IT WAS A VALIANT EFFORT

On Saturday, C and I caught Telula trying to catch a dragonfly. I was laughing too hard to start my video in time to catch her full-body jumps in the air. Here's a viddy clip that sums up the cuteness (and how C and I entertain ourselves sometimes frequently).

Love that pup.

NIGHT CAM

And this is how we keep track of Lulapie at night.

IT WAS THURSDAY, JUNE 14

And this is how the morning looked.

Rise and shine, Lulabird!

Ready to walk Lulakins.

It was hot. We ended up at the beach. We always seem to end up at the beach.

Spoiled rotten, I tell ya!

And then there were three!

Peonies are a bit scary, are they not? 

There is something about that middle that makes me think of spiders.

And now, time to tackle the daily To Do list!

DIRECTORY, THE FIRST

Let it be known that today, Tuesday, June 12, 2012, will go down in history as the Lopacs' first church directory photo op. Oh, I've been in plenty of directories through the years with my family! Maybe two? (They don't update very frequently.)

But this is my first as a married lady!

You see the importance of this, yes?

The day started off quite normal.

mini-wheats (not frosted) + bananas + blackberries

(+ Khloe and Lamar... not my favorite Kardashian, but she'll do)

Daily To Do lists keep me organized.

Then I straightened my hair and picked out possible outfits. They were both on the list.

Look, no glasses! (First time since February! But that's a story for another day.)

Should I wear this?

Or this?

I went with the pink. The top left picture will be in the directory!

The bottom left picture was cute, but Christopher said we had enough recent professional pictures.

(plus we like less-posed pictures with real scenes in the background)

The bottom right picture will be blown up and given to everyone on our Christmas list.

Merry Christmas!

(but I really want one!)

(my mister is very handsome!)

FIRST-TIMER

When we bought our house at the end of last summer, we were thrilled with our yard. I've mentioned before that we have plum trees, rose bushes, an apple tree, and raspberry bushes.

One thing we had hoped for in a house was a yard big and sunny enough to grow a garden. Our backyard is perfect for a garden! Christopher tilled up a little patch of earth for me to plant. If all goes well, we'll expand next year.

One of my coworkers planted seeds with her class in toilet paper rolls. It worked so well that I did the same with my class and now I'm trying it with my garden as well.

It's amazing to see the little seedlings grow! I haven't planted them into the garden yet, so they are all basking in the sun on our driveway. I wanted to give them a head start and be able to move them inside if it got cold. Yes, it's mid-June, but what can I say? The U.P.'s weather is unpredictable! We actually had a frost warning two nights ago.

I'm excited to see how (er, if?) our garden turns out. Since I've never planted more than a few herbs in pots, I'm eager to see if my black thumb can turn green.

Also! I've never been into birds, but this (Christmas gift) hummingbird feeder outside our kitchen window has turned me into a bird watcher. Yesterday, I spotted a monarch feeding.

GOODBYE, CRANBERRY

After months of pleading and convincing from Christopher, I have upgraded my vehicle. I've always hated change, so trading in my little cranberry Saturn was difficult for me. I shouldn't get so attached to things. I know, but! The memories!

Dear Cranberry Saturn,

It's been a long, beautiful ride. We've been through so much together. You were my top pick when my little white Ford Escort got too expensive to keep up back in 2003. You didn't have power locks, windows, or STEERING (seriously, I still can't believe you didn't have power steering!), but you made up for it with your smooth ride and high miles per gallon.

You transported me all over Wisconsin, the U.P., and even downstate. You were the first car I drove over the Mackinac Bridge (eek!). Each trip we made over it was easier and more carefree.

You put up with my mix CDs and audiobooks. Wait, put up? I mean, you were rewarded with my excellent music and intellectual (or not) books.

Remember when I left you with my parents while I had an interview in Arizona? I knew they'd keep you safe until I returned. You were so good, they forgot you were there. You didn't make a peep when my stepmother backed her Jeep right on top of your hood. That was your only accident and I wasn't even there for it! Good thing they had you fixed up before I got back! 

You listened to my tears of heartache. You heard my squeals of glee and saw my double fist pumps.

You were with me through (most of) college. What fun times! I drove you home to Green Bay occasionally on weekends, and through Marquette during the week.

You were with me on my very first date with Christopher!

I drove you safely to visit Christopher for nearly a year when we dated long distance. Gladstone to Eau Claire was an exciting trip, full of anticipation. Eau Claire to Gladstone was a long, quiet trip, full of wonder of when I'd see my love again.

You got me to my interview at my current (and past) school. You kept me safe for nearly four years while I drove over 50 miles a day on back roads, easily dodging black ice and deer.

Holli and I road tripped with you. Maybe one of the most memorable trips was to Country USA. You helped shade us in the 100+ degree weather. You saw our ridiculous homemade videos. You heard us practice (yes, practice) our parts in RENT musicals. Over and over. You listened to us ask my little green Bible and radio stations for advice on the night and the future.

Two years ago, my students wrote a song about me visiting Nonie. You were in the song! One of the girls said she could change the lyrics to my new car, but I told her to keep them as is. You will be forever remembered in the line, 

Over the highway and through the woods to Nonie's house she goes

Mrs. Lopac's cranberry Saturn knows the way in the white and drifting snow.

You got me to my wedding rehearsal! And wedding appointments! And my WEDDING! On time even!

You may have logged in 166,000+ miles already, but you have plenty of life left in you, old girl. Good luck with your new owner. Hopefully she'll have as good of taste in music as me.

xoxo,

Me

My new ride, ready for years of memory making.

TRADITIONAL OR MODERN

Our first wedding anniversary is coming up! (!!!!) On April 30, 2012, we will be married for one whole year.

I explained to Christopher that there are traditional anniversary gifts, as well as modern ones. I think I am going to try to find something traditional this year for C.

He found this list in one of his books, so he took the liberty of doing a little updating before showing me his find:

Oh, Christopher...