Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday to the most handsome cowboy I ever did see!

Twenty-eight never looked so good.

One Year Anniversary Gift(s)

Who loves a fast and easy, yet meaningful gift?

I do!

On August 4th, we celebrated our one year anniversary with a surprise trip to Lawrence, KS...where "we" began just under five years ago.

I started thinking about what I was going to get Jeff for our anniversary long before the day had arrived. I knew year one was "paper", but gosh it was so hard to think of something that was paper that really meant a lot to him.

I was going to get him tickets to the Chiefs vs. Cowboys game, but then that was a bust. Then I thought about a watch because I knew he really wanted/needed a new one. Then I crossed that idea off and decided to not spend very much money and just do something that I thought "meant" something to do the both of us.

I searched pinterest high and low. Googled the crapola out of one year anniversary gifts. Checked out one too many blogs for some different ideas so that it wouldn't be a total fail.

The one thing I did buy before I did the whole paper gift searching, was make a photobook of our first year together and all of the places we traveled. I am famous for my photobook gifts, so I'm sure he wasn't really surprised on that one. It turned out really cool (I thought) and I am so glad I have so many to look back on. (Lord help us when we actually have a child...watch out shutterfly and snapfish!)

So I guess that technically counted towards the paper gift as well.

For the other paper gift, I gathered some ideas of how to make a frame that had our first dance lyrics in it, as well as a picture, red heart, and "Team S" with our wedding date. I put burlap that was used at our wedding reception behind and attempted to make everything straight.

How To:

-Type out your lyrics/vows/etc in Microsoft Word.

-Use "shapes" on Microsoft Word to put hearts over the words so you can make hearts that look the same and same size. You have the change the setting so it is not filled it.

-Copy and Paste a picture into a Microsoft Word Document and put the heart around it as well.

-Print and cut the hearts out.

-I added a red heart from some red paper I already had.

-Glue them onto the burlap.

-Place in frame...wa-la!

I loved how it turned out, even though I am pretty awful at doing anything perfectly straight, and now it is proudly hung in our living room. 

The last paper gift Jeff received was just a plain ol' card. A plain ol' card that was abso-fricking-lutely perfect. Long story short, "Chicken Fried" by The Zac Brown Band was our song when we first started dating. I found a Happy Birthday card that had the lyrics on the front. I snatched that faster than you could say "Do you like your chicken fried?". 

Speaking of Happy Birthday cards, Jeff has made it somewhat of a tradition of Happy Birthday cards for practically every holiday or occasion. It cracks me up every single dang time. He even did that on our wedding day and crossed it out. I love it each and every time. Even though now he says he isn't going to do it because I expect it, and boy does he like surprises.

I thought I'd get him back and do the same to him. It was oddly one of my favorite parts of the whole gift. It just fit and it doesn't mean anything special to anyone but us. Which I especially loved. 

As for my present, well I may or may not have forgotten to tell him about the whole paper thang. I may or may not be glad that I didn't because I got my third ring instead! Now if only that bad boy would finally get in!

And now I want to go back to Lawrence and do it all over again. 

It's that time of the year!

I can hardly believe that the school year has started. 22 new kids have been added to 3S and the party is just beginning.

As you can see, I have been missing for a bit now. I have made a pact with myself to simplify my life this year and take care of my priorities so I eliminate some stress during the school year.

The funny thing about doing that is some how I have a ton to talk about. Just not enough time to talk about it in. I will get there, just have to get my feet on the ground first.

I can officially say year two of teaching is already 100 times better than year one. It is nice to know the staff and know a little once of what I am doing. And speaking of school the only lines I have so far is "Does your husband mow your grass?" and Student A: Do you have children? Student B to A: You just went waaaaaaay too far with that one. 

I don't want to jinx myself, but so far so good.

A few things I've been up to the past couple of weeks...

Fair Time/Demo Derby

One-Year Anniversary Pictures (Supposed to be a Rock-the-Dress but well, life got in the way so we just changed it to one year.  I am so pumped to get them back!)

And meal preppin' and working my buns off in the gym, literally. Crossing my fingers that this keeps up. Even though today I am pretty sure my right knee is half falling off so I may have to tone it down a notch.

Other than that, we've just been working away trying to figure out where summer went and when football is going to get here.

And Piper....she is being anti-mom right now since I started working again. I am beginning to get offended. That child...

How has everyone been?! What have I missed? A lot I am sure of it. 

Surprise Anniversary Trip (Part Two)

Summer...summer...where are you?!

This whole working biz is for the birds.

On another note, anniversary news. Yes, that was about a week ago. How do weeks go by so fast? I guess once you actually have to work and not hang out with your dog all day things start to speed up.

Saturday Night

So the second half of our anniversary weekend. I think I left off at the bar. I guess that doesn't really narrow it down. After lunch at the famous dollar Jefferson's, we headed back to the hotel for a bit to get ready for the rest of the night. Well I guess I got ready and Jeff watched Tiger Woods golf. Typical. 

We headed off to 23rd Street Brewery for dinner, home of some of the best beer around. Wave the Wheat, to be exact. We have spent many of dates at 23rd Street and will always be coming back for more. Best little sports/brewery you ever did see. Plus it is bombarded with KU memorabilia so it really can't be too bad, can it?

After stuffing ourselves with goodness, we decided it was time to really "go back". As in "go back" and hang out at the bar that we met at just five little years ago.

We got there around 9:00, which to me is prime time and to "real" college kids it's pretty much morning. I ordered my whiskey and coke so I could pretend like it really was the day we met. Minus the many additional ones that I had that night.

As the hours ticked by, we loaded our table with drinks, had a visitor, watched the college kids flood in, and the drinks get stronger.

It is so funny how your views of "going out" outfits change once you are out of college. I guess they were single and ready to mingle! Can't say I was never there before.

We ended up leaving around 1, and the bars were only getting busier. Since we are old and all, we didn't want to wait in line for an hour+ to get into another bar, so we headed out and kissed our sweet anniversary goodbye. Until morning....

Sunday

We saved the toasting and cake eating for Sunday, our actual anniversary day. I will keep Sunday short and sweet because I can't stop talking.

Classy, right?

Sunday consisted of church, bloody mary's, our favorite brunch spot, and a toast and bite of cake.

It was such an incredible weekend and we both left with our tank's full and ready to get back to our baby girl.

Life is just better with those two by my side....

Surprise Anniversary Trip (Part One)

On Friday around noon I got a call from Jeff telling to me "'pack my bags, we were going on an anniversary road trip".

He wouldn't disclose where, which he is so famous for doing.

It would have been a lot easier to find out where we were going if I didn't have this thing called direction illiteracy. Or something like that.

I finally figured out where we were going when I saw this sign. He still tried to deny where we were going, and it almost worked. Almost.

When we arrived in our destination, LAWRENCE, KANSAS, I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face.

Lawrence, Kansas (I'm pretty sure) is the best town in the entire U S of A. And if not that, then 150% the best in Kansas. It also happens to be the same town where Jeff and I attended college, as well as where we first met.

He chose Lawrence to take me back to where "we" all began and go back to all of our old spots.

When we arrived, we were starving. We decided to go to our favorite Italian restaurant of all time., Paisanos. While we were there we ordered a bottle of wine and sat in the basement and talked for an hour and a half. We were there so long we were literally the only ones in the basement, and almost the only ones in the building.

I think they wanted us to close the place down because even after we were done with our bottle of wine and dinner, they handed us two more free glasses of wine. Wowza. 

We knocked it out of the park and ended up finishing the night driving by all of our old houses and other places that took us way back to the good ol' days.

Needless to say, it was a pretty great start to our anniversary weekend.

Beware, there are a lot of ones shown during these three days. 

Day Two:

We woke up whenever our little hearts pleased and started off our tour de Lawrence. First stop: The best breakfast in town, Miltons.

When we actually started looking for Miltons, we found out it had moved and I about had to go chuto chop someone. Luckily, it had just moved to a different street nearby so thankfully no one got hurt.

It had changed so much but I loved how modern/chic/stinkingawesome it was. Even though it was about 1/4 the size, it didn't disappoint. And neither did to-go coffee. I mean, freaking genius!

Then after we were wheeled out of the place because we were so full, we walked around Mass Street where all of the shops are and got to shop-p-p-ing.

After we did some damage, we stopped by another old spot of ours, Jeffersons, where the dollar bills are heavy and the beers don't stop.

And then we learned that you should not finish a pitcher of beer before you actually eat lunch.

......after I type for 500 years, I'll leave our night of getting down like college kids for tomorrow.

Happy Tuesday! And thank you so much to everyone who wished us a happy anniversary!

Welcome home

Well the anniversary updates will have to be postponed.

Our house looks a little something like this....

It really wanted to welcome us home as you can tell.

The great news is it came TWO INCHES (two small baby inches) to reaching my office and destroying it but never fear, the office WON! Jeff's office was not so lucky.

Let's hope those fans can blow out the stink and wetness that is now called our house.

One year down, a lifetime to go

Well it is official, we have survived 365 days living under the same roof, sharing drawers, and counter space.

Better yet, we have gone 365 growing, changing, traveling, and loving, a whole awful lot.

I am typing this a bit premature (8.2.12, which also happens to be my mom's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM) but Jeff surprised me with a one year anniversary road trip. I'm not sure where we are going yet, but I am ready to find out.

Over the past year we have traveled to two different countries, five different states, and gathered a TON of memories along the way. Traveling is one of my very favorite passions, among others, that we get to share together. Leaving a little piece of Team S every where that we go.

We have also been to a dozen KU football games, numerous lake trips, and picked up a little child in between. One that we just cannot imagine our lives without. Even if she is furry and takes up 90% of the bed.

One year ago today I was waking up the most emotional I had ever been. I was filled with so many emotions and I just prayed that my make-up would stay on. 

I was so overwhelmed with love, support, excitement, nerves, and a bit too much heat from the 113 degree day we decided to call our wedding day.

It was all the most surreal thing I had ever experienced. I kept asking myself if this was really happening to me. If I was really getting married. If I had been so lucky to have found someone who was going to love me eternally and selflessly.

One year ago today we packed my hometown Catholic church, and were surrounded by everyone we loved so very dearly. Peoples that have forever changed our lives. Friends that have been by our sides for decades. And family that we couldn't live without.

It is one day, one day that makes me tear up simply thinking about. Not only the day itself, but all that went into that day. The people who made our vision and dream come alive. All of the memories, dates, love notes, and moments that led us to that alter. 

We toasted (without drinks at first), we celebrated, we danced, and we even ended the drought.

I am so incredibly blessed for the past year of marriage, all that came with it and all of the ups and even a few of the downs. I cannot wait for the many years to come and to see where it all takes us.

So cheers to us surviving ONE YEAR, and cheers to having two bathroom sinks!