When I knew.

Ten years ago today is the day I fell in love with Ryan Parker my other half. On this day every year I always think about our first Valentines because it was truly the day I fell in love with this man. So let me share a little story of why I was swept off my feet by this amazing man.

We had just started dating about two weeks when Valentines was coming around and of course we were feeling the pressure of where were we in this relationship, do we do gifts, make plans, make- out all night:) (haha) it was all still new. Well Ryan took action and decided to make all the plans for the special day. I was really excited to be going out with him because at this point I was already crazy about him, having it all be so new and different this time I just knew this "one" was special. I remember I had to work and I got off work a little late, so I was rushing to get home and be all ready (couldn't exactly wear my scrubs). He looked so cute and a little nervous:) (Don't worry this was not when he proposed, that was the next day.J/K we just started dating people). So he takes me in his car and blindfold's me. We drove around, which seemed like hours, but finally arrived at our destination. He come around and got me out of the car, takes my hand and start walking and I could hear music playing. I'm thinking maybe we are going dancing(which I loved to do) but right then we stop he takes my hand and the blindfold off and there was this.....



Ryan had decorated his little garage with string lights, hearts on the wall, music playing and then in the center of it all a table set for two with candles and dinner. Home made lasagna, rolls, salad and dessert. It was so yummy but the fact that he went to all this just to make it a special night met the world to me. It was a perfect night and right then I knew....he was it for me!! Now to think that was TEN years ago just blows my mind. What a journey we have been on but I knew what I know now....I love this man. Happy Valentines day babe!!!

Surprise....here we go.

So Ryan and I had planned a big surprise for the kids. They were going to be off track and we thought it would be fun to go do something while they had a break and finally last week, Thursday we were finally able to tell them about it....it was so hard to keep it a secret because we were so excited ourselves. (I think they were excited too:) I had a video but I can't get it to work:(

She doesn't even know what's going on but man is she excited:)


What a fun trip it turned out to be. The kids did awesome, with a few melt downs, but over all it was just nice to be all together. We decided it would be better to drive (which i hate being in the car that long, ahhhh) but we made a couple stops along the way to help break up the long drive to California. We stayed one night in St George and one night in Las Vegas. Did some shopping, walked around and of course couldn't leave Vegas with out our $20 bag of M&M's:) The kids did great though for how much we were in the car. They just played and watch movies. (It helped that I got them a few surprises for the drive). Once we got to California we did Disneyland for three days. One of the days it was raining so hard we had to buy ponchos but it was still so much fun and there were no line and over all the weather was perfect. This was Addison's first time and she was having a ball. I think her favorite things were: meeting the princesses, (we took the kids to Ariel's Grotto for breakfast to meet them all) the rocket ride and then anything that was on a boat. Mckaela was so much more daring this time and she loved screaming California, tower of terror and thunder mountain. Brendan too was more daring then last year, he did all the scary rides at least once but his favorite was: we called it the "mouse ride" (like the one at lagoon) toy story and toontown. What made it fun too was that we had company with us. My parents came the whole time and then Kellie, Ryan's sister, came for a couple days. We really had a great time and hated that it had to come to an end.

Here are a few pics from the trip. Can't wait to go back...maybe in a couple years:) We have our cruise to look forward to now:)