Eight Years Married

8 years ago on our wedding day

This last Saturday, Will and I celebrated eight years of being man and wife.  There are always ups and downs in marriage (if not, please give me your secret!), but this eighth year of our odyssey has been superb. It will go down as a happy one for me. This year, we have both transitioned more into the people we are becoming; improving things within our grasp and making plans for our future. I feel closer to my husband and think that we are working better as a unit and appreciating the other as individuals. This year has given me insight into how blessed I tuly am to have connected with this man 10 years ago. Looking back, I can see how the two of us trusting the universe and embarking on a journey together has brought us unbelievable joy.

To celebrate, we spent a kid-free night out on the town! We started at a gorgeous vineyard, Sweet Cheeks, where we enjoyed a tasting, then sat outside with a glass of our favorite wine.  The wine really was delicious. 

We had a quick rain shower, that did its thing and then made way for beautiful sunshine.

Then we went to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in this town, The Vintage. It serious was so good! We tried something new, Fondnachos. OMG! Seriously, AMAZING!!! Fondue cheese covered the nachos! I still had to get my go to crepes. Yum! 

After dinner, we went to the Jazz Station to listen to Brazilian jazz. It was a very neat atmosphere. The night was still young so we headed to Cornucopia for some drinks and more great music.

We were so tired the next morning, but it was one of my favorite anniversary dates.

Celebrating 7 Years

Anniversary Dinner

Yesterday, was our 7 year anniversary. It has gone by so fast...but when looking back at when we first got together it does seem ages ago. So much has happened since then. We have lived a lot in those seven years. Seattle was our gift this year, but Will managed to steal the show (again) with the card he gave me. I am not going to lie, I was in tears. It was so sweet and just summed up where we have been and where we hope we are going. I am one lucky gal. I cherish those words more than I could any gift. I love my husband so much.

 

We had babysitters in the area, so we headed to Eugene for dinner. We chose a new place, Ox and Fin. It had a great ambiance and the food was delicious. We started with grilled pear appetizers. I was not sure about cooked fruit, but I loved it. Then I ordered a rigatoni dish (delish) and will had a fancy steak dinner (also delish). I tried a new drink (I was being adventurous) a bourbon with fruit puree, soda water and lemon. So good!

 

The past 7 years have been filled with its own share of ups and downs - but I would not change any of it. We are the couple we are because of everything. I am so fortunate to have found my best life partner and my best friend. Love you honey!

 

Seattle!!!

The beginning of our trip
 

Hanging out with cousin Riley

At an Irish pub

Will and I went on vacation last week. It was so nice to get away. Part of his vacation was spent at home taking care of things around the house...The end of it was spent in Seattle! We had such a good time. In true Pacific Northwest style, the start of our trip was pouring down rain. If it had to rain at least it was at the beginning while we were driving. This trip was an early anniversary celebration. We will have been married 7 years at the end of next month. Crazy! It has gone by so fast. We went to dinner at a fancy restaurant in downtown Seattle. Afterwards we enjoyed a dessert at my favorite, The Melting Pot. There we were joined for drinks by Will's cousin, Riley. It had been such a long time since we saw him. He is such a sweet, bright guy. Definitely a joy to be around.

The next morning, we headed to Pike Place. On our way, we saw the Olympic Garden (I believe that is the correct name) that had a walkway filled with art.

A piece of art that allows you to hear sounds when sitting there

Neat headphones!

Pike Place

Pike Place was very neat. There were a lot of great vendors with neat things to sell. We bought a new piece of art for our house. Of course, we saw the fish market. Very neat. I have never been on a ferris wheel, so we were going to ride the one on the docks...but I wanted the traditional experience where it is an open seat. We ate lunch at the Fisherman's Restaurant and Bar. It was delicious! I had clam chowder and calamari. It was nice enough that we ate outside overlooking the water.

It was huge!

Where we had lunch

Such a beautiful view

Since it was my first time, we had to go see the Space Needle. Such a sight to see. I am so glad we went. We decided against going up. I did not feel the need.

The Space Needle

Go Orioles!!

We had tickets to go see the Mariners play our favorite team, Baltimore Orioles. We were amongst a small group wearing orange that day (but more than I expected). The stadium is amazing! The food is awesome. It was a pretty cold night, so we had to give in and buy a Seattle Mariners blanket. You can see how excited Will was below. Such traitors. Although, Will likes the Mariner's OK. He just likes Orioles better! I am an Orioles and Nationals fan. Sorry Seattle. The blanket was nice and warm though. Orioles won!! It was Knit and Pitch night. So many ladies gabbing and knitting away.

so cold

Walking back to the hotel

The view from the top of our hotel

 

 

 

Pike Place

I love sailboats

 

A very neat city

 

Our hotel

 

We did not have time this trip, but next time I really want to see the Fremont Troll. It sounds so neat.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

6 Years

Will and I were fortunate this year to celebrate our anniversary sans kids for more than just a quick dinner. We stayed in downtown Portland for a night. We had a blast hanging with some old friends from our Barnes and Noble days after our dinner date. We had not seen them for at least 7 years. Way too long. I am having so much fun catching up with our west coast friends. 

Will tried beer on nitrogen at one bar. We had never had it before. It was interesting. I stuck to my current drink of choice; mojitos. I tried it at my work "goodbye" after hour and have been hooked ever since.

So, 6 years...what a journey so far. I am blessed with such a supportive, loving and fun husband. Life is good...love is fabulous!

As usual Will did an amazing job at gifts. The traditional gift was iron. We both had the same idea and fudged it a bit by doing something from the "Iron Age". Still works. Will got me a piece of terracotta statue that was believed to be in one of the temples of the gods in Greece. Speechless here. It is dated somewhere between the 3rd and 1st century B.C. My man knows me too well. Perfect. He also got me this cute (modern day) piece of pottery that looks adorable in our green (or Celtic bathroom).

I had looked to get something for Will that aged during the timeframe but it sadly did not work out. I did find him a cool harp that would have been the choice instrument during that age.

Here's to an amazing 7th year!!!



      ~ Love, Hugs &; Kisses ~ 

            The B Family

5 Amazing Years

Will and I are celebrating 5 years today!  Happy Anniversary honey!!! After a day of celebrating, he is finishing his football draft for fantasy (since I am the sweet wife that I am)...  We had such a great day.  We kept it low key, which was perfect.  I am still a little jet-lagged and we rarely get time alone without the kids...so we just had fun.  We had breakfast out, drank our coffee slowly (really enjoying it), looked around some shops, went bowling, played pool and enjoyed a nice lunch out.  A perfect day.  This was the first time Will and I bowled together.  I was horrible.  I have not played in years, but it was fun and something I would not mind picking up again. We try not to make celebrations about gifts.  I do not want to know that I am going to get some kind of jewelry every time we are celebrating something. Do not get me wrong, I love jewlery like most woman, but... I would rather that be a true surprise.  Plus, how often would I wear that many diamonds or other jewels. We do have fun following the traditional gifts.  Usually it is something small, but it is so fun trying to come up with clever little things.  This year was wood.  Since I was in Korea, I got some traditional wood masks for marriage.  I think they are adorable.  Funny but so cute.  Will got me the neatest wooden globe for our travel-themed guest room.  It is perfect and just want I needed.

I am so blessed to have such a caring and loving husband.  He is so good to me - he just spoils me with attention, love and gifts.  I am truly blessed.  To add to that he is so good to our kids.  Colin and Meli have lucked out so much in the father department.  I fall in love with him even more when I see how he is with both of them. 

Here is us 5 years ago.  It has gone by so fast.

Here is us today...5 years later.

And us being silly...

Love you babe!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

 The B Family

4 Years

Will and I just celebrated 4 years of marriage at the end of August.  I cannot believe it has been that long.  We have been through a lot together, good & bad - I am thankful for it all!  Every detail has made us who we are as a couple.  I am a very lucky woman.  Lucky to have a sweet husband, a caring lover, a fair partner and a loving father to my kids.  Lucky.

Here are some quotes that when I read made me think of our relationship in some way. 

"Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along". Rumi

"I love you, for putting your hand into my heart and passing over all the foolish, weak things that you can't help dimly seeing there, and for drawing out into the light all the beautiful belongings that no one else had looked quite so far enough to find". Roy Croft

"In marriage, each partner is to be an encourager rather than a critic, a forgiver rather than a collector of hurts, an enabler rather than a reformer". H. Norman Wright and Gary J. Oliver

Honey - I love you and am so thankful for our 4 years of marriage. Thank you for putting up with me and loving me only the way that you can.

Wedding day 2007

2nd Anniversary - hiking

3rd Anniversary - Mt Vernon

4th Anniversary

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

 The B Family

We Should be Better

After 4 years of taking the 'couple' picture we should be better...but were not.  So not.  When I take it, I am too short and always get weird angles.  When Will takes it he usually has me in a little corner of the picture.  When we made another attempt after our anniversary dinner on Saturday (because Will is not a fan of cameras I save my request for a 'couple' picture for special occasions so he cannot refuse) we ended up with quite a few shots that were just, all over the place! 

Attempt #1

Attempt #2

Attempt #3 LOL

Attempt #4 - we are getting better

Last attempt - we at least had fun!

The sad thing is that Will's phone lets you see what you are taking a picture of! Maybe he does weird angles on purpose...  Gotta love him!

Today is our actual anniversary.  4 years!!  It has been a blast so far and I am sure there will be many more crazy adventures to come!  Love you honey!  Happy Anniversary!

Oh, a bonus picture because this mama is so proud that she can fit into a new dress that she bought after Meli's arrival as a 'skinny' dress for motivation! 

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

 The B Family

An Amazing Weekend

Our anniversary weekend was wonderful!  We enjoyed alone time at Mt. Vernon, family time on Saturday at the water feature and at home, then on Sunday we did some house work that Bill and Patty came up to help with.  Great times!  Here are some pictures from our weekend that I haven't posted yet.

Getting ready our day at Mt. Vernon

Happy Anniversary to us!

My Lil C

His viking that Bill and Patty got for him!

He loves it!

Thank you to Bill and Patty for helping us paint our shutters and door yesterday.   The sun was brutal but it looks so good! Thank you!!!