Our wedding part 2 - The I Do's

Mark and I had decided to write our own vows to each other. I really loved the idea of being able to express our love to each other through our own words.

My vows to Mark:

Mark,

3 years ago I was living life for myself and Parker. I didn't need anyone before we met. I thought I was doing ok, I was doing ok. And when we met it did not cross my mind we wold one day be standing here, pledging our love to each other before God. But now...here we are and I know that it's for a reason. Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was by choice but falling in love with you was completely beyond my control.

Every day I thank God for bringing you into my life. Even at this point I can't believe I am the one you chose to hold your heart for the rest of our lives. You've shown me so much more in the last 3 years we have been together than anyone has ever shown me. You make me laugh, support me through hard decisions, kiss away my tears. You did something to me that I can't quite explain. You took me to a new place and introduced me to myself. You are what I never knew I always wanted. To me love was just a word until you proved it to me.

Things haven't always been easy for us but with each bump in the road we have conquered I also gained a certain knowledge that there is no other human on this planet of ours that I would rather be with, stand next to, care for and love. It's YOU. You mean everything to me....you are the first into my head in the morning when I wake up, my last thought before I go to bed. You smile at me in my dreams. When you are sad I feel sad and when you kiss me, I feel incredible, like there is no other thing around and all I can see is you. You are my soul mate, someone who loves me for who I am, accepts me for what I lack and gently encourages me to grow.

I could stand here all day and promise to love and cherish you for the rest of our lives but it wouldn't be enough. Instead I am looking forward to a lifetime of showing you.

For hearing my thoughts, understanding my dreams, and being my best friend. For filling my life with joy and loving me without end....I do.

Mark's vows to me:

Love of my life,

One wonderful day in March 2009 I was awe-struck by a stunning blonde haired woman walking my way. After being inseparable for the better part of 4 months, and making each other call off work to be together, I knew I was falling in love hard and fast. We would just sit and talk about life and goals for hours. I realized then I found my soul mate and best friend. And still, after 3 years, we have maybe been apart for a week total and I'm still finding new reasons for falling in love over and over again.

I promise to hold and comfort you in a time of need and I promise to make you laugh in a time of sorrow. I look forward to waking up to your beautiful blue eyes looking at me every day for the rest of my existence.

You love me for all that I am and all that I lack, which I know is a lot at times. I vow to never take you f or granted and to make you the happiest you have ever been.

Amanda, my best friend, I chose you to be my wife, til death do us part.

Yes...he made me cry....but I promise they were tears of true joy and happiness :)

Our Wedding - part 1

Well, we're back!!!!

I have been MIA for a loooong time, busy wrapping up important details for our trip.

I have to first say it was by far the BEST and most AMAZING week of my entire life. Everything was so beautiful and we have TONS of pictures so to cover the whole week it'll take a few posts.

I will first start with the wedding. It's a little backwards but obviously this was the highlight of my week. I really couldn't have asked for anything more perfect and there certainly wasn't anything I would change.

Originally our ceremony was set for 4pm, but it seems to rain there every day, starting about 1-2pm. You could practically set a clock by it! So to avoid being rained out and forced to have our ceremony in a not so ideal place we bumped it up to noon. The staff was SO accommodating. Even with the last minute change (this was changed the day before the wedding) not a single detail was forgotten.

The day before the ceremony Nikki and Matt arrived at the resort, we were so excited to see them! That night we had dinner together and then Mark went back to their room with Matt and Nikki stayed with me in our room. Even though we didn't have a traditional wedding there were still a few traditions I wanted to maintain.

Nikki and I woke up early the next morning and headed off to the spa where she had her manicure and pedicure done, and then our hair and my makeup. We literally spent the entire morning being pampered.

We were a little late getting to the ceremony, for once not my fault!!! The spa was actually running a little behind. But Mark said he expected me to be late because that is just how I am. I guess it's only fitting I'd be a little late for our wedding. I'll be late for my own funeral too. ;)

After reading our vows (we wrote our own, these will be their own post) and were announced as husband and wife we had our first dance. I picked one of the pictures from this. I love our faces and how we look at each other like no one else exists. Our song was Me and You by Kenny Chesney. We chose this song because it is the first song we ever slow danced to. We debated between that one and Then by Brad Paisley.




We have 53 total wedding pictures, but these are just some of my favorites. We had so many great shots and it was hard to narrow it down. Click here to view the rest.

A weekend with my boys

This past weekend I had some awesome one on one time with my boys.

We started our morning on Saturday by having brunch at IHOP. With the release of the new Dr. Seuss movie, The Lorax, I had heard Lorax was going to be there. I heard wrong, but they did have several meals that were named and cooked Dr. Seuss style and the boys still had a great time.

Later in the afternoon my friend Julie and her two boys Zack and Alex came down. Zack is only 3 weeks older than Parker and Alex is 2 1/2 so the boys are pretty well perfectly matched.

Julie and I took Zack and Parker as a surprise to the Monster Truck Jam Saturday night at Ford Field. I had no idea what to expect as I have never been to one before. But Parker has been to a couple now and he LOVES them.

When they found out what we were doing they were SO excited.

Now, if you've never been to a Monster Truck Jam, the first part consists of races. Julie and I couldn't quite figure out what they based the points on.

The second part consisted of Free Style. This is where the trucks drive over the cars and drive over the ramps to get as much air as possible, and just doing all sorts of while stunts. The first couple of trucks that crashed kind of stressed us out. But once we realized the drivers are safe and well, I think they actually AIM to crash...we started laughing if they did and taking bets on who we thought would flip.

Parker's face and smile was so lit up with excitement the whole time, you would have thought someone told him they were giving him a bonus Christmas. He was cheering on his favorite trucks, yelling, singing some of their 'theme songs' at the top of his lungs and bouncing up and down in his seat. Watching the trucks was entertaining, but watching Parker was by far my most favorite part. Watching him be so excited and just being a true little boy makes my heart happy.

Look at the smile on that boy....

Monster Jam tickets - $41

Sno-cone in a Grave Digger Cup - $15

Monster Truck Hot Wheels - $15

Watching his excitement and that smile - Priceless.

This is what I ended my weekend with:

I caught Camden sitting in Parker's Beyblade Arena like it was his personal throne. I told him to smile and this is what he gave me.

I love my boys so much. I am so lucky and blessed to be a mama to 2 of the best boys anyone could ask for.