6 years ago this afternoon Seth and I were married!! It was a rainy December afternoon, the cake was half-cooked, the church looked gorgeous with hanging lanterns and fresh greenery and I was the happiest girl to be getting married that day.  I can honestly remember smiling bigger than I have ever smiled in my life as I walked down the aisle. As I was driving the other day I was thinking about our Anniversary and got teary-eyed. No, I am not pregnant. Just so thankful.

My joy was so huge on the day I married Seth mostly because I was so keenly aware that I loved Seth so much and that he loved me with a love no one else had. This is by no means a slight to my family and friends who have shown me love for years and years. But still Seth’s love is different. Seth’s faithfulness, patience and keep calm and carry on have led us through some dark times and some wonderfully fun times.

Our 6th year has been a great one!! We made no international moves, had no new children and had a lot of normal weeks!! (I don’t mean by any means that having children is a bad thing but it is a HUGE thing and most of our married years have included pregnancy or a newborn!) We have had some date nights and celebratory times but mostly just life. And it has been so needed.

Looking forward to more of this adventure. I know we have many more joys and trials to walk through together. Rain or shine, he’ll still be mine!! Happy Anniversary, Seth!

Paris was fabulous!!!! In the beginning of January Seth and I went away to Paris for 3 1/2 days while Seth’s mom stayed with the boys.  When Jackson was 18 months old we went to Aruba for a couple of days (it was only an hour flight from Bogota so we couldn’t pass up the chance) and as hard as it was to leave him I promised myself I would make it a priority to have time with just Seth! It doesn’t happen often but when it does it is so worth it!

When we bid on Bern back in 2009  we talked about maybe getting to celebrate our 5 yr wedding Anniversary in a fun city like Paris. We never thought it would really work out! I think until the day we left it didn’t really feel like we were getting to go to Paris, just the two of us!!!

We ate our way through Paris. The meals were wonderful! We let Rick Steve’s guide us to the places the locals like so we didn’t have any particularly fru fru fancy meals but all were in unique little places that were jammed packed.  We had our first tastes of macaroons and enjoyed every chance to share a hot crepe with nutella and bananas.

We toured museums, walked the quaint streets, took an evening boat tour, went up the Eiffel Tower,  toured Notre Dame, shopped in Galleries Lafayette and just enjoyed being together.  Here are some of my favorite pictures. I am including some of the yummy food pictures for all of you foodies out there!

our hotel

macaroons

this is just to give you a laugh…we were waiting for a bus and I looked over and saw our shadows in the tree trunk. SO I told Seth to give me a kiss and snapped a shot! goofy I know!

Angelina’s

we didn’t get too many great shots of both of us because one of us was always taking it but here you can see us together with the Eiffel Tower in the background

on the train headed home after a great getaway!

On December 17th Seth and I celebrated our 5th wedding Anniversary. After fighting the bedtime battle with Jackson we made a big pot of cheese fondue and enjoyed a quiet dinner. In a couple of weeks we are headed to Paris for a few days while the boys stay with Seth’s mom! Can’t wait!  Everyone always says it but in some ways it feels like just yesterday and in some ways it feels like we have always been together. God has been faithful to us and has stood by us through sickness and health!   From Dallas to DC to Bogota to DC to Bern, it’s been an adventure! So glad we are on this adventure together.

First Anniversary in Dallas, Texas 2006

Bogota, Colombia 2007

Bogota, Colombia 2008

Virginia 2009

(HUGE pregnant with Owen. The coat doesn’t help me look any smaller)

And here we are now, Bern, Switzerland 2010

I think I mentioned previously about how my parents send a box with paperwhite bulbs. I don’t know how it made it through our crazy mail system but it did and it has brightened our holidays immensely as we watch them grow! Next to the paperwhite are a small carved wooden cake topper  bride and groom. I was so impressed. Seth went on Etsy and found some wooden ones to keep with the wooden theme of the 5th yr! They are so fun!

Happy Anniversary Seth!

In April, April 10th to be exact, my little brother Graham married Tina! We love Tina and were so excited to celebrate with them.  It was a whirlwind weekend packed with visiting with family and friends from near and far, eating wonderful food, lots of pre-wedding events and of course the wedding!

Jackson and Seth were honored to be in the wedding. Jackson was the ring bearer and Seth was a groomsmen. Owen was there to charm the ladies!  I think there were times when Tina wondered why she chose Graham when Owen was just so darn sweet! I think she made a better choice in Graham. Owen has some growing up to do

The boys both were in on all of the fun! They were up late every night and held it together until the wedding ceremony when Jackson walked sweetly down the aisle and then proceeded to shriek and disrupt the whole room. Not my proudest mother moment. But he recovered from his meltdown and regained energy with a big Texas Barbecue meal. He was fresh as a buttercup when Graham and Tina danced their first dance. He hit the floor when the dj said it was open for all.

Here are some pictures from the weekend! There are lots and they are a bit out of order but they will give you a taste of the fun!

this was Owen’s first time to fly! And in true Owen fashion he enjoyed every minute, mostly by napping! I don’t expect that on the flight to Bern!

The rehearsal dinner was at Joe T. Garcia’s. Jackson enjoyed his first virgin margarita!

just a little evidence of Owen’s influence on the ladies!

Tina got a yucky kiss! Jackson was too tired to notice her reaction!

Congrats, Graham and Tina!  We had such a fun weekend at your wedding and we look forward to years and years of memories! Tina, welcome to the family. We love you!