TAGGED

Been married? 400 months! That is, 33 1/3 years on April 21st.
Ages? Dad is 59, mom is57
Eats more? Probably mom. Dad is at work, mom is too near the kitchen sometimes.
Said "I love you" first? Dad, I think.
Dad is taller [5'11" vs. 5' 6"] and sings better, too. He's basically well trained musically by comparison, but we both enjoy music together and that includes many styles, from blue grass to classical.
I think we're smart but in different ways and subjects. People, university leadership & organization = dad; history, geography = mom. We "complement" each other in this and other areas. There is still so much to learn!!
TV remote? Mom in the day [HGTV and MASH], Dad mostly at night. Usually like the same types of shows...mom doesn't like magic shows, though.
Temper? Dad never gets verbally upset, so has to be mom. I make up for him. Girls would agree, I think.
Laundry? Mostly mom, but dad will do it if she's away.
Dishes? Dual duty...and that is much appreciated.
Right side of bed? Mom--it's by the alarm clock, and I sleep lighter than dad.
Cooking? 99.9% is mom for both baking and cooking--except for waffles. Often heard these days is "Let's eat out." With just the two of us, we can share entrees and save.
Stubborn? It's a draw. We both have lived long enough to like things our own way.
Admit wrong first? I won't go there.
Seeing whose parents most? We both visit our own about once a year. AS we've gotten older, we spend less time with the in-laws. Without grandchildren to take and visit, it has simplified our lives some to do it separately.
Friends? Dad has more associates from work adn teaching. Mom's friends are few and treasured. [She's really picky and many perceive her as "quiet" and harder to get to know. Those who are close in enough know the real person.]
Siblings? We each had 3, though dad's brother Robert Ray Neal was deceased before Bill was born. Mom has brothers, Dad has sisters living.
Wears the pants? We both do. Mom runs the finances and gets taxes done [jointly decide on investments, though], household interior upkeep & garage, and washes/maintains the car, runs most kid-errands and grocery shopping/cooking/cleaning/laundry; Dad works to provide the primary income, helps determine most social/business engagements, takes care of yardwork, outdoor window washing, and floor care/carpets and some minor house repairs. We've been at this a long time and have done things this way for many, many years. It works for us.
I don't know who else to tag!! :D

May is My Favorite Month!

May 16th--a birthday celebrating day for Mary Hauschildt, my niece Julie, and Lisa's mom. This month/day usually has much going on, especially since it's a Friday, too. Trevor's first May Day Festival was held. His Bright Beginnings preschool danced two numbers. I hadn't seen a May Day in YEARS, so that was special to attend this one in the BYUH Cannon Center. Lindsey has already posted the videos online. She is the Blogger Queen!! Other events for me today were teaching a family history workshop for IAAP on campus. It was well received, with about 22 or so attending. A quick trip home to change, and back to the FHC for my Friday shift until 4 p.m. The day isn't done yet!!

Just one more quick trip home to change into walking clothes for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life at Laie Elementary. Lindsey and Kyle joined me for my first celebratory round [dedicated to survivors and caregivers]. How special it was to have this representation of my life these past eight and a half years--a married daughter [I have 4 grown daughters, 3 now married] and a grandchild [I have 3.7]. To me, being a survivor means having a "birthday" every day! I cherish any day I live without cancer even though cancerphobia will always remain with me. Too hard to get over that, but I'm grateful for all in my careful, compassionate medical team who keep me keeping on. Tonight I walked 10 rounds, as I'd hoped to do--one for each of the 8.5 years I've lived since I was diagnosed, and 1.5 to grow on. Nice people to visit with were there, and it had always been a wish of mine to participate in one. It's nice do what I need to do to make my wishes come true and it was great to share it with my loved ones.

More birthday news...My baby Megan celebrated her 18th birthday in some unusual ways on Wednesday, May 14. We started with a "b and b style" breakfast...loved those beautiful, ripe strawberries and fun things on fancy dishes. We've moved past donuts, I guess?? since that was being served in seminary that day anyway. A Subway was requested for lunch, so I took that to her at lunch time on the short day. There was a new "Guitar Hero" cd added to her collection from Christen so those two enjoyed some time here playing that while I ran some errands. Fun until time to go to the KHS awards night at Hale Kuai. Megan received an English class award. Her teacher was there to present her with a journal; mom gave the lei for the combined birthday and award. A box luau was Megan's dinner at the PCC where the event took place. I helped her eat the lomi lomi salmon.

May was memorable for Mother's Day and travel, too, and temple time--with more celebrating in Pennsylvania for Jenny and Aaron's special graduation and luau. We really loved the time with them in Lock Haven. Even though we were 5000 miles from Hawaii, a yellow carnation lei was made for me to wear on M. Day and precious emails were shared! Many sweet memories and moments were spent with the Jensen Ohana East. Lock Haven is a special place, for sure. The Palmyra days, temple time, road trip to Fabius and back, with some unplanned adventures --like smelling lilacs and seeing gorgeous tulips--made this a great time away from the usual. Megan was in good hands here with Aaron and Erin Nelson.

Visiting my mom and seeing cousins and Mary and Gaylord started the month off well. It's a shopping haven in DM, so now baby Howe will be dressed for the season when we get that far in July. Visiting with people, special ladies, from my growing up years was a treat, too. Mom is looking and acting really good--such a great thing to witness compared to her recovering last time I visited.

And then there are the mIlestones...Life doesn't usually have this much variety in it for me. This May, special as it is, is indeed unique. So many "one last time" events will be passed...seminary has already ended, graduation for seminary is coming this Sunday [Megan speaks], then the last day of class, then graduation, then our life involved with Kahuku will end after 16 years. And I smile, because in the fall, Trevor begins kindergarten. One Christmas letter of ours said something like A family is a circle...it never ends...we truly we are! And THAT is what is JOY.