A story I've never told

8 years ago today. It was a Sunday. Rainy. My dad talked with his after church, and we got the thumbs up. I was not quite 19. He was newly 21. We held hands in the car. I forget the actual words he said, sorry babe, but he officially asked to court me.

Our story starts a few months back though. We had "known" each other for 7ish years at that point. We went to the same church, and he was friends with my older brother. But other than that we were pretty oblivious of each other. I was the little sister, and he was, well....Deano. The beginning of 2005, my older brother was finally "allowing" me to hangout with his group. We had church on Saturday nights at that time, and a bunch of young people would typically go out to dinner afterwards or hang at someones house. Over time I was no longer just the little sister, but was actually being noticed as...a GIRL.

Our group eventually evolved into a core group of people, with me, my brothers girlfriend and another girl being the only females among the boys. Needless to say, I began to get a lot more attention from them, Dean included. But being that I was one of two single girls around, I knew that it was only natural to be the center of their attention, so I took it all with a grain of salt...at first. Over time it was becoming more and more obvious that Dean's interest in me was more than just casual flirting, and he eventually told me his feelings towards me.

At that time I was in no way looking for a relationship, but I certainly wasn't against one! I was only 18, and was enjoying life. Working, snowboarding and hanging with friends. I can't say that there was ever an aha moment that I knew he was "the one". Our relationship just naturally and gradually happened, and it just always felt right. He asked my dad's permission to court me, and then asked me. We had both of our first's date on my 19th Birthday

From the very beginning, the reason for our relationship was to one day be married. It wasn't to just have fun and see where things go. I think I can speak for us both and say that, from day one, we never once thought that we wouldn't be married.

So stinkin' young! I still had a chubby baby face for goodness sake!

Summer 2005.

Is it sad that I remember exactly why I was pissed here? We were at a family party for what was supposed to be the whole evening, and he got a text about playing poker with friends that night. He went. Hence this picture. I married him though, so I guess I forgave him.

The next 8 months we spent pretty much all of our free time together. We both still lived with our parents, with our houses being 50 minutes away from each other. We met in the middle a lot, spending our evenings eating at Subway (yuck) and playing lots of pool.

Saturday, December 24th, 2005. It was our 8 month anniversary. Just like all the past "month" anniversary's, it was a HUGE DEAL people. But it was also Christmas Eve. I asked him earlier in the week if we would be able to do something to celebrate a whole 8 months together. He said he really wasn't sure if we would be able to. Since he was planning on spending most of Christmas day with me and my family, he said he might have to be home on Christmas Eve with his. We did end up going out. It was a BEAUTIFUL winter day. 60 degrees and sunny. We met at our current favorite restaurant, Red Robin, for dinner. When he showed up wearing a new, brown, plaid dress shirt I knew what was coming. He had flowers as well, but it's the shirt that gave it away. We had dinner, most likely we both ordered the chicken teriyaki burger, and afterwards headed off to a secret location. 

Thankfully, I had been told before about some land his parents owned at the time. So, when we were driving down a dark country road, and he suddenly veered off through a ditch and into some woods I wasn't fearing for my life. He had it all set up with not one, but two fires ready to go (he knew I valued my warmth). He had a blanket, his laptop with music and a plastic bucket with the makings for s'mores. We talked, roasted marshmallows and stared at the coolest fire ever. At one point the talking eventually stopped, and we lay there side by side on the blanket in complete silence for AT LEAST 10 minutes. I knew what was coming, and realized that he was trying to work up the nerve, so I just waited. He eventually spoke, saying sweet romantic things, I am sure, and for the first time told me that he loved me.

He had told me early on in our relationship that he took those words very seriously, which I thought was super romantic and was very thankful for. I think those words are thrown around way too easily. 

Since we were both sitting down, he asked me to stand up. He got down on one knee and asked me if I would marry him. I said "Yes" and he put the most beautiful ring on my finger. 6 months later we got married, and the rest have been the best years of my life. I love you so much baby. I am proud to call you my husband. Happy 8 years!

October 2007

 November 2007

 July 2008

 June 2009

January 2010

 July 2010

September 2011

 Summer 2012

 March 2013

Our Anniversary Vacation

Dean and I celebrated our 6th year wedding anniversary this past Sunday, the 17th. We were able to plan a little getaway and had the best time! We wanted to go somewhere we could drive to without being in the car for ten hours, so we decided to re-visit the place we went to for our 1 year anniversary. It is an all-inclusive resort in Poconos, PA called Cove Haven. It is one of those cheesy sounding places with the heart shaped everything, but it is so much fun! At least for us it was. It is very activity oriented which is right up our ally.

We got there Thursday afternoon, and while checking in we were told we could have a complementary upgrade to our choice of 2 different better suites; Score! We had originally booked their cheapest room. Then he told us we could also have their most expensive suite instead for a total of $60 more (both nights and taxes and fees included in that price, no strings attached. It was at least a savings of $300!). I told Dean the descision was his, and of course he quickly accepted. Our own pool? Champagne glass jacuzzi? Heck yeah!

Here are a few (bad quality) pictures of our room!

Yes, a round bed, and "stars" on the ceiling ;-)

View from our bed; Our own heated pool! It was great having our own pool, especially since their outdoor pools were still a bit chilly. (There was also a sauna and massage table down there too!)

Champagne jacuzzi tub and living room area that also had a fireplace.

They have so many activities you can do from indoor mini golf, ice skating, tennis and racketball, there is a driving range, paddle boating on Lake Wallenpaupack or just relaxing by the heart shaped pool.

Now, if you know Dean at all you know that everything we do is a competition, with bets on the line everytime. For the most part he beat me at everything; Mini golf, air hockey (I should win something just for playing against him; Scary!), basketball, and pool (although I did beat him once, and gave him a run for his money most games.)

I made this shot. You know. In case you were wondering.

So, it may come as a surprise, especially after seeing my bad form (which I had no idea I was doing, since Dean never corrected me on it. I believe, from fear that I would beat him even more soundly), but I was kicking his butt at archery!

Elbow down = Bad form.

Elbow up, arm in line with arrow = Good form.

In Deans defense though, he did get the hang of it by our last day there and did end up beating me. But in my defense, by then I was so stinkin tired!



I wish you could see the guy taking our picture. He was totally pulling an Asian!

At 4:15pm, 4 days a week, one of the staff members, who they call the Deer Whisperer, calls out the wild deer to come for a feeding. It's pretty crazy! He walks around yelling, "Here Bambi!" and the deer come running out of the woods. He said the most deer he's had come at once was 70+, and has had a 8 point buck come too!

Each night they have some sort of entertainment...bands, comedians, etc. and usually have an audience participation game that was always amusing! It was fun getting to dress up a bit and go out for some dancing and lots of laughs!

Who is to afraid to ask someone to take a picture for them, so instead becomes innovative and props up the camera on a trash can with her make up case holding it up underneath? That's right. This girl.

It was so great to get away, just us two. Everything was perfect. The food was great. There was never a dull moment (although Dean would say that laying by the pool was pretty dull.) We have lots of fun together, and after 6 years are still pretty crazy about each other!

Aww.

5 years

I'm a bit late in writing this. It is so hard to find time these days to sit down and write!

Dean and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary last week on the 17th of June. I am so blessed to have him as mine. I don't think I let him know that as much as I should. We have definitely had our rough patches, but we truly are happy and continue to choose to love each other more than ever before.

He is a great father. He loves to go on little outings with Will. It is the sweetest thing ever watching him walk away with Will up on his daddy's shoulders to go get a slice of pizza. Spur of the moment, 20 minute outings together will make such an impact on our children. I am grateful for that. He loves his boys so much, and he would be a happy, happy man if I gave him 5 more sons. Although I am pretty certain he'd fall madly in love with a little girl too.

He is such a hard worker, you don't even know. Working (at least) 12 hour days, 6 days a week, trying to grow his business. It's not the fancy cars, jet ski's or a human catapult that he's striving for. It's wanting to provide a great life for his family that drives him.

I love that he thinks I'm hot wearing a flannel shirt and baggy sweatpants, with no make up on and my hair all a mess. Which is good, because that was a common look over the winter after having Sam!

I love that he is still super attracted to me, even after birthing two kids, and he tells me that daily.

I love having him home, and I look forward to the day that it happens more often. It makes doing the dishes or sweeping the floor so much more enjoyable just knowing he's in the other room.

We had talked earlier in the year about trying to get away for a couple days, but Sam still won't take a bottle so he couldn't be left for long. A girl from a blog I follow was celebrating her and her husbands 5 year anniversary on the same day, and they were spending it...in Paris! I told this to Dean, and he felt pretty bummy that we weren't doing anything fancy. But you know what? I didn't care! The day was about us. We had nothing to prove. Although fancy restaurants are fun on rare occasions, that isn't us. It never will be.

He took a half day, getting home around 1pm. We went out to lunch at Highland Diner with the boys, and played some Nintendo DS while the boys napped. Aunt Lydia came over to baby sit, and we went out to Sticky Lips BBQ for dinner. We stopped back home so I could nurse Sam and get the boys in bed. Then we went back out to Magnolia's on Park Ave for some dessert (some freakin' delicious desserts I might add). We were back home by 10pm, and enjoyed the rest of the night in bed. You know, snuggling. Our day was perfect.

On our honeymoon, 5 years ago. Bahamas.

Anniversary

Dean and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary yesterday! My FIL asked, "Can you believe it's been 4 years already?" So, we were talking about it, and ya know what? Yes, we can. It fact, we can't believe it has only been 4 years. We have changed, our life has changed, so much in that short amount of time!

We have had our share of relationship ups and downs, and have definitely grown and learned from them.

Dean's business has gone from him only doing in-house repairs, to manning a store front, selling new and used appliances, for 1 1/2 years now, and having 1 employee (and 2 apprentices) while still doing all of the on the road repairs.
I got pregnant, and gave birth to our now 19 month old son. Now, am pregnant again.

We have moved once already in order to accommodate our growing family, and now look forward to taking a somewhat scary step, sometime in the hopefully near future, in buying our own home.

We have also changed in how we look! I can't believe how young we both look when we were first courting (@ 19 and 21 years old)!


We had a wonderful day together yesterday. It was such a beautiful day too! Dean surprised me by taking the day off. We spent the morning at home with Will. Took a walk to the park and went on a bike ride. My sister came over after lunch to watch Will, so we could spend the rest of the day just us two! I didn't want to do anything fancy. No dressing up. No expensive dinner. (Although, at times, I do enjoy doing just that). We saw a double feature at Movies 10, had some yummy diner food (I ordered meatloaf. At a diner. Can you tell I'm pregnant?), we got some Cheesecake Factory cheesecake to-go, and headed to a park where we had our dessert picnic style. Then we set up our, totally awesome best purchase ever, hammock and just.....relaxed. It was so wonderful. We were home by 9pm. No late night partying for this mama. Got to kiss my baby, and rock him to sleep. Then headed to bed with my hott and handsome husband. The perfect end, to a perfect day :)