A City Life For Me

100 months ago, Ben and I got married.  We usually have an unspoken “contest” on the 26th of each month to see who can remember to say “Happy ____ Monthiversary” first.  Ben almost always wins.  (I got a good one, huh?) Back in October on our eighth anniversary we realized that we were coming up on 100 months.  We hoped to be able to “celebrate” somehow.  It just so happens that we are visiting Ben’s sister in Greenville for a couple of days.  She agreed to babysit (during nap time) so we can grab a late lunch date together.  We enjoyed some Mexican food – my favorite – and then headed to Falls Park on the Reedy in downtown Greenville.  Not only is it a nice and beautiful park, complete with a waterfall, but it’s also the spot where we had engagement pictures taken. We just had to try the chicken and waffle tacos with spicy syrup!  They were pretty good! Not just hand-holding this time! Falls Park on the Reedy, Greenville, SC At lunch...

Our fourth wedding anniversary was on Wednesday.  We had planned to go out last Friday night, but Nolan was sick so we stayed home.  Mrs. Bickel was gracious enough to keep the kiddos for us, so we went out on Tuesday.  We parked the car in Park Slope and hopped on the train so we didn’t have to find a parking spot in downtown Brooklyn.  It’s been a long time since I rode the subway with just Ben! Ben took me to Juniors .  They have been making world-famous cheesecake since 1950, and it is a true Brooklyn experience.  While I can’t say the food was anything extraordinary , it was certainly delicious!  We had a fried calamari appetizer which is one of my faviortes! The cheesecake, however, was out of this world!  I had a festive slice of pumpkin swirl cheesecake.  Our beverages were served in glasses that had lines on them for the proper proportions of an “Egg Cream.”  I was intrigued enough that I ordered one to accompany my d...

God’s design for marriage is one man and one woman, for life.  I am one of those blessed people who has parents that are still “together.”  Thirty years “still together”!  I am thankful for my parents and their testimony of commitment and marriage.  Today they are celebrating 30 years of marriage! Here are some pictures from their wedding day: So…funny story about that last picture.  Can you see the bottom of my dad’s shoes? There were definitely a lot of pranks going on at my parent’s wedding, from what I’ve been told.  The groomsmen painted “Help Me” on the bottom of my dad’s rented shoes! My mom has blogged the story of their dating, engagement, and marriage here , here , here , and here .  (You know…in case your curiosity is aroused…or you’re one of those people who loves to look at old pictures…or you’re just plain nosey!) This is the most recent picture I could find of my parents (Father’s Day, 2011): “Have ye not read, t...