8 Years.

Today Yesterday* marks our 8th year wedding anniversary.

Eight.

I am glad to be in year eight, year seven was rough.  Really rough.  But after 8 years of marriage and 14 years together, you are bound to have “off” years and some rough times.  It is all about how you work through those rough times together that builds more strength and love in a relationship....so I am figuring out.

Marriage is a funny thing.  You meet someone and you decide to spend the rest of your life with that person.  ONE PERSON! You have faith in your relationship and that this person will be the right one for you, even through all the ups and downs.  You are taking a leap of faith that they will catch you when you fall and lift you up when you need support.  That they will know when to say something and when only a hug is needed.  And that a “perfect” relationship doesn't exist, but that giving yourself to someone 100% does.

I never doubted my choice, but I know now, more than ever, our relationship and love for one another has proven to be very strong and is continuing to grow.  That alone, gives me comfort that things will be OK….we will be OK. I know I am also learning.  Learning what it takes to make a marriage work.  Learning about myself as a wife and a mother.  Learning how strong I really am and how much stronger we are together.  Learning I cannot control everything…..oh how I cannot control things. Learning we are a team.  (No Jenn, you do NOT have to do it all alone.)  Learning how to compromise.  Learning how to not take the other for granted.  Learning that even though we are comfortable with each other, we can’t get too comfortable that our relationship is affected.

These are all things the past few years that seem to have come to light far more than before.  Yes, much of it is because having a child changes the dynamic of a relationship.  Some of it is because we see each other so much less now because our schedules are opposite.  And some of it has been because of the stresses we are going through.  But we are still working on us, our marriage and this life we have and are creating together.  Not always agreeing, but always supporting.

Terry,

I know things haven’t always been easy and perhaps we are not always at our best when the stresses of life take over.  But one thing that is for certain, that has never come into question, and that has only gotten stronger over our 14 years together, is my love for you.  And I know the same is true in return.  Through all our ups and downs I can count on you to be there for me, for our family.  I am thankful EVERY day that you are the person by my side as we go together on this journey.  No matter what life throws at us, I know that we are definitely stronger together and we will never let each other go.  I love you.   Happy 8th Anniversary!  

*Note: This was going to post yesterday…I guess I haven’t blogged much lately as I forgot to hit publish!  In the words of my son “Silly Jennie”.

Happy Anniversary!!

Today marks my husband and my seven year wedding anniversary! 

Hey Terry, remember that one time we got married?!?!  Yeah, that was cool.

I guess at 7 years of marriage you are suppose to start getting the itch, well at least that is what I have heard a number of times today.  Thank goodness, Terry, you have never given me an itch and I don’t foresee receiving an itch because of you anytime in the future…..and if I do we may need to talk and get a cream!! ;-)

As I was looking for pictures to print and give you in place of spending $5 on a card I found this. 

OK first, let’s be real.  I love you but $5 on a card is ridiculous so it is either make my own or get a 99 cent one with a kitten in a bucket and inside it says “You are purrrrr-fect”.  OK, that would totally be worth 99 cents!

Anywho…I found this picture and thought of you. 

But it didn’t seem complete, so I decided to add to it:

Love is walking hand in hand.

True love is walking hand in hand even when the other person’s hands are really sweaty and gross.

Real love is telling them their hands are sweaty and gross and refusing to hold their hand until they wash up.

Terry….we totally have REAL love!! ;-)

Happy Anniversary! 

P.S. This counts as your card and gift so enjoy it! 

And so you don't think I don't care about my husband, I have written nice anniversary posts HERE, poetic post HERE, week after having baby post HERE, and short and sweet post HERE....see, I can only be nice so long!! ;-)

6 Years of Marriage + 12 Years Together Means It Must Be Time For Anniversary Cake....And A Blog Post!

Six years ago today I married this man.

Was he my soulmate or the man of my dreams, eh....I don't know about that :)  

But I will say he is pretty darn amazing and I love the life and family we have created together over these years and I am still just as excited as I was 6 years ago to continue on this journey together and I still feel those flutters around you like the first time we met 12 years ago. (Though part of it may be caused by indigestion.) 

This journey has been thumbs up, for sure!

Over the last year, WE have taken a back seat to our child as we focused on getting through this first year.  With this new year, we are back to making sure that besides taking care of Henry, we also take care of US and our relationship.  It is tough.  Marriage is tough.  Some days you have to work on it, which Terry and I have found out more this last year.  But the thing is, there is no one else I would want to make this journey with and have by my side as my partner, my friend, my husband, and now the father to our child.  Well, not unless Johnny Depp could be a part of our marriage on occasion. No?! Ok, then just you is fine....I guess.

Terry, 

While this last year has really pushed both of us, I feel that we have actually become stronger and closer than ever before.  I love you for all that YOU are.  Thank you for being there when I need support, or to laugh, or a shoulder to cry on, or to get my jokes....especially the ones that only I think are funny.  Thank you for all your love and encouragement and not giving up on me even when I am being crazy and have given up on myself.  And thank you for giving me the most amazing gift a person can ever receive.  

I love you, my husband...BUNCHES and BUNCHES! mmmmwwwaaaaahhhh xoxo

BEST ANNIVERSARY EVER.

So today Terry and I are celebrating our 5^th wedding anniversary. 

In past years I have written something about the wonderful man I married and what an amazing husband, friend, and partner he is.

But this year I am adding one very special title to this already amazing man….Daddy.  It has only been a week and in that short period of time I have seen something truly special, being I have seen my husband effortlessly take on the role as a caring and compassionate father to our new son. 

My heart has been overfilled with love this past week, a love I never knew I could feel and it has been amazing.  And as T & I celebrate OUR love today we also celebrate this new love in our life and this beautiful and most precious miracle we have created together.

It fills me with such emotion every time I see the two of them together and know THEY are my family….my heart….my life.

Poems to My Husband - Happy Anniversary

So yesterday T & I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary, and what I believe to be another milestone….10 years together. Phew.


So I am kicking it old-school this year and getting all iambic pentameter on his ass and decided to bombard him with the written word…..in the form of a series of poems created by yours truly!

Yep, he is a very lucky man. And I am also a very lucky women…..I mean check out my man last winter!

Ladies, please back away from the computer and control yourself. This piece of meat belongs to me!



So I have written Terry 4 poems as an expression of my love…..because that is just how I roll. These are ALL unique with no help from the inter-web, just a Thesaurus and my awesome mind.

Let’s start simple with something you may remember from grade school. It is also a great illustration of pretty much the first time we met.

Poem #1:

Roses are Red,
Violets are Blue,
You gave me a zerbert,
And then I fell for you.


Yep….a zerbert was all it took to fall madly in love with this man.

Next poem. Look out, your ass is about to get haiku’d!


Poem #2:

Just two little words.
There is no doubt in my heart.
When asked, it’s I DO.

Hope your mind isn’t completely blown, because it is time to get down with a limerick.


Poem #3:

There once was a fella named Terry,
Who fell for a girl who was wary.
After some flirting,
And love asserting,
It was fate that the two would marry.


Just a little humor before getting to the serious stuff.

This last poem is a bit personal, but is exactly how I feel at this point in my life. This poem surprisingly took very little time to write because the emotions just came out so easily and so strongly.  I don't believe in nearly all of the overly romantic stuff out there but I do believe in our relationship and believe no matter what the future holds for us that he has changed my life forever and in so many wonderful ways and to me that is an amazing and powerful thing to have in my life. 


Poem #4:

To My Dearest Husband….

It was just ten quick years ago when we first met;
Who would have known then that the pieces were being set.

Evade as I might the connection we had, made it impossible not to fall for you;
While our unique and effortless relationship was hard for others to construe.

Our relationship was our OWN with no one pushing us astray;
We did things the way we wanted, on our own terms and in our own way.

And then September 16, 2006 vows would be exchanged in front of family and friends;
Which would give me the honor to call you my husband and your last name I would pen.

From the beginning - trust, respect, love and laughter were always the keys;
As a relationship will fail without the understanding and work that it needs.

Frustration and resentment can become a destructible game;
One where nobody wins and each is to blame.

But for us good times were plentiful and fights only a few;
We carried on as individuals but also as equals through and through.

Because at the end of the day what mends the hardships, frustrations, and unnecessary bickering;
Is a relationship filled with love, encouragement, happiness, and of course snickering.

Your stories, your laugh, your straight forward and honest thinking;
Are all characteristics I admire and that make you uniquely appealing.

You help me to stop, to breath, and to slowdown;
So I can take in all those special moments around.

You accept me for who I am, even with all my crazy imperfections;
And you have never tried to change me into some generalized societal projection.

I feel so unique and beautiful when I am with you;
Because I see through your eyes what I fail to see at times too.

I love you my husband more than words could truly ever express;
It is with breath that is bated that I eagerly await what is next.

My partner, my lover, my equal, my friend;
I promise to continue to love you faithfully, honor and respect you, and cherish you until the end.




Happy Anniversary Terry.

Just Thinking.....

T & I will be celebrating our 4 year wedding anniversary (and 10 years of being together) next week! We typically do not get gifts or cards for each other and instead devour enjoy a small chocolate cake with white icing from Wixey Bakery (drool) and then dinner whenever we can find a free evening. We then get into our sexy comfy clothes and stare into each other’s eyes sit on separate couches and watch TV…..or at least until our food digests and we can roll off the couch to make our way to our separate DVR’s to watch our own shows. It is nice.


However, out of curiosity I looked online to see what the traditional anniversary gift is for 4 years. Well it happens to be flowers & fruit. Yes, I thought it was weird too, but it did get me thinking that this must be exactly why Edible Arrangements was created!  It is genius….flowers AND fruit in ONE! What husband or wife wouldn’t love a $40 basket of semi-old fruits in weird shapes on sticks?

Don’t be surprised Terry if you find one at NAPA waiting for you next week! I am sure you and the guys will love it.


Any favorite anniversary memories, traditions, stories you would like to share with the group?!  Keep it clean-ish folks...not for me, I am a perv, but maybe for my fellow readers :)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TERRY!!!!

From early on in our relationship.....



...through our engagement.....



....to the moment we became husband and wife....



....we have continued to be partners in this relationship, walking together side-by-side....



.....while also remembering in this busy life to just stop and make time to be with each other.......



......so we remind ourselves of the vows we took.....



...so that even through the highs and lows, our life together will continue to be full of lots of love and laughter....



.....And I feel so blessed that I can call you my husband and that we get to share our life with each other!






Why I love you….

- Your smile and unbelievably infectious laugh.

- You never try to be anything or anyone other than yourself….you are always and around everyone, just you.

- Your hugs.

- The opinions you have that are your own and not always what is viewed as “the norm” and the way you are able to express them to people in such a logical and intelligent way.

- That when you talk to people about sensitive topics like religion or politics you are respectful of others opinions, state your own opinions, get people to listen intensely to what you have to say and though you never try to make people change their beliefs you bring in other viewpoints that make them think past the basics and really get into the heart of ones beliefs. This is such a special gift.

- Your very sarcastic and dry humor.

- That you will always be a child at heart.

- Your gorgeous blue eyes.

- That you collect and listen to records, collect coins & silver, that you love antiques and appreciate things from the past…your tastes are those of someone 30-40 years older than yourself....but that is ok!! :)

- Your eclectic taste in music - you love metal, classical, blues/Jazz, old time country (i.e Hank Williams), and Christmas Music…oh and the Spice Girls :)

- That you know how to deal with me and my wonderful mood swings.

- That we can talk for hours and that I can listen to you talk for hours on every subject from sci-fi to Religion, to politics, to food, to cartoons. (this is the thing I first fell in love with)

- Your ability to retain nearly all the information you read or hear.

- Because you truly love and care about my family.

- That you are laid-back and easy going and because of that, together we balance each other out perfectly.

- Your beliefs.

- Your collection of t-shirts.

- That we both recognize the importance of time together and time with friends and there is a perfect balance between the two.

- That you have a Godzilla toy on the dash of your car.

- That you can make me smile with just a look.

- That patience, compromise, understanding, trust, honesty, friendship, respect, and love are not just words to you, but things you believe make for a strong marriage.

- That you are going back to school so you can do something you want to do. I am SO incredibly proud of you.

- That there are SO many different layers to you and the longer we are together the more that unravel.


And for so many MANY more reasons than these is why I love you and so happy to share this journey with you! I can't wait to see what the next year has to hold.

I love you xoxoxo! *MWAH*

Happy Blog-iversary to ME!

So today is my Blog-iversary!

Yep, it has been 3 years of my rants, random questions, updates on my life, useless information, attempts at comedy and other things I feel I should share with my friends as well as complete strangers on the world wide web. I am surprised I am still blogging three years later. I have never been someone who journals, I am not the best writer, and I tend to be pretty shy and withdrawn around people I don’t know so I wasn’t sure this was for me. But instead I found out that I LOVE blogging. I love keeping up with friends, sharing parts of my life, making new friends, sharing exciting new experiences, finding comfort through difficult times and having a positive outlet to express myself. Because of this here blog I have become more open, confident and willing to express myself in a constructive way to those around me.

I decided that for this post I would go back through past posts to find some of my favorites, but as I saw I had over 800 posts to read I was afraid this was going to turn into a tedious task that wouldn’t be much fun. However, after I got through just the first couple posts I began to feel this happiness and tons of memories came flowing into my head and I just had to keep reading. A couple hours later I had made my way through 3 years of life events and felt so unbelievably lucky to have it all written down. There was our wedding, our first house, many new baby announcements, posts that had me laughing, posts that I thought “why the hell did I post that”, highly opinionated posts, there were tough times, happy times and just plain old goofy times. I also noticed that I have horrendous grammar, atrocious spelling, and I overuse punctuation like it was my job. I may need to work on that for the next three years!



So in honor of my blog-iversary here are some posts I would like to share! I hope you enjoy reading them, as much as I have enjoyed sharing them :)

If you are interested here is my first official post on my blog. It was a little more sentimental but I started because of twopretzels and wanted to keep in touch with her.


- Happiest Post

- The Worstest Grammatically Posted Post And The Post With The Most Run-on Sentences, and The Post With The Most Unnecessary Exclamation Points - All In One!!!!!!!

- Favorite Post Title

- Best PSA Post

- Favorite Keeping Things In Perspective Post

- Best Use of A Stock Photo In A Post

- Best Top 10 List Post (For some reason I do alot of Top 10 Lists)

- Best I Feel and Sound Really Old Post

- Rant That I Still Stand Behind Today Post

- Biggest, OOPS....Can I Take That Back Post

- An "In Memory Of" Post

- Most Real Post

- Most Random Post

- A Creepy Cat Lady Post

- Most Loving & Sisterly Post

- Favorite Terry-ism's (Second Favorite) Posts

THANK YOU for reading my blog!!!!


And are you wondering how the blog name Wrestling Kitties come to be? (I am sure you are) I can't remember if it was Michelle or Kylee but one of them thought of it because I loved to watch wrestling and I have two cats and it just work and, well, there you go wrestling kitties was born.

I Own You Now; You Are MINE!

(knock on wood with everything I am about to say in this post)



So last week I made the very last payment on the first car I ever bought.


I OWN MY CAR!


YAY! YIPPIE! WOHOO!!


I am seriously thrilled about this, no more car payment and to actually OWN something is very exciting! It was funny when I made the last payment it said: “Congratulations, you have paid off your loan. What is next? Talk to your local Honda dealer about trade-in deals on new cars!” Um, yeah riiiiiiight. I am good. Thank you.

Five years ago, at the young age of 24, I purchased my VERY first car all by myself and not a day has gone by where I have been disappointed with this purchase. I seriously LOVE this car. I bought a 2002 Gold Honda Accord. It has leather seats, 6 disc CD player, Sun/Moon roof, and is just awesome. Plus because it was a lease car prior I got a suh-weeeet deal on it. This car has been wonderful to us and I am hoping it will continue to be wonderful to us for many more years. (again, knock on wood)

It doesn’t seem that long ago when I test drove this car and within an hour I was driving off the lot in my new car, but SO much has happened in the 5 years since I signed those papers. There are fun memories, conversations, places visited, new jobs, friends - all associated with our car. It is funny to think about some of the fun things that happened while I had my car. I have also learned alot of situational lessons the past 5 years while in this car. Here are just a few lessons learned:



- Lesson #1: Dressing appropriately for driving. After our wedding T&I drove out a few miles to Amish country to go to our hotel. Terry was pretty drunk so I drove, however I had to drive in my big wedding dress. Because my dress was big and in the way, Terry had to hold down my wedding dress all the way there so I could see and reach the steering wheel while I drove. It was actually fun, but probably not the safest! Lesson learned: When driving in a huge dress (or other crazy outfits) either bring a change of clothes or have someone there to lend a helping hand. :)

- Lesson #2: Purchasing items that do not fit in your car. Mickey D. & I went to Pier 1 after work once. (big mistake for her, hehe) I purchased a papasan chair which I SWORE would fit in my car. Not so much. I had to get bungee cords and strap that sucker in there. It took us awhile to get that chair in my car and then I drove 35 mph from Perrysburg to BG. Lesson learned: Make sure if you are purchasing a very large item you are 100% positive there is room in the car for said item, otherwise do not purchase item at that time. Or just bring an unsuspecting friend to help you.

- Lesson #3: Purchasing a large item that may fit in your car but is problematic because you have alot of people and too much crap in your car. My sister, Terry & I went to look for Christmas trees. Terry was convinced that even though we were suppose to be just looking and not buying that even if we bought a tree there would be no problem transporting the tree IN my car back to the house. So we bought a Christmas tree. Now our car does have a fold down back seat, but still it was a BIG tree and my car is smaller and I had event stuff in the trunk and oh yeah, we had my sister in the back! After spending a good amount of time in the cold and lets just call them "discussions" between T & I of figuring out how to stuff the tree into my car and the best way to strap the tree down we finally got the tree secured in my car. It was part in the back seat, part in the trunk and a little hanging out of the car. Oh and we still managed to have my sister also stuffed in the back seat under the tree (we thought about just leaving her, so that was a good thing for her we found room). We finally drove home at a snails pace, at night, in the freezing cold of December, which made a difference since we had to have the trunk open. Lesson Learned: Lets just say T & I will never take my car to purchase a christmas tree again and now we use a truck to move the tree or other very large items.

- Lesson #4: Acting like an idiot in your car with someone around to witness it. My sister drove me home from my Bachelorette party. I was in a really good mood on the way home and didn’t hide it. My sister claims I enjoyed messing around with the sunroof. Let’s just say alcohol, being hyper, lots of buttons/dials to mess with in your car, and a sun roof is not a good combination. :) Lesson learned: Don't hang your arms out of the sunroof and mess around with everything in your car after you have been drinking as you may not remember acting like a goofball but the sober driver sure will.

- Lesson #5: Traveling with animals. So we had to move from our Apt. to our new house and it was finally time to move the cats. It was only about a 5 minute drive to our house so no biggie right?! Terry had a truck full of stuff and I was going to take the cats in my car. We decided to do it at 11:30 at night, so there was less traffic. We only had one carrier so we put little Belle (as she HATES traveling) in the carrier. She meowed, no, howled liked she was in extreme pain the entire way which is no big deal, just annoying. We let Sebastian (the 17 pound cat) “sit” on my lap. The only way I could keep him on my lap was to have the window down a bit, ah nice cool night time December air, refreshing. He enjoyed the car ride but felt it necessary to have his claws out for the entire trip. OUCH. Then less then a mile from the house he decided he didn’t like my window and wanted to check out all the other windows, and the floor, and the back seat, and Belle, and anything else in the car. It is SO hard to keep on your lap a 17 pound cat with claws and teeth that he will use to get what he wants, while also trying to drive at night in snowy weather. He got loose a couple times in the car and since no one was around I managed to stop and pick him up as he was making his way to the back seat. He started getting angry so he started howling as well. It was music to my ears with those two cats, thank goodness I have a great radio in my car. When I got to our house, I was all clawed up. Lesson learned: Do NOT travel without both cats securely in their respective carriers.



You know, even after 5 years I still LOVE my car and want to keep it as long as possible. It is only 7 years old and I am really hoping that as it is a Honda we have a number of years left on the car. I am excited to think what fun we will have the next few years in this car!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

We couldn't ask for better parents. Thank you for the constant support, the love, the laughter, the friendship, the guidance, and all you do.

You ARE the coolest parents!!

We love you so much,
Jenn, Terry, & Kristen....and the cats!!!

Happy Anniversary Terry!

Here are some pics from our wedding on September 16, 2006!!

The song is from our first dance. It is Otis Redding, "That's How Strong My Love Is" (FYI: you can turn the music off by hitting the volume symbol that pops up when you put your mouse next to the "slide" button in the top left corner.)

Happy Anniversary Terry!
Thank you for all your love, support and encouragement over the years.
I feel so blessed to have found you and to be able to share my life with you as husband and wife.
Forever yours,
Jenn

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

I wanted to wish my Mom and Dad a very Happy 22nd Wedding Anniversary today!!!!

Yes, they got married on V-Day......AAAAWWWWWW, so cute!!! :D

We wish you many, many, MANY more years of happiness and love!!!

Love Jenn, Terry, Kristen, Sebastian & Belle

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Exactly one year ago today T & I were getting ready to sign papers to buy ourselves a house!!! One year later I am happy to report T & I LOVE living in our new home!

It is hard to believe it has been a year!

I have to say that when we first stepped into the house I had that feeling, like I knew we belonged there. It just felt comfortable. And now I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else at this point in our lives. Over the past year this house has truly turned into our home. Memories are starting to build within these walls and I can’t wait to see what this next year will bring!

(Thank you C. for helping us get this home!!!)

P.S. I will be posting pictures later tonight of some of the updated pictures in our home from recent projects!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MY HUSBAND!!!

(In honor of our wedding I posted a couple of our pictures! I had to post the pic at the bottom of my dress b/c it was SO pretty and I loved it!!! The flowers at the top are an anniversary gift from my sister!)

This weekend T & I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary!!! I seriously can not believe it has been a year already! (and that we have been together for 7 years!!!) It is just so wonderful!! I am so proud of Terry and even prouder to call him my husband. This has definitely been an interesting year and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us!

I love you SO much T.!!!!

(P.S. Thank you again mom, dad and K!!!!)