*I’d like to just first submit that this blog post was written on my anniversary on Wednesday, after breakfast in bed but before the rest of the day. I just never had a chance to upload my ‘breakfast-in-bed’ pic to get it published before my prince charming came to sweep me off my feet.* I remember being in my mom’s living room in the house I grew up in on the day of my wedding and watching Kelly Tassone sit in the bay window holding our baby Tyler. Yet, I was a baby myself at the age of seventeen. I’m sure in the background of our reception there was a betting table where someone was collecting cash, taking names, and keeping track of how long our guests thought we’d last.
At the ceremony it was as if time stood still; as though no one else was there but me and my groom. We stood at the altar looking into each other’s eyes and there wasn’t a sound beyond the thump of our own hearts. We were present enough to repeat what we were asked to repeat and collect rings and exchange vows and I wish I could remember the details yet I’m content with the memory I do have which is truly nothing but silence and the pair of us.
Fifteen years and four more kids later and we’ve lasted, we’ve endured, and we’ve grown into one. We’ve more than lasted and more than endured; we’ve thrived. Sure there have been trials and really tough times that I wasn’t sure we could get through but each of those bumps in the road has strengthened us as individuals and brought us closer together.
There isn’t a day I’d change or a mistake I wouldn’t repeat (well, maybe one) because I know each and every choice, good or bad, has created the people we are today and the couple we are together.
Todd you have and always will be my very best friend. You know everything single thing there is to know about me. You make me feel like a princess. You make me feel safe, loved, and trusted. You listen when I dream aloud and encourage me and support me so boldly when I set my mind to something. I’ll always know I’m the blessed one and you’re the one who got stuck holding the short end of the stick. And, I often can relate to Adam Lambert who said “It’s me, I’m a freak. Thanks for loving me, you’re doing it perfectly.”
Todd made me breakfast in bed in the morning with a bit of a caveat. “Don’t eat the oranges, they’re rotten but there is one slice for each year we’ve been married.”
For those of you who didn’t follow along on Facebook Wednesday night, I’ll recap the rest of my amazing day for you and for me so I have it here forever. So Todd shows up in the middle of the afternoon, he’s never home before 6:00 p.m. at the very earliest, ever. I’m in sweats editing pictures and he tells me “get dressed, we’re on a schedule.” Well I can’t just yet because I’m a busy gal, I have things to do. I also am not looking my best anyway. It’s hot and humid in August therefore, my hair has a mind of its own and looks ridiculous! But, I fancy myself anyway and do my best.
Stop 1. My parent’s house which is so funny in and of itself because it’s my childhood home where I grew up and where Todd and I had our first day and my dog bit him. (It’s okay, you can laugh, it’s funny). Our munchkins hung out with G’ ma and G’ pa because they’re young gangsta grandparents and that’s what they prefer to be called.
Stop 2. I tease on the way about how we’re headed to my favorite restaurant because I’m a brat and ruined it for Todd and he tried to play it off like it never occured to him to take me there but we ended up at my favorite spot. He made reservations and I’m already REALLY impressed. They take us to a booth because I have a thing for booths, Todd knows it and requests one ahead of time and there’s a single pink rose sitting in a ‘crystal’ vase waiting at our table. I’m thinking if there’s one per location, we’re gonna be out all night. But soon our favorite waiter comes by and brings with him rose number two. And everytime he came to our table after that he brought another and another and another and I left with fifteen roses and a VERY full belly and VERY uncomfortable shoes on. Seriously, I wore the most retarded shoes I own. Why?
Stop 3. I try to convince him to head back to G’ ma’s and G’ pa’s so I can trade shoes with my mom but he insists we not. We get to Partridge Creek Mall and I don’t even care why we’re there at this point, I need to buy me some shoes! And, he’s awesome so he follows me around Forever 21 where I find a gold pair of cuties for $7.50… awesome! So now I can walk all night in my cute little gold thong sandals and when we get near the spot he wants he says “so roses represent 15 years of marriage, as does the crystal vase.” “Another common traditional gift for a 15th wedding anniversary is a clock but in more modern times it’s watches.” My face lights up when I catch Fossil in my view and we head in and pick out his and her Fossil watches and it’s glorious and I love it and I love him.
Stop 4. Back to where it all began again… G’ ma and G’ pa’s of course to grab the kids and brag about what a princess I am.
Stop 5. Back home and NO! I’m not going there, get your minds outta the gutter. Anywho, I work on getting kids ready for bed and he locks himself in our bedroom and I swear I’m still not going there. Eventually he lets me in with the kids but the kids are sworn to silence and not allowed to react and I have to keep my eyes closed. I giggle like a six year old with her first crush when I feel rose petals on the floor under my bare feet and he clicks on our wedding song. It happens to be Can’t Help Falling In Love With You by Elvis Presley and we dance on rose petals in our bedroom to our wedding song while our beloved children watch. I cried. Oh but wait! He then gets down on one knee and ask me if I’ll have him for another 15 years! Uh yeah! And all of eternity!
That! Ladies and gentlemen is how you do an anniversary! And Todd, like I typed in this little box two days ago… thanks for loving me, you’re doing it perfectly!
And our Tyler was awesome enough to let me meter a shot so I could jump in and he could catch us on that night so we could remember it forever. Plus, I have this gorgeous anniversary frame on my bookshelf that currently has some couple I’ve never met before it so we needed an anniversary pic.
