A Night at the Box Office

Last night we saw Anna Karenina at the movies for our 7th year anniversary date. Aside from the fact that it was a visual and artistic masterpiece, we were just completely taken with the story.

This is the part where I admit I haven't read the book. I started it, but like so many potential reads, I did not get far before I put it down for life to happen and never picked it up again.

So I didn't really know what to expect. I knew there was something about adultery in it (and to be honest, that always made me a little weary of watching/reading it; I'm sick of the romanticized whoredom our culture is so obsessed with). And I knew it was set in Imperial Russia. That's pretty much it.

So if you're unfamiliar with it, I won't ruin anything for you (but you should at least go see the movie). Gabe and I were really affected by it. We spent over an hour talking about it after we left the theater and we realized that what was so striking was actually the Gospel covered in 19th century fashion and splattered over salacious dialogue.

Happy Mother's Day

What I sent my mom for Mother's Day. Just wanted to brag on her a little bit (and show off how pretty she is!! From new-mommyhood to grandma-hood, my Mom is a fox!). 

Valentine's Day 2009

Another special day! Gabe and I have not had a Valentine's Day together in 2 years and the one we did have together (which was the only in our 5 year relationship) was rather sad as he worked all day. So this year was especially importat to us. Gabe had a test to take for the CHP in the morning (which gave me time to clean and get pretty) and he returned with those roses and my favorite beverage from Starbucks (my man knows me)! It was so

Happy New Year's

Gabe and I were reminiscing a little bit... We were talking about our first few months of marriage - how little we had and how even when all of our stuff got there we still didn't have much. And yet, without anything, we were happy. Even talking about it now we were laughing and smiling and hugging.


It got me thinking about our past New Year's...

Christmas Day 2008

Well, here is our Christmas - in pictures.


First things first - wake up, Uncle Gabe!!

Third Anniversary - December 23, 2008

Three years is not an extraordinarily long time, but for our 3rd year anniversary Gabe and I wanted to do something especially meaningful. For us it means more than the amount of time in marriage it represents. To us it is a celebration of all that we have been through together. It's a reminder that we are so blessed to be able to be with each other because we know what it is to be unwillingly separated for every significant day. It's a reminder of the day we promised to stick together no matter what and furthermore a reminder of the no-matter-what's. For this, our first anniversary out of the military, we needed to go (relatively) big. :-)

First, Gabe completely surprised me with this gorgeous purse (3rd anniversary is leather)!! He snuck my other purse out while I was sleeping and put all my stuff in the new one so that when I opened my eyes in the morning this was the first thing I saw. It was so sweet!!

Before we left, I was quite hungry so Gabe made me Macaroni & Cheese... This was me trying to keep my dress clean.

Before we left - all dolled up.

The view on the drive.... I cannot believe we actually live here.

My amazing husband...

So happy together!!

Life's a long road. :-)

I was so nervous he was going to fall!


For Gabe's senior prom he took me to Nepenthe, a small, beautiful restaraunt in Big Sur. So for our anniversary he surprised me with another visit there. It absolutely amazes me how gorgeous it is. God must really love us to give us this beauty.

The wooden statue in front of our favorite restaurant Nepenthe.

Our actual view while eating dinner...

Posing on the deck.

The Chicken!

"Hippies are so much nicer than rednecks."

Pretty, pretty California.


After our wonderful lunch at Nepenthe Gabe drove us to our next destination: Pfieffer State Beach. It is not easy to find - you will only ever visit it if someone explicitly shows how to get there. I, in my dress, nylons and long coat and Gabe, in his slacks, dress shoes and suede jacket decided to play! I cannot go to the beach without saying hello to the ocean (I am afterall from California) so I did. And then we checked out the tide pools and almost got knocked down by a wave! Well, kind of... I was startled and almost fell off my rock...

Going to Pfieffer State Beach - quite a journey to get there, but so worth it!

Like I told Gabe, you know you're in God's country when your subject makes the picture for you.

Gabe took some pictures of me playing in the water.

I think he did a great job with this picture!

Gabe on the rocks.

Even the rocks are prettier here.

There were a bunch of photographers taking pictures of this arch.

Ah, the beach at sunset... Does life get any better?

Why, hello, God.

I think that is where God sits and does His thinking.

I can't wait to go back.

Gabe carried me to the car because my feet were freezing!

It was a very large leaf.

My new favorite beach.

After the beach we went to see "Four Christmases" at the theater - originally Gabe had planned to take me to an Imax movie, but we didn't make it so we went to the one right here in Salinas. We did get to walk around Cannery Row for a bit (and get some yummy candy!). After the movie we went home and changed into our comfies for a quiet night.

When we got back we had a fun night at home with our family.

The love of my life.

It was a perfect day... Absolutely perfect!

It's the Holiday Season....

Christmas would not be so if it were not for the sea of gift wrap and the endless decorating. This year, as we are staying at the Ball's house, we shared these uh, sweet memories with them. Actually, in all honesty these are really some of our first memories of this kind since we have not been together like this... well, ever. Our very first Christmas, though wonderful, was 2 days after our wedding so was quite hectic. Our second Christmas was split between Gabe's family and my divorcing parents (ah, the joys of marriage). Our third Christmas was spent online as Gabe was in Afghanistan. So here we are on our fourth Christmas and it is truly the first time we have felt as though it is as it should be. We are most certainly not rushing around to get in as many visits as we can (because nobody wants a visit when you live somewhere) and we are absolutely not separated this year. And it is so appropriate that we share this significant occasion with the Beth, Levi and Ayden (and Winston, too) since they have become the family we (especially I) need.

Gabe was doing a wonderful job wrapping gifts. It was just so incredibly comfortable having him there doing holiday things... It was nice not to do them by myself or as a guest in someone's house.



Oh yes, that is ballet... The Nutcracker actually.


Beth working on her "Mom" stocking. :-)



Levi giving Gabe a smile... They're Ninja Partnas.... I have to spell it like that or I might get choked out in my sleep.

I'm not sure why Beth was holding the sock monkey, but she was and Gabe took a picture.


Hmm... Maybe I could hide in the bag.


Poor Sammy... He would have loved to help but he is lacking some essential digits.


The stockings we decorated for one another 2 years ago - I was thrilled to see them again!

I love my angel! 3 years and loving him more every day.

And Another One

The Balls are graciously allowing us to stay with them this Christmas (which is fitting) so we were very excited when it was time to get a Christmas tree!

Our Tree!!

I don't know why I decided to bare my teeth...

I sneakily made a star for the tree (Gabe closed his eyes when he took this picture because I had shut the door and told everyone to leave me alone)...

I severely overestimated the size of the tree so the star is obnoxiously large. Oh well!

My "bestie" reading Gabe and I's old yearbook.

The lovely Balls!

The 'berries!

This one isn't edited, but I like it. We make each other happy. :-)