Six Years

July 11 marked 6 years for us!  We spent the day before in Auburn.  Wesley had arranged to rent a plane from the university and for our friend Tony to fly us around campus.  Such a fun surprise!

Tony and Wesley sat in the front of the plane and I had the back.  We couldn't sit together because of weight distribution!  Wesley helped play navigator and held the GPS.

Campus.

Samford is just as pretty from the air as it is from the ground.

War Eagle!  And check out that new video board!

Toomers Corner being worked on.

It's amazing, campus isn't nearly as big from the air as it is when you're trying to haul it from the band field to Biggin Hall in 10 minutes every MWF.  So since we still had time left out on our rental, we flew over to Phenix City to find our house.  Tony even let Wesley fly for a bit.  Eeeek!!

Phenix City from the air.

After our air tour, we hit up Toomers Corner for lemonade, and then headed to Acre for lunch.

The food was AMAZING!  I made us be those cheesy people and take pictures with our food.

Wesley got some kind of burger.

And I got cat fish tacos.  Everything at Acre is either grown on site, at the university, or by local farmers.  The catfish in my tacos came straight from the fisheries.  War Eagle to that!

Here's to many more years, Wesley Taff!  I love you!

5 Years

July 11 Wesley and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary!  We've finally been married longer than we dated! : )

We wanted to do something, but with Landon being so small, and still needing me, we didn't want to go far away, or for a long time.  Wesley planned a great little one night get-away to Atlanta.

We left just before lunch.

Upon arriving in Atlanta, I managed to talk Wesley into going to Ikea!

As we were leaving Ikea, we started getting texts from my mom saying things like, "Not to alarm anyone, but Landon still hasn't eaten."  I started getting a little concerned because he hadn't been nursing well, but I'd already taken him to urgent care at the beach and they said his ears and throat looked good.

We stayed in Atlanta, but kept getting updates from Nana.

For dinner, we had reservations at the Sundial at the Westin.  We hadn't been anywhere that nice since our honeymoon!

The ride up 72 floors...

Selfies in the elevator!

The view of the city.

If you've never been, or heard of it, the restaurant is at the top of the hotel (72nd floor) and rotates (360 every hour), giving a view of the entire city.  It was so neat to have a bird's eye view of all of the places we've been so many times before.

Shrimp on top of potato salad, with a bunch of other hoity adjectives that I don't remember.

Yes...I made us be those people and take pictures of our dinner.  Wesley had grouper, zucchini, and mashed potatoes.

I had a porkchop with some type of jelly sauce on top, bacon mac and cheese (which, honestly, is the reason I ordered this dish), and creamy spinach.

Aii yi yi!! Delish!

Selfie from the observation deck.

By this point, Landon boy still was refusing his bottle, hadn't had a wet diaper, and his eyes were looking a little sunken, so Nana, Puddin, and Eli took him to the pediatric acute care.  Good news is he wasn't dehydrated since he was still producing tears, but he did have an ear infection.  Which was good to hear and get meds for, but was also frustrating that he'd been suffering so long.  This was what I'd taken him to the doctor for at the beach!

We got home just before midnight, and I fed Landon and put him to bed.  We had plans to eat at the Cheesecake Factory and see the Little Mermaid at the Fox on Saturday.  We decided to just play it by ear, but Saturday morning, Landon still wouldn't take a bottle!  The acute care doctor attributed this to his ears hurting.

So, we lost our reservations for Saturday.  Things don't always turn out the way we want or expect them to.  It was disappointing not to finish our weekend, but we made the most of our weekend in Columbus with the boys and my parents!

We had lunch downtown Saturday and then walked the riverwalk and went to watch whitewater rafters.

We cooled off with popsicles from Planet Pops.

Banana pudding pop gets two big thumbs up from me!

the Michaels...

Eating popsicles by the rapids!

We ended anniversary weekend by getting to go see Divergent (finally!).

Happy anniversary Wesley!  I love you and the life we've made together.  Here's to 105 more years!

My Bad Attitude Lately

 This post is kind of all over the place.  I've had a sappy mommy kind of day.  I don't know if it makes sense, but it was nice to get it out.  If you're an advocate for anti-daycare, please don't say anything rude.  I've had enough people share their unwelcome opinions and judgements about it.  I do it because I have to, not because I want to.  (In the same sense, if you don't have to use the d-word, I am not hating.  This is just our family situation.)

So, I've had a bad attitude the past few mornings, and it's mainly been directed towards my husband.  Let me explain.

I have a love/hate relationship with my job-sometimes.  I love what I do, I love my students (I have some really great ones again this year), I love the people I work with, I love the school I work with, BUT I love being Eli's mommy more.  By Thursday morning I'm usually struggling.  Thursday and Friday are hard days for me dropping Eli off at daycare.

I'm major type A.  I don't like being late places.  I kind of live by that motto, "if you're early you're on time and, if you're on time you're late" (which is funny because I'm not really early anywhere since becoming a mommy).  I don't have to be at work until 8.  It majorly stresses me out to be there any later than 7:50.  I like things to be turned on before my kids enter the room, and I love those few minutes of peace in my empty classroom before the chaos of the day hits.  The past few days I've been flying in there at like, 7:57, and staying until well after 5..or 6.., plus bringing work home.  It's just that time of the school year.  So many little things going on and to be done.

I have been very rude to my husband the past few mornings.  He helps me out a lot and does a lot for me in the morning to help us get out the door.  He has to be at work at 7:30, and even though he's offered to take Eli to school so I can get to work, I won't let him.  1) I'm his Mommy.  I want to take him.  2) I HATE Eli being there so early.  Before 7:30 they just park the kids in front of the TV and I'm not down with that.

To make it worse, my boy won't let me carry him in anymore.  I'm so grateful that he's a healthy and thriving boy, but I sure do miss my baby.  He tells me, "No, mama.  Walk!  Walk!"  So I put him down and we walk to the curbs and have to jump off of each. and. every, one of them.  Then we have to weave in and out of the columns walking into his school.  Once we get in, he gives me a quick hug and then runs to play with his friend Lily.  They're BFFs.  Really.  I pray Lily doesn't move.  Eli would be devastated.  Once he sees Lily, it's like, 'Mommy who??"  Really, I'm not exaggerating, he ignores me once he starts playing with Lily.

So, I've spent the past 2 mornings being ill with my husband, mainly because I want to do it all and can't.  I want to be the one who spends time with Eli in the mornings and gets him ready for school, and I want to be in my classroom early too.  But then I got to thinking today, that like so many other things in life, "this too shall pass."  And I'm not ready for that anytime soon.  One day I will be in my classroom super early, and it will be because I won't have anything else to do in the mornings.

I'm thankful for my time with my boy in the morning.  I love jumping off every curb with him and weaving our way around brick columns.  We say prayers in the car on the way to school each morning.  So, it seems a little silly that my feelings get a little hurt when Eli chooses Lily over me; we pray often that Eli would be a good friend.

So, if it means being late (are merely 'own-time', using my kind of logic) to work each day, I'll take it.  Eli and Mommy are making the most of our time together before our day really starts.  And, tonight, I'm thankful that we have the weekend to spend together.  I have missed seeing my boy all day!  And, of course, I'm thankful for a husband that helps out so much, and who gets me.  He never holds my rude mood against me, and loves me still.  : )

Happy Birthday Wesley!

Today my husband, Wesley, turned 26!  I've reminded him that that means he's now more than halfway to 50; he then reminds me that I'm closer to 50 than he is.  : )

We had a very low-key day today since we just got back from vacation and are preparing to leave again in a few days.  Eli and I skipped play group this morning and spent some quality time with dad.  We ate bbq for lunch and pizza for dinner, and had a nice little shopping spree in Dick's.

My husband is one of the most awesome people I know....as Wesley would say, "good thing!" - since I'm married to him and all.  : )

*He is one the most self-less person I know.  He always puts my needs and desires above his own.  And he's happy to do.  I don't mean that in a selfish, bratty way either.  He's love in action and is very much a picture of the love Christ has for his bride.

*Wesley is such a good daddy!  He loves spending time with Eli, and isn't afraid to do the gross stuff either.  He never complains about changing diapers or anything else that Eli needs.  I love to watch Wesley and Eli play together.  Wesley can make Eli laugh and do things like no one else can.

*Wesley is always dedicated to the tasks he takes on.  He's a great teacher and coach.  He genuinely cares for his students and players.  In fact, he recently turned down the Varsity Boys soccer coach (and head of the program) to stay with the Varsity Girls.  He's made a lot of progress with them, and they have some great talent coming up.  He really believes in these girls!  I think the choice was absolutely the right one and I'm proud of him for doing the right thing there (and of course, proud of what his team has accomplished!).

I love you my Wesley, and I hope 26 is wonderful for you!

Happy Couple of Years

Two years ago today I married my best friend!  In some ways I can't believe it's already been two years, but we've had such a crazy couple of years that it seems like we've been married longer than two years (maybe that's just because we dated forevaaa though).  We often get asked if we get tired of each other or fight because we're together so much (since we work at the same school and are together all day, everyday during the summer).  That answer would be no!  I won't go so far to say that we never have disagreements, because we're human and we do have differences of opinions sometimes, but I love spending my days with my best friend.  I couldn't imagine it any other way!

( My favorite "snapshot" from the day.  A friend snapped it right after we were married and had walked back in the church for a few pictures.  I remember being such excited at that moment!)

I happened to be looking back at some old stuff in my email, and found an email Wesley sent me a few years ago.

Wesley Taff 05/12/09

I was just sitting here watching tv and thinking of you. I can't wait to:

-wake up every morning and see you beside me
-come home from work every day and get to eat supper with you
-go on vacations with you
-celebrate our wedding aniversary every year
-buy Christmas gifts for everyone in both of our families
-go out with other married couples
-go to church with you every single Sunday
-just sit on the couch in the evenings with you

Wesley Taff, I love you so much!  These are just some of the things that I love doing with you.  You are the best husband (and father).  I love being married to you!  I love every day with you.  Happy Anniversary!

the Royal Wedding

What kind of blogger would I be if I didn't post about the royal wedding?

Royal Wedding....I'm excited! I wasn't alive for Charles and Diana's wedding, but I do remember coming home from a Point of Grace concert (woot, woot!) in 7th grade and learning of the news of Diana's fatal crash. I plan to get up really early for work tomorrow and get completely ready so that I can watch the wedding before work.

And now, a little royal wedding trivia.....

1. At 29 years old, Kate will be one of the oldest royal brides (Sophie was actually the oldest when she married Prince Edward at age 34).

2. Approximately 1,900 guests were invited to the Abbey ceremony.

3. At the ceremony, royalty sits on the right, and commoners on the left. Also, all the women in attendance must sport their hat, out of respect, of course.

4. 'All the Single Ladies' are out of luck if they're counting on tradition to land their man. Kate will lay her bouquet on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

5. Kate will pull a Diana and say, "love, honor, and keep" in her vows instead of "love, honor, and obey". Apparently it was much more controversial 30 years ago when Diana did that.

6. While 1,900 are invited to the ceremony, only 650 are invited to the reception. No five course meal though. Buckingham Palace chefs are whipping up 10,000 appetizers for the par-tay.

7. William and Kate are now their own postage stamp in Britain.

8. Apparently, Kanye West got an invite but Obama did not!

9. Thanks to the way things turned out between Diana/Charles and Andrew/Fergie, William and Kate (I'll be calling her Kate instead of Catherine...we're tight like that) will be the first royal couple to sign a pre-nup.

10. Sending invites (technically save the dates) by fax would be deemed tacky had it been done by me, but when it's the Queen it's no biggie.

And, finally, Mrs. Taff (Wesley's grandmother who watches The Insider and True TV) said that she heard Kate was pregnant. haha!!!

Date Night

Tuesday night was date night! I don't go out much at all anymore, especially on week nights (as this was certainly past my bedtime). But, we dropped Eli off with the Ingrams (family) and headed out to see the musical Beauty & the Beast at the RiverCenter in Columbus.

I love Beauty and the Beast. I actually got this on DVD in my stocking this year. The musical was SO, SO GOOD! The sets were amazing and the acting/singing was incredible! My favorite number was probably Be Our Guest.

If you ever get the chance to go see this musical, go! I would love to see it on Broadway some day. I can only imagine how good it would be there. It was very hard getting up the next morning for work, but totally worth it.

Sweet Husband

5 am this week I came downstairs to this! I love my husband....he's a keeper!

Let Us Eat Cake!

One year ago, we did this

I LOVED my wedding cake. I loved how it looked and how it tasted!

Tonight we pulled took out our top layer.

Not nearly as pretty as it was a year ago....

But, it was just as good as I remembered! : )

Thanks Mom and Cait for wrapping it up for us and making sure we'd be able to enjoy it a year later!

Anniversary

Happy First Anniversary, my Wesley!

I love you and each day I spend with you gets better! I have had the best year with you; I can't wait to see what God has in store for the rest of our lives.

(I don't know why this picture always shows up blurry, but it's still one of my absolute favorites from the day!)

Anniversary Trip - Day 1

We made it!

Because of my need to walk frequently to help with the leg cramps, we split our journey over two days. We left Friday and spent the night in Charlotte, NC, and got up Saturday and made the rest of the trip. Both days were between six and seven hours in the car and we made 3-4 stops.

Once we got here this afternoon we checked in, unpacked, and walked to the closest grocery store to pick up a few things.

I love how the resort is decorated. It has a very 'historic' feel to it. Here's our room:

Picture of the founding fathers over the bed.

The view from the front door.

Kitchen

Living room

Dining area

The view from our room

The view - zoomed in - if you look closely you can see the Capitol Building.