Just like the old days

Shea and I have had a bit of time while here in Idaho to sneak away and enjoy some moments just us.

Our favorite was getting to do an endowment and sealings at the Rexburg Temple, the temple we saw built and were married in and was our home temple for many years as we started out.

We also have enjoyed driving around seeing how this little town has changed so much. We even got a chance to go out on a date night. It didn't go exactly as planned since most of our old hot spots were closed; but we did have fun driving to all our homes. Oh the memories.

College Avenue Apts #206

(Our very first apt, but for only a few months.)

College Avenue Apts #312

(Lived here for a year and it was rough, with a hole in the window and no dishwasher and overall just a mess. We originally switched apts because we were promised a manager spot and managers get priority for apt renovations so we picked the biggest one, unfortunately we didn't get the manager spot and were stuck with just a scary apt)

College Avenue was always a bit scary...
mental note never let your husband
  pick your first place.

 The Village, Pioneer Rd #8204

(Our favorite complex, but they raised the prices after one year; Connor's first home.)

Raspberry Gardens #12

(Brand new construction and hilarious management, lived here for a year. Bella's first home. Best location ever! I loved being next to the park (daily splash park visits) and surprisingly the railroad tracks, we went on so many walks while we were here. I especially remember walking to Broulim's and campus to meet my brother or Shea everyday at the end of my pregnancy. Which apparently all the walking truly helped!)

Hyde Park #4001

(Lived here for a little over 2 years and Sydney's first home. I always wished we lived here from the beginning it was affordable and met all our needs and the location was nice. And there were always kids to play with, even if everyone thought we were crazy for having three kids in a tiny 2 bedroom apt. But it was awesome!)

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!

Date Day

Well we got to go on a Wedding date, to my friend Rachel's wedding. It was such a sweet and unique ceremony and they are seriously adorable together. I am so happy for her!

Shea and I totally loved the food and dinner was a bit awkward but we had fun all the same.

And it was nice to be reminded how lucky we are to be on this marriage ride for eternity.

My Valentine

Loved you then, but oh what a sweet naive love it was.

Now I am just beyond grateful that we have a love that lasts forever.

And of course for the tenth valentines together we did the traditional dinner out a week ahead and put kids to bed and had cheesecake from the OG while watching a good old disaster flick. Maybe next year we will be a little more romatic ... hint hint Shea.

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!

Thai and Shades

Our first date night since Piper was born.

"How adventurous are you feeling Shea?

Pretty adventurous.

Thai or Peruvian?

Peruvian? Interesting.... I could do Thai.

Thai it is."

Discovering a new place and trying something new is kind of my favorite thing.

And so is eating so this was kind of perfect.

Super cute urban vibe Thai Kitchen. We loved the Kittawat Fritters (Assortment of crispy rolls, sesame tofu, shrimp parcels and fried dumplings w/ peanut sweet chili sauce), and the Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles); but weren't huge on the Kuay Tiao Ruah (Boat Noodles). Definitely want to try again already so much looked good to me! And Shea was a great sport like always, this isn't really his thing but he admits when he discovers new things he loves like the Drunken Noodles it makes him really open up and want to do it again!

Since we both needed shades we also had fun doing a little shopping for some!

Can't get enough of this guy.

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!

NYC

Months ago I decided I wanted to make a trip to NYC just us for my birthday weekend.
I planned the whole trip as best as I could.
So at 3 AM we caught our bus and arrived right near Times Square at 6:30 AM.

We randomly walked the streets enjoying the empty-ish city.
Spotting Spider-Man in a huge Comic book shop.
(While prepping for our trip to NYC Connor asked "Can you remember to take the picture of statue of lib-er-te and Spider-Man? He lives there can you find him and see him?" I told him I'd try!)

In Rockefeller Plaza we saw all the News Stations and were in time to catch some of their morning shows.

Amanda Freitag from Food Network :)

Shea made sure we made it in time to the TKTS Booth for Broadway Tickets for Matinee showings.
We got tickets for The Phantom of the Opera, not our first choice but we were stoked!

We had looked up a bunch of places to eat that would be in our budget and were hot spots.
But as we should have expected they were all packed!!!
John's Pizzeria was the only place we managed actually getting into that was on our list.
It was gorgeous and had been a little cathedral many years ago; murals, stained glass, and chandeliers.
All pizzas were made in coal-fired brick ovens.

Right across the street was our theater for Phantom of the Opera in a few hours. 

We wandered through the Broadway District, checking out the theaters and enjoying the city, till the show was ready to start. 

I wish I could have captured how absolutely amazing the show really was. The live orchestra, the performances, the amazing sets, the effects, the props, the voices; all were gorgeous and it was quite a show.
Definitely gives me the itch to see another Broadway show because there is nothing quite like it.

(Here are a few images I found online of the same show, but truly they don't even do it justice.)

By the time the show was over we made the walk to our hotel in Midtown West and checked in.

Then we were off to find a place for dinner. Our top choices required quite a walk, so we decided to see Grand Central Station and try out the famous Oyster Bar.
Where we tried FRESH fried giant blue oysters which were amazing, but a little too much for Shea.

We were more than ready for bed by the end of the day, pure exhaustion.

We started the next day waking up late and hungry.
By the time we were out of the hotel we were starving and fortunately discovered a sweet little bistro still serving breakfast which we were thrilled about.

Then we began our busy Day 2.

 After seeing some sights including the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, stopping in a souvenir shop and popping into Nintendo World...

...we made our way to the TOP OF THE ROCK - Observation Deck.

With a historical museum along the way and 3 different sets of views, 70 floors up it was quite the adventure (especially for Shea!).

Then we were quickly off to catch the subway(an event itself) to the tip of Manhattan to catch the STATEN ISLAND FERRY. Where we saw the famous Manhattan skyline and a view of the statue of liberty (albeit a little farther away then expected).

After another subway trip we headed over to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.The MET was one of the few things on the top of my list. Unfortunately we were low on time and other than a picture out front didn't get a chance to really visit it.

We then took a tremendously long walk across Central Park. I was insistent that I was on backpack duty and man it was rough. And I determined that backpack duty depicted our moods. So although Central Park was gorgeous we didn't get to explore as I wanted because we were in reality taking a long trip from point A to point B which I couldn't help but think could have changed drastically if I hadn't insisted on getting off the subway by the MET. Honestly although it was exhausting we had fun.

Then of course our last attempt at eating at our hot spot and backup ended up in lines and lines of dwindling time we couldn't afford.

So McDonalds became our last resort which considering it was Father's day, seemed appropriate. 

Then off we dashed for our bus, where we scored seats together this time! (Our 3AM trip to NYC had been another story.)

Looking back I would have done a lot of things differently but it really was a wonderful adventure, no matter how exhausting. And a big THANK YOU for my family for babysitting for the weekend and taking us to and fro for our bus rides.

It was quite a trip and we sure saw more than I imagined we would. NYC is a magical place. But nothing beats home.