Weekend to Remember

What a weekend it was. Mandy and I took the liberty to be bed rats until 4:00 in the afternoon on Saturday. It is a blessing that Meritt is getting to the age where she can be entertained by Bella. We have not been that lazy since who knows when, but it felt so warm and cozy who wants to get up? We then proceeded to visit our favorite place... Target, at least it feels that way since we frequent it so often. And since we were at Target and close to Red Robin, we decided to treat the girls (the bird is their favorite restaurant). What a perfect way to spend a rainy Saturday.

Sunday we decided to go do a little post Christmas shopping in Portland. We had a great time at Washington Square Mall. Then came time for dinner, what a ride it was. We decided to go to one of our favorite spots calls Pastini's before we headed to the Oregon zoo for their annual zoo lights. Well, our little trip took 45 minutes to find a parking place after a 30 minute detour down the wrong highway, and then a VERY slow waitress to top it off....did I mention we had two kids with us??? So all in all it took over 2 1/2 hours!!!! But we made it, so we head up to the zoo. WOW!!!! I have never seen so many cars in one place, after 30 minutes of circling we found a spot. WHOO HOO!! We look around the zoo at all the pretty lights and then decide to tackle the fan favorite train ride, oh my goodness. 35 minutes of waiting in 40 degree weather, but the girls were troopers and it dd not rain so it went better then one can expect. The best part of the trip was while we were waiting Bella looked at Mandy and said 'You guys are the best parents ever', it was a good reminder of why we go through all the hassle. In those little eyes, it means everything.

Letter to my wife

Since this blog was her idea I thought I would kick it off with a note to her.

We have been married 8 beautiful years and have two beautiful girls. I have been one of the blessed ones in this world and found love at the early age of 16 and married my high school sweetheart. The last 12 years have gone by so fast, but we have created memories to last a lifetime.

Mandy is my purpose in life, my extra breath when I am fatigued, my comforter when I am feeling down, she has all the qualities a person looks for in a best friend. Some people say the magic of a relationship dwindles once you get married, couples begin their careers, and when you have children, but we have been married 8 years and I am more in love with her now than the day we said 'I do'. And it is not the type of love that will falter over time, I love her to the core of my heart and tremble with fear at the thought of living without her. So for now, I live every day with the thought that if it was my last day, did I say everything I wanted to say. I think I have, except I can't say I love you enough to show what is in my heart.

So, to my best friend, I love you with more energy in my soul than you will ever know and I look forward to growing old together. You are my world and will be forever.

-MF