06 April, 2012

10


On a snowy day ten years ago we danced to "Let's Stay Together." A private memory whispered in my ear as he quietly sang along and held me close. Friends and family from across the country with us, champagne pyramids, men with ties as headbands dancing to Rage Against the Machine, heckling during our vows, a geisha delivering sake, mountains of cupcakes, and lots of polka. Now wasn't that a party?!

Today we mark our Tenth Anniversary. Much to my surprise my Hubby is quite keen to celebrate and has been telling the girls all about it all week. For the first time he seems keen to share that marriage is about more than having kids that will grab him a beer when he asks. No matter what he says to the kids, I'm still standing beside him with a laugh.

Today we also mark the birthday of a special girl. She joined us on the day of our wedding. One of my dear friends, a bridesmaid even, ended up having her baby that night. It was terribly early for baby and very, very scary for mom, who was quite sick. After some stressful and frightening months both Mom and Baby emerged healthy. So we wish sweet Rachel a very happy 10th birthday!


This is the quilt I made Rachel for her christening, not quite 10 years ago. We've all come a long way! Her nickname was Bug, so it was all about the ladybugs on this one.

This weekend we are quietly celebrating. It isn't often that our anniversary meshes with Easter, but those two days combining create a confluence of bad luck. Between our anniversary and Easter something always happens. It started with Rachel's untimely arrival at our wedding. Then this happened:

2003 - All quiet...
2004 - Someone lit Hubby's TR-6 parked behind our garage on fire. Destroyed.
2005 - Another quiet year....
2006 - I went into pre-term labour and nearly had The Monster at 29 weeks, the same gestation as Rachel.
2007 - The Monster ended up in the hospital with pneumonia.
2008 - The Monster was back in the ER with a respiratory infection.
2009 - I broke my nose by walking into a door.
2010 - A shockingly quiet year, at least on those weekends.
2011 - My Dad died.

So this year, we can't find a babysitter to go out for dinner. Oh well. With a new baby and an already sick Evil Genius maybe that's a good thing. The days of ties becoming headbands and champagne pyramids are behind us. Taking it easy and relishing all the good things that have happened in 10 years might be a better plan. Especially because there have been a lot of good things in those 10 years. A lot of good things.

PS I decided to wrap up the quilt top, back, batting, and thread and present it to Hubby that way. Thanks for all the advice.

22 comments:

Leanne said...

Congratulations Cheryl and I wish you a lovely and safe weekend.

Samantha said...

Sending wishes for a wonderful and more importantly uneventful anniversary!

karen @ badlandsquilts said...

Happy Anniversary!

liz said...

Yes, may the weekend be filled with only joyful events for you! I have really enjoyed "getting to know you" via your blog, but I had no idea we had polka music at our weddings in common. When DH and I wed in Ontario 28+ years ago we had not only polka music, but the music was provided by a polka band! Now I think I've had a total of maybe 5 opportunities to dance a polka since then... not nearly enough. sometimes I actually crave it!
Congratulations on your beautiful family!

sulu-design said...

Congratulations and happy anniversary! May this be a pleasantly uneventful day for you both. Had I known what your husband has always known (about kids getting beers for you), I would have had kids years ago!

Esch House Quilts said...

Happy Anniversary! A nice quiet weekend sounds lovely :) I hope your sick little ones feel better soon.

CitricSugar said...

Congratulations! And what a story!

Pétra said...

Congratulations!! We're approaching 15 and I assure you, unless something catches on fire or there's a broken bone, it will be easier to turn a tie into a headband when the kids are a little older (the mojo comes back). Have a wonderful weekend!!

Nicole Gendy said...

Happy Anniversary and I hope nothing untowards will happen. Enjoy spending time with your family.

Live a Colorful Life said...

What beautiful children you have. Hoping for a quiet and relaxing anniversary this year.

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Happy Happy to all the Arkinsons--what a great looking trio of young ones you have delivered into the world. Many happy returns of the event you celebrate to day.

2ndAvenueStudio-Rachel said...

Awesome! congrats we'll be doing the 10 year dance in October ourselves.
Even with no kids and lots of time we won't be wearing necktie headbands..:) happy day to you and yours!

charlotte said...

Congratulations and here's to a quiet weekend to you all. Those girls are just precious.

Suzanne said...

Happy Anniversary! No one says you have to celebrate on the exact date of your anniversary. :-)

Carla said...

Happy Anniversary to you. Your children are adorable.
Here's to 10 more. Cheers

Josie McRazie said...

Did Rachael's mom ever tell you it was due to all of the polka?? LOL Did you really get heckled durring your vows??? That is just crazy!! It sounds like the two of you have really put 'Let's stay together' to the test! Congratulations! You have amazing blessings to show for it!

Kim said...

Happy Anniversary!
Congratulations on your newest addition :0)
and Congratulations on your book with Amanda Jean...I'm really enjoying the book..well done ladies :0)!
Happy Easter and I wish you continued success.

Holly said...

Happy Anniversary! May it be a happy one! We're celebrating our 10th in three months but there's no way my husband's getting a quilt - good for you!

Sarah in Australia said...

Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary and Happy Easter. My husband and I married 11 years ago on Easter Sunday (15th April) and my birthday is April 9th, so we are busy at this time too. Being in Australia and coming off summer our wedding day was definitely not snowy, 31 deg! Your wedding party sounds great! My hubby is very impressed with Rage Against the Machine and rather devastated at the fate of the TR6. He's a car man!

Ginette said...

Happy Anniversary!!

Rebekka Seale said...

Hi! I just added the "Sunday Morning Quilt" book to my Etsy favorites...but I'm new to your blog so I'm sort of confused. Is the book unfinished and if I buy it now it is sort of like pre-ordering? Either way, I'm getting it! That quilt on the cover is exactly the sort I've been dreaming of making !!!

<3

Rebekka

Victoria said...

Happy belated Anniversary wishes! Hope you have many more to come! (And speaking of anniversaries... Hubby and I went out to eat lunch today, and as we talked it slowly dawned on us that today was OUR anniversary, (of sorts). It is 28 years to the day that we first met. You know you've been together a long time when you start forgetting, (which we almost did) those yearly milestones!