Lucky Number 13

My Quatro,

I find it humorous that today is the day that I am sitting down to write this letter to you.  Life has kind of whizzed past us this past month in a blur of vacationing, travelling, parenting, exercise and life.  Gosh....it just never slows down!  I wouldn't have it any other way, but I am having to realize that timeliness on these blogs is not my strength any longer.  Still, I wanted to acknowledge our milestone and be sure I wrote this letter to you.

This year, I have several friends who are celebrating their 2nd or 5th or 7th anniversary.  Few are celebrating that special 10 year mark.  We aren't old (we really aren't) and yet in someways I now see us as the old married couple.  We've been around a while and have done a lot of life together.  I suppose that is the reality of marrying young.  Last year was hard and amazing because of IRONMAN.  I will forever be  awe inspired by how sacrificially you gave to help make me one.  This year has shaped up to be challenging in all new ways as our girls grow and I step away from the rigidity of IRONMAN training.  One thing I am eternally grateful for is that no matter what, you still keep choosing me and we still keep choosing each other.

Life isn't binary, and its not stationary and its not easy or fun all the time.  Its messy, and cluttered and complicated.  That's what makes it special and beautiful and worth doing.  We do messy and complicated well.   If there is one thing I am extra proud of us for is keeping the big things big and the little things small (like my traffic ticket).  We don't ever let the "stuff" of life, the unexpected trouble, derail us.  One thing is for certain, I got you babe and I know you've got me and we serve a big Jesus who's got us both.

You and I are in a beautifully sweet and exhausting season of life, and here at mile mark 13.1 it would be easy to put our relationship on auto pilot and just phone in the next few miles.  Thanks for running the race with me and navigating all of life's beautiful chaos.  I know more than ever that life will never be easy and that many more trials will be headed our way, but I will wake up every day and love you again.

You're still the one I want.

Evie's Disney Birthday

Okay, I am going to start this blog with a big caveat.  There is simply no way I can truly do justice to the entire experience that was Evie's Disney Birthday because I was located in another country at the time, but I simply couldn't miss sharing these pictures and a few sweet moments.  Hopefully Evie will look at all of these and her mind will simply flood with wonderful memories.

For months the girls counted down to June 5th, the day we left for Florida.  It has been a 6 month wait and every day they crossed off on their calendar brought them that much closer.  Lily was certain, "Its never gonna be here,"  and Evie just simply asked, "Do we go yet?"

When the day arrived they were up and ready like a pro.

The first few days of the adventure found them at Gma and Gpa's condo by the beach.  They each got new beach duds and handled the surf in style.  My kids love the water and all things beach.

They were also lucky enough to get a private tennis lesson with Grandma.  The girls had a blast.

The true Disney shenanigans began mid way through the week when they went to Typhoon Lagoon, Disney's water park.  You can tell by the smiles on their faces......just livin' the dream.

Both girls got a real treat when they were blessed with their first pearl necklace.  They got to get a pearl out of a special clamshell and then Grandparents bought them pearl keeper necklaces.  They loved them and we received this picture while we were sitting sunny side up in the Bahamas.  What a special treat.

The big Birthday bash happened the next few days at the Magic Kingdom.  The girls got to experience first hand the Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutique.  Oh what fun.  After choosing a princess costume, they got to be pampered and primped and sparkled and turned into beautiful princesses.

Voila!!! Miss Jasmine and Miss Tiana.  Fabulous ladies.....simply fabulous.

A Big highlight for them was that they got to stay in the Contemporary Resort and ride the Monorail straight into the Magic Kingdom.  Every kids dream.

Their next adventure took them to the Animal Kingdom and they got their faces royally painted.  I love this picture below.  I doubt she was asleep, but I am guessing she would have been if she wasn't attempting to keep up with the crowd.  

The finished product for these girls was beautiful and I look at these and say to myself.....I want one!

My girls celebrated hard and played hard.  They did all of Disney and enjoyed every second.  When we picked them up at the airport they regaled us with story after story.  Their excitement literally bubbled over with every new memory that popped into their heads.  I am ever so grateful that they had this opportunity and I love that they will forever share all of those memories with a Grandma and a Grandpa.

Evie's birthday was one for the record books.  Not only did she celebrate like a princess, but came back home to loads of treasures from Gma and Gpa Hill and Memaw and Papa.  This girl is very loved.

And the best part of all is that Miss Evie's birthday wish came true.........