4 Years

Then
May 13, 2005

Now

May 13, 2009

So this picture turned out kind of posed and I felt a little lame doing it. I got the idea to take a picture in your wedding dress every anniversary from my friend Kelli and I finally got to try it. We were trying to hurry before one of the neighbors drove by and thought we were crazy! It still fit! And I didn't even have to suck in ! Whoo hoo!

I LOVE my wedding dress. It's very simple but I loved all the little details. Lace underskirt that peeks out on the side where it splits open at the waist with a bow, small satin covered buttons down the entire back of the dress. So fun to get to play grown-up dress up! Matt got me various colors of pastel roses just like my wedding bouquet. I know, I know. I'm so sentimental.

Thanks to my sister, we got a night to ourselves to go to dinner to the Cheesecake Factory, of course. I ate so much I thought I would pop! Good thing I tried on the dress before dinner!

And another idea I stole (just like most of my good ideas) from someone else. This time from Randi's blog....

4 Things We Have Now That We Didn't Have Then
1. Charlotte
2. Two Cars
3. A house and mortgage
4. Savings

4 Things We Had Then That We Don't Have Now
1. an apartment with a racquetball court and swimming pool

2. the ability to sleep-in when we want

3. Either of the computers we had when we got married.

4.Homework. Thank goodness!

4 Moments I'll Never Forget

1.Our first kiss in the snow

2. Matt proposing... he was so nervous all day I could hear his stomach churning
3. The way Matt looked at me during our wedding sealing ceremony

4.Holding Charlotte for the first time

4 Places We've Been Together

1. San Diego (twice- honeymoon and baby moon)

2. Austin (job interview)
3. Hawaii (college graduation trip)

4. Rocky Point (we ended up unexpectedly sleeping in the back of a truck and getting Matt's shoes stolen, How many Mexicans wear size 13?!)

4 Things that Haven't Changed

1.We still like to read books together (We read the first 6 Harry Potter books together the first summer we were married. We're trying to tackle the Wheel of Time series but it's slow going.)

2.I still want to eat Italian and he wants Mexican

3.We still get comments on our height difference

4.Matt usually opens my door (It used to be always but when he's carrying Charlotte sometimes it doesn't happen, I'm okay with that because it gives me a free arm for a change!)

4 Favorite Dates

1. Our first date. Girl ask guy formal dance, hiking, playing games, he held my hand.

2. The Italian Date. Fazoli's with a table cloth and roses that he brought, and a gondola ride complete with Italian singing at a hotel in Scottsdale

3. Our First Anniversary. Dressing in the same formals from our first date and going to Olive Garden and Les Miserables

4. Our Second Anniversary. Going to the Cheesecake Factory, Spiderman 2, and Home Depot to buy paint for our new house

4 Reasons I Fell in Love

1. Strikingly Similar opinions on all major topics... beliefs, finances, family, ethics

2. Smart and driven. I loved that he had a major and knew what he wanted to do when he graduated. I need security and would have a hard time marrying someone who wasn't reliable. He also liked that I knew what I wanted. He had dated too many girls who had no goals.

3.Persistent. Even though I asked him out first (never going to live that one down) it never would have happened if he hadn't kept calling and driving to see me. He was also very brave to want to start dating again after our 7 month break.

4. Tall, blond, and handsome. Not to mention he's a romantic like me and a great kisser to boot! Now I've thoroughly embarrassed him!

That's how you kiss someone 17 inches taller than you! And no, it doesn't hurt my neck or his!

4 Reasons I'm Still in Love

1.He gets me roses when it's Friday the 13th

2.He still likes to dance with me

3. He takes good care of me. He's so supportive of me staying home to be a mom.

4.He's a great dad. It's so sweet to see how smitten he is with our daughter. My favorite thing is to hear him singing silly songs to her or snuggling her in the morning on our bed! It melts my heart every time!

I'll love you 4ever Matt! It's been a great 4 years!