Yesterday Nick and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary. I have to say it was a pathetic day, but oh well, I'm over it. We were in Baltimore all weekend for a wedding and flew home yesterday. We were both tired and worn out (ok, and hungover) from the weekend. At one point, I said, "Ok, I am crabby b/c my back hurts, I'm tired, and don't feel good. You are tired, hungover and complaining about every little thing. Your complaining and my crabbiness is making for a BAD day. Lets both stop and TRY to be nice to each other for the rest of the day b/c it's our anniversary". Sad huh? At the hotel this weekend I did order room service for myself (which is unlike me), but I figured it's my anniversary weekend, I'm going to splurge. A $27 breakfast all to myself yesterday. Our friends spent about $70 so I promise I didn't even get that much food! Nick chose to starve b/c he didn't want to pay. haha. I gave him a few bites only b/c it was our anniversary :) The day before I also ordered room service and didn't feel like sharing much, so he walked five blocks to McDonalds to get food. You'd think we live in poverty, but he is CHEAP. He refused to order anything for himself and I said I was hungry and not sharing. That $8 bagel and $12 yogurt with fruit was well worth it as far as I was concerned. Then I tipped the guy 20% (I wasn't sure what you do with room service since I never order it!!) and later read in the fine print that they charge 15% tip and $4 service fee--oops. Last night for dinner we splurged on some KFC b/c we were too lazy to cook anything at home. Nick and Hunter went to pick it up while I vacuumed, swept, and did laundry with Jack. That is almost embarrassing to admit. We were in bed at 9:30pm. Two nights in a row of staying out late and drinking took it's toll on us--my goodness, we must be getting old! On a happier note, we have a sitter for this coming Saturday night, so we're going out and I'm going to just consider that our anniversary celebration! I am looking forward to it :) We also usually go to a bed and breakfast for our anniversary weekend, even since having kids, and we are doing that in October (b/c we had this wedding instead), so that will be lots of fun.
Anyway, we are in a stressful period of life with an almost two and almost four year old. Hunter and Jack are exhausting, but we love them so much and are so blessed to have two handsome and healthy kids. I can't imagine my life with anyone else but Nick. He is so HOT, successful, laid back, and just a great daddy/husband. We started dating in May of 1999 and married August 14th, 2004. I just can't believe we've been together this long. We were so young and practically stress-free college students and now we live in our dream house, have our careers, have two kids, a dog, lots of responsibilities, etc. EVERYTHING has changed and there is no one I'd rather have gone through all this with than him. He is the best. I should probably tell him that more often.
We have been through a lot...From losing grandparents to my back problems to family stress to having babies when neither of us had ever changed a diaper prior to changing Hunter's. We have had some really fun times--going on vacations before kids, just hanging out, being best friends. Now our idea of fun is a little different with little kids, but oh well. We've had some rough times with my back problems, work stress, and just plain bickering with each other, but it's never been that bad where we've ever doubted our love for each other. I know Nick will continue to grow and be a great role model for our kids. He will help to teach them to give/volunteer, cook, be responsible, work hard, be kind to others, put family first, and more. I will have to depend on my dad to teach them how to plunge a toilet and do any handy-man related stuff.
Nick, I love you (more than all the fishies in the sea). I also appreciate you A LOT and I don't tell you that enough. You cook, change diapers, and really are the best husband and friend. Of course you aren't perfect and I pick at some of your annoying habits, but when I step back and think about it, I know I have it good. You put me and the kids first, and that is a great quality and something I treasure and love about you. You choose us over work. You choose us over everything else and even though it's craziness almost all of the time right now, you still come home (haha). I know we need to work on putting forth more effort to show appreciation towards each other and all of that mushy stuff, but deep down, I know we love each other and I can't wait to spend the next 70 (or more) years with YOU!!!!!
Nick, I love you (more than all the fishies in the sea). I also appreciate you A LOT and I don't tell you that enough. You cook, change diapers, and really are the best husband and friend. Of course you aren't perfect and I pick at some of your annoying habits, but when I step back and think about it, I know I have it good. You put me and the kids first, and that is a great quality and something I treasure and love about you. You choose us over work. You choose us over everything else and even though it's craziness almost all of the time right now, you still come home (haha). I know we need to work on putting forth more effort to show appreciation towards each other and all of that mushy stuff, but deep down, I know we love each other and I can't wait to spend the next 70 (or more) years with YOU!!!!!
Sorry this is a day late too. That's been the story of my life lately.
Here are a few pictures of us :)
From this past Saturday--wedding in Baltimore. I had a hot date. Some other lady thought so too as she was flirting with him right in front of me. Grrrr....I was not happy.
Houseboat trip with my family in the summer of 2003. Nick says this houseboat trip is his absolute most fun vacation that he's ever been on. I can't wait till our kids are older and we can do this again. It really is the best vacation idea!
Our engagement weekend--on Mackinac Island. I was so excited that we were FINALLY engaged!!!
Our wedding day!
XOXO,
Connie and I took three kids tubing...Hunter and two of her cousins from the Couchman side of the family. We had a good time. I think I'm starting to get more paranoid in my old age. We went behind a speed boat this time and were going pretty fast. I was afraid of falling off--not only afraid that I could hurt my back, but falling in seaweed or having Hunter fall off and be scared/traumatized. Gosh, I need to relax. We didn't fall off and went around the lake at least three times--and the kids would have kept going if we'd let them! I have to say that I was on the "hard side"...when you go around the lake there are three major turns and I was on the outside for all of them. When we were kids we used to fight about who would have to be on the "hard side" when we'd go double tubing b/c you had a much better chance at wiping out.
Jack was on the boat with my parents and Nick. Once again, he got so excited watching us out on the tube....so cute!
Connie & ner nephew Tyler on the pontoon boat
Isn't this the life? I sure wish I could just hang out on a raft and relax, but that's only in my dreams when we're out at the lake chasing the kids around!
Lucky kid...he doesn't even know how good he has it.
Ok, these are the funniest series of pictures. Above is first. Tyler is riding on the cooler and having a good time. Notice Jack is hiding behind someone so Tyler can't see Jack.
Then he sees Jack...check out that face...not happy about seeing Jack.
Then the tears...wow. Uncontrollably crying! He doesn't like Jack for some reason and we can't figure it out. I feel so badly, but it's funny at the same time :)
Aunt Connie trying to calm him down...
Finally he's over it and hanging out with his daddy
Being silly on the pontoon boat--so adorable.
He's practicing his fishing/casting skills...looks like he has to go potty too. This is prior to the last post when he caught his first fish. Here he just had a practice pole with no hook/bait. This is his first time "fishing"...I just think it's funny that he's holding himself b/c he's having too much fun to come in and go potty.
I appreciate Joey taking the time on his son's birthday to help Hunter...that was so sweet and Joey is the best fisherman I know, so who better to help Hunter learn. Plus, this is good practice for Joey b/c Tyler will be learning to fish in a few short years :) They caught a fish within the first five minutes and everyone was so excited for Hunter.
It was a little blue gill...I love how Hunter is so proud of himself.
Once he showed it off, we told him we needed to release him before he died from being out of the water for so long. He said, "I want to eat him for dinner!!" and we all got a laugh from that.
This might be a new favorite family picture...we had so much fun tubing together :)
We went fast and both kids LOVED it. I thought Jack might be scared, but he was not at all and both kids were screaming with delight.
My back paid for all the bouncing around, but it was worth it to be able to do fun stuff like this together.
Getting ready for his first tube ride on this awesome tube! They all went together before the four of us went. I'm super jealous b/c this tube is so neat. It's comfortable, huge, and so much fun! Three people can sit in those seats and one can actually kneel behind where Hunter is sitting.
Rhonda, Hunter, and Connie
Joe and Heather took Tyler (almost one year old) tubing too :)
You can't even see Tyler on here...ha. 
