Yes, for those of you counting, today is the official anniversary of our first date, in 1997! That's ten years! I could have gotten less of a "sentence" if I'd robbed a bank!!
Ten years ago, around this time, we were sitting in an Iowa City movie theater, watching Jurassic Park 2. This will shock most of you who know him: Andy Chalupa made me buy my own movie ticket!! But I continued to date him! Why couldn't I see his cheap ways back then?!?
Who am I kidding? I'd have dated him anyway!
It's crazy to think that one thing could have altered both of our lives (and, subsequently, Carter Kay's!). What if I'd gotten a job at Fareway instead of Hy-Vee? What if Andy had been successful at breaking up with me when he left to go to school? What if I hadn't followed him all over creation, eventually ending up in Ankeny? Would we be here today? I guess that's not something we get to know, but I do know that no amount of money would make me want to change my path. The past 10 years have been fun, exciting, interesting, silly, zany, sometimes annoying and rude, but always full of incomparable love and respect. I couldn't imagine my life any other way. I wake up every morning with a smile, and I am thankful for all that I've been blessed with. For that, I'd buy every single movie ticket myself over and over again!

Who knew goofy could take you this far in life??

Andy's hair may be lessening, but I know that his love for me grows daily!

Over the years, our bellies have grown, just like our family!

And nothing, not even the Hawkeye/Cyclone debate can divide us!
10 years. It's been a long trip with many, many pit stops and detours. But I wouldn't change one single stop, bump, or turn along the way. I heart ya, Daddy!

Yay, love! Congratulations, you two!!
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