Best Wedding Ever.

**All photos courtesy of Sarah Bridgeman Photography**

Never have I seen more personal touches (the bride and groom sang together in lieu of a first dance), unique details (a candy table, old windowpanes for the program), and fun ideas (cool sunglasses for the wedding party- C'MON!, and a yellow school bus for our ride- gotta love the high school sweethearts throwback).
And, the wedding happened to be my closest cousin and one of my best friends, Marisa. Her guy, Matt (or cousin uncle Matt, as he's known by my boys), has been around us for so long he's simply family.

And, Sarah Bridgeman (http://www.facebook.com/sj.bridgeman.photography), a friend of both theirs and mine, did the second shooting of the wedding, and continues to WOW with each shot. Here's just a few... she's amazing. I would highly recommend if you're looking for amazing talent, a sweet personality, and reasonable prices. And, just sayin', you should contact her now before she hits the big time. It won't be long.

Seriously??? SERIOUSLY!!


Stud.

A little airbrush makeup never hurts...

"Somebody, Somebody, Somebody's Getting Married.... TODAY!"

Our days of cartwheels in the basement and banging the pots and pans on New Years Eve may be over, but here's to the future...so bright you might need to hang on to those shades...

Happy Anniversary to Us!

In this "I'm in it until it doesn't work for me anymore" society, , I am very proud to celebrate eight years of marriage to a wonderful and committed man- committed to God, our family and hard work. He's always been a rock-steady and sensible. Perfect for me, who probably says "I feel" about a thousand times a day. Giving the old cliche, "opposites attract" another proven case.
And, after all this time, we still have fun!

Us, the night before our wedding!

March 2011, one of the FEW pics we have together since the kids!

The Big News!

My sister got engaged!

Congratulations Sarah and Matt!

I am so excited for this... details to follow as they come!

He asked her in a sweet, simple way.... quietly in their home, where they love to spend time with their "daughter" (who may weight more than many grown men, but who's counting?).


And the ring!! I would post the pics I have, but they just don't do it justice.
Here's a link to one that's close, and gives you the idea. Sarah's came from George Edwards Jewelers though, naturally.


This is going to be so much fun!

Happy Father's Day To The Best One...

“A man’s children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season”. – Unknown (click link)

Then...
I remember this day... Fall 2005, the day I announced I was pregnant with Adam (hence the pale, tired face)

Recently Paul and I celebrated 7 years of marriage. It's been a great adventure for us!
Last year I broke down some key things I learned over our years. If you'd like to read those things, you can here.

Now, maybe it's time to wonder what he knows about me after seven years. Here's my best shot...

He knows when I say I will be gone an hour, it will most likely be two.

He knows that when I ask for 5 more minutes of sleep that I would actually love an hour.

He knows I like my coffee with two creams. My wings BBQ. My tacos medium. My iced tea with lots of lemon. My fries crispy.

He knows I will actually punch him if he tries to tickle under my arm when I am trying to read.

He knows when I retell stories the wrong way, I am not a liar, just a detail confuser.

He knows I usually can remember the names of the people whose faces he has memorized and the phone numbers he's transposed.

He knows when I estimate I will spend $50.00, some great bargain or item we needed will double that sum.

Now...
(although, I am ashamed to admit this was our last pic together and it was 6 MONTHS AGO... guess I am usually behind the camera)

Date Night

Ahhh... everyone needs a reminder of what it was like then... before kids.... before "life" kicked in.
Sometimes an hour and a half in a corner booth is all you need. Add some of Koi's sushi, sheshuan beef, general tso's chicken, and lo mein plus a leftover Christmas gift card, and the good gets better!
It was time well spent. Time with the guy who melted my heart at 19, and still does today. Our no-rush conversation about dreams for our future... without it affecting our current contentment. Where will we live next? What about our next house? And where are our careers going... Needed and highly recommended for any married couple with small kids!

When was your last date night?

(Un)Romantic at Heart

Before you read:
I love my husband and children.
I am not dead inside
Occasionally, I cry
I am sentimental, in about two minute increments




Today, Adam states: " It's February. I no like Valentine's Day. I want to stay home".

I could not agree more.

Ugh, that's right. Over that last few years I have come to realize that I am just not a romantic person. I used to make a stink about it because it seemed like it should be acknowledged. So my great hubby would comply and go all out. Then, I would think "This is cheesy. Can I go to bed now? Was this card REALLY $4.99??" .

Flowers, candles, gifts, sweet nothings... I could take them or leave them. (Paul, if you are reading, you are not off the hook, I like candy). I guess my "love languages" are more of the quality time/ acts of service/words of affirmation varieties. Luckily, this meshes well for my marriage.


I hated Twilight... The Kite Runner, on the other hand, sucked me in.

Nicholas Sparks- not my thing... John Grisham might suit me better.

Jerry McGuire or Message in a Bottle.... I'll take Tommy Boy or Wayne's World.

Valentine's Day... How about a Christmas do-over?

No Sleep

Pinkeye

Sick Kids

Corneal abrasion
Trust me, you don't want an image.

Bad work week (a couple, actually)


=An exhausted, discouraged me, and explains my lack of inspired blogging this week.

Thankfully, I have these two faces



And this man

Sealed with this promise


To know this is just a season.

Fathers

"My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." - Clarence Kelland

I have had the pleasure of watching my husband as a father for (almost!) the last three years. One thing I remember clearly when Adam was born was how Paul just jumped right in. He changed the diaper like it was his personal mission. He bounced him when he fussed without prompting, and even discovered different ways to hold him to calm his colic. With Zachary, as I was recovering from my cesarean Paul tells me he talked to him at the nursery window and watched him respond eagerly to the familiar voice. To this day, Zachary falls asleep best in Daddy's arms. I have been blessed time and again to witness the connection between father and child, right in front of my eyes. And, at times, been sad for the many, many children who never get to experience a faithful daddy, or even a daddy at all.

It's our anniversary!
Rather than bore you on what a blessing marriage has been and what a great husband I have (all true), I decided to humor you and share some things I have learned about Paul, things about me, share some from our experiences, and give some insights into married life in general...

Year One:
Paul is not neat. His mom is neat, and picked up after him his whole life. Hopes and dreams of a neat freak husband to pick up after me dashed.
Paul is not good at throwing surprise parties (I had it all figured out). But, I learned that if I say I want something, he's going to make it happen.
Money does not grow on trees, even Canadian money.
Poutine is this nasty concoction of french fries, curd cheese, and gravy. Canadians love it. Paul loves it. I, on the other hand, DO NOT.
Not everything needs to be microwaved for 2 minutes.
Me (the social worker) have learned more about understanding others from Paul than anyone else...

Year Two:
Always package up the leftovers. This is Paul's most hated chore. He will do just about anything else housework wise, just not that.
Quick clean up for company mastered.
There are cultural differences between the US and Canada. A chesterfield is a couch. "bean" ="been" with the accent, Harvey's is a nasty hamburger joint in Canada, Canadian Tire sells WAY more than tires, tea is more of a tradition than something people actually drink. There are many more...
Only an amazingly committed person will clean an infected surgical wound for you daily. (sorry for you weak stomach people).
It's amazing how much crap two people can accumulate- the first move made this clear. I do not look forward to the next one!
Paul is way nicer than me.

Year Three:
Paul likes stuff. If an interest arises, we can guarantee a full like of accessories, "how-to's", clothing, and more! Try to change him- I think not!
My husband is not only committed to me, but to my family. This is no easy task at times, particularly during some hard times.
Toby Mac is cool (D.C. Talk aside j/k)
Buying good shoes is a must.
It's rare a find a man that is both a good husband and a good father. Thank you Lord for the blessing of both...
Seeing a man fall in love with his child is very awesome.
Allowing Paul to find his own "way" as a father was the best thing I have done. Not being a controlling, bossy, specific parent has made him even more special to our boys. They do "their" thing.
Wait, was there life before kids?

Year Four:
If something cannot be found by Paul, take your finger and draw a strait line from the end of his nose and whatever it is you are looking for will be there. Guaranteed.
Magnum P.I. is cool!
I am a "stewer". I get mad about stuff he has no clue about, then act all jerky. This is bad, husbands need to be told. They won't "just figure it out" Ever. It's just the way it is. Moral of the story- tell them what's bothering you, what needs to be done, etc...
We love Friends. Best show ever. Lots of laughs.
Being in school with a marriage and family is a challenge! I am thankful that Paul's a rock- even when he's spread thin.
Even when you KNOW you are right, it's not ALWAYS necessary to point it out.

Year Five:
Wow! Even with a busy life, laugh a lot!
Get away every now and then, overnight or a couple days. It is hard to be away from the kids, but needed! Even though you still might talk about the kids the whole time.
Only an honest man would be willing to say to his wife on the way to the hospital to give birth "I am more worried about me than you" (he had a major flu bug, all the nasty symptoms you can think of). Thank God for that nasty stuff he did in year two, or violence might have occurred.
Accepting my in-laws for who they are rather than wondering why they aren't just like me was the best thing I could have done.

Year Six:
My husband is a patient man. With the kids, with me, with my family... hard to come by!
"Let's go, so we can get back" is our motto. We love being home, love being together. This is great.
The day that degree arrived was an awesome day.
I can't remember crap, but fortunately my hubby always can refresh my memory. I am not a liar, I just forget details.
While money still does not grow on trees, having a little is nice. Student loans- not so nice.



I wonder what this will look like at year 10, 20, 30, and 40... or however long God gives us.

It's Just a Stepping Stone

I have to say, I do not give enough "props" to my husband. He's given up a lot for me- moved from his home, his parents, all that was familiar to him. All to be with me... wow, that says a lot.

Pardon the cheesiness.. but here goes.

This week, some lyrics of an Alan Jackson song have entered my mind a few times...

"Remember when I was young and so were you, and time stood still and love was all we knew....Remember when we vowed the vows and walked the walk...Gave our hearts, made the start, it was hard...We lived and learned, life threw curves.... Remember when 30 seemed so old, now looking back it's just a stepping stone, to where we are, where we've been, said we'd do it all again..."

As my hubby turns 30 this weekend, I can only hope the rest of the lyrics to that song resemble our much anticipated future life together! As we approach 10 years together, we are now able to look back and remember when... it's nice...

Now, off with Paul to get his senior citizens disouunt at the local Bob Evans, lol.

Through the years....

My Stories

It's a well known fact that women like to share their birthing experiences. I have been in many a room where there is a lot of head nodding, interjecting, ohh's and ahhh's, and "been there's" when speaking of child birth. It's not only something that people can share, but I have begun to realize that beyond that it's something that we as women NEED to talk about- perhaps due to the trauma involved, perhaps to feel a real part of the "mommy club", but for whatever it may be- here goes my two so they are documented and my stories are out there.





John Adam 6/27/06 8 lbs 4 oz 21 inches

For Adam:

I was due June 19th, which I spent at Carrabba's with my sisters... no baby in sight. I was one of those pregnant people that really, truly enjoyed it and I did not get too fat anywhere but my belly, all that stuff that makes people roll their eyes. But, anyway, I enjoyed carrying him and really the whole experience. Well, I went over by a week and they sent me in for induction. There was no action whatsoever on my own, so in I went. Actually, this story is pretty drama free... I got induced with a gel to help move things along. We hung out all day and nothing happened, so we ate Panera, watched TV, and seriously wondered if I would ever have the baby. Well, the nurses offered me a "little something" to help me sleep. I said sure, why not.. the bed stinks and I could use the rest. I took the little pill and was out like a light. Anyway, come 1 am I got up to pee, and lo and behold I peed followed by a burst of fluid. I have not mentioned that I had high levels of amniotic fluid during my pregnancy. This proved to be a sure fact after my water broke. It broke and did not stop for hours, all over the bed, the floor, the nurses shoes... then all over again. So, things progressed and the contractions began, as did my confusion and anxiety. The sleeping pill was quite strong and I was not coping well with the labor and the grogginess. So, the anesthesiologist arrived at 7 am and I opted for the epidural. He came in, grumpy and very pompous, to administer the good drugs. He began the procedure and allowed my hubby to stay in the room, which I understand is unusual but we did not know. Well, in process to get this done, he kept missing the proper place in the spine and followed it at each miss with a drawn out exasperated sigh, like I was the one who was doing something wrong. The kicker, though, was looking at Paul... first of all the man has a love for all things medical... no weak stomach, nothing too gross or too gory for him. Well, he was white as a ghost and had his head in his hands. After about 7 attempts the numbness set in and the epidural took. But, within about 10 seconds it was like my head was smushed between two metal plates, searing pain, a headache like no other I have EVER had... a spinal headache. So, I had to lay flat until birth, whenever that was. So, flat I laid as I SLOWLY dilated. So, come noon it was time to start pushing. So, I pushed and pushed and pushed. I did not know that most women push an hour or so, and that was probably a good thing. John Adam Vinkle (meaning God is Gracious/ Man of Earth) arrived at 3:10 p.m. that Tuesday afternoon- after 3 solid hours of pushing!! He was alert, beautiful, and substantial at 8lbs 4 oz and 21 inches!! And there is story # 1.

Zachary Richard 3/22/08 7 lbs 14 oz. 20.5 inches

For baby # 2 I think I was probably equally gleeful as a pregnant lady, gaining little weight and walking proud with my big belly. I was surely more tired having a toddler and also less ignorant as to what to expect with a baby... but I do love being pregnant.

So, here comes Zachary! At the time I went into labor he was most likely Jacob, and Zachary was somewhere in the back of our minds. The name meaning of Jacob- "supplanter, or held by the heel" was not the best, but I did love the name...

Anyway, the due date of March 19th came and went which was no surprise to me at all. Apparently I conceive children that must be due on the 19th of the month.. I am 2 for 2. Anyway, on Friday March 21st I went to Carrabba's again with my sisters (it's now a tradition), feeling that there was no baby in sight and that on March 26th I would be induced much like I was with Adam. So, on the way home at like 11 pm my sister Eileen and I decided to stop at Wegman's and I would get all my Easter stuff so I would not have to fight the crowd the next day in my hugeness. So, off to pee at Wegman's, and the weirdest thing... I stood up and kept peeing... you guessed it. my water broke. Now, I had enjoyed some practical joking around this pregnancy and labor, like telling people I was in labor when I was not... so I was surprisingly calm as I exited the bathroom and told Eileen that we needed to go. She said "why", and I pointed to my pants who answered the question loud and clear. She busted out of there so fast, and my calmness remained, somehow. As she called people, she got the standard response of "shut up", or "whatever".

So, we got home... I had nothing packed and so I thew some stuff together, kissed my sleeping baby whose life was about to change, and for the last time left home as a mom of one. I was having no contractions as Paul unnecessarily sped to the hospital. I again had the high amniotic fluid with Zachary, so I was using Pampers Size 5's to help with the water on the way... I called the OB who lectured me about being out shopping that late... blah blah blah...

We got there, got checked in, and got to our room. The labor was progressing quite nicely on its own, despite the flood I was producing every 5 minutes... by now it was 1 am and the nurses encouraged me to sleep. By 3:30 or so the contractions were more frequent and getting painful. The nurse encouraged me to forgo the epidural and go with the Nubain only. I said I wanted the epidural so they called someone in. This time, it was smooth sailing, one try, no headache. So, the pain relief was great but the labor stopped. I mean completely. I even went from 7 cm BACK to 5. No more contractions. Baby "floating" as they say, not moving down at all.

So, time passed. I was sick, shaking, getting anxious, and super exhausted as 24 hours of no sleep approached. All of my dignity was gone pretty much at this point with all the people in and out of the room, etc.. ( Oh, and did I mention that Paul had the flu- the bad kind... in fact, at one point he made a comment I will never forget... he said " I think I am more worried about me than you right now"... lol, as bad as the flu can be it will never hold a candle to pushing out an 8 pound human being.)

So, the doctor was in, checking me out, monitoring the heart, and bringing in an ultrasound machine. It turned out that my bladder was so full it was impacting the labor, and things were really not going well at this point. They decided to watch but nothing happened. I knew they were thinking c-section. The contractions that were happening were not productive. THEN, all the sudden there was a literal flurry of activity. I heard "CODE PINK, MATERNITY" over the hospital intercom. People were running all over, coming at me with a mask and not telling me what was going on. I was a mess, crying, shaking, throwing up... not good. So, as all this activity was going on, it suddenly stopped. But, the decision had been made. I was going in for a section, now. They wheeled me in, prepped me, I was again emotional and confused, not really knowing why this was happening. But, the surgery itself was a piece of cake- they had him out before I even knew they had begun... at 9:30 am on MArch 22nd - the day before EAster and my mom's birthday- our unnamed baby boy was born at 7 lbs 14 oz and 20.5 inches.

Later, the doctor told us that the baby's heart rate had dropped as low 20 (babies hearts go about 140 or more usually)... prompting the Code Pink. We decided then to call him Zachary Richard (for my dad)- meaning Remembered by God and strong leader. We believe he was remembered and certainly is strong.

So, there you have it. Some of you may have scrolled down to the end and scanned this lightly,or just been bored all together which is fine... and some of you may just be "ohhh-ing" and "ahh-ing" and be dying to jump in with your stories... I'd love to hear them!!!