This weekend marks the one year anniversary of the day Chad and I sealed the deal. At the risk of sounding too poetic, it's really been a totally awesome year. In it, we:

Got married, duh

Went to Mexico

Moved from out starter studio into a indulgent 2 bedroom apartment.
Went to Arizona twice to visit family
Went to Utah once to visit friends
Went camping twice (shi-shi beach and some other place in Eastern WA)

Went white-water rafting
Ate duck
Made macarons that were consistently edible

I started school full-time
Chad was re-organized at work into a position that he LOVES from a position that, well, he didn't exactly love so much.
Moved into a new ward with some seriously incredible friends (I'm looking at you, Judkins' & MacD's)
Got LOST together
Bought and killed two goldfish, one after another
Gave up trying to keep a goldfish alive
Made each other's birthday cakes, both were awesome

Went to six flags and rode roller coasters until we were sick
Got car insurance and updated tabs/title
Got, then cancelled Netflix
Hosted Thanksgiving dinner
Had our first Christmas as a married couple
Painted an enormous credenza together without filing for divorce (BRAG)

Cooked, cleaned, laughed, kissed on the mouth, held hands, had a two week lapse in judgement that made us decide to have a baby right away
Came to our senses
Cancelled our iPhones, rejoiced, moved to Verizon, rejoiced
Attacked every issue, every problem as a united, unbreakable force
Fell in love, then in some more, then in some more

For our anniversary, Chad bought me a beautiful antique ring. He said he wants to make it our tradition to get a new ring every year that we're married, which I, of course, have no objection to. Chad knows I know I love everything gaudy and sparkly, and this ring is no exception. It's beautiful. We got it at the antique mall that is almost annoyingly vast and well-stocked. It is the store that I will miss the most when we move from here.

We're giving serious thought to packing up our lives and moving back to the Motherland. We love it here; Seattle is like a sweet salve on my yearning for bustle, busy, and short walking distances. But we're living a very indulgent life here, and when we start popping out those babies, they deserve grandparents and cousins and a yard. There are better things to spend a half-million dollars on than a condominium, methinks. We are biding our time, intoxicated by the hope of leaving the romance and excitement of Seattle for the much more romantic, much more exciting prospect of planting the roots of our family into dry, dusty, southwest soil for good.

So thank you, Chad, for the most lovely first year of marriage that one could ask for. Thank you for doing the dishes and always finding the keys and always kissing me goodbye before you leave in the morning, even though I don't always remember it. You're the most bad-ass husband that exists. Truth.

Lovelovelove.

I know you check my blog everyday from work and see if I've posted.

I never do.

But I will post today to say thank you for the most lovely, dainty-lady presents that you gave me, on this, the second Valentine's day of our married life.

I hope you liked the hot-pink lemon cookies I made you tonight.

I love, love, love the jewelry box you gave me. A beautiful, vintage, darkwood with red velvet lining. It fits all of my lovely-lady jewels perfectly.

I also love the awesome vintage glove box. It's lined with lace and just perfect.

Last Valentine's Day, we were waiting in the Cancun airport for our plane to leave. We had more than 2 hours to wait, and we passed the time by taking turns buying presents for each other. I got you a GORGEOUS tile with horses galloping across, to display in the satillo tiled breakfast nook we would someday have in New Mexico, where I would wear clothing from Maya Palace (google it) and wear large amulets as necklaces. I also got you one of those head-shaking turtles and a rainbow pencil with a foam shark pencil topper that was wearing earmuffs and had a block of cheese for eyes.

You got me a little harbor seal with a fancy sombrero. You thought the price was in pesos, not dollars, which explains why you spent $40 on a small stuffed animal and a hat. The chin strap on the hat broke as soon as you bought it and Juan, our little seal, has a place of honor atop the bookshelf in our office. His little eyes are so irresistible, aren't they?

Writing any blog or journal is as much for your kids and grandkids as it is for you and your family and friends. So, I want to tell my future kids that our first two Valentine's Days as a married couple were excellent. We had so much free-time and money and fun until you came along, sweet children.

Just kidding. mostly.