Happy Two Years to us!

Happy Anniversary Jared! We have been married for two years today! We have yet another year under our belt. Last year, for our 1-year anniversary we spent a romantic (snowy) weekend in Breckenridge, Colorado (pictures at this post) and I also wrote a blog post listing all of the memories that we made our first year of marriage (that post is here). I wanted to do that again this year because as time goes on, the little memories and funny moments are easily forgotten. I even went back and read that post from last year and was reminded of several things that made me smile.

Here are just a few memories from year 2 of marriage (2011):

• We spent Christmas 2010 in Florida with my family for ten days. While there, we had a wonderful time with my family and friends. We had such a special Christmas with my family. My memories from this trip include: Dennys' Christmas Eve, Jared and Thomas gaving matching plaid PJs, Dad's amazing cooking, Jared's birthday at Dunkin Donuts and bowling, Christmas night at Granny and Papas with everyone, our flight home to Colorado was cancelled so we stayed an extra day in Florida.
• Spending New Year’s Eve with Jared’s family in Estes Park, Colorado. Jared and I staying in our own bunk house on the rental property. I remember Jared and me in our sleeping bags staying up late chatting about our excitement for the future and wondering where we would end up.
• Jared's last semester as a Graduate student and job search began in January 2011.
• My birthday spent in downtown Denver.
• I started my Etsy business in January.
• Our car battery dying one day, the next day we had a flat tire and that night getting a call from campus police that our car was broken into. At the time it was not funny but looking back, it was quite a memory. Bad things happen in threes right?
• Spending all of Valentine's Day weekend applying to 50 universities in Jared's office.
• UNC Hockey games.
• Seeing the Footloose musical .
• Both of us getting strep throat at the same time. Wonder how that happened?!
• Jared passing his comprehensive exam in order to receive his Master's degree .
• Jared's traveling began with his on-campus interviews; Texas, Arizona, etc.
• Driving to Boulder, Colorado frequently to watch see the snow melt into spring.
• Spending Easter with Jared's family
• In May, Jared graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with his Master's, the same weekend Jared's twin sister Kirsten got married in Colorado (which was also Mother's Day weekend) Let's just say it was a busy weekend for us.
• Jared surprised me with my bend-wood rocking chair AND reupholstering my bar stools.
• Finding out Jared was hired at Baylor University and we would be moving to Waco, TX in July 2011
• My brother Thomas visiting us in June to spend some time with us in Colorado before we moved to Texas in June 2011.
• While Thomas was visiting us  in CO, we made the 6-hour drive to go camping in South Dakota near Mount Rushmore. While driving through Wyoming, Jared got his first speeding ticket. We camped in one of the most amazing camping sites. It was located in a wooded area on a big lake. We went hiking and exploring around the lake and went exploring. We did "hard core" camping with a tent and sleeping bags but no air mattresses AND I cooked almost all of our meals over the camp fire.
• Taking Thomas to the Rocky Mountain National Park and driving up to 12,000 feet. There was 20 feet of snow on both sides of the road and we got out to hike and take pictures. We started at 5,000 feet and it was 70 degrees and it was June, we were wearing shorts and flip flops.
• Jared and I went camping just the two of us in Estes Park, Colorado. We had the weirdest camping spot where we had to walk right next our neighbor’s tents every time we went anywhere. We had a wonderful time together hiking through the woods, getting ice cream in downtown Estes and taking the shuttle up the mountain to see the snow…in June!
• Renting our Penske moving truck, packing it full and the night before we were supposed to drive off from Colorado to Texas, the car towing thing came off the truck in the middle of an intersection in Greeley. We waited on the side of the road for hours for the Penske people to bring us the proper equipment. Because we had so much trouble, they gave us a big refund when we returned the truck in Texas!
• Making the 16-hour drive in our Penske Truck moving from Colorado to Texas (our 3rd state of residency in 1 1/2 years of marriage!)
• Arriving in Texas on July 1 and experiencing the hottest summer Texas had on record. Over 80 days in the triple digits.
• Taking a vacation to Florida to visit my family after we had moved into our new place at Baylor. Jared breaking his foot the 2nd day of our 10 day vacation in Florida.
• Jared starting his new job as a Hall Director of an all male hall at Baylor.
• I started selling my handmade headbands and scarfettes on consignment at a local craft store and making over $300 my first month (in headbands!)
• I did some job searching for a job at Baylor and I landed two part-time jobs in one week.
• Us adopting our first dog - Wylee (pretty much on a whim one Saturday.) We found him on Craig's List and we waited in the Kohl’s parking lot for the owner to meet us.
• Me - Getting hit by a car as I was walking through the parking lot on my first day of work.
• Watching Late Night with Jimmy Fallen almost every night in bed and laughing so hard that my eyes would water, so I would take my glasses off to wipe my tears of laughter and I look over at Jared and I said “we have turned into my parents!”
• Baylor Football games and all the other fall Baylor festivities – homecoming, Christmas, etc.
• Paying off our first car that we bought together!
• Spending our 2nd Thanksgiving as a married couple by ourselves and having a wonderful time relaxing, decorating and eating at Cracker Barrel
• Black Friday shopping all night on Thanksgiving night, into Friday morning (funny story from that night at this post)
• Spending our 2^nd wedding anniversary in Austin, Texas!

Dearest Jared,

Year two has been even more wonderful than year one. The memories we have made together are absolutely priceless and I hold them so dear to my heart. The life that we have together is more wonderful that I ever could have imagined. The unconditional love that you have for me runs so deep. Your patience, forgiveness, encouragement, kindness and mercy never seems to run out. You have the ability to make me laugh so hard even when I’m at my lowest. I love our adventures of moving across the country (a few times) and having new places to explore. Even in the routine of everyday life, you make things fun and exciting. I love how we have to ability to be thinking the same thing at the exact same moment. You have taught me how to be more giving, merciful, and patient with others. I truly appreciate your leadership with our little family in everything, especially spiritually. You represent Christ in all you do. I love you more and more each day and I can’t wait to make many new memories with you. You are my hero, my bestest friend, and I love you with all of my heart.

Your Loving Wife,

Carlee Joy