Cutest Couple Contest.

 A few months ago, Ryan and I entered the a radio contest for the cutest couple in our community. The winner was announced on Valentines Day. We won over $600 in merchandise and gift certificates! A few evenings ago, we used one of our gift certificates for a lovely Greek Restaurant in town. Ryan made sure that our outfits were coordinated. I mean, we are the cutest couple, after all. Then after supper we went on a nice sprint down the Harbourfront (baby can come any time now) hand in hand. 

The best part of all, as usual, was just spending time together. It is so easy being together. We often comment how wonderful it's been to spend time in each stage of our relationship, focusing on those stages. Whenever we go to a wedding, we always write "Enjoy the stages as they come" in the cards we give. We have found it to be the most rewarding but also practical advice. In July, we've been married four years! We have gotten to know each other so well and have built a nice and sturdy foundation. 

Moments.

My sweet Ryan and I went out the other night for a walk around the lake we live beside. The water is nice and warm-ready for summertime. We've been going on lots of beautiful walks and he has been coming home to spend his lunch break with me, too. Ryan has been snapping lots of beautiful photos of my belly lately. He is so wonderful at capturing moments and I don't mean just with a camera. 

He appreciates moments as they come and go 

and finds joy in all the stages we've shared together.

Springtime.

One of the most lovely parts for me of our brand new house is seeing the yard wake up from a winter's sleep. When we purchased our home, it was still very snowy outside. As we walked around the yard with the realtor, I was pointing out lilac bushes and apple trees. She kept saying, "I'm not sure what that is, you'll just have to see." But, I knew what they were and I couldn't wait to have a yard with so many beauties every spring and summer. 

So far, we've had the most beautiful plants and trees come up. Namely, a garden of Bleeding Hearts, Lamb's ear, tall beautiful ferns, lilacs, Jacob's ladder, Sumac bushes, tons of succulents, chives, onions, garlic and a beautiful white blooming apple tree. I've added many vegetables to our garden, planted wild flower seeds, peonies, fuchsias and begonias. It is pure magic in our yard as the chimes sway back and forth while the blossom petals fall slowly to the ground. 

Isn't is beautiful how nature teaches us the need to have winter so we can fully appreciate the newness of spring?