4 Years

The only two words I can think that describes how I felt that day was"of course." It was so natural to marry you. It was the next step. It made sense. We were head over heels for each other. We met under circumstances where we couldn't just brush it off. We met during a time where we shouldn't have met. Me, mission bound and new to North Carolina. And you, just home from your mission and heading off to school. Our wild courtship made everyone, including us, crazy! Ups and downs all over the place. Even when we weren't technically "together," I knew in my heart that you were the only one for me.

surprise engagement on the dock!

one of my favorite engagement pictures. We look so young!

I remember walking around that corner in the Temple in my wedding dress anticipating seeing you on the other side. We just stood there and laughed when our eyes met. We were married. We were together for eternity. We made promises to each other and to God that we would be each others companion forever. Forever! 

We walked out of those Temple doors hand in hand just beaming. I couldn't help but laugh and smile and laugh some more. We had been on this journey to get to the Temple our whole lives, and we had finally made it. Catching your eye across the crowd that day made my heart leap. You just had this look like, we're married! You're my wife!! I couldn't believe it.

Our wedding day was perfect. Perfect weather. Perfect company. Perfect dress. Perfect wedding colors. Perfect food. It was a gorgeous North Carolina summer day where the heat had cooled to a comfortable 85 degrees. We had so many special family members come from far away places to be with us on our special day.

Even though we have had some hardships and trials in the past 4 years, we are closer than ever. We have a beautiful little girl to prove to the world our love for each other, and another little girl on the way. Life has taken us in many directions, and across the country multiple times, but my love for you has only gotten stronger, and deeper. I love you more today than I did yesterday. I felt so lucky to hang on your arm 4 years ago and I still feel that way. Now, we are just juggling a toddler and trying our hardest to get through law school in one piece, but even now when our hands meet, it just feels right. Thank you for being my best friend and perfect companion to make it through this life. 

3 years

2 years

1 year

Atlanta Weekend

Finally! Our dream weekend of meeting my parents in Atlanta finally happened!! And the bonus was, my brother and his family were able to come as well. They move to Seattle in a few weeks (insert saddest face on the planet) and this was our last opportunity to hang out. We won't see them until next summer so transitioning from seeing them every few months to not seeing them until next year is SAD! We are way bummed out.

The weekend was nonstop fun and my body is now paying for it. This 30-week pregnant woman is tiiiiired. We went to the zoo on my birthday, went swimming, ate good food, played with the kids nonstop, attended the temple (our main focus of even doing the Atlanta trip to begin with), and watching the Olympics every night! 

I am grateful for my parents for arranging this weekend. It was so special to be all together as a family over my birthday and to enjoy each others company. Everyone made such an effort to making me feel special on my birthday. It really was the perfect weekend. The kids just love each other so much and they (for the most part) play really well together. The boys bring out the tough girl side of Brinley, and Brinley brings out the tender side in the boys. It's a good compromise.

morning snuggles after waking up being 7am every morning!

ZOO time!! 

Grandparents and the kids

Meltdown after the zoo. 7 hrs of sleep the night before+no nap after the zoo=tiiiired girl!

My mom brought goodie bags for me and the kids to have a little birthday party for me! We had cupcakes and had fun playing together with our new toys!

Saturday morning, we went to the Temple.

I thought this picture was so funny. We always have such a fun time with my brother David and his wife Tiffany.

Group shot with my Dad.

Uncle David and Brinley. She LOOOOVES her crazy Uncle David.

It was raining Saturday morning so we decided to hit up one of the malls in Atlanta, and of course it had a LEGO store! Brinley is new to Legos, but after coming to this store, we are totally going to get her a set of LEGOs for her Birthday!

The rain stopped so we headed to the park!

Ladies lounging while the daddy's and Grandpa chased the kids.

Grandpa with the kids!

The last night we were together, Grandma read a few books to the kids!

Birthday Song

detailed birthday post here

My Birthday Week

*long post.

It seems like my birthday for the past few years has been kind of...brushed to the side. I'm not a complainer. And I definitely don't like all the attention on me. Like singing to me in public is the WORST idea ever. My face gets red and I do weird things with my arms like leading the birthday song to make it awkward for everyone else too. But you still want to feel a little special :-)

Last year, we said goodbye to our bff's and headed up to Charlotte. Ryan got me flowers that day which totally brightened my day, but we left for a week and when we got back, the flowers were dead...and spending 8 hours in the car on your birthday=good times, really.

This year, Ryan was determined to go big. And go big he did! 

The week before, 
Brinley and Ryan went to the mall for a date and to do a bit of birthday shopping. When they got back, I asked Brinley if Ryan got me any presents. She goes, "Ya! They're in your room!" So naturally, I said, "show me!!" hahahaha The next thing I know, she's grabbing my hand, leading me straight to Ryan's hiding spot. It was so amazing. Ryan was not amused. I didn't see anything except a bag, but Brinley got really upset that I couldn't open the present. She threw a pretty massive size tantrum about it. And Ryan, being the nice guy and all, let me open a present a week early!!

He has good jewelry taste :-)

On Tuesday, 
the UPS guy dropped off a few more boxes. What the what!? I had been hinting that I wanted some new running shoes. All the cool coaches at Brinley's gymnastics center have been wearing the new Nike Free's in those bright neon colors. Of course I just want to look like I know what I'm doing and fit in with the "cool girls." He opened the box in the kitchen to make sure it was the right thing he ordered, and he goes, "So I got you the shoes you wanted. But I think they sent you the wrong ones. If you hate them, we can send them back and get you something else." I get to open ANOTHER present?? My birthday isn't for another 3 days!!! 

They were the right color and I fell in love immediately :-) I can't wait to start running and working out after this baby is born! They look yellow in the pictures, but it is actually really bright neon green and it is ah-mazing.

boom baby!!

 she insisted on getting her picture taken next to me :-) Those are her designated "running shoes."

and he got me some new dri-fit Nike running shorts for post-baby workouts to resume. He's the best :-)

Wednesday night, 
we picked up Ryan after work and went straight to Red Elephant for my Birthday dinner. It's our favorite place to go and it is so family friendly. Great food. Great service. Can't beat it!

On Thursday night, 
we are driving to Atlanta to meet up with my parents and my brother and his family for the weekend. It is going to be a party! It is a bitter sweet trip because my brother and his family are moving back to Seattle in a few weeks :-( We have been so lucky to have family within a days drive, especially for Brinley to be with her cousins. We will miss them dearly, but thankfully, we are very good at skyping with them and the kids just love each other so much! Can't wait to start planning our trip out there after Ryan graduates. I miss Seattle!!
My Dad's birthday was last Sunday. Mine is Friday. My sis in law Tiffany's is the week after mine, and then my brother David's birthday is the week after that! We are planning on going to the Zoo with the kiddos. Ryan and I are planning on attending the Temple t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r! Which never happens for us since we have to do our sessions separately! and just have fun together!!

Friday is my OFFICIAL birthday. But I think it is much more fun to have a week long birthday :-) And using the excuse, "It's my birthday," has come out of my mouth more than once a day for the past week. It is just too good to pass up when you only get one birthday a year! I really enjoyed being 25 for the past year, so now reaching my "late 20's" is a bit daunting. Or am I still considered a "mid-20?" I don't know. 26 is a big number now, so hopefully this year will be sweet! I can't imagine where we will be NEXT August with all that is happening this year, but it will be really fun to look back at this post and reflect!