I've Been Smiling for a YEAR

Josh and I celebrated our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY on November 1st!

I know people say the first year is the hardest, but this has quite honestly been the best year of my life - and I have my fantastic husband to thank!

It does NOT seem like a year ago...

Here are a few things I've learned during our first year of marriage:

• There's something very comforting about leaning over 2 big dogs to kiss your husband goodnight


• Men will never understand why we hang dry certain pairs of jeans


• Most arguments will seem really funny tomorrow


• However, if you are losing an argument...CRY! Works every time :-)


• Sometimes it's OK to pretend you don't hear the dogs wanting out in the middle of the night, he'll get up eventually (sorry, honey - but I know you do it, too!)


• There is no greater feeling than watching your husband play with kids and imagining what an amazing daddy he'll be one day

Josh - it is such a privilege to wake up next to you every morning and come home to you every night. You put up with my constant singing & dancing, sit next to me through every celebrity entertainment show on television, and you're not afraid to set me straight when I veer off course. Thank you for making sure you kiss me every time you come home, and every night before we go to sleep. Thank you for talking to me like I'm your best friend, not just your wife. You are smart, handsome, hilarious and caring. Thank you for being a good man, standing up for what you believe in, for putting family first, and for giving me a great life. You truly are my sunshine :-)

We celebrated our anniversary with a nice romantic picnic at Devil's Den and walked around and enjoyed the fall leaves, then had dinner at Pesto and went home and ate the top tier of our wedding cake. I was actually impressed at how good it tasted after being frozen for a year!!! It was a perfect day!

A Little Perspective

I feel that I have to write about the tragic events yesterday. It makes my heart ache, makes me sick to my stomach and makes me so angry.

Maybe it's because I know what these soldiers sacrifice in order to protect us....maybe it's because I know what it's like to send your Daddy away to fight for families, friends, and people they've never even met. I know what it's like to surrender your Daddy to your country. And I know how proud we feel as military families.

Or maybe it's because I remember how excited I was the day my dad came home from Iraq. We spent the entire week before his return hanging yellow ribbons, making "Welcome Home Daddy" signs and preparing to welcome him back. I remember as the soldiers filed into the room, lined up, still standing at attention, and I was on the tips of my toes trying to find my dad admidst the sea of camouflage. I remember running to him and jumping into his arms.

I can't imagine the devastation these families felt when their loved ones were within reach, returning from 15 months in a war zone, and they were taken from them in an instant. Or the families that had prepared themselves to send their heroes into the line of fire, but they never made it off base.

As you go about your daily life, please try to take a moment and remember why we are allowed the freedoms we have. Say a prayer for our military, both home and abroad. Donate blood. Put out your flag. Next time you see a soldier in uniform, simply say "thank you." Be proud of them. Whether or not you agree with the war, soldiers are there and they are fighting. For you. Every day.

Hooooowl O Ween

Halloween was such a blast this year! On Friday, my sister and I took Grayson trick-or-treating on the square, and stopped by Jesse & Josh's office (they work in the same building)...

Friday night, our neighbors had a Halloween party and Josh and I were SOOO excited to dress up as...

Dog & Beth Chapman

"DOG" the Bounty Hunter
(Josh was devestated that I did this to his dog)

Illegal Alien & Carrie

We had a really great time, and the best part was we just had to walk across the street! And apparently I was having too much fun to take many pictures!

SATURDAY night, we went to our friends house and went trick-or-treating with about 15 of our friend's kiddos!

Holden & Grayson enjoying their candy!

Drinkin' & Trick or Treatin'

I guess pushing the stroller was tiring,
so Josh needed a cold beverage

Mary, Me, Leanne & Holden