the silly boys sat down the children became children and were coloring and eating fruit snacks. I'm still baffled as to how that could be done.
We attended all 3 hours of church. Yes shall I repeat that? I attended all 3 hours of church! I'm nearly becoming a regular in Sunday school. Then when Relief Society began the 2 old ladies in the back hollered at me to scoot back towards them, then made me sit between them so I could tell them all about me; even though I'm a local and grew up just up the street and they already know about my family. Nelda and LaRae were intent on getting to know me and whispering in my ear as the minutes ticked on. It was fantastic.
We spent the rest of the afternoon snacking and snuggling. Watching Friday Night Lights again and reading books in the sunshine peeking through the windows. I kept glancing at my tall husband and smiling at how content he was just to be with me on a Sunday, and how fantastic this day was. The girls arrived home and we snuggled with them as we read stories and they told us about the weekend. We tucked them in bed and as I kissed their stinky heads I smiled. This weekend was filled with nothing but ended with delight. I wish all weekends were like this.
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a little video

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Front Porch Wedding

May 28, 2011

I married Mr. Kevin Richard Brimhall on the front porch of the Tolbert's residence in front of our close families and friends on Saturday. The girls wore flowers in their hair and seersucker dresses. I had a pair of very high heels and Mr. Brimhall sported a lovely grey suit. The weather held out and it didn't rain until the party had started. But we were already having a lovely time so the weather couldn't compete. We moved it inside and continued to celebrate happiness. Our families worked hard to help us prepare all the festivities and we couldn't have done it without them. The affair wasn't perfect, it rained and rained, and Ruby's hair was dreadful. But all the people we love were there to help us celebrate our future and our happiness. We couldn't have asked for a better way to do it.

As I thought and planned and knew a wedding was to be had it made me ill. It made me physically sick to think about planning a wedding or even having one. But I couldn't elope, mostly because Micall said she would think I was pregnant. I AM NOT.  We tossed dates around, ranging from August to June and none of them eased my unsettled stomach. I wondered if it was because I was getting married, or if it was Kevin but quickly knew it was the idea that there would be a wedding. A wedding where I was supposed to walk down the aisle, and everybody would watch and it would be awkward. I had a really, really big wedding once before and right now I just wanted to be married, married to Kevin without all the charades. The moment I half haphazardly through out the date of May 28, as in 17 days away, everything felt right. I sat on the phone with my mother and talked through a simple backyard barbecue and suddenly celebrating a wedding day seemed perfect. So we scrambled around and made a list. Kevin helped me make decisions and nothing was obsessed over. There was no fretting over clothing, colors or flowers. I didn't dwell on things after I made the decision. Deb saw my vision and I saw hers and Micall executed. Yes. I had no idea Micall knew how to throw a party but she does fantastically! She should throw more, because she orchestrated the whole ordeal flawlessly.

A ring was placed on my finger 10 days prior to the wedding day with the help of Stella asking if we could keep Kevin forever. I gladly accepted. It distracts me with all the sparkle, and I adore it. We were headed to Moab for the weekend to support the World Class Athlete, Hunter when Kevin hid the ring box in the glove box. As we were all loaded up to go, a very well rehearsed Stella asked if we could finally keep Kevin forever? Ruby was screaming in the background and Stella jumped out of her car seat and begged me to open the little box inside the box because there was a sparkly ring inside! Her little face was pure excitement, and who can blame her? With Stella climbing in my lap, Ruby SCREAMING to be noticed and Kevin giggling with excitement the moment was chaotic and overwhelming. But that is our life and it is all sort of perfect. I gladly told Stella that we could keep him forever, and her response couldn't have been better. She looked out the window and said "Good, cause sharing is NOT caring and I don't want to do it anymore."
For the days leading up to the wedding Stella June was thrilled. She told everyone around her and kept asking when the strong guys were going to move the Temple to Grandma Deb's house so we could get married there forever. I just smiled at my darling three year old and chose not to explain the intricacies of divorce and temple marriages. She will understand a year from now when Kevin and I walk out of the temple together. Ruby is glued to Kevin at all times, she just wants to be near him. It was like a switch flipped with both the girls when we officially decided we were getting married they understood. They knew what that meant and their love for Kevin sky rocketed. It always amazes me at how observant kids are and how much they pick up on what is going on around them.


Kevin has moved into our house full of girls and he fits just perfectly. There are a lot more loads of laundry to do and more milk to buy but having a boy around is very nice. Everyone is adjusting better than expected and we are just delighted.
More photos are to follow as soon as I get them back and again many thanks to all of those who helped make the day fantastic, it could not have happened with out you!
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February 25, 2009

3 Years. three years. 3 YEARS.


I can't believe that we have been married 3 years. At the same moment it feels like we've been married 30 years. This year is a big an' exciting year for us, as we venture out into the real world with a college degree. Who knows where we will be this time next year, we could be anywhere. But wherever we go, whatever we will do, we will have each other. I love Trevor more than I thought I could possibly love someone. Our marriage isn't perfect, we are both still learning. Learning more patience, more understanding. Learning how to be less stubborn. But what is life without a few new tricks in it?
I love you Trev...
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