August 2

Ten years ago, on a warm (alright, HOT), breezy evening, Chris and I were married. Outside.

TEN YEARS ago.

If not for the two kids, two homes, one grouchy cat, and myriad adventures we have to show for it, I wouldn't believe it was possible.

We were just babies when we married - Chris turned twenty-one the week before our wedding, and neither of us had ever lived outside of our parents' home or a college dorm. We had no idea what we were doing, but what a fun adventure it's been! 

God has provided for us and blessed us in so many ways these past ten years.

The past few years, we've been working to build an anniversary tradition of going back to the park where we were married and taking family pictures. Until now, it's just been me and my tripod. 

Here's last year

and the year before

But because this is a milestone anniversary, we decided to go ahead and hire a photographer. Except that all of the photographers we liked were either unavailable or absurdly expensive.

Luckily, I have some really fantastic friends who are also fantastic photographers. Not one, but TWO of them stepped forward and volunteered their services for our anniversary picnic. Amber, who is 38 weeks pregnant, ended up driving 45 minutes (or was it an hour?) to come take our pictures. It was especially sweet that she took our pictures today because she was also the matron of honor at our wedding.

While Amber looks for time to sort through the pictures that filled her memory card and also care for her three children while being THIRTY EIGHT WEEKS PREGNANT (she's a little busy), I have a few pictures I snapped after our little photo shoot. (Updated: you can see Amber's pictures from today at the end of this post! They're beautiful!)

Chris and Daisy, enjoying our picnic of fruit and muffins. They're sitting on a quilt that Chris' grandma made for us as a wedding gift.

My gift to Chris was a tree.

Really. I had the city parks department plant a tree near the gazebo where we were married, with a little plaque commemorating the event. To draw his attention to it, my mom went to the park before work this morning and hung this bucket of daisies (one of the same buckets that lined the aisle when we were married) from the tree. I thought for sure he'd notice a random tree with a pail full of daisies - just like our wedding decorations - and check it out.

Chris almost missed it. He said, "Oh, look. Daisies." and then kept walking. After a little prodding from me, he went over to check it out and saw the note on the bucket and the plaque in the ground. 

It was a silly, but fun, thing.

Chris'  gift to me was, appropriately enough, also related to the park. He had a local artist paint a scene from our wedding in an Impressionist style. It featured us, the pond, the gazebo, and the lovely park. What a thoughtful man!

Enjoying our picnic.

This picture makes my heart melt.

It's only been ten years, but our park has changed so much during that time! Those rocks and flowers weren't there when we were married.

Our boy, lounging in the shade.

Our Daisy, checking out the daisies. (Did you realize we had daisies at our wedding? One of the many reasons we love Daisy's name so much.)

I am in love with these kids. 

I just tucked Caleb into bed, and I asked him what his favorite part of the day was. Without any hesitation, he replied, "The park!"

They're both sniffing the daisies. Funny kids.

I'll share Amber's pictures as soon as she gets through them (no rush, dear!). But I'm sure it's pretty clear from these that we had a really great tenth anniversary. Here's to many more to come!