Five years

Five years ago was the best day ever. Well, maybe tied with the day Indiana was born. More partying at weddings though. Less pain. ;) It was such a perfect and happy day, one of those days you wish you could relive over and over.

Marrying Brendon is at the tippy top of my "good decisions" list. It's made me happier than I ever thought was possible, and I've also laughed a whole bunch. In five years we've been through a lot. A couple big moves, a few jobs, we were broke as a joke, put in lots of hard work, dug ourselves out of the hole, got a new car, someone got a doctorate, went vegetarian, got hooked on running, went on so many fun trips and adventures, aaaaand we made a baby. Plus lots of snuggles and smooches and shenanigans. I'd say it's been a reeeeally good five years.

This has definitely been the craziest year of marriage with the biggest changes. But so good! Every year is better than the last generally. This one though, it came with Indiana so it gets gold stars.

Being married to Brendon has never been hard, but sometimes (a lot of times) life isn't a cake walk. Having a baby is different and very real sort of challenge for our marriage. Mostly, I miss my husband. Bedtime for Indiana starts around seven these days and by the time she's asleep I'm ready to be doing the same. Which only gives us a few hours together after Dr. H gets home from work. And those are usually filled with Brendon squeezing in all the time with Indy he can get while I make dinner and try to find some rare minutes to myself. It's tough. I miss lounging around with him, watching movies, playing board games, just relaxing. Me and him. Don't get me wrong, Indiana is the bomb and the best and we're so lucky she's ours. But she's also a lotta work! Worth it of course, seeing Brendon with our daughter is magic, but I do miss him. Weekends though, those are what's up. Weekends forever please!!

But every day and week and month with Indiana gets easier and more fun. And we are a family!! Of three! I can't wait to see how we grow together. This next year of marriage will be full of more challenges but also full of very good things. As long as we are together, it will be good. And probably funny.

Cheers to five years of love and adventures, Brendon! You're my favorite and the cutest and sweetest and I can't imagine doing life with anyone else. So glad you picked me. Love you forever. And I'm SO glad our anniversary fell on a weekend. :)

Ten years

While devouring dinner not too long ago and Brendon remarked on a colleague who had a very definite five year plan. It was a good one, made all kinds of sense. It was something that Brendon, in another life, would have done. But I kind of laughed and said, "Heh, plans." Because for me and us, life has a way of just doing whatever it wants. Regardless of what you have planned. And I kind of love it. So it's had me thinking. Thinking of all the plans that didn't happen, and all the great things that did instead over the past decade.

If you're like me, a person inevitably cursed with a sense of responsibility and... grown-upness? planning just kind of happens naturally for us nerds. You try to do what you're supposed to. But that being said, plans in general also stress me out. So I have a weird balance of not totally flying by the seat of my pants, but also rolling with the punches. I married a super planner. He would plan our every second of every day if he could. I roll my eyes and say, "let's just see what happens." (Or I screech out something about him being a micromanager.) I think we balance each other out well, and believe it or not, HE has added most of the chaos to me life. Lovely, sweet, fantastic chaos.

My first recollection of real life planning, or scheming, would be planning to go off to college. I wanted to be an art teacher. I picked a college "far away" (Denton is far, right?), I wanted to get out of dodge. I was wrapping up my first and only real very messy breakup (HAHAHAHA) and wanted a clean slate. Plans were made, a friend was supposed to go with me and she bailed, but I was determined to go. Alone seemed even better. But then, Brendon happened. And right before I was supposed to leave to start this great adventure and life on my own, that boy conned me into noticing him, then dating him. I was like, OKAY FINE, BUT NO PROMISES. I still went to off college on my own, and it was one of the best things I've ever done. Long distance relationships though, they suck. So after a year of riding the struggle bus, up came Brendon. I was no longer alone and there we were, going to college together. At some point the idea of being an art teacher went out the window thanks to an actual teacher who got real with me after some drawing class and told me my "talent" would be wasted. Honestly, I didn't even like kids, I would have been a terrible teacher. So I switched my major to Studio Art, and planned on going to grad school after. I was going to be an Artist. With or without Brendon. But then, I just kept falling for Brendon. And you guys, I fought it. We broke up for two seconds 1000 times. But never really, 'cause I loved that boy. And the idea of living anywhere without him, it just seemed silly. He eventually conned me again (he's such a charmer you guys, I blame the hair and those Dr. Pepper eyes) into living with him and it was to my surprise, the best. I was like, damn. I think I could do this forever. And then he proposed, and you know. We got married. Right after graduation. And he got into the best pharmacy school (you're welcome, UT) in the state and there was no hope of grad school for me there. So, I just didn't go to grad school. And I was okay with that. It didn't happen and if I had the chance now I still wouldn't go. It wasn't for me. It was what you were supposed to do as an artist, it was the next step. And I was ever the good girl, trying to follow the rules. But you guys, I have basically not painted once since graduating and I'm not mad. I think I just happened to be decent at drawing and painting, and so I got a degree in it. But I don't regret it! It taught me how to manage time, think creatively, and it taught me what I was capable of. But I think I've found my niche in sewing, for now. It makes me real happy. I'm glad I got that degree, but I don't miss painting.

ANYWAY, so off to Austin we went. The game plan was for Brendon to finish pharmacy school and then make the big bucks in Austin working for CVS. But then, he did some clinical rotations towards the end and was like, hmmm... I think I want to do that. And he timidly put forth the idea of doing a residency after graduation and I was like, "are you kidding after four years NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE." But of course, I thought about it for more than two seconds and came around. What's one more year? He'll get to do what he loves. So we did all the motions and applying and Temple was in our future. And somewhere in that last year of school, we decided to try to have kids?? Boom, pregnant.

And I have given up on planning.

When I was 17, I didn't want a boyfriend. I got one. When I was 20, all I wanted to do was go to grad school and be a successful artist. I did NOT want to get married, I didn't even want to share my one bedroom apartment. Brendon and I moved in together, got hitched, and grad school went out the window by 23. I have for most of my short adult life, not wanted kids. But a few years ago I was like, hmmm... I think I wanna try mixing up some DNA. I want to try raising a human with this man. And at 27 we will have made a kid! And I sure as hell did not want to move to Temple, TX of all places, but look where we are. And I don't even hate it!

You guys, life is a mess! You can plan all you want, but life just says, nah let's do this instead! And that is so okay. Sometimes life has better ideas. Life has taken me on the strangest adventure and I would not change a second of it. Even the bad parts. Because they make you stronger and when you look back, they're not so bad. It's all been so so so good. Nothing like I imagined. It's okay that you might not have done what you were "supposed" to do. There is no "supposed" to. Almost a year ago someone very close to me made me feel terrible about what I was doing in life, because it wasn't what I was "supposed" to do. Well, eff that! As long as you are alive, happy, and healthy, what are you doing wrong? I have everything I need, and more. I am a lucky lucky lady and I am thrilled to be where I am. A lot of chaos and hard work and LOVE got me to be where I'm not "supposed" to be.

So what I'm trying to say is, I didn't want a Brendon. But ten years ago I got one. And he is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I hope he thinks likewise. ;) We have been on a rowdy adventure, but I have had the best life so far. It has been so much fun. Hard and trying, but gosh, we've had a lot of fun. Sometimes I think back on all we've been through and it feels like a dream. Some of it really sucked, but most of it has been fantastic. I have been so happy. Every year is better than the last and I just can't wait to see what weirdness awaits.

Happy ten years, Mr. Hogan. Happy ten years of crazy adventures. Happy ten years of plans going awry, of flying by the seat of our pants, even though you're a champion micromanager. Thank you for derailing plans and turning them into something so much better. Thank you for finding me and for sharing the best decade of my life. You are my favorite and I have more love for you than I ever thought possible to feel. I will follow you and us to the ends of the earth on our adventures, because it is always worth it.

Embarrassing photo, as you do. New Years Eve 2007, we were 19. I'd have posted an earlier one but you know, back when we got together disposable cameras were all the rage. Not too many digital versions of us in our early years. But still, even two years in we were BAAAABIES. (I still have and regularly wear that jacket. It's just so warm.)

Loved you then, love you now, love you forever, four eyes. Happy ten years of adventuring, give me some smooches.

Four years

I think we'll always just be a little bit awkward. And that's okay. And also fun.

FOUR YEARS. Each better than the one before. And man, this year was by far the craziest. In a good way. Life has been getting so real and it's such an adventure. Not always an easy one, but it's easier when you're stumbling through with your best friend who you also like to smooch. Sometimes I'm like wow, we've only been married for four years? SEEMS LIKE A TEN. But mostly I'm like, what the heck? Where did time go?? So much has happened in the past four years (like someone ALMOST  getting a doctorate!), it's crazy to think back on who we were four years ago. Such babies! But happy babies, who got thrown head first into life and had a lot of fun figuring it out. (This is still happening, lets be clear, we do not have it figured out.)

But gosh, in the midst of the stress of big life things, being married has been so much fun. Like, you guys, I married a winner. As I was typing this Brendon faux-flipped me out of my computer chair. Because that is just business as usual around here. Life will never be boring with Brendon. He is absolutely ridiculous 90% of the time, and sometimes I'm like omgwtf, but mostly I'm  smiling and giggling and having the time of my life. He drives me up the wall, but he also makes me so so so happy. He goes so far out of his way to make sure that I am happy. You guys, the princess complex is just spiraling out of control. I AM A LUCKY LADY.

So yes, four years of happy. Here's to four gazillion more.

(SIDE NOTE: I did the annual going through wedding photos today and OH MY GOSH thank you everyone again for making that such a lovely day. I know wedding photos are only the "highlights", but honestly, every moment our wedding was a highlight. Best day ever. And I mean, not just because I married by boo, but because of all the fantastic people who celebrated with us. I think the majority of people who attended where from out of town if not out of state; you guys traveled so far to celebrate with us! I will never get over that. I will always be in awe of all the wonderful people in our lives. We love every one of you.)

Nine

Look at these babies.

December 3, 2005, you coerced me into giving you a shot. So glad I agreed. Happy little anniversary, Brendon. Nine years!! How we've changed! It's been a (mostly) fun ride, growing up together. We are both so very different from the kids we were once upon a time, but luckily we still love and like each other a lot. Miraculously, more every day. I think all the time about how lucky we are to have grown into two individuals that still adore each other. It's really kind of amazing and I'm very thankful. It's been the loveliest 9 years of adventures with you. Excited for infinity more to come.

Love you so much, Mr. Hogan. And might I say you are aging so well. I, on the other hand, would love to have that teenage skin again.

Anniversary trip to the capitol

This building never gets old. We've walked through it a million times and I still love it.

We celebrated our anniversary the day after the real deal, Brendon had a big test the next day. We went to Wink for dinner. Very fancy! Very good! My only peeve was that the vegetarian plates were almost the same price as the meat/fish? I'll never understand that. But a very neat little place and the service was excellent!

Afterwards we mosied on downtown to go for a walk and enjoy the seriously lovely weather. We ended up at the capitol, as you do. Did you know it's open until like 10pm? That's the best way to see it, I swear. You have the place to yourself.

This sweet pair was singing Texas songs in the middle of the capitol. It was really, the sweetest thing. They actually sounded very good and it echoed all through the building. They brought extra song books and asked if we'd like to sing with them. I mean, the sweetest!!! We declined, as we'd crack every window in the place. They were really lovely folks, and I'm glad we caught them.

Grainy iPhone photos, because I never think to bring my camera with me any more. Need to be better about that.

I think I've discussed before how people love to offer to take our photo. It's something that I've become a big fan of. You get these fun, often wonky, photos that you'd never have otherwise. This was taken by a very sweet teenage girl, who just walked up and offered to take our photo. She took a normal one and then tilted the camera at this crazy angle and took a couple more. I love it! People are fun.

After meandering through the capitol we walked down Congress and found a little coffee shop and had us some joe. I can't remember the name, but it's a coffee shop with a theater upstairs. It was cute! We finished the evening off with a movie at home, and stayed up past midnight like wild hooligans! Wonderful night with that wonderful man of mine. More of the same, please.

Three Years

Three years of marriage, y'all! Threeeeee! Where has the time gone? Every day time seems to be moving faster and faster, we'll be old and wrinkly and toothless before we know it. These past three years have been the most fun and best of my life. The theme of year three of married life seemed to be FUN. We had a lot of fun this past year together. Although we're still in the throws of pharmacy school (ONE MORE YEAR) and I'm continually working my tail off, we seemed to get a hang of it this year and managed to squeeze in a whole lot of adventures when we weren't hustling our respective games.

Mr. Hogan is my favorite person in the world to embark on adventures with. Really, that's my end goal in life. Have fun with my other half. But life is BUSY and it takes a certain amount of effort and work to make time for adventures, and more importantly each other, and this past year we made it happen. I think it's what keeps us sane. Life is often messy and hectic and not so awesome, but making time for fun and love makes all the rough parts worth it and seem not so rough. I think this last year we've realized how important this is, and we've gotten pretty good at making time for each other when we can. Making sure that "married time" happens, even if you're the busiest and super stressed (erryday, y'all). It's just so crucial. Even if it's something as small as cuddling and giggling on the couch for the random 20 minutes of free time you've got, it matters. And as silly as it sounds, running together has been a huge deal. It creates time together and has been so fun. Because we take running fairly seriously and work it into our schedules, it's scheduled time together. Time to sweat and struggle and hate your legs, but time with each other, no work or school involved. It's the sweaty things, y'all. But really, making time for each other. No matter what you're doing (fun things are recommended!), it's so good.

So cheers to three wonderful years. Looking back three years ago still gives me chills. April 30, 2011 was such a wonderful, unperfectly perfect, and happy happy happy day. We were totally spoiled with love by the most lovely people. I can't say it enough, we are so fortunate to have the people in our lives that we do. They're such winners. And all so good looking! ;) I really wouldn't change a damn thing about our wedding day... except what we wore. As any girl would, I would LOVE to pick out a new wedding dress. Not that I don't love mine, because I do, but I'd get married in something light and flowy, with straps or sleeves because dancing is so much easier when you're not worried about gravity causing your dress to peace out on you and show your goodies to your nearest and dearest. And less dress is bueno when you're getting hitched in Texas heat. Also, HALF as much makeup. I mean, word? Coulda woulda shoulda.

So thank you for the best three years ever, Brendon. Married life is the bomb when you're married to you. Also, you keep getting cuter every year (there's these very few grey hairs that are appearing in Mr. Hogan's fantastic mop, y'all... ooooooo!) and that is trouble. The good kind. I love you, a lot. Year four is going to be amazing, I know it.

Can't get enough of our baby wedding faces? Here is Year One and Two, as well as "the Wedding Posts".

Eight

Enjoy this picture (oh my god) of Brendon and I at our senior prom, in honor of eight years of love and fun. We've been partners in crime for EIGHT years, and every year has been better than the last. And I think it's safe to say that our fashion sense has improved slightly.

Thank you for being the best Brendon Hogan and for picking me. I sure do love you. Your fro too. Find us a prom that we can crash to celebrate, okay?

Two Years

Not in the mood for smooshy gooshy love? Don't read this.

Our second year of married life has been... good. So good. This past year of marriage has been all about learning and growing with Brendon and appreciating and loving him more than ever. Even though I swear I know him backwards and forwards, he never ceases to surprise me. I learn new things about and from him everyday. Going through life with him is the greatest and most fun thing in the world.

And goodness, the things this man makes me feel. So many butterflies, after seven plus years of messy life together and two years of being his wife. I fall for him more and more everyday. I am crazy about him like a school girl. It's wonderful and scary, in a good way. How can anyone love this much? My heart hurts when we're apart and when I'm with him I cannot get enough. I'm addicted, big time. I crave his touch and his glances and his words. I want everything about him. I want his thoughts, his dreams, his future. I want to make him smile, to make him laugh, to make him happier than he's ever been. There is never enough. I miss him. Life gets in the way. It sucks and it hurts being away from him, but it is that much better when we're finally together again. And being apart gives us good things to talk about and share, although even if we spent every waking second together I don't think we'd ever run out of things to say.

I don't know how this man does to me what he does, but I love it. And I love him more now than I did yesterday and less today than I will tomorrow. Forever and always. I am the luckiest girl in the world, because he picked me. He wants me and he loves me. He loves the bad and good things about me, and is patient and kind with me when I am rotten tomato of grumpiness. Being married to him is the easiest and best thing in the world. I know marriage is not supposed to be easy, but it is. Life is not easy, life is hard and tiring and mean sometimes, but being married to him is like breathing deep gulps of air after life holds you under the water. Having each other is our protection against the dark and crummy things that so often threaten to appear in our simple little lives. Even after or during the most terrible day, knowing that we still have each other makes everything okay. He is my safe place, he is my home. He is everything and he is mine. And I am his. Two years down, forever to go.

And so you don't think we're all serious business:

Holy pit stains batman!

Photos curtesy of Powerhouse Studios. More wedding goodies here .

Seven

Today marks the seventh anniversary of my husband tricking me into dating him. And thank goodness he did, because it's been seven years of awesome. Let's rewind. Shield your brain because this is smooshy-ooshy-gooshy.

I have grown up with Brendon and that is weird because I'd say that 95% of the time that doesn't work out for people. I married my high school sweetheart (CLICHE!?), that seems to almost never pan out well. In fact I have always rolled my eyes at teenage love because really, you don't know up from down when you're a teenager. I mean, I didn't. Brendon and I started dating when we were 17. And I didn't want to be in a relationship. I knew I was moving the hell out of dodge (aka, to Denton) and I didn't need anything tying me down. But Brendon had other plans. He conned me into dating him, with some sort of corny line about living in the moment like, "you could get hit by an 18 wheeler tomorrow". And even though I didn't want to I fell for the kid. Big time! And I did not want to admit it to myself. Brendon and I fought and "broke up" a whole bunch of times through our first couple years of college, because I had "commitment issues" (SO LAME). But I also couldn't bear being away from him. It was rough days for us two (and I mean "rough", because mostly it was laughing and being silly and being young). Lots of, "I think we should take a break omg don't leave why are you leaving???". Shoot me in the face, I know. Why I am I typing this out for all the internet to read? Obviously, I was an idiotic young adult.

But Brendon stuck around and put up with my crap (THANK GOD) because sometimes he's a wiser human than I. And then we hit this weird point where we both had our own apartments but he stayed at my place constantly and was basically paying rent for storage, and after a year I think he kind of gave me a choice, we're either moving in together or it's done. And it was like something just fell into place in my head and I was like, oh okay, this is it. Nothing is worth losing this. So we moved in together and then I was like dang, this is great and easy and so much fun. I loved it and I was happier than I'd ever been. I had finally admitted to myself what I knew all along, that this was it, for ever and ever. Me and Brendon. And the cats too.

Fast forward through college, a wedding, a big move, and lots of adventures and here we are, happier than ever. Seven years down the road from two crazy teenagers, we are happily married high school sweethearts. I think honestly we just lucked out. I think often when you grow up, you change, and you find that you're not the same and no longer love or want the same things. However, we just so happen to have changed into people that are still crazy about each other. And we are no where near done growing up, that's for sure. I'm so excited to keep growing with Brendon. I have loved watching him evolve into the man he is today. And I love him more today than I've ever loved him. It's weird, and disgustingly corny, but I feel like I am constantly falling for this ridiculous boy. He does things everyday that catch me off guard and I'm like damnit, I have a crush on this kid. How can you feel like this after seven years? I hope it never stops. Because it's great. And wonderful. And being in love is the best.

So here's to seven years of love. To seven years of life with the most interesting man in the world (to me). Seven isn't nearly enough. I plan on spending many many more laughing, living, and loving with my husband. Happy anniversary of togetherness, Brendon. Thanks for being patient with me and always knowing that you and I were matching pieces. I'm sorry I was a slow on the uptake, but I'll spend forever making it up to you. I loved you then, I love you now, and I'll love you always.

Anniversary Celebration!

Yesterday was a very good day filled with love and cuddles and calling everything "the anniversary (whatever)". For instance, I sat in "the anniversary traffic", took "the anniversary nap", and we found "the anniversary awesome parking spot downtown". Just kidding about that last part, not sure if we actually said that, but we did find LEGIT parking downtown. Like steps from the restaurant, while fools were paying $8 to valet park their Mercedes. RICH PEOPLE.

For real though, yesterday was wonderful and once again Brendon spoiled me rotten with his awesome-husband skills. Even though we agreed NO PRESENTS, Brendon was bad (wonderful) and got me beautiful aquamarine (my birthstone y'all!) earrings and a necklace to match a ring he got me a few years back. I love them! He is too good to me! So for my gift, since Mr. H has been hankering for another tattoo, I agreed to fund it for him whenever we finalize his idea and find a good tattoo artist (know of any in Austin? holla atcha girl!). He wins in the gift giving department obviously. Slacker wife!

After relaxing and chillin' (and napping on my part) all afternoon yesterday we headed downtown to grub! We ate at Eddy V's and it was amazing. It's a fancy sea food and steak place. Pricey, but everything was so good. And I love, love, love seafood. The service was great, the food was phenomenal, and we had fun pretending we were fancy pants people. We got a giant crab cake as an appetizer, then Brendon got the sword fish, and I got ahi tuna. Oh and we had parmesan french fries and truffled macaroni and cheese on the side. It was all delicious. I consider myself a connoisseur of ahi tuna (HA) and that's seriously the best I have ever had, not to mention the biggest ahi tuna steak I've ever seen. And the dessert menu! Oh my goodness. I want to go there and just feast on desserts. They had so many good choices. We settled on the chocolate mousse because it is literally, my favorite food. It was divine. Seriously eat there if you ever get a chance (they are in Dallas and Ft. Worth too, northern friends!). I told Brendon last night he should have never taken me there because now it's my favorite place to eat ever. I am drooling now after typing all that. End food rave.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE! How sweet is that? Our server was so nice! We even got a card that a bunch of the staff signed. I want to go back. Right now.

After dinner we wandered a block over to 6th street. We wanted to go to this bar called Darwin's that we had seen last time we wandering around there. We are big geeks and fans of Charles Darwin, so of course we wanted to check it out.

Turns out that place has absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Darwin and was just a grungy bar like all the others on 6th. We were really let down, we were expecting pictures of finches! Too nerdy for you? Props if you understood that. So we had one beer and watched some extremely drunk older people act a fool. And then peaced out.

Jim Beam dude as decor? Not Darwin-esque at all. Also, my cute husband.

Awkward there-are-wasted-old-ladies-dancing-behind-me face.

After leaving the un-naturalist inspired bar, we wandered around and people watched for a while. I think that is the only value 6th street holds for us. People watching. There are just sooo many weirdos (some of them a tad on the scary side). There was this lady walking around with grocery bags on her feet and around her neck while she was carrying her shoes. Whaaa?

Handsome husband! Oh how I love you! At the "Darwin" bar he untucked his shirt, rolled up his sleeves, and said "it just got casual". Endless love for this ever entertaining man.

And I'd like to take this moment to take a short break from our anniversary recap to introduce you to my latest sewing creation, the purple anniversary dress:

It's made of a super comfy and pretty purple linen. I'd say by far this is the most "well made" dress I've made so far. It's super tailored and I tried it on a gazillion times while making it to make sure it fit perfectly. I can't tell you how many times I restitched the waistline and back stitches to make sure it was perfect and everything was lined up. And there are pockets!

I used the same pattern as my holiday dress, just went with a different skirt and sleeve style. I added the collar just for fun. I made up my own pattern for it and everything! Can you tell I'm proud? Even Brendon said it was the best thing I've made! Yay!

And here's my handsome husband again:

Thanks for letting me take pictures of you, even if you make the fake smile.

When we got home we had some of our wedding cake! We (my dad and Lynne, as we were skipping off merrily (not soberly) into our limo post-wedding) saved the top tier so we could eat it on our one year anniversary because I guess that's what you do?

Mostly it tasted like freezer. It was delicious a year ago, but last night it was pretty gross. We ate enough so we have good luck, or whatever it's supposed to mean, and then chunked it. I think it probably would have tasted better if it was in some sort of air tight container, but it was just in the cake box freezin' all year. Word to the wise if you're getting hitched soon, invest in a big tupperware for your cake!

So that was our evening! We ended it by watching a movie and cuddling. We even stayed up until midnight! Not quite the wild night we had a year ago, but it was perfect. Brendon spoils me so badly! He wonders why I have a princess complex. I am so in love with my husband! One year of goodness down, bring on another!

Side note: after walking all night in heels (and eating 800lbs of food) my run this morning was brutal. My ankles said no, no, no! I guess maybe I should walk in heels more, because apparently my legs are out of practice.

One Year

One year ago today, my sweet husband and I tied the knot! We did the damn thing and made our love official. It was hands down the best day ever. I wish I could relive that day over and over and over. And over. And the honeymoon too please! We haven't been on a vacation since and I think we are both in need of one.

Our first year of marriage has been a wild one! Nothing either of us could have predicted that's for sure. We were young, crazy, and a little naive (still are all of those things), starting out on a new little life together. We had no idea what we were in for. After coming home from the best honeymoon ever, we packed up our lives and moved to Austin. And thus began the wildness. We hit a few bumps along the way (some bigger than others) but here we are today, together in one happy little married piece.

And although this last year was definitely was not easy, being married to Brendon was a piece of cake. Loving him and being his wife is so easy. It's like breathing. I have never loved him more and I am crazier about him every day. I have no idea how that's possible after all these years, but I dig it. Yes, I want to punch him in the face sometimes (who doesn't? Kidding babe! ...kinda), and I'm sure he feels the same about me. I know I can be a bee-otch fosho! But everyday is an adventure and even at our grumpiest I am happier than ever. No matter what life throws at us, we've got each other and that makes everything seem a whole lot easier.

Thank you Brendon Hogan, for being a wonderful husband for one wonderful year. Thank you for loving me and all my craziness. For putting up with me on my bad days and loving me no matter what. Thank you for making me laugh and laughing with me everyday. You are so much fun. You are as weird as I am (if not weirder) and can handle even my oddest quirks and habits. On that note, thank you for being patient with me. I know I can be am a mess. Thank you for being adorable and handsome and such a cute little nerd. I swear you get better looking everyday (not fair!). Thank you for inspiring me to be a better person. You work so hard at everything you do, I am envious of your determination and endless supply of motivation! And your charm! How you work your magic on people blows my mind. Thank you for always supporting me in everything, seriously. You have no idea how important that is to me. My life has changed so radically this past year, I am doing things I never thought I was capable of. And I highly doubt I would have been able to do any of it without you.

So thank you for being you, Mr. Hogan. I love you more than anything and I can't wait to spend a gazillion more years married to you.

 

 Post ceremony victory dance across the lawn!

Photo cred to the amazing Breanna at Powerhouse Studios.

Recap of our wedding here, here, and here. Honeymoon part one, two, three, four, five, six. Yes there are six parts. It was an awesome honeymoon OKAY?

6 years y'all!

This Saturday was Brendon and my six year anniversary of being together! This is now our "little" anniversary, as we have a more official one to celebrate in April. But regardless, we celebrated because way back in 2005 little 17-year-old-Brendon refused to let little 17-year-old-me get into my car until I agreed to date him. It was cold outside so I was like, "okay fine". Kidding! Really though, I am so glad I agreed. I cannot imagine my life had I not. It would surely be boring and not nearly as filled with goodness and love. Every year with Brendon is better than the last and I look forward to infinitely many more.

We spent our anniversary eating yummy food, relaxing, and having a Harry Potter movie marathon (because we got our TV back! Samsung is amazing!). Brendon took the day off studying, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Oh and we took our holiday photos! I got to wear my festive holiday dress I made and Brendon sported a matching bow tie. Corny? Yes. But cute? We think so, and that's what matters. I'm sure I'll share the Christmas photos later, but since they're on our holiday cards, I don't want to ruin the surprise. HA. Kidding. A little.

So I tried to get Brendon to take some pictures of the dress, but after our little holiday photoshoot we were hit with a fit of the giggles and were acting ridiculous so there's basically not one decent photo apart from the holiday shots. So you'll just have to make due with these, you can blame Brendon.

Don't mind my stupid face. Or Sophie creepin'. But check out the pockets. YES, pockets. I am such a fan of pockets. Who isn't? You can put stuff in them! Like your hands!

Back view. Obviously I had to add a ribbon! You know I'm partial to bows. That particular ribbon was a pain in the butt to track down. Everyone was sold out of green satin ribbon in that width. I finally found some by the yard and snatched it up. Apparently it's a hot commodity. Also, that zipper in the back was a huge pain to sew in. I said a lot of bad words.

This photo is semi-normal but I have no legs. Again. This dress is probably one of my favorite things I've made so far. It's kinda retro. I love the pleats in the front and the cute little collar. Plus did I mention it has pockets?

And I leave you with this. It's blurry but it makes me happy because it reminds me that we are both truly ridiculous and very fortunate to find a fellow weirdo to stumble through life with. Well in reality, I'm the one stumbling and Brendon keeps me from falling/walking into things. Or laughs at me and then helps me up. Regardless, I'm so happy to have him by my side in every aspect. Team Hogan por vida.

6 months of goodness

Doesn't he look so excited? I iphone photo attacked him during his hardcore study session. Had to snap an anniversary photo!

Happy 6 month anniversary of wedded life to me and my sweet Mr. H! And what a crazy 6 months it's been! Definitely some of the most eventful months of all our time together. So much has changed in our little lives! It's crazy to think about where we were 6 months ago. And although these are some crazy times we're in, I wouldn't change it for the world. Everyday I am thankful for all we have together and everyday I love my husband more. Married life is bueno and I am a very happy and very lucky Mrs. H!

Our six year anniversary of "dating" will be this December, do we still celebrate that now that we have a new more "official" anniversary? I say yes! Any reason to celebrate love and happiness is good for me.