8 Years, 5 Zip Codes, 2 Kids

I suck as a wife this year.

First of all, I swore all month that my wedding anniversary was May 30th, and I even had to check our marriage certificate to find out it was actually May 31st. 

I always knew we got married the last day of May, but for some reason, I always think May only has 30 days.

I did get Nick a gift.

I told him he could get an after market exhaust for his truck.

Normally, I would have already purchased it and made an appointment for him to go get it done, but I didn't this year (FAIL).

Honestly, this semester has been so exhausting that when finals were over, I completely "veg'ed out", and did nothing for the last three weeks.

Our original anniversary plans fell through because of this "little" tornado that came through our town last week.

We had planned on going to dinner at a restaurant here in town that I've been dying to take Nick too (Napa Flats), and he was going to surprise me and take me to a hotel for the night.

Our nanny was going to drive down to watch our kids, but for obvious reasons, she didn't get to come on the day our anniversary was planned. 

Nick was so bummed out, and I hate seeing him like that, so...

I drove through a torrential downpour and through flooding...like REAL flooding...to Napa Flats on Friday and picked up a to go order of their delicious wood fired pizza and a shrimp appetizer.

I drove home, put Mattis down for a nap, and gave Dannika strict orders to go watch Netflix and not come out of our bedroom (unless she was bleeding or dying).

It wasn't what we had planned, but it was still romantic, and we got to have adult conversation (sans kids).

Our nanny, Rachel ended being able to drive down from her hometown on Saturday, so Nick and I got to go out and do some shooting at the range.

Today, we had shrimp and lobster at our house.

Nick and the kids got me flowers and cards, and a new double leather band for my Apple watch. 

Our anniversary this year wasn't anything grand or spectacular, but to me, it was perfect and special.

We have spent many anniversaries apart, and I am just grateful to be spending it with him in our home together.

Eight years has flown by.

We used to talk about how our 10 year anniversary felt like it was a lifetime away when we first got married, and now.....

It's hard to believe that we're just two short years away from it. 

Eight years ago, two young kids flew to Vegas and eloped after only dating (and knowing each other) for less than two months. 

We didn't tell a soul.

We ate at Hooters before we drove to a Vegas courthouse at close to midnight to stand in line with a bunch of drunk "Vegas brides and grooms".

I wore a purple Express tube top and jeans.

He wore his Alabama baseball cap, a white polo with light blue stripes from American Eagle.
We went to a cheesy Vegas chapel where we laughed through our entire "Vegas wedding vows".

We were young, in love, and didn't care what anyone thought of our crazy idea.

I think back to that night, and can't imagine us doing it any other way. 

That one night in Vegas brought us to where we are today.

The past 8 years has been the wildest adventure I could have ever imagined.

But I get to do life with the man of my dreams...

 the guy who makes me laugh...

the guy who drives me crazy...

the guy who used to tell me my love handles were sexy after I had just given birth...

the guy who I get to witness being an amazing father to our kids...

And most importantly, the guy who leads our family in Christ and is an example for others. 

I am so lucky to be yours Nicholas Mark...

I wouldn't trade this life...

The ups...

The downs...

The Bostons...

I wouldn't trade any of it as long as I get to do it with you!

Happy 8 years, my love!!!

Spring Semester, Done Sir Done!

WOW, I've really been sucking at blogging lately!

I thought that once the semester was over, I'd take some time to catch up on this thing.

Instead, I have been taking naps, drinking wine, binging on Netflix.....

I finished the entire Gilmore Girls series in a month (theres like a million seasons and like 20 some odd episodes per season), and have started One Tree Hill.

I watched One Tree Hill when I was deployed to Iraq in 2007, and remember really enjoying it.

So I decided to rewatch it. It's so good!

I've basically become a recluse, but that's ok.

I've also enjoyed just spending time with Nick and the kids.

I have about 3 more weeks before I start summer school, so I am enjoying what little time I have off the best I can.

I ended my semester with 4 A's and a B. 

Random selfie of me in my car on my way to my very last final of the semester at Texas A&M!

The B was inevitable, and I'm actually surprised I managed to pull off a B in that class.

Either way, I consider that a pretty good semester at A&M, considering I was raising two children while doing it.

Patting myself on the back.

This is my Ag Leadership professor, Dr. Rotter (with Mattis and me).

I made an A in his class.

His last class, we did a potluck, and he let me bring Mattis since our childcare was sorta messed up that day. 

Dr. Rotter's class was my favorite class ever, and a class I did the most growing in as a person.

I'm actually a little sad that I won't have him again my my future ALED classes I need for my degree.

My Mother's Day was pretty awesome.

I told Nick I just wanted some alone time to binge on Netflix, wine, and dinner cooked for me.

Oh, and I also casually mentioned that I did not want to hear the word "mom" all day.

But my two year old started following me around calling me "pretty lady"...well played, Nick, well played.

The kids and I before church :)

They make my heart so happy, and as "unpretty" motherhood can be at times, I am so grateful that I get to be a mom.

This was a fun little photo boot our church set up.

With summer fast approaching, we decided to give little man a shorter hair cut.

I'm digging it.

My sweet friend and neighbor Kayla (brunette on the right) has not been out without her precious 7 month old baby since she was born!

Our new neighbor Jana (the blonde) suggested we bust her out, leave the daddies to watch the kids, and go have dinner and drinks.

It was much needed for Kayla, and it was nice for me to get to spend time with my friend without a baby attached to her hip! lol.

 I took little man to Chick Fil A for a mommy/son date today.

He is definitely a handful and our most difficult child, but he definitely has his sweet moments.

Those sweet moments can melt anyone's heart, and make all the craziness become a distant memory...

 I haven't done much blogging, but if you keep up with me on Instagram (@domesticatedcombatboots), you can follow my crazy life!

Happy Monday, y'all!

Not the frilly rainbows Mother's Day post

I have a broken relationship with my mom.

The details are long and boring, but basically, I don't have the "Loralei and Rory Gilmore" (Gilmore girls reference) relationship with my mom.

I've never had the relationship that I thought every mother/daughter relationship should be.

My ideal "mother/daughter" relationship would be a mother and daughter who can talk about anything and everything...and mother and daughter who WANT to spend time together without it being forced...a mother and daughter who doesn't judge each other.

My mom and I fought a lot...and actually, at 32 years old, we still fight a lot.

I don't agree with a lot of things she tells me, and her advice is almost always unwarranted and unwelcome.

Sometimes, I feel like I am still 16 years old and still being constantly judged by my "poor decisions".

What is ironic is that ever since I married Nick, I think my decisions are pretty sound, well thought out, and for the most part....good decisions.

I have turned out to be a pretty awesome woman despite all that life has put me through.

I love Christ, and He is the center of my life, and because of that, the "ups" of my life are amazing and the "downs" of my life are bearable.

I think a big barrier in between my mom and me, is our past and the language barrier.

I'm also a first generation American, and I can only imagine how difficult it was for my parents to raise children in a foreign country.

Although I am fluent in Korean, there are feelings and emotions that I just can't fully convey to my mom.

Despite all of this, I have learned many things about love, life, motherhood, and God through my mom.

I have broken my mom's heart more times than I care to explain, and I have done the same.

However, it was never intentional.

When I became a mother, i realized that everything my mom did (good and bad) was because she thought it was for my best interest.

She's always had my best interest at heart whether I agreed with it or not.

I get it now.

The one thing that my mother has never ceased to do for me is pray.

She is literally the woman on her knees, crying to God, church at 5am every morning...praying mom.

Mother's day is more than flowers and brunch to me...

Mother's day is about how God can take a broken relationship, and turn it into something beautiful, desirable, and loving. 

So this isn't the "frilly rainbows" Mother's Day post.

I'm not here talking about everything wonderful about motherhood and my mom.

The truth is...

Motherhood is ugly sometimes...

Motherhood is sad sometimes...

Motherhood can be gut wrenchingly painful sometimes...

But what true motherhood never is (with God as your guide)...

Is the love that a mother feels for her children.

So with that...

Happy Mother's Day.

The kids and I before church this morning!

Mattis' face pretty much sums up how my relationship with him is!

My family at church!

All I asked Nick for mother's day is 1)A photo of me and the kids (check) 2) gym time after church and not feel rushed to come home (check) 3)dinner cooked by Nick (check)  4)I don't want to hear "mom" all day.......

My kids have been calling me "pretty lady" all day...

Well played Nick...well played....