Seven Years

Tomorrow will be seven years married to this man...

We went out and had a great dinner at Cheesecake Factory...honestly just the freedom to sit down, talk about randomness, drink your drink and eat yummy bread while you wait for your food is a treat. A much appreciated treat. Then afterward Rob had the idea to go to the airport to watch the planes from the roof of the parking garage. I have quite an affinity for planes. When I was little I remember riding in my mom's car and then I'd gasp and point scaring her half to death...and it was just a plane. I've always loved em.

Apparently the roof of the parking garage is quite a hopping place. There were a few other couples up there too. But it was nice, windy and mighty high up, but really nice.

We discovered that apparently I have a fear of heights or something...cause I was totally wigging out if I tried to look down from where we stood, or even when I was trying to take pics with my phone...I wasn't even able to hold my phone over the ledge. Seriously, lol.

That bright light is a plane getting ready to land...

A fuzzy couple shot...

Then on our way back home we finally stopped at this store I've been meaning to visit since it opened...

We went there thinking it was a Lisa place, but we realized that it's Rob who loves little boxes to put stuff in and desk organizers and little handy knick knacks, so this place was right up his alley too.

All their Christmas stuff was out too...didn't look long there, but it looks like there was some cute stuff and plenty of wrapping paper. I thought these trees and little animals were cute...

And what did we leave with? A laundry basket for Finn, hah.

Seven years and thankful for every day with this man. <3

My, How Things Have Changed

I think with this year flying by so quickly it got me thinking how much things have changed in our lives. I'm sure many parents can relate, but I find myself asking what the heck Rob and I spent all of our time doing before Finn? 

For one thing, I know this. We ate out a llllllllot. Ah, glorious eating out. We did cook here and there, but we loved going out. Chipotle, Tijuana Flats, Cappy's pizza, our favorite Mexican place. Mm. Oh and my beloved TooJay's!

Besides eating out, we would also see lots of movies. We have a favorite theater local to us that literally barely has any people there. We have no idea how it's open, but we love it. Nowadays we, and more me than him, feel completely out of the loop when it comes to movies. We only have Netflix (no cable or even regular TV) so there's nowhere that I'd typically see a preview or anything. 

With our anniversary approaching (seven years!! whaaaaaaat?!) this will be the first time we're not taking the week off to celebrate. But let me clarify that it's not because of Finn being around but more so because Rob's newish job and not having the available leave. We'll be celebrating this weekend instead. But I started thinking back to all our anniversary vacations. We went to the Smokies the first year and stayed in a cabin called Naughty Bear, lol. We loved that trip, November is such a perfect month to get up in the mountains. 

Then after the first year we started a thing where we'd rotate from going to the mountains and going to Orlando. One of the anniversaries we visited the Harry Potter Park...ah, the excitement of that trip. We also had a cold front that week and I remember having to wear coats (one of our favorite things since we don't get to do that much in FL)...ah and we saw the Facebook movie. That movie always gives me the lovely nostalgia of cold weather and vacation. :)

Then at our five year anniversary we saved our pennies for a 7 day cruise in the Caribbean (why can't I ever remember if it's got two r's or two b's...don't worry, spell check saved me). That was a great trip. Well, I say that now, but Rob would read this and remember me clearly saying how I wanted to jump off the boat around day 4. But it was a good trip, it's just that a shorter cruise would be more fitting for me, with no strict dining. :)

With our sweet little Finn here, we do have to make a more conscious effort to get out on dates. For one, they gotta be more planned. Can't really wing it since we'll need a sitter. And with me still nursing/pumping it's been hard to get a real long date for us lately...like we can't do dinner and movie, usually one or the other. But we're figuring things out and we appreciate our time we do have together when we're not working. That's really the biggest adjustment, our work schedules.

Anyway, so that's me just reminiscing. I wouldn't change the way things are, but I'm so thankful for those years Rob and I really did get to enjoy with just the two of us. 

And we're obviously happy with this new phase of our life too, that goes without saying. This boy has changed our world dramatically...all the sacrifices (oh there's plenty) and life changes are completely worth it. I'm just happy to be doing this alongside my main man. We talked a lot in the years before having Finn about maintaining that balance and the importance for us to keep focus on our relationship and not get lost in our kids or life. Because ultimately the kids will move out and it'll just be the two of you again. So here we are living it out...it's not always easy, but we're moving forward. Living out this adventure. 

What's that saying? ...it's about the journey, not the destination. So true.

A Trip To Busch Gardens

Last year I was the genius that suggested we get passes to our local theme parks. The fact that I was pregnant with Finn didn't cross my mind that it would kind of cut me out from doing like 90% of the things we wanted to do at these parks. Picture us showing up at the water park and saying which ride do you wanna go on first? Only to get in line and read the warning signs (I was verrry early in my pregnancy) and realize...well, I guess we're just gonna sit in a pool today, huh? Lol...all that to say that these passes haven't been used much. 

So we dusted them off and planned a little trip for the three of us on Halloween to get some family time in since Rob had to work that evening. Even though we didn't go with the intention to ride any rides (the only ride we got to enjoy was the trolley back to our parking spot, WAY more fun than those silly roller coasters) the three of us had a good time.

Finn was pretty content throughout the whole trip, and any opportunity to stand up and walk around was a welcomed one.

If only the people that kept the grounds manicured could just slip by my house on their way home, I'd be okay with that...it was all so gorgeous. They also had sweet little pumpkin displays set up throughout. This boy...his faces melt me. :))

The gorillas always fascinate me. Actually all the monkeys do. I could pull up a chair and watch them all day. Well, except for when things get a little x-rated...I've heard stories of parents having to cover their kids eyes, lol. Good times.

We also discovered that they added a kangaroo exhibit where you can feed the little guys. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a kangaroo in person, but these guys were pretty cute.

Kids under a certain age couldn't go in to the exhibit so Rob and I took turns while the other stayed back with the boy. He was enjoying watching the ducks and swans splash around in the water...little discoveries.

I'm not sure the last time I've seen a black swan, such beautiful birds. Also learned that they are completely monogamous, pairing for life, with only a 6% divorce rate according to Wikipedia.

This sunning turtle cracked Rob and I up...like that pig on the Geico commercial, I imagine him saying "weeeeeeeeeeee! wee....wee....weeeeeeeeeee!!"

We're trying to point out the animals to Finn and he's just staring at the waterfall. Love it. :))

Riding that trolley back like a bunch of bosses! What what!! :)

Love these boys. 

Mr. Octopus's First Halloween

Our sweet boy...

Gah, he just melts us. So stinkin adorable. Now let me say I can't take any credit for this idea, I found this brilliant tutorial that I followed except for some of the execution (for example, I didn't hand make his hat, just sewed on the eyeballs and didn't professional finish all the hems and what not). Found these socks at Target, the hat and the navy onesie we already had...overall a super easy project. This is coming from the girl who took 5 minutes to remember how to thread a needle. :)

But back to Mr. Octopus...

Loved how it turned out, and the best part being that he was very comfortable in it. We were concerned about him keeping his hat on cause he doesn't really do hats, but thankfully he did well. We went to my mom's neighborhood (ours gets zero trick-or-treaters) and were able to take pictures before daddy had to leave for work. :(

I love this pic for the sheer fact that it's capturing Finn's latest trick, clapping. Proud proud mama, hah. :)

Here's the nephew and niece this year, they keep getting so big. Such cuties.

Mom made chili which was delish and there was pa-lenty of candy present.

We walked around the hood while the big kids got their candy and little octopus fell asleep in my arms. Doesn't happen as often anymore so I eat that up...

Had a great day, sweet memories were made indeed. Happy NOVEMBER!! Ahhh, can't believe it.

Pumpkin Painting Time

The other day, Finn got to let his creativity loose. Well in reality, he got to squish some paint in his hand while his mama placed his paint-covered hand on the pumpkin. 

I found this idea on Pinterest, we just used blue painter's tape and taped an "F" on his pumpkin and some washable paint. The intention to remove the tape after the pumpkin had been covered in paint. 

Here he is dipping his fingers in. I was a lil worried the first thing he'd do is put it right to his mouth, but the goopy texture was too interesting that it kept that hands-in-the-mouth business at bay. :)

He then started getting all Picasso on me and dipped his hand in a blue then mixed it in a purple...such a pro. ;)

I look like I'm not enjoying this at all, eh? :) And then there's Finn with his deep concentration.

All done!

I waited a little too long to pull off the blue tape and it ended up peeling some of the dried paint off when I removed it. My type A was coming out and I was thinking about fixing it, and then I told myself, "Lisa Marie, it does not need to be perfect." And then I listened.

I think it's so sweet, and it was a sweet memory that's for sure. Too bad I can't keep his first creation for life. Well maybe if I freeze the thing, hah, just a lil tempting.......