6 of my favorite things (and one for good luck) about my favorite man after 6 years . . . .

1} Erik thinks I’m funny.  I’ve never actually gotten him to say that.  A few times, when I made him laugh really hard, I managed to get him to admit that, “Yeah what you just said was pretty funny.”  But I know that he is just afraid to admit that someone (me) might be funnier than him, and really he thinks I’m freakin’ hilarious.  Erik is funny, too.  I love that we have the same sense of humor.  And I love laughing together.  Definitely one of my favorite things.

2} I get to be myself around Erik.  I remember dating guys and being very concerned about the thought of marriage, because I pick my toe nails and I could never ever ever pick my toe nails in front of them.  Never have I had to worry about picking my toes in front of Erik.  I can do that, and almost anything else gross, silly, crazy, obnoxious without much more than a smirk and an eye roll, which I always interpret to mean, “She is so cute, that little Annelise of mine, and I love each one of her adorable quirks, particularly the toe picking.” 

3} Erik makes me a better person.   Maybe I could’ve married someone who I kept wrapped around my finger and gave me every little thing I wanted and caved to all of my whims with a “Yes, my beautiful goddess of love.”  I might have liked that sometimes, but it never would have made me grow or learn or face my weaknesses, and certainly not reach my eternal potential.  Erik is brutally honest and upfront, and sometimes it makes me want to cry.  But I am grateful for a husband who sees and knows the best in me.

4} All I have to do is ask and Erik will answer the call.  Be it emptying the dishwasher or coming home from work because I’m losing it, if I ask, Erik does.  He’s even starting to get good about me NOT asking.  Like the other morning when I woke up at 6 to finish laundry before the boys got up, and I found the loads moved ahead AND all of my unshrinkables hung out to dry. 

5} Erik is an amazing father.  His two boys adore him and there is no doubt that Erik adores them.  He loves to play with them, be silly with them, and teach them.  He gets really excited about sharing things with them that he loved when he was a kid and things that are important to him now.  When I tell him stories from our day, I love the smiles Erik gets.  It’s just so obvious how much he loves his boys and how great he thinks they are. 

6} Erik has a really tight butt and super nice legs.  I was reminded of how much I like them last week each time I watched him pull someone back onto the boat.  Yum.

7} When Erik holds my hand it makes me all giddy inside.  Still.  Every single time. 

Owen might not know it yet, but I have no doubt Samuel has figured it out.  These two boys have the best dad ever.  Seriously.  I could not have asked for a better father to my kiddos.  Erik does all his daddy duties so willingly.  He is patient, kind, loving, and silly.  I adore how involved he is with both boys.  And I love to watch Erik at his best.

That’s right, I’m officially on the count DOWN.  I’m not stupid enough to think I’ll have this baby early.  I let the doctors convince me of that with Samuel, and I was sorely disappointed.  At this point I’m pretty much done being fat and uncomfortable.  I am over being pregnant.  I know, I’m such a whiner.  But I am really starting to miss the things that just aren’t possible anymore . . . like sleeping on my back, bending over to pick something up without losing my balance, or having a nice cold beer.  {Ok, don’t miss beer.  But I totally craved it when I was preggo with Sam, which is so strange because I’ve never had a sip in my life.}

But you know what I miss more than anything, what I cannot wait to be able to do again when this is over?  Hug Erik.  Yep.  After a stupid day like this one, all I want is a huge ol’ squeeze-a-roo from my hubster without this monstrous belly getting in the way.  8 weeks 2 days, 8 weeks 2 days, 8 weeks 2 days . . . !

I can’t keep up!  I try so hard, but I constantly find myself falling behind in {everything}.  I love staying busy and having things to do, because I go crazy otherwise.  So no huge complaints, I just wish that one day I might have it all together!

So here is a little rundown of a couple more fun-filled summer days.

In an act of desperation, I thought it would be fun to bring Sam to Jumpin’ Jacks and invite a couple other kidlets and their mommies.  It was a fun morning, and a good energy outlet.  I am glad Triana has other friends than just me, so that she can invite them and I pretend like I have more friends and she doesn’t get too sick of me.  So there were 4 moms, 3 little boys, and one sweet girl.  Sam is a goober and likes to do his independent stuff, so I spent a lot of time chasing him around, and only got 3 stinky pictures.  So I stole the first one off of Triana’s blog.  We sure had a blast!

On Thursday, we took a trip up north.  It’s been way too long since I last saw my grandparents so we picked up my brother, John, and went to visit them first.  Sam has been really off the last week or so, but I was still surprised that after an hour drive first thing in the morning, he wouldn’t let go of me.  He sat on my lap facing me, burrying his head in my chest, wrapping his sweet little arms around my neck, and whimpering, “Go car, keys, home.”  Sooo unlike Samuel!�

Things at my aunt Hanne’s were much better, though.  She lives up in Layton and my aunt Kate and cousin Zoe were visiting from Denmark.  It has been years and years since I’ve seen Kate, and I’ve never even met Zoe before, can you believe it?   Sam got a teeny nap in the car, so he was in better spirits.  When he walked into the house I think he knew right away it was a safe kids’ zone.  He found the toys pretty quick, and got comfortable with all the girls {my cousin, Cathy’s daughters}.  Lunch, sprinklers, and lots of fun ensued through the rest of the afternoon.

Saturday Sam got to hang out with one of his girlfriends while Erik and I took off for the Gaming and Electronics Expo {GEEX} at the Salt Palace.  Erik will blog more details, so make sure you visit there, but it went really well.  There were way more people listening to him speak than I could have expected, he did a great job, and he really proved how much he knows and how talented he is.  The part that always amazes me the most is that Erik is completely self taught, the smarty!!  It was really neat to be able to share that experience with Erik, and I was totally proud of him!  I tried to control myself and limit the picture taking.  I did make Erik stand in front of the sign that listed the speakers, including him.  I did not make him stand next to the large flat screens set up around the expo that also displayed him as a speaker.

A lot of you know Erik has been the Project Manager developing a video game for about 3.5 years.  Next month he is going to be speaking at a gaming expo in Salt Lake.  Check out his blog for more info HERE!

I am really excited for Erik and proud of his hard work and dedication, and it’s pretty dang cool to see his name listed as a speaker on the expo website.   Even if there are only 3 people in the audience, it is still a pretty significant “next step” to his project.

Good job and good luck, Erik!!  Love you love you!

I am crazy about these two.  Absolutely positively head-over-heals 100% nuts for them.  Oh how I love my boys!

Mom asks, “Sam, where’s your belly button?”  Sam answers excitedly, “Butt!”

Erik does not wake up easily.  He hits the snooze button for at least an hour almost every morning.  Sam and I are always up and going by the time Erik rolls himself out of bed, even on week days.  On rougher mornings, I find myself hollering up the stairs to make sure Erik is up.  {He really struggles with the whole alarm thing.  He often turns it completely off without realizing it.  He also turns the monitor off instead of the alarm.  Or he tries to turn the alarm off when my phone rings.  It’s all a fairly comical routine.}

So today was no exception when I yelled up the stairs, “Erik, are you awake yet?”  I heard a grumbled response that was probably supposed to sound like “Yes,” and which was clearly a lie.  A few minutes later, Sam and I headed up.  Erik had in fact gotten out of bed by this time and was waiting behind our door to surprise Sam.  Then this conversation happened.

Me: Why are you dressed? {In a t-shirt and basketball shorts.}

Erik: What?

Me: Why are you dressed?

Erik: I just grabbed something off the floor.

A pause.

Me: You know it’s Friday right?

Another pause.

Me: It’s not Saturday, Erik, it’s Friday.

Erik: Aw, crap.

This tag has been going around for a while, and now that I’ve been officially tagged myself, I figured, why not?  I know you’re probably here for Sam, but humor me!   

What is his/her name? Erik Justin Briggs

How long have you been together? First “met” in the fall of 2002 but that was it.  To my roommates and me, Erik was just the really sweet guy who noticed when girls changed their hair and remembered everyone’s names, but we had no idea what his name was.  April of 2003 we started “hanging out” and by the end of June Erik called me his “girlfriend,” so we’ve been “together” almost 5 years.

How long did you date? From around June til December, then we got engaged after Christmas, and married the next June.

How old is he? Practically like 30. 29 in May.

Who said I love you first?  I wasn’t about to be the first to do anything.  It was for sure Erik.  But it wasn’t particularly romantic. 

Who is taller? *sigh* Meeeeee.

 Ew, I hate this picture because I look like a stinkin’ giant.  I am NOT that much taller.  It’s a weird angle, I promise!  And, no, I did not have 79 cookies for lunch.  I’m about 6 months pregnant.

Who sings better?  Haha, it’s not me!  Erik can certainly carry a tune, and he has an ear for music, but I won’t give him a whole lot of credit for singing “well.” 

Who is smarter?  We have different kinds of smarts, but Erik’s are probably more useful, practical, and important. 

Whose temper is worse?  Mine comes out a lot more often, but when Erik actually shows his temper, his is lots worse. 

Who does the laundry?  Me, unless I am going to bed when there is still a load in the washer.  Then Erik will put it in the dryer.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?  Looking at it, I do.

Who pays the bills?  I take care of medical ones and Children’s Place, but Erik does all the rest.  I feel just fine about him being the money man.

Who mows the lawn?  Erik, but not that frequently.

Who does the dishes?  It’s all I can do to get Erik to put his plate in the dishwasher.

Who cooks dinner?  Take-out, drive-thru, or begrudgingly, Me.  Erik hasn’t in FoReVeR, and if he does it’s Philipino.

Who drives when you are together?  Almost always Erik.  I can’t see in the dark and I fall asleep if I’m driving longer than an hour.  And Erik is a control freak. 

Who is more stubborn?  ERIK!

Who is the first to admit when he/she is wrong?   Ugh, neither.  We are quick to admit the OTHER is wrong, though.

Who kissed who first? Same with saying “I love you,” I wasn’t about to make the move.  I’d done this dating stuff before, so it was all on Erik.

Who proposed?  Again, Erik was the first to say the “m” word and he was also the one who proposed.

Who is more sensitive?  Me me me me.

Who has more friends?  I’m not sure.  But I have much more of a desire to be social and have friends than Erik. 

Who wears the pants in the family?  Samuel.

Now I tag Erik, because I’m curious to see a couple of his answers.  I’m pretty sure every one else and her mother has already done this tag.  If you haven’t, YOU’RE IT!

Either way you put it, we make quite the team!  I knew how I wanted my blog to look, and Erik knew how to make it happen.  Between my creative vision and his technical prowess, TA DA!!  It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun.  And my sweet hubbster didn’t really make me learn html, afterall.  Yay!  (I think he saw how ridiculously long it took me just to make the banner in Photoshop, and thought that was good enough for now!)  He did walk me through what he was doing last night as we spent almost 2 hours putting it all together, but a lot of it was beyond me.  (WordPress is a lot more complicated than Blogger!)  I can’t even tell you how impressed I was with, Erik.  He knows so much, and it comes so effortlessly to him.  Thanks again, muffin!

There is still some tweaking left, but it’s mostly stuff I can handle.  Anywho, enjoy!

This is what I am wishing for for Christmas.  I know you have already gotten me something(s?!), you sweetheart!!  So the list will also carry over to my birthday, which is on February 8th.  No hinting or beating around the bush from me this year!  I’ve learned my lesson.  Well taught, honey!

Deceptively Delicious cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld.  {$13.47 at overstock.com That just might beat Sam’s Club or Costco.}

Willow Tree Nativity.  I have always wanted a nativity, and I love this one.  It is sold in pieces.  Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus seem like a good place to start collecting.  {About $59.95 at Deseret Book or The Quilted Bear.}

Boots.  I don’t expect you to choose out ones I would like.  (If I can dream, then the ones in the picture would be them! $203.95 at zappos.com.  Hehe.)  I would just love something semi-cute to wear to the park and what not with Sam during these winter months.  A gift card could be a suitable option.

Small armoire jewelry box in java finish from Target.  I don’t have a picture of it.  It’s over by the women’s accessories and the box says “Small armoire jewelry box, java finish” exactly.  {$19.99 at Target stores, not online.  Slick deal.}

Elliptical machine.  I said these are things I’m WISHING for.  Maybe one day.  Maybe the same one day I get a wedding band.  {$too much}

Don’t have any more money?  Not a problem.  Write me a love note.  I’ve been wishing for one of those since I first fell in love with you.  And a foot rub. 

Love, Albie