A lovely day indeed

Beginning with these...

a lunch date with him...

and oh my goodness, I had THIS...

and then one of these...

simple. loving. delicious. and sweet.

Thank you Mister Witt.  I love you so.

xoxo

a love story...

 ...that dates back thousands of years.

It has just recently become clear to me that I have known my husband far longer than I had previously thought.  I sincerely believe that this love is eternal and we have been together in this world many times before.  And as much as I want to tell you those ancient tales today, sadly I am not privy to their details...

So I will stick with this lifetime.

The above statement does play a role here.  This union is no accident.  First of all, we look just alike, in the eyes.  And I believe that was our first hint at true love.

This story begins in early adolescence.  A quick romance of long evening phone calls squashed by a move to the East.  Letters kept him close while I gained my footing so far away.  Many words exchanged at first and fewer as time went on. Eight years slowly went by...

Both of us still posses all the letters that were written. 

I came to visit the desert many times over those years and I called him every single one.  I never went with intentions to see him, but intuition played as a reminder and checking in was part of this plot.  His number had been branded into my brain from the gazillion preteen phone calls made during those first fateful months.

Then came the year.  Neither of us new it would be the year until it became quite clear that that was exactly what it was.  And had always been.  

It happened at a record store.  

A glance was all that was needed.  An evening visit.  We spoke of books and the world, under the Arizona sky.

He was accepted to The University of Jerusalem.  Received the letter that very day.  A major in classics with a passion for language, this was it for him.  But not really.  Because I came and reminded him that it was not.  

I was whimsical and spontaneous.  I was on my way to the pacific northwest.  I asked him to come along, the day after the night of the year....

"How do you know I should come along?" he asked.

"I don't know, but I promise to stay with you and I hope that you do." I said, not knowing that these words had always been written.

and he did. he came with me.

And then we grew and we grew and we grew. Sometimes seemingly apart, not knowing the roots were entwining the most during the hardest times.  And now it has been ten plus years and he is my best friend. my eternal soul mate.  my one true love.

and now were are living the happily ever after.

To celebrate...

a New Year and Ten Years passing.

Once upon a time I married a boy.  Today he is the man of my dreams.  

How does one celebrate such an monumental occasion? 

Luckily there are lots of options when you share an anniversary with the last night of the year.  People tend to gather together with light hearts and warm spirits.  So we just get to fit our celebration right in.

But ten years is a big one and I had to really think about what I was up for.  Did I want to share this night with anyone besides my Mister?  How did I see this night ahead of me?  What were my expectations...

I decided what I wanted was a night of intention.

So... this is how it went down.

Favorite flowers from my favorite shop.  A beautiful winter bouquet made by a beautiful flower connoisseur. Upon the pick up of our exquisite arrangement, flowers are not our only treat.  Chris is so engaging that you feel like you should pull up a chair and stay for the day.  She wished us a Happy Anniversary and a wonderful New Year and it was so lovely to see her.

I was thrilled to be invited to a most engaging dinner with our close friends Chris and Corie.  The food was nothing short of amazing, for many of the ingredients come right there from their farm.  Chris is a pizza maker extraordinaire and we all got to partake in the making of our very own.  

The bakery oven kept us toasty and the conversation kept us lively.  I made up some 2011/2012 questions for the table and we spent our chewing moments getting to know a bit more about each other and the year we had/hope for...  It was lovely.  We were thrilled to see Henry and Samantha there with their parents as well as Max, a dear friend of Noah's whom we thought was a perfect addition.  Thank you friends, for sharing in this special night...

Then to make our night, well... awesome, we sent a drift some Chinese lanterns, making wishes and marking this night in history.  It was nothing short of perfect.

and then I received my gift...and it was just lovely.

Our present to each other is a beautiful life in Vermont.  No diamonds, no gifts, no overnight stays... just the life we have always wanted to live.

a ten spot...

Today I am thankful for...

A husband who makes me laugh all the time.  

You will see in some of these radical photos that I try and keep up with his high jinx, but then I realize that I am no match for this face and the hilarity that it holds... it is better that I just smile.

Seriously though...

the funny faces you make, 

the ridiculous songs you sing,

the awesome dance moves you have,

the infectious laugh that you belt out,

it makes my life so much better.  i love you darling.  thank you for being insanely hilarious.  i love it.

Mr. Lennon, you were such a remarkable man. 

This string of words, it shall remain my motto from now until forever. 

I wish you hadn't left us... in this cruel world and all alone, without you.   

 

We would be better if you were here.

I love marriage for the same reason I love the weather, it is always changing.  It is not always perfect and the bitter times make the better times shine even brighter.  

With that said...

This week was brutal.  A tense husband, two wild animals for children, and a full moon on the rise!

I sent an email to a friend Friday afternoon.  I explained that I would be over later that day to deliver some goods unless, that is, if I decided rather to pack my bags and run off to Paris for a Frenchman and a danish...  

I was seriously considering it.

You know what she did?  She picked up my children!  And she fed them!  And put them to bed!

I knew Mr. Witt wanted to take me on a romantic date, I also knew I was annoying him to no end.  So I gave him a kiss...

and he couldn't help but soften.

then we went out.  for the first time in what seems like forever. and it was so FUN!

We ordered dank Vermont beer and a delicious red and we sat fireside...

Then came the Vermont maple rosemary bar nuts, to die for...

We then ordered a cheese board that has the ability  to melt the world  away.  Three wonderful cheese choices, all locally made.  The apple butter and toasted almonds pair perfectly.  This is the very reason I want to marry Vermont.

Then a romantic stroll, down a twinkling Church Street, to cap the evening.

Marriage restored.

 Now, it would be so nice if the story ended this way.  BUT we still had to spend the rest of the weekend together.  Painting the loft of all things.  Matt is a taper and an edger and I am an open the paint as fast as you can, get the color on the roller, and slap it on kind of gal.  It drives him insane.  I also like to put the furniture back while he is still in the process of painting (can you say OCD), and that makes his face turn red.  I also like to point and laugh at him as much as possible, so when he got tons of paint in his flowing locks (because of my moving the furniture while he wasn't looking) I was hysterical...he was not.

Not to worry.  We finished late Sunday.  Crawled our weary bodies into bed.  We cheersed our life, him with a ruby ale and me with a WATER... and kissed.  Then we watched the office and shared a tear over the departure of Michael Scott.

A homemade birthday

So despite any effort to make this fabulous weekend last another day, Monday showed up on schedule as usual.

Mr. Witt was super appreciative of his homemade birthday.  I must admit feeling a bit joyful from  all the preparations, but also slightly regretful that I have not been doing this all along. 
Lesson learned: just a little heart can go a long way!

#1. Banner Making

 I am most excited about my very first homemade banner!  Not only can we use this four times a year, but on the reverse is beautiful green material and a poke a dotted Happy Easter!

This fine tool is called a Cricut.  It gracefully cuts paper and/or fabric into many forms including wonderful letters to adorn a delightful banner.  I do not own this beauty but the friend who does was gracious enough to help me learn the Cricut trade and stay up late to see the project to its finish! 

#2. Treats

First you need a plan.

and a helper...

or two!

delicious ingredients for some fantastical treats!

and presentation is a must.

#3. Friends

The kids had a blast together and as always Noah was as sweet as ever with the baby.  And Mr. Taylor brought the ultimate man gift if i have ever seen one...

#4. Gifts

Mixed nuts and a yo-yo,  Enough said.

A card from the wifey with a small note.

gifts from Papa and Grams, for EVERYONE! 

Matt's for turning 32, Noah's for a great report card, Gabi's for being a great dancer and mine...
Just for being good.

 Thanks Papa, your kindness is cherished by all.

Lastly, a sunday excursion to the local park.  Spring is in the air.
You are a handsome man Mr. Witt and I love you.