Dear D,

You deserve an award for being such an awesome husband. Just thought you should know. But since I don't know of any husband contests going on around these parts, I decided to write you a thank you note instead:

Thank you for being so thoughtful. You remembered the time we were at the store and I saw that beautiful Kate Spade bag on a great sale. I never told you how much I wanted it, but somehow you knew. After a long day of interviews, field trips, and teacher panels, I couldn't believe my eyes when I got home to find it sitting on the table with the sweetest note. I love my new bag, but I love you even more. Also, I'm sorry that I cried.

Thank you for laughing with me all the time. You have such a wonderful sense of humor. I love that it still feels like a sleepover, even after more than a year and a half, when we get to go to sleep together every night. I also love that we can start an epic game of truth or dare while the dinner is taking an extra long time to cook. It makes those little moments so much more fun!

Thank you for never getting frustrated about the constant piles of papers and notebooks that are all over the apartment. Teaching comes with more papers than I could have ever imagined, and I'm so grateful that you are understanding.

Thank you for volunteering to do the dishes, even when it's not your turn. You know how much I hate to do them, so even when it's me that let them pile up, you do it without being asked.

Thank you for always being supportive. You encourage me to do whatever makes me happy and remind me to take time for myself when I need it.

Thank you for going on adventures with me, like picking up random ingredients at the store because I want to try a recipe I saw on Pinterest. Or going on a walk with me in the pouring rain when you've already showered for the day. Or going to the D.I. to find a costume for a party. I appreciate it more than you know.

Thank you for always telling me that I'm beautiful. I notice how often you say it. Some days, I really need to hear it.

Daniel, you are the most wonderful husband and you are perfect for me. Lately, I have been feeling extra grateful to have you in my life. Every single day, I thank my Heavenly Father for sending such a wonderful person to be my companion for eternity. Thanks for being my partner in everything.

Love always,

M

Happy Birthday to D!

February 5, 2012

Dear Daniel,

Happy 25th birthday, sweetheart! Can you believe you're already 25? This age is a milestone for a few reasons: 1. You can now officially rent a car (without all those crazy fees), 2. Your car insurance rates go down (yay!), and 3. You're a quarter of a century old! Yipes. I've had a great time celebrating your special day with you all weekend. Being with you makes me happier than anything else. Thanks for all the little things you do that make me smile every day. Thank you for making me laugh, for working so hard, and for helping me to be a better person. You've always been my better half. Happy birthday Daniel! I love you so much. I'm so very glad you were born :)

Love always,

Mandy

Dear 2011,

What a year! You have taken D and I on some of the wildest rides of our lives. But through the ups and downs, we grew to love and appreciate every experience you brought our way. Here are some of our favorites:

• In January, we stared the year off with a bang by going on a shooting adventure with Daniel's family. We also got called to teach the Sunbeams in our ward. It was one of our favorite callings (most of the time), and we grew to love those darling 'beams. This was also the month I locked myself out of the apartment. I didn't blog about this, but Daniel lost his job (and our main source of income) on January 10th because half of the lawyers walked out on the firm he was working for. It was the first day of one of my hardest semesters. I was pretty much beside myself when I got the message because I had just quit my second job to finish school faster. By some legitimate miracle, Daniel ended up getting his job back the same day. We will be forever grateful.

• In February, we celebrated Daniel's 24th birthday along with our 6-month anniversary (!). We also spent our first Valentine's Day together as a married couple! We went to the temple, ate at our favorite restaurant, and spent a fun night at home. This was the month I decided I was a Steelers Fan (even though we lost the Superbowl). I also wrote D a mushy note, and made a craft!

• In March, I stayed up until 2 a.m. with Marianne making animal hat templates for a 3rd grade art project. She and I took a really awesome education class together at Tanner Dance Studio that you would have had to experience to believe. I also had a run-in with a shirtless man in my laundry room, and posted a funny picture of invented spelling by a 1st grader. School and my tough semester was starting to own my life at this point, can you tell?

• In April, Daniel and I went on our first road trip together to St. George, Utah, complete with some shopping in Vegas. We had so much fun! I even got my first Kate Spade bag. We celebrated Easter by wearing our loveliest Easter church outfits and coloring eggs with the Jacobsens. I also drove a steamroller, became an aunt again, and wrote an angry letter to Utah weather. 

• In May, I finished a 19-credit hour semester (somehow) and I found out what grade I would be student teaching. We celebrated Cinco de Mayo and Memorial  Day, went to a Bee's game, and laughed at Daniel howling with Rufus. We also posted the solution to one of our favorite arguments up on the blog - the difference between an anteater, an aardvark, and an armadillo.

• In June, we had epic car problems. I also took a million classes over the summer so I would be able to start my student teaching in the Fall, and I felt really old when my little brother graduated from high school.  I spent lots of time with my girlfriends at Melissa's bachelorette party and beautiful wedding. Daniel and I went on a gorgeous summer hike at sunset, and I decided to write down our love story.

• In July, Daniel and I took a mini-trip up to the cabin. We celebrated the 4th of July and the 24th of July with lots of fireworks, and I made revolutionary berries. We went on several summer adventures, including the art's festival, the temple, and our favorite, The Hogle Zoo. 

• August was a big month for us! On the 16th, we celebrated our ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY! I also invented wedding week so I could post lots of wedding photos on the blog. I started student teaching 6th grade, and took way too many classes on top of it. I shared my first confession-of-a-teacher-in-training post, and had some hilarious conversations with Daniel.

• September was a blur of classes for both of us, but I did have time to share a quote, a teacher-confession, the A-Z of M & D, and some thoughts.

• In October, we celebrated my 22nd birthday, and my students threw me the most darling surprise party ever. I also made Salsa with my mom, and spent a long week home alone while Daniel went on the elk hunt and shot a 6-point bull! We also went to the pumpkin patch and celebrated Halloween as a CSI agent and the SWAT team.

• In November, we had a great Thanksgiving! I was still drowning in classes and thinking about the stages of first year teaching, but we had a lot of fun hanging out with family over the holidays and going on dinner dates together. Oh, and we spilled an entire melted candle on our carpet.

• In December, we experienced a lot of mini-miracles. The fact that I made it through finals week alone was a miracle! We celebrated our second Christmas together, played a shepherd and a wise man in the nativity, and I threw my very first Christmas potluck! We also made resolutions for 2012 together, and had a lot of fun ringing in the new year at a friend's cabin.

Well 2011, you were a year packed with adventures! We are sad to see you go, but we're so excited to see what 2012 has in store for us! 

Lots of Love,

M & D

Dear Salt Lake City,

We think you're really pretty at night.

Much love,

M and D

Thank you.

Dear D,

Thank you for texting me in the middle of the day just to see how I'm doing.

Thank you for choosing to go to the store with me instead of watching your basketball game.

Thank you for always supporting me in everything, even if I'm being a little irrational.

Thank you for working so hard at your job so that I can go to school.

Thank you for always getting me extra blankets when I'm 'too cold' to get them myself.

Thank you for giving me the wisest advice.

Thank you for laughing with me every single day.

Thank you for always being the first to apologize.

Thank you for hugs.

Thank you for kisses.

Thank you for loving me exactly the right way.

D, you're the perfect husband. Thanks for being all I ever dreamed of.

I love you.

Love, M