how right we were

Catching up on some memories here. Two months ago in May John and I celebrated 6 years of marriage.  We went to Nashville and ate our way through some bucket list items.  We finally got to try Tom and Chee which was a Shark Tabk favorite, one of our all time favorite shows.  John bought me a bouquet of flowers right off of a flower truck and we purchased some lemonade from some kids selling it on the side of the road.  

He had the fun idea to pack light and then to each get an outfit head to toe, it was a pretty fun idea!

 I just can't get over how much I love collecting years with him.  Each one is better than the last and I'm not sure how he manages to do it but I am still learning stories about him.  I thought I might know it all but he seems to save back details and stories here and there, I love it.  He makes me laugh HARD just about every day.  I am astounded by his work ethic and his devotion to school, I know he is trying so hard to lay a solid foundation for our family's future. He is so kind to me and just about the easiest person to get along with.  

We like to remember back to the night we drove out to my parents house for him to ask my dads permission to marry me. He wore a weird sweater that I'd never seen him wear before or since.  He was nervous and my dad gave him a hard time but eventually said yes. When we left that night we both shut our car doors and looked at each other and squealed at the top of our lungs and said, "this is going to be so fun! We have so much good ahead!" And we were right, we had no idea how right we really were.

I love him and I respect him and I like him. 

Happy 6 years my love, can't wait for what's to come for us. 

anniversary shoot

I would literally go anywhere John Murphy led.  I trust him with my whole heart and my whole life and everything that we have ahead of us.  I am so proud of him and all that he is doing.  

Tonight he has a meet and greet with a top 10 in the nation accounting firm.  He got his suit dry cleaned yesterday just for tonight. They reached out to him a couple of weeks ago wanting to meet him after seeing his resumè.  We are hopeful for the prospects of upcoming internships next year.  I am so excited for what the future holds.  Most days I just sit back in awe of the man I married.  I am proud to be doing life with him by my side.  

I was so excited to get the rest of our anniversary photos back and I couldn't be happier with how they turned out.  Get ready for a lot of pictures of us.  Oh and we kiss and canoodle...a lot. 

Still basking

Yesterday really was fantastic.  

John came home after school with lilies in hand and an anniversary gift. He said, "I've written you a poem. Do you want to read it or do you want me to read it for you?"  Of course I opted for him to read it.  "It's meant to be funny but It also might make you cry."  He sure knows me, I cry a lot and this was no exception. 

"Of the 5 years we've complied.

There are two things which make me smile.

1st being the children you've baked.

2nd of course the music we make.

So, here's to 60 more together.

Full of songs that last beyond forever."

I looked at him with tear brimmed eyes and lept up to wrap my arms around him.  "I love it!!" Then he handed me a leather sketchbook and a beautiful pen for us to write our songs in.

Since yesterday I've already written one song and I can't wait to fill it up with more.

5 years

Last night John Murphy and I celebrated 5 years of marriage over a delicious dinner and a stroll around the bookstore. We went to look for a cookbook I've been pining for for over a year.  When it wasn't there we looked online and found it for $7.99 down from $27.99.  An anniversary miracle I tell you! Dinner was so lovely. We had the best stuffed peppadew peppers with a balsamic glaze that were out of this world. We spent 5 minutes dissecting them and figuring out how we could make them ourselves.

We shared some really exciting conversation that I am so excited about and I can't wait to make good on the things we talked about! 

I love this life we've created together and there is still so so so much in store.  I can't wait to do every single bit of it with him.  He is the perfect fit for me and encourages me to go for anything that comes to my mind. 

 He never complains when I'm overly OCD about our bed covers, jerking then around each night until they are just right. And that says just about everything you'd need to know about him. So kind, so loving, so patient. 

f o u r. y e a r s.

 This week we celebrated four years of marriage.  A few years ago we came up with the idea to try to have an anniversry dinner in our wedding clothes each year.  Last year I was quite pregnant so this was the first chance we had to make good on that idea.  Yesterday I called John on his way home from work and told him to get ready for a suprise.  Evaleigh was enchanted with seeing me in my wedding gown and kept asking me to spin.  When he drove up the driveway I was standing in front of the house in my wedding dress.  I had Johns clothes laid out in the kitchen.  He slipped on his suit coat and we spent a little time outside.  We watched our baby roll around on the quilt I made out of the fabric from our reception table clothes.  Evaleigh played under the lace tablecloth we bought in Mexico on our honeymoon.  John put his arms around my waist and we took in the scene.  I said, "Look at what we've done in four years."  We both agreed that our babies are the best things we've done.  We had pizza for dinner and played music under the "blah-blah" tree for a few minutes after we got the babies to bed.  I love passing the time with my John.

I love John Murphy and The Staves

This weekend I surprised my love with a spontaneous trip to Nashville to see one of our favorite bands, The Staves.  They are three sisters from England.  I purchased the tickets behind his back and secured an overnight babysitter (thanks mom!).  We snuck out of church early Sunday and dropped Evie off with my mom and headed out to Tennessee.  The drive was so beautiful, although pregnancy narcolepsy kicked in a few times and he had to wake me up to see the pretty views.  Some road trip partner I am...

I perked up for the last two hours of our journey and we talked and talked.  When we got to our hotel we settled in for a bit and then headed out to 3rd & Lindsley for the show.  The place was packed, most everyone was there for Holly Williams, which we had no clue who she was.  We found two seats next to a nice chatty couple.  The Staves were amazing.  It's rare to find a band that is just as good live as they are on their albums but Staves did it.  Their harmonies were heavenly! I only wish they had played longer and that John didn't eat most of our appetizer sampler before I got back from singing my two favorite songs at the top of my lungs at the edge of the stage.  It was a quick forgive though considering I did abandon the food and it was our anniversary weekend.  After they were done I went to try and talk to them at the edge of the stage.  I managed to catch Jessica, the guitarist, and I asked for a picture.  She said she had to break down the stage then load the van but that she'd come back.  After 10-15 minutes of waiting I was about to give up and go back to my seat when she popped out from around the corner and said in her English accent, "Oh thank goodness you're still here!  My sisters have sore throats and don't want to come out, would you like to come backstage with us instead?" I just about died.  I gushed to them about how amazing they were and we snapped a few pictures.  I told them I hoped I looked like their 4th sister in our pictures and they giggled.   I was star struck for the rest of the evening.

As we left one of them was out front and John got to take a picture with her and she said to a few friends, 'Look we have a pregnant American fan!"

We drove around Nashville a little then ended up at a Kroger for Ben & Jerry's and some Krispy Kreme doughnuts.  We took them back to our hotel and ate them in bed while watching Shark Tank, because we are adults and can do what we want.  We fell asleep and then enjoyed a "scrumptious" continental breakfast in the morning and lots of Sweet Tarts and Reese's Pieces on the way home.

I just love John Murphy...and The Staves.

collecting years

Yesterday John and I celebrated 3 years of marriage.  I'll never forget that special day.  I thought that it couldn't get any better than that day.  I was so wrong. 3 years, one darling baby girl, a little boy on the way, and a lot of late musical nights later it is so much better than I could have dreamed.   

We have a happy marriage and I think that one of the biggest things that keeps it that way is not holding on to the little things.  It's easy to get offended quickly and want to teach the other person a lesson by giving them the silent treatment or being rude in return. But that is one of the things that I can say we do well.  We are quick to forgive and don't hold little grudges or try and punish the other person.  We rarely stay upset for more than a few minutes because he will have me laughing or I'll make him hug me or kiss me before it gets too awkward.  We know  that we will eventually forgive each other or work it out so why not take those steps sooner rather than later.  I am grateful for that.

I love collecting the years with him.  I am proud of our three little years.  I love looking back on the things we've done and being proud of what we have created together. I think more than anything we have a really great friendship.

I love you John Murphy, thanks for being a really cool husband and always bringing home the perfect treats.  Thanks for keeping our house a fun place and being a great dad to Evaleigh.  Thanks for loving me when I'm crazy. 

backwards with time

This weekend we went out for a little pre anniversary celebration. Back before Christmas John bought us tickets to see The Avett Brothers.  We love their music and John plays it all of the time.  Little Baby Boy was kicking all night, I think he either hated or loved the music because he was so active!  About half way through the concert it started raining and we got soaked, we felt like hippies dancing in the rain. 

Thanks to Lisa for keeping our baby alive while we were gone.  Thanks for teaching her how to eat honey suckle and putting her to sleep safe and sound with her muppis.