But then I see these itty bitty babies turning into real, actual people and I wonder
"When? WHEN did this happen?".
(2008 - Our first year here in Texas)
You mamas out there with cute little fellas who adore smiling for the camera?
Cherish it, for IT WILL NOT LAST.
One blink of an eye later and this will be the best you can get. Can't you just smell the teenage hormones?

{tip: threaten to take away video games until some smiles appear and then magic happens.}
(Also to everyone that said a two-weeks-of-dating-before-we-got engaged relationship would never last long term? You can suck it.)
:)
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He still has the Elmo tie I bought him. Blush. |
You wanna know what does help keep the love alive? Little gestures.
Picking up milk on the way home.
Folding up laundry without complaining (!).
Or even just the simple act of positioning a life size cutout of Ron Swanson outside your bathroom window and pulling the blinds up so that when your husband gets home from work at midnight and goes potty, he can be reminded of how much he ADORES his wife. So, so much.
What are your secrets for a lasting relationship?
Your boys are nearly men now! We are married since one year, but together since 15 years and I think laughing together is the glue of a good relationship. And I am pretty awesome in the kitchen ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Germany!
Chrissi
Yes! Laughing together is my favorite. Laughing *at* each other a close second ;)
DeleteI want to come visit your German kitchen!
We've been married 28 yrs,, have a son & daughter-in-law & are living in the empty nest....& I'm not even 50 yet! How does that happen?!! It went so fast we didn't have time to get into much trouble. ;) I think grace days are our biggest help. It started yrs ago - one would ask the other for a grace day. No expectations from each other. It helped get through some hard days.
ReplyDeleteHow have we gotten this far without Grace Days???? I am implementing this brilliance immediately! Anytime someone says you have to give 100% into a relationship to make it work, I shake my head. No. Sometimes you have to give MORE than all you've got, to make up for what your partner can't contribute - for whatever reason. Grace Days. Beautiful.
DeleteThis is a quick response but all I can come up with at the moment is that we like to complain about the same things? Oh, and we aren't quitters. Seeing it written out like that makes me think we are lame. Maybe I'll come back and post something better later, but don't count on it! lol
ReplyDeleteDoes it count if we both complain about the house being messy? :)
DeleteP.S Perseverance isn't lame!!
Hi Rebecca, you came by my blog the other day and I just now had a blast looking through your blog! Love it! I raised 2 boys and definitely do not miss the floor/wall pee that happens! Are you on Facebook? I live in DFW also! Just been in TX from CA for one year and it is great to meet new friends here. Susie
ReplyDeleteAnother California girl in DFW! YEEEEEHAAAAWWWW!!! And a survivor of wall pee too? With my 17 year old autistic one, I don't know that it will ever be in the cards for it to go away, but a mama can dream :)
DeleteThe time does fly doesn't it. My son just turned 23 and I can hardly believe it. Wasn't it just a couple years ago that he was a 10 lb 3 oz baby boy rather than the 6' 3" man that he is now? We've been married for 27 yrs and we never do that go away to celebrate thing either. Don't get me wrong, we've done a lot of traveling, but where we go depends on what my hubby wants to shoot pictures of and every trip is a business trip. I'm not complaining though, I love to be able to go. But the anniversary celebrations? Maybe a dinner out, but not much more than that.
ReplyDeleteThe secret to staying together, hmmmmmm, good question. Might just be good old sticktoitiveness. We've definitely had our moments, but we stuck with it and got this far. I also think that the fact that he travels some for the business helps. When he travels, I get my alone time, because when he's home, he's home since his business is based here at home. It works for us.
Happy Anniversary and many more!
This made me laugh! First that no matter how old (or tall!) they get, they are still your babies. And second that a wonderful marriage is rooted in lots of quality alone time. I sort of agree, although I haven't been able to put that one to the test just yet ;)
DeleteFirst, I can't believe you've been in TX 7 years, or that I've been following you that long (sounds so weird. But I'm Canadian, so harmless). So sorry to hear that 2015 is not going well. You are certainly getting more than your fair share of struggles thIs year - again. We have been married 32 years in December, which is crazy because I know I'm only 35. I've no idea if there's any secret to it - we have problems, 'discuss' a lot (sometimes loudly), and try and make ourselves better people, one day at a time. One thought that has helped me (us) this year is realising that what others think of us is none of our business. This has allowed me to solely focus on us and our lives. Which is what matters.
ReplyDeleteKeep on trucking. Grace days and angels, Rebecca.
How is that even possible? That's SOOO LONG!! After all that "following", you'd have thought that I'd eventually...you know...GET somewhere :)
DeleteIf these last few weeks are any indication, things *may* just be calming down. Or maybe I shouldn't say that out loud? But hope is in the air and it will not denied!!!!!! Instead of worrying about how temporary it may be, it must be soaked up and enjoyed while it's here. A much needed break in the action, and for that I am grateful.
I didn't know until this post how much I truly wanted a life sized cut-out of Ron Swanson.
ReplyDeletewait. No. how much I truly NEED*
DeleteYou and me both, Katy. YOU AND ME BOTH.
DeleteGoing out isn't what makes the anniversary it's the people so a bowl of cereal could be your anniversary.
ReplyDeleteLove all the pictures. Okay now that cut out would scare the pee out of me if I opened the blinds. Too funny.
Happy Belated Anniversary!
Thank you, Carla!!
DeleteP.S since Ron was to be seen from the bathroom, you could pee away - HAHA!
Rebecca, I just stumbled across your blog and have been here for over an hour, laughing at your wit and your charm. I'm so thankful I just happened across here. You have a new faithful reader.
ReplyDeleteWHAT???!!! I suppose they are right..."like attracts like"...for you must be CRAZY to have read that long ;) Witty and charming? I've certainly been called worse - I'll take it!
DeleteI am in a happy relation and we are married for 18 years . And according to me the secrets of happy relation is COMMUNICATION , TRUST , LOVE & COMPROMISE .
ReplyDelete