15 Years Later

Tuesday, September 11, 2001.   

I was a freshman in college.  I had just gotten back to my dorm room after eating breakfast.  Pretty sure I had a Belgian waffle that morning.  Probably topped with chocolate chips and pecans.  Because, you know, when you're a freshman in college, you can do that.  I turned on the t.v. to finish getting ready for my first class that morning - Sociology - and remember the confusion surrounding the event that had already taken place.  The first tower of the World Trade Center had been hit just minutes before.  I walked next door to see if a floor mate knew anything (she didn't) and returned to my room just in time to see the plane hit the second tower.  My eyes were glued to the t.v.  I was stunned at what I was witnessing and horrified at what was happening just five states away.  The reality really set in as I watched people leap to their deaths from the top floors of the WTC.

From there, things are a blur.  Classes were being cancelled left and right.  Of course, my Sociology class wasn't cancelled because 1) the professor was kind of a jerk and 2) "we needed to carry on like usual" (his words, not mine).  I really don't remember much else from that day except that people were extra kind to one another.  We all had this horrible, horrible thing in common - our country was under attack.

In the days to follow, I couldn't stop looking at pictures and reading stories from that day.  There were online tributes galore.  I specifically remember one played to Enya's Only Time that I may have watched fifty times.  I went home that weekend to spend time with my family (although I can't remember if it was planned before 9/11 or not).  That was the weekend of the big rivalry Iowa/Iowa State football game, but as were all college football games that weekend, it was postponed.

People bonded together like I had never seen in my 18 years of life.  No one cared which area of the country you were from, which team you cheered for, or even the color of your skin.  Policemen and fire fighters were big time heroes and patriotism was at an all-time high. 

Craig and I traveled to NYC in the fall of 2011.  (I had also gone pre-9/11--in 1999, as a sophomore in high school.)  We visited Ground Zero and paid tribute to all those who were killed in the attacks just ten years prior.  I had just learned I was pregnant with Brantley a few weeks prior and I remember how hard it was to read "__________ and her unborn baby" etched into the walls of the tribute pools.  The Freedom Tower was under construction as the time, as was the memorial museum, but we could see an original WTC beam through the glass windows of the memorial.  It was all very somber and surreal.

I can't even fathom that it's been 15 years since that day the world was forever changed. Before 9/11, I had never heard of Al Qaeda or Osama Bin Laden.  Terrorism really wasn't an everyday word like it {sadly} is today.  And as as horrific as it was, I'm so glad I was a freshman in college and got to watch the event play out in front of my eyes.  It definitely gave me a greater appreciation for our nation and for this day now known as "history'.

I saw this on Facebook last night and it nearly brought tears to my eyes.

For the husband who phoned his wife to say I love you one last time before his plane crashed. For the wife who stopped in the stair well to call her husband and say I will love you forever. For the mommy's and daddy's who kissed their kids goodbye in the morning and died that day. For the policemen who rushed in to help the firemen only to die themselves. For the soldiers who have fought the battle ever since that day and lost their lives. We remember them all 15 years later and we will never, ever forget.

I know I will never forget.
9.11.01 

One Year in Our House and More Grateful Than Ever

Even before Timehop was a thing, I was big on reminiscing and dates.  Perhaps it's because I'm a numbers girl and I tend to remember important days, years, and anniversaries.  So it's no surprise that I've been very aware of this day that has been sneaking up for a few weeks now.  Today, March 2, marks exactly one year since we closed and moved into our new home.

One year ago today was a very emotional day for me.  Leaving our first home, no matter how long I'd wanted to do just that, was downright hard.  In between the pressure of packing, the stress of the paperwork, and the excitement of a new home were lots and lots of tears over leaving the sentiments of our old one.

And I'd be lying if I said our new home--this gorgeous, brand new, and expensive new home--felt right from the get go.  It did, in a sense, but it also took some time for it to really feel like "home".  I remember coming home from school and not knowing what to do with myself because I never felt like I was home.  I remember spending time outdoors in those early weeks and no matter how warm that sun felt, something about it also felt so cold.

Yet here we are, one year later.  We have gone through all the seasons and celebrated all of the holidays.  We have found our new grocery store (one of the worst parts of moving) and adjusted to not living next to a Target.  We have found a nearby church that has been very welcoming and one in which we both enjoy attending.  And most importantly, we have found an amazing group of friends--friends who are supportive, friends who are great company, and friends who are in the same life stage as us with kids the same ages--to live life with.

Just last weekend, we went to the Blake Shelton concert with some of these friends and I couldn't help but think about how lucky I was.  We were out on the town with these people who, one year ago, we didn't even know existed!  To say we have been blessed would be a  huge understatement and I couldn't be more grateful.

As cheesy as it sounds, I feel as if we were meant to live here.  Like this house, this neighborhood, and these people were meant to be in our lives.  In fact, we had debated moving year after year, searched for houses, and even found a few we really liked.  Yet in the end, it was never the right time.

And now I understand why.

One year later and not only does that sun shine warm once again, but our house feels like a home in more ways than I could have ever imagined.

Instagram / Facebook / Bloglovin' / Pinterest / Twitter

Two Truths and a Lie

I saw this on a blog a few days ago and thought it would make for a fun post!  All you have to do is decide which two stories are true and which one is not!

| 1 |

I almost died once while white water rafting.  It was the summer before eighth grade and I was 13 years old.  My family was vacationing in Colorado and my dad had always wanted to white-water raft.  Against her will, my mom agreed to go.  All was well and we were having a grand ole time until our raft freakishly hit a massive rock in just the wrong way.  The raft started sinking and my dad, sister, and I each fell off.  Although we were wearing life jackets, they are pretty much worthless through a big rapid.  My dad pulled himself back aboard and our guide was able to pull my sister back onto the raft, but I was under water for a significant amount of time (probably only 20 seconds but to myself and my mom, it felt like forever).  I finally surfaced and was helped onto the raft.  As if that wasn't enough, the water temperature was frigid and everyone was worried about me getting hypothermia.  Needless to say, I will never white-water raft again.

| 2 |

I once met Jessica Simpson!  I was in college at the time and my roommate and I watched Oprah on a regular basis.  You could go onto Oprah's website and browse topics for her upcoming shows.  There were even forms to fill out if you could relate to a specific topic and by filling out a form, you could have potentially been selected as an audience member for that show.  Anyway, this was back in Jessica's Newlyweds days and I was (still am!) a huge fan!  Jessica was scheduled to be on Oprah and Oprah was searching for Jessica's biggest fan.  Naturally, I filled out a form and though I wasn't selected as her "biggest fan", I did make it into the audience and got to meet Jessica!

| 3 | 

I once gave up Starbucks for about ten months before my wedding.  We were searching for a wedding photographer and had it narrowed down to two.  Craig preferred one simply because he was $500 less expensive than the one I preferred.  Though $500 isn't a lot in the grand scheme of planning a wedding, it is a good chunk of change, especially when the photographer is already expensive to begin!  I schemed a plan to give up Starbucks from that point forward (until the wedding) if my now-hubs would let me book the photog I wanted.  It worked.  Of course, I asked for giftcards so I didn't go completely without my caramel macchiatos, but looking back I think "Man, I was cray!"

So which one is a lie and which two are true??  The answer is in the comments!  Have a great weekend! 

Show and Tell Tuesday: Halloween Costumes

First things first--how do you like my new blog design?!  I'm super excited about it and for the first time in five years, I feel kinda sorta "official".  I've always designed my own blog headers with free online editing programs, but this time, I bit the bullet and bought a pre-made template for $15!  Not too shaby, huh?  Totally worth the time savings!  Special thanks to Vanessa for inspiring me and helping me figure out the specifics...I texted her no fewer than 28 times. ;)

Anyway, since I wanted to show off the new design, what perfect timing for a Show and Tell Tuesday.  Today's topic: Halloween costumes!  So fun!

I wish I could share some of the Halloween costumes from my childhood (Pippy Longstocking and a troll are two that stand out), but that would involve me going into our basement and searching through old photo albums.  Considering it's already 10pm, I'll save that for another day. ;)  Besides, a few weeks ago we saw a spider the size of a half dollar down there, so needless to say, there's no way I'm venturing down there alone and in the dark.  

Instead, you get two of my adult life costumes (the only two I have digital files of) and recaps of the last three Halloweens with kids.

First up, Halloween 2002.  My sophomore year of college.  A Twinkie + a Playboy bunny + two 80s chics.  Most random combination ever?  I think yes.

While in college, I also remember dressing as a leopard and as Jessica Simpson (my love of her runs deep), but those pictures are in the basement.  Too bad for you.

In 2009, Craig and I dressed up.  He was an...ahem...Mexican immigrant and I was the border patrol.  That was fun.

And then we got married, had kids, and lived a tamer life in the 'burbs.

In 2012, Brantley was just 3 1/2 months old and I dressed him as a pumpkin.  I've always been a big fan of themed costumes, so naturally Kinnick was a bat.  You can re-visit our Halloween 2012 here.

In 2013, I found the perfect lobster costume for Brantley at a consignment sale.  I about died when I found a matching lobster costume for our dog at Target.  Done and done.  Of course, that meant we dressed as chefs. #duh  You can revisit our Halloween 2013 here.

And then last year, I had a second kid to dress up, so I choose Mickey Mouse and "Pluto".  I searched high and low for a real Pluto costume for Holden, but all I found was one for $90 on Ebay.  No thanks.  I had to settle for a puppy costume, but they were still a pretty cute combo!  See more of our Halloween 2014 here.

As I mentioned before, this year they are going as Olaf (Brantley) and a penguin (Holden).  They both look stinkin' cute in their costumes but you'll have to wait another week (or sp) before the big reveal!

Oh, and let's not forget the year (pre-kids) when I dressed Kinnick as his nemesis - a squirrel.  I'm such a mean doggy owner.  I just can't help myself.

Aren't Halloween costumes so much fun?!

Linking up with Momfessionals

Wedding Recap Five Years Later: Our Honeymoon

And just like that, 10 days have come and gone so quickly.  Today is my final recap and I'm sharing photos and stories from our fabulous honeymoon.

For our honeymoon, we headed to Sandals Negril in Jamaica.  We flew out early in the morning on the Monday following our wedding.  It gave us just enough time to open our wedding gifts and find homes for everything before we left.  But definitely not enough time to pack.  If I remember correctly, I got about three hours of sleep the night before we left due to some super last-minute packing!  But it really didn't matter--because I was headed somewhere with sun, sand, and lots of fruity drinks!

We flew out of Kansas City and had a layover in {I think} Houston.  For some reason, we got there a little late {or maybe we had to sit on the tarmac a while...} and Craig and I had to sprint through the airport to catch our next flight to Jamaica.  And if you know me, you know that I am not a runner.  So imagine me running through the airport at top speed--trying to keep up with my runner of a hubby--with a carry-on suitcase in tow!!  I'm sure I was a sight to see!  But it really didn't matter--because I was headed somewhere with sun, sand, and lots of fruity drinks!

We {barely} made our flight, but lo and behold, we flew into Montego Bay in Jamaica a couple of hours later.  We then had to take a bus to the Sandals resort about an hour away and let me tell you, that was one interesting scary bus ride!  We finally arrived safely to our resort and enjoyed the next six nights in paradise!

Highlights of our honeymoon include a zipline tour, multiple snorkel trips, a couples' massage, a private candlelight dinner in a gazebo on the beach (very Bachelor-esque), a beach-front room, and of course the swim-up bar!  However, like with most things in life, the food was my favorite part...it was amazing!!  We were amongst multiple other honeymooners--many of which shared our same wedding day.  We even connected with one couple and still keep up with them on Facebook today!

I have close to 350 photos from our honeymoon, so I really did pick and choose my favorites below! 

And then, of course, there's the food.  I don't remember any details except that it was some of the best food I've ever had!  And the best part--because we were at an all-inclusive resort, we didn't have to worry about the prices!  Is your mouth watering because mine sure is!!

We returned home--probably ten pounds heavier--after seven amazing days and the rest is history.  Except for this.  Oh, that was a funny story!

That's it for my wedding recaps five years later.  I've enjoyed reminiscing and I hope you've enjoyed it, too!  In case you missed any of my recaps, they're all linked below!

My Bachelorette Party | The Day Before | Getting Ready + Our First Look 
Wedding Party Photos | The Ceremony | The Details 
Our First Dance + Other Reception Traditions | Our Wedding Video

5 Reasons Our Wedding was the Bomb | Our Honeymoon