BOO.

This is one of the best holidays ever. Creepiness and costumes, ghost stories and pumpkins, babies dressed up like animals and adults...how can you go wrong?

I guess I also like it because I kind of think of Halloween as an anniversary. Jim and I actually started dating in the summer, but we didn't really take it seriously because Jimbo was about to head across the country for a wilderness certification program in Washington. But we kept in touch while he was gone....and when he told me that he had to visit Boston for a "dentist appointment", I subtly suggested that he line it up with the Halloween party my roommates and I were having in South Boston. And he did!

I looked forward to his visit but I had no idea what to expect. I was enjoying the single life, and I have an uncanny ability to keep my hopes and expectations exactly where I want them to be (which in this case was low). I figured it would just be friendly, that he'd want to spend time with his buddies and that nothing would really come of it for us. But then he asked me to pick him up from the airport. Then I realized that he hadn't made any other plans for his visit home besides spending time with me. Then he mentioned visiting again for Thanksgiving, and again for Christmas. And slowly but surely I let my expectations creep up, as I realized this might just be the beginning of many holidays together.

Here's a throwback to our Halloweens:

^^Our first Halloween together in Southie 

dressed as wedding goers at our bestie's reception in Jackson, NH (obviously having no fun at all)^^

 ^^Mary Poppins and Bert in Boston! I loved the little birdie on my shoulder...

13.2 miles later in Healdsburg, Boo and Princess Peach ^^

I hope everyone's enjoying the day!

Get scared, be silly, and eat as much candy as you want ;).

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary, Momsy and Popsicle! Today my parents get to high five and raise a glass together in celebration of their 33rd wedding anniversary.

Maybe it's a bit random for me to post on this today - it's not their 25th or 50th (or anything ending in a 0 or 5) so what's the biggie? But. I'm so far away from them this year, and I've been thinking of them so much lately. And... I may or may not have forgotten to get a card out to them in time. So what better way to send your love 3,000 miles than via the interwebs??

Look at these cuties!!

My parents met as students at the University of New Hampshire, as little teeny tiny babies (aged 17 and 18). Appropriately, their first date was to a UNH hockey game (hockey is a big deal there, I should know, I went there for my undergrad as well!). My dad ended up driving the zamboni for the hockey rink as a student job for awhile, which is unrelated but pretty cool. 

They dated through college, taking some breaks for the summers as college kids must (Mom recalls dating a guy briefly during one of these summers who wore socks with sandals, so that obviously wasn't going to work). They inevitably stayed together and had a grand old time flipping each other's hair out, wearing bell bottoms and dancing "The Hustle". They got married on October 11, 1980. 

Gorg! But look, they only get better with age!

Thanks so much, guys - for everything you've given me and the sibs, and for teaching us that silliness, patience, date nights, and laughter are what keep a marriage going strong. 

Cheers to the next 33!