This week has been absolutely amazing in an extraordinarily ordinary way.
Keith and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on Thursday.
10 years…in so many ways I cannot believe that we have been married for ten whole years already.
The time has gone by so quickly and so much has happened.
We had plans to go on a short vacation away…just the two of us to celebrate, but those plans fell through and it has been a wonderful family weekend instead.
Keith decided to go ahead and take the time off of work and just spend it getting some very much needed rest and focused family time.
We were able to get a babysitter to go out on a nice date on Thursday night.
We went to The Boat House restaurant in Richmond and then to Barnes and Noble to leisurely browse their book shelves.
We came home and were immediately impressed with our newest babysitter who practically drew a mural in the driveway for the kids with sidewalk chalk.
MC was still awake and excitedly told us about all the fun they had with their babysitter while we were out.
On our honeymoon in 2000, Keith and I put together a time capsule that was to be opened on our tenth anniversary.
The year 2010 sounded so far away then….
We opened it Thursday night and had a blast looking back at everything that was included and trying to remember why some things were. We shed tears as we opened and read letters that we wrote to each other days before we were married.
Then we took some time to look through our wedding album.
Digital pictures are nice, but there is just something so special about looking through the pages of a real album.
A date out, opening our time capsule, and looking through our album was the absolute perfect way to spend our anniversary night.
I never would have dreamed that on the night of our tenth anniversary, we would be doing just that with three sleeping children upstairs and our fourth within weeks of being born.
Yesterday was a busy day with the family. We took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese’s for a late birthday treat for Will and then took them to Build-a-Bear to make a bear for Jenny.
We have a tradition of making a special bear for each of the children. Keith and I made one for EA and MC after they were born. And EA and MC helped us make one for Will before he came. Now, all three of them had a hand in Jenny’s bear. It was so sweet to watch them kiss their little stuffed hearts and place them inside the newly stuffed bear. Will was able to pick out the specific bear, EA helped to stuff it, and MC picked out the bear’s outfit.
We named Jenny’s bear “Sneezy”, which is the nickname that I had for Jenny before we knew she was Jenny. It was a nickname given to her by a friend when in the first weeks of my pregnancy I had a habit of sneezing all. the. time!
Today we enjoyed breakfast outside on our deck before heading out to a nearby park. The girls were able to ride their bikes, I got in a short walk, Keith hit some tennis balls, and the kids played on the playground before we had a picnic lunch and headed home for quiet time.
I am so thankful for my family.
I have been blessed beyond measure by such a wonderful husband that enjoys being with me and the children.
May I never forget the blessings of each and every day that I have!
Shanna says
Monica, this was so sweet! What a precious way to celebrate your 10 year anniversary – you’ve nearly made ME cry! I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Mindy says
Happy Anniversary!! What a wonderful way to celebrate!
Sidnie says
Monica, I’m CRYING! 🙂 Your wedding anniversary sounds wonderful… And I love the idea of a time capsule. Are you going to put another one together to open at your 20th anniversary?
And Sneezy? That’s where the tears are coming from! I’m so glad we’re able to “be a part” of her even though we’re way over here.
Give all those babies hugs.
Happy Anniversary!
Love you!
.-= Sidnie´s last blog ..hair cut =-.
Amy @ Finer Things says
Sounds like a lovely weekend. I’m with you… NOTHING compares to looking at photos in a real album.
Jennifer Scruggs says
Jerry and i have our 10th aniversary coming up on 9/30 this year. I probably need to FINISH our wedding album before then so we can puruse it’s pages with all the pictures glued in place instead of loose in the sleeve. :):):) I guess that’s what I get for being ambitions and wanting to scrapbook my professional wedding photos myself and save the $200 for the professional album.
I am SO GLAD you had such a sweet aniversary celebration. 🙂
Love your GUTS—- Jenn
Maggie Mae says
Happy Anniversary Monica & Keith! I’m not sure I knew that we almost share a wedding date and anniversary. That is, we married on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend so many years ago… 5/28. And Friday was our 10th wedding anniversary! We also had a rare opportunity to go on a date choosing Pier 95 where we reminisced about the dreams we had for starting our lives together, building our house into a home and having children. We marveled over what an amazing 10 years it’s been. And we dreamed about and made plans for what’s to come in the next 10 years.
I hope your first 10 years are outdone only by the next 10 years. Glad you had such a wonderful weekend to celebrate your love and marriage.
.-= Maggie Mae´s last blog ..REAL Inclusion And the Least Restrictive Environment Law =-.
Ann Marie @ Household6Diva says
Happy Anniversary Monica and Keith!!!!
I too have watery eyes at the thought of your darlin little girl having a *Sneezy* bear of her very own! We are thinking of you and looking forward to the birth of your beautiful new family member!
((HUGS)) from “across the pond” 🙂
Ann Marie
.-= Ann Marie @ Household6Diva´s last blog ..Sharing a Camera Strap Cover =-.
darcy @ m3b says
WOOT! I just heard the news that Jenny is here!
Congrats to the whole family on your newest blessing. I am so happy for you.
Wishing you all a little sleep and lots of newborn cuddles.
.-= darcy @ m3b´s last blog ..Sweet Shot Tuesday =-.