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!

NOLA - II

We started today off by sleeping late, again.  Woo hoo.  We're just soaking up these last few weeks of summer.  Even Eli slept late.  Hopefully we're finally getting through this not sleeping through the night thing.  We've had about 5 good nights out of the past week, which is more than we've had the 2 months before that.

We did a lot of walking today.  We walked through the French Quarter.  I love all of the buildings here.  They're so pretty!

We went in several shops.  Eli bought his usual souvenirs.  We buy a magnet and Christmas ornament everywhere from every vacation spot.  It's neat to look at all the spots we've gone in just 2 years.  I love remember all of our trips when I glance at those magnets.  Eli also likes to buy postcards to send to the family.  He's such a good pen pal and likes to do his part to keep the US Postal Service in business in the age of modern technology.

We also walked around Jackson Square and toured the St. Louis Cathedral (the big white building behind Andrew Jackson).

And what's a trip to the French Quarter without a trip to Cafe Du Monde.  I remembered they were good, but I had forgotten just how good the beignets were!

The Taffs at Cafe Du Monde

Little man fell asleep waiting for his beignets, so Mommy and Daddy had to eat his.  Oh well.  I'm sure we'll make another trip to let the little man have a taste.

Mmmmmm.....

After walking around for 3+ hours we headed back to our room.  It was HOT and muggy (record setting I think the news said) today.  Eli had about 12-15 oz of juice and water and was still soaking wet from sweat, so we needed to get back indoors.  We enjoyed Sunday afternoon naps and red beans and rice for supper-how appropriate on this vacation.

Another fun day!

NOLA - I

The Taffs are on the road again!

We're in NOLA for our anniversary.  We had a surprising and eventful, not bad though, afternoon and evening yesterday when we got in, that perhaps I'll share with you later.  I will say though that Eli met a bum in a market off of the French Quarter last night.  It made me nervous, the man was leaned over the stroller showing Eli all of the 'treasures' he'd found picking on the streets that day.  Oh my.  (Sidenote, but, we just saw on the local news that there was a shooting on Bourbon Street last night.  Yikes!)

We slept in this morning and then Wesley went for a run through the French Quarter.  We finally ventured out for the day around lunch.  We headed to the city park (which was very nice) and went to the Storyland section first.  It was really cute!

We tried to take Eli's picture with this lady and the possum (opossum?) sitting in her lap.  We thought it was ridiculous looking, but Eli was terrified of it!  He was nearly climbing and clawing his way up my chest to get away from that thing.

In front of Cinderella's carriage

Daddy and Eli went down this big slide!

The three little pigs and their houses!

There were tons more story book characters and scenes at the park and we walked through and looked at them all.  It was very cute!

They also had an indoor, wooden carousel.  We did this because Eli enjoyed the one at The Magic Kingdom so much.  This time he rode a lion.  We didn't realize until the ride started that the animal we put him on didn't go up and down like the rest.  We didn't move him though because this thing was going fast.  I was getting seriously dizzy and nauseous, but Eli seemed to enjoy it!

Then we found some antique cars that little man played in.  His Daddy set him behind the wheel and he knew just what to do!  He laughed and kept those hands on 10 and 2 - such a natural!

(I love that whenever he gets in a car he always props one arm on the side.  He's such a flirt!)

It was sooo muggy outside that we walked back to the car and rode around looking at all of the mossy oaks and other parts of the park (the place was huge).  We then went back to the room to get ready for dinner tonight.  We went to my cousin's house.  Dinner was delicious and Eli had a lot of fun playing with Austin and Sophie!  We made plans to get together with them again later this week.

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• We've been on the go lately, as usual.  I've enjoyed it all, but I love our time at home as a family of three too.  It's been nice to have a little bit of both.
• We spent fourth of July afternoon and evening with my parents.  We had pulled pork and ribs for supper (Eli put away another whole sweet potato by himself), and then Wesley, Eli, Dad, and I walked a 5k at Westgate, while Mom and Zach rode 10 or so miles on their bikes.
• Wesley got an iPhone, we've been mapping our walks.  I love that app.  Then I log it all into My Fitness Pal.  I'm not trying to lose weight (or I wasn't until we saw one of Wesley's high school soccer girls and she took one look at me and said, "Don't tell me you're pregnant again Mrs. Taff!---true story), but to maintain.  What are some of your favorite apps?
• We walked about 2.7 miles last night including one beast of a hill.  When school starts back a friend and I are starting Couch to 5k.  I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions, but my goal this year was to run a 5k.  I was not even going to attempt to do that while still breastfeeding, but seeing as how it's JULY now (already?!) I better start making some plans to do this!  So, I'm going to run/walk one in August with Wesley, walk one in September, and run one in October.  More on these to come.
• We were back at the pediatrician's office yesterday for another check on Eli's ears.  Everything looked good, but then they did another tympanogram.  Last time it was no big deal, this time Eli did not want to cooperate.  He cried and threw a major fit, which just made it even harder for them to do the test (which is really no big deal, just requires the patient to be still).  It was a vicious cycle that required Wesley, 2 nurses, and myself to get it done.  The results were BOTH ears this time were flat (fluid behind the ears), so we left with a referral to the ENT.  I guess we'll be getting tubes.  I was really thinking his ears were going to be better, so I was a little disappointed, but I just want my boy to feel better!  I can count on one hand the number of times we've slept through the night in the past two and a half months.  I haven't minded so much because it's summer and we can sleep in and take naps, and one day I'm sure I'll miss those sweet, albeit exhausting, moments in the night, but we need to get this taken care of.  I don't want it to go on too long and end up causing longer lasting problems for Eli's ears.
• Twice this week Eli has slept through the night and I haven't.  THAT is frustrating!
• I've just finished this book.  It was really good-worth the read.  You can go here and watch the video on it.  I'm starting this one next and going through it together with some friends.

Home of the Free, Because of the Brave

Happy Fourth of July from the Taff's!

You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  Galations 5:13

A Quarter Century



Happy Birthday Wesley!

I am definitely a better person because of you.  You are the most patient, kind, and sincere person I know.  Eli and I are so blessed by you and all you do for our family.  I am thankful to have been apart of 7 of your 25 years.  We love you so much!

Saturday

 Today was such a calm and relaxing day!  We're in Destin for the 4th.  We tried to avoid all of the tourists and stay clear of the beaches and Hwy 98, so we stuck close to home.

We enjoyed lazing around the house, swimming in the pool, taking an afternoon nap, taking a couple of walks around the neighborhood, and more!

Tonight we had baked potatos and steaks off the grill, and played a few rounds of ladder ball (aka redneck golf) in the front yard.

 Check Eli out!  He looks like he's ready to go shoot some hoops with his basketball clothes and tennis shoes on!  : )

Eli also played the piano some more.

We of course took MANY car rides.  We had such a fun day playing that Eli just fell asleep right there in his car!