A year later

1 year. 

So after officially being married, a home owner and a dog owner for one year - I figured I should jot down what happened and how everything feels to remind myself in 10 years or so. 

Anniversary: We spent our 1st anniversary in Mexico (same place we honeymooned) and our friends Mel and Dave joined us after a few days. We woke up and exchanged gifts (Paper of course). Brian got me a massage gift certificate and I got him tickets to the Heavy Seas brewery chili and beer tasting, which we went to and had a really good time. I highly recommend it. Any who - we then had breakfast at the room and then hit the pool and that night we did a combined dinner with Mel and Dave at the Italian restaurant and shared our year old cake topper - yes, I carried that bad boy onto the plane. its tradition. It tasted like stale cake and Mel and I spent the night feeling nauseous, not sure if that was the cake or alcohol positioning but I won't be eating year old cake again just in case, can't say the same for vodka and cranberry. 

Early on in our trip we met a super sweet couple and wanted to bring them home as our souvenirs but they said something about family, and a mortgage. yada yada. so that didn't work and we settled for a shot glass instead. 

The trip was full of late night shows, pool side lounging, "Riviera Myas" (Best drink ever), and yummy food. When Mel and Dave arrived we planned a day trip to Isla Mujeres, a small island about 30 minutes away by boat. We rented a golf cart, saw sea turtles and had a really awesome lunch at a restaurant on the beach. 

I wish I had taken more photos this year, but it was nice to just enjoy the time there without feeling like I had to document it as much as we did on our honeymoon. 

After a year the best advice for surviving newlywed-hood would be to plan for it. Talk about how you will manage your money, which one will do what chores around the house, what holiday traditions are important to you. talk it all out. You cannot prepare too much to make a lifetime commitment to someone. 

A year into our house - We've accomplished so much. Sometimes I look around and think "WOW. This is our house!". Everything in it we've worked so hard for, and it may take some time to have it 100% complete, but the fun of the reward is the journey that takes you to it. 
We are currently working on basement built ins. This year we want to have our basement bar complete, outdoor seating space, and dining room completed. Anything else is a bonus. 

And Anchor. one year with that sweet girl. Man we were NOT ready to have a little monster come in 4 weeks into owning a brand new home. she has scratched our hardwoods, snagged our carpet, and burnt our grass and I am confident when I say we wouldn't change a thing. She brings so much laughter and love into our home. She was a missing puzzle piece and I am so glad she found us. 

To adopt or not to adopt

A puppy that is.

So Brian and I have peddled with the idea of getting another dog for Anchor to play with for the last several months, when we saw an ad for a shelter with a lab mix named Chico – about 65 lbs, and extremely obedient, we knew we had found our guy.

We drove up with Anchor to meet him about 45 minutes north and before we knew it we had two dogs and two adults making a trek 45 minutes south to his new home. We named him Sailor.

Now Sailor’s “65lbs” showed up closer to 85 lbs. The first night was great. The two dogs seemed to love each other. That is until our 45 lb girl started to get sore from playing with such a big boy. It became exhausting trying to keep the two apart. They loved each other but just weren’t suitable playmates. We called in our favorite trainer and got to work. After realizing that we may have bit off more than we could chew, we began looking into re-homing him with a family that may be more suitable for his lifestyle. He needs attention, and a lot of it. He craves it. He is so sweet but trying to keep him happy I found myself not giving Anchor any loving, not having time to just sit and talk to my husband… and the cat, the poor… poor… cat. She was NOT a fan.  

Thankfully our trainer was able the board the horse for us while we looked for another option and after a fews weeks, some interested but backing out… some who we didn’t see a good fit… Sailor is off to his new home. Now renamed “Cletus”, his new family and him both seem happy and our household has deemed itself at it’s one dog capacity for a while.

We took for granted how easy we have it with Anchor, but coming home to her snuggles… being able to allow her to roam the house freely. I wouldn’t go back to puppy days for a minute.

To take the edge off we headed to the beach with the Beavan’s! We arrived Thursday and managed to squeeze in hiking to the lighthouse, the beach, the pool, cooking out, putt putt, sunrise fishing, a boat tour, seeing the wild horses and tons of yummy food. It was just what the doctor ordered.

Next weekend will be jammed packed with birthday celebrations for my favorite man. Thursday is the big 2-7, O’s game with our besties on Friday, cooking out on Saturday and then my family is gathering on Sunday to catch up. It’ll be a good one!

A summer to remember

This past month our three nieces all turned two!! Brynn and Emily had an outdoor sesame street birthday with a new swing set and tons of good food, and Meredith had a Minnie Mouse themed birthday that my sisters mother in law, Debbie, and myself tried our best to take over and assist (with a 16 day old in the house) but Justina came through as she always does and had mostly everything done by the time I showed up on Saturday to “help”. The balloon animal lady was a HIT at the party. I cannot believe those cuties are all 2 now.

We’ve also refurnished a 30 dollar craigslist desk, watched fireworks, witnessed a new life enter this world, bought a new car, had a best friend get engaged and had Brian’s god-daughter visit.

The arrival of B2:

On July 10^th, my handsome Tugboat… Bryan Thomas Swann… was born. Justina was tough as always and made natural childbirth look easy (in a pretty eventful way, but I’ll leave those details for her own diary).

I made it to the hospital at 5 am and at 753 my new nephew made his arrival. All 8 lbs 15.5 oz of him. Tugboat is a fitting name for this chunkster. I think Uncle Brian is pretty excited to have a little man to teach golf and soccer to. We are already so in love, this includes Meredith. She is SMITTEN by her “baby bry”.

The new car:

Two weeks ago a friend at work mentioned her daughter was looking for a car, I told her we might be looking into selling my jeep… and bingo-bango I was coming home in a new 2014 GMC Terrain. I.am.obsessed. I must clean something in it every single day.

Mainer getting married:

But back to the important stuff: my Mainer is getting married! After 5 years of friendship, to the day, I finally got the text from Nikki telling me she was getting married. I am through the moon excited for her. She is going to make THE BEST wife and I cannot wait to see the next chapter in her life unfold. She has been so instrumental in making me the person I am today. She has taught me to laugh, to forgive, and to love whole heartedly even when it hurts. She is absolutely beautiful inside and out and I am so lucky to have her. The only hard part about knowing she is being a Mrs. is knowing that she will now be a permanent fixture in Maine… I always banked on her coming back to good ole’ SoMD. Some friends, no matter how far, stay near and dear… she’s one of those friends.

God-daughter visit:

This past weekend I woke up bright and early to meet and pick up Brian’s god-daughter Morgan and her friend Emily. We fished, made s’mores and one of us.. (cough, Morgan) found themselves stuck in a toddler swing. Oh, to be 14 again. Besides them asking me if I think people thought they were my daughters (because I apparently look old enough to have 14 year old daughters)… the weekend was perfect. Family time stacked on top of family time.

This summer is definitely already for the books and we are only half way through. I’ve also realized I must recap more often than once a month. Our family and friends really know how to make a month memorable!

Happily ever after

It seems that every Disney movie ends the same way: the handsome prince and gorgeous princess get married, they ride off in a carriage and live happily ever after…

End scene.

I’ll lend you a secret - there is a reason there aren’t many sequels to these.

Picture these next Disney hits:

o   Cinderella and the palace bills

o   Snow white and the seven things she got from Target when she went in just for milk

o   Frozen – thanks to a husband who likes every fan on full speed ahead

I’m guessing these blockbusters would skyrocket right to the top!

Real life isn’t glamorous. Sometimes life is busy, you are stressed out, the house seems to dirty itself and work is knocking you down just to see how many times you will get back up. No matter how good life is, hard weeks happen.

It was a Sunday night like any other, after a hectic weekend – the stress of the week finally caught up to me. I cried. Not just one glistening tear on my check, not a soft cry into the pillow… a full on Kim Kardashian, snotty nose, roll of toilet paper gone (along with my husband’s mind and my sanity), mascara wearing cry. It was attractive.

Did I have a good reason for it? Nope. Can I justify the breakdown? Sure I can. Life happened. I missed my husband who spent 3 days in a golf tournament, Monday was coming and I just wasn’t ready. I needed one more day with him. One more hour. I just needed some time and damn if Mother Nature was not listening to me.

These moments don’t come often, but when they do it takes a lot of talking me off of the ledge to get my breathing at a normal rate and my nose to stop making that stopped up gurgling noise we all love so much. I am woman, HEAR ME ROAR! (or gurgle)

As any typical man would, B shot me the look like “what the hell is wrong with you and where did this come from?!” – Followed immediately with a look of, “Oh, shit. Let me comfort you before you go postal”. It didn’t last long, but it happened.

When we were engaged we received tons of cards from family and friends with words of wisdom, well wishes and words of advice – I don’t remember reading “Brian, your wife will lose her mind for no good reason, stick with it… it gets better… tell her you love her, she’s pretty and give her chocolate”. Which family member can I blame for letting that slip through the crack?

There should be some kind of award ceremony held for all husbands out there, simply to recognize their patience and understanding during said mental breakdown.

In moments like these, when everything seems hectic and the world is against me – it’s nice to know I have someone to stand beside me and take on life blow for blow. That’s the happily ever after kids, the fairytale ending if you will. Having someone who is your best friend – who just gets you when you’re having an off night, who lets you cry it out when you need to just for crying sake. It’s not rainbows and unicorns all the time – the next morning, when my heads a little clearer - thats when I recognize that no matter what life throws at me, I have my prince there – shield in hand, ready to take it all on with me.

Happily ever after THAT, Cinderella.

Toddlers and date nights

These next few months are big ones in the Beavan household. Brian and I will have a new Nephew sometime very soon. My sister is over 36 weeks and with Meredith having made her debut at 38 it could be any day now! We are very excited! Alongside that we have 4 special girls turning two. It feels like just yesterday all these little ladies were making Brian nervous just to hold them, now he can hang with the best of em’. They stepped in and stole the show and we cannot wait to celebrate their second and many more with them.

Ava is sassy, she walks with an essence of “yeah, I’m adorable… so give me some cookies” and blushes anytime Brian looks her way. It’s adorable.

Meredith is wild – wild hair, wild attitude, and a total dare devil. Heartbreaker in training. Want her to calm down? Have some tic tacs in your pocket. She’s a feign.

Brynn and Emily are sometimes shy but once out of their shell they have the corkiest little personalities. Both so different. Brynn’s a little cuddler and Emily is a giggle monster.

We are so lucky to have tons of amazing kids in our lives.

Since my last post we attended a moon bounce party for Preston (our ring bearer) where I had more fun than any kid could have, and a pool party for Dave Facini’s birthday. (Where Brian’s phone found out the hard way it wasn’t a good swimmer) Summer birthdays are the best. When I announced to my husband I wanted a moon bounce for my birthday I was quickly brought back to earth and reminded that I was born in December and that just wasn’t gonna happen. Damn you, Mom.

Brian and I also kicked off a new tradition of established Thursday date nights. We’ve always attempted to set aside at least a day for quality us time but choosing a day makes it feel more official and set in stone. We started this off with “All you can eat/drink wings and beer” at a Blue Crabs game. Anyone who knows Brian at all, or who have been to a Hooters, Buffalo Wild Wings or the Leonardtown Pub at the same time as him know… this man made good on the “All you can eat” portion and I certainly did my best to get our money’s worth of all you can drink. This past Thursday we spent an evening golfing and then hit previously mentioned Pub for dinner. I am already scouting new ideas for upcoming Thursdays!

Speaking of golf. Brian and I played together for the 3^rd year in a row at the Scott Verbic Memorial Tourney. This year our team shot 15 under par and still only came in 3^rd. Next year, we’re taking the crown!

Anchor made a huge step in the world: sleeping out of her crate at night! No accidents, nothing chewed up and only a few awkward sleeping positions. I’ll take it!

 

This weekend is going to be one for the books. Two awesome people are coming home to visit and we are headed out Friday to enjoy a few drinks and music and then Saturday we are attending our first post-marriage wedding.  

I am one of those lucky people who not only enjoys her job but has made a few good friends through it. My favorite yet = Heather Harper. You may remember her from this post This Saturday she will be married and I couldn’t be happier for her. She’s been a huge inspiration to me and I cannot wait to dance the night away with her after she becomes Mrs. Jones! WHO?? Mrs. JONEEEEEESSSSS! J Pictures will follow.

The summer of many vacations

Two weekends ago, on a Friday, two of our very best friends celebrated their birthdays in Baltimore. Melissa’s birthday and David’s birthday both fall in the month of May so we did our friendly duty and dressed up, ate good food and danced the night away.

Dinner at P.F. Chang’s was just what the doctor ordered. We drank “city champagne” (aka Baltimore city water) and Bud Light then we were off… first stop, Howl at the Moon. If you have never been to a dueling piano bar: SHAME ON YOU. Dueling pianos are my most favorite thing and when the singer broke out into Frozen, Let it go, I was beside myself. Us girls belted it at the top of our lungs and took off for our next mission… bull riding. Melissa, Sam and I took our chances on the mechanical beast and after our P.F. Chang’s and alcohol was good and mixed up we settled it with some wobbling and line dancing. It was a great time.

We came back to work for 3 days to pack up and head to Hilton Head first thing Thursday morning (or Wednesday night, depending on where 4 am falls for you). 9 hours and we had arrived! Just in time for torrential downpour. We sat at the covered beach front bar for a while and decided to conquer the elements. And there is only one thing worth looking like a wet dog for… sushi!

Friday we rented bikes out of Harbour Town and checked out Hilton Head and Sea Pines… we rode bikes along a 10 mile beach, ate ice cream, went to the wharf, golfed, rode through the forest preserve and climbed the light house. All the most dos.

Brian spent his bike ride scoping out alligators, we were all too close to one big boy.

That night we headed further south to Savannah. From Tybee Island, the beach, Wet Willie’s and Sting Ray’s…. to downtowns amazing food at Billy’s Place (seriously, best food ever), and River Street’s river front restaurants and intriguing shops. We really packed in as much in Savannah as we could. We purchased street art on River Street and came thissssssssss close to having our palms read. Brian lucked out of that one thanks to Madam Guinevere not being open on Sundays. Who would have thought… a palm reader who honors the holy day?



Billy's Place Crab Cake

Billy's Place Rib Eye

Brian’s mind was blown by the idea that you would take your drink to go into the streets and then into the next bar if you wanted to.

We spent the trip pointing out all of our favorite things, mine in Savannah and his in Hilton Head… the “where shall we retire” debate will continue but I don’t think I could pick just one part of this trip that was my favorite, it was all much needed and the perfect way to bring in the summer. Though I am sure my husband would have rather not been tie dyed in a freak sunblock incident right before summer, I like to think he wouldn’t change a thing either.

Moments

Since I've last written we've enjoyed 1 Tiki Bar opening, a babysitting date, a home project, 2 bon fires, a date at the race track and a baby sprinkle (and a partridge in a pear tree).

Every year all of St. Mary's finest head out to Solomon's Island to reunite with all of the people from high school they currently avoid, witness an old man dress up as the "King of the Island" and come in on a chariot, and drink the all-too-sweet-will-give-you-a-migraine-mai-tai. This is Tiki Bar opening.

The girls. Tiki 2014

Shout out to the cutie on the left who celebrates her 24th birthday today! We headed over early, around 1 p.m. and were home by 5:30... thanks to my preggo DD, my sister, we were safety first. We made food and all hit the sheets by 10 p.m. - real party animals, I tell ya.

That Sunday my sister attended a wedding with her hubby and I got to steal my Nugget for the day. She watched patiently as Brian and I finished the final touches to our revamped garage steps!

This Saturday Brian and I made use of two VIP passes he won from a golf tournament to Budd's Creek Maryland International Raceway to watch a couple hours of the Ford National. It was a great change of scenery but I can confidently say it won't be a regular hot spot of ours. Mixing with the fact that neither Brian nor I are "car people" after 3 hours we had seen just about all of the Ford Mustangs we could handle. We both agreed we wouldn't mind heading back for a hot-rod show... that's more our speed.

Yesterday I threw a "Sprinkle" for my sister to welcome her son, B2, with just the Grandmas and her closest friends we welcomed the newest Swann with loads of diapers and clothes... just what she needed! 

Brian reinforced Justina and I's old childhood swing which I inscribed and gifted her for Meredith and B2. There were tears of laughter and tears of joy. It was a good day indeed. 

And to top it off I managed to get a picture of all 3 of our nieces together. If Brian and I have anything to do with it these girls will be besties and this picture will be a great story of how they've known each other from birth. So much cuteness... so little time.

Brynn, Danielle, Emily, Justina and Meredith

This post is so full of all the things we are truly blessed with. I try hard to count my blessings everyday, I have a husband who loves me more than I deserve, two amazing families, great friends, a job I enjoy, a roof over my head and food in my belly. My cup is not just full, it is overflowing. But even the most gracious have moments where we forget how lucky we are and take it for granted. When someone you know is effected by a loss of a friend... someone who was a husband, a father, a son... someone who had his whole life ahead of him but who was taken without notice - it makes you sit back and reflect on how short life really is. We only get one. Moments like this remind us of just how lucky we are to have one more moment... one more chance to tell those we love that we do and I don't know about you, but I don't want to let that pass me by.  

The TRUE most wonderful time of the year

With nice weather comes improved moods, more hiking, grilling and sunlight. I will truly never understand why they call Decemeber the "most wonderful time of the year"... clearly, April is the most wonderful time of the year.

Every day I can feel myself growing more and more anxious for our summer plans. Trips, birthdays, bon-fires… oh my. I can’t believe it’s been only 6 months since marrying my stud but at the rate this life is flying by, a year will be here before we know it!

Summer list to-do:

This weekend: Tiki Bar opening!

May: Baltimore trip for Melissa’s birthday, Hilton Head and Georgia trip with Hubby, and birthday parties

June: Wedding, our nieces Brynn and Emily’s birthdays

July: God Daughter’s birthday, Ava’s birthday, My sister’s due date, Meredith’s birthday

August: My sister’s birthday

September: Brian’s birthday

October: One year anniversary and MEXICO!

Whew… somewhere in the midst of all this we have 198,274,293,874 house projects I have decided on... yes, that is the exact number. Along with a patio and a garden. Brian has his hands full.

This past weekend we stuffed our faces with Easter goodness and spent some quality time with our families. These cuties were hunting eater eggs and having the time of their lives.

Emily

Brynn

Easter was never an incredibly special holiday to me growing up; it meant chocolate, church and new dresses. As I get older I realize the true meaning behind this day and make time for just that.

My sister and her daughter, Meredith, joined us for the 830 service on Easter Sunday... it made my day to see them enjoy the place I love so much. 

I'm hoping it will become tradition.

Springggggtimeeee and the livin's easy

This weekend was by far my favorite since we’ve been in our new house.

Picture it: windows open, grill smoking, dog running, and children laughter. It was perfect.

Friday was my best girl, Elizabeth’s, 25^th birthday. For the first time… ever… Elizabeth packed up and took herself on a trip to Florida to visit a friend of hers which meant I got to pick up my two beautiful god-babies from school after work!

Friday we took the girls to Cheeseburger and Paradise for Mac and Cheese, French Fries and a crab cake for me. Afterwards they both picked out a dessert and scarfed them down. That night, after bath time, us girls cuddled up in the King Size bed and watched Frozen. That.Movie.Is.Adorable. We danced to “Let it go” and laughed at all the parts they didn’t quite get the pun behind but knew if I was laughing it must be hysterical.



Pretty girl





Silly



An attempt at all smiles

Saturday we girls were treated to a waffle breakfast by Chef Boy-R-B and then it was off to yard sales. We gave them each $5.00 to spend and asked them what they wanted. Rylee wanted a guitar (which I just knew we’d never find for less than $5.00) and Layla wanted a stepstool so she could “see her face in the mirror at our house”… well, sure enough, Rylee landed an adorable pick guitar for $2.00 and Layla found a stepstool for $1.00. The girls actually had a hard time spending all of their money as everyone was just giving them anything they looked at. Being adorable must be nice. We stopped at Chick fila on the way home, made a pit stop at the park in our neighborhood for some swing-time and then it was to the house to prep for dinner and play with our new goodies from the Yard Sales. Jess, Matt and Ava came by and we had kabobs, s ’mores, and played a little corn hole around a bonfire. It was a perfect Saturday indeed.

Baby giggles are the best



S'more time!



Perfect

Ava fightin' the good fight

Sunday we enjoyed breakfast at IHOP and Palm Sunday at SouthPoint and the girls had a blast at the children’s church. Afterwards we took them to their grandparents and a big part of me was sad when we came home to a quiet house. Their laughter added something truly special to this weekend.

Finally, Layla witha smile. Such beautiful girls!

Brian and I took a walk before dinner and right as I am cleaning up Anchor’s bathroom break from the sidewalk our neighbor’s irrigation system kicks on and water hits Brian clean between the eyes. I have never laughed so hard and I am almost certain I talked about it for the remainder of our 30 minute walk. Just thinking about him standing there soaked with this “WTF” expression on his face still makes me smile. Thank you, house on the corner, for your perfectly timed 230 sprinkling… and Anchor for your perfectly timed potty break so that I was not upright to experience the shower that Brian did. It sealed the deal that this was the best weekend ever!

Welcome, spring!