2 Years

2 years ago at this time, the doors to the church opened wide and I got to see my husband waiting for me at the end of the aisle. It's hard to imagine that two full years have past since that day because I remember it like yesterday. As we were reminiscing about our wedding the other day, we both agreed that it was the absolute most fun day of our lives. {We are hesitant to say best because that may be reserved for Norah and any other kids that may join our family!} 

A lot has happened in our lives in the past two years and life is going by quicker than we would like. However, not many days go by that I don't think about our wedding day. Each time I think about it, a smile washes over my face. 

I'm so lucky to have my best friend by my side each and every day. No one else in this world can understand me and make me laugh like he does. Norah is so lucky to have him as her daddy. 

10 years ago when I met him, never in a million years did I think this would be our life. I couldn't be more thankful and blessed that it is though. I'm so proud of everything that we've accomplished together and can't wait to see what else life has in store for us. 

Of course, I often wish we could go back and relive our wedding and honeymoon. That was an amazing time in our lives. Because we can't, I'll hold memories and pictures so very close to my heart -- especially today.  

Happy Anniversary, Kurt. I love you more than you'll ever know. Thank you for all that you do, especially simply being you. 

Thanksgiving Break - Night 1

Our Thanksgiving Break was so great! I'm lucky to teach at a school that I love and that has great perks! Each year, we get Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday off school to celebrate Thanksgiving. So, officially my break began at 3:20 on Tuesday afternoon. Kurt and I decided that we should do something fun on Tuesday night to celebrate. We've been wanting to see A Christmas Carol and thought it would be a perfect night. There is an IMAX theater downtown Indy not too far from our house. We went to the later showing, so not many people were there. The popcorn was horrible, but the movie was great! We'd both recommend it, just not for young kids. It's a little scary...there were definitely parts when I jumped in my seat! Seeing it in an IMAX made it even more realistic and fun....even if you look goofy!!!

If it wasn't so expensive to see movies at the IMAX, we'd be there more often! Hope you get out to see the movie as well!

I can't wait to share with you the many, many things we did this weekend to decorate our house for Christmas. Here's a sneak peak....

 

dreaming

Sorry about my short blogging hiatus. Work last week was full of drama and very busy....

This was a much needed weekend that ended up going way too fast!

I don't have much inspiration right now considering I had to be at work today at 6:45 am.

Lately, I've been dreaming of my family's yearly trip to Cabo San Lucas.

We always go the Saturday after Christmas and stay through New Years.

Not trying to wish away this time of year, but it will feel fabulous when I spend a week looking at this....

Happy Birthday!

Today is Kurt's 25th Birthday!

{This marks his seventh birthday we've shared together!}

Cheers, to you babe.

I can't wait to spend many, many more birthdays together.

I hope you have a fabulous day.

I love you!!

six years ago...

...I was very sleepy as I drove to school as a senior in high school. As I sat in my car listening to music, I wished I was in Bloomington, IN. The night before, Kurt and I stayed up late talking on the phone. We decided that we were going to begin officially dating. Six years ago, I started dating the love of my life.

I love thinking back to all of the amazing things we've experienced together. Butterflies fill me up when I think of our future. I know it's going to be more than I can imagine. I know because it already has been better than I could have ever dreamed.

I am one lucky girl.
Thanks for being amazing.
I love you, Kurt!

refreshed

Today I spent the afternoon at the spa relaxing thanks to a fabulous birthday present from my lovely boyfriend!! I was well overdue for a much needed facial. I decided that while I was pampering my face, I might as well pamper my body a little too! I've never had a hot stone massage before and thought I'd give it a go. Both were wonderful and I can't wait to go back again soon. {Realistically it won't be for eons, but one can wish right?}

My trip to the spa has left me completely unmotivated even though I have a gazillion things to do in the next 3 weeks. I was feeling a little overwhelmed last night so I made Kurt and I a color coded calender complete with 4 colors {blue-Kurt, purple-me, green-both, and orange-events}. While I've only been adding things to the list since last night, I can't wait to start checking things off and kick this moving stress to the curb {even though I r e a l l y don't want to move away from Kurt and Cooper}. 

Well, gotta run .... just thought of more "to-do's" for my calendar that's becoming more colorful by the minute! 

lonely

I'll be honest - there have been evenings when Kurt has a meeting and I've been excited to come home and spend some alone time. I think I want to take back all of those nights I felt that way...

Because of his job, he has a very flexible schedule. He works when other people can meet with him, which normally ends up being in the evening. Also, because of the economy, he has decided to try and find a part-time job to help with some extra cash. He found a job opening at a company that would fit into his schedule...this means if he gets the job he'll be working nights {think 9pm-4am}. He was scheduled to have the interview today. When I texted him this afternoon while at work to see how the interview went, he told me that it wasn't at 11am, it's not until 11pm! So, not only did he have a meeting tonight, he'll be coming home to change/eat dinner and then be heading out again to his interview.

Don't get me wrong, some extra cash around here would be very nice! But, while I'm sitting here watching hockey and drinking a beer by myself, I'm starting to realize how much it's going to suck when he's gone every night.

Every vacation we go on, we always take a "sad face" picture before we leave {yes, we're dorks...I know!} This is how I feel right now...

(Julia joined us on being sad this time...)

smitten for...love 4

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The boy and I would talk on the phone about once a day. Most of the time we would talk for hours before I went to bed. I remember countless nights lying in my bed, exhausted, but not wanting to get off the phone with him. One of the first weekends he was at IU, he asked if I would come down to visit him. So I decided to drive down, but I was only allowed to go for the day. We had a lot of fun relaxing that day. At times, it was still quite awkward to be around the boy for long periods of time. I drove home that night thinking of how much fun we had sitting around all day just being with each other.

We continued to talk religiously on the phone each night until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. One Wednesday night {September 10}, the question "So, what are we?" was brought up. That night, I was no longer a single girl falling asleep in her bed dreaming about a boy. I was a giddy little girl who couldn't get her new boyfriend out of her mind.

{Almost} six years later, I still find myself in love with the amazing boy I stumbled upon during my amazing summer. We spent the first year of our relationship learning more than one could ever imagine because we spent hours talking every night. I wouldn't trade that year in for the world. Don't get me wrong, it sure was a great feeling when I finally became a freshman at IU and we lived in the same exciting and fun new world, together.

(Young and In Love - July 2004)

I met Kurt six years ago this June. I can't imagine my life without him in it. I used to dream of falling in love with someone, now I'm living my dream. He is funny, thoughtful, passionate and loving. He is a family man and loves dogs. He has big dreams for himself and our future. Sometimes I have images of our life in 50 years and all I can do is smile. I have loved being with him every day for the past six years and can't wait to enjoy the ride with him for many more years down the road.

(Still in Love - April 2009)

smitten for...love 3

The boy apparently had a wonderful time on our date. While it wasn't horrible, I wasn't having any feelings for the boy and didn't feel like I needed to talk to him all the time. But, I continued chatting with him when he would call and we continued to see each other every once and awhile when we ended up at the same places. 

That summer, it was a big deal for us to go to this comedy club by my house. The boy called one day and wanted to know if I would go to the comedy show with him. I don't really know why, but I gladly accepted. Honestly, I don't really remember anything special about this night. {The boy had to remind me years later about the events that took place...oops!} 

After the show, we went back to my parents house and hung out. I remember watching t.v. with him while laying on the couch. He was sitting up and I was laying my head on his lap. The one thing that I remember vividly is the fact that his stomach was growling ALL night and he kept having to get up and go to the bathroom. :) {I was reminded} that at the end of the evening, the boy leaned his head down towards mine for our first, very innocent kiss. 

I still wasn't totally into this boy. Why? I don't know. It was fun to hang out with him, but he really wasn't my "type." I didn't really want a boyfriend during my Senior year, especially one who was going away to college soon. 

Towards the end of the summer, a ton of people from my high school decided to go to the John Mayer concert. It was a hot, muggy night filled with dancing and gossiping. The boy called me to let me know that he was at the concert, too. We decided on a meeting place so we could chat for a minute. Our chat turned into a small make-out session. It quickly ended and we decided it was time to go back to our respective friends for the remainder of the evening. 

The summer was coming to an abrupt end and it was time for the boy to leave for IU. We had had a few discussions about our status, and both agreed it was in our best interest to remain friends. I knew that being a freshman at IU would bring many new and fun experiences, not to mention the plethora of beautiful girls whom the boy would surely become interested in.  

The night before the left for IU, I hung out at his parent's house while he packed things up. We had a fun time just hanging out together. Late into the evening, I decided it was time for me to leave. As he walked me out to my Jeep, I felt these crazy feelings that I hadn't felt for him before. We hugged and kissed for a minute, he opened my door and asked for me to put my window down. We said our one last "see you later" and kissed one more time. I drove away, wind blowing and music blasting {just like the night we met}, but this time I began to cry harder than I have ever done so in my life. Now I knew I liked this boy and he was being taken away from me. 

smitten for...love 2

Days went by and it was time for me to leave for Hawaii. I did not bring my cell phone with me on my trip. I called home a few times during those 3 weeks to check in with my parents. Friends and family sent me notes, but we got our mail one time at the end of the trip. Other than our mail, I had no contact with anyone other than my parents for those 3 weeks. 

It took me forever to get home from Hawaii. I had three different layovers. During my last layover in Detroit, I decided that I would sit at a pay phone and check my voicemail. Surprisingly I had 2 messages on my cell phone from the {very drunk} boy I had met at the "open house." And not so surprisingly, he left both of those messages after he had been drinking... But, drinking or not, he still called and left me 2 messages. 

It was great to be home and see my friends and family. Three days passed quickly and I was out of the States, again. I decided I should call the boy back to let him know I received his messages. I told him I was leaving again for a week, but he could call once I was back. 

And call he did! Almost too much! He would call for no reason or just to say hi, which would turn into 45 minute phone conversations about NOTHING. We began having conversations, but I  didn't really think anything about them. In fact, I was starting to become more and more annoyed. He told me that he knew many things about me. He said he had almost asked me to prom his Senior/my Junior year. {we went to the same high school} I didn't think this friendship was going anywhere. So, I continued on with my exciting summer plans. Our paths crossed a few times when we ended up hanging out at the same place. But, I was more focused on having fun and didn't have any interest in spending my time with one person. 

During one of our random phone conversations, it was somehow decided that we go to dinner together. Sounds great, huh? Well, not so much! Me, Miss Hopeless Romantic, and boy, Mr. Not Romantic, going on a "date." His idea of a "date" consisted of us meeting at an Italian restaurant 5 minutes from his house and 20 minutes from mine. I don't really remember anything special about dinner or me having any feelings for this somewhat awkward boy. But what I do remember is what happened at the end of dinner. Me {being a nice girl} offered to pay for my part of the dinner expecting for the boy to say, "Of course not. I've got it." But instead I heard, "Ok. I'll put the dessert {that we split} on my bill." I still remember being so shocked. I can't imagine what the look on my face was! 

I know you are thinking that I am a cheap girl and I should have been fine paying for myself. But let's get real! We were on a first "date," he didn't offer to pick me up and now I was paying for my own dinner?!? In the eyes of a hopeless romantic, that's an awful "date!" He invited me to his house to hang out for a little while because some of his friends were coming over. The boy, his friends and I sat in his basement feeling awkward until it was time for me to call it a night and go home.  

smitten for...love

I am a hopeless romantic. But, there is a slight problem...I am utterly in love with a boy who is not the most romantic person in the world!

It all began in June of 2003. I had planned on that summer becoming one of the best in my life. Those plans did not include meeting a boy or having a boyfriend, period. This was the summer after my Junior year in high school. I have to admit, to this day, Junior year was the most fun year I've ever had. {It was C.R.A.Z.Y.} I had spent the majority of my middle school days and high school career moving from boyfriend to boyfriend. After a bad break-up early in Junior year, I decided to enjoy the "single" life. It sure proved to be fun! (I will admit, the one thing I miss about being single is being able to *flirt*!) That summer, I had planned on enjoying time with friends by basking in the summer sun during the day and doing God knows what at night. 

The summer of 2003 also brought along a three week backpacking trip {"summer camp"} to Hawaii. This was the most amazing trip I've EVER been on! Think hiking to existing lava flows, learning to surf, living on a catamaran for 3 days, sleeping under the stars on the beach {while ants crawled all over you in the morning!}, hiking {with a 100 lb. pack} for 8 hours straight, and much more! After spending {a short} three days at home relishing in the memories of my trip, I boarded another plane destined for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with my parents and a good friend for a weeklong vacation. This vacation couldn't top that of Hawaii, but we sure had a ton of fun! We met boys from Canada, London and Arizona and had fun hanging out with them all week. Because I was gone for such a large part of the summer, I didn't have a summer job that year. That meant the remainder of the summer was spent relaxing and enjoying be a "kid." 

My amazing summer plans ended up becoming a reality, with the exception of one. One late evening early in June, I ended up stopping by a friend's graduation Open House. The Open House had turned into a party hours before I arrived, so I was greeted by many drunken high schoolers. I decided to make my rounds and ended up meeting a few new people along the way. Shortly after I had arrived, the party came to an abrupt end. The boy's mom had not planned on this many teenagers partying at her house and wanted all the drunken strangers to go home. My friend and I began making our way down the front walk towards my Jeep, when we were stopped by a group of boys. I'm not sure what the conversation was about, but I do remember being introduced to a few new {very drunk} boys. 

We drove away in my Jeep with the windows down and music blasting. The evening ended when I dropped my friend off and then went to spend the night with one of my best friends from 2nd grade. As we were falling asleep, I told my friend, "I met this boy tonight..."