San Francisco

James and I took a mini vacay to San Francisco without the kids to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary.  It was a great trip.  We saw everything we wanted to see in the first 4 days.  So we kind of had a bonus day to end our time away.

This was the longest we've been away from the kids in a long time.  We've mastered the 2, and even 3, nights away, but somehow 5 nights seemed like a long time.  I missed the kids.  A lot.  Both James and I agreed we could have come home a day earlier.  Live and learn.

One other thing we learned was that we will never travel in September again. Ever.   I feel like we missed so much while we were away.  We missed 4 hockey evaluations between the 2 kids and a school picnic.  Everything is new and exciting for the kids right now and I wanted to share in their excitement and hear all about their days.  

Kids activities aside, we had a great time and saw as much of San Fran as we could in the days we were there.  

You'll notice that the post is lacking in pictures.  James is not a big photo taker, whether it be taking the photo or being in the photo.  It is what it is and after 10 years I'm used to it!  It allowed us to fully enjoy the moment, I guess.  

We arrived on the 10th, our actual anniversary, and booked a dinner on the bay, steps from our hotel called Scoma's.    It was supposed to be the best seafood in San Fran, we thought it was ok.  Very old school in appearance and service.  We were by far the youngest couple In there.  

Can you tell it was windy and sunny?

During dinner, we overheard  the couple beside us telling the waiter it was their anniversary.   Later in the evening I asked them about it.  The tables were that close.  They were celebrating their 26th anniversary on the very same day.  It was ironic that we happened to be sitting beside each other.  They were locales that made the trip to the bay specifically to eat at Scoma's.   We decided it must have been their second marriage because the hubby was very old.

During dinner, we answered a series of questions that we plan to open on our 15th.  I wish we would have done that 5 years ago.  I'm already excited to open up the envelope with all our answers in 5 years.  

We chose to stay right at fishermans wharf filled with lots of tourists and tourist shops.  When given the chance to stay on the water it is always what we choose.   We were right on the Main street and steps away from most things we wanted to do.  Some would say it was too many steps but we enjoyed seeing the city on foot.  I really wished we had a Fit Bit for this trip because I think we killed it on our steps!  Most active vacation we've ever had.

At dinner our first night we made a list of things we wanted to do during out stay and the number one on our lists was bike the Golden Gate Bridge.  So that is was we did our first day. 

What was supposed to be an couple hours turned into an all day event including an estimated 30k bike ride.  Most importantly, we bikes over the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was quite foggy that morning but we did get a few great shots.  

Day two we headed to Napa for a little wine consumption.  

We booked a semi private tour with a small wine tour company.   I knew there would be others with us and I just hoped they fun.  We were last to be picked up and when we hopped in and the other couples were our age I was very happy.   You never know what you are going to get!  It was a great day drinking wine and making new friends.  

Day three we headed to Alcatraz.  

I leaned a lot and now can't wait to watch Escape from Alcatraz which they said was the best movie about n Alcatraz.  

By day four we'd hit the major tourist attractions.   Since James didn't have any suggestions, I decided we would take a cable car.  James was grumpy about the $7 one way fair each.  Seriously?  You can't go to San Fran and not ride a cable car.

From Union Square where the cable car dropped us we walked to Alamo Square to see the painted ladies, aka the houses from Full House.  

I remember there being grass in the show credits, not a big dirt pile.

James wasn't excited about this stop either but to me this exact scene is what San Fran is all about.   It is from the opening credits from full house and if I didn't see these houses I knew I'd be disappointed.  I was actually surprised how many tourists were up there taking photos as it is quite a bit off the beaten path.  From there we walked all the way back to our hotel.  We covered about 20k that day we figure, including our walk to the ball stadium later that night. 

We ended our trip at a Giants baseball game.  It was a beautiful stadium and the hot dog was pretty tasty.

It was a chilly night and I did not pack appropriately for the weather so I was wearing a tank, a tee, a long sleeved shirt, a jacket, a scarf, and finally James hoodie.  How can I be Canadian and so cold all the time!  I enjoyed a yummy hot chocolate

I complained a lot about being cold.  This happened on a trip to San Diego once as well.  The temp says mid 20s and it feels about 10 degrees.   I wish I would have packed more warm clothes.  That is my biggest regret - no one is happy when they are chilled to the bone.  That brings me to my sole purchase of the trip, a winter scarf!

Another random fact about San Fran, it smelled like pot everywhere.  People just smoked it on the street, morning or night. Isn't it illegal in Cali?  No one seemed to notice much, or care.  

My favorite thing we did?  The bike ride, hands down.  I loved all the activity that balanced out all the eating and drinking we did.  What a way to see the bridge!

My final thoughts on the city?  It is very interesting.  I love the hills, the scenery, the location relative to the water, the way they promote being active with bike paths, the cafes, and the list goes on.  What I didn't like, the weather.  I'm a hot weather kind of gal.  While James would argue with me that it wasn't that bad, I was chilled to the bone.  I hate being cold.  I am so happy to have visited the city and hit up all the tourist attractions but I can't say I would rush back.  Take me to the beach please!

You may wonder what the kids were up to while we were away?  Well, grandma was taking very good care of them and getting them to school and all their activities.  She provided very detailed updates and I nearly peed my pants after reading the following text on our first full day away:

So Cooper and I went to superstore to buy a toothbrush as I forgot mine. We came out and went to the van and just my luck, I couldn't get the doors to open. The little red light came on but it was dull. What were the odds the batteries would die on me. I ask Cooper if this was the right van. He said ya that was his car seat. I lifted him up to make sure. I tried every button just hoping one would work, tried the key- nothing. We were just getting ready to walk home when I thought hey there's no scratch on this van. I turn around and right behind us is a van with the trunk open, the side doors opened and the windows down. Omg I couldn't believe it. I couldn't help laughing all day. Damn, Cooper was so convincing it was the right van. hahahah.

I was so happy that my Mom was able to spend a full week with the kids.  Let's hope she feels the same.  She really got a glimpse into our daily lives and the lively personality of our 2 boys.  I had such a great relationship with my grandma growing up I love to see the one my mom has with our boys.  Even when they fart all the time and try to lift up her shirt.  She had her hands full!

Thanks Mom - couldn't have made it work without you!  Can we book you again for next year?

10

Today James and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary.  I use the word celebrate because it really is something to celebrate.  Not everyone makes it 10 years and I am happy (and not surprised) that we did.

We are celebrating our family and friends that supported us on our wedding day and, more importantly, during our marriage.

We are celebrating the family that we have created together.

We are celebrating the house that we have made a home.

While we would love to celebrate with all those who came from near and far 10 years ago, we will be celebrating just the two of us in San Francisco.  

In honor of our anniversary I took a stroll down memory lane and pulled out a few of my favorite shots and believe it or not this is one of them.

This photo was taken on our wedding day at 6am.  I love how I woke up in the house that I still call home today while James slept at his parents house in the room he grew up in.  I love that I have my trusty water bottle with me.  That rain forest bottle was with me for many years.  Just ask my university roommates.  I  love that this is one of the last photos taken of me as a single woman.

This is also one of my favorites taken in the middle of my kitchen.  It was the calm before the storm.  There was a kitchen table just out of view of the photo filled with food and champagne that me and my maids had devoured before getting dressed.  Yet this photo shows none of that.

When I was originally preparing for our wedding, I felt like the ceremony was just a formality, and that the real fun would happen at the reception.  I was wrong.  The ceremony was full of emotion and very powerful for me.  To enter into a room filled with everyone that was important to you, from all aspects of life.  It was overwhelming.  Too see James standing at the end of the aisle... overwhelming.

James entered into the church with both his parents.  I love that he opted to this.  While some guys choose to enter with their groomsmen, I was so happy that he wanted his parents to be a part of the ceremony.  I hope that my boys will give me the same honor one day.

While many brides tear up at some point during the ceremony, I was cool and collected with a large smile plastered on my face.  I was excited and happy to become James' wife.  No tears here.  I proudly had both my parents walk me down the aisle. What did surprise me was how emotional my Dad was.  I have always loved this photo. When I look at my face I see the anticipation and excitement in my nervous smile.  If you look closely, you can see one tear that settled on my Dad's cheek.   This picture shows all the raw emotion of the day.

This is the very first photo of us as Mr and Mrs R as we walked down the aisle.  I wanted to to play the song I Feel Good as we left but that was apparently against the rules of the church.

This was one of my favorite photos of James.  He looked so grown up and sophisticated.  Looking at it now he looks like such a baby.

While we have a few traditional photos, what I loved about our photographer was her ability to capture the moment.  There were 2 items that I wanted to splurge on, the dress and the photographer.  At the end of the day, those are the only 2 things you walk away with.  That, and a husband.  We paid what seemed like a lot at the time for our photographer, but we got some great pictures considering it rained all day.  Not rained, poured.  Intense rain from sun up to sun down.  I've never heard that rain is good luck on your wedding day so many times in one day.

Thankfully we did have a backup plan and had our photos taken in the garden area of the building James worked in at the time.  I don't know what we would have done otherwise.

Here is one of my faves of our group.

I'm proud to say that these five ladies are still my best friends today.  I remember when choosing them there wasn't a doubt in my mind that  I would still be friends with them 10 years later.  I've known one since Kindergarten. I lived with two in university.  One lives just down the street from me currently. And the other used to have many sleepovers after a late night out.  Bonus points if you know which friend did what!

While the girls were busy hugging, the boys dropped their pants, literally.  I still can't believe they did that.

One of my favorite things on our wedding day was the train ride.  The day we met with Heritage Park to confirm our wedding details they asked if we wanted to rent the train for $500.  I said we'd think about it and James said yes we wanted to do that.  The first executive wedding decision that the groom to be had made.  

You see, James and his family went to Heritage Park all the time growing up and Nana now takes our kids there on a regular basis.  It is their thing.  Come to think of it, James brother got married at HP a few years later.  Many many memories.....

I digress.

When we booked the train, I had never been on it, or even to the park for that matter.  I decided that I would ride the train for the first time on our wedding day.  Well, with the rain that day, you couldn't even see out the windows!  Our wedding guests were such good sports about running in the rain with or without umbrellas to ride on the train.  I think it made our day that much more special.

I couldn't not post this picture of James.  A smile/laugh doesn't get more genuine than this!  If I remember right, this was during the toast to the groom.  James was sick on our wedding day. And we all know how men are when they are sick, James included.  I remember asking him part way through the day what he was most looking forward to and he said 'going to bed', in a non-consummating way.

This has always been my favorite picture of myself from our wedding day.  It was taken upstairs at the Wainwright hotel.  While the party was in full swing downstairs, she pulled James and I away for a few last photos.  I love the lace, I love the way she made me stand, i love the way my dress fit in perfect with the venue.

This, my friends, is my favorite picture of James and I, not only on our wedding day, but of all time.

This is the only outside photo we have that day.  We had access to all of HP and it was raining so hard that we only got this one photo.  And it is my fave.  For our 10th anniversary our family will be having our photos taken on this exact porch outside our wedding venue.  I hope to recreate this exact shot.

I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday.  There are very few days that I wish I could relive but September 10th, 2005 is definitely one of them.  As much as I loved James on that day, I love him more now.  I wouldn't change a thing about the last 10 years because that is what has made us the people, and couple, that we are today.  And I like things just the way they are.

Happy Anniversary James!

Our 8th Anniversary is Today

8 years later! 

Today we are celebrating our 8th anniversary.  Technically we aren't celebrating today since James has a work commitment, but we did break away for a kidless dinner over the weekend.  When Nana offers up babysitting so we can go out, we don't refuse!

On Saturday it rained.  Like really rained.  It reminded me of our own wedding day.  It started raining at the rehearsal dinner and didn't stop until after the reception the day of our wedding.  It poured all day.  The wedding pictures I hoped to get outside at Heritage Park and around the city were shattered by Mother Nature herself.

I didn't let the rain dampen my spirits (pun intended). I was married after all and had all my friends and family to help me celebrate.  Still to this day, my favorite picture of the entire day are the 3 the photographer snapped of James and I on the balcony of the Wainwright Hotel just before the reception started.  The only 3 outdoor pictures we got that day.

So Saturday morning when we were driving and the rain was coming down, I thought of the day I made the best decision of my life by marrying my husband.

Seven

Today marks seven years of wedded bliss for me and my hubby. I really can't believe that it has been 7 years. It has gone by in the blink of an eye, it really has. Also, I don't feel old enough to be married 7 years. I remember when I started my first job after articling and my boss was celebrating his 7th wedding anniversary and I told him he didn't look old enough to be married for 7 years. I hope people think that about me when I tell them how long we've been married.

In 2012, we will attend a total of 5 weddings. We have already attended Serena's wedding back in March, and my brother's wedding last month.  We still have three wedding in the next 2 months. We haven't had this many weddings since the year we got married when our wedding marked the 5th of the summer. Since my year has been focused around weddings, showers, stagettes etc, it is hard not to reflect back on memories of your own wedding and wishing you could relive that day again. Wishing you could experience that feeling of fresh love and anticipation of the future and what it may hold. I love that feeling.

(I noticed when getting the links for the weddings that I wore the same dress to both weddings.  In my defense, the only repeat person at the wedding was James, and he probably didn't even notice!  Don't worry, I don't plan on wearing it to our 3 remaining weddings!)

But there is a certain feeling of comfort that comes from being with the same person for 10 years and married for 7 years.

For example, James and I both wear night guards on our teeth at night.  Not an issue at all.

I love that James and I still plan date nights.  It isn't nearly enough, but we both like to get out of the house together without kids.

We have comfortable silence.

I laugh that James still asks 'permission' before he makes plans for the most part.  Mostly because he can never remember our schedule.

I enjoy our text messages that we send each other through the day.  A day never passes that we don't make contact at least once to see how the day is going.

There is comfort in being with someone that knows you so well.  The security of knowing that even though you have a disagreement, that you will make up.  The security of knowing that another person has your back.  I like that.  When I look at our kids, I love that they are a part of each of us.  I love that he is the only other person that loves those boys as much as I do.  I love being a family unit.

As much as being married for 7 years is a sign that I have aged 7 years, it is also a sign that our marriage has not aged, but matured and blossomed into something great.  No it isn't perfect, and I would never try to convince anyone that it is.  But, it has worked for us.  We fight, we make up.  We disagree, we compromise.  That is real life, isn't it?

So today, on our 7th anniversary, we will celebrate the 7 years and reflect on our memories of the day....

I'll remember that feeling of anticipation I had as I waited at the back of the church and my parents told me how proud they were of me.

I'll remember the overwhelming feeling of love that I felt as I walked down the aisle surrounded by every important person in my life.

I'll remember the rain.  If you were there, you probably remember the rain as well!

I'll remember Deena pinching my butt during photos.

I'll remember Gina's umbrella flipping as we ran to ride the train at the reception.

I'll remember how every window on the train was so foggy you couldn't see out them, but nobody seemed to care.

I'll remember how much I loved the cocktail hour and that they gave us so much extra food (including seafood) in error.

I'll remember the speeches.  The toasts to us and our marriage.

I'll remember arriving at the hotel in my wedding dress and seeing 2 other brides.

But most of all I'll remember the love.  The love I felt from all of our friends wishing us well on one of the most important days of our lives.

oh how I wish I could relive that day.

On that note I will leave you with the photos of us with our bridal party enjoying the day.......

I actually can't believe that they took this photo.  I don't even want to know whose idea this was.  So I guess tarps were optional at my brother's wedding and pants were optional at ours. 

I think this picture was taken right after Deena pinched my butt.  I love that each and every one of these ladies still play a very important role in my life.  I couldn't have picked a better bunch to spend the day with me.

So with all that being said.  James and I are doing something special on our anniversary this year.  Details to follow next week....

Happy Anniversary James!

January 19th, 2002

Exactly 10 years ago today, James and I went on our first date.  

James' birthday - Aug 17th, 2002

No I did not pull out a camera to celebrate the occasion.


I probably would have forgotten but I got a text from Deena reminding me of our special anniversary.  Why does Deena remember you ask?  Because she had her first date with her husband on 02-02-02, a mere 2 weeks later.  We are best friends so figured we might as well meet our husbands in the same few weeks.

James and I met through my roommate and his friend who happened to be dating at the time.  We actually officially met on a camping trip on James' birthday the August before but I moved back to Saskatoon for my last semester of school before my permanent move to Calgary in January.

James came over to our apartment with his friend the second night I was in town.  He has essentially been a part of my life since the day I moved here.  About a week after that, James asked me out for a lunch date which I quickly turned down.  I had just started a new job at the busiest time of the year and we didn't take lunch.  We seriously didn't take lunch.  James thought it was a brush off.  I called him a few days later and suggested dinner and a movie on the weekend.  He agreed.

I asked him years later if he ever would have called me again had I not called and asked him out and he said he would not have.  I guess it was a good thing I called him!

July 2002

I remember him coming to pick me up and he came up to the apartment for a few minutes. I distinctly remember, as does James, that there was a NFL game on TV.  Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots were playing.   They were playing in a blizzard.  Like a serious snow storm.  Even 10 years later and they still show highlights from that game on TV and we both remember that it was the day of our first date.

He brought me to Moxies.  Ironically it is the one right by our house that we often eat at now with our family, although it has been 100% renovated since then.  I had a noodle wrap.  I remember because it was the messiest wrap ever and I probably ended up wearing more than I ate!

I remember talking about our families mostly and just getting to know each other a little better.  The conversation was great and James was a complete gentleman.  He paid for dinner and I insisted on paying for the movie.

We saw A Beautiful Mind with Russell Crow at the same theater we go to now.  I doubt it was my choice but that is what we 'chose' together.  Years later I gave him that movie as a gift. I think it is still in the shrink wrap.

I now know that he really liked me as he really likes football, and especially the Raiders,  and it was an important game that he missed.  He now knows I really liked him since I agreed to see a movie that would usually not interest me.

That day 10 years ago marked the beginning of a relationship that led to a marriage and 2 kids.  I wish I could have told my 22 year old self that he was the one and to enjoy and savor every moment of first love.  The butterflies in my stomach, the first kisses, the first date.  January 19, 2002 was my last first date.

November 2002

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

6 years.

Six years ago today James and I were married.  It is in the top 3 of the best days of my life! Obviously along with the days Grady and Cooper were born.  I can't believe that it has been that long. I remember it like it was yesterday.  The friends and family, the speeches, the rain.... I loved every second of it.

My favorite part of the day was the ceremony itself.  It was so much more powerful than I ever imagined it to be.  The exchanging of vows and rings, sharing of love, and leaving the church as husband and wife are only a few of the fond memories I have of that day.

For me our wedding day marked the beginning of the rest of our lives together.  The hopefulness and anticipation of what the future would hold for us. Now that future has unfolded, and continues to do so, right before our eyes.  Through our marriage we have become better friends and partners, we have created 2 children, and made many new friends that represent who we are as a couple.

With time comes change.  With 2 kids we celebrate anniversaries different than we have in years past.  Before kids, there was always a nice dinner out, wine, and maybe even a night or 2 away.  It was all about us.

Now, 6 years later, things are a little different.  Dinner out means arranging for someone to come and watch the kids over bedtime which can be horrific.  Wine means feeling lousy during the middle of the night wake up and early morning starts.  And a night or two away?  Are you kidding?


We plan to celebrate our anniversary as a family this year.  We are spending the day going to Kayben Farms which I hope the kids love.  And after we have tucked our young ones in for the night, a romantic take out dinner for 2 with perhaps a glass of wine. Perhaps.


It would be easy to just pretend it was another night and turn the TV on and fall asleep on the couch or head to bed at 9:30pm because we are so exhausted from our daily activities and raising 2 young lads.  But we won't.  If there is one thing I have found since the additions of little people is you have to make date night a priority.  You need to find time to be alone, to be a couple instead of just parents, even if it is after the kids have gone to bed and you are so tired you just want to crawl into bed.

So tonight I will raise my glass of wine and toast 6 years of marriage to the man that I love with all my heart.  My husband, my best friend, and the father of my children.

Happy Anniversary James!

5 Years!

From this...

To this...


In five short years.
Throw in this....
And this...


It has been busy.
Happy 5th Anniversary James!

Four Years

Four years ago today, James and I got married. It was a rainy day. Ahem. It was a very rainy day. It rained starting at the rehearsal and did not let up until the reception was well under way. Not even a little bit. You could tell who wrote their card the day of the wedding as every second card said 'Rain on your wedding day is good luck'. If that is the case our good luck should never run out!

How did James and I meet you ask? I'll try and tell you the short story. James and I met on August 17th, 2001 (James' birthday) on a camping trip with our mutual friends who were dating at the time. James was wearing underwear on this head. Keep in mind he was 23. Young boys do weird things. And I fell in love with him anyway... isn't that sweet! We corresponded in the fall when I went back to Saskatoon for my last semester of university. He had my heart when he sent me a xmas card with his own personal drawing of Santa throwing a snowball inside. I still have it. Our first official date was January 19, 2002, a few short weeks after moved to Calgary permanently. After 3.5 long great years he finally proposed on March 26, 2005. Less than 6 months later we were man and wife!


Just for giggles, here is the first picture I have of us together taken in February 2002.

Dont we look young!!! My how marriage and kids can age one.... ha!

Have the the last 4 years been perfect? No. Would I change a thing? Never. The past 4 years have had its ups and downs like every marriage or life for that matter. But we love each other and that is what makes each day just a little easier. I can't wait to see what the next 4 years have in store for us!

Happy Anniversary James!