Looking Back-Our first five years of marriage

For as non photo heavy as the wedding recap posts were...well...you've been warned..I'm more than making up for it.

Our first year of marriage was truly a learning experience. We were learning how to be husband and wife. It truly built a foundation for the years to come.

Luke Bryan concert

Christmas

at our friends' engagement party

July 4th

We started our second year of marriage off with a late anniversary trip to Disney World. Our second year was full of making great memories and taking a few vacations!

our resort in Disney World

Disney World

Halloween Haunt

Tree lighting

Colts game

Christmas

Chicago

North Carolina welcome center :)

Wilmington

During this vacation, Jon worked so hard to make one of my most favorite memories I have to date. After much map questing and even asking around...he surprised me by finding Dawson's house!! I legit cried and took in every single second of the entire experience. I snapped a million pictures and sat on the dock FOREVER just looking out and taking everything in...he didn't even bat an eye.

Dawson's house!!!

Our third year of marriage was the hardest for us, emotionally. But brought us SO close. Closer than anyone will understand. Shortly after our third anniversary, we found out we were pregnant and we were SO excited...only to lose our baby four days later. And then we had the same damn thing happen two months later. After many (and I do mean many) tears and hugs, we decided to take some time away from baby making and regroup from it. Honestly-we went all out and had such a blast and really got back to just being us for awhile.

Grand Ole Opry

Halloween Haunt

Thanksgiving

Children's Museum

Merry Kiss-mas!

Oh hey-the Super Bowl came to Indy!!

Myrtle Beach 2012

Charleston

 

Our fourth year brought a lot of changes our way...

At my friend Jesska's wedding...we had a litttttle secret we were keeping...

SURPRISE!!!

It's a boy!!

Christmas

And on February 13, 2013, our lives changed for the better and we were blessed with this amazing little man

our first family picture with Cooper

Our fifth year we were learning how to be parents and still finding the balance of being husband and wife.

Jon and I snuck away for a little getaway in Gatlinburg

We celebrated this guy's first birthday:

Virginia Beach

Washington, DC

Recipe-Crockpot Mac and Cheese

Excuse the quality of the Iphone picture-our digital camera battery died and our new battery hasn't came in yet.

Recipe found here.

This recipe had me at "4 ingredient". I figured I couldn't mess this recipe up!

I did half the recipe though since we only have three people and honestly-I still threw some of it away even after a few days of leftovers.


Ingredients:

Elbow macarroni-4 1/2 cups
2 cups of cheddar cheese (the recipe called for grated but I used shredded)
1 package of cream cheese cubed
4 cups milk
salt & pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in slow cooker bowl. Cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally.

I will emphasize the stirring occasionally. I was able to come home half way in between the cooking time and stir it which was a very good thing because otherwise I could see the mac and cheese being more difficult to stir before serving.

Super easy side and definitely something that we will put in our rotation!

Weekend Recap-Fruedenfest and Elmo balloons

What a great (and yet another busy!) weekend!!

Our sitter was on vacation this week so my parents watched Cooper while we were at work. 

Friday my mom sent me this picture:

Lunch was delicious apparently!

Friday night Jon and I met some of our friends for Fruedenfest (German food and beer festival). We had so much fun! I didn't take too many pictures because when it was light out it was raining and then it got dark and the pictures didn't turn out very well.

Yum!!

Love this guy!

After Reggie's vet appointment Saturday morning, we picked Cooper up and enjoyed some family time.

Look at our boys sharing a snack

Saturday afternoon we had a birthday party for one of my little cousins who turned 1.

Cooper was obsessed with the Elmo balloon (which is now in our living room)

my aunt makes the BEST food-Cooper clearly agrees

Two of my other cousins offered to take Cooper on a ride in the wagon. I didn't think he would go since I wasn't going...but he was all "Bye mama!"

Sunday we just relaxed and did some grocery shopping, laundry, and prepared for another busy (and exciting!) week ahead! I can't wait to share our recap for next weekend--I'm already looking so forward to it!!

Looking Back-Reception

Ahh!! Our reception was so so so much fun!! Seriously-we still talk about it to this day!

Our wedding cake had lyrics from our first dance song going around it. I loved it!

Our dinner was delicious!! Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, green beans, 7 layer salad, and rolls. Sign me up all day long for that!! Every year we get this on our anniversary from the restaurant that catered it. Love it!!

My favorite picture from the reception-from our first dance song (My First Love Song-Luke Bryan). PS We have this picture signed by Luke framed in our living room!!

Right before he smashed the cake in my face!

A few dancing pictures:

proof my husband does dance!!

This picture makes me smile for a few reasons. One-when my mom was looking through pictures she says, "Kari..you sure do shake your ass a lot when you dance don't you?" Yes, mama. Yes I do. Also-I love Britt and her man standing in the background next to each other-the night that started it all!

I could have flooded this post with pictures-but I wanted to keep it short and simple. Hope you enjoyed the wedding recap!

Next up-a look at our first five years of marriage!!