14 Years and Counting

I was rummaging around my pictures in the attic earlier in the week and came across some engagement and bridal pictures.  It's hard to
believe Matt and I celebrated our fourteenth anniversary this week.  **I just paused in my blogging to Monster Clean my computer screen which is covered in fingerprints, smudges and sneeze splatters and am reminded of how much our lives have changed during this journey of marriage.  Karson and Isaac are coloring in the dining room.  Miles is throwing his Wii controller down in the living room frustrated by his gaming abilities on Donkey Kong (the world's hardest game ever).  I just got around to eating dinner at 9:00 p.m.  Matt is on an overnight golf trip with family and buddies from church.
This is our life.

If I could go back in time and talk to these two people, I don't know where I would begin?  I might tell them to save a little more money, take better care of their bodies, pick a career path that offers excellent retirement, and so on.  

I knew I had met my mate the minute he came to the HFC student center over 17 years ago.  Matt and I had an instant connection, and although it took a few months to actually "hook up", I think we both knew we had met our "other half".  We dated three years before making it official and have coasted along for 14 years.  

I don't want this blog to get mushy so here are 7 things I don't like about Matt

 -- you didn't see that coming did you?!?!:

#1  He's smart, really smart, nerd smart and has more retention in one finger than I have ever had in my entire brain.  I guess I'm more jealous of this than dislike it.

#2  His car always stinks and is full of grass.  I think a large part of that is due to his love of golf.

#3  He sometimes loves his iPhone more than me.

#4  He still looks identical to the first day we met.  I, on the other hand, look haggard.

#5  Women love Matt.  From the teens at South to lil' old women in the nursing home.

#6  He brushes his teeth more than a dental hygienist does in a work day.  J/k but he does brush his teeth a lot.  In fact, we joke that maybe we should have separate toothpastes just to see how quickly he can go through a tube.

#7  He snores loud enough to wake up an entire city block.  In fact, he has been banned to Karson's bedroom until he goes to a sleep clinic.  Sleep is crucial with three kids--he knows it, I know it.  Goodbye Matt, enjoy sleeping under your cat comforter.

Now, I have to balance it out with 7 things that I LOVE about Matt:

#1  Thank goodness Matt's genes have passed on to our children who seem to breeze through school.  I'm no dummy but certainly didn't score in the top 5% of my class like the nerds I live with.

#2  He decided to give up his brand new truck so we could purchase the Highlander.  I know he enjoyed that truck very much, but on the flip side, I know he wanted to be practical and not drive two vehicles that consume loads of gas.

#3  Thank goodness he knows how to use iTunes.  All of the Apple products keep me thoroughly confused and frustrated.

#4 & 5 I still have a smokin' hot husband who still turns heads.  I've heard from more than one parent at South that the girls really like Matt.  I'm not entirely sure how to process those comments, but I guess they should be flattering?  Who knows.

#6  He likes minty, fresh breath. I can think of worse habits.

#7 He snores deeply because he works so hard to provide us with a comfortable living.

I'm going to add a few other "loves" to the list:  

*Matt is always texting or emailing me love notes.  He is very complimentary of my looks, my outfit which is nice to hear. I never doubt for one second how he feels about me.  

*He loves my cooking which is terrible.

*His laugh is music to my ears.  We spend most of our days laughing at life, each other and our kids.

*Matt sees the good in everything and everyone. He rarely speaks in a negative manner.

Simply put, I got a good guy and am lucky he's an awesome husband and wonderful dad.  I sure hope our children have spouses like him.

Matt and I spent our anniversary day (June 5) in Nashville.  We asked my mom to keep our kids overnight so we could stay at the Sheraton Music City which is where we stayed the second night of our honeymoon.  We got couples massages, shopped in Green Hills, ate at Pei Wei, had dessert at The Cheesecake Factory and caught a movie.  We spent Thursday morning/afternoon visiting The Hermitage.  I knew Matt would enjoy that since he teaches U.S. History.  I was more entertained than I thought I would be--I think history is interesting but am by no means an enthusiast.  We walked the grounds and learned all about our nations 7th President.  Afterwards, we went to Opry Mills for more shopping.  The shopping ventures were more for me.  Matt isn't a shopper but tags along to keep me company.  We got back to Bowling Green around 4 p.m., and I went to pick up our kiddos.  I'm grateful for my life, my husband of 14 years and our children.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to US!