See what I did there? If our 4th wedding anniversary were a movie sequel I’m sure that’s how the title would be treated on the movie posters (and yes, it would be dubbed a blatant rip off of Scream 4). Anyways, as is the tradition, we’re dropping in with our little rundown about how we celebrated four years of marriage last Thursday (see our three year anniversary post here and our two & one year anniversary post here). This year it kicked off, as most days do, with breakfast.
I made this particular breakfast (Strawberry-Orange Stuffed French Toast with Raspberry Butter) as an homage to our so-good-we-took-my-picture-with-it (here) favorite meal during our Alaskan honeymoon. Of course, what I lacked in food presentation (do I get points for my strawberry hearts?) I made up for in flowers in our wedding colors.
We agreed not to do gifts this year (our new laundry project was going to be a joint gift to ourselves), but I broke the rules when I spotted a bunch of bee-themed stationery from Smock Paper. Since Sherry’s an epic list maker and our wedding invite had bees on it, I just couldn’t stop myself from shelling out my credit card digits for a few items. And yes, Smock Paper is a sponsor of ours but no, they didn’t have any part in me buying these. They’re probably finding out about my purchase via this post, actually.
They sadly didn’t have any bee themed big sticky pads, but I got one in the closest color scheme since I knew Sherry was low on office notepads (small sticky notes went unused in our junk drawer, but these big guys are already getting a workout). We appreciate how eco-conscious these wares are in general, but we particularly loved this simple request printed on the bottom: use this to do good.
What I spent in dollars, Sherry matched in thoughtfulness – writing a homemade card listing thirty things she, Clara, and Burger love about me (each of them got ten). I told you, the girl loves lists. And it sure beat the “Love, John” in my card. Oops.
But the day wasn’t about exchanging paper products. It was about doing fun stuff together. So after working the morning away, we ducked out for lunch at one of our favorite casual spots: Sticks Kebob Shop. Yum. And we had a $10 off Groupon for it too. Aw, cheap lovebirds. Or should I say cheep? (Bird joke for the win).
From there we popped over to a local art place called Crossroad Art Center, which we’ve heard lots about but never managed to visit in five years of being Richmonders. It’s basically a massive gallery featuring of lots of local artists, though sadly we couldn’t take pictures inside for ya. One of our favorites was Morgan E. McKinney, but we didn’t find anything in our current price range. Someday.
We did get giddy over these $4 paintings-turned-notecards by Sherri Conley that we thought (once framed with big generous mats) would make for a great little “zen moment” in our master bathroom. So we took them home.
How could we pass up buying something that said “I Love You” on our anniversary? And the photographer’s name is Sherri, so that counts for something too, right? Sherry and I were actually standing in different areas of her booth and each said “this is sweet” at the same time. We reconvened to see what each other had found and we were both holding the I Love You airplane card.
From there it was time to take our annual corny anniversary photo. We’ve got a little tradition of snapping (and later framing) a family pic each year on 7/7…
… and this year definitely proved the hardest. Apparently a 14 month old can’t grasp the concept of “hey, look at the beeping black thing on the funny three-legged stick… and oh yeah, smile while you’re at it.” Guess we didn’t know the blessing we got last year when her 8-week old self slept through the entire thing. But we did eventually manage to get this one. Stacked heads = maximum cheesiness.
Apparently we pressed our luck by trying to get Burger in the picture. This was our most successful attempt. Hey, at least the adults are looking!
Then we headed off to grab our anniversary photobooth picture (more on that tradition here). The place we always go (New York Deli here in Richmond) has an authentic 50-year-old booth that actually develops film strips (not digital prints, like a lot of the others out there). Sadly the booth was having an off day, so the results were especially smeary (note the fourth frame in particular). We were having a bit of an off moment too, apparently. Yes, Clara cried the entire first strip.
Well, that was actually the second strip because we didn’t even keep the first one. During our first attempt the thing started going off prematurely with only me in the booth, so half of the strip is me looking perplexed and calling for Sherry to hurry inside with the bean. But we got some happy squeals during the third attempt from Clara. Good nuff.
After some in-the-car blog tending (what did people do before iPhones?) it was dinner time.
We ate at Brio Tuscan Grille because it was the site of our rehearsal dinner back in 2007 and, well, we hadn’t been back since celebrating our second anniversary. Meaning it was this little lady’s first trip.
Is it just us or is there something hilarious about a sippy cup, some Goldfish crackers, and a Dr. Seuss book on a carrera marble table? Thankfully those magic items (plus her very own pasta meal) were enough to keep Beansie happy and entertained – even after a long day of celebrating.
And as if we hadn’t shoved in enough anniversary bid-ness already, Sherry followed up this July 7th just like she did four years ago after our wedding: by chopping off a bunch of her hair (you can actually see her with short hair waay back in the 2007 archives here).
Yep, say “goodbye” to the honorary fifth member of the YHL team: Sherry’s ponytail.
Though I’d say it’s a fond farewell, since I think my lady looks mighty sexy this way. Note that she was too shy to pose for photos by me, so she snuck off and took pictures in the mirror because “I made her nervous.” Aw yeah, four years later, I still got it.
Oh and Sherry wants me to add that all is right with the world – she can still pull her hair back into a tiny pony when we paint. How would she know? Let’s just say we’re working on the laundry room rightthissecond. More details tomorrow.
Anyway, as much fun as we had this seven-seven, we must admit that our minds have already kinda skipped ahead to next year’s big five year anniversary. In honor of our Alaskan honeymoon, we thought it’d be perfect to celebrate the big 0-5 by going to Hawaii (since it’s sort of Alaska’s non-contiguous partner in crime). We haven’t really planned much at all, but we figure if we keep saying it out loud it’ll force us to actually make it happen next year. Since we haven’t actually flown anywhere on vacation since our honeymoon in 2007. Better make it happen.
Mel says
Sherry your hair is precious!!
angie says
You two are tooo cute. Like, ridiculously cute. But, I like all things ridiculous, so I just happen to like you two. And your blog. A lot. So, I just have to say:
1) That breakfast looks A-mazing.
2) I highly doubt my hubby remembers much about my wedding flowers, so you get gobs of points on that (and the nod to the bees) from me! (…I just asked him what flowers I had and he said, “um…the smelly flower kind?”
3) I also love writing lists, and Sherry has inspired me to do a sweet one for my hubby, too. It’s not our anniversary, but that’s ok. Spontinaety! (however you spell that)
4) Your annual anniversary pics are also ridiculously cute.
5) And more annual pics in the photobooth? I sense a theme here…. and, do tell, how many cameras do you guys own??
6) Great new do!
7) (cuz I had to end on 7 for you) One last note, I love your writing styles :) :
“See what I did there?”
“do I get points for my strawberry hearts? (yes, many)
“I told you, the girl loves lists.”
“Or should I say cheep? (Bird joke for the win).” (hehehee!)
Gotta love it!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, you’re cracking us up. As for how many cameras we own, we have a Nikon D3000 (which we use for most of the blog shots) and an old smaller Canon PowerShot for shopping pics on the go (and a Flip HD Video cam for capturing all of Clara’s antics).
xo,
s
Nathalie says
Happy Anniversary…even though I’m a bit late :-)
Love Smockpaper stationary…oh I must check if they post internationally…or maybe not ;-)
Sherry, wow, your new haircut looks absolutely fantastic! You are so pretty!!! Like seriously, stunningly beautiful!
Sarah says
Come to Maui!! We’ll be your tour guide for free!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it! We’re definitely going to try to make it happen!
xo,
s
Nicole Lamb says
I have been reading your blog for about a year and love it! Happy anniversary! I think it’s so great that you guys went to AK for you honeymoon-I’m from there and I pretty much think it’s the greatest place on earth!
Melissa says
you are absolutely gorgeous sherry!
crystal dubois says
We are a family of 5, with 2 under 2. My best advice for the perfect family pic is PHOTOSHOP! we set up the tripod and snap away continuously. We have never gotten the perfect pic of all five together, but there is always at least one great pic of each of us in the group of shots. Then we find our favorite and just start pasteing the heads. The shots are continuous, the lighting and angles are all the same, so the pic comes out perfect!
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds like that Windows Live commercial they used to run!
-John
Katherina @ Zephyr Runs says
Happy Anniversary!!!
Bridgette says
congrats!!! 7/7 is an awesome day….also my birthday. I spent it this year on a cruise to Greek Isles, Croatia, Montenegro and Turkey. Our anniversary is 7/12 so it was a toofer kinda deal. We are stationed in Europe so it was a bit cheaper than from states cause no air far =) PLUS I love that my birthday is your anniversary and a couple that are our good friends( 7/7/07 for them too) but also..your honeymoon was in my homestate. BORN AND BRED Alaskan here. So kinda funny how decorating led me to your blog, witty words, great ideas and pictures keep me here but tiny little things like that make me like you just a little bit more. YOu guys kick some serious awesome booty. Good luck and here is to the five year celebrated in style!!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so funny about the Alaska and the 7/7 coincidence! And yeah… um… your birthday / anniversary cruise sounded amazing!
xo,
s
Lexxi says
Hey Sherry,
You do look so pretty. You really remind me of one of those people who have no idea how pretty they are, which makes you even ten thousand times prettier and that is hard to beat. :)
Tamara says
Dear Sherry and John,
your life is very inspiring and the art of your hands amazing. I moved one year ago to Germany for love and I am also trying to improve my tiny appartment and dealing with the idea of maybe do something like this for living. You really inspired me! I will follow your story from now on :).
Hugs from Germany
Tamara
Chad says
Just read this for the first time and it reminded me of reading through your wedding details for the first time. You all were part of the inspiration that made me look deeply into wedding budgets, DIY weddings, and doing things differently. It inspired me to create an ebook from the guide I used to plan our wedding. I released that guide today as a product available for download. Just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration. Would love to write a guest post about weddings and budgets if you ever needed it.
Cheers,
Chad
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, congrats!
xo,
s
Alena says
Wow! Just ran across this while browsing how to hold an intimate wedding and my night has instantly gotten richer! Everything has been such an inspiration, thank you! Can’t wait for the 5th!
naiad says
Could you please leave your hair more often! You look STUNNING!!!
Tasmin says
Came upon this and thought of you guys, so I had to find a Bee post to leave it on: http://www.puglypixel.com/2011/05/11/free-blog-bling-honeycomb-patterns/
Free download of honeycomb pattern digital paper
YoungHouseLove says
SO cute! Thanks Tasmin!
xo,
s
Bree says
I just started following your blog about a couple months ago, so I was catching up on some of your past posts when I read this one…my husband and I are also talking about going to Hawaii for our anniversary next May, but we haven’t planned anything yet either. To be honest, we’re both much more comfortable with road tripping, but I’m biting the bullet with this potential trip as a last vacation before some serious baby thinking/planning/talking happens lol. I’m pretty sure I read a recent post that you guys did go to Hawaii. Any recommendations for what island or what place to stay? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We loved Maui! If you search Hawaii on our sidebar I think the two posts about our trip will come up (they have lots of info about where we ate/stayed/etc).
xo,
s
sally green says
hi john,
happy Anniversary John and Sherry!You both are very funny and happiness.I love the “John List”.Maybe I should write a list of my husbund.haha,that’s so sweet.Your son looks very pretty.