Have you ever had one of those days that when you're done getting ready you think to yourself "wow, I'm ready to go back to bed?" I'm having one of those days. Let me explain.

As you may know, I've been sick since hubby's birthday on Thursday. My weekend to say the least was uneventful. It involved a lot of couch time, honey, and a few rolls of toilet paper on the back of my couch.

So last night, even though I still wasn't up to par I convinced myself that I wanted to work today. That I could endure the day with high school teens even though I'm among the living dead just so I would have to use one of my coveted sick days (even though I have plenty).

I crawled into bed at nine and snuggled up to David (because he so wonderfully goes to bed at the same time I do even if he isn't tired just so we can be together). As I stared off at my wall I could hear myself trying to choke down air through my clogged nose, sore throat, and mucus coated tonsils I thought about how proud I was that I got everything ready for the morning before I went to bed. My lunch was made, my clothes (down to my skivvy's) were set out, my saltwater, emergen-c, and drugs were ready for me to take. I knew it was going to be a rough morning so I prepared.

I wasn't prepared for my 1am wake up however. I woke up feeling miserable. More so than the 4 days that I had already endured. I was now hacking up a lung, nasal dripping grossness, and my sore throat was raging on. I rolled over thinking, "I'll fall asleep,no biggy."

2 am "It'll happen"

3 am "Any moment now..."

Finally at 3:30 I decided to call in to our sub system and text my boss (I waited till 4). David woke up so many times to ask if I was ok in mid-cough. I felt the worst for him. His sleep I'm sure was just as bad as mine, but he still went to work today.

At 4 I rolled out of bed to try and give David a little undisturbed sleep. I put in my sub notice, texted my boss, then curled up on the couch.

What did I think about for the next two hours waiting for David to wake?

"What witty thing should I put on facebook about my sickness? "(<---I'm not big into updates, but I wanted one)

"Dear Facebook friends, Chelsey is currently unable to preform any tasks required of her because she is now among the living dead, aka undead, aka, night walkers, aka zombies. If you would like to send your regards she would appreciate it if no zombie hunters came after her as she hopes to one day return to a living state. Sincerely, The Zombie formerly known as Chelsey Lynn"

"I wonder who leaves for work at 430, that must suck?"- as I heard a car drive past

"Hmmm would my best friend be mad if I texted her a joke right now?"

"Dear Facebook friends, why must none of you be awake to listen to me whine at 4am? I thought FB ruled the world, and yet no one is here?"

This kept up until 5:45 when my work alarm goes off (don't worry I don't get up until 6:05 normally). At that point I decided it was an adequate enough time from my last dose of medicine that I could take something else. Benadryl it was, down the hatch. Followed by a reluctant piece of plain ole' bread to make sure nothing got upset. It still did..I'm sure from my IV type drip coming out of my nose...

Finally as David left at 6:45 I crawled back into our bed with puppy in tow. I got 3 hours of decent sleep.

My question is: how do mothers do it?

Off the wall I know. I whined so much in the past 24 hours. I felt, and still feel, like I can barely lift my head. I took a shower only to end up right back here on my couch. As a woman who someday wants kids I want an answer. I know that moms have days exactly like this, and yet they still work as mommy. How do you do it? I can barely take care of myself!

Anyway, I just took a shower (it took me an hour and a half to go through the whole process because i was so slow) and it is now 3:08pm. I'm fully dressed for no reason. I'm sure the hubby won't let me go anywhere. And the only thing I can think about? Going back to bed. Getting dressed was a lot of work today.

Because I'm still sick and David is still taking care of me this love-ditty will be nice, short, and of course SWEET!

Dashboard is a big deal to us. We listened to it ALL the time together in high school. In summer time we'd drive at night in the Jeep with its top of, heater cranks, practically screaming this guys stuff! When we broke up we both listened to this guys work day in and day out thinking about each other. It was the very first concert where we went together. We played some (being the key word) of his love songs at our wedding. And of course every now and again we get sentimental and rock out to his very emo love songs.

Do you and you love have music that brought you together?

And of course David had stolen my heart from day one, even if I didn't know it then.

Thursday

It's pretty simple. Week of Love Thursday was skipped for two reasons, which ironically fits with what we're discussing.

1. It was the hubby's 24th birthday yesterday. So afterwork I rushed to get a cake and a balloon and then came home to spruce up the house and get his presents out from under our bed. Then hub's came home and we celebrated.

2. I was sick. It was/is so gross! My throat feels like it's on fine and my 'noids are all swollen. Other than that I fee pretty great, a little tired I guess?

How in the world does this fit in with love?

...Simple...

I was willing to run errands and clean because hubs birthday is more important than me crawling into bed.
AND even BIGGER and WAAAY more giving/loving than what I did is what David did. He allowed me to lay on the couch with three giant blankets the rest of the evening. He cooked dinner, he waited on me, and he listened to me sob about how much I hated being sick...ON HIS BIRTHDAY! That ladies and gentlemen is true love.

"How to Love"

I put my title today in quotes because I personally believe that no one person can teach you "how to love." Having good healthy examples around you of love, taking classes, and reading books are all okay but the best way it to practice. When you practice loving that is when you will have to best chance at understanding it. Of course that is all my personal opinion. SOOOOO with that in mind I went on a hunt and google-d the word LOVE. Lemme' just say how awesome of things I found! Lucky for me, #4 from my search was WikiHow.com 's own rendition of "how to love."

Here are my most favorites from wikiHow:

"Love is both an action and a feeling. The action of love generates a blissful feeling called by the same name. When the action stops, the blissful feeling is replaced with pain. Every person is capable of great love (and its opposite, fear, which generates all painful emotions such as hate, greed and jealousy)."
            -Umm so the only thing opposite of love is pain?

Steps to loving
1. Say it
2. Empathize
3. Love unconditionally
4. Expect nothing in return
5. Realize it can be lost
        -Okay, not that I disagree with these but true love normally does this naturally, right? Sometimes you need a reminder on one or the other but a step by step classroom lecture?

"As a word, love can be found worldwide and is often used to describe compassion and/or emotional attachment. Sometimes love songs do not accurately describe love, but rather, the absence of love, hence the sad tone of some romantic songs."
                     -Love me some country "I lost my house, my dog, and my wife...."

"WARNING" <----yeah, there is a warning section on how to love!

-You must love yourself first before you can love another.
-There is always a risk of getting hurt
-Recognize that any feeling of jealousy is a clear sign of fear
-The idea of love is fueled by childhood fantasies.
-You just may find your soulmate sooner than you intended(<- how is this a warning?)
-Don't ask for love
-Do not force love


All quotes and picture taken from here.

Top 5 most Romantic places in Washington

It's all in the title baby!

I decided  to make sure that I keep with my love theme that todays Week of Love post would be on my most favorite romantic places to travel to in Washington state.

5. Washington State Ferry, WA
Hop on any one of these bad boys at sunset, grab a bottle of sparkling cider, and head to any of the many destinations it'll take you. (Hubby's input for this one)

4.Salish Lodge, Snoqualmie Falls, WA
Although we've never stayed here YET, I've heard nothing but amazing things about this place! Look out to the beautiful falls anytime of year. It'll be sure to get the romantic pumping through your body!

3. Leavenworth, Washington
How could you not love this Bulvarian getaway with all it's cute cabins and "exotic" places to chow?

2. Long Beach, Washington
Grab a bite of some of the best Calimari and stay at one of the many awesome bungalows!

1. Home Sweet Home
Let's face it, nothing compares to the ultimate getaway of sleeping in, snuggling all day, and nookie all night like at the home you made with your sugar.

11-22

We went to a wedding reception this past Saturday that was truly wonderful. I love weddings because they are full of love. Everytime I go to a wedding it always makes me reminence on our wedding day, which was perfect if I do say so myself! So todays post on love is the expanded version of what happened on our wedding day. I think it's important to write down what happened on your special day because lets face it, 50 years from now are you really going to remember the little things that made your day extra special?

My day started with only four hours of sleep...if that. I spent the night in our new apartment sleeping in my bed with my best friend who drove up from college to spend the day with me. I didn't expect to sleep at all that night but someone sleep did come but was short lived by my alarm at 5:30 (p.s. even the day of my wedding I wanted to hit snooze). My brother Tad, who was so awesome to us that day, picked me up 'round 6:15 and took me to th store to get a sprite, turns out I don't have nerves of steel and was nervous. We headed to my parents very crowded house where my dad was cooking my favorite breakfast, my cousin Lea was doin' my do, and my Mac girl, Sarah, was doin' my makeup. I couldn't eat. My stomach was doing flips and it wasn't because I was scared or nervous...I was anxious. Today was going to be the day that the rest of my life (and then some) was going to start.

I don't remember what time I left the house or much of the drive up there. I just remember having so much thanks in my heart that it wasn't raining and that I was going to get to see David in a few short moments. I wish we would have driven to the Temple together. I would have been so much better for my anxiety. I FINALLY got to see David as I got out of the car inn front of the Temple. Right then and there everything was at peace. Nothing mattered anymore except that he and I were there together. Shortly after we were together we were split up again so we could go change. I was now elated. I was so happy and wished that it would have happened faster because I wanted to be back to David! When we were both ready we went into waiting room where just him and I got to stand. He saw me for the first time all done up and on his face was nothing but love. He later confessed to me that they (his escort and father) left him there alone for 5 minutes where he started to worry if I was going to show up!

We were sealed that day together as man and wife for time and eternity. A blessing that is so amazing that there is few words that can be formed to discribe it. I think for each person trying to describe that most gracious blessing it's different too. No two couples feel the same thing.

After it was all done and said we were ready to party. I didn't want our wedding to be remembered for anything normal or stereotypical (especially LDS weddings!!! heehee). I wore rainboots under that big ole' poofy dress as did all my girls. I planned for a November Washington wedding but instead got an early fall wedding, it was chilly but gorgiously blue outside! I don't remember being cold as we endured a LOOOONG photo shoot but everyone else says it was freezing. My heart was on fire with love and nothing was going to stop it!

We had an odd lunch host by my inlaws. We ate at a restaurant in Federal Way where no one had really ate before. Sad to say, they assigned only one waitress to a party of 50. Not smart. David and I again didn't eat anything because we were having too much fun talking and giggling with everyone, and of course, not leaving each others sides.

At this point something happened that is still a big secret to my family because they would have MURDERED us if they found out. My best friend on the whole wide west coast did something for us. She went and got us RED Slurpees which we throughly enjoyed in the backseat of my moms car. I had angels looking out for my poofy white dress that day because not a drop of the blood red Slurpee landed outside my mouth! We guzzled them down and headed to our apartment so I could grab a few last minute items that we were going to be needed for our honeymoon. My friends, my brother, and the two of us had to be quite a scene rolling up to our one bedroom where we laughed inside for an hour. It's not everyday you have a newlywedded couple laying on the floor in the full wedding get up.

Our reception was everything I wanted and more. It wasn't sterotypical. It wasn't in a church cultural hall. We didn't have cream puffs! We danced. We laughed. We hugged. We didn't eat( haha!). We were elated by all the love shown to us. Normally for an LDS wedding reception you expect about half the people you invite to show up. We far surpassed that number. The little Point Defiance Pagoda was bursting at the seams and we will forever be eternally gratiful for every single person who showed up. I remember seeing people I love from every stage of my life in that small former train station. My oldest elementary school friends, my high school teacher, every young womens leader who served me, my team fubar boys, college besties, all my secondary mothers, and so many more! It's a blessing to share the more important day of my life with all of these people who helped shaped me into the person I am. I know David was also gratiful. We were in such a state of shock. It was surreal. The whole evening flew by so fast. Before we knew it my dad told us to go change and we left. Just as quickly as it started, it ended. But it wasn't really the end. Maybe of that night but as we walked out I thought "this is going to be the best adventure ever!" And you know what? Two years, One month and twenty-six days later it still is.

**As a side note: I don't even know how my wedding was put together. I planned every tiny detail out on paper and gave so many assignments to willing people but when it came to the day of I didn't do anything. I said nothing to the people who served us, gave no directions, added no input. It was a miracle. Years of knowing awesome people paid off. I swear the people who helped (family and friends) are all miracle workers. They knew every little detail that I wanted. I was so blessed that I was able to wear my poofy dress all day and just prance around like a princess. To all those people: YOU are my heros!

L-O-V-E

I've been feelin' pretty down on LOVE lately...

not my own love (with the hubby) but love out there. I've noticed that there are quite a few of my friends getting divorces, speaking ill of their lovers, and just plain negativity toward the world of love. Let us clear something up: I DO NOT LIKE IT WHEN MY LOVE BUBBLE IS BROKEN! Therefore I am kicking off

"Chelsey's Week of LOVE!!!!"

You're invited to join me with a full week of the greatest love stories, moments, and down right amazing-ness that comes along with being in love! I need to feel up on love again, know that there are people out there just like David and I who think that they have the greatest love story (and happily ever after) that has ever been told! Have something to share? Fill me in and I post it here.

To kick our week off Karen O. sings it pretty on spot:

"L.  O.  V.   E., it's a mystery
Where you'll find me, Where you'll find
All is love, is love, is love, is love"

I agree.

'Nuff said...I think deep down we all agree.

"You are more interesting than your profile. You are more beautiful than your profile picture."

again

It's snowing and I couldn't be any happier!
Why?
Because I got to do this with my puppy an hour ago:

And now he is currently doing this:

And life is good!

wrhs

Um....If anyone wants to convince White River to get and ASL program and then hire me I'd greatly appreciate it. I want to work there REAL bad like....

SEAHAWKS WIN!!!!

There is a reason we took this season off from watching football...

I am too intense...

The LOSING recond Seahawks just beat the SUPERBOWL DEFENDING CHAMPS Saints in the playoff game and we watched all of it...or most of it.

With 10 minutes left in the game as the Seahawks were being walked all over I had to take a break. I was screaming and jumping and squeezing my hubby's hand way too tightly. He switched stations for 3 minutes so I could have a breather. Then we switched back and I'm pretty sure mine and David's blood pressure when through the roof...not because it was a super intense game(which it was) but because I am too intense with football.

All the same, the Seahawks continue next week with what we hope to be another Miracle football game!

If you would like to see just how intense I can be, feel free to join us next week.

For my future house

So I'm working on blogging more. It's hard because I don't know sometimes what to write.
Today I came home sick after an hour and a half of work Lame. I spent the whole day in and out of sleep, talking to my favorite cousin Lea, and designing my future home! I am going to convince David to get my a subscription to Better Homes and Gardens (for only 5 bucks!) just so I can truely be a home makeover nerd! In light of what I did today I decided to share my #1 thing I want for our living room. In fact I love it so much that I'm not going to wait for a new home, I'm ordering it for the condo! It's great because it's not a mass print and it's special ordered just for you!

 You can find this print at Fancy Prints on Etsy. I didn't know about Etsy until recently. If you don't know about Etsy, you probably should go check it out!

Tax Season...

I have been a tax paying citizen for almost 6 years now.

I have always got a tax return.

This year....not so much.

I now know why people hate tax season.

What have I concluded from this years rather shocking tax crisis in the Jarvis family?

A.) We need to become breeders for a child tax break.
B.) One of us quit our job and become poor people for a tax break.
C.) We buy a house for a tax break.
D.) Move to a country where there is no word for tax and just live of zebra and lion meat.

I'd like to pick D just so I could learn some clickly language.....but I'll probably pick C....I couldn't handle A and B wouldn't be condusive to my lush lifestyle(HA!) David's answer is B times two. He says "we could both quit are jobs and live off unemployment[just like all those lazy people!!!]. <---We are true blue working Americans can you tell we're not fans of all the extentions?

Mrs. Moriah

My dear sweet friend Moriah just got married to the love of her life, John. Four days before they were to have their reception the photographer-friend backed out. She called me up because she knew I had a "fancy" camera and asked (and I offered) if I would be willing to take pictures for them. Immediately inside I wanted to scream "YES YES YES" because secretly I've always wanted to but my more calm, cool, collected self knew that photographing someones reception is kind of a big deal and should be left to the photographers. Anyway, I agreed on the ground rules that she couldn't expect anything. That I'd try my best but I am IN NO WAY professional or even amateur. We had a blast, and I say we because David was the best photographers assistant EVER. We also had a blast just laughing with John and Moriah. I also had a lot of fun editing them afterwards. I interpreted in a photoshop class last year so I was able to know basics (which REALLY helped) and I found Corel Paintshop Pro which is photoshop for dummies (still has layers, masks, levels, etc.) and got a FREE 30 day trial. In total I edited 119 pictures out of the 650 I took. I'm pretty proud to say the least. Moriah told me her sister-in-law wants me to photograph her newborn and some friend wants to hire me for their own wedding....EEEKKKK!!!!! Oh and did I mention they want to pay me? What the.....????? I dunno if I'll do it, it feels like a HUGE responsibility (because it is) and I don't know if I want to do it over and over again. Not to mention, my 30 day trial is up..bummer...I'm debating trading one of these two offers for them to buy me the program....OR you could just buy it for me?

For your viewing and/or critiquing pleasure, here are a few of my fav's:

because everyone's 2011 should start out like this....

AND of course, finding out your husband is a NINJA!