Collections

So those of you who know me pretty well, you know that I am a collector.  I'm pretty sure it all started with my rock collection from primary school.  I would pick up really sweet looking rocks on my walk home from the bus stop and the put them in my really sweet Lisa Frank pencil box.  Then my sister and I started a weird collection of Dum-Dum wrappers, don't' ask why (which I'm pretty sure we still have to this day), next was my marble collection, and then my pog collection, then stamps and coins...the list goes on and on.  To be honest, I've never really thought much about why I love collecting things, just figured it was something that everyone does. That is not until this weekend.  As Doug and I were sorting through some boxes from the move, we came to a large Rubbermaid bin that my mother so kindly brought with her on her last visit to the house ;) labeled "Courtney's Beanie Babies."  Doug suggested that we go through the bin and try to "downsize" the quite large collection.  At first I agreed, but as I pulled out each one, memories started filling my head.  After sorting through maybe ten beanie babies and not finding any that I felt comfortable departing with, Doug finally smiled and said "let's just keep them in the bin."
You see this collection is extra special because it actually started with my grandmother.  She was a collector too, in fact I would often sit down with her and we would sort through our coin and stamp collections together.  So when it comes down to it, I guess you could say collecting is in my blood.  Even though the Beanie Babies aren't worth much today, they will forever be priceless to me because they made me feel close to my grandma again.  So for now, the Beanie Babies are staying, and who knows maybe one day I can share them with my children!

Just a couple of my favorites :)

Happy 2 years!

May 31, 2008... I married my best friend.  I know that is so cliche' but there really isn't a better way of saying it.  Doug is my best friend, the love of my life, my better half, he is all of those things to me.  Yesterday was our 2 year wedding anniversary but we have actually been together for 9 years!  Yes, we were high school sweet hearts that fell in love at first glance.  I am still to this day amazed that my parents even allowed me to date a 17 year old when I was just 15 (and a half)!  Especially when the first time my dad ever met Doug he had bleached blonde hair with 3 inch spikes.  But what can I say, Doug is a charmer and my family quickly accepted him as one of us.  I can't believe that it has been two years already, I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday.  My most vivid memory was the moment just before I walked down the aisle with my dad.  We were hiding in the door way anxiously waiting for our cue in the music to begin our walk, and I snuck a peak around the corner and saw Doug for the first time....he was so handsome and I could see that he was starting to tear up.  It was the sweetest thing I had ever seen, we had waited so long for that day to arrive that it seemed unreal that it was finally our day.  Doug, thank you for loving me, I promise to love you as much as I did in that moment forever!

Wow right!?  This photo was from our first homecoming together in 2001 :)