Very Different

Yesterday was Hubby and my fifth anniversary and the day was so different than our wedding day five years ago.

We watched our wedding video and it was so special to look at the family and friend who traveled from all over to attend our wedding.  Then, also, the gorgeous church, the fancy dress, the decorations, the flowers, the speeches, the ceremony, the vows, the music, the pomp and circumstance, the joy... pretty much the only similar thing between June 25, 2011 and June 25, 2016 was the joy.

Yesterday, we had some friends over for a cook out, and watched our wedding video.  No gorgeous church, fancy dress, decorations, flowers, speeches, ceremony, vows, music, pomp or circumstance... but there was plenty of joy.

The couples who came over were the ones who took my Bradley Childbirth class last winter, so all of them have little babies younger than Howard and Caroline.  Tracey kept saying, "Baby!  Two babies!  More babies!"

Hubby grilled cheeseburgers, we provided drinks and chips, and everyone brought a dish to share.  We sat outside in the shade of our one tree in the yard, and Tracey played in her outdoor wading pool.

 The Bradley students, new babies and me, the teacher.

Then, after the party and afternoon naps, we watched our wedding video and Tracey sat mesmerized by the whole thing.  She recognized all of our family, prayed when the Pastor prayed, clapped when everyone clapped, and danced along with the reception music.  I won a bet with Hubby because he thought she would watch for about 30 seconds and then lose interest.  I thought she'd watch for a little while but both of us were surprised to see her watch the entire video. 

Caroline got some new headbands in the mail and she loved wearing one for our anniversary.

Then, we opened cards and gifts -- pretty low key, but we always at least have cards for each other.  This year he gave me two cars... one with all sorts of pictures on it, which was awesome!

The five year anniversary gift is supposed to be Wood, and Hubby and I were able to incorporate wood into our cards and gifts.  One of Hubby's card to me had a wooden "You & Me" on the front...

... and Hubby's gift was actually a late arrival from Father's Day... but it is also wood.

What a wonderful day and an even more amazing five years.