So for those of you who follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you know that a couple of weeks ago we re-enacted our wedding. Jo was way too cool to be “in” the wedding so he opted to be the photographer and Sara was able to fulfill her dreams of being a flower girl.

2 side notes:
1.  The kids have always liked taking pictures with our iPhones and my camera, but we finally broke down and bought them a camera of their own and they have gone nuts with it. I have not really told them what to do other than how to turn it on and off and the results have been pretty fun to watch. I’ll do a post soon of the random stuff they shoot.
2.  Give it up for my wife.  7 year and 4 kids later she still fit into that dress.  I on the other hand walked around with my pants half way zipped and only inhaling.

The garden hose made a lovely wedding walk and Sara had the time of her life.

Luke did great as the Father of the Bride. No tears, just a man knowing his daughter will be in good hands.

Eli was the PERFECT minister. He kept it short and to the point.

Jo got up close for the ring exchange.

We did have to hold the kiss. I think he missed the first one.



No one told him to shoot the grooms cakes, he just figured it was worth documenting.

This is the only photo I and my timer can take credit for. Not a bad looking group.

Anyway, all you brides who are thinking of adding a second shooter to your package, don’t be surprise if Jo shows up. :)

When I stop and think about it, I am amazed that we have been married for 7 years. I still remember how crazy and frustrating planning our wedding was, and that all along all you wanted was to get to the everyday normal part of being married. It’s so crazy just how much planning goes into these weddings but the reality is that they make up so little of what married life is about.  Every weekend I show up on the “most important day” of people’s lives and every weekend I come home to just another day in our lives. I never grow tired of coming home to you and this family and I am honored that you chose me so many years ago.

There is no way that I could do this job without the knowledge that you are there in the background cheering me on, so rather than post a few pictures with my note I thought I’d give you a special little place on the blog for a few days.  This way, no matter what people are looking at, they will have to see pictures of us and our happy little life together. :)

(I know you like like to read these posts in your RSS reader so you’ll have to view the full post to get the effect.)

Happy 7 years.

Today Jo and I are off to Dallas for me to do a bit of camera shopping and have a Super Man Mission and take in Texas Rangers game. We all went as a family a few weeks ago so I thought I’d share a few images from the trip. Enjoy.

I seriously have no idea how parents traveled with kids before iPods and iPhones.

They have this “kid field” at the stadium and I think Jo liked it more than the game.

If anyone is wondering how much icee does it take to give a 4 year old a head ache, 64oz is about enough.

Sara also played a bit of Plinko and got a “Home Run”, alas Bob was no where to be found.

Luke was all about the cotton candy.

Jo wore a hand-me-down Alex Rodriguez jersey. Thankfully he only had one beer poured on him.

I also got so engaged in taking shots of Jo with the Big League Chew that I didn’t realize he had about half the package in his mouth.

I’m not a bad parent because I’ve spent the past 30 minutes editing photos while my son watches a HSM3 music video over and over am I?

Here is my screen.  

(How about serious props to my super hot wife Danielle for taking that great photo of Luke and I.)

Here’s a crazy little fact about Danielle. She has been a mom for pretty much our entire marriage. Seriously, about 2 or 3 weeks after we said I do, Joseph showed up in her belly and it’s been kid after kid ever since. It’s strange to think of what life would be like without kids and motherhood is just something that Danielle does naturally. (Growing up with 4 younger siblings gave her plenty of practice.)

Anyway, she is far and away the best mother I know and she is the reason our family is what it is. Here are just a few moments from the past 6.5 years of motherhood.  

I love this one. Straight out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.  

She was super pregnant and tired, yet still letting the kids crawl up in her lap and fall asleep.  

All Sara wants to be when she grows up is a “mom”.  How cool is that?

 
Teaching Luke to walk.

Same song, second verse.  

There is not a more selfless, draining, rewarding, frustrating, enjoyable, forgettable job around and Danielle does it better than anyone.

D.
Our kids are crazy about you and have no idea just how great they have it. You impress me day after day.
In the past year alone you have taught Jo to read and do math, Sara to color, Luke to poop in the potty and Eli to sleep in his own bed.
You are freaking amazing!
I love you and am honored that you are the mother of those 4 crazy things we call our kids.