A look back

Ok; It's finally here! Tomorrow will be my 10th Wedding Anniversary! I feel like a kid on Christmas! Althought it's not like I'm getting anything materialistic tomorrow; it's just a milestone. We did however get our gift cards in the mail back from Chase so our dinner reservations are still on. Just have to make sure that my dress fits as I have gained 10 pounds since Thanksgiving, ugh :( My sister is great with all the sappy, lovey-dovey stuff. I am in my mind but not on paper. Roy if you are reading (since you know about the blog now); I treasure the last 10 years, for better or worse (we have definitely had both). I cherish our little moments together and how we have grown as a couple; and seen our relationship change once we took on our parental roles. I cannot think of anyone I would rather have at my side on this journey. We definitely even each other out; ying and yang. Here is to another 10, I LOVE YOU, BABE! (like a fat kid loves cake.. and that's a lot!) you know which kid and what cake ;) Here is a look at 10 years ago; December 31, 1999.

Mr. & Mrs. Roy Martin Jr.

Cutting the Cake

Cutting the Groom's Cake

My New In-laws

L-R Jodye, Vanessa, Melanie, Roy, Roy Sr, Linda, Tina

My Family

L-R Meredith, Morgan, Melanie, Mom, Roy and Dad

My Father and me

RIP- Odis Jerald Gibbons 4/23/2007

Hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!
Melanie

Anniversary Countdown

Ok- I have only 16 days until my 10th anniversary! I know I'm probably retardedly excited but not everyone was happy that I got married after all I was only 21 and I got married on the 1st anniversary of my first date with my fiancee. I only know of 2 other couples that are still together after all this time; a lot of our friends are divorced now. I'm so glad we have been able to work through our problems but all married couples know that is an ongoing process. We have overcome so many financial and emotional hurdles in our time together and I cannot wait to grow old with him. All except the wrinkles part :) I cannot wait to see what the next 10 years bring.

Dec 31, 1999

See my "cute" ring

Countdown

I know most people are counting down to Christmas this time of year. Officially we have 10 days left until Christmas. I'm busy getting the last minute gifts for secret santa and dept. gift exchange. This year Roy and my Christmas to each other is a new fridge, a new set of pots, and a coffee maker. (this is the pic from the website since my pic from home didn't go through)- Guess we really are rednecks since we were so excited about a fridge.  BTW this is the first side by side fridge that I have ever owned.

These were all things that we needed but I'm happy. We had to set some of Matt's presents aside for his birthday since we bought so many throughout the year. I hope he likes everything. It seems like he is finally getting the whole "Santa is watching you" now and is behaving. Hopefully that will last till Christmas. Also for some unknown reason I'm more excited about my Anniversary on the 31st than Christmas. Maybe its because Christmas is just different now that my Dad is dead, and all my sisters are married. We are trying to carry on the traditions that we grew up with. Every year I wonder how my mother did it. I only have (1) child and a full-time job and I feel like I can never get everything done. This woman's house was always clean, she did tons of baking, shopping and wrapping for Christmas. I hope that I can get my act together, I'm trying with the baking and cooking; and I know Matt has plenty of gifts. I can't wait until my sisters have babies of their own so we will have a bigger family. I'm an aunt to my sister-in-law's kids that I never get to see but cannot wait till I get to help spoil a little Morg or Mer. I hope one of them has a little fat red-headed baby :)  If I don't blog before then hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Meeting Matt

Today marks the 4th anniversary of meeting my son, Matthew.  Matthew is adopted; and we got him on December 9, 2005 when he was 6 months old.  I cannot imagine my life without this little guy.  I have included some pictures of this special day.  It wasn't till June 2006 when his adoption was finalized but I knew from the moment I held him that he was my son.

Our New Family

We have been explaining to my son lately of his unique situation.  The book that we most like is "The Day God Found us You".  So I have been telling him today is a very special day.  Today is the day that God found us Matthew.

Clean Ring!!

Here is the pic of my sparkly clean ring, since it wouldn't let me load more than one earlier.  I will have to send pics of my tiny one (but much loved!!) later.

Lemon Pie

Here are the pics of my lemon pie.  BTW- found out my shortening had expired the hard way.  Pie looked good but the crust tasted horrible.  I have since bought new Crisco. :)

Hello Winter Wonderland

Hi All-

Sorry its been so long since I have posted lots of stuff has happened. Since I have last posted my baby sister got married (I have a little sister and a baby sister :)) Congrats Cole and Meredith!!  Good news is that they did not have to let my dress out, but it didn't need to be taken in at the waist just the shoulders.

We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving at my sister's house (Martha, herself) where she made a cute fruit turkey for my son.  Also being the wonderful aunt she is; mailed back the toy he lost in her yard.

We are getting ready for the holidays at our house and on Friday December 4th; Houston became a winter wonderland complete with snow!  Here is a picture of the snow outside my office.

Matt was not impressed at first and just kept telling me it was rain.  Not as much stuck at our house but his inflatable yard tigger had some snow, so he got to feel it. (we can now take this off the list).

Part of my holiday ritual is to become Betty Crocker during the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  This past weekend I made (2) homemade soups, lemon meriguiene pie ( I know the spelling isn't right but I have stumped spellcheck), and snow ball cookies.  I have a potluck on Sunday with my family and friends where I will be making a couple of sides and desserts.  Wouldn't let me load pic.

Finally the last day of this month; December 31st marks my 10th wedding anniversary.  I cannot describe how excited I am.  Not that I have anything special planned.  We are currently working on saving the money we need to book our Europe trip.  While I'm disappointed that we haven't been able to go yet; we are trying for a Sept 2010 departure; its not completely off the table.  Also I have been wanting an anniversary band; Roy and I have been talking about it.  My current wedding set was given to me on our 5th wedding anniversary as a trade up since my original was so tiny.  I was going to save my original for Matt to give to whichever girl he proposes to.  Well I cleaned my rings last night with laundry detergent which my sister suggested and they look BRAND NEW!!  It wouldn't let me load the pic.  Well to shorten the story; I fear no girl will tell Matt; "yes" with my tiny ring.  So I will be meeting with a jeweler on my 10th wedding anniversary in hopes of having my original ring melted down and created into an anniversary band.  YEA!!