Today is Our 5th Wedding Anniversary!

Tom and Rob

Today marks FIVE years that Tom and I have been legally married.

  WHAT WAS OUR WEDDING LIKE?   On June 26, 2009, we got legally married in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Because our marriage wasn't legal in Maryland at the time, we had to go to the nearest state where it was legal. That was Connecticut. It took a little work and some good friends to make it all work out.
  My (Rob) brother Doug suggested Bridgeport as a good city to get married in, and he contacted his friend (the mayor of Bridgeport) who recommended a restaurant to have the post-vow lunch.

Mike officiating our wedding as our best man, Jeff looks on

     Our friend Jeff was our best man, and he drove up to Connecticut with us. We checked out City Hall before it opened, a nearby park where we  planned on getting married, and the restaurant  where we planned lunch.
MARRIED BY OUR FRIEND -   Our friends Mike and Amy Bettwy flew to Connecticut. Mike was licensed to marry us, and we met them at City Hall where Tom and I got our official marriage license. We remember how wonderful the City Hall clerk was when we got the license. 
A RESTAURANT WEDDING -   After getting the license, we went outside to the park. overcast skies threatened rain, so we went to the restaurant and called the small bunch of friends who insisted on driving hours from Massachusetts to be there.  It was going to be just us, Jeff, Mike and Amy - but I let some friends in New England know (

our kids: Franklin, Dolly and Tyler

since we were up there anyway). 
   The staff and manager of the restaurant were incredibly accommodating. They knew we had reservations for 12, but didn't know we'd be getting married there!  They put us in an area, and pulled a large curtain around it, giving us a large "private room." The restaurant is "Ralph and Rich's" and we urge everyone to go there: Click for Ralph and Rich's Website.
     The ceremony was short and perfect. Mike did an amazing job. Tom and I each read our own vows, and of course, we both cried during them. It was an amazing day. That was FIVE years ago, and we continue to grow in love with each other. We have 3 amazing canine children, great family and friends.
  

Friends and family at the restaurant wedding ceremony

Today is our 2nd Wedding Anniversary!

Two years ago today, on June 26, 2009 we took our legal marriage vows in Bridgeport, Connecticut! 

Tom & Rob, Wedding Cake House, Maine

We drove up with our friend and best man, Jeff. We were joined by our friends Mike and Amy, who just married this past December. Mike married us. Rob's brothers came, and sister-in-law Dawn, and our friends Jacquie, Kerrie and son Brady, Colleen, Gail.

  It's amazing to think of how long ago that was and how much has happened. 

FAMILY: We've fostered several dogs for the Dachshund rescue and took a special one in.(more later), Tom changed employers, Rob now managing breaking news, hurricanes and wildfires and more at work. Dolly and Franklin still feisty as ever at 6 and 7. 

AT HOME: Since then, we've done a lot of work on the house, having an upstairs dormer built, putting windows on the Sunporch we built (with our friend Jack's help), laying a tile floor, getting the garage made into a room (still in progress), getting plantation shutters for the living room, having the house electrical redone, enhancing the house's cooling system with a thermostat controlled duct system (so the upstairs is cool!). We've been to Puerto Rico this year, and a Caribbean cruise and NC/TN last year. We've been to many dog related fundraising events, several ghost hunts with professional ghost hunters, and Rob published his first book.

WEDDING DAY IN CT: Back:Rob, Tom, Mike, Steve, Doug, Jeff  Front:Colleen, Jacquie, Amy, Dawn, Gail

 

Franklin and Dolly

Sprite Joins the Family

FRIENDS:  Several changed jobs, several have moved to different states (incl. Gail who was at the wedding-moved from MA to VT), our dear friend Sarah who made gourmet cupcakes for our wedding reception (in Sept. following) passed away, a couple who were together 10 years split, another who have been dating 7 years are taking the plunge and another couple celebrated 50 years together! Of course some friends have drifted, while other new friends entered our lives. A number of friends have lost their parents recently, Chris in Orlando lost his mom, Maureen in Mass. lost her dad. Colleen & Todd Heather & Jeremy & Suzanne and Kevin welcomed new babies, and some friends adopted new dogs to their families. These are the events that make life an adventure and we're glad to be able share in all of them (happy and sad) with each of you. Thanks for being part of our lives!