19

It was just he and I enjoying a quiet dinner alone.   The green beans at Sapa were as good as we remembered and we tried their pork dumplings...that were amazing!  As we ate Danny asked me my favorite memory over the last 19 years.  How could I possibly pick just one!?  I asked him, and he knew right away, "the moment we became parents."  Having three daughters did change everything.  

It only seemed fitting that we celebrate with them tonight too.  When we returned home they had made a "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM & DAD!" poster.  We ate ice cream  and lit sparklers together.  These past 19 years have not been perfect...but they have been oh so good.  Here's to many more.

16 years

16 years...

married to my best friend.

We sat at the counter at one of our favorite (maybe just mine...but he loves it because I do) restaurants.

I ordered the Market Street salad + asparagus...he ordered the early bird special (gulf shrimp).

We talked.

It is comfortable--but so dear at the same time.

We think so much alike on the things that are most important to us...

yet so different on a few non-essentials---

which keeps life interesting...

and keeps me learning...

and growing...

and I love him more for it.

We finished the date with an impromptu tour through the city of our old "firsts"

(click to enlarge)

the house I lived in when we met--

the apartment he lived in when we met--

the apartment I lived in when we were dating--

the house he lived in when we were dating--

our first apartment married...

and then the place where we were married.

We talked about our favorite memories together...

and some memories we want to make in the future.

I felt loved, happy, and grateful.