learning to share

After swimming lessons, Lyza (4) sharing yogurt with Seth (14 mon) on the kithen floor

Sharing is hard...I will be the first to admit it. I remember very vividly from my childhood being asked to share by my parents, grandparents, and pretty much any adult that I came in contact with:

"Make sure you share with your sister."

"Oh, thank you for sharing...that was so nice of you."

"Next time maybe you could share without being asked."

Yes, I vividly remember being poked, prodded and bribed into learning how to share. A concept that is still something I am learning to be better at each day.

It is interesting that this concept is so hard for some people to grasp, but others come with this characteristic built right in? Sometimes I am jealous of those that inately want to share. It reminds me that this is not a quality that comes easily to me and that I must work at this every day.

It completely baffles me that I met up with and married a man who comes with this "sharing DNA" in abundance. Never have I met another who would give you everything he had if you asked him. Literally...I am not kidding...I mean literally.

When we are at dinner together, he always saves the best bites of his meal for me to taste.

He will share his time with anyone. You call and need him...he will be there.

He lets me tape two different show on our Tivo which prevents him from watching the Monday night football game he really wanted to watch. He doesn't complain...he just jokes with me and says I am a reality show nut! (very true by the way)

He shares his infectious belly laugh with gatherings of people who are lucky enough to get a sample.

He shares stories with me in privacy about times in his life when he would go without eating, etc. because he gave his money to an acquaintance who needed it more. He would laugh about how he was literally a "starving college student." His laughter would quickly turn to moments of silence when I could tell he was holding back his emotions. He would then tell me, I wish I could have given them more. They needed much more then I could give.

It is at these moments I see who this man really is, his true character. Still completely wondering why he picked me? I guess the Lord knew I needed a strong example.

I hope and hope and hope that my children's "sharing DNA" is a strong and viberant as their daddy's. The jury is still out, but from the looks of the picture above at least we have a start.

are you asking me out?

Remember back in the day (the dating days) and Wednesday would come around? Why Wednesday you ask? Because Wednesday was kind of the "unannounced" day when the phone would ring and the date would be set up for the upcoming Friday or Saturday night. Out of respect for the "datee", the "dater" would allow for this allotted amount of "pre-planning" time. It was always so exciting if the phone rang on any given Wednesday, and on the other end of the line was the voice! The voice of the boy you were hoping it would be. There would be the initial greeting on the phone and a few minutes of chit chat, and then he would get to the business at hand.

"I was wondering if you were busy on Friday night?" he would say.

"No, I don't have any set plans yet, why what is going on?" you would reply.

"Well, I was wondering if you would be interested in going with me to ________?" he would say.

"Oh, I would love to, that sounds like so much fun." you would reply.

As you got off the phone you could barely contain yourself. You knew the rest of the week would be fantastic as you looked forward to your Friday night date.

Well, last Wednesday evening my phone rang. And on the other end of the receiver was exactly the voice I was hoping it would be. The conversation started as usual, we had a bit of small talk and then he got down to the reason for his call.

"Are you busy this Friday night?" he said.

"Oh, I am not sure? I will have to check my schedule of dirty diapers and carpool, but I am sure I could clear the night." I replied.

And just like that HE asked me out.

I have to be honest it has been awhile since I have been asked out. The phone doesn't ring on Wednesday night as frequently as it has in the past. But when it does ring it is always the voice on the other end that makes me so excited.

So as I hung up the phone my thoughts turned to the most important thing...what am I going to wear?

When Friday came around my date fulfilled all of my expectations. The date was well planned, we had great company, and amazing conversation. It seems that I am never disappointed whenever I go on a date with this certain man. He is polite, the greatest gentleman, and he insists on paying. Oh, and best of all, he always kisses me goodnight!!

Our date started off at my favorite restaurant, eating my favorite food with my favorite friend and her husband.

Then we went to the Jazz Game and sat uninterrupted the entire time! We talked, we cheered, we held hands.

I could never get sick of dating this man.

Gee, I hope my phone rings again this Wednesday night!

i never had a chance

I always imagined that my children would love their mother the most. Not that I didn't want them to love their father, but I always imagined that the "mom" was the "favorite" and that the "dad" was there for discipline and the occasional daddy-daughter/son date. And why wouldn't you love the "mom" the most. I mean we made you in our bodies, we gave you life, we sit up nights worrying about your future.

In my little family, this idea and expectation is not true. Actually not even close to being true.

My theory is...that Steven secretly met with Lyza when we were all up in heaven together. I think they made a secret packed to love each other the most. (I am sure there were promises of candy and presents involved) They agreed that they would have "that" connection. Lyza promised she would light up anytime his name was mentioned, would open up and talk to him about things that she wouldn't talk to her mom about, and most importantly would give him that "look." This look would be the way she reminded him of their promise made up in heaven together. This look would say to her daddy..."Remember, I promised, you would be my favorite."



This is a picture I found of Lyza when she was 10 months old, it was at this moment I knew...

I NEVER HAD A CHANCE!

my men

These are my men.

I want so much for my little man to turn out just like my big man. I want him to love his family like my big man does. I want him to be kind, be a gentleman, love sports, have an optimistic outlook on life, open doors for girls, cry when he cares deeply about something, work hard at whatever he wants to do, oh and did I mention love his mother!!!

Hey Little Man...stay close to the Big Man and you can't go wrong.

And oh yeah...love you Big Man.

happy birthday mr. bull

Dear Mr. Bull:

Today was your 31st birthday. We didn't have a big "to do" or huge surprise party like you gave me. (You told me that we didn't need to spend that money on you, we should save it for something else...So like you to say that.) However you did get to spend the day cleaning out the "Out House" at the cabin you love so dearly. Somehow only you could turn even the most disgusting tasks into fun. Somehow only you could say that your birthday was great even when nothing spectacular happened. One year we will have a big celebration no matter what you say. Until then blow out your one white candle in your Flan from El Pollo Loco.

Happy Birthday Mr. Bull.

all my love,

Dee

steven is in love!

If Steven didn't already love his daughter to death...Lyza has now sealed the deal completely. Lets back up a bit...

One of the things Steven loves is picking skin. He picks his arms, nails, heals, face,anything. If there is skin hanging off something, he wants to pick it. One of the things I despise is picking. I can't stand picking things off of other people. Even the sound of picking pretty much drives me crazy. I don't mind "peeling" skin after a sunburn but that is about as far as I go. Steven doesn't believe it, but I actually start feeling "car sick" or "motion sick" when I have to focus in and pick at something. Thus we have a problem in our relationship.

Fast Forward 3 years...PROBLEM IS SOLVED! Lyza not only is our first born and the apple of our eye, she has single handily solved our picking dilemma Lyza LOVES to pick. Today she sat and picked at Steven's feet for 20 minutes. (This is 19 minutes longer then I usually last picking at his feet) While it pretty much grossed me out and I told her she had to wash her hands 3 times after she was done, I am glad that she and her daddy have yet another activity that bonds them together.

HAPPY PICKING YOU TWO!!

headlight crew

Steven and Ben

There are about five guys in our neighborhood who are running a huge relay race in a few weeks. They have been going running at night to train and yes...they all wear their little head lamps on their heads so they can see in the dark. I thought they looked so cute...I had to blog about it.

I am so proud of all of them and their determination to continually enter races and stay healthy.

salt lake 1/2 marathon

The running season has started for the Bull Family. And when I say "for the Bull Family" I mean...Steven runs and Lyza and I cheer him on at the finish line.

Last Saturday Steven ran the Salt Lake 1/2 Marathon. He completed it 15 minutes faster then he had ever run a 1/2 marathon before. We were so proud of him.

you know your a good dad when...

You know your a good dad when you will push a HUGE pink car/shopping cart around your friendly neighborhood grocery store.

What do you do when you 2 1/2 year old girl (who loves the color pink) sees the shopping cart of her dreams as you enter the grocery store?

Well at first you try and persuade her into not completely embarrassing you by having to push this monstrosity around the store. Then you even bribe her with a "treat" of her choice if we don't have to take the cart out. Finally, you suck up all of your manhood and give in to the little girl who has you wrapped around her finger.

What does mom do? She laughs the entire time and makes you stop and take a picture.

What a great evening!!

twelve days of christmas

So in keeping with my "doing things last minute" theme this year...my sister Shalice talked me into doing the 12 Days of Christmas for Steven. Oh yes...don't worry she talked me into it on December 12th!!! So Lyza and I did some mad shopping in one day and put it all together. Well at least the first 6 days anyway. Hopefully it will turn out okay...

Happy 12 Days of Christmas to you all!!

he did it

He did it again, and again, and again!

Steven completed his 3rd marathon this year. On October 6th Steven ran the St. George Marathon. He makes us so proud!

Lyza gets so excited waiting for her dad to round the corner to the finish line. She claps her hands and says "good job" to pretty much everyone that passes by.

Steven's sister Brittany and her family came down to St. George. They were able to see him finish the race.

Steven ran the race with 2 of his good friends. They all ran to help raise money for The Eagle Condor Foundation. What a great experience had by all.

i love that she looks like him

I love that she looks like him!

I love that when Lyza laughs or has a concerned look on her face...it completely looks like Steven. I love that she is a "Blondie" just like he was when he was little. But most of all I love that she is ours!

I remember wondering (and stressing out) while I was pregnant with Lyza..."What would she look like?" I would go through a list of things that I wanted her to have or not have. "I hope she gets my height, but not my hands." "I hope she gets Steven's lips, but not his pinkie finger." (Take a look at Steven's pinkie fingers the next time you see him.)

I couldn't be happier with the results...Lyza is darling inside and out. But every time I look at this picture I am reminded how much they look like each other.

So I will say it again...I love that she looks like him!

the world has been a better place

For 30 years today the world has been a better place because you have been here. Today is a day I want to thank your mother for having you...because having you made my life what it is.

In honor of this big milestone in your life...I'll share 30 reason's why I love you.

I love....

1. That you love me...somedays I am sure you don't know why you love me...but for some odd reason you do.


2. I love the way you look at Lyza. The way I see so much love in your eyes for her.


3. Your ability to make me laugh at you when I am so mad.


4. The way you love others. I have never met a person who thinks about other so much. I often joke about how you would give all you had to someone else and let us be homeless and penniless if you could. But even though I tease you about it...I wouldn't have it any other way.


5. Your integrity. If it is not right...Steven is not doing it.


6. The intense love you have for ice-cream. You could have it for every meal and think you were in heaven. I never knew such a love existed for a dairy product until I started dating you.
   
7. The way your mind never stops. You think 24/7.


8. Your work ethic. You won't stop until a job is done and is done right. I always tell you that this is the one thing I need our children to learn from you.


9. The way you will talk to me at night in bed even if you are exhausted.


10. Your belly laugh...the laugh you do when you think something is hilarious. I could listen to you laugh like this all day.


11. The way you will make sure you do all that you can to create the life we have dreamed of.


12. The fact that for your 30th birthday present you chose to take Lyza and I to Disneyland. I am not sure who had more fun Lyza or You!


13. On that note...the fact that you truly are a 12 year old boy trapped in a 30 year old's body.


14. I love that you let me rub your feet in bed...even though it drives you crazy.


15. The way you think you are the toughest parent...but somehow that "look" from Ly Ly's eyes pearces straight to your heart.


16. The fact that you want to give your children all the opportunites in life that you could possibly give.


17. That your dad is your hero.


18. The way you let me freak out pretty much everyday that the "sky is falling." You listen to me and say that you understand that I am scared and then tell me that everything is going to be fine.


19. Your ability to fix everything.


20. That you are my best friend.


21. That Lyza gets very anxious if you are not there at night to read her a story and say prayers.


22. The way you love your family. You put family above all other things.


23. That I feel safe with you.


24. That missing a party or some kind of gathering is absolutely out of the question. You are my social butterfly.


25. That you cried so hard when Lyza was born. This is one of the moments in our life that I always think about. You were so proud of her.


26. Your loyalty. Once you have made a friend or loved someone...it is for good. You will protect that person from that moment on.


27. The way you always tell me you had a "Great day"...even when I know it was a hard one.


28. That you run marathon's. I think this is an amazing accomplishment and something you have always wanted to do.


29. That you will watch "girlie" movies and t.v. shows with me.


30. Your optimism. Everything is a possiblity in your eyes.
    

I haven't been able to love you your entire 30 years on this earth, but I am glad that I get to love you for your next 30.

Happy Birthday Babiya...

26.2 miles

There are so many reasons you make me proud, and this is one of those reason's. You are probably one of the most dedicated and determined men I have ever met. You ran 26.2 miles for the 3rd time this year. We are so proud of you.

I love that you get tears in your eyes when you see Lyza and I cheering you on at the end. I love that you had Lyza run the last few yards with you as you crossed the finish line. I love that Lyza holds your cheeks in her hands and says..."i am proud of you daddy, good job."

Thank you for always striving to be better. For setting and acheiving goals. And for always making us proud!