We're a team

I never really write posts about how awesome my husband is, I actually don't write about him a lot at all.  I am just feeling overwhelmed with all of the blessings in my life, my husband, my kids, our situation, I just have to let it out! 

Just to prefeace this post.  We are not perfect, we fight.  We get angry.  Sometimes we go to bed mad, sometimes we leave the house mad.  But at the end of the day, we are still best friends and we both know that the other one always comes first.  I don't at all want to come across like my life is perfect, or even close.  I have a messy house (sorry Ashley!), I am sometimes (probably more often than not) a ditz (just lost my wallet, ugh).  I sometimes say things to my husband that I shouldn't (sorry babe, working on it!), and my kids aren't always great.  Working on that too! 

Anyway, I feel overwhelmed with God's goodness today and thought I would share.  I love my boys. They are strong and healthy and loving and funny.  Such a blessing even when I am hairbrained and not the nicest mother.  I love my husband.  God made him for me.  (I mostly know that because no one really knows how to handle me...)  He is a good strong man.  He gives me freedom, as much as I need within our financial boundries.  He doesn't stiffle me but keeps me in control.  When I have a million ideas of what I want to do in life, like one day be an astronaut and the next a hair stylist (little exaggerated, but kinda not, hehe).  He keeps me grounded.  He is my reality. 

We are a team together.  Sometimes I feel a little bad because I am not the perfect wife.  I don't handle all of the household duties by myself.  My house isn't always clean and I ask him to do the dishes every once in a while.  Then I realize, I am not a martyr.  He is my partner, not my master.  And granted, I know most of the house responsibilities fall on me, for better or worse, but he is happy to help.  He tells me that my sanity (occasionally touch and go) is more important than a perfect house or dishes done.  Today he wasn't feeling well, but I was also exhausted, Eli is cutting teeth again, I got Tae off to school, he has Eli at home.  Then we both took a nap.  He got up with Eli and got Tae from school.  He made Tae lunch as I made Lavar breakfast.  It was such a team effort to get through this morning.  I just love that. 

Anyway, that is about enough.  No one will ever know how awesome my husband is but me, and that is okay.  I guess I just feel like sometimes I have to explain him because he is big and black and scary and some people think that the only thing he can talk about is basketball.  But he is actually really funny.And really smart.  I wish people would give him more of a chance, you might find out how cool he really is! 

Just thought I would share a bit because I am so overwhelmed with my blessings today.  Thank you Lord!

Fête des Lumières

This was a highlight date night for me.  I think Lavar too.  Every year in Lyon they have what is called the Fête des Lumières.  It is pretty huge and aparently millions of people go every year.  It is a place where light techies and students studying that kind of stuff can go to show their stuff.  It was so cool.  We are only 45 minutes from Lyon, but one of our French friends advised us that it would be wise to take the train because of how packed it gets there.  Lavar didn't like that idea too much, he likes to be in more control of situations with our car, but I convinced him, thinking the train would be fun!  Not only was it fun, it was completely needed.  Lavar did indeed later say, 'you were right.'  And I cherished it. 

Telling me he was going to steal my goves. I don't think so.

Still love him!

 We started off the evening dropping off our boys at our friends house who, wait for it, watched them overnight!!!  Then we headed out to the train station.  It was C.O.L.D.  I offered Lavar a pair of gloves and he said he was fine that he would put his hand in his pocket.  Then I said "what if I want to hold your hand?"  He then replied "I'll hold it in my pocket."  Well, not to gloat or anything, but his hands were freezing and once again, I was right.  This night was lookin' good for momma!  (I do love my husband, and was sad that he was cold, but he should have listened to me. haha).  We started our night at a steak house.  Nice because it is kinda American.  It was in the center of a main shopping area in Lyon.  It was lovely.  I found a STARBUCKS!  Then we headed out.  I tried to take pictures, but the camera I was using wasn't all the great at night pictures.  Or opperater error, who knows.

Lighted birds

Waiting for dinner

Yep, Starbucks!

 Starbucks is a must have in a country where the coffee is basically shots of espresso.  Lavar didn't care so much, but he took the photo.  And he kept not getting Starbucks in the picture, so I was standing there for a good 5 to 10 minutes.  I know the French were thinking 'stupid american' on that one for sure.

This was supposed to be a face that you could see with the light in the steam.  not so much

 The lights were mostly pretty but seriously, nothing all that spectacular.  There were lines waiting to get into certain things, but we didn't wait...  The regular shows on the street was good enough for us.

More bird lights

Some 'street lamps'

something on the wall...

This one was kinda cool, they used a statue in the center and the horses all had green eyes.  The lights came on and went off.  It was neat.

Just in case you needed to know.

Man, it's blurry.  But a ton of people.

He looks huge! haha  He really isn't that scary, I promise.  Even though I am sure he would like you to think so.

lovey dovey

I'm trying to be hard core too... not so much

silly boy

Overall, the night was awesome.  Just us, train ride into the city, beautiful lights, just us, starbucks coffee, just us, getting out of the house, did I mention it was just us?  lol, all you moms out there understand what I'm sayin'.  I love my boys, but momma needs breaks every now and then!  Thank you to our friends who watched the boys!  We actually have another date night tonight!  A lot more simple, just dinner, but much needed.  Oh and to all my French friends, I would definitely suggest not taking the kiddos.  I did see strollers and the like there, but it was freezing and it just doesn't seem like it would be nearly as fun if you had to be worrying about the kids and such.  Just FYI.  But date night, awesome!

❤Happy Anniversary❤

Today makes 3 years I have been married to my wonderful husband.  I love him still, three years later.  I know, I know three years is not all that incredible, but I'm of the thought process of taking one day at a time, and I want to celebrate each year that we make it!  Marriage is hard, and I think that people should get awards for making it work.  Specially us :).  The odds have been against us in the past, two different races, cultures, etc.  But we are making it work and constantly adjusting.  

Little collage I put together of our day

Here are my thoughts today.  Most of the hard times in our marriage have been because of my expectations I have of my husband.  I expect him to pay more attention to me.  I expect him to thank me after dinner and be excited to go out and do things.  The reality is: he is different than me.  Not better or worse, but difference.  When I realized that the only person I can change in our relationship is me and that I indeed did need a little work, it helped us tremendously.  When I take a look at myself and think about how I can treat him better, how I can serve him more, and what I can do to help him achieve his goals, we are both helped.  Then in return, he wants to treat me better, listen to me more, and be better for me.  It is a win-win situation.  So that is my goal today.  If I am being honest, it is not always easy.  Sometimes I want to him to change to make me happier.  But it isn't just about me.  It is about us and making it work.  Luckily, we have a lifetime to practice!  

Here are our beautiful wedding invitations:

Custom Invitations done by The Pomegranate Basket

Tonight we will celebrate with dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (we have a gift card) and maybe a movie.  No kiddos involved!!  The last time we were at the Cheesecake Factory was on our honeymoon!  Here's to us!

Lavar Avion Simmons, I love you more today than I did three years ago.  I had no idea the adventures ahead of us, but I can't tell you how thankful I am we took it.  I can't imagine my life without you.  I am so thankful for the man that you are and the man that you are constantly working to become.  You are an excellent husband and father and I am so blessed.  I said when I married you that I would never have to worry and that I would always be taken care of.  I thought I knew it then, but I know it more today than ever.  Everything you do, you are always thinking about me and the boys first.  Some people go their whole lives without experiencing the love that we share.  Thank you baby.  I love you and look forward to many years to come.