16 Year Anniversary

For this years anniversary we were able to sneak away for a quick over night stay in Corvallis.

It was one of those classic moments where we take something mundane and boring and turn it into an opportunity to spend time together.

We went there because we had some other errands in the area and Brent was eager to take me to a couple places that he had wanted to show me from when he worked there... I was happy to sneak away from my classes and the kids long enough to celebrate our crazy 16 years of marriage with no interruptions. We left when he got off of work (7pm) and headed over the mountain. We checked into the hotel late and ran to get some food from whatever was still open. Then we stayed in. We played with the idea of swimming, but by the time we wanted to swim the pool was closed...Oh well.

We got up the next morning and checked out of our hotel.
We ate breakfast at a little cafe style place that Brent said was super good. It was.

We got some coffee at this neat little shop and then walked around Corvallis for a bit, ran some errands, then we headed back home and decided to take our time and stop at a few places we had been wanting to check out.

One of the reasons I fell in love with Brent was his ability to make simple things extremely fun and like mini adventures.

One of the places we stopped was a cute camp spot we definitely want to take the kids back to. There was no one there. It had cool staircase down to the river.

We went down and played in the water for quite awhile. Soaking in the sunshine and enjoying the peace and quiet.

Skipping rock contest ensued...I lost, but it was close.
We tried to find some newts or crawdads, but were not that successful.
I sang loudly and listened as my voice echoed down the river/creek.

contemplating floating down the mini rapid in our clothes...decided against it.

The road home

Brent taking pictures of me taking pictures of him....

Stairway down to the water

two perspectives...brent looking over at me and I making my way to him

We hit the road and stopped at a few more spots. One of the places we stopped at was swarming with yellow jackets...it was intimidating how they would land all over the car.

We stopped in Sisters and ate some dinner before making our way back home.

We usually do a trip around January/February to celebrate "us" since that is when we started dating...but we always try and recognize the wedding anniversary with a little sumpin sumpin.

I can't imagine a time when we were not us. Especially getting married as young and naive as we were. Going through all the insane and crazy things that we have (most that we have put our selves through) I couldn't imagine someone more devoted and filled with integrity. Brent makes it possible for me to keep growing and challenging myself through his support and encouragement. I know he says he knew he was going to marry me pretty soon after he met me. And then five months after we stared dating we got married. We became an 'us'.

The older we get and longer we are together, I think the more we can appreciate how each relationship is unique and individual. I just think for us, we are two very driven and passionate people. Our beliefs align, our ideas for family and children align, and everything else we are still working on...seriously though. We challenge each other and stretch each other to be more. I love that. We keep talking about how soon we will have been married longer than we had lived separately...and how weird that is. Then when people ask me how long we have been married and I say almost 20 years...that is crazy. (I like to round up...even my age.) Sometimes I feel like we have been together forever already, but then sometimes it feels like we are those 19 and 20 year old babies that have absolutely no clue what they are doing, but making a commitment to love and cherish one another forever.

This anniversary was a gracious reminder of how much fun and adventure Brent brings into my life.