6 years.

6 whole years together, well 7 technically. But married for 6!

Some days it feels like I've known Josh my whole life, and others it feels like it's just begun. 

Either way I love that man unconditionally and feel so blessed and honored to be his wife. He's a better father than I ever imagined, and a great role model and leader for our family. 

We went on a lovely date to Rick's Chophouse is downtown McKinney last night and it was delicious! This is the only picture I managed to get at dinner, which is just hilarious. :)

Cheers to many more years, Hun! Love you!

Happy 5th Anniversary!

I just realized I wrote this entire post on our actual anniversary, but must not have published it. So, I'm scheduling it for our anniversary even though I'm actually publishing it on 7/23.

Happiest FIFTH anniversary to the most amazing man I know. You have made me the happiest woman alive and I seriously could not ask for more. I say it all the time- but I really could not survive this crazy life without you!

You are a wonderful husband and a terrific father. I love spending every day with you. You are my best friend and soulmate.

Thank you for all that you do. Cheer to another 54615641 years!

4-year Anniversary

Today is our 4-year wedding anniversary and I felt the need to write a quick blog, thanking my husband for sharing the past 5 years with me.  He's such an incredible man, and I feel so incredibly grateful to be his wife and the mother of his child.  He's taught me how to be a better person (still working on this personally), but still allowed me to be myself.  I can't imagine going through this crazy roller coaster we call life with anyone else.

I would also like to thank him for everything he's done for me in the past 6 weeks (really, the past 9 months and 6 weeks).  Josh has been so supportive, understanding, patient, encouraging, flexible and loving.  I literally would not be able to survive without him.

Love you babe, and cheers to many more years!

3 years! Wow!

First of all, I am so sorry to all our loyal followers (wink, wink) - we've definitely neglected this blog!! I randomly clicked on this link via my Facebook page, and realized it wasn't even active anymore! How terrible! Josh & I are about to embark on a new chapter in our lives, and I want to document it all. Hence, this blog post...

On Sunday, we leave for Jamaica to celebrate our 3-year wedding anniversary. I cannot for the life of me, believe it had been 3 years. Some days I feel like we've been married for 100 years, and some days it feels like yesterday. Either way, it definitely doesn't feel like 3 years.

I think back to 3 years ago, and how excited and happy I was to marry my bestfriend, how in love we were, and how willing we were to take on the world! I don't think I could've imagined how much MORE I could love Josh, and how much MORE happy we could possibly be. Its crazy to think about it.

Anyways, I wanted to post one of my favorite marriage poems. It was read at our wedding 3 years ago, and I think its a great reminder of how precious a marriage really is. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The Art of Marriage

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.

A good marriage must be created.

In the art of marriage the little things are the big things.

It is never being too hold to hold hands.

It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is at no time taking the other for granted;

the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,

it should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.

It is standing together facing the world.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude

of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation

and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience,

understanding and a sense of humor.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the spirit.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,

dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.

It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.

It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best.

by Wilferd Arlan Peterson

Coming up on year 2

Quick recap since the last blog. The Murano (Pearl) is doing great & we love it.

We're both really, really looking forward to this weekend. We're gonna work a half day tomorrow then go to Austin. We'll stay the night at Kate's folks', leave the kids (dogs) with the grandparents, & head to Fredericksburg for a weekend of relaxing, wine, food, & shopping. It's a much needed getaway weekend. We hope to visit some interesting vineyards & drink some good Texas wine. Oh & BTW, it's all to celebrate our 2nd anniversary of our fabulous marriage. I'm also looking forward to driving Pearl more. Kate drives her on a daily basis so I don't see her in action that much. It will be fun to take her on the road trip, & we'll be driving cautiously the entire way.

--Josh

Our 1-year anniversary & vacation to Cabo

So I've finally found the time to blog about our absolutely wonderful vacation. The past month, work & life in general, has been so hectic! I'm so glad we were able to get away for a week of total relaxation.

Anyways - back to the vacation... The flight was great. We upgraded to first class (*ahhhh*) on the way there; which entitled us to lunch - salmon salad for me (surprisngly good) and a BBQ chicken pizza for Josh (he loved it), more leg room (which is always appreciated by us freaks), de-boarding the plane first (if you know me, you know I am impatient, so this is great) and of course, drinks! drinks! drinks! Mimosas for me, vodka/sprite for Josh...and let me tell you, this is such a blessing for me on a plane! I absolutely HATE flying, so getting a little buzzed definitely helps, especially when traveling international...it helps me get through customs when we arrive. Speaking of customs, it wasn't that bad in San Jose del Cabo - certainly better than Cancun & Montego Bay. We pre-booked a shuttle van to take us to the resort, which was really easy and totally convenient. Once arriving at the resort, we were greeted with a smiling senorita and a margarita - SALUD!

We stayed at the Riu Palace, which was absolutely amazing, in Cabo San Lucas. Everyone was so friendly, appreciative & service-oriented. I was nervous before the trip because there was a string of bad review on Trip Advisor, but everything far exceeded our expectations. The resort is all-inclusive, which means all the alcohol and food your little heart desires. If you know me, you know I practicaly starve myself before beach vacations (gotta look good in a bathin suit), so once I get out of the country...its pretty much ON! :) Needless to say, Josh & I always take full advantage of the all-inclusiveness.

Josh & I love to veg and do nothing on vacation, and this was exactly what we did - nothing (except a yummy couples massage & several strolls on the beach). Speaking of beach, the beach in Cabo is very different than any other beach we've ever been to. The beach down to the water drops off quite abruptly, almost like a cliff, allowing the HUGE waves to crash directly onto the beach. Its pretty impressive, and quite scary! Josh & I are pretty athletic, and I was afraid of drowning at one point. Anyways - I definitely do not recommend traveling to Cabo if you want to get in the ocean.

As I look at all our pictures, deciding which I want to print and display around the house - I can't help but think of how wonderful vacation is. Not only are we lucky enough to get PAID vacation time off, but we get to leave the country for an entire week. We are completely blessed.

Here are some pictures from our lovely vacation....

ENJOY! Love,

Kate

the first 30 mins we were there (still pale)

our first real day - Josh pimping the glasses I got him :)

me, in front of the gorgeous Cabo rocks!

2 photos of Josh's daily view ;)

drinks before dinner the first night

more beach pics....

beautiful Cabo rocks!

drinks on the terrace before dinner

the waves were really crazy this night. so bad they shook the sliding glass doors in our room.

our last day on the playa

last dinner in heaven