5 Years Ago

Five years ago I married my very best friend in the entire world. I can't believe it has already been five years. In some aspects it feels like it was only yesterday. In other ways I feel like soooo many things have happened and changed in our lives since our wedding day that their is no way it has only been five years! I am the luckiest girl in the world to have an amazing husband who supports me and loves me better than anyone could ever ask for. And on top of that he happens to be the greatest daddy in the world to two lucky little girls!

Five years, two baby girls, two homes, two family owned businesses, a lot of home construction, some personal and family health scares, and day to day trials and tribulations later.... we are two people who fell in love and will always be by each other through thick in thin.

A list of things I remember from our special day on September 30, 2006

1. The most amazingly PERFECT day for an outdoor beach wedding in the middle of Hurricane season. (Seriously... how did I ever plan an outdoor wedding? What was I thinking?)
2. I can't believe so many of our friends and family who came down to Corolla, NC to celebrate with us.
3. I was REALLY nervous. It had nothing to do with getting married and more to do with the fact that I didn't want all eyes on me.
4. All of those nerves went away when I locked eyes with Jesse.
5. Walking down to the beach with my Dad was really special moment for me. If I could do it over I would have both my parents walk me down the aisle.
6. Both of our parents did an AMAZING job with the entire event and probably should thank them again for it five years later.
7. I remember the smile on my Grandma's face and that makes me so happy.
8. I really missed my Grandpa.
9. The wedding ceremony is an absolute blur.
10. Until the end when a man in a speedo walked right past us on the beach (we have photographic proof!)
11. I had a blast at our reception and people still get comments on how fun our wedding was.
12. I love all the terrible pictures that drunk friends took throughout the day and sent us.
13. I remember my Dad and my Husbands speeches at the reception.
14. I remember the Best Man and Maid of Honor speeches as well.
15. I remember my brothers speech. We had fought the night before and his speech made me cry.
16. Cake definitely got smashed in my face that night!
17. Pretty positive I didn't eat a thing the entire day (except that cake that got smashed in my face.)
18. Apparently the reception moved over to the local bar and we missed out on some craziness from the stories I continue to hear about.
19. We left for our first night as Husband and Wife at the local Hotel and was told at the front desk that they didn't have a room for us so we had to return back to the rented beach houses where my entire family was staying.
20. We remember thinking 'wow we are never having girls so we don't have to pay for a wedding!' Ironically Hayden was born exactly 9 months later! :)

Fast forward five years later and I told my husband I wanted to take a photo of us to document our five year anniversary (shocker I know!!!) Just another reason I love this man because he didn't flinch or complain and totally went along with yet another photo venture of mine.
We took one of our first married portraits in a tree at the Whalehead Club and I wanted to recreate that picture....

Happy Anniversary! I love you more today than I loved you five years ago and I never would have thought that possible if you had asked me that back on September 30th, 2006.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun | Virginia Beach Aquarium

Fun day at the Aquarium with my girls! We haven't been in a while and they have definitely improved the aquarium. Hayden can't stop talking about it and has wanted to go back every day since. Thinking a year membership is in our future... We had a blast and who wouldn't when you get to stand on the ocean floor surrounded by turtles and fish, get chased by dragons, and surf a wave being attacked by a shark!!!!! :)

First Day of 4 Year Old Preschool

Hayden did great this morning. I wasn't worried. She is my social butterfly. While all the other kids were clinging to their Mommy's, mine could care less and basically gave me a high-five and see ya later Mom. Ok ok... she did walk back to me and Sissy and give us kisses! :) She grabbed her little 'boyfriend' and they walked down the hall together with their hands wrapped around each other... and off they went. I picked her up this afternoon and the teacher said "Boy she isn't shy is she?" So I quickly came back with... "she takes after her Daddy". Teacher said she did great but we will just have to work on her speaking out of turn and interrupting the teacher to tell her stories. (As if I didn't already know that.)

So here is to another great year! .... (hey at least they didn't lose her on the first day again.)

MAGIC PARTY

We didn't get to celebrate Twinkie's Birthday back in June. She woke up the day of her party with strep throat and even she was willing to call off the party (you know she felt bad). So more than two months later we decided to throw a small Magic Show Party for just a few friends. It was a huge success and she LOVED Bubbles the clown and her Magic Bunny!

It is not over yet...

Summer has been busy busy and it is not over yet! Although Hayden starts back to school on Monday I am not ready to except that summer is over. We will be leaving for the Outer Banks in a week and it is officially summer until we return! I haven't blogged since my big girl turned four. It has been crazy but you know I've documented it well through pictures! Who knows when I will ever get pictures printed... maybe when the girls are in college I will finally start their yearly books! :)

Not only has life been hectic but we have survived earthquake, hurricane, and Mommy having to have surgery out of the blue. Jesse and I are go go go people but we have decided that 2012 can gladly be a slow and boring year if it would like....

Here are just a few pictures from the past few months...