11 Years

Happy 11th Anniversary!  This post gets the perspective of the one and only Shea Stanger.  Super Dad, expert 4 hour commuter and the one who mad Dad bods cool before they became a thing.  

Its kind of crazy to think about being married to someone for 11 years.  Its starting to get up there.  People at work always talk about how marriage never lasts and some of them are already on their 2nd or 3rd marriages!  Its a crazy world we live in and it's only getting crazier.  

For this anniversary, Kay-Marie planned the best man-iversary yet.  Whats the most manly thing you can do for an anniversary with your husband?  You guessed it, going to the shooting range!  We found an indoor shooting range called the machine gun nest that also rents firearms to shoot with.  I chose a S&W .40 and Kay-Marie chose a Glock 9mm.  I must say as much as I liked the feel of the S&W and the power of a .40, the 9mm wasn't too bad.  It was super easy to handle and was kind of funner to shoot for two beginers.  I think if Kay-Marie ever lets me buy one, it will def be the Glock 17 9mm.

Since we had all the equipment including ear protection, it was a pretty good time.  The hardest part was dodging the super hot brass as it was ejected from the gun after firing, they assured us that it felt like a curling iron burn.  Kay-Marie although used to them she said those aren't fun so we tried to avoid them. She was very uncomfortable with shooting at human targets so next time we will have to find something that is just a circular target to shoot at.

Overall, it was a super fun and a memorable anniversary date and I feel so lucky that I married a woman who would take a chance to go shred some targets and try something that she wasn't that into.

This lady sure is good lookin when she is shootin!

Excellent form if I do say so myself, and for the most part right on target.

If you can't tell, she was a little aprehensive shooting a handgun for the first time...good thing we had that ear protection!  The place was also packed and people were shooting everything from purse sized 9mm's to .50 cal rifles.  It was crazy...and gave more reason to the nickname of our hometown people, "frednecks".

Pretty cool setup and a great shot of what it looks like down range.

This wasn't even the end yet when I took this picture.  

This face says to me, "Never again!"

We grabbed a nice dinner too, I was one satisfied man after such an awesome date!  

Happy 11th anniversary, babe!

Anniversary Date in DC

We celebrated our Anniversary of 9 years a couple weeks late, since we planned a big date to DC.
We loved it.
Reminiscing in the fact that we had come here 9 years ago in August (when Shea met my family after we got engaged), was so fun.
We started off with a train ride to Union Station and breakfast at Johnny Rockets.

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Johnny Rockets in Nashville, Tennessee is the first place we went to after we were engaged. I remember how exciting it all seemed, wearing that ring on my finger and thinking everyone could see. It was like some big secret was  finally out!

July 2009

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Then we were off to sight seeing. 

We took a break from walking and enjoyed the Botanical Gardens, and seeing the little hands on kids section made me think of all our little ones and how we need to have a -well planned- DC visit before we leave this area with the whole fam!

After riding our tour bus which we scored great tickets for, we stopped to see the famous Friendship Archway. and saw some more sights. 

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When Shea and I were engaged and before we headed back to school, Shea came to visit my family and we took a tour bus to do a little DC visit while he was there (I had taken carsick medicine and was drowsy the entire time and the extreme heat made the whole thing a bit exhausting for me, so we always talk about that trip as the one I slept through... SO that is why I wanted to DC right!).

August 2009

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The American History Museum was very cool and we spent a huge chunk of time inside! We could have spent even longer and want to plan another visit back. 

But we had to run and grab an early dinner at FOGO DE CHAO, a Brazilian churrasco style Steakhouse. (Since we have been on the east we have missed Tucanos a similar but better place.) It was a bit pricey but we were very full and loved it.

The rest of our DC adventure was spent on the tour bus which we was hard since this was the longest time on the bus and our guide this time around was more than a little disappointing.  

Then after the nearest stop we raced in the dark to make the train and get back home to our sweet babes. It was quite the fun little adventure and we love getting to have some just us time!

Love ya babe! Here is to 9 years!

You + Me = Eternity

HAPPY 8th ANNIVERSARY BABE! 

It's been 9 years of crushing on each other and it's been 8 years and one week and one day since kneeling at the alter. And I'm as sure as I was on our wedding day that you are my only one. 

Sorry we had to wait a week to celebrate. 

This year I feel like we have done more growing as a couple than ever before. You rock my world and I love you, now and FOREVER AND EVER!

While we ate and drove we played a couples quiz game which was so fun, it was just questions that we had to give the answer about the other. It made for a lot of laughs and fun and deep conversation that made it even more special, rather than spending the night talking about kids and work. 

It's been 9 years since we met and I still love getting to know you more and more.

shea & kay-marie
<3 10.22.2008

We exchanged gifts this year... HAHA we both picked out our own. TV for the bedroom for Shea and an Anniversary necklace for me via Etsy. After we exchanged gifts I asked the kids where their gifts for us were since this is basically the celebration of our family's sealed for eternity day!

Connor hung his head low and said "I forgot I was going to get you a chocolate bar and Dad a Reeses." Love you kid!

Sydney immeadiately ran to the bedroom closet grabbed a photo album I bought but never used and shouted "Happy Anniday I got you present!"

Shea and I melted and squeezed her and smooched her all up, which of course meant that the two oldest had to now do the same to save face this went on and on with them for the next ten minutes till Mom said that's enough presents from my closet thank you all!

Happy US

As titillated infatuated kids we were happy and strong and brave and threw caution to the wind.

Marriage didn't start out easy with both of us in school, working but making little to no money. Marriage today isn't easy either we are constantly balancing; work schedules, kids schedules, Connor's school schedule, and the beloved battle with finances. Through it all we have been each others best friends; we vent and cry and pray and laugh and share everything with each other (and I tend to overshare ;) There have even been points in my life where I complain about how lonely I am and how I want some friends that understand this crazy life we have, that get me and can support the ups and downs of being a wife and mother. But I forget how good I have it, and I wouldn't trade my friendship with my husband for anything. Because if there is one thing we are (fairly) good at it is communication, well unless I'm trying to communicate how to get socks in the hamper then there is no hope.

Now we are having Baby 4 and WOW I'd say we are still those kids; but happier, stronger, braver and loving the life we call ours. It is not easy or perfect or some magical fairy tale; because let's be honest our kids watch way too much TV, have way too many toys, Shea and I laugh way too hard when the kids trip and fall, and there are rarely moments where our home is harmonious or decisions are made quietly and unanimously. But it is so much better because we are continually learning and growing and the love we began with changes and builds as we work hard to fight for a marriage that is worth everything and can last eternally.

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On our anniversary to celebrate Shea took me and the girls to breakfast at Panera to start the day off right! It was delicious!

And now I am addicted.

We had lunch at Five Guys and dinner at Outback with the kids, 

which was a lot more fun in theory :)

Sydney even enjoyed my anniversary dessert at home the next day...

And that weekend we got a night out just us! Which we totally deserved and loved!

Cheers to a ...

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 7 years!

Happy Marriage!

Happy Life!

And Happy Us!

I'd say we lucked out!

6 Years

It was 6 years ago and one day that we kneeled across from one another and were sealed for time and all eternity. I loved seeing you nervous and so serious so unlike your teasing self, it was a time of butterflies and elated anticipation. We couldn't stop staring at each other and we couldn't stop smiling; we held on to each other so tight. The whole day is a blur and yet it feels as if time has stopped and we will always be that young couple that has stolen each others hearts for now and for forever.

EST. 2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

October 22nd came quickly this year, a midst all our new changes, life has been busy and exhausting. So dinner out and desert in, just us. was a welcome break. Simple, yes, but perfect. 

I loved you then but I LOVE you now!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Down On His Knee

It wasn't too long ago that my life changed forever when this boy got down on one knee and asked me to join him forever.

7/5/08

Knowing I am his and he is mine forever is the most amazing comfort there is.

To celebrate I suggested we go out this month to our Honeymoon Hotel, Destinations Inn for a night out. We decided to wait until Shea's last final was through so we could celebrate his graduation as well.

We stopped by Shea's old life of waiting tables, and enjoyed being served. Loved our food and especially our desert!

Then we were off to Destinations Inn! Cheesecake and Sparkling Cider greeted us which are two of my favorite things so I was extra happy.

It was wonderful to be away from the kids and be just us for the night, well mostly. Sydney was along too. But she was a sweet little sleeper.

After our delicious breakfast basket we were off to do some errands and catch some lunch at Red Robin!

We definitely need to catch up on our dating. With life so crazy dating your spouse gets thrown to the side, but it is too fun not to be at the top of our list.