A Bitter Sweet Anniversary

This past weekend Daniel and I celebrated five years of marriage. It’s hard to believe we have been married for five years!

Here’s a look back at our wedding on May 19^th, 2007. We were both so young (23) and we were so care free. We had no idea what the world had in store for us over the next five years. A year after our wedding Daniel’s mom was diagnosed with cancer and four years to the day of our wedding she passed away after a three year battle with cancer. We became parents to a gorgeous little girl, Cecilia in 2009 and just two weeks before our fifth wedding anniversary we found out we were expecting again! We built our first house, I was promoted twice in my career field since our wedding.

You can look back at a slideshow from our wedding by going here.

Looking back these were the good ‘ol days. Days before budgets and babies. We came and went as much as we wanted. We took fun vacations twice a year and took our life and family for granted. I love our life now, I just wish Daniel’s mom, Paula was here to celebrate it with us. I hate that our anniversary is no longer a joyous occasion, we are constantly reminded what happened at 1:40 AM on May 19, 2011 when his mom took her last breath.

We tried to make the best of our five year anniversary, I broke down crying a few times. I could blame it on the pregnancy hormones, but when I am not pregnant I can be an emotional mess. We started the day by being woke up by Cecilia. She was in our bedroom at 7:30 ready to go. We convinced her to cuddle in bed for a little while and watch Disney Jr. We got up at 8, I made blueberry pancackes for breakfast and then I cleaned the house while Daniel went to visit his mom’s grave. At 2, we took Ci over to my parents and we headed to Rehoboth Beach for our anniversary dinner. Daniel let me pick where we ate at, out of all the places in Rehoboth, I chose Nicola Pizza, because I was craving one of their famous Nic-o-boli’s. LOL Sad, huh? Blame it on the baby. Pizza

After dinner we walked the boardwalk, visited a few shops and then decided to head home. We were planning on staying the night at Daniel’s family’s beach house, but after talking to Cecilia on the phone before she went to bed (She told us to come pick her up.) We decided it would be better to go get her first thing in the morning, besides we missed her!

We are planning on heading back down to the beach this weekend (with Cecilia of course) and staying the three day weekend there so we will get plenty of beach and family time in

Another One Bites The Dust...

I kid with my blog title, but the long running joke in our family was that my cousin, John would never get married.  He's not by any means old {he's a young 33} and he is no stranger to long term relationships {he has been engaged three times}.  It is true what they say third time is the charm.  In 2008, John started dating Amy and I knew she was the one from the moment I met her {or re-met her, I knew Amy when we were younger, but we hadn't seen one another in 18 or so years} that she was the one for John.

Neither John or Amy are the traditional type. They didn't want a big wedding so they decided to get married at the Polynesian Resort in Disney World.  Their wedding was a week and a half ago on September 9th and when they returned they had a reception.  Unlike your normal wedding reception John and Amy requested everyone dress casual {like I said they are far from traditional}.  So we followed the invitation and dressed down, we also brought Cecilia. We usually would have her stay with a sitter, but John and Amy wanted it to be a family event.

John and Amy had brought Cecilia back Minnie Mouse {shocker!} clips from Disney World.  I attempted to put them in her hair, but they wouldn't stay in.

When we walked into the tent I loved all of the details Amy and Mitchell put into their wedding reception.

 My mom made the confetti in Mickey Mouse shapes and the table numbers (I wish that creative gene was passed down to me!)

Here's my cousin Lesley signing the signature mat which has a picture of John and Amy from their wedding in Florida.

I love where Cecilia "signed" her name AKA mommy held her hand and guided it to write Cecilia.

 

 

 

Even though they didn't want it to be traditional they still had traditional compenents of a wedding reception

The first dance

Mother/Son Dance

Cutting the cake

...and smashing the cake!

 

 

 

 

And there was lots of dancing... 

 I was able to spend some time with my bff of 17 years!  Her husband and John were good friends in school.  Anytime Denise and I hang out we have fun!

 But the best part of the night was spending time with my wonderful family!

My cousin, Matthew, my cousin's daughter, Kacie &  my cousin, Michael

Me, with the new Mr. & Mrs.

My Aunt Karen, Ci & I

My cousins, Becky, Sarah, Connie, new cousin in law, Amy, John, Jessica, me & Lesley

My cousin, Lesley and my cousin's daughter, Gracie

My Aunt Bonnie & Uncle Glenn

My cousin, Jessica & her husband, Wes

Me & my hubby

Me & my daddy

My cousin, Lesley and my Aunt Karen

My Aunt Karen, me and Lesley

Me & my cousin, Connie

My momma, Ci and I

 Best of wish to John and Amy! John, you may have bit the dust, but I am glad you waited and found  a special person like Amy.  Amy, welcome to our family! We are so excited to have you.  Now you two need to get busy and have some babies!

xoxo, 

Mindy

A Pleasant Surprise

I have a love/hate relationship with surprises.  I love being surprised,  I love when my hubby brings me flowers just because, but I requested that neither my bridal shower or baby shower be a surprise.  My luck I’d walk in, in sweats with no make up and my hair a hot mess.  Anyways, I know I’ve said it before and I will probably say it 1000 more times on this blog, but I love my family!  My mom was the baby of nine so needless to say I have a lot of cousins, 18 first cousins, 26 second cousins (my cousin’s kids) and 1 third cousin to be exact.  . For the longest time I was the baby of my cousins. I had 14 cousins that were older then me, there was a five year span between me and the next to youngest my cousin, Lesley.  Then when I was 6, my cousin Matthew was born, then his brother, Ethan and the baby is now Sarah who is 14.

For the most part I see my cousins several times a year.  We all live within two to three hour drive from where our parents grew up. All of us except for one, my cousin, Lesley. Lesley’s father, my Uncle Ernie moved to Florida as soon as he graduated high school.  He hated cold weather and wanted to live somewhere warmer.  When he moved there he met my Aunt Karen and they had a gorgeous baby girl who they named Lesley.  Lesley is the cousin I am closest in age with, she’s just under five years older then me.  We used to see Lesley every few years and we’d keep in touch with the occasional letter or phone call. That all changed with social networking.  Lesley found me on Myspace and we would keep in touch on there.  Then when Facebook became really popular, we said goodbye to Myspace and joined Facebook, along with the rest of our family. 

Now instead of talking to Lesley a few times a year, I talk to her almost every single day.  I love it! The last time Lesley was up for a visit was in 2009.  So a visit was long over due.  On Saturday, Lesley posted on Facebook how she wishes she was here for my cousin, John and his wife, Amy’s wedding reception.  A few minutes later I put my status as “Going to go celebrate the marriage of Mr. & Mrs. ***** at their wedding reception.” Lesley commented on it “Wish I could be there!” I then commented back “When are you coming up here again?” And she said “Hopefully for the holidays!”

 Well imagine my surprise a few hours later. When we got to the wedding reception I walked around the corner to the entrance of the tent and at that time my mom moved and I saw my cousin, Lesley and my Aunt Karen.  I cried, like real tears rolling down my face, mascara running crying. I was in shock.  I was so glad to see her!

We had a wonderful time at the wedding reception.  I loved catching up with Lesley and my Aunt Karen.  I enjoyed watching Cecilia interact with them too.  Normally she is shy with strangers, but she warmed right up to them, especially after I told her Lesley was the one who gave her Ellie. 

Here are just a few pictures from Saturday night and one from Sunday when we gathered at my Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Glenn’s for Uncle Glenn’s 60^th Birthday.  {More pictures will come when I do my wedding recap post.}

Me & Aunt Karen with Cecilia



My cousin John (the one who got married a week ago) with all of his female cousins (minus Charlotte & Danielle)



Aunt Karen, Me & Lesley

Lesley & I with our favorite football teams' jerseys on

Our visit with Lesley was way too short, she goes back to Florida tomorrow.  They are staying with my cousin in Philly so we said our goodbyes yesterday.  I wish we lived closer and Lesley was able to come to every family event, but for now I will take what I can get.  Love you Lesley and miss you already!

The Early Days

I always bragged I had the best mother in law and in my opinion I did. I didn't have horror stories like friends of mine did about their mother in laws.  The day I met Miss Paula and her then boyfriend, Ernie I knew that she was a great person and regardless what happend with my relationship with Daniel {we had been together for two weeks} I was glad I had the opportunity to meet her.

Paula grew up a farm girl in a small Delaware town, she helped on her parents' cattle farm. She did everything, bailed hay, cleaned the stalls, cut grass and picked peppers in the hot summers.  While she loved her farm life, she always knew she wanted to be a dental hygienist. {After she passed I was going through some things with Daniel's aunt and we came across a poster she did in elementary school, she said when she grew up she wanted to help people take care of teeth.}

Baby Paula

Growing Up On The Farm

 After high school, Paula went to the local community college and got her certificate to become a dental assistant. She then got married and had Daniel {my husband}.  When Daniel was three, Paula and Daniel's dad divorced.  Paula had Daniel during the week while his dad got him every other weekend. Paula made sure Daniel never went without anything, he was still involved in extra curricular activities even though her salary as a dental assistant wasn't a lot.  She eventually decided to go back to school and when Daniel was six she graduated with an Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene.  She taught Daniel that if you want something and you work hard, you can achieve whatever you want.

A page from a scrapbook Paula's friend made Daniel

Up until Daniel was nine, Paula was a single mom. She still did a lot with Daniel, even though things were tight with one income.  She never missed a school party or school play.  She was on the sidelines at all of Daniel's soccer and baseball games. She even paid for Daniel to have guitar lessons {which he quickly lost interest in}.  Never once did she say Daniel he couldn't do something, because she couldn't afford it.  She was a wonderful mom!

When Daniel was nine, Paula met Ernie {Daniel's now step dad} through their church.  They took their realtionship slow, but eventually Ernie and his two girls moved in with Paula and Daniel. This period was tough on Daniel, he went from being the man of the house to having to share his mom with not only one person, but three. Eventually Daniel came around and he now loves Ernie and his now step sisters.

Paula & Daniel around the age of 15

Fast forward, fifteen years. Daniel and I moved in together and were engaged after only being together for nine months. Never once did I hear from Paula's mouth, "Don't you thinking you two are rushing into things?" She helped us move into our first place, a small bungalow we were renting from my grandparents.  She helped me clean and put my dishes away.  She suggested where I put things, because after all I had never lived on my own.  Not long after moving in there, Paula and Ernie sold their house twenty miles away and bought house five miles down the road from us.  Most people would hate having their in laws right down the road, but I loved it.  At least once a week we'd have them over for dinner or we'd go to dinner at their house.

Paula was a huge help with planning our wedding, she went dress shopping with my mom and I and the first time I tried on the dress she was there to witness it.  She helped me make my programs and invitations.  One of my fondest memories with her is the day before my wedding, she took me and my friend, Becky who flew in from Colorado to get pedicures and manicures.  It was nice to relax with her and get to talk to her the day before I married her son. Paula and Ernie also listened to us when they asked what we wanted to do for a rehearsal dinner.  We suggested we do something along the lines of a backyard barbecue/crab feast at their house.  We wanted something laid back for our friends and family especially since the next day would be more formal.  Paula and Ernie granted our wish and had tents set up {with heaters, since it was chilly the night of our rehearsal dinner on May 18th} and had three bushels of crabs {which is not cheap at the beginning of crabbing season} and a local barbecue place catered it.   We had so many of our friends compliment us on how great our rehearsal dinner was.

The day of our wedding Paula was there along with my mom to help me lace up my dress. She also gave me the most heartwarming card officialy welcoming me to their family. She looked radiant in her mother of the groom dress and when she danced with Daniel there wasn't a dry eye at our reception.  Paula and Ernie were nice enough to drop us off at the airport hotel, the night before we left for our honeymoon.  She even came over to clean our house while we were gone, so we wouldn't come home to our house still a disaster from the night before our wedding when all of the girls in the bridal party slept over.

 

The early days of our marriage were great, like any marriage though we had our rough spots.  We ended up putting an offer on some land to build a house.  The offer was accepted and we were expected to start construction soon.  We moved out of my grandparents  rental and in with Paula and Ernie while our house was supposedly being built, this was in November of 2007 (only six months after we were married.) It was hard for me living with another family besides my own especially during Christmas.  The construction company building our house ended up having some financial problem so we ended up backing out of our contract.  I felt like there was no end in sight and that Daniel and I would live with his parents forever.

I went through a little depressed period. I hated that here I was twenty four years old, married and living with my in laws.  Daniel at the time didn't seem to have any rush to move out.  So I made one of the hardest decisions of my life, I moved out of their house and back in with my parents.  I thought I was making a point  to Daniel that I refused to live like that and he needed to  get us a house somehow or someway.  I was tired of sleeping in a single bed with my husband!   Looking back I was stubborn and I should have stuck it out. Daniel and I still saw one another every day, we ate dinner together most nights, we just didn't fall asleep at the same place.

Four months after I moved out, Memorial Day Weekend in 2008 things changed and suddenly what Daniel and I were going through seemed trivial compared to the news we were about to get....


TO BE CONTINUED...................