Deep End

Last week Steven and I celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary. The week before we celebrated twenty one years since the evening we met.

We are definitely jump in feet-first kind of people. We knew quickly we were in it for the long haul. Within a month of our meeting we’d met family members, within three months we were engaged, we had bought our first home by eight months and by a year and a week married.

The Night We Met Thank God Steven let himself be dragged to my house-party September 27, 1997.

We jumped into the Deep End… and we’ve never regretted it.

Here’s our Story.

Family Introductions Halloween October 31, 1997.

I apologize for the quality of some of the million images in this piece.

Our First Home July 1, 1998

Wedding Day October 4, 1998

We celebrated our marriage on the front porch of an Inn in Spring Lake NJ with a total of 37 in attendance. It was a day centered around vows, libation and good food. We had Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding - in keeping with our British theme - we traveled to London for our honeymoon. It was fantastic.

At the Tower of London on Our Honeymoon October 9, 1998.

We’re planning a trip back to London and the British Isles in a few years with Liam.

Chalet Ownership July 24, 2003.

Most of you know the story of the Chalet - How our first home had sold and the house we hoped to purchase fell through. I was driving with a girlfriend when we spied the For Sale By Owner sign for the Chalet. It was March and it took a few months to finalize the transaction - because the gentleman who was flipping the chalet needed the paperwork to go through the county government before he could sell; and unfortunately in that time he tried to renege on our agreement unless we paid an additional 20K. Well this saying is true my friends -

A HOUSE IS WORTH WHATEVER SOMEONE IS WILLING TO PAY.

I love love love My Home. Center Hall Colonial Momma just doesn’t have the same ring! Ha

my first Red Sox Game September 30, 2006

Celebrating our Tenth Anniversary at Chatham Bars Inn Chatham, MA. September 19, 2008.

Our Favorite Beach Ocean City, NJ August 22, 2010

I know some of you won’t believe a gal from New Jersey could be a Sox fan… I was not a baseball fan at all until I watched the 2003 playoffs… it was exciting and fast paced - I was hooked! I’ve been lucky to be at Fenway Park twice.

We are a baseball loving family. It is the sport we spend allot of time enjoying.

One of our favorite towns is Chatham, MA it’s an idyllic spot on the elbow of Cape Cod full of wonderful restaurants, shops and art.

We are secret New Englanders.

A Neighborhood Dinner at Tabor Road Tavern October 15, 2010. I was pregnant with Liam.

As Lucy and Ricky Ricardo Bienvenido A Cuba for our neighborhood Pubs Around the Hood celebration March 19, 2011.

The Guide March 19, 2011.

I’ve kept the walking map all these year - These are very good renderings of our homes.

Our First Family Christmas Card with Fred and a 6 month old Liam December 2011

Dinner out with Friends Look at this Cute Baby March 8, 2012

Headed out for My Birthday Celebration July 12, 2012

Lovebird Selfie July 26, 2013

Willkommen in Deutschland Our Second Pubs Around The Hood June 7, 2014.

We’ve celebrated Pubs Around The Hood twice - I can’t recommend this fun Drink & Food Crawl with neighbors enough.

Its a great not having to drive.

Each home picks a country - everyone always adds some decor and dresses in celebratory garb of the land.

Offer a signature drink and small taste of said country staying at each for about an hour before moving on.

First time we were Cuba the Second time we were Germany!

Pubs Around The Hood Foreign Exchange Program Itinerary.June 7, 2014

to my neighbors - we need to do this again and soon!

Liam’s first Phillies Game June 14, 2014. The day Jimmy Rollins hit for the Franchise Record.

My Bow Tie Men April 18, 2015

Liam’s Fifth Birthday Party June 12, 2016 (nothing to do with Target)

I still have this image from Liam’s 5th Birthday Party - A Star Wars theme on my phone.

It makes me smile.

Documenting Liam’s T-Ball Game Spring 2017

The Day our Marriage was Blessed February 17, 2018.

Meeting Minnie Mouse September 25, 2018

Disney was amazing. Every bit as magical and wonderful as you think it will be and more.

Silly Mom and Dad in 95*degrees photo by Liam September 27, 2018. Twenty-One Years to the Day We Met.

We’ve been blessed and I wouldn’t change a thing. Every event - good or bad has gotten us to this moment. We are wed to the person we were meant to be with. The years we waited for Liam taught us much and we know he was always the boy we were waiting to welcome. Happy Anniversary to my wonderful Husband. I’ll stay in the deep end with you forever!

YOU HAVE GIVEN ME MY LIFE AND I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH. xoxoxo

til next time.