Unless you are from my little hometown and have known me most of my life, there’s probably a lot you don’t know about me. So, I’ve decided to enlighten you with this post. It wasn’t my idea, however. I’m stealing this great idea for a post from my fellow blogger, Shannon at Simply Shannonigans. She’s an awesome person who always has a positive attitude about the obstacles life throws at her. She also posts a lot of great recipes!
So, here we go!
1. Dennis and I have five kids.
We claim them all–there’s no mine or his. We may not see them often, but they are still ours. Our kids range in age from 22 to 29, and none of them live at home. The funny part is that I’ve known Dennis’s kids longer than he has. You see, I was Aubree’s preschool teacher when she was three. He didn’t adopt Aubree until she was five or six. Aubree did quit preschool, and I didn’t see her again until she and Meghan were in high school. They were cheerleaders together, and it took me a while to figure out why her name had changed.
In a weird coincidence, our kids’ birthdates have a pattern to them. Matt and Ian are one year and one month apart. Ian and Meghan are two years and two months apart. Meghan and Aubree are one year and one month apart. Aubree and Rory are two years and two months apart. I think I was writing down their birthdays when I figured it all out.
2. Dennis and I officially dated nine days before we decided to get married.
True story. However, we had known each other for five years and were good friends. He was my prom date in 2010 (we were chaperons), and that’s when we had our first picture together. It’s not a great photo, but it’s our first, and we like it.
3. Dennis proposed to me on a pizza box.
Another true story. It was also in code, and I had to figure out what it meant. Pizza boxes were important to us–it’s how we started really communicating. Sure, we were friends before the pizza boxes, but not the kind of friends who dated. We’d write messages to each other–inside and outside. The first few boxes actually had pizza inside them–after that we started getting clean ones. We have several of the boxes stored in our closet. At one point, they were hanging on the bedroom wall, but we moved the furniture around and took them down.
4. Our dogs are named for states.
It all started with a simple misunderstanding. Ian came home one day and said his friend Andrew had golden retriever puppies. I asked what Andrew’s dogs were names, and Ian said that they were Dakota and Arizona. Come to find out, they were Dakota and Annie, but by then we’d already had Montana picked out as a name.
Since then, we’ve adopted Alabama and Indiana. Alabama is a labradoodle who is afraid of her own shadow. She won’t pass an open door and rarely will go down steps alone. We lost our sweet chocolate lab Indy last spring, but you can read about her legacy here.
5. I was accepted to medical school while I was in high school.
Another true story. Well, really, they’re all true. As a high school senior, I was accepted into the six-year program at Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine in Rootstown, Ohio. I decided against NEOUCOM and went with Miami University instead. During my second semester, I changed my major from Chemistry/Pre-med to French. I thought my mother was going to die when I told her.
I taught high school French part-time for twelve years before switching over to English after earning a Master of Arts in English. I currently teach junior high language arts. I love it for several reasons: One, we have an awesome staff. Two, the kids are great. And, three, I get to read all sorts of interesting books.
6. I want to visit all 50 states before I’m 50.
This has been one of my goals for a long time. I have thirteen states left to go, and they are all far away. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m going to make it before my birthday. It’s approaching rather quickly.
7. In November and December, I work two jobs.
My parents own a Christmas tree farm in northeastern Ohio, and I make almost all the wreaths that they sell on the farm. You can find me there most evenings and every weekend from mid-November until Christmas. I actually make a lot of the bows in the summer. Find out what happened when Dennis squished all my bows here.
That’s all for now.
I hoped you’ve enjoyed learning a little bit about my life. Let me know something interesting about your life or family in the comments. Talk to you again soon!
Oh I love this! 9 Days in and a proposal– that’s what I can true romance!
I had so much fun reading this post! It’s wonderful to get a glimpse into who you are behind the screen. I think all bloggers should do this!
You and Dennis seemed like a very fun couple! Can’t believe you decided to get married just after 9 days of dating. Haha. Looking forward to reading more of your stories.
Thank you for sharing. I like couples who evolve on their own terms without being stereotyped.
That is a cute way to propose. Having five kids must have been hectic but fun at the same time 🙂
Glad to know you more! I love that you work at the Christmas tree farm during December. We get our local tree every year and I’ve always been amazed of the creativity of the people behind the wreath making!
I just love how you guys met, dated and got married!! What a great story! And how cute is that how he proposed:) you guys are way too cute!! Great share!!
The pizza box proposal! So cute!
Proposing on a pizza box with codes?! Some detective work to do. So cool! 😀 Good to know many fun things about you through this post. 😊
It’s great to know you & each member of your cute family. Wishing you all lots and lots of happiness.
This was like opening a box of chocolates and not knowing which to choose, because they are all so nice. Was a lovely selection of details to share about your life. I think I like the pizza box story best though – it was over a shared pizza my husband and I decided to get married!
WOW! dated for 9 days and married! that is incredible and a testament of true love for sure! 🙂 loved getting to know more about you!
What a great idea! I think I feel inspired to do one of these on my own site this month. I love those small details of what happens between couples. They’re almost always a little weird — my partner and I have some strange ones, myself — but at the same time terribly romantic. Love that you kept the pizza boxes!
9 days! My hubby and I were engaged after six months and everyone told us it was fast. I love your love story.
I like the pizza box thing you do. It is unique and something you two will always be able to share together. Something of your own.
I’m coming up on 25 years of marriage on April 9th and being 50 I’ve known my wife for more than half my life. We dated for 5 years before we were even married. It was nice to learn more about you. Even better to know that you’re a dog family!
Great info. Great getting to know you.
So great to get to know a little bit more about you. I know that you travel a lot and I wish often when saving your pins I could share the experience too.
We’re been very fortunate lately. After the kids grow up and move out, it’s much easier and cheaper to travel.
Aws one of the sweetest articles I read! Love the pizza box proposal, one of a kind lol
It was so nice to get to know more about you. This is a great post idea! You and I have similar goals. I’ll be 40 next year so I want to visit all 50 states before my 40th birthday. I have 20 to go. They are clustered together in severals areas around the country so with a few well planned road trips it should be doable! Good luck to you!
Good luck! I only have two months left and no time off work, so I’m going to have to extend my timeline. I will eventually get to all of them though!
I really loved reading this. What a great idea…interesting facts about you and your family. I love the 50 states before 50 goal!
Hahaha I’m going to be fifty in two months. I’m not going to make it. I may shoot for 55 by 55 and add in a few territories since I’ve already been to DC, Puerto Rico, and USVI. It was a great goal, and I will get to them eventually. However, I may have to wait until after I retire.
Such a sweet post! That is so crazy that you knew Aubree before your husband, it’s crazy how life works sometimes!
-Madi xo | http://www.everydaywithmadirae.com
I also want to visit all 50 states! My dream is to buy an RV and road trip! Loved your post 💜
Thanks for giving me a new content idea. I did something similar on Instagram. Interesting facts about yourself.
Wow this is a really cool post, I love that your parent have a Christmas tree farm that is really cool, and I hate squished bows too, lol. My husband and I also dated a long time as high school sweetheart and then through college.
I love this post. It’s so nice to get to know the blogger behind the posts I’ve been sharing.
I enjoyed reading this. I love your goal about the 50 states. I really want to travel America 💗
Great getting to know you and your family a little better. I just love the dogs’ names. So cute!
Its always make me happy to know more about people. It was a lovely read especially proposal part. All the pictures are amazing.
You guys are so cute! I loved reading this, especially because there’s so much love! To many more years!
You write well. I enjoyed hearing more about your life.