11 years

This past Saturday marked 11 years that Gina and I have been married. Being at a different place in our lives than ever before (both geographical and personal) things didn't work out for our anniversary like I'd planned. Normally, I like to surprise Gina with a trip, a weekend away, some amazing gifts... But none of that worked out this year.

We couldn't get a sitter to watch our 3 children and all our plans fell through. This completely frustrated me and we eventually decided to take the entire family out for dinner and the mall. Not exactly the romantic getaway I'd hoped for, but it was at least something. But this evening held in store for me some memories that I'll never forget.

After a never ending pasta bowl at Olive Garden (don't bother...it really does end when you can't eat anymore and you have to run to the bathroom) we went to the mall and watched our kids play on the indoor playground with 200 other completely hyperactive kids who brought their seemingly uncaring parents. (I don't want to punch children, but when you come close to knocking over my daughter...I get close to kicking your parents) As we walked through the mall, Gina and I decided to get Cassidy's ears pierced.

This was both an exciting moment and a terrifying one, because you're knowingly causing your child pain and it's so stinking cute. As we stood there holding Cass, getting ready to inflict pain and counteract that with a sucker, I was overtaken with how precious my family is to me. My wife stood hovering over Cass like a mother hen. Roman and Syd held their hands over their ears while continuing to drool on free suckers from Icing. And I prayed for Cass and just sat back and watched my family. The photo at the top is Cassidy when we got home from the mall...Her first photo with her ears pierced.

11 years ago, these 3 little children weren't here. Gina and I were engaged and didn't have a clue how everything would turn out with our lives. 11 years of marriage and 4 years of dating later...things are so different and I couldn't be happier. This anniversary wasn't what I expected and next year I'm going to kidnap my wife and head to a beach somewhere...but for now, for this year...it was perfect. We are a family and what better way to celebrate our marriage than with our whole family?

All night, Sydney kept asking when our "anniversary day" would be over. Looking back, I didn't want that day to ever end.