Our week

Monday was our anniversary! Michael told me that he couldn't get my gift just yet, but he took off early from work and brought me home some flowers!
We got a ton of rain early on in the week that caused Michael's job site to flood and basically be unworkable. I was able to eat lunch with him and even do a bit of shopping with him. He was also able to come home REALLY early every day! That was a great anniversary present in itself!

Friday Michael had planned to take off early because we had to be in Connersville, IN for a rehearsal dinner for our friends Samantha & Josiah. I was a bridesmaid (although I think the term is actually matron). We always have a blast with them, especially considering that the four of us share the same political views!
The wedding was pretty and things went well!
After the reception Michael and I headed to Indianapolis for our anniversary celebration. We had a free night at the Holiday Inn North at the Pyramids. If you don't know what this is, it is the holiday inn with an indoor water park. Our free stay also included water park passes!

We went to Keystone mall, aka the Fashion mall where Michael got my anniversary gift! I got a Tiffany ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have always loved their sterling silver jewelry! Of course he made me wait until later that night to open it.

We then went back to the hotel, got situated and went to Dave & Buster's for dinner. Michael & I had never been before but it is like a Chuck E Cheese for adults. They also serve steak and other things rather than just pizza!
We won 833 tickets in total, but we only had enough to win...

Homer Simpson!

Finally, when we got back to the hotel Michael let me open the pretty box!

The cool thing about the ring is that it is a ring inside a ring, called an interlocking circles ring. I love it!

Sunday morning we got up, had breakfast, and played for hours at the water park before heading home!

Our Second Anniversary!

Woohoo! Michael & I have been married for two years today! As with last year, I will share some of the knowledge that I gained in year 2 of marriage:

*We are so close it is insane. I mean we seriously have the same thoughts, in the same words, at the same time.

*I realize daily that I am lucky. How many wives can say that their husband willingly takes out the garbage every night, does dishes without being asked, and encourages them to take week long vacations with her family?

*On vacation I went "out" with some friends. As much fun as it was hanging out with the girls, nothing is as much fun as sitting on the couch watching HGTV with Michael.

*Just to put it out there, my mom was right about everything in regards to housework.

*Cooking for Michael is very rewarding for both of us. He appreciates that I worked hard to prepare a meal that I would never dream of eating, and I like to see him enjoying a dinner that I made.

*I cannot cook without making a mess. The other day when I made stuffed peppers, I wish I had a picture of the kitchen. Then again, I would have never let anyone see it! Hat's off to TV cooks like Martha Stewart for keeping a clean cooking area!

*There is no such thing as a clean house. Seriously, it is an urban legend or something!

*In our house there is a coffee fairy & a water fairy! Somehow every night coffee is put in the coffee maker for Michael, and water is delivered to my nightstand in a cat-proof glass.




In our marriage I have made several goals for myself. They can sound a bit superficial, but bear with me as I think they are important, and after all it is my blog.

Goal 1: I want to look my best for Michael. Men are visual people, and no man wants his colleague to look up and say who is that slob in sweatpants, and have to answer, Oh, that's my wife. I am no beauty queen, but when we go out with friends, or I stop by his job-site I want him to be proud to be my husband. Note, there is a difference between looking nice and looking trashy.

Goal 2: I never want Michael to feel like he can't invite a friend or colleague over because he is afraid the house will be a mess. I do the best to keep the house in decent order or at least have it that way by the time Michael comes home. Besides, I'm a stay at home cat mom that doesn't have a whole lot to do.

Goal 3: I make it my priority to get us out of the house for fun at least once a week. As fun as watching HGTV can be every couple needs to get out and have a little fun. It can be something as simple as going for a walk downtown (which is free) or taking in movie. It is important to keep life interesting.

Goal 4: We are two people with very different ideas of fun. I shop for fun, he builds/fixes/works on things for fun. While we value our together time, we both enjoy spending time on our hobbies. We do cross over and occasionally I "help" him work on things. He sometimes goes shopping with me. For the most part we do those activities on our own and schedule a "meet back here time". It keeps things even.

Goal 5: We do not go to bed mad. I might get upset about something and not talk about it all night, but before the nightstand lamp goes out we talk through the issue and do our best to resolve it.

Goal 6: Arguing, issue resolving, griping, and whining are not spectator sports. If one of us has a beef with the other we do our best not to discuss it in front of others. When outside opinions get brought in things tend to head south quickly. Besides, who wants to cause an awkward scene?

Goal 7: (by the way these aren't in order) We try to read the bible and pray together every night. This has gotten harder with Michael's early work schedule but that isn't an excuse! We both believe that the moment you take your eyes away from God, is when things tend to go awry.

These are a few things that have been working for us. I know that our marriage is just a baby right now, but these goals seem to make a lot of sense to us!

Again, everyone said to us on our wedding day "you think you're close now, wait til' you've been married awhile." We are closer than I could have even imagined last year! He is the salt to my pepper. We work together so well, and I couldn't picture life without him. He is my best friend! I don't think that I ever understood the word "soul mate" until recently. He is mine. He makes me a better, Christian, person, and woman. I am so thankful that God saw fit to unite us!

I have the city of Chicago, in my living room!

Here are some pictures of our new living room. We got this HUGE picture of Chicago yesterday. I had seen it a few months ago, and we just couldn't get it in the car. We were able to get it in borrowed truck yesterday!

Panama City 2010 part deux

Last week I headed to Panama City Beach with my parents, grandparents, Aunt Deina, Aunt Deb & Uncle Mike. Also, Aunt Becky & Uncle Mike were there in a different condo with Aunt Becky's cousin Paula & husband Eddie. By coincidence a few of my high school buddies, Kim & Katie were there too.


Mom and I spent most of our time "beached". However, we did hit up Pier Park where we found some GREAT deals! Dad had LOTS of golf buddies and got to spend some time doing what he loves, as well as catering to our PLEASE COME TO THE BEACH DADDY! requests.


Aunt Deina had never seen the ocean, so this was quite a trip for her. She saw the bay and went nuts! She didn't believe us when we told her that wasn't even the pretty water. Once, we settled in the condo Mom, Deina, Deb & I took a walk on the beach. On the way back to the condo Aunt Deina stopped and was looking at a shell. About that time two guys were playing football and1 went long for the catch. Unfortunately going long meant running into Aunt Deina and knocking her down HARD in the sand. She didn't see it coming and neither did he see her. We helped her up and made the young handsome guys take a picture with her. They apologized over & over again. She got quite a raspberry on her knee! She was a good sport and it was a joy to see someone so excited!

Deb & Mike spend a lot of time together, I think they were enjoying a bit of a getaway for themselves. As always, Deb was a good time!

Grandma & Grandpa initiated the idea of this trip. Grandpa wanted to go to see the ocean "one more time", who could deny that request?


We were able to hook up with Aunt Becky & co for dinner twice, and we visited each others condos as well.

It was also very exciting to be able to go out with Kim & Katie and catch up! It had been years since I had last been able to sit and chat with them!

All in all is was a nice trip!

I bought us matching PJ's! We're so cool!

Grandma & Aunt Deb on the Pier @ St. Andrew's

*This is actually a funny one. While everyone was on the pier
Aunt Deina & I walked down to the beach to look for shells.
When we came back my flip flops had been taken.
They were just cheapo's so it was no big deal,
but in this pic everyone was looking down flipping out over the shoes
and I took that as a photo op.

Sunset on the pier

Hammond family @Willy's

Observe my genius- this pic was taken with the self timer
from our chairs. We are standing on the beach but it looks
like we are up higher!

We actually got dad to get in the pool!