Happy Anniversary Mum & Dad!

My parents celebrate 37 years of marriage today. Yikes. I don't know when this picture was taken, but aren't they so cute??? They're smiling and look happy... so this is probably before they got married? HAH. I'm funny.

(Cringing at the pack of ciggies. So glad Dad stopped smoking. Dude was a two-pack-a-day-er. Gross.)

Happy anniversary you two :) I love you both dearly and I miss you even more.

One Year Gone

One year ago, the world lost a beautiful soul.

I've made peace with the fact that I wasn't with my grandma when she passed. I carried that guilt with me for a long time, and something happened last year that let me know she doesn't hold it against me, and that she's always with me. I can't tell you how comforting that is.

There's still times when I can't stop the tears, but mostly, I remember her with a smile. And she's really not so far away... I see her in my sisters and mother. They're generous and loving, just like she was. Plus my mother bugs me about having babies, just like she did :) They say you can't choose your family... I couldn't have chosen any better if I'd done it myself.

Ma, I love you, I miss you, I wish you could be here but I know you're in a better place now. Thanks for watching over all of us, and I'll see what I can do about the babies... Just be patient, okay?

You too, Mum :)

Four

These two dorks have now been married four years. Whodathunk? The surprise isn't that I'm still married to the hubs -- it's probably the best decision I've ever made -- but I'm surprised I found someone I wanted to spend my life with at all. More importantly, found someone who willingly puts up with me. Sucker :)

Getting married for us was the only way we'd be able to stay together... And there was no way we could continue to be apart. It was unexpected and unlikely that we found each other, but when we did, neither was letting go. My moving here was a lengthy and tedious process, and quite costly. But if I had to go through it all again, I would in a heartbeat. He's worth it.

When I think back, I often wonder what our parents must've thought. The hubs proposed to me six months into our relationship, five of which we'd spent apart. We married 11 months later, having only spent three of those months physically together. Props to them for trusting us with our decision. I'm guessing it took a lot of tongue-holding and praying for faith.

Happy anniversary babe. It's fruits or flowers for our fourth anniversary gift, apparently. Please don't get me fruit. Just a nice, quiet dinner, you and me... okay?

36 Years On

Today marks 36 years that my parents have been married. 36. Yikes. I know so many people whose parents are divorced, separated or just don't get along anymore, but these two crazy kids still spend time together because apparently they like still each other. I hope the hubs and I still have that when we get to our 36th anniversary.

Dearest Mum and Dad,
Happy anniversary! Thank you for being the loving parents you are. You've given us all we've ever wanted or needed, and have never asked for anything in return. I know without you, I'd be a lesser person. Without you, I wouldn't be able to have the kind of marriage I have with Steve. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Your loving daughter,
Dawn*



* That's what my family calls me... A Chinese name that is un-Chinese thanks to my dad and his bright ideas.

Five

Five years since our first kiss. Five years since I knew I wanted to marry you.

You are the peas to my carrots, the jelly to my peanut butter, the needle to my thread.

Thank you for five beautiful years. I love you :)

(Yeah, I realise we need newer pictures of us... that's from 2007!)

Three

Happy anniversary honey! Thanks for making me laugh so hard every day, for putting up with me and loving me despite wanting to tear your hair out.

We're just spending the day together, probably scouring bookstores. The picture is from our wedding reception in Singapore... it's tradition for the bride and groom to give a speech, and there he is, pissing himself while I'm giggling away. It's been like that ever since :)

Four

Four years ago today you stepped off a plane in Perth and changed my life. So glad they invented planes :)

Love you babe.

Quilty Anniversary

** THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED **

It's been about a year since I've started quilting! A year! It almost seems impossible that it's only been a year... It's consumed my life entirely and I can't remember what life was like before. I mean I now sell quilts and work at a quilt store for crying out loud.

Last April, I had this bright idea to make my MIL a quilted table runner for her birthday. It took me forever and ever to finish, and at one point, I'm pretty sure I tried to strangle myself with it lol! Sometimes I do strange things without much forethought that lead to really good things. Like me visiting the States on a whim and meeting my husband :)

Anyway, my point is, I'm hosting a giveaway!!!

Four Lizzy Dish fat quarters up for grabs!

Two chances to win...

1. Leave a comment!

2. Subscribe to the blog and leave another comment!

I'll announce a winner on Thursday April 22 :) Good luck!!

(I apologise for the many exclamation marks littered throughout this post.)

Two

Happy anniversary babe! I love you, I love how you love me, and I love that you let me be myself. Thank you for choosing to spend your life with me, and for making me laugh every single day. And thanks for making the coffee every morning.

Two years ago, I married my best friend. In his parents' living room. Yeah that's right, living room. We had 90 days to get married (all that fiance visa blah blah) but we figured 11 days was a long enough wait. We said our I Dos, had lunch at one of our favourite little cafes, and then he went off to class. The stuff dreams are made of.

I honestly was quite happy to leave it at that because I'm not the kind of girl who gets excited about weddings. I never thought I'd get married. Didn't even want kids before I met the hubs.

But we did have two receptions, one here in CT, and another in Singapore. I was SO happy when it was all over because good grief weddings are a chore.

This photo was taken at our reception in May 2008 for his side of the family.

And this is from August 2008 in Singapore during the traditional Chinese tea ceremony where we present our spouse and offer tea to our elders. That's my MIL in the hot seat. The hubs was so afraid he'd do something wrong and make someone upset lol Dork.

One Year

A year ago, the State of Connecticut issued me a driver's license. Silly Connecticut.

(I'm being a brave soul and posting a picture of my driver's license. Be nice. Thank you in advance.)

Let me tell you, having to sit for theory and practical driving tests in your 30s will make you want to weep. I always used to joke that if I had to re-take my driving test, I'd probably fail spectacularly because the second you pass that first one, you kind of forget everything you're supposed to do.

And not only did I have to take my driving test in my 30s, I had to learn how to drive on the other side of the road. 13 years I drove on the left side. Having to switch to the right was... weird.

The very first time I drove in the States, I believe I screamed most of the way. So did my husband. It's just weird. There's a door where the ought to be none, and the gear shift is on the other side! Thank goodness the accelerator and brakes are the same, otherwise I'd be in a ditch somewhere.

It's all good now... driving on the other side is my new normal. To my credit, I'm a pretty safe driver, so no one was hurt this past year. A mailbox almost got dead, but that's another story. I must say that once in a while, I walk to the right front door thinking it's the driver's seat though. Eh, what can you do.

Happy Anniversary, Mum & Dad!

These two crazy kids have been married 34 years today. They're the cutest. I love that they still spend time together, and laugh at each other's stupid jokes. Well, Mum mostly scoffs, but secretly she's highly amused.

Tangent time -- Please note the gargantuan size of my mother's handbag. If you've lost a small child, he / she might've fallen in there and can't get out.

Three

Three years ago today...

We shared our first kiss.

I started to fall in love with you.

The story of us began.

Here's to many, many more.

Home Sweet Home

One year ago, our darling Matilda came home to live with us. I love our cuddly fuzzy bear so dearly... even though she teases her sister Isobel mercilessly hehe

Here she is in one of her favourite spots... laying on the kitchen rug while I dart around and try not to fall over whilst cooking. Don't you just want to smoosh that face? I know I do.

And honestly, if I could have a dozen Ragdolls I would. But I believe to be Crazy Cat Lady I'd need a whole new wardrobe, and this chick can't afford that right now.

Just so she doesn't feel left out, here's her sister Isobel. Do you see how smooshable they are? These girls make my heart melt.