blast from the past

I was going through some old pictures the other day and came across some old ones of Matt and I from when we first started dating.  I had to scan this one in because I didn't have a digital camera in 2004...or I just didn't know how to upload them on the computer.

This picture is my favorite one of us from back then for many reasons...

Our smiles are HUGE.  We are so happy.
 Matt's hair is long and in my eye.  I don't necessarily like that it's long, but it's a memory I have of him from then.
 It's our first picture together.
His arm around me. I remember being SO excited that he put his arm around me :).

August 2004

A little background on the pic.  It was taken in Jacksonville ("Jax" for short, hence our dog's name) where we were on vacation together.  It's kind of random how it happened, but basically I wasn't going to go if Matt didn't, and when my mom said he was going, I was in!  I didn't tell him that though.  We had been talking for awhile, but Matt just wasn't my "type", he partied a little too much.

While on vacation, everyone kept making jokes and comments on how we liked each other.  Instead of hanging out with my mom and the girls, I would always want to go wherever the boys were going (Matt and the Layton boys).  This picture was from our last night in Jacksonville.

We came back from Florida knowing we wanted to be together and we've been inseparable ever since.

this time last year

This time last year, Matt and I were taking our engagements photos! The snow we are getting tonight reminds me of our shoot.  We had to reschedule a couple times with our photographer in order to get a perfect snow for our pictures.  

We got engaged in November, so it was either do a Winter session (which our photographers had never done and were SO pumped about) or wait until the Spring.  We decided to do the Winter session and I am so so so glad we did.  The day we did the session it was about 20 degrees and we had a solid 4-6 inches of snow on the ground.  I am so in love with our engagement pictures.  That day was just so fun.  I remember at one point Matt and I hugging to stay warm and forgetting we were even taking pictures.  Here are a few of our snow shots...

LOVE the red house in the background

The creek at Happy Hollow Park was FROZEN over.  Whose idea was it to walk out on it and take pictures?!

My fav...he's such a beast :)

so fun!

dreaded 6 months

I have been dreading Jax turning 6 months. That is when Matt and I decided we were going to have him neutered. 

Welp, today I called and scheduled his surgery.  I made the appointment as I pulled into the driveway and sat in the car teary-eyed after I got off the phone.  Really?! I can't believe I got so emotional about taking a dog to get a necessary surgery, but I can't help it.  It makes me nervous for him to have surgery.  And for his recovery.  Watch it be not bad at all, but I just love this dog too much.  I know we need to get him neutered, but a small part of me wants him to have a litter of puppies since he has the perfect Boston markings and his puppies would be so cute! No Jamie, not happening. I feel like this will be his face after surgery...

Why did you do this to me? :(



With how cold it has been lately, Jax's love for our heating registers has grown.  It has gotten to a point that he will immediately run upstairs to a register after coming inside.  This morning he spent a half hour in the bathroom sleeping on the register before I even realized he was gone. He passes out the minute he meets the heat. He loves when I have to get ready because that means he can sleep outside the shower on the register for an hour with me in the same room as him. 

Dad's weekend

I was for sure that the only reason I fall asleep to movies (ALL movies, EVERY TIME!) was because it was at night and I was tired.  Turns out I fall asleep to movies:

any time

 any place

any movie.

My dad and Ann came to Indy this weekend and we watched a movie at 3 in the afternoon and before I knew it I was asleep.  I can watch a TV show until 2 in the morning and be fine, but put a movie on and I am out.

Last night, we all went out to dinner at Kona Grill.  We had never been there before, but I had heard good things so I thought we'd give it a try.  We all loved it! We got a couple different appetizers and then our meals.  I love sushi and haven't had it in a while so we got a couple rolls for before the meal and then I paired another roll with my awesome chopped salad.  We were there for 2 hours and then had to rush home to catch the COLTS game.

So sad for our Colts :(.  I told Matt sometimes I think I shouldn't even watch football because I always end up getting upset when someone gets hit hard, or feeling really bad for a person who makes a stupid play (hello running into the kicker), or getting so anxious when things aren't going our way.  Oh well, I still love watching :).  

Matt and I are both off today so we plan on spending the day together just lounging around the house, heading to gym at some point, and finally taking down our Christmas decorations.  I left them up long enough for my dad to see everything this weekend.  Our house always looks so bare after the decorations come down.  It makes me want to go on a house decor shopping spree. Until then, I will let Jax's toys take up all the space on the ground :).  

DMB since the beginning

Matt and I love Dave Matthews Band.  I have so many pictures of us and our friends at all the concerts.  This one is Matt and I at the concert campgrounds in 2006.  We look so young! We had been dating for 2 years at this point.  Crazy!  

2006

We have been going to the Dave concert ever since then and this will be the first year we aren't going because they aren't touring :(.  Matt and I have been listening to DMB since we started dating.  I can remember riding around in his old beat up Honda Civic with "Ants Marching " blaring making the speakers sound like they were going to burst.  I love when we randomly decide to blare Dave in our car now and Matt goes on to do his "air drumming" or "steering wheel drumming" :).  So many of the songs have so much meaning to us.  While I'm on a roll, here are pictures of us from the DMB concerts up until last year.

2007
We went to 2 concerts this year.  This picture is from the first one in Chicago.

2007
In Noblesville

2007
Walking from our campground (Walkabout) to Verizon.  Our group of friends always walks however many miles it is to the concert from our campground.  We normally find someone to give us a ride in the back of their truck once we've walked a little.

2008
This was the first year my friend Abby joined us.  See picture below for the shenanigans that took place.

2009
Matt had to work and I didn't think he was coming, but he showed up right before the concert!

2010
No DMB for Matt since he had to work.  I went with Abby, Amy, and Sam.  We set up our tent and ended up tearing it down that night after the concert and driving to a hotel.  It had POURED rain all night and a tornado had come through Indy so we ran for shelter.

I've also been to Tinley Park in Chicago, the University of Illinois winter DMB tour, IU (Dave and Tim), and Virginia Beach to see Dave.  Lauren, Abby, and I drove to VA Beach for a little vacation and also to see Dave in 2009.  We went to VA because of Dave's opening act, Donavon Frankenreiter.  He's not that well known, but download some of his music...I LOVE him!  His music is so catchy and soothing.

2009
VA Beach Amphitheater 

Love these girls

It was a no-brainer that Matt and I had to have Dave played at our wedding .  We walked down the aisle to "Oh" by Dave and Tim (acoustic) and our first dance was "Steady As We Go".

Limited Wardrobe

I have realized that my wardrobe lately has been quite limited/embarrassing/lazy.  It consists of:

1. Scrubs...scrubs...and more scrubs

2. Workout clothes

3. Pajamas

WOW that is pathetic. Lately, on my days off I have really enjoyed not having too much to do, so I like to spend the day at the house and then fit in a workout somewhere in there. Hey, at least I make it to the gym on my off days. I will go days without putting on a pair of jeans. Speaking of that, the last time I put on jeans was last Friday when we went to Costco.  Today is my errand day, so luckily I will feel like real human who got herself dressed for a few hours. 

Poor Matt.  It is a good thing I have a loving husband who doesn't care what the heck I have on.  I was talking to a friend last night about how he sees me at my most unattractive times (when I just don't feel like drying my hair, putting on makeup, or changing out of my super comfy sweatpants).  I would never let anyone else see me quite like this, but with Matt I don't even think twice.  That way, when I put on jeans and actually do my hair, he can say, "Wow, you look great!" Thanks, I didn't have to try toooo hard :).  Gotta love him!

I think I need a good scrub shopping trip.  Since that is my main source of attire, I should really go buy some new and fun tops.  That is next on my list.

Laundry Helper

I was in the process of doing  our laundry, and in the meantime playing on the computer, when I noticed I didn't know where Jax was.  It is strange to not know where he is because he always wants to be with you, by you, watching you dry you hair, or on your lap.  If I ever don't know where he is, I just walk upstairs and there he will be...laying on our heat vent in our bathroom.  

But this day was different.  He wasn't on my lap while I was on the computer.  He wasn't laying at my feet.  He wasn't playing with a toy right next to me.  He wasn't even on the vent in our bathroom.  I completely walked past him and did not even realize he was right here...