6th Anniversary

 Happy SIX years of marriage to us.  Very fortunate, grateful and lucky to have a wonderful husband, who provides and cares for us and is the reason why I am able to stay home with my little lovey like I always wanted. 

 For our first anniversary as a family of 3 we decided to all go out for a sushi lunch.  It was our first time getting sushi since we left Japan.  We got Japanese beers, appetizers and couldn't even finish the massive plate of sushi we ordered.  It was delish and we will totally be going back.  The place made us feel like we were right back in Japan. 

 After lunch we headed over to Home Depot and that just seemed like icing on the cake for our sixth anniversary celebration.  Nothing like Home Depot on a date to say we've been married for forever and this is what we do now. 

 Brad and the indoor sparkler to give me flowers and presents.  My big present was a Kate Spade baby bag and he gave that to me before Christmas!  His birthday/Christmas and anniversary present was a high end iPad mini. 

The day was completed with wine and almond raspberry cake on Tiffany china we got as a wedding present from my sister.

It was a nice day, full of memories and thoughts on how far we've come.  We have done so much in 6 years!! It's really incredible.

5 year anniversary

 

5 years ago today I was a bride!  This day might have only been 5 years ago, but it feels like forever ago.  Mostly because we have done SO much in the last 5 years.  We've moved a bunch of times, lived overseas for almost 3 years and for those 3 years Brad was gone for a lot of it, we've taken more amazing vacations than most people take in a lifetime, and we've managed to finally get on the same page about starting a family now that I'm actually pregnant! 

 

"Dedication, love, and joy can grow only when you nourish them together.
Stand fast in that hope and confidence, having faith in your shared destiny
just as strongly as you have faith in yourselves and in one another today.
Only with this spirit can you forge a union that will strengthen and endure all
the days of your lives." -from our ceremony

 

These 5 years have not breezed by easy-peasy.  There have been numerous challenges to overcome and difficult patches to work through. Marriage takes work and 2 people that want to work at it.  If someone told me 5 years ago today all the things that Brad and I have gone through together I wouldn't have believed them!  Life and marriage isn't smooth sailing.  It's about finding that person that can weather the storm with you and even pluck you out of the sea when you're sinking. 

So here we are, right at the end of our wedding ceremony after we said our vows and right before our first kiss as husband and wife.   

"May this day shine eternally in your lives.
May it add brilliance to every achievement and cast a divine light over any misfortune.
May you care for each other in all sadness.
May you give cheer to each other.
May you give vitality to each other in all undertakings.
May all that is virtuous, beautiful and honest, remain with you always." - the blessing at the end of our ceremony.

Happy 5 year anniversary to my wonderful, adoring husband.  This is quite an adventure we're on!

Royals!

I am WAY more excited about this than I probably should be, but OMG!!!

I've got it on TV while I'm looking here, http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/ and here, http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRoyalChannel.

Ahhhh I love weddings -- especially ROYAL ones!! So excited. I can't wait to see her dress! Going out to Naha tonight to toast the royal couple.

3 Years of Bliss

Three years ago today I was at the Officers Club in Pensacola saying I Do to the most amazing man I love with all my heart. I walked down the aisle at the outdoor ceremony on my Daddy's arm to Cannon in D being played on the harp.






"I, take you, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us." Brad and I sat down together and planned the wedding ceremony and I believed in every word with my whole heart. We had readings from “On Marriage” by Kahlil Gibran and “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann. My best friend and writer actually wrote me the most beautiful reading and brought me to tears.

The reception was at the Officers Club as well and looking back I still have the most overwhelming feeling of love. Of being surrounded by all the people I care most about in the world, all of them coming great distances to be there since no one lived in Pensacola except Brad and I. I do remember being overwhelmingly happy.

Sure, the day had hiccups such as the fire alarm going off in the middle of the reception, having to go outside as the firemen went in and letting my photographer talk me into doing a photo shoot on the fire truck.

Otherwise the day was wonderful and as you can expect a wedding to be. We had our first dance as a friend of ours played our first song on the piano. I danced with my Daddy to Take Me Out To The Ballgame, the first song he ever taught me to sing. Yes, we had bad music (the DJ played everything on my do-not-play list) and we danced to it anyway, we cut the beautiful wedding cake, I tossed my bouquet, Brad scandalously went after the garter under my dress and we smiled for what felt like a million pictures.

I never felt happier, luckier and more love than on my wedding day. It was because of my incredible husband, but also because of my amazing family and friends that made the day so very special for me. Everyone, especially my mom and sister, went to the moon and back for this wedding that we put together in 3 months.

At the end of the reception we did a night shoot on the beach. I absolutly loved my wedding and I hope you all enjoyed sharing our special day with you!