Almost Five...

In two days, Michelle and I will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary. I can't believe it! On the one hand it doesn't feel like it's been that long. On the other, I can't imagine life without her. Here's some random dan-and-michelle trivia:

• I flew home early from a trip to Greece to propose, and Michelle was totally surprised
• Michelle got me a ring made from Tungsten, a hypo-allergenic element used in integrated circuit technology, and one of the hardest substances on the planet (though not harder than diamond - Thanks Liz for proving it, now my ring's scarred forever!)
• Over the course of our marriage, we've lived in four different homes, gone through three jobs, and had two cute kids
• We've been in Texas for almost half our marriage
• Michelle likes my hair short - and it's a good thing, because hair longevity is just not in the cards for me
• Michelle is an amazing cook, home-maker, planner, gardener, and mommy (just to name a few)
• We look forward to date night every week
• After five years, I love Michelle more than ever!

Here's to another 50!

Grandma Beaver

Tonight Jake was laying in bed and we were talking, and he was trying to tell me about Grandma Veater, but he couldn't quite remember the name. He thought really hard, saying, "Grandma ... Grandma ... Grandma Beaver."

I don't think he realized what he'd said at first, because when I repeated it back to him he thought it was hilarious. Then he told me. "I don't know that word!"

Love you, Grandma Beaver!

I'm not creepy anymore!

So, I decided to check my blog tonight and discovered two things:

1) I haven't posted anything in over two years.
2) My picture and background were a little creepy.

I don't particularly care for either item, and so BAMM!! I just destroyed both of them in one fell swoop!

I now feel like I have control over my life like I never have before! Everything has changed! There's change in the air! People suddenly like me again! I'm handsome and wealthy (okay, just handsome)! Things are looking up!

That's all for now. I'll post something again in somewhat less than two years.

Life is good

I can't believe we've been in Texas a month! I'm loving my job so far and starting to feel productive. I've been tasked with doing a feasibility analysis for doing something in a way that hasn't been done before. This week was defined by meetings reporting my results so far. I received lots of positive feedback from my supervisor and team about my presentations. My favorite was when the semi-retired former CEO (of a major acquired company) asked, "Who the hell hired you anyway?" When I told him he reluctantly credited my supervisor: "I guess he gets some things right." I was also told that what I've done was "impressive" and "really well thought out," so things are going well so far.

We've been slowly unpacking (whenever we feel motivated enough to - taking care of Jacob tires out both me and Michelle). We do have the trampoline set up in the backyard, so it's finally convenient to use my tramp every day. (Thanks Mom and Dad for holding it for me for a few years.) Michelle and I have been playing "add-on" frequently in the evenings after putting Jake down.

While I was waiting for Michelle and Jacob to join me, I entertained myself by writing a few songs for the guitar. In addition to the "Polar Bears and Meese" song, I have written a lullaby and a song about how Michelle and I met (or didn't meet). Michelle's been asking me to write them down, so I found some free music notation software and I've been tinkering with it a little. If I get ambitious you may see some of my compositions soon.

So, all in all, things are going well for us in Texas. We're looking forward to having company, so feel free to pay us a visit.

guitar-ing

For Christmas, Michelle gave me a guitar.

For those of you that are wondering - no, I don't play the guitar. At least, I didn't until about 3 weeks ago. Now, I'm almost professional! I have even written my first song, inspired by one of Jacob's footed pajamas and certain events that occurred at the time of composition. Lyrics below:

You got polar bears, and meese,
and fishes, and penguini.
You got polar bears, and meese,
and fishes, and penguini.
And your mom needs a towel right now,
so we'll get her a towel right now.
You got polar bears, and meese,
and fishes, and penguini.

The best thing about this song is that once you hear it, you can't get it out of your head. Michelle and I have both been singing it under our breath for the last several days, and it's driving us both nuts. Watch out Jonas Brothers, here I come!

rain

why does it always rain hard?

why am i drenched?  - there's a hole in my umbrella.

i can look through it and get spattered in the eye.

so much for seeing where i'm going.

why does it always rain hard?

why am i cold? - i hug my jacket to me.

i can feel my breath and warm my face.

i can't seem to feel my toes.

where are my toes taking me?

i seem to be going in circles.

i've splashed through that puddle three times already.

is this the way i've been going all along?

water flows downhill, right?

i don't want to go that way; i want to go up.

i will set a new course to get to higher ground.

maybe i can get above the clouds.

why does it always rain hard?

if it were only a drizzle, would i open my eyes?

i can see to change my path and actually get somewhere.

i'll take poor visibility over blindness.

Poor us!

We're all sick.

Jacob has had a stuffy nose and cough for the last few days. Worst of all, he hasn't been able to sleep very well because his nose has been stuffed up. That means that none of us has really been able to sleep. And now Michelle and I have caught what Jake's had.

It hit Michelle the hardest. She's been really tired and achy. Both of us have had a lot of sinus congestion and have been really tired. Michelle was still really kind to take care of Jake while I took my daily nap.

I think Jake is over the worst of it, but he's still really tired. Today he fell asleep laying on Michelle or I several times.

So we've been bonding by taking care of each other. We're a sorry bunch, but hopefully we'll be better soon.