tenth anniversary

Can that possibly be right?  Ten years...yes...TEN YEARS!  Ten years ago today I married my best friend.  I remember it like it was yesterday...

My dress was white with a very large train, very poofy and all that on the bottom, with a long train.  At the dress shop, I thought about scaling back a little because it was almost obnoxiously heavy but it was the one.  Dan hadn't seen me or my dress until my dad and I stood at the back of the church at the start of the ceremony.  It really made pictures complicated but I didn't care.  I wanted that moment, and even today I know it wouldn't have been the same to see him before the ceremony.  I got butterflies when I saw Dan.  He looked so handsome in his tuxedo with the classic white vest and white bow tie.  I remember taking my dad's arm, and with a big exhale we began to walk.  I wasn't nervous, what I do remember was sheer concentration; to stay as emotionally steady as I possibly could, to kick my dress out as I walked so that I didn't trip, oh and to smile.  

Our wedding day was filled with wonderful moments like this which we treasure so much now.  It was quite a day!  Looking through photos from our wedding day and our experiences over the last ten years has brought back so many happy memories.  The wedding was one perfect day filled with magical moments, but it doesn't even compare to the moments we have had over the past ten years.  I loved Dan a lot back when we said our vows, but I love him so much more now.  Every day I love him more!  God has provided me with such a wonderful husband, I am so blessed and so thankful to have such a loving and supportive husband.  

Before we jump into the next ten here are some pictures of us over the last ten.  I wish I could have included everything but there is just so much!  I managed to find a handful of pics of us together (I learned that we don't take near enough of the two of us) from some of our big moments over the last ten years.  You may wonder why some of them are a bit blurry.  Well, it's because I had to take a digital picture of the print to put them here.  Yes, that's right, we were married before digital cameras really existed.  If you didn't think ten years is a long time, I bet you do now.  To our friends and family, you have all been a huge part of our last ten years and our happy memories - we love you!  Here's to the next ten!  

How sweet it is...

honeymoon {colorado}

our first apartment {sioux city}

"our" first car {nissan 350z}

christmas {2003}

cabin {2004}

virginia beach {2004}

navy pier {chicago 2004}

breaking ground {polk city 2005}

long's peak summit {colorado 2006}

christmas {2006}

chicago {2007} 

summer fun {2007}

8 months pregnant {spring 2008}

meet hannah raye {march 27, 2008}

christmas {2008}

cabin {2009}

chicago {2010} 

cabin {2010} 

state fair nadas concert {2010} 

andy's wedding {august 2010} 

iowa vs. isu {september 2010} 

meet aidan james "AJ" {may 27, 2011} 

cabin {2011}

christmas {2011}

...and I'm proud to say that after 10 years and two babies the dress still fits! {photo by hannah}