We Have 10 Followers!

Yesterday we hit a milestone... our blog officially has 10 followers. Even more impressive.... that 10th follower is my computer challenged Dad.... although it appears he is getting pretty proficient! Welcome Dad!

 

Celebration Weekend

Last weekend was a big weekend here at our house. Jim's Birthday was Saturday and our 1st Wedding Anniversary was Sunday. Jim worked Friday and had both Saturday and Sunday off. So I spent Friday prepping and here is what Jim came home to.

 

He had several cards waiting for him as well.

  The always popular Snoopy.

 

And I was oh so excited to get Jim his first "Husband" birthday card!

 Then it was time to open up those gifts and I had a specific order in which he was to open them.

 This is where he realized what I had gotten him.

     And the second part of the gift.... Scarlet was interested too.

                         She really liked chasing the string around and was waiting to pounce.

                     The kite all together! It's big! Jim used to love flying kites with his Grandpa Bop.

After filling up on cake we went to the convention center where some of the girls he used to coach at Ohio Cheer Force were competing with their new team. Jim was so happy to get to see the girls and their families, except for being surprised about how much they have gotten older in 3 years (making him feel old)! Several of the mom's told me how great Jim is, it is always nice to hear other people think your favorite person is pretty great too.

Jim and Shelby Shea

  Morgan, Taylor, Devin, Jim, Little Courtney, Courtney, and Meaghan

 Jim and Mo.

 Sunday we slept in and because it was cool and rainy delayed going out for as long as possible. We ate an early dinner at Carraba's and went to watch the movie Limitless (which we were a little disappointed by). When we came home we ate our replica cake. No, I did not save the top tier of our wedding cake.... I have difficult time eating 1 day old leftovers. We ordered a small version from Piggly Wiggly and the bakery clearly remembered our cake from last year (although I again sent Jim with a picture and fabric swatch).

What a Year...

It has been a wonderful first year of marriage.

We relished in our new union,

Reminisced about the start of the wedding journey,

Discovered new places together,

Threw out all the rules and made our own,

Found the beauty in nature,

Dipped our toes in the water,

Accomplished new things,

Experienced some of the best local amusement there is to offer,

Challenged each other,

Spent quality time together,

Survived three weeks with a 17 year old,

Made some last minute decisions,

Sought out some ghosts,

Figured out how to work a camera,

Paid tribute to what brought us together,

Shared our hobbies,

Shared old traditions,

Made some new bonds,

Continued our own traditions,

Celebrated the new union of friends,

(Two weeks in a row)

 

Got our first "blended" family photos,

 

Achieved personal and team bests,

 

Supported each other,

 

Made things up as we went along,

Encouraged each other to try new things,

Found peace together,

We learned a lot,

 

We got everything we ever wanted.

It was not until I met Jim that I understood how relaxing a car ride with no destination could be. How trips without an itinerary could be fun. That staying home and sitting on the couch on a weekend could be one of my favorite things. Or I could get so much joy out of something I didn't like as long as it made him happy. It isn't about loving to do all the same exact things, it is about finding the common denominator and building upon that.We are still only at the beginning and have a lot more experiences to learn and grow together from but I am so excited to be one year into that journey.

Happy Birthday Jim

Today is my loving, patient, supportive, one day shy of one year husband's Birthday. We hadn't originally planned on the two celebrations on top of each other. There was only one date available in our "ideal" time range. Jim joked that it would make remembering our anniversary years from now much easier as me getting him a birthday gift would remind him he needed to get me a gift and save him from getting in a lot of trouble. Although I don't think Jim is the type to forget an anniversary. 

So instead of spending a night out celebrating his birthday my husband spent his last birthday...

 Showing his cousins' kids around a firehouse...

Cutting flowers...

 

Rehearsing a wedding

He put up with my last minute "To do..." lists,  following a well planned itinerary, and spent his spare moments reassuring me that everything was going to be perfect. In return I promise to never plan another birthday quite so stressful.... but we both enjoyed having so many loved ones here and together for Jim's Birthday! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM

Update

Just a little update on my sprouts... we now have 4 tomato sprouts... 

Up close

 

And my four cucumber plants...

 

And after a two day hiatus the ducky couple was back for more food...

Lazy Sunday

I am barely able to contain my excitement about my growing "garden". I am already daydreaming about picking the food and how I will use them. Today I noticed yet another sprout... I feel like they are growing so quickly when I was bracing myself with a long wait before seeing any growth.

I had originally planted 5 seeds in this particular pot and today while searching for the other two possible sprouts on the surface did find a fourth seed. I poked lightly at the dirt around it hoping to see a green stem as with the very first. Unfortunately there was no stem so I pushed it softly back into the soil hoping it is just taking it's time.

My ducky couple was back again, for both breakfast and dinner. As it is a cooler and more windy than yesterday they must be hiding somewhere sheltered as I have not noticed their usual paddling around the pond today.

 Scarlet has a great interest in our ducks as well... although I do not believe her motivation or intentions are quite as friendly as mine. Friday she got out and chased them to the edge of the pond where she waited and watched while meowing at them. Instead she grudgingly watches them from the window.

 She will remain there and watch as they finish their meal.

 I think she heard me taking pictures.