But alas, this is real life. Bikinis and paradise in November are reserved for those who aren't paying off their family reunion trip from the summer. In my world, people have to work and anniversaries are not all they are cracked up to be.
But I will have you know that we got to have the most beautiful night I can remember over the weekend. We took a little impromptu family outing over to Pine Island. We cooked out, skipped rocks, ate smores as the sun set over the lake, we swung, the kids got along swimmingly... The temps were in the 70s, there was no breeze and no bugs to speak of until the sun was gone. It was like heaven on earth!

You see, in this imperfect world we exist in, life is strung together with beautiful moments (like the night at Pine Island). The seemingly simple and overlooked ones that may go unnoticed if we’re too busy to notice or fully appreciate them.
Intertwined between the hurdles and heartaches, these simple, beautiful moments are the ones that make all the rest worth it.

(You can see more from Pine Island via instagram here or here.)
When I reflect on the last 20 years of my life, it's so easy to remember the hardships, heaven knows we've had plenty. If you don't believe me you can read about some of them here. Or you can find a few laughs from my disastrous 18th anniversary here.
No, this is no fairytale. But I feel so blessed to have so many amazing memories with this man...

Who supports my ambitions and encourages my growth. Who lets me spend money on frivolous things like highlights for my hair. Who doesn't whine when I ruin dinner or forget to swap loads. Who likes me even when I don't like myself.
Love is a beautiful thing. It is not a destination. It is a journey. And I look forward to the next 2 decades with this man I call hubs.
Here's a few selfie snaps from the weekend. No primping or preparations. These are completely unplanned pics of us in our cazh state, just being us. Enjoy. All photos are property of Alicia Ann Photography and may not be used without my permission.
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Let's connect...
Happy Anniversary!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary!!! x
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this post! My husband and I had our 15th Anniversary this year. And we didn't go anywhere. I had always planned Hawaii for our 15th. But life has different plans....bills, moving, getting laid off, etc.
ReplyDeleteWe have a beautiful family and a wonderful marriage. I like how you acknowledge that marriage isn't always perfect or easy. But you work through it and remember the beautiful memories that you've made together.
Thanks for being someone that I can relate with!!!
Happy 20th Anniversary!
Happy, happy 20th anniversary! That's an awesome thing. Here's to the next 20! Love the photos... just beautiful. :)
ReplyDeleteawww too cute! congrats and happy anniversary! how awesome!
ReplyDeleteHappy 20th Anniversary!
ReplyDeleteHappy 20th anniversary to you both!
ReplyDelete~EdT (who just celebrated his 26th.)
Happy 20th Alicia!!! That is a huge milestone in this day and age!!! Your words are so lovely and honest. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLaurie
Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful place to celebrate! Your pictures are so pretty!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Happy Anniversary!!
ReplyDeleteTammi
My Organized Chaos
Absolutely fabulous!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on an amazing achievement....wow 20 years...hope we still look as happy and young when we celebrate ours :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary! SO happy for you :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the Anniversary! I'm so glad your picnic was such a success. We once did a Valentine's Day picnic with our kids and the wind was blowing so hard that our plates, cups and napkins kept flying off. We ate really fast and jumped back into the car. Hahaha!
ReplyDeleteI'm now following you many different ways. I hope you can visit Amanda's Books and More and 1camera1mom.Tina - American mom raising 4 kids in South Africa
Happy anniversary! We just celebrated 14 years! It flies by doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteHappy 20th anniversary!!! What a beautiful sunset to be treated to on such a wonderful occasion!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Alicia, happy 20th Anniversary!
ReplyDeletegorgeous photos and words. Congrats on your anniversary! :)
ReplyDeleteAi @ Sakura Haruka
Happy Anniversary! You both look wonderful together!
ReplyDeletehttp://theapels.blogspot.com/2012/11/ww-plunge-linky.html
Oh Lish, you two are so cute! I love all of these pictures! Happy Anniversary! Wow, 20 years is a long time. In Sept. we were married for 14 years...
ReplyDeleteHappy 20th Anniversary!!! You two look SO happy in your pictures! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Char
http://1epicmom.com/2012/11/05/accessories-for-little-girl/
Happy anniversary! Here's to another 20! (at least)
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary and I wish you many, many, more anniversaries. Awesome pictures and video. Thanks for hosting and all the very best to you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post! Congratulations on your anniversary, 20 years is no small milestone!
ReplyDeleteLish, you are very lucky to have a husband who doesn't mind posing for pictures. I would never get my husband to do this with me. We had our 7th anniversary a day before Halloween, but it's also L's birthday so it hardly gets celebrated. And this year we had no power because of Sandy.
ReplyDeleteOh well. Life is not a fairytale :) Love those pictures. Congrats to such a big milestone!!
Dagmar ~ Dagmar's momsense
I LOVE this!! Happy Anniversary!! Beautiful photos too!
ReplyDeletethat is beautiful and so well said! Happy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos (as always) and beautiful words Lish! Love the slideshow at the end. Happy Anniversary! 20 years is awesome!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! Sounds like you had a wonderful day :)
ReplyDeleteHappy WW!
Paula
lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com
What a beautiful couple! Happy Anniversary! {Also? You don't not look remotely old enough to be married for 20 years. You must have been married at the age of 10. ;}
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Alicia! I too celebrated my 20th anniversary this year, and I took my wife to Puerto Rico for a few days. She found out where we were going as we were about to board... our second flight! :-)
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Next month my husband and I will have been married for 10 years! Your pictures are lovely.
ReplyDeleteHappy 20th Anniversary!! :D
ReplyDeleteCongrats! 20 years is a great reason to celebrate!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! 20 years is nothing to sneeze at! It takes a ton of work and dedication, I am happy for both of you!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary. 20 years, wow! Love the pictures, my favorite is the sunset with the swing
ReplyDeleteAs always you have awesome pictures. Congratulations on your anniversary.
ReplyDeleteHope you come and share via our WWHop http://www.craftyspices.com/hops/wwhop
happy WW
Happy anniversary to you two!!! <3
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary! I LOVE the silhouette image... absolutely stunning.
ReplyDeleteMollyxxx
Love the photos and love the sentiment. Happy, happy anniversary! We're coming up on 8 years - time flies!
ReplyDeleteI spent some 20 mins on this post and found amazing information. Thanks for this.. Hope to see more like this in future. I was searching some info on management institute in bangalore
ReplyDeleteAwwwww! Love this! Happy Anniversary! :)
ReplyDeleteChanneling Jules Cobb – Or Just Her Giant Wine Glass and a Scientific Experiment
Happy 20! I feel so far away from that with Dumb Dad. I'm pretty sure we'll make it, but we're still trying to hit 10!
ReplyDeleteHappy 20th!
ReplyDeleteHappy 20th, what a milestone! Wonderful post, really made me smile!
ReplyDeletethat picture of yall on the swing is just awesome.. but the silhouette on the swing... so sweet
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right about love and marriage. There isn't any fairytale happily ever after. In fact, there is something much better and I think you've found it too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! Love your sentiment about love and marriage. Happily ever after only happens in the movies. Thanks for sharing and hosting.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! Such a lovely post and photos
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! Such beautiful photos and honest and inspiring words :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post. Happy Anniversary to you and your love.
ReplyDeleteIt's oh so sweet to meet ya. I'm following you now and can't wait to get to know ya better. If you're up for a bit of a ride I'd love for you to join me at Local Sugar Hawaii. It's a beautifully kooky space just for us... I hope you'll come as you are and stay for a bit.Thanks too for the link up, I'm joining you for that too.xo,Nicolelocalsugarhawaii.com
Congratulations!!! 20 Years!!! it is soo awesome. praying for more for you and your husband.... i am blessed of your marraige life.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunset picture!!! Those are some of my favorite pictures!! FOund your blog theorugh Create With Joy.
ReplyDeleteMelanie
melaniescrazylife.blogspot.com
Gratulerer så mye med 20 års jubileum!! Flotte bilder du har tatt for å forevige denne dagen!!
ReplyDeleteØnsker dere mange mange flotte år videre!!
Hilsen fra Norge
Maj:))
Thanks so much Janice! Can't believe how fast it goes!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you made your way here. So nice to meet you, Monica! And thanks for the comforting words. Nice to know reality still exists even in paradise, ha!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks Kristy! Appreciate that!
ReplyDeleteThanks David! So glad I can help others smile. :)
ReplyDeleteYou won't believe how fast it will go! Better not blink! ;)
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more! It really does!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Molly!
ReplyDeleteI think it's all the work that makes it so much more rewarding. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary! I concur!
ReplyDeleteHow awesome Lolli! You should start planning for the big "20" now. Maybe you'll get my dream vaca...
ReplyDeleteHappy early anniversary! I imagine December is a hard month for celebrating...
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! That's so awesome! I'm really happy for you! Hope your getaway was just what you hoped for.
ReplyDeleteHa! Funny, girl! Although I'd like to think I don't look old enough to be married this long, I certainly don't wish I'd have been married at 10. lol
ReplyDeleteThe actual day was just your average kinda day, except for getting a new president. We did manage to go out for a nice dinner when hubs got home from work.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Tish! Appreciate your heartfelt words.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dagmar! If you notice, we're not done up. If I'd have told hubs to get something nice on for pics it would have been a deal breaker. The trick is to surprise them, ha!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Christy! I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Judy! Appreciate the kind words.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy! Hope I get at least another 20! ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Char! Appreciate the sweet words.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Verena! Happy belated for your 14th! Time really does fly!
ReplyDeleteThanks Alissa!
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes life has other plans. Thanks so much for sharing your story. It's certainly nice to know I'm not alone. ;)
ReplyDeleteSounds like many of our adventures... ha! Thanks so much for stopping by and introducing yourself!
ReplyDeleteYou're too kind, friend!
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ReplyDelete