I think I've posted about this before....

So, here's the thing...my anniversary is coming up ... like, tomorrow. My fourth anniversary. We will be making the leap into year five of ol' wedded bliss! It used to be a bigger deal (to me, anyway - how big of a deal it's ever been to hubs, I am not 100% sure on...) :) I know he just read that and rolled his eyes. However, the reason it feels a bit more like an accomplishment then a reason to go out on a hot date - is the fact that it's not just four years for us...and at our age - I think it means something.
My baby daddy of just over a year now has been putting up with yours truly for more than eleven. It seems a bit silly when you think about it.
And I think about it a lot.
And get teased about it a lot. :)
But the reality is...by some act of God or other being much more powerful than either of us - we found each other. Not that we were on opposite sides of the continent or anything... we lived exactly 18 miles apart if you want to get mathematical. However, we were not friends, we were not anything - until our first 'date'! And well, since that 'date' in 2002 - I don't think either of us could have fathomed that we'd still be going strong today, and still like each other so much to boot!

I've wondered a lot about whether there is just one person you are meant to be with. I don't know the answer. I know a lot of people who have been happy being with a lot of people. How much happiness it's actually brought them, I'm not sure.
But my story is this: When I was a Junior in high school I discovered a different kind of 'like'... maybe a year later or so (oh geez I can't even remember...) I discovered a different kind of 'love'...a few years later I discovered a different kind of 'roommate'...a few years later I discovered a different kind of 'forever'.... and now I am discovering a different kind of 'four years.'
Being married is not easy. Blah Blah yada yada I'm sure you've heard it all before and why would you take advice from someone whose only done it for four years?! I get that.

But if you are in fact interested, then here's two cents coming from someone who married their high school sweetheart, has a beautiful baby boy, and considers her marriage a success thus far
& has some fun along the way:

• Tell your other half that you love them. Often. Before hanging up the phone every single time. In a text for no obvious reason. When you get up to go to the bathroom. Okay, maybe that's excessive but you get the idea. Who hates being told they are loved...um, NOT ME.
• Appreciate the small, sometimes unnoticed things the other person does. I can't even describe the butterflies I get when I go to do dishes and the dishwasher is already unloaded! What an amazing feeling. :)
• Even if some of the above mentioned things are only 'half things'... The fact that the trash is taken out - awesome! The fact that there wasn't a replacement bag put in, ughhhhh...okay we can deal. See what I mean?!
• Realize the things that used to be cute/sexy/funny HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY OTHER THINGS. Now is the time to convince yourself that it's not that those old things now annoy you, oh no, now there are just new cute/sexy/funny 'daddy' & 'mommy' type things instead. For example, kinda cute the way he would lick all of his fingers after eating something finger lickin good (apparently) back in the day... hmmm...ewwww...Ahem! well, now watching him gag while changing a diaper is beyond precious!! Am I getting too personal? haha.
• Before getting the silly thought in your head that his/her body used to be a little tighter here and there - look in the mirror. DONE.
• Going to bed angry happens - It's simple... we are TIRED. Maybe it's better to sleep on it anyway? Bring it up at breakfast over coffee...discussing over coffee may in fact be better than discussing after a few glasses of merlot! Think about it...
• With that said...don't get pissed over dumb things. There, is that blunt enough? It happens, we all know that. PMS may or may not have something to do with it. Every relationship has hiccups - getting mad over spilled milk is a great test for said relationship... sharing one bathroom is another good test....buying your first house....buying your second house...giving birth...all great tests! I KNOW that our relationship is so strong because of the hurdles we've climbed over together and have made it to the other side...still together. 
• Celebrate the small victories. Sometimes when you've been together for a very long time, things start to get too routine. Mix things up once in a while! Boom - surprise massage gift certificate for the lady. Boom - surprise pan of rice krispie treats waiting for him when he gets home from work... all because you were able to assemble the crib, together, without killing each other! Nice. Really though, if all you do is wait for something great to happen to start celebrating then you could bore yourself to death. 
• Know that the other person really is a person. They have feelings. They have their own things going on whether you know it or not. Respect them. Give them a little freedom and space for whatever it is they need it for. Think before you speak. Just because you've always done something a certain way doesn't mean it's still going to work that way decades later. Age 16 is a much different animal than age 28 - things change, people change, keep moving forward, not backward!
• Let grammatical errors go sometimes... but not all the time, I mean we gotta show we care but nobody is perfect, c'mon!
• F.U.N. no, not the band.... just good old fashioned fun. It needs to be had. Got it? We ALL need to laugh and smile until our face hurts and we tinkle a little bit. 

I could go on and on...(share duties, compromise, keep an open mind, and don't stray too far from those feelings that started this whole charade...) but it's not really what this post is about.. :) Or is it...I'm not real sure anymore. :) which is why this is strategically titled!

Either way - we chose this life as 'one.' We made vows that we will never ever make to another. We have been through more in our short lives together, than many others.
The last four years, for me...have been exceedingly wonderful. The last eleven...defining. There is no me, without you - Jason Lee. There is just us.
I love you, I love my life, I love this day that ties it all together. Happy Anniversary - To many more!

And of course, here is an obnoxious amount of photos for your viewing pleasure! :) Our journey... & it continues...

high school ... obviously meant for each other don't ya think? Nerd alert! bangs alert!

college beer pong partners

youngins

college - hiking in OR

college party - wondering why I'm the only one wearing a white shirt to the white shirt party...

he asked...I said yes...I'd never worn rings before if you can't tell

college grads

graduation day

mr. & mrs.

he had to grow that nasty thing for a wedding...

one of our favorite things!

selfie!

honeymoonin' in Mazatlan

hosting our first turkey day

vegas!

our girls!

more vegas!

then this happened...

partner in crime

taken a month ago .. family is everything

..mostly I needed a reminder as to just how far we've taken this crazy life... and in case hubby needed a reminder on how lucky he is. :) ha!
...and the best part may be that I know he reads my blog, so I won't even have to drop a hint that something might be posted today. <3
cheers! & thanks for reading**