7 Years

 Last weekend we celebrated 7 years of marriage.  We were able to sneak away for a night for the first time since Anastasia was born... 5 1/2 years ago.  Its funny how you forget what it is like to be just 2 people instead of  5. Not to mention how strange it is to have an adult conversation without interruption. We had a fantastic little getaway to Magnolia Manor, a wonderful bed & breakfast a few blocks from historic Williamsburg. The house was very colonial-feeling and beautiful. The owner, Scott, was beyond accommodating.  The entire trip was perfectly relaxing. Our bed had a brand new, fancy mattress that can only be described as "sleeping on a cloud."  It really was a little Oasis in the midst of the crazy life we live.

 We had dinner at the Trellis in downtown Williamsburg.  We enjoyed a relaxing, quiet meal until we realized we were dining with the head of homeland security, Janet Napolitano and her posse of secret service guys.  It was a little strange, and slightly unnerving but what is a date night without a little excitement?  Haha. Anyway, the setting was superb but it seemed like they were a little more concerned with presentation than actually making out-of-this-world food.  None-the-less, a dinner without whining, demanding, adorable children is a luxury in and of itself. 

 After dinner we enjoyed walking back to our bed and breakfast through the campus of the College of William and Mary.  We found a neat little trail through the forest and around light poles that wear sweaters:

 Silly light pole. It was 90degrees. A bit hot for a sweater, don't you think? 

 And of course the B&B came with an exquisite breakfast where we met another couple who were staying at the manor.  They were from Fort Wayne, Indiana, a couple of hours from where Nick grew up.  When Nick asked them what brought them to Colonial Williamsburg, can you believe what their answer was??  "My husband is really into woodworking, and I really like crafts."  Seriously? It was providential I am sure. And they play amazing, handmade Renaissance Instruments including the Lute and Viola de Gamba pretty professionally.  So Russell (the gentleman) gave us a little concert on his Lute and large-instrument-I-had-never-heard-of.  Anyway, we talked about crafts and education as Melanie (the wife) is a music teacher, and semi famous.  It was hard to say goodbye to new friends, but we had a fun-filled day at Busch Gardens ahead of us.

 We had a great time riding all the roller coasters we could handle... you know until I started questioning if it was just the darkness inside the ride or my head blacking out.  It was fun and even  kind-of peaceful, as their were not many crowds or lines at the park.  And this is what 7 years of marriage, 3 kids, 6 roller coasters, and 2 rides down waterfalls later looks like:

Sometimes life is a bit of a roller coaster, but I am glad I am riding it beside my soul mate!  Happy 7th Anniversary Nick (plus 1 week)!  :)  Wouldn't want to be free falling with anyone else!