I still do.

After a few years of blogging, it is hard to believe I have yet to share one of my most memorable moments of my life with you all.  Today is our 4 year anniversary.  Four years, two homes, 6 cars, 2 kids, 3 jobs, and a whole lotta figuring life out.  All of this and I couldn’t be happier that I still get to share it with Dan.

We were babies ourselves when we found out we were expecting Brody.  “Adulthood” was thrown at us fast, and I have to pat ourselves on the back and say we handled everything the best we could.  Now that we have Brody + Owen in our lives, it is just that much sweeter.

Our wedding day was not your typical wedding.  And yet, our wedding was as memorable as any money chomping wedding you could attend.  We are blessed to have amazing family members that are super talented and helped us pull the big picture together.  Dan and I planned our wedding in 4 weeks.  That’s right.  We were insane.  We had Brody who was 5 months old.  And already house hunting.  So the thought of an expensive, traditional wedding just made us sweat.  We decided to just go get our marriage license, and throw a party.  Word got out, and family all came together and helped us put together an amazing bash.  Our aunt and uncle offered their backyard, which was the kindest and most daring offer that could come out of their mouths! Seeing that there were to be nearly 200 people attending.  We were so touched.

From the food, music, flowers, dance floors, decor … it was chocked full of Pinterest ideas before Pinterest hit the web.  Dan and I spent the entire morning/afternoon of setting up along side our aunts, uncles and cousins.  It was the most heart warming day to see how much everyone wanted to help us out.  We knew, no matter what anything ended up looking like, we would be surrounded by the best people we know.

Turns out, when that 6:00 hour rolled around, and Dan and I were waiting at the top of the stairs to come down, we were blown away even more by the finishing touches on our party.  The flowers, done by my aunt, who collected wild flowers from gardens of her own and her friends.  The dessert table, which was covered by homemade treats from all of our aunts.  The music, which was all taken care of by a dear friend who drove all the way from Chi-town to keep our party alive.  The lights hung in the trees, and all of our guests smiling faces just set the mood for a perfect evening.

Four years later we are still glowing about this special day.  And always feel compelled to thank every single family member that helped us pull off our “let’s get married in four weeks, because we are insane” idea!

Setting up, the day off was a blast.  A hectic blast.  Dan and I were not worried about getting ready and pampered.  It was so fun to have both sides of our family come together and create such a beautiful evening.

We both were shaking in our dress shoes the entire time waiting to be announced to come down.  Our guests thought we already got married at the justice of the peace, and this was just a reception.  However, we decided to surprise everyone, and the mayor of the city we were in came and married us in front of everybody.  It was such a beautiful moment.  Our entire group of friends and family just surrounded us as we said our vows, like one big hug.

Cake cutting was nearly done in secret.  We did not want much attention on this, nor did we have the space in the dining room to squeeze all of our guests into! So, it was a sweet, simple, quick moment.

It didn’t take long for the party switch to get turned on.  Our families both know how to have a good time.  Dan’s dad built a dance floor for the middle of the yard.  There were so many people dancing on that thing, it was hysterical to see!

We are a class act, this family.  Since we only had beer and wine, something had to be done.  So, “wine bombs” were created.  We were swigging quarter cups full of red wine left and right, I still have the stains on my dress to prove it.  Whoever said beer and wine won’t do?

We had the best night ever.  Hands down.

Four years later I love this man as much I did when I was a 17 year old giddy school girl over him.  We have created a life that I am so proud to call our own.  Marriage is a road full of bumps, twists and turns that you never see coming.  I could not have been luckier to have Dan right beside me through all of it.  Year number four is sure to bring many more blessings.  We cannot wait to see what life has in store for us.  The good, the bad, we will be fine as long as we have our family.

Dan,

You are the best thing that ever happened to me.  You are truly my soul mate.  We’ve made it through the awkward high school years, a long distance relationship for years, career changes here and there, making babies unexpected and trying for, family issues good and bad and even home remodeling madness.  We’ve always managed to climb up the hill together.  Side by side.  Day by day.  Couldn’t be happier to be holding your hand through it all.

A bass player in a high school band, and a shy show choir girl would have made it? I knew it wasn’t just lust over you flinging your bass over your shoulder, or your tight pants.  I knew what we had was what I had always prayed for.  A relationship that has, and will stand the test of time.

Love you Dan.  I said “I do” four years ago.  And I still do love you more than the first day we kissed.

Happy Anniversary!