A Walk Down Memory Lane

10 years ago today Matt and I had our first date.

Who would have thought that a single date could change your life.  Not me.  Matt has said it was love at first sight for him... for me, it was that Matt was intriguing.  He was confident but not a show off.  He was a gentlemen but not weak.  It didn't help that he was incredibly handsome. 

10 years later.

Laughter, tears, so much fun, bumps in the road.... 

I couldn't ask for a better husband or best friend.

Brad Paisley concert

Wedding

Honeymoon.  I had "monica" hair and braids were a must. 

Indians Game

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

New Years Eve Wedding

Paris

Potted Potter! 

Indians Game

Another Indians Game

Summer Wedding.

Daddy after work

Gabe gives Matt just enough time for him to eat dinner when he gets home for work before it's time to play. On the docket for most nights is basketball.  Some nights Gab'es legs need to "take a break" so he sits next to his daddy and they take turns shooting hoops.

What could be better than watching a dad and a son play ball together?  Getting caught red-handed sneaking pictures and getting a big old "cheese" in response. 

Glasses Off

If you ever hear Gabe yell "glasses off," be prepared.  Be very prepared.  It means he is ready to wrestle and he is coming after you.  His favorite wrestling partner is his Daddy and there's no doubting Gabe's fun when you hear his high pitched squeals, deep belly laughs and his pleas for more (or for mommy to go away).

The smile says it all.  

As evidenced above Matt doesn't even always have time to change out of his work clothes before the glasses come off and the laughter starts. 

Father's Day

Blessed.  When I think about Father's Day that is the word that comes to mind.  Gabe and I are so blessed to have Matt as the daddy in this household.  He is such a great daddy to Gabe; he's definitely the more fun one out of the two of us and the laughs he elicits from Gabe are just too sweet.  Daddy is the only one who gets Gabe to do that deep, belly laugh that is like music to my ears. 

 

Besides being so much fun, Matt is just an awesome dad.  He's firm with Gabe when he needs to be, lenient at the right times and loves Gabe for exactly who God made him to be.  He encourages him, builds him up and is already teaching him how to be a good, godly boy. 

 

This pair.  Not only did God Give me the perfect husband to raise my children with, he gave my children exactly the father that they need.

 

 

 

We celebrated Father's Day be sleeping in (YAY!)  and then meeting the other father's in my life at the Vermilion Fish Festival. 

My dad is the definition of a good father.  He worked hard to raise his children, he loved us sacrificially and did his best to teach us right and wrong.  My brother's and I were so blessed to have a dad who loved us as completely as he did and are even more fortunate that although we have all entered adulthood and started our own families, he is always willing to go the extra mile to help us. 

 

My brothers... well, it's been a fun ride watching them go from brother's who spent equal amounts of time teasing me and loving me to devoted fathers.  They are such good fathers; dedicated to raising their sons to be the best that they can be and I am so honored to call them my brothers.

My favorite 9 guys! And with 9 men ranging from 3 to well, I won't tell you how old my dad is, it was impossible to get them all to look at the camera at the same time.  Alas, a Father's Day picture nonetheless.

Seven

From there....

 

The best man being funny...

The best man being slightly inappropriate!

 

 

 

 To here....

 

It seems nearly impossible that 7 years have passed since we said "I do" in front of God and our family and friends. 

We were so young and in love.  We're still completely in love just not quite as young.  Perhaps even 7 years older - ha!

I am so thankful the Lord gave me Matt.  He is everything that I'm not and so much more.  Matt is my anchor in this crazy world of adoption and parenthood and always helps keep me strong when I just want to be weak. 

I'm crazy in love with him and can't wait to see what the next 7, err 50 years bring!

Awesomeness

Moving from Houston to Ohio was a blessing in many ways; the biggest being Gabe will be growing up with his cousins and grandparents close by.  On the flip side we left the land of sun and our new house.  Our new house with beautiful bathrooms.  Sounds trivial, I know but the bathroom at our house in Ohio was really, well, gross.  I mean, prior to moving out it was clean but the tiles that were on ALL the walls were stained and some broken, the tub was stained, walls were peeling... it was gross.  I used more elbow grease then I knew I had to clean it but the stains remained.  Add to the fact that we had 3 guys in their 20's renting our house while we lived in Ohio and the bathroom was just a hot mess. 

 

Then Matt stepped in.  With the help of our brothers, he completely renovated our bathroom.  Took out the disgusting tub, ripped out the plaster walls and the dated tile that covered each wall.  Matt worked from early morning to late at night when we came to Ohio in early December and then when we officially moved back he had a few more long days of work.  But the result?  Well.. suffice it to say that the bathroom is now my favorite room in the house!

 

Our  bathroom:

new tub

new toilet

new vanity

insulated walls

new window

fresh paint

refinished wood floors

beautiful tile surrounding our tub

 

It's a brand new bathroom in a 100 year old house.  I love it! 

 

A little peak into our beautiful bathroom.

 

One of my favorite scriptures hanging about the towel rack.

 

Beautiful tile laid by Matt lines our shower .  The tile around the tub and the hand sanded and stained wooden floors are my favorite parts of the bathroom.  The company that redid our wood floors upstairs said the wood was to weak for their equipment, so my darling husband, knowing my love for wood floors and my desire to have the bathroom look in my mind, classic spent extra time sanding and staining them.  He's a great guy, I tell you!

 

 

And the awesomeness... the crème de la crème of the bathroom...

 

Our Harry Potter decal on the toilet.  It reads "This way to the Ministry of Magic"  and makes me smile every single time I walk into the bathroom.  Every.  Single.  Time.  I tell you.