Days with the Dorans

They say that time flies when you're having fun and it certainly has! I can't believe it's been 25 years since we walked down that aisle. At 25 years old- it felt like we were kids! We were! Marriage has not always been easy but we've really learned to put in the effort and check in with each other. I'd say that we are not the people we were then, or even ten years ago~ but we keep choosing each other and life definitely is better together! We found out that the 25th wedding anniversary is "silver" so I got Jeff a funny apron that says, "My wife is hotter than my grill" and tossed in some silver tongs (from our kitchen drawer). He got me GORGEOUS diamonds on silver posts! I did not expect this as we usually don't do that, but I love them! We had a delicious dinner at El Barzon in Detroit. It was a suggestion from my therapist and she gives me the best tips! I've been in a good head space for a while now but it's worth meeting just to ...

  We were married on April 7th. Who knew that 21 years later we'd be driving our son to where WE met! He has officially decided to become a Bronco so we were off to orientation to get all the things done and open our wallets too of course! I got flowers and since we were going to be spending the next couple days in a hotel, I brought them with us! HERE is a video I put together for Jeff of our first 21 years together! Joe rarely gets excited but it was fun to see him thinking about this next chapter! He could hardly wipe the smile off his face! I loved that we knew where to go since we had spent so much time on campus (obviously). First stop was to sign in and sign up for housing and other things. He's decided he wants to live in the valley (where I lived my freshman year). He finished all his computer work in the computer lab where I used to go (because back then, I didn't have my own computer and you went to labs- this one was in the Bronco Mall). We listened to a bunch ...

  TWENTY YEARS OF MARRIAGE!! That feels like such a long time and when I reflect on all that has happened in our first 20 years together, it's kind of mind-blowing. I am usually the creative, deep thinking, one but Jeff surprised me in the best way! He bought an anniversary cake from where we got our wedding cake "Elite Sweets." The cake was so yummy and I love that he remembered and did this. Because this was a BIG anniversary! We headed north to Elk Rapids for a mini get-away with just the two of us! My amazing team (Jill and Lisa) got us some fun craft beer to celebrate our 20th so I had to take a picture of us drinking some of it on the beach and for the record- that red orange honey was sooooooo good! They gave us "Different Beers for 20 Years!" I love them! We also got me a real anniversary band which I love! I feel like I can't stop looking at my finger! We went to a sweet jeweler in Traverse City. My ring is Lakeshore by Miner's North and I just ...

  Happy Anniversary to us! We celebrated at home with dinner from Matter of Taste (which to be honest, mine wasn't the best but maybe that's because it's take-out) and walked down memory lane through pictures and our wedding video! So lucky to be married to my best friend! You know you love someone when you're stuck together (thanks Covid) and it's still pretty awesome!

It's hard to believe that it's been 18 years since we were married! The years have really flown!! We were home for our anniversary and JD texted to let us know he and his girlfriend, Ariel, would be near us and wanted to know if we wanted to get together for dinner. Of course we did!!! We went up to CJs and enjoyed chatting and catching up with them! JD was so little at our wedding and now he's all grown up! That is really what shows the passage of time. Ariel is such a sweet girl! We really like her! Wish we lived closer!

I love that we spend all of our anniversaries (or the overwhelming majority of them) on vacation! What a great gift that is! This year we celebrate our Sweet 16th!! Wow! We decided to check out an inland boat cruise (something we hadn't done before). And we're so nice that we decided to let our offspring come along for the ride. They were thrilled... Joe and Ali Jane literally fell asleep for most of the ride. We had the bottom level nearly to ourselves and it was really nice. We got to see the homes of the rich (and some famous... like Johny Depp & Jimmy Buffet) and it was just really pretty. The Bigs woke up around that time and got in better moods. Then we drove the kiddos back to my folks and the two of us hit the House of Blues because it was something new. We both got a burger which was yummy and had fun looking at all the decor. when we got back the kids wanted to go swimming. We thought it was cold so bundled up to watch them. They spent a l...

How do I ever begin to write about a full week in one post?? Since I'm going back and recapping~ I'm just going to do the highlights (though there were so many). Again we went to Myrtle Beach with Nana & Papa but this year we were excited that Uncle Dan and his fam could join us too! I love vacations like this because they are so laid back! I walked every morning with Steph. Jeff and I played Phase 10 almost every day. I finished a book and started a new one. We played games with the fam. We visited the ocean and pool every day and of course the cousins had a blast just playing. We went out for a yummy meal each day and of course did an annual mini-golf trip. I think all the grown-ups (but Danny and I) got holes in one. We ALL had a great time though! The show we took in this year was Medieval Times.  Jeff and I liked the Pirate Show from last year better, but the kids loved this show (it was good). Maddy got a special sash from a knight and the Littles got l...

 One of the best things about taking our vacations around the first week of April is that we are often out of town and get to do something 'different' for our anniversary!  This year was no different.  My folks took the kids and Jeff and I went out for a night on the town. We went to this really yummy restaurant called  Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse . It was a really cool place.  The way it worked was we were each given a card at our table.  On one side was the color green and the other, red.  There were waiters walking around with all sorts of cuts of meat and when you turned your card to green, they brought you different meats to try.  When you were done, you just turned your card to red.  The food was fabulous, the wine was divine and the staff was superb!  when they found out it was our anniversary they brought us out a little something to split (even though we told them we were stuffed!)!  On top of that, another couple saw...

It's hard to believe it's been 12 years since these pictures were taken... partly because I remember the day like it was yesterday, and partly because it feels like we have lived a lifetime since that beautiful, sunny day. The weekend before our wedding, it was a blizzard!  I mean, school was closed and we got got tons of snow!  Not a girl who gets stressed over much, I went with the flow knowing that an April wedding could mean I get married in spring, winter or even summer...  The day of our wedding, it sprinkled a bit in the morning, got into the 70s and we had beautiful sunshine.  I couldn't have dreamt up a better day!  Pastor Paul married us and as the light filtered through the window onto us, he said, "May God shine on you always, like the sun," and I know that He has. On our anniversary this year, we were tired... we got back from vacation and were in the midst of unpacking and to be honest, just looking at our April calendar and get...