Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Eight years

Last week, Rich and I celebrated eight years of marriage.  To each other.  When I arrived home from work that evening, a bouquet of fall flowers greeted me.  Emily then informed me that Daddy had made a special video of pictures for us to watch.  And then Anna started bawling because Emily wasn't supposed to tell me about the video so I had to say, "What video?  Emily didn't tell me about a video.  I don't know what you are talking about."

Rich's video was full of pictures that I'm very familiar with but seeing all those pictures together confirmed that eight years are eight years.  We definitely are not the same people we were eight years ago but we've changed together.  Our marriage has weathered the death of a baby, the birth of triplets, caring for a child with medical needs and unemployment (times 3).  

Rich and I asked my parents if they would watch the girls overnight on Saturday at their house, which would allow us some kid-free time.  The request was twofold in that not only did we wanted to spend some time alone, but I've been feeling a bit burnt out and I was hoping that a mini-break in responsibilities would relieve some stress.  We dropped the girls off that afternoon and then drove to Hingham.  It was a bit early for dinner so we shopped at Old Navy.  With a coupon and a rewards certificate, I picked up a bunch of weekend wear (including a new, much needed fleece) for $46.

oct9b


We had wanted to eat dinner at a nice but not overly expensive restaurant.  Someplace we had never been to before.  Are you an NKOTB fan?  Ever heard of Mark Wahlberg?  One of Donnie and Mark's brothers is a chef and Alma Nove in Hingham is his restaurant.  I had read many good reviews and Rich's sisters happened to have eaten there a few weeks earlier.  Okay, so even if you remove the whole Wahlberg factor, it was delicious.  I had pumpkin cheesecake for dessert and it was the best cheesecake I've ever tasted.

oct9a       

After dinner, we returned to an empty, quiet house and watched Slumdog Millionaire, which we had borrowed from my brother-in-law.   (We are about 5 or 6 years behind in movies and books.)  Even though the girls would have been sleeping at that point, it felt really odd and unsettling not having them there in the house.  I didn't want to say anything to Rich though.  I didn't have to; he felt the same exact way.  Being a parent is never easy.

So while we did enjoy our time alone and sleeping in my bed for the entire night was wonderful, I was so very happy to see my little loves the next day.    

12 comments:

Unknown said...

I haven't yet spent a night away from my babies; I expect that I would be feeling much the same way that you've described. Especially if it were me AND my husband who were away, since it would mean that the kids were apart from both of us. Doesn't stop me from wishing for a night off at times, though I know I couldn't truly enjoy it. You're so right, that parenting is never easy... Worth it, though, of course. :)

Unknown said...

Happy Belated Anniversary to you and Rich, by the way.

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary. We hit 8 years back in February. We also just watched Slumdog Millionaire last month for the 1st time.

Michelle said...

Happy belated!! I remember when Alan and I went over to Martha's Vineyard for the night and my sister stayed with the kids. We got there early in the morning, took the ferry over. Being home with the kids full-time I was looking forward to this night away. All day we kept saying how much the kids would have enjoyed it. We were awake, showered and ready for the first ferry back the next morning!!

Laura said...

Next time you are in the area, try Wahlburgers across the parking lot. So yummy!

Anonymous said...

Please pray for the Turner family. They suffered a horrific loss this past weekend.

mattandjuleeturner.blogspot.com

Miss Rachel said...

Happy Anniversary, Rich and Sarah! You guys are a true inspiration.

Christi said...

Happy Anniversary!

I've been dying to try Alma Nove. Glad to hear a "real person" review. LOL I think I'll suggest it for our anniversary later this month.

Courtney said...

Congratulations on 8 years! Every year is a triumph...or so I feel. We've only been married 3.5 years, but I don't even recognize the person I was on the day we were married. And, sometimes, I can't believe we are STILL married. haha
Here's to many more years of happy marriage to you and Rich!

MandyE (Twin Trials and Triumphs) said...

Happy anniversary!

My husband and I were just laughing. He has a picture in his office of the two of us that was taken in 2007 on our last big vacation before the girls were born [in January '09]. "We are not the same people," he recently told me. ;)

Anonymous said...

When you say "to each other" do you mean you have had a prior marriage?

Julia said...

Congratulations on your anniversary, Sarah! Wish you many more and plentiful years together.