Happy Anniversary to US! {10 years of marriage, 4 kids later}

"one of the great glories of married life is the opportunity to support one another and build your dreams together"

So, neither one of us is big on going all out for holidays, birthdays or anniversaries but 10 years...I felt like I needed to do a little something special for both of us to look at and remember all that we have been through together as partners, husband & wife as ONE. 

Take it WAY back to B's junior year in high school this is when we met. Yes, I am 4 years older than him, let's just get that on the table now. I was 20 he was 16 & I knew he was special the day we met at the Lafayette Rec Center. There was something about him that made that 4 year gap not even phase me & I so was the girl who would usually be like " he is so young no way can I talk to him" and I would say that with such attitude. But not B, he was it for me. 

Our first date we played some NBA video game that was my brothers at my parents house, I think the game was my brothers. Anyways, I beat him, but looking back I am pretty sure he let me beat him cause he "kills it" at everything. We had a pillow fight and that was that we were both smitten! 

We started dating. He finished up high school & got a scholarship to play ball at a Junior College in Wyoming {we did the long distance thing}. That drive to Wyoming was a long one but worth it, and I drove it A LOT! We got engaged his Sophomore year of college one night in a parking lot before he drove back to Wyoming. Makes me smile just thinking about it.

I started nursing school and worked with Dementia patients at a SNF for about 2 years. After 2 years B moved to a school in Lakewood, CCU. I got a job as a nurse. We had a lot of growth in our relationship in his last two years of college. I have to thank J & B for all the support and love they poured out to us. I get teary eyed even thinking about our late night dinners and talks that sometimes turned into cry sessions, for me mostly, hahaha. Blessed that they were in our lives at just the right moment. God really does know what he is doing and man am i grateful. 

​We were planning our wedding, my mom was such an amazing help with all the details. I hardly did a thing. We didn't have Pinterest back then, cause if we did you better believe I would have had a wedding "board" ;) While we were planning our wedding, we found out that we were pregnant with Isaiah. It was a surprise for sure & we were excited but also a bit fearful of what to expect! First person we told was B's brother C. 

​I was 19 weeks pregnant walking down the isle. I will never forget what I ate that day, Pot Roast and Mashed Potatoes, it was the only thing that would keep me from throwing up, I had awful morning sickness with every single pregnancy. How many brides can say they ate that before walking down the isle. I am guessing not too many! That day was perfect, we had a very small wedding with close friends & family that could be there. I know B dreads to this day that my mom told him to shave for that day, he says he looked like a baby. Makes me giggle a bit! 

I LOVE US

We spent a few days at the spa & pool in Estes Park for our honeymoon. We didn't go anywhere because a few days after the wedding we got to find out the gender of the baby! Of course as you already know BABY BOY!

My mom put together a baby shower for us with all of our friends. ISAIAH was born on November 20th 2008. He was born early due to low fluid. His original due date was December 5th. 

We bought out first house in Erie Colorado, Isaiah turned 1 & we got our puppy Ike! 

Baby #2 Lijah

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Redondo Beach Vacation!

Baby #3 Cade

Baby #4 Griff

We have created 4 amazing little boys! We are blessed and full of love for these humans!

Love looking at this growing progression of our crew! Now Puckett crew party of 6!

We have been through so much together since marriage both good and bad. I'll list a few: 

-lived at my parents the first 6 months of marriage
-helped each other through both parents divorces
-my moms brain injury {bike accident}
-birthing 4 kids/morning sickness {only one fainting incident...bahahahaha}
-pregnancy scares {tiny hearts and brains are such miracles} blessed to have healthy children
-almost a car birth
-my thyroid failing
-weight loss
-sleepless nights for 10 years
-DIY projects galore SO FUN!
-teaching photography to myself and starting my own business
-starting our barn door business Sweet Woods
-3 moves {pretty sure I was pregnant for all of them except the last one and then had a newborn}
-my gallbladder removal surgery
-college basketball
-basketball overseas 
-helping family through rough times
-raising little humans

The best part is that we have been there supporting each other through it all. Have we always supported each other the best way or the right way? NO, but marriage is all about learning, growing and developing one another so that we work in the best way possible together! I love this man more and more every single day & am so super excited about what the next ten years will bring our way!

Are we going for 5, we get asked this question every time we are somewhere public? HECK TO THE NO! 4 is our perfect sauce and we are sticking with that! We gave it an honest effort to get a girl, and it was not in the cards for us! It's major chaos on most days, between fighting over lego ninjagos, power rangers, swords...you get the point, sharing, not playing the right games, food, chairs at the table, seats in the car. Pretty much anything you can think of a child fighting with a sibling about it happens EVERYDAY! Some days require more coffee than others ;) 

The other question we get is: You have 4 boys? Wow you must have your hands full... 
ANSWER: Yes we sure the heck do have our hands full, but not any more full than a family with 4 girls or 2 boys and 2 girls, or 3 girls and 1 boy or 3 boys and 1 girl. 4 kids is 4 kids, regardless we are out numbered. I am out numbered 5-1 thats for sure but don't mind one bit. We were made to be parents of boys and god knew what he was doing ;)

Few words of advice for wifey's or soon to be wifey's for what its worth:

1. Grab that mans butt. 
2. Tell him how much he is appreciated, loved and adored. 
3. DATE HIM.
4, Relax together
5. Admit when your wrong and don't be a punk about it. 
6. Stress less
7. SMILE, don't take yourself so seriously
8. Make yourself feel sexy every now and then, just cause your a mama doesn't mean you have to lose it. 

CHEERS TO 10 more awesome years! Love you sweet cheeks!

"I don't think you understand how easily you make my day"