Useless Update

Not that there aren't tons of fascinating things to say but... when I thought about updating the blog this helpful fact I learned and have made good use of in the last few weeks was the first thing on my brain.

You know that frustration you feel when pulling on a dress or a dark t-shirt and you realize you just got deodorant on it? Never fear! Your sock drawer is here! Seriously, the next time that happens try this: take a clean cotton sock and rub out the deodorant with it. (Don't get it wet because then the deodorant disappears temporarily and it's hard to be sure you got it completely.) So far it's worked perfectly twice for me, once on a black nice dress and once on a navy t-shirt dress. Both times the deodorant was gone without a trace.
Just thought I'd share. ;-)

Anniversary Good Times

How is that our anniversary was already two weeks ago? Cr-azy times; this year is flying by so fast!! We were blessed by a night away at our (or at least my) all time favorite hotel brand in the world for our anniversary. I can't describe how unbelievable it is to the recipient of the care and love of our friends even anonymously it's mind-blowing. To whoever you are, thank you!!

Andree, to bless me, surprised me with an extra night at the hotel so we headed out for a special two-days together on Thursday morning. Our first adventure was heading over to explore Leesburg/Warrenton area of Virginia. We then had a yummy lunch at Wegman's and headed into DC. After checking in and a short lie down we headed out into the rain to the Nats game. For the third year in a row we spent our anniversary at Nats Park (well year one was RFK). It's one of the few games we got to 'just us' and is probably my favorite game of the year no matter the outcome or the weather. This year we got to see almost two games as we came late to a double-header.

Rainy night in NatsTown but we had fun. :-)

The next day we slept in (probably the first time we'd slept in together in weeks with Andree's new work schedule) and had a lazy morning with quiet times together, Martha Stewart on TV, and coffee and treats from the Dunkin Donuts across the street. It was pretty wet out so we took a short walk around the neighborhood and did some window shopping, got Chipotle, and went back to the hotel for naps.
The adventure for that evening was seeing Up! at the Regal theater a few blocks away. The short was my favorite part of the movie. Dre loves Pixar and loved the movie. I can't wait to have little ones to watch that movie with again because it really was such a sweet story. ("I was hiding under your porch because I looove you!") After the movie we went to Gordon Bierch for a late dinner and perhaps for the first time ordered the same thing. And both licked our plates clean!

Puppa Bear outside the hotel waiting for our car. The location of this one is amazing. Within less than a block of the Verizon Center, the National Portrait Gallery, and plenty of places to eat.

It was so hard to go back to real life after such a relaxing and sweet time just being together uninterrupted. Life has been very busy lately and my husband truly gave me the best gift I could ask for as an anniversary present: him and his time and attention for 48 hours. I am so blessed to be Andree's wife and to count him as my best friend; I never tire of spending time with him.

3 Years Ago Today

Baby, I can't believe it's been three years. Can't believe it's only been three and can't believe that it's already been three. Being married is so much more than I could have ever imagined and I am so grateful that God made us for each other and is actively sustaining and drawing us closer together every year.

i love you much (most beautiful darling)
more than anyone on the earth and i
like you better than everything in the sky
-sunlight and singing welcome your coming
although winter may be everywhere
with such a silence and such a darkness
no one can quite begin to guess
(except my life) the true time of year-
and if what calls itself a world should have the luck to hear such singing (or glimpse such
sunlight as will leap higher than high
through gayer than gayest someone's heart at your each
nearness) everyone certainly would(my
most beautiful darling) believe in nothing but love

(e.e. cummings)

I love him more than I did 1095 days ago...

now i love you and you love me
(and books are shutter
than books can be)
and deep in the high that does nothing but fall
(with a shout each
around we go all)
there's somebody calling who's we

we're anything brighter than even the sun
(we're everything greater
than books might mean)
we're ever anything more than believe
(with a spin leap
alive we're alive)
we're wonderful one times one
(e.e. cummings)

I love him more this instant than I did 26,256 hours ago...

when we were itty bitty newlyweds heading off into our proverbial sunset (in a light blue Mustang my honey loved driving oh so much).

You’re more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Every time I look at you
I don’t know where I’d be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You’re my best friend

(Tim McGraw)