Fifeteen & Nine...

I am a day early but that's because I have time right now. The next few days are going to be pretty busy with the 4th, the long weekend and we're going to the water park on Saturday --- woo-hoo! I think I'm looking more forward to that than the kids, but that's probably because I know what a water park is ;c)

Anyway, tomorrow is Neil and my 9th anniversary. 9 years ago we were married in an absolutely beautiful church. It was the hottest day of the year (not kidding when I say that, it was 97 degrees and high humidity) and guess what our church didn't have? Air conditioning. Well, we didn't think of that when we were booking the church in December! (note to file: always think ahead!)

So our wedding day was pretty memorable for all 400 of our guests (saying that with sarcasm). When we mention the day we were married people always say "I remember that! Boy it was hot!" Sometimes I think people forget that the bride (me) was in a big layered tulle dress which felt like it was 50 pounds, especially when you combined the dress itself with all the sweat coming off of my body. Thank goodness for my bridesmaid, Sara, who brought a hand-held fan for me. That fan spent a good majority of the day under my dress to cool my whithering hot body! :c)

But of course that day is also very memorable for us. We were together 6 years before we got married. We had known each other since we were 8. We grew up just a couple miles apart. We rode the same bus to school. But it wasn't till we were in high school that we found a little spark between us that would grow and then carry us through 15 years together. Wow.

While Erin and Jer were visiting we took them to the University of Illinois campus. It's such a beautiful campus. We didn't go to school there, but both our dads did, Neil's brother did, our sister-in-law did, a big handful of my friends, and about a half dozen of my family members. We both grew up on that campus in one way or another, going to basketball and football games or for whatever other reason. So it was fun showing the campus off to E & J. What was even more fun was showing them the church we got married in which is right off of campus. I am so thankful I had my camera with me (and some friends who could help me out!) because we had a picture taken on the steps of that church which I will forever be grateful for. It signifies so much.



This picture contains so much symbolism. Obviously it's the church that we were married in . . .the steps that we both walked down after we were pronounced husband and wife. But this picture, it symbolizes a love that is undying. That has weathered a few storms and is ready to weather more if we need to. It symbolizes two people who will forever be best friends. Who are still in love, but whose love has grown differently from that puppy love in high school to a love that is comfortably happy. It symbolizes that we will always try to stay on the top as long as we do it together . . . two people who can't be strong together if we aren't the people we were made to be individually first. After 15 years together, we've made it through a lot. I think we're ready to take on whatever else life will lead us into.

God has blessed us. Amazingly, we triumphed infertility and loss and are at a point in our lives that I truly never ever thought I would see. This family . . .























So happy anniversary to my forever dear Neilly. I love you so much. Thank you for loving our kids, thank you for loving me. You are the best husband and daddy a woman would ever ever want. I am so thankful for you.

To honeymoon in Mexico? . . . or California?

We got loads and loads of snow last night and into today. 12 inches to be exact. (wowzers!) Every school in the area was canceled, including the universities and government buildings which rarely ever close for anything. My hubby didn't even think twice about driving 30 minutes to work. Our street wasn't even plowed which automatically made a sign flash in front of our eyes that read "Lazy Day Today!".

I really like snow, but after all this, I'm ready for spring and to see some flowers again. The thought of warm weather has made me think of vacations. And my friend, Missy, her post about finding a vacation spot this year made me think about our honeymoon next summer.

Honeymoon??

Yes, honeymoon. Next year will be our 10th anniversary and we have never been on a honeymoon. (Crazy, eh?!) We haven't even ever been anywhere together -- alone -- for over a weekend anyplace. The farthest we've traveled together is Arizona and New Orleans and those trips have just been over long weekends. And Arizona was for our friends' wedding which we just made a day or two longer so we could see some of Arizona.

I'm more than ready to get away with my husband. Finally. I feel like I've known him for ever and ever. Well, because I sort of have. We have been "together" for 15 years and have known each other for 23 years. It's time to get away with this guy . . . my best friend. :c) (Yes, that is cheesy, but nevertheless, it's true.)

I've never been west of Omaha, Nebraska. Well, for the exception of Arizona (Sedona & Phoenix). I've never been to the New England area, either. (How boring am I?!) I've never been to Canada. I've only been out of the country once, and that was to Brazil. I've also been to Hawaii. I've been to a handful of areas within the U.S., just not a lot. But come next week, I will be able to add Oklahoma to my list of places I've been! (Yay!)

So . . . drum roll . . . I think we've narrowed down our place of destination to either Mexico or California.

Why?

Well, because I have a huge passion and love for ancient art and a lot of it resides there in Mexico. I took tons of classes in college on art history and fell in love with the ancient art. One semester I studied the Mayan Culture (the art of) and wrote my term paper on the amazing Mayan Women. They absolutely fascinate me. (They were oh-so-powerful and idolized!) Most of the Mayans resided in Mexico with some residing in Central America and a few in South America. I would absolutely LOVE to see some of the Mayan ruins face-to-face. Love to! And to photograph them. Ooooo . . . what a dream come true that would be.
I would like to stay at a 4 or 5-star resort (why, yes!!), maybe all-inclusive?, and the times we aren't exploring the Mayans, I would want to be on the beach drinking margaritas :c) But another part of me wants to explore wine country of California and make my way to San Fransisco, but that would require a whole lot of driving and not staying put in one place for very long. But that is another thing I would really love to do.

I also really want to travel to Italy and Greece one day. I don't know if I want that to be right now yet or not. I may want to bring my kids with me to see those areas. Or, maybe not? :c)

So I'm posting this just to get some opinions. Have you been to Mexico? What parts? Did you see the Ruins? Did you like Mexico? Did you stay in an all-inclusive resort? (We've never stayed at one, but have heard it's the "route to go".)

(If I had endless money, this is where I would go in a heartbeat!)

What about California? Do you think we should skip Mexico this time around and go to California instead? We're really leaning towards Mexico, so trying to change my mind would take a lot, but if you know me, you know I'm easily swayed.

So please let me know your thoughts! We have to plan this because we have to save save save! (Money does not grow on trees here.) And, we want to do it right. So any advice would be absolutely fantastic and very appreciative!!

This will be my last post before I leave for Oklahoma (well, unless baby A decides to come before I leave, and I can't not tell about that!)! So . . . I'll be seeing you in one week with pictures of a new beautiful baby girl in my family, and hope to return to a lot of great vacationing advice!

Do you have a video camera?

I have to admit that I know nothing about video cameras. I don't even think I know how to work one of the new snazzy ones they have out on the market. I have an old one that is pretty simple. The smaller ones look more complex, but maybe I'm wrong. See, I know nothing! Which is why I need your help.

Tomorrow is Neil and my 8th anniversary. I can't hardly believe it. We've been together 14 years. Each year I think, wow, it doesn't feel like it's been that long and I can't believe it's been that long, but then I count backwards and realize it really has! And then I think how I've absolutely loved every year of it and secretly I'm always thinking about another wedding where we renew our vows. Just a dream, but maybe one day it will happen? I take notes at the weddings I shoot . . . shhhhh!

Anyway, I am completely blessed to have been chosen by Neil. He is quite possibly the best husband ever. (I've even had friends tell me that in a way that I feel like they're saying in a very loving way "don't take him for granted!") And we've never really exchanged nice meaningful gifts before. We're just not all that into that. (Sappy, I know, cuz that's me, but we have each other!) I think I've bought him clothes in the past . . . but nothing that ever pertains to us. So my first thought was, how about a video camera?

So I bought one. I think it's a great gift for him. We'll both use it of course, but this piece of technology he can be in charge of. I'm usually stuck behind my camera (but because I want to be!), so this one he can be stuck behind. I'm just not sure I bought the right one.

I went into Best Buy with having done zero research. But I talked to the sales boy (yes, he was a boy) and he really knew a lot. (You know, we can all tell when they're pulling it out of their butts or out of their heads.) So I think he led me down the right path and didn't talk me out of a medium-priced camera.

So my question is, what do you use? Do you like it? Is it a tape camera, a memory stick camera, a DVD camera or a hard drive camera? Tell me all about it. Then I'll tell you what I got and if I'm keeping it (based on what you tell me --- ha!).