Aluminum/Tin

Yesterday was our 10th wedding anniversary. I cannot believe it's been 10 years already! And I mean that in a really good way.

10 years with this wonderful man has been great. Sure we've had our ups and downs, but through it all we've stuck together. I know that Matt always loves and adores me (and even find me incredibly sexy). And I do the same for him. He is a fantastic husband and father, and I couldn't ask for more.

We're so exciting that we celebrated our 10th anniversary by going out to a simple dinner with our son and then following that up with miniature golfing. Exciting stuff! But you know what, it didn't matter. Just spending some time together was nice.

We knew that we wouldn't be able to do anything big. We just got back from our vacation, so that was part of our anniversary gift in a way. We still would like to go out for a nice dinner alone, but we're going to wait a few weeks until Matt's parents can keep the kiddo. (They're in the midst of moving much closer to us.)

But I did get a nice surprise from Matt. He bought me a beautiful necklace. It was completely unexpected and thoughtful. He always spoils me.

To wrap up the wonderful 10 successful years of marriage, I will offer some tips to a great marriage (because mine is truly great!). Enjoy!

Tips for a great marriage

1. Listen to each other, take the time to truly listen.
2. Hug and kiss each day.
3. Say "I love you"...a lot!
4. Respect each other's opinions, even if you don't agree.
5. Agree to disagree once in a while.
6. Don't dwell on the bad things.
7. Forgive easily.
8. Take time to spend alone together regularly.
9. Put your spouse first.
10. Laugh often!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my 30^th birthday! And you know, I’m excited. Truly I am. I’m ready to close the chapter that is my 20s and start a new one with my 30s. I feel like it’s a fresh start in my life. And I can’t wait to see what this life holds for me.

When I was turning 27/28, I was worried about getting closer to 30. I don’t know why. I just didn’t like the thought of it. I felt so old already. But in this last year, I’ve changed my outlook. Maybe the inevitability of it hit me. But mostly I think I’m ready to embrace it. How can 30 really be that much different than 29?

So many people (women especially) say they are 29 and holding (or something similar). Not me. I am 30 years old and proud. I have been through many things in my 30 years. I have learned so much. I am still young and I have a lot of life to look forward to.

I’ve always enjoyed having a summer birthday. And with it being so close to the 4^th of July there are always lots of get-togethers, cookouts, picnics, fireworks, festivals, and other great summer fun going on. Tomorrow is only supposed to reach a high of 76 here. I think that will be the coolest birthday on record for me (probably not, but I don’t remember any cool birthdays).

The plans for my big day? Ehh, not much. Matt and Zachariah are taking me out for dinner. I get to chose where. That’s about it. Maybe I’ll get out of the house for a while with Zachariah. I got a check from my grandma, so maybe I can find something to get with it. (I just saw an ad for the new “Dance on Broadway” Wii game, and it looks like fun!) Otherwise, it’s just a normal day. I’m sure I’ll do laundry and dishes and scrub the toilet.

And you know what? I don’t care. That’s my life, and I love my life. So, Happy 30th Birthday to me!