Is This Normal?
The chaos that is the KerbersArchive for anniversaries
Happy anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa
Everyone makes such a big deal over big, fat, round anniversary years. At 10 years, everyone I know goes somewhere together to celebrate. At 25 years, there’s usually some kind of get-together or party to celebrate. Then comes 40 years, for some reason a real biggie, it seems. I can remember my grandparents’ fortieth anniversary party very well from my childhood…it was a par-tee!
Well, this year is Mom & Dad’s 49th wedding anniversary, and while many people don’t think that’s a big deal, I have to disagree. They’ve gone through 49 years together as husband and wife…almost five decades, people! I can’t even imagine! And while I know that next year will bring all the fanfare with the 50th, I hope they know how much I respect and appreciate their marriage now, even though no one may be making a big deal out of it. When I talked to Mom today, she said that this was, “just like any other day.” But I have to disagree…a 49th anniversary is definitely not like any other day.
Thanks for everything you do for us, Mom & Dad, but more importantly, thanks for the great example you’ve set for all of us. We love you…happy anniversary!
Happy anniversary, “Is This Normal”
Today marks the first anniversary of my blog. I know that I have a few faithful readers, and I do think that’s awesome. But I never really mind when my reader stats are low, because as it was a year ago, my motivation for writing this blog is purely selfish. My hope is to get all of my posts published into a book each year to keep and give to my kids when they are old enough to appreciate it. I hope that someday they will cherish the stories and thoughts I had about our family and specifically about them. I know I could never remember everything I’d want to tell them, so hopefully this blog will do that.
The blog has evolved since it first started, and that’s one of the things I love about it best. In January I started the Project 365 section, and while I haven’t always been great a bout keeping up with posting the pictures, I have been diligent about taking pictures every day. I can’t believe, when I look back now, how much the kids have changed in just a short time. I’ve really enjoyed participating in this project, but it has been time-consuming. I’m currently debating whether I will do it again for 2010. One thing I have decided, though, is to try to blog about more of the mundane, every day aspect of our lives. I think that the posts like quotes of the day, or simple little comments from the kids are some of my favorites. I hope to include them more.
If you’re reading this, thanks for checking out “Is this Normal?” from time to time. I hope you’ve liked it, and will continue to keep up with the Kerbers!
Happy anniversary to me!
Five years ago today I married my best friend. It was, at that point, the happiest day of my life. Our wedding was everything I wanted it to be…pretty casual and laid back, but fun. The day was certainly not perfect…it rained hard in the morning and then again sporadically throughout the day. It poured just as the wedding started (and the guests were all inside) but then it stopped when we were leaving so we could get pictures and walk out with everyone still there. Then it poured again as we drove off, but stopped when we got to the country club so we could take pictures on the golf course. Really, for a rainy day, it all worked out very well. I didn’t get to take pictures in my parents’ backyard like I wanted, but some of my favorite pictures were taken at their house, so that really didn’t bother me too much. It did not happen until I was 35 years old, but he was definitely worth the wait.
I really can’t believe that our wedding was five years ago. In some ways it seems like yesterday, and in others it seems like it was much longer. Since that day we moved into and have done a ton of home improvement projects in our house, I’ve switched jobs twice, we’ve had two kids, we’ve had hundreds of arguments, we’ve gone on a couple of trips, we’ve had millions of laughs, and we’ve constantly grown together and have become even better friends than we were at that time. I can no longer even imagine my life without Dave in it. I hope I never have to.
I love you, Daver, and I always will. I know I can be infuriating and frustrating, and I really feel lucky that you love me like you do! I hope you always know how much I appreciate you as a partner, as a father, and as a friend. My life is better because I met you. Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!!
Happy anniversary, Grandma & Grandpa Kerber!
Grandma & Grandpa Kerber were married on June 6, 1953, which means they have been married for 56 years. Yes, I said fifty six years! Isn’t that just amazing? And even though we didn’t have an official get-together this year, I know that all of us were thinking of them today and hoping that we will all be lucky enough have so many happy years together. Congratulations, Gene and Kathy…and here’s to you spending many more years together!
New Year’s Eve
This holiday has never really been a big deal to me. We rarely have any plans, and to be honest, I often don’t even stay awake to midnight! But it is definitely time for me to reflect on the year that was and the year that is coming up.
2008 was the year that:
- We lost Dave’s Aunt Ruth
- We finished our basement
- Ryan had ACL surgery
- Emma turned 1
- Emma learned to walk
- We made the move to a minivan
- We discovered the public library
- Ben turned 3
- We spent a lot of time at State Farm pool
- Ben mastered swimming alone with his swimmies
- Dave and I both turned the big 40
- Ben started Sunday school and preschool
- Our basement flooded
- We lost my Uncle Jim
- I started this blog
- Ben got potty trained
- Emma got 4 stitches on her forehead
As you can tell, there were many more good things than bad this year, for which we are thankful. I hope that we can always remember the good things, and think about the lessons we learned from the bad. As everyone always says, the year flew by. It is so true that the older you get the faster they go. Sometimes I just want to slow things down so I can soak in everything that’s happening around me. Of course, other times I want to speed up time…but just when the kids are making me crazy!! 
Who really knows what 2009 will bring our family. A few of the things I’m looking forward to are:
- A trip to Vegas with school friends in January
- A trip to Florida (we hope) over Spring Break
- Tearing down our deck and building a patio
- RyRy graduating from high school and starting college
- Celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary
- A new challenge at school when my current coworker retires and I begin working with a new media specialist in August
I’m sure there will be so many more joys and challenges for the Kerber family in 2009, and I look forward to finding out what they are. May you all have a safe and fun night tonight, and have a healthy and happy new year.
Happy anniversary, Grandma Judy & Grandpa Scott!
October 22, 1960…the day of my parents’ wedding. Mom says it was a warm, perfect fall day. Since then, they’ve been a great example for all us, and I think I can honestly say that they’re having as much fun or more now than they’ve ever had. Happy 48th anniversary, Mom & Dad…and here’s to many more years together!
Taken before a fraternity dance, I believe
Taken at their house last summer
