The boys. Our hearts.

A few frames from the leica m6.

5 years ago today I woke up, took a shower, watched some tv, took a nap and then put on a suit.
Me and my best man jumped in his car and rode out to Bernheim Forest.
At 4:30 I would be married to a girl that I had a crush on for years.

When I first met and saw April I was working at a kiosk in the mall, I was 19. I may have fell in love right there, but I had no hope that it would go anywhere or blossom. We would only talk in passing but my crush never really left. I remember her blonde hair, her blue eyes, her stride and the way she would smile and laugh with her whole face, I was smitten.

A couple months went by and I stopped seeing her around. I started a new job at the clothing store she use to manage. I would hear her name now and then but never see her face.

Then….

She came back to work. She was my manager. And I all but hated her. Maybe it was because she was slightly older than I was in years and maturity. She would say it was because I was just a little boy then.

Months went by… our friends were now mutual friends. That place became much more than a job.

One day in October my friend Aaron told me he had something to tell me, but that he couldn’t, he promsed that he wouldn’t. After hours of torture he broke. April had a crush on me… ME?!?! How’d that happen?!?!

I wish I still had the hang tag that I wrote a note on and gave to Aaron to give to her, but that hang tag is the basis of our relationship. Its how it all started… sort of…

Our first date was October 30th, we went to see SAW. Great first date movie, amiright? The same night I met her dad and the poodle lady. It was intense, but it was great.

We dated less than a year and I knew she was the girl for me. I proposed June 9th of 2005 in St Louis at the botanical garden. We drove down for a road trip. She had no idea. The ring was burning a hole in my pocket, I am not sure how she didnt see a ring box poking out from my leg.

We were a little late arriving but I remember rushing her to the location I spotted from photos online. April got mad at me because she wanted to go to the gift shop before it closed but I insisted I had something I needed to show her. So we walked, and she may have pouted a little but thats not something I will disclose. Im just saying.

We got to the location, walked up the small bridge, she was looking away, I got on my knee, pulled the ring out of the box. I was so nervous I almost dropped it, and with it my heart dropped a little. I asked her to marry me. I was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo nervous, you have no idea. She cried a little, I cried a little.

I have the same feeling today as I did that day. I am excited about our future and what we will do as parents, as a couple and as individuals.

April has helped me grow as a person
Taught me how to be a parent
Given me grace
Always supported me
Shown me who I really am and who I want to be

I could not have a better wife and mother for our children.

So….. 5 years later we have struggled, laughed, talked, cried, walked, ran, taken risks, and loved. Its been the best 5 years of my life. I never understood what people meant by that, and wouldn’t have, until now and with April.

April and Jack, happy anniversary. I love you two like mad.

Thank you for all you do and giving me two amazing sons, AP.