Yesterday, Michael & I had our 6th wedding anniversary. I always forget about how wonderful it is to be married to my best friend. Certain days like yesterday remind me! 


We met when we were practically children... I was 12 & he was 13! We went to church together, but his sister was friends with my usual ride home, so we were frequently the "little kids" at post-youth group hang out. We had fun together, but were just really great friends! 


I remember the day that started to change about a year later. I just looked at him differently one day & thought (at 13- lol) "he's the kind of guy I want to marry". 


I have these snapshots of high school in my head. We had SO MUCH fun just hanging out... well, in our spare time. I didn't have time to think about what "could be". I was too focused on God, school & cheerleading to think about anything else. We also spent all that time with our other best friend, Hope. The summer befor Michael's senior year was the best 2 months EVER! She was leaving for college, which meant the 3 of us naturally had to spend every waking moment together. However, it was inevitable that as she went off to college, we'd be sort of forced together. 


2 weeks before Hope left, he took me home one night (I had just turned 16, but he lived right by our house) & we had the conversation that started it all. It started with "soooo... yeah. We need to talk". It was the game changer! 


3 years of dating, 6 years of marriage & 5 kids later... I have never had so much fun with any one person! We laugh A LOT! Perhaps that's the key! Laugh as much as you love! 


When we were dating in high school, both of us had part time jobs, but they were across the street from each other. So, whoever got off first would go leave a note on the other's windshield. Seems silly now, but I have each note still & despite the silliness, it's part of our story!!


Ha! No time for love notes now, but we sure do like to text! :) So, to remember those silly times, here are 5 "notes" I wrote to my hubby recently. Michael, I hope they help you remember how all this craziness started... with these kind of notes (ha! Sort of!!) I love you!!!


1. I just changed the 10th diaper of the day! Hope your day is less "poopy" than mine!! :)


2. So, maybe later we can put on our sweat pants & put a pizza in the oven! I think we have some shows to catch up on. (How romantic!)


3. Can you stop by the store on your way home? We're out of the usual. Love you!!


4. I. Need. Coffee. Please!!!


5. Hey good lookin... where did you put the plunger? Oh! & thanks for putting diapers in the dryer before you left! You are THE BEST EVER!!! XOXO

Since baby will be here any day now, I've been reminiscing about the other kids, particularly the boys, when they were born. The addition of boy #3 will bring many new elements to our family, but there's just something about boys that brings out a strange combination of exhaustion, laughter & love in a mommy! I've been observing my 2 boys the past few days, and also have been endlessly doing laundry. (yay for nesting!) I once read a parenting book in which the author talks about what she finds in the laundry & how it speaks of the things her children find important! Haha! Oh, I've found a few things lately... here are the top 3:


1. Army men. 
I am pretty sure I find an army man at least once a week. They are either in a pocket from someone's jeans, or very frequently found in balled up socks (I just wash, I don't ask- lol). 
To me, this is because boys like to fight! There's an uncontrollable urge in boys to turn everything into a weapon, to defend the helpless & by ALL means to never, EVER turn down an invitation to wrestle another boy! I was recently given this response by our 3 year old: "Mommy, I will be kind to my friends at church today! I am going to share! BUT if they wanna fight me, I'm gonna have to fight, ok?". Yeah, just what every mom wants to hear. :)


2. Small objects
Hahaha... I know, this is rather general, but honestly, you have no idea how many pennies, rocks, beads, rings & balls I find in the washer or dryer! Boys find small items fascinating! They seem to notice things that no one takes time to notice! My boys are always the first to pick up on my earrings, my toenail polish, or a string hanging off the back of my shirt. They love those details. These 2 can see beauty in the marbleized design on a super bouncy ball! Honestly, it's a pretty awesome trait!


3. PAPER!
aaah! This even gets attributed to daddy. I ALWAYS find papers in the dryer, when it's usually too late to save them! Normally this is my husbands work schedule that HE KNOWS he brought home for me. Other times its a business card that one of the boys confiscated on our way out the door of a doctors office. But, occasionally I find one that is readable. A grocery list I made before daddy rescued me & took both boys to the store last week. A piece of scrap paper they "wrote their name on". My favorite? The folded of paper where my oldest had drawn a picture of himself (w a super "s" on his chest, of course) next to a very tall (& beautiful, I might add) woman in a CAPE! Above this dynamic duo, were the words, "mommy is the best!". He might have received a little extra cuddle time that night! :)


Boys have a special place in their hearts for mommy. It's a place that no one else can fill! So, even though I probably won't find things in boy #3's laundry for a while, I will already have that special place... no matter what... & I am totally looking forward to washing those tiny blue socks!