7th anniversary

Traditionally speaking, I should be receiving wool or copper for my 7th wedding anniversary gift. Well, how 'bout we just lump years 5-10 all into one and call it good? Arriving home from the weekend, the truck and trailer were filled to the brim with wood, pottery, all kinds of metal and one glass jar filled with oddly-questionable bright blue liquid.

This weekend was the last opportunity (before Jeff's grandparents move) to make a trip over the mountains to go scour some salvage from their property (mostly the old barn). The number 7 kinda rang big in my ears, and I was so torn as to whether I wanted to load up the kids and go (knowing most of the weekend would be spent chasing them, while Jeff did demolition work on the barn), or to stay and have a nice anniversary sans kids, but forgoing the barn treasures that I knew I would miss.

So we went. And I chased boys. Most of the time. And Jeff demolished. Most of the barn.

The boys took off so fast I didn't have time to change them out of their comfy traveling gear and into their dusty, dirty digs and boots. I barely had time to switch the ole Toms out for Uggs and scamper out after 'em... over the rocks, hills, and dips- narrowly missing the deer pebbles along the way. Boone was all over the place at once, so it was hard to get him into the camera frame. Finn was more accommodating, and I got some cute pics of him :)

Taking turns...

After pulling Finn out of the cozy coupe and tackling him

LOVED this hoop

Day 2 in the cutest logger overalls and the infamous safety-pinned jacket

After multiple falls, he ended up just laying there for a bit

After meltdown city, we got the boys to bed and decided to do a late-night run for a nice dinner- just the two of us. (Nevermind the fact that I kept the same leggings on that I wore the entire dusty day and my hair was wind-greasy and tangled... it's cool; I can roll with the punches).

Bless the family member who came out in their socks to snap 15 shots of us... all of them blurry. Thank you for this small memory at least!

Jeff and I shared a great time (but NOT dessert... or tea, for that matter) and many laughs over a big plate of Pad Thai at Typhoon. Snuck into the creaky, uncomfortable bed around 1130pm and listened to the peaceful breathing of our boys. Yep, Happy Anniversary to us. I don't think there was a better way to celebrate our marriage than with those two little beings by our side.

Pretty sure we made the right decision. This trip made up my mind for me: I got my special time out, but also had the pleasure of my kiddos around. I got beautiful sunny weather, but also some snow. I got a big pile of booty from the barn, but I also get to have some flash put back into my tarnished wedding bling. It's supposed to be encrusted with diamonds, not encrusted with dirt, food particles and bread dough, right?

Celebrating Seven,