I Dreamed a Dream 7 Years Ago

Our anniversary this year fell on a day when I was stranded in Twin Falls, Idaho at my brother's house.  I had planned on driving to Cali over Donner Pass that day, but the weather was crappy, so I just hung out with Ry and his fam.  Not that they're not AWESOME, but it wasn't the most fun I've ever had on my anniversary.....  I hate not celebrating on the ACTUAL day.  Who's with me on this?  Am I weird?  Mike thinks I'm weird and says we can celebrate any time, but I prefer the "day of" for sure. 

Luckily, Mike and I were able to celebrate our 7th Anniversary a few days after Christmas in California.  We went to see Les Miserables in the theater and then had a yummy dinner at Chevy's. Lemmetellya, you guys:  I just really like my husband.  He is good for me in so many ways- spanning from challenging to blissful.

SO:  Here's a few things about our Anniversary date:

Number 1:

I know some of you have probably married super sensitive men who are way in touch with their emotions, but that's..... not the case with me..... at all. When I almost broke up with him before we got married? NOPE.  Our wedding? Nothing.  Our sealing?  No emotions, my friends.  He is kiiiiiiind of a rock.

 I have seen Michael show emotion on a few, rare (and wonderful) occasions.  He got choked up while giving our oldest her baby blessing.  He immediately concluded the blessing and said amen.  The next time I saw him tear up was 2 years later- about ten minutes after our lil man was born.  I started to breast feed Nolan and Mike got misty eyed.  It was one of those "wow" moment's as a wife and mother. 

BUT, during Les Miserables Mike cried about 3 times.  He has loved the music of the play for years, so we were both really excited to see the movie.  When Fantine died and she has the "Cosette" flashback/hallucination scene, I looked over to see him wiping away tears.  I totally started laughing!  How insensitive of me, I know.  But I was so shocked.  He said that seeing a little blond girl and thinking of our cute little blond and being a dad and all.... he was just overcome. 
He also cried during the Empty Chairs song, then AGAIN during the final  Jean Valjean death scene. 
I loved every minute of it.  Sometimes I tell him his heart is made of stone (because I cry -literally- at everything), but that night I was sure that there's an emotional guy hidden within the man I married.  Loved it!

Number 2:
There was a funny lady at Chevy's who kept smiling at me across the dining room.  Then, she followed me in to the bathroom.  But as we were both washing our hands she turns to me and says "Oh, you are so cute!  I love your belly!  How far along are you?"  
"Uhhh, I'm actually only half way, but it's my third, so I'm showing early." (Insert uncomfortable laugh and glance at creepy lady).
"OH! That is so funny!  My husband and I have three kids as well!  Except they are really old.  We are really old!  But, you're not.  You're young. How old are you?"
(Insert more uncomfortable laughing and glancing at the door) "Oh, um.. I'm 30, actually....... well... thanks!" 
And then I quickly left the restroom and asked for to-go boxes.
I know this lady was simply trying to be nice and not trying to freak me out, but the whole exchange was a little odd.  It's not that I feel old at 30 years, but isn't it a teensy bit impolite to ask a complete stranger in a bathroom their age?  Not to mention that at that point I was only 18 weeks (I lied when I said I was half way.... sort-of... I rounded up) and I was pretty sure I just looked fat, not pregnant.  She totally ruined that false fantasy for me, so maybe I was bitter? 

Number 3:
My husband may not be a big-romantic-gesture kind of guy, but he knows how to spoil me and make me feel loved.  I need to recognize all the little things he does more instead of waiting for the overt and obvious declarations of love. 

So here's to the past 7 and many more fabulous decades to come.  The past year has been jam packed with blessings, healing, love, and happiness.  It's a good life. 

Happy 6th Anniversary, Sugar Buns!

As of December 17, 2011:  Mike and I have been married for 6 years.  What the????  How the heck did we get 6 years in without me noticing?  Ok, kidding.  But for real, it seems really quick.  I guess that's what happens when you love the stuffin' out of somebody.

Our 5th year of marriage was a DOOSY! And, frankly, I don't think every relationship could withstand all the poo that was flung our way this year.  TONS of blessings as well, no worries.

Last January I downloaded the song "Hold On" by Michael Buble' and it's kinda been our theme song this year.  (Do you love what a mush head I'm being, Janet??)  This song pretty much perfectly describes the way our year has been. Not to mention I'm IN LOVE with Michael Buble's velvety crooner voice.  *sigh*  Makes me swoon.

 Here's some of my favorite, very applicable lines :

"We are stronger here together then we could ever be alone, so hold on to me, don't you ever let me go"

"Maybe all the plans we made might not work out, but I have no doubt, even though it' hard to see.  I've got faith in us, and I believe in you and me."

"There's so many dreams that we have given up, but take a look at all we've got.  And with this kind of love, what we've got here is enough."

That last one is my favorite.  Really, isn't the love that you share with your family enough to fill any gaps life may leave you? 

You can go here to watch it on YouTube. 

I sure do love my hubby Michael.  Even if his singing voice isn't quite as smooth as Buble's :)

  For those of you who don't know my husband- he's just a great man and a great father and a great person.  He loves me and I love him, and you can't ask for a whole lot more. 

To celebrate this year we ordered Chinese take-out, put the kids to bed early, and drank sparkling cider by (Christmas scented) candle-light. 

The Chinese food was actually really good, considering the place we ordered from wrote the name of their restaurant with a sharpie on a tarp and hung it with nails above their door.  CLASSY! What can I say?  Small town beggars can't be choosers.

So, anyway, happy 6 years to us!

Here we are, in all our skinny wedding glory:

Five whole years!

On December 17th (yes, I realize I'm nearly a month late on this) Mike and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary. 

Honestly, the celebration was a little lack-luster. 

With all the moving and christmas and crazy we decided not to get too fancy.

 But, that's not a reflection on our marriage.  Marriage is still fabulous.

  I love him a lot and he loves me a lot.  We struggle through little ups and downs and stressful situations, but always seem to come through it stronger and more united. 

Anywhoo.... this year for our anniversary we decided to go to dinner and a movie.  We put the kiddos in bed early and headed off  to see Narnia. When we got there, however, the two teenage girls running the theater in Helena said that the show had been cancelled because the movie had.....broken.

  Huh? 

 While it was a little (ok, a lot) annoying, we decided not to let it spoil our night out. So, instead we went to Applebees and shared a blondie- Mike's favorite.  A few weeks later we did get to go back and see Narnia.  Go see it- it's good. 

Yay for 5 years and 2 kids and a little bit-o-crazy thrown in the mix. 

Feeling very blessed.