Amish Country photos.

Last week, Eric surprised me with a family trip to Amish Country for our anniversary. Only a few hours from home, this was an area that I've been wanting to visit for a long time. And, after our three day visit to Berlin, OH? I can't wait to go back! We rented a gorgeous cottage, and spent most of our time perusing antique stores, craft shows, and thrift shops--so much fun! The town was quaint, the scenery was gorgeous, the food was fantastic, and everyone with whom we came in contact was super nice. It was a wonderfully relaxing vacation, and I loved every minute of our trip (except for that pesky head cold!). Thank you, Eric!!
Here are a few of my favorite photos from the trip...

The boys loved "swimming" in the big jacuzzi tub in our cottage!


And, nobody could get enough of the graham cracker custard dessert!

5 Years!

Five years ago, I married my very best friend in the world. Since then, we've had ups and downs, highs and lows, and most importantly, each other. We've grown as a family, we've learned how to be parents (lots of trial and error!), and we've seen our love multiplied a hundred times over. We've had some crazy rides, and I am so excited to just to keep on doing what we're doing and see what God has in store for us next!

I love you so very much, Eric! Thank you for being my husband, for caring for our family, for being an awesome daddy, for working hard, for supporting my dreams, for encouraging us, for persevering, for loving both of our boys and me, and for serving our awesome God. You are a great man, and I am honored to be your wife! Thank you for the past five years, and I look forward to at least 100 more together! :) I love you, and happy anniversary!

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Most years, I spend a day or two writing up a nice little anniversary blog entry with just the right amount of mush and sappiness, usually combined with lots of old photos and tidbits. This year, I spent most of my blogging energy for the week on yesterday's [record-breaking long!] post. I love my husband dearly, but haven't mustered the energy to romance him via blog this afternoon. If you want any more of my sappy sweet blogging, you're going to have to check out these past anniversary entries.....2010, 2011, and 2012!

Four years....

Oh, what a difference four years can make in our lives! Four years ago at this time, I was excitedly getting ready for my wedding. I had stayed up way too late the night before (stamping programs with my mom and practicing our father/daughter dance with my dad), and woke up way too early the next morning. The moment that I awoke, I realized with a panic that my earrings had been taken to our new home already. This was a huge deal to me, as the earrings were heirlooms from my grandmother, and they were my "something borrowed" (although she told me to keep them afterward!). I called my soon-to-be-husband, woke him up, and begged him to go get them before the ceremony (he obliged).
After I showered, I met my bridesmaids at the hair salon. Mindless chit-chat kept my nerves away, and I got a salad for lunch. Two bites in, and I knew there was no way I could eat it. I wasn't nervous, but way too excited to eat! We went to the church hours before the ceremony was to begin, and spent our time primping and prepping for my big day.
I felt completely relaxed (albeit very excited) all the way until the ceremony was about to begin. Everyone kept asked me if I was okay, if I was nervous; someone even if I was afraid Eric wouldn't show up! I wasn't afraid of any of those things. I knew he would be waiting for me at the end of that aisle, and I knew we wanted to be married. The only time on my wedding day that I was "nervous" was as I took my father's arm to be escorted down the aisle; he looked at me, and asked, "Are you ready?" It was a loaded question. I was ready to marry the love of my life, but I was suddenly terrified of walking down that aisle with all those sets of eyes focused solely on me. I don't like to be the center of attention, and that's what being a bride is all about! Thankfully, I didn't have to walk that aisle alone, and seeing Eric waiting at the end calmed my fears. The ceremony was a blur, but I know that it resulted in the best thing that had happened in my life thus far. I married my best friend!

After the wedding, Eric and I moved into our very first little home together. As I look back on those memories, it was as if those first two years of marriage were a continuous honeymoon. We both worked a lot, but every spare moment was spent together. We went on date nights every weekend, we spent lazy weekends at home, and we had no responsibilities other than ourselves. It wasn't until we bought our first house, and our first baby was born that the "honeymoon phase" seemed to end. We were responsible for a little life that wasn't our own, and it was a big deal. Parenthood changed our relationship with one another in more than one way, and it wasn't easy.

Eventually, we fell into some sort of a routine as a family. Our little boy grew, and so did our relationship. Then, we decided to add to our family again. Another little boy was born, and he rocked our family dynamic to the core again.

Having a strong relationship while being parents is tough. It might seem like the most sensible thing in the world--and it is. But, that doesn't make it any easier. Our time is now divided between babies when we're together, and that doesn't leave a whole lot of "us" time. Date night are fewer, lazy weekends are nonexistant, and life is made of responsibilities now. By the time both boys are asleep for the night, we hardly have enough energy to flop on the couch and attempt to reduce our 73% full DVR. We are not in the honeymoon phase any longer! But, we are in a good place. Our relationship is continuously growing and changing for the better. We are parents, and that takes teamwork, patience, and most of all, a strong relationship. Four years have given us a whole lot of changes, but I wouldn't give any of it up for the world! We are still best friends, but four years of marriage has made us so much more than that. We are truly halves of a beautiful relationship that has resulted in an amazing little family.

I love you, Eric! Happy Anniversary!!

3 years.

It doesn't seem like we've been married for three years already, but that's what the calendar claims. We've gone from shy friends to best friends, then from high school sweethearts to "Will you marry me?", and from our dream wedding to parenthood. Time doesn't stop to give us a moment to catch our breath, and it's good that way. If we could stop time, we would never have made it this far!

2004

At every major stage of our relationship, I've been the happiest that I've ever been. When he took me to prom? I was thrilled. When he asked me to be his girlfriend? I was elated. When he pulled a diamond ring out of his pocket? I was over the moon! When he said, "I do"? I couldn't breathe. And when I watched him fall in love with our newborn son? I was overwhelmed.

2010

And now? I am absolutely happier than I have ever been--I've got an amazing husband who loves me, and we have a darling little boy who means the world to us. I am so incredibly blessed and thankful.

It doesn't matter whether or not we have a weekly date night anymore because what we have is more than that. He's seen me at my best, and he's seen me at my worst; he's been there when I've won, and he's been there when I've been at my most vulnerable. He's my knight in shining armor--whether we're in our best attire or just watching TV in sweats.

Prom, 2003

Eric, I love you. I an honored to be your wife, and I am so very proud of you! You have accomplished more in a few short years than most people know, and more than many people ever do. You work hard, yet you always make our family a priority. You are an amazing husband and a wonderful daddy--we are so very blessed to have you in our lives. Thank you for being you. I love you, and Happy Anniversary!

My Husband.

     Two years ago today, I married my very best friend in the world.  Eric and I met in a high school Spanish class, and it's been a whirl of romance, travel, and adventure ever since!  He truly is the love of my life, my partner, my other half, my husband.  We've had our ups and downs, but the journey has been amazing--and it gets better every day!  I cannot even begin to imagine my life without Eric.  He is everything I could want in a husband and a father for our son.  Eric works hard to provide for us, and he is always striving to better himself.  I admire him greatly, and I am beyond blessed.

     I love you, Eric!  Thank you for five years of dating, two wonderful years of marriage, and our beautiful son!  It still boggles my mind that a tiny bit of me, a tiny bit of you, and a whole of miracle gave us such a precious child to raise together.  You're an amazing daddy and a wonderful husband.  I cannot wait to see the next twist in this road that is our life.  I love you more than ever!