WW: 50th {Linky}

My parents just had their 50th wedding anniversary.

A day before they we thought we'd meet up in the afternoon. Then my aunts and cousins were going to drive by to tell them, "Happy Anniversary!" My sister called them to ask what they were going to do on their special day. They we going to go on an all day drive. So much for the drive by.

They knew my sister Angie was coming in the morning to give them a card. Me, my 2 sisters, their 3 son-in-laws, their 7 grandsons, 1 granddaughter, and 1 granddaughter on the way all came to visit, with signs. 

The first grader went up to ring their bell. My mom was a bit teary eyed. She hasn't seen us all together, since Christmas. 

It was hard to tell if we were smiling, or not. We all wore masks. Most of us hardly leave the house. Terra, my sister is very pregnant, and her son Emerson has a genetic condition called Trisomy 18. I have Asthma. We're home most of the time.

Here's Isaak with the 1st grader Edison. Isaak's really excited for the new baby Margaret to be born. Edison's don't think Isaak's all that anymore. Ha!

I thought the boys were doing cat's in the cradle. Nope Elijah the one that's Isaak's age (7th grade) was teaching Mica how to do a magic trick.

All the sudden swings and sidewalk chalk were cool. It's about the only things there were to do, for a few hours. 

I know my parents didn't get a big party. But I think they were happy with this. 

Some Chocolates For Your Anniversary

I've always thought that some people are a little too needy for Anniversaries, Valentines Day, and Mother's Day (Dad's somehow don't seem as needy). We already have a Birthday and Christmas for gifts.

I'm not saying that everyone should have my same outlook.

Around our house we pick a place to go out to eat at for those extra holidays. If I've gotten something to review I may wrap it up for Travis, or even have Travis wrap something up for me. There are some times where we'll go see a movie, but even that is pretty rare.

Our boys have never experienced huge gift exchanges between Travis and I.

Travis makes me jewelry at times. That's special when that happens. I'm not the type that needs a fancy diamond. I like ruby's, and pearls better than diamonds. Pearls are my alternative birthstone. I wear a lot of red, so that's where ruby's come in to the picture.

I never drool when the Every Kiss Begins the Kay commercials come on around Valentines Day. The commercialism annoys me to be honest. I'd rather have something that is a one of a kind/artist made.

We were in line at Target, and Mica always checks out the merch by the cash register. He reads the covers of the gossip magazines, and thinks everything that he reads is true. I have to correct him on that.

He said, "Mom what's that holiday called where people celebrate the time a year they were married?"

I said, "Oh that's called an Anniversary."

He said, "Ya that! This would make a perfect gift for that holiday. Don't you think?" - Pointing at a set of foiled chocolates.

Source

The girl behind us was laughing.

I said, "Mica that would be perfect for me. Many girls would expect more than that for their Anniversary. You just need to get to know your girlfriend, or wife to understand what kinds of gifts she likes." 

Mica said, "Oh." 

Are you a big gift person? I'm not saying that I'm not at all. I like a little something. The chocolates would actually work for me. :) I love picking out great presents for my kids, nephews and nieces. Kid gifts are fun!

WW: Dario's Brasserie {Linky}

We went out for our 12 year anniversary to Dario's Brasserie. Yes the kids came along this time.

While we waited for our food, we took pictures of each other.

10 Years

So Daddy and I have been married for 10 years.

Goodness we look young! It doesn't seem that long ago, but it was.

We met in 1994. Both of us went to the same college. Daddy followed me around during orientation. Grandpa Spiehs said, "Do you think that guy will be our future Son-In-Law?"

We both went out with different people and stayed friends.

Sometimes you don't realize that you want something until it's gone, out of your life for the most part. I went to grad school and that's when I realized that Daddy was the one.

We were both seeing other people. I broke things off with the guy I was seeing and wrote Daddy a LONG letter. Yep I wrote a letter. Now one would send an email.

That poor girl Daddy was seeing was heart broken. It was all my fault.

Daddy made one of his first rings for me. I gave him a Cracker Jacks box that had a fake ring with a note attached that said, "Will you marry me?" We both in our own way asked each other the same question that day.

My something old were my Grandma's (Great Grandma to the boy's) pearls. My Grandma passed away so early that even my Dad (Grandpa Spiehs) doesn't remember her. My something new was my ring. My something blue were my Bridesmaids. They wore periwinkle dresses.

We kissed the longest kiss. Our car had "T & A" written on it. It stood for Travis and Alissa, but could be thought of as something else.

We stayed in a hotel for a few days. Then went on a road trip to Wyoming a year later for our honeymoon.

Daddy sent me these today at work:

I took them outside to capture them. The lighting is horrible in our building.

 

Here's a close up view. They were made to look like flowers from our wedding.