Tuesday, July 2, 2013

A decade ago...

The year is 2003 
          The #1 song is Crazy in Love by Beyonce  

          The movie Finding Nemo hits theaters


          Lance Armstrong wins his 5th tour de France
          Americans try to rename French Fries to "freedom Fries"
          Arnold Schwarznegger is elected Governor of California. 
          Theo Schmidt & Cathie Tierney go on their first date. 

That's right boys and girls Theo and I have survived TEN years together!!! While neither of us can remember the EXACT date we met, I can tell you our first date was July 10th. We met for dinner at the Martini's up by Polaris Mall. I arrived early and worked out a code with the waitress that if I ordered an APPLE martini that was code for You have a fake phone call at the bar for me that I can use as an excuse to leave! I know it's crazy but I was SO nervous, every guy I'd EVER dated I had been friends with first. Meeting a guy for dinner that I'd only met ONCE was a bit nerve racking for me and I wanted to find a way to gracefully exit if I needed to! The waitress was awesome and even told us there was a happy hour special on Apple Martini's after he arrived. Luckily I didn't have to order one that night, and 10 years later I've STILL never had an APPLE martini!! (I'm afraid it'll be bad luck or something!) 

Its hard to remember what my life was like 10 years ago, I was working Full time, going to school full time and trying to keep up with Alex. I know I was busy and a little stressed, but I remember being happy. I wasn't really looking for a relationship at the time because I couldn't imagine having time for one, but when I met Theo I remember thinking that he was just as busy as I was. Over the summer we managed to see each other off and on and in the fall he went on a trip with his Dad out to AZ. I didn't expect to hear from him while he was gone but one night the phone rang and it was him. I remember being so surprised and at the same time relieved that he had called. After that trip we were together... a couple.... boyfriend/girlfriend.... only neither of said it... we didn't have a "TALK" about it.... it was just the way it was. 

Now it's 2013 and Theo and I are married with 3 kids, a 3 bedroom house and a minivan in the driveway.... We've survived both of us getting college degree's, supported each other through the loss of loved one's, teething babies & potty training, house repairs, and road trips. We've laughed about living the dream, and stay at home parents ground hog-esq days. It's been FAR from a fairy tale romance, but I can't imagine what life would be like NOW if I'd ordered that Apple Martini THEN!!! 

A little old lady once told me, "marry someone that you can have fun folding the laundry with!" I thought she was a bit nutty at the time, but I now I think I know what she meant! Being a grownup/parent is always the most fun... It is hard & exhausting, and having someone that you sincerely enjoy being around makes all the difference in the world! It's hard to imagine what life will be like in another 10 years... Alex will be 22, Leah 18 and Ethan will be 16 years old, YIKES  I don't like the sound of that!!! I want my kids to stay little....I don't want them to be grownups so soon! 10 years sounds like so much time but geeze the last 10 have gone by so quickly!!! 

I have no idea what the next decade has in store for us, but hopefully Theo will still be by my side making me laugh while we fold our 5 millionth load of laundry!!! I love you babe! 


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