Happy Anniversary to Us!

Last week Carey and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary! It has been an amazing 10 years and I feel so blessed to have experienced it with my wonderful husband.

We started out the 10 years with 3 cars (paid for), $110 in credit card debt, $700 cash, a Uhaul full of wedding presents, one bachelors degree and no job for either one of us. Not to mention, we moved to Michigan 10 days after we got married. Here we are 10 years later and again neither one of us has a job, we have 2 cars paid for and one not, 2 bachelor degrees and a law degree on the way, we have bought and sold two homes, moved 8 times, said good-bye to 2 grandparents, and were given 2 of the absolutely most beautiful children.

We have also learned some invaluable lessons over these past 10 years that we would like to pass on ... (1) ALWAYS get full coverage auto insurance on any vehicle in which you still owe money on, (2) when hiking 3 miles into a national lakeshore campsite, remember the can opener, (3) we don't do wallpaper, (4) three year olds hear everything you say, (5) the human body CAN function for a year on only 5 hours of sleep a night (2003 - Riley's first year), (6) don't expect to close on the purchase of a home and move-in on the day scheduled, (7)be prepared for anything on a car trip to/from Michigan (snow, sleet, freezing rain, ice, high winds, an exhaust leak which requires the windows down in the middle of winter with no heater), (8) ALWAYS get the extra warranty on anything you buy when you have children, (9) God will always provide for our needs, and (10) God is full of surprises (Victoria!).

Here are some then and now pictures for you amusement!

THEN 1994 (So thin!)
NOW

So we celebrated our anniversary with an evening out and to my great surprise, Carey gave me pearls! It was such a shocker! We aren't really gift givers. It seems that we always are saving up for something or trying to payoff something, so we just get something little for each other (usually a card and a night out). So needless to say, I wasn't expecting anything big. So I wore the pearls to work the next day ...

What a special gift from my husband, who is a wonderful gift from my Lord.

Victoria's Ballerina Room

I just finished up Victoria's room a couple of weeks ago and wanted to share some pictures with everyone. I was able to sew everything myself. I don't think anyone was as surprised as I was. It looks homemade and in the long run wasn't much cheaper, but it is exactly what I wanted and it is special since I made it!

She just loves her ballerina room.

Ballerinas Everywhere!!

This is her most favorite spot in the house!

Victoria has been sleeping through the night now for a few weeks and we officially moved her into her room at night last week. She has been doing fantastic (except for last night, but that's ok). We put her down around 9:30PM and she sleeps until 7:30 or 8:00. It's great! We are ALL sleeping in our own beds now thanks to Daddy. Carey decided that it was time for Victoria to sleep in her crib and had her doing it the first night with very little fuss. I think we definitely have a Daddy's girl here!

She has had a recent growth spurt. I am putting her at 15 pounds and 23 1/2 inches tall (but that is just a guess). She will have her 4 month check-up in a week and a half ... so we will see what the official measurements are then.

Carey is deep into finals right now. Please be in prayer for him. He is set to finish up his internship next week. So we are all excited around here that we will get to spend more time with him and make a trip to Michigan on his break!

Oh by the way, did I mention that we will be able to enroll her in dance classes in just over a year! I am so excited! (Carey says that I am living vicariously through my daughter ... so what if I am!)

Time to Eat

We introduced Victoria to solids yesterday and she took to it as expected. She wasn't quite sure about what it was and I am not even sure if she swallowed any, but I was a grand mess and of course we have pictures!