Happy Halfiversary to Us!

Our 7th anniversary was back in February.  Ada had just arrived, I was still  struggling with nursing (24 hours in the NICU can really mess things up) and neither of us really felt like having a big anniversary celebration.  We decided to wait and celebrate our "Halfiversary" instead.  Okay, I made up that word but it worked out really well.  The kids and I were already down in Georgia when Layne flew down on the 10th.  I told them I was going to see a friend and would be away for the night and they practically pushed me out of the door.  Ada stayed with Layne's parents (and probably LOVED having some quiet time) and the big kids stayed with my mom and stepdad.

I left after lunch and headed to Atlanta.  I checked into our hotel and took a nice, hot shower then went to get Layne from the airport.  We went to dinner at Cracker Barrel because we are wild and crazy like that.  We also went to see the final Harry Potter movie which was awesome.  We went to the 10:00 showing so it was a late night.  (And please don't get me started on the 1 year-old that was there.  Sheesh.)  We had a leisurely morning and went to Waffle House for breakfast.  It was exactly like I remember it - mediocre.

After breakfast we went to the temple.  To me this was the highlight of our halfiversary.  The Atlanta temple had been closed for remodeling and recently re-opened.  It was beautiful.  It was kind of weird to go in and have it look different, not to mention the fact that the layout was different.  It was so beautiful and so nice to be there with Layne and to think about all that has happened in the 7.5 years since we were married there.  I am so grateful for the temple and the knowledge that we will be a family forever.   As we were in the temple our thoughts naturally turned to the kids and we were happy to head back to them.

When we got back to Athens we went to my mom's first and I walked in before Layne.  James was down for a nap but I asked Alayna and Jacob if they wanted to meet my friend.  They didn't seem too excited but when he walked in they ran and jumped into his arms.  When the excitement died down Jacob said "Mom, it's your best friend!"  James heard the commotion and woke up from his nap.  He too ran into Layne's arms and it was so good to be together.  There was only one thing missing - Ada!  We then headed down to his parents (just around the corner) and Ada had just woken up.  She was so happy to see me and really happy to see Layne.  It wasn't until I saw Ada that I realized that I had been away too.  (If that makes sense.)  The older kids weren't phased by me being gone for a day but the smiles I got from Ada reminded me that I was missed too.

It was a wonderful night away and it was also great to come back together.  I am so grateful for Layne and for our little family.  I am grateful too for family and their willingness to help create such a special time for us.

A Rainy February Day 2004

If you had asked me then if I could ever love him more than I did in that moment I would have said "no."

A Sunny August Day 2011

I would have been wrong.