Day 275: 5 years

This past Saturday, Mark and I hit our 5 year dating anniversary. He says dating anniversaries don't count anymore now that we're married, but I say half a decade is something to be proud of! I remember when we so badly wanted to make it to a year so people would take us 'seriously'. Now look at us!

2003

We'd been 'dating' for a couple of months. We had our ESA Christmas dinner that night. I wouldn't let him come b/c I wasn't ready for him to meet my friends (I had a bit of a complex). But we met up afterwards! :) Mark told me he loved me for the very first time in that same room . After a cleaning spree and hours alone in deep thought, I said it back. Blink 182's 'Miss You' played in the background. Mark lived in a dorm at Auburn where I wasn't allowed to visit our first year together, so he drove 3 hours from Tuscaloosa every single weekend to see me.

2004

On the Black Warrior river in Tuscaloosa....

2005
By now Mark was in an apartment, so we took turns driving back and forth, which led us to be pretty broke. We didn't really have money for anything except gas to see one another. I think we were actually going out to dinner when we took this, which explains why we look so happy :)

2006

On a trip back to Tuscaloosa in the Fall of 2006. I had graduated and moved to Birmingham. We were still driving back and forth. We drove down this weekend to tailgate with his parents. I had to have a picture on the steps of my old college building.

2007

From the best day ever.....the day we FINALLY became husband and wife!

2008

Here we are on our 5 year anniversary at Josh and Elizabeth's reception.

Markus, you're still my favorite boy.

5 down, forever to go!