ten year anniversary

That's right! I've been married to Charlie McCoy Turner for exactly ten years. In good times and bad, sickness and health, for richer or poorer, house or apartment, hot or cold, fighting or not fighting, jobs and no jobs, Alabama to Tennessee to Louisiana to Georgia, laughing and crying, coffee and tea, road trips and running races, sweeping and dusting, hugs and kisses... we've pretty much covered it all over the past ten years.

So ten years ago, when I was super skinny and selfish and clueless about life, I would talk about our ten year anniversary. I wanted stupid things like a bigger diamond in my engagement ring or a trip to Hawaii or something from Tiffany's. And then ten years of life happened, and 4 kids happened, and real things happened to us, and I've found myself in this strange place. A peaceful, content, happy place. A wonderful place. I told Charlie that I wanted a simple date night for this anniversary... because that's my favorite thing... just dinner and coffee and walking and talking.

After my nice in laws picked up the kids for a sleepover, we grabbed a couple of wedding cake cupcakes from a cute place downtown and they gave us SPARKLERS! So cute. Then we went to Fancy Q's for sushi and Charlie said he had a surprise. Then he said these words... these precious, adorable words... "After dinner, we're going to Lowe's and buying all the supplies to finish one of your house projects." I almost jumped across that table and kissed him! Seriously, he never looked more handsome to me than he did in that single moment. He understands that I constantly have house projects going in my head and drawings all over our house of things I want to do. So we finished our food and headed to Lowe's. And that, my friends, was my favorite anniversary yet. Ten years down, one hundred to go.

mister handsome is thirty-one

Happy birthday to my Charlie! He is so funny and cool and patient and great. We've been eating cake and making cards and other happy birthday-ish things all day. Last night I went on a date with the birthday boy (and baby Hal). After dinner and a quick trip to the market to buy birthday cake ingredients, we went to the golf course.

I have a love/hate relationship with the golf course. Charlie has a love/love relationship with the golf course. So he played 9 holes and I drove the golf cart and enjoyed the beauty of the green grass and the blue sky. We laughed and gave each other hugs and kisses. Golf dates are very relaxing and quiet and... anything else that is the opposite of our life with 4 kids.

Happy birthday to Charlie! I like you, I love you. Looking forward to many more birthdays and golf dates and cake and adventure with you.

instagram friday... and my birthday

Yesterday was my 32nd birthday. My one request of Baby Quattro (pretending like you can make requests to unborn children) was that the little sweet thing would stay safe inside my belly until after my birthday. Baby Quattro obliged. Thank you, Baby Quattro!

Charlie and I dropped the kids off at his parents house then headed down to Jacksonville for the day. I visited Anthropologie and a few more of my very favorite places... but mostly Anthropologie... because I love it. We had a delicious lunch and walked and laughed and went to Whole Foods and drank tea and laughed and hugged each other. Then dinner with some nice friends, then home to eat cupcakes with some different nice friends. Bring it on 32! Bring it on. ps... Dear, Baby Quattro, you are now free to come out anytime. Love, me.

date day

Saturday was so much fun! Charlie's parents kept the kiddies all day... that's right ALL DAY! We usually do night time dates so we only have time for dinner and a movie. But a daytime dates are the BOMB! We did everything that we never get to do with the children in tow. Date day included: trying on clothes in a fab clothing store, quiet conversation and laughing at adult things in a coffee shop, book stores, museums, more laughing, bicycle stores, dinner, dessert, driving with the windows down.

Date day did NOT include: children's menu, taking kids to the potty, interruptions, movies in the car, Target. Our children are the coolest and cutest... but date day was much more fun without them.

the one i love

On the eve of lovey dovey happy heart day, I would like to declare this: I LOVE CHARLIE TURNER. My goodness. I've loved him ever since the first week of my second year of college. He was in the lobby of my dorm playing a guitar and he smiled at me as I got on the elevator and I fell in love. The end.

I sing/rap this song by Maroon 5 (My Love is Like a Stereo) to him daily. The words make us laugh really loud. Our kids just look at us. True love.

If i was an old school fifty pound boom box

Would you hold me on your shoulder wherever you walk

Would you turn my volume up before all of the cops

And crank it higher everytime they told you to stop

And all i ask is that you dont get mad at me

When you have to purchase mad D batteries...

Keep myself inside your head like your favorite tune

And know my heart is a stereo that only plays for you

9 years down... 100 to go

Our 9th wedding anniversary was this week. We had a very very special date last night. We ate dinner at Sal's Pizzeria on St. Simon's Island. Sal's is owned by Sal... an ex-pro boxer from New Jersey who stands in front of a brick oven all night throwing pizza dough into the air while singing christmas songs along with the loud speakers. He's the cutest. Please support local restaurants... you'll find much cooler people there. OK back to our date...

So we ate pizza and talked about which years of our married life have really been the best, most fun, etc. We laughed about the years when we thought we had everything all figured out, then we almost cried about how this past year we realized that we really don't. After dinner and deep conversation we went to the movies then home to eat ice cream and hug each other.

I love Charlie! He's handsome and smart and a true picture of how the Lord Jesus Christ can snatch up whoever He wants and use them for His good and perfect purpose. Happy heart!

my birthday happened

Hello pals! My birthday was Tuesday. It was fun-filled. I will share more photos very soon of all the celebrating. It involves a tent, an ice cream cake, mexican food and a humongous pinata. Have a nice Thursday!

date in missouri

Lots of Charlie's Aunts and Uncles live in Missouri. Last night they decided to split up all the kids in between them and send us out on a date. We ate dinner at a sweet greek place, gobbled up some cappuccino ice cream and went bowling...

We love dates and sexy bowling shoes!

Double dose of sexy on my face in the picture above. Only the Good Lord knows what I was saying or doing. We should be home tomorrow and I will upload all my pictures of today's VERY exciting happenings. Very exciting. Nighty night.

date night and good phone apps

I downloaded a Toy Camera app to my new non-iPhone phone. I like it and I wish I could find a lens that takes pics like this for my big camera. That would be special.

Sushi at Fancy Q's (always). Movies (The Adjustment Bureau... good). Coffee and a crappy band. Desserts with pals. Happy date night!

a day that will go down in infamy

Today is our anniversary. 8 years ago today, I married Charlie. He is like a strong root planted by a stream of water and I am like a tree flapping and bending in the wind. I love him very very much. Yes, I do know that we got married on Pearl Harbor Day.  Charlie wanted to play "You dropped a bomb on me, Baby" during the ceremony. I knew that would not be a good idea... so we didn't.

I love his randomness and his strength and everything else about him. Happy happiness today!

date with charlie

Happy Saturday afternoon. We spent most of today at a big fall festival at our church. Charlie's parents took our kids home with them afterwards. So precious of them.  Now we are going to a restaurant and ordering grown up food. Hooray for date night!

Raise your hand if you think Charlie is the cutest husband in the whole wide world! Good. Me too.

Happy Birthday to Charlie!

Charlie is my favorite person! He is handsome and smart. He looks like a rock star and I will always be jealous of his quiet, disciplined personality.  He is super. I like drawing pictures for Charlie on special occasions... 

Happy Birthday, Charlie. I like you.

overnight

A little overnight road trip with no kids? Yes please! We drove 5 hours to a beautiful part of Georgia. Charlie had to wrap up a few Teameffort Camp details. We laughed with some funny friends, went to the movies, stayed in a hotel, drank some good coffee this morning with a few other funny friends and now we're headed home! Fastest road trip/much needed time alone ever!

the beginning of the week

Espresso this morning! Charlie loves making espresso and he's very good at it. I've been trying to drink more tea in the morning since I'm slightly severely addicted to coffee, but today seemed like a good day for strong coffee. Tea tomorrow.

Anyone paint a file cabinet the color of a school bus today? No? Just me? That's ok.