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Our Five Year Anniversary

Today Kevin and I have been married for five years! It truly has been the best five years of my life, filled with lots of love, two babies, and a million happy memories. I wanted to write this post since many of you don’t know how Kevin and I met, which was quite the whirlwind romance, and because we have had a lot of fun on weekend getaways and vacations on our previous anniversaries.

Kevin and I met in July 2010 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. At the time, we were both in the Army. I left active duty in 2015 and Kevin the year afterward (he still serves in the National Guard), but the Army was how we met and a huge part of the first years of our relationship and marriage. We were both Military Police officers and were stationed in Missouri for six months for training. Just two weeks after we started dating, I knew that I was going to marry him. I thought it was such a cliche to hear “when you know, you know,” but in our case, it was absolutely true. We finished our training in December 2010, after which I left for my assignment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and Kevin prepared for his deployment to Afghanistan, where he was for a year.

Those of you who have been deployed or who have loved ones deploy know how hard that is. It was especially hard for me because at the time that Kevin deployed, we had only been dating for a few months. I was moving to a new state far from family where I didn’t have any friends yet, which meant that I didn’t have a support system near me. It was hard, but I spent my time trail running, exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest and falling in love with the area, and making new friends. When Kevin came home in December 2011, I was ready and missed him, but it had certainly also been a year of growth for me.

It still wasn’t easy when Kevin came back to the United States. His unit was in Alabama and I was in Washington State, putting us on opposite ends of the country from each other. Less than three months after Kevin came home, I found out that I would be deploying in late 2012. The week that I learned I would be deploying in just 5 1/2 months was the same week that Kevin proposed. We decided to have a short engagement and were married on September 1, 2012 in Evanston, Illinois at the church my parents were married in. Kevin was able to transfer units and move to Washington in late May 2012, which allowed us to spend just a few months together before our wedding. It was a lot of time and effort on his part and obviously a big decision to choose to move and I have been forever grateful for him that he did that. If it wasn’t for him taking a leap of faith on our relationship and his decision to give up where he had been living his whole life, it would have been very difficult for us to find a way to be together since I wouldn’t have been able to leave my unit in Washington for a few more years.

Let me tell you, it was a very busy 5 1/2 months. In addition to preparing for a deployment and planning a wedding in Illinois while we lived in Washington, I was training for the Badwater Ultramarathon, which was just six weeks before our wedding. By the time we got married, Kevin and I had been dating for less than two years, and had only spent about 6 months of that in the same time zone as each other. Talk about a whirlwind!

Since the three months between our wedding and my deployment were very busy for me, we took our honeymoon for our one year anniversary and went to Lake Como, Italy. It was the most amazing trip; beautiful location, amazing food, and enjoying quality time together after a busy first year of marriage. It couldn’t have been more perfect, and Kevin planned the whole thing while I was deployed!

For our two year anniversary, we went to Newport Beach, Oregon. It’s an adorable town on the coast. I was pregnant with Lleyton at the time, and this was the last trip we would take before becoming parents a few months later. We ate great seafood, explored the coastline, and enjoyed our time together before growing to a family of three. My favorite restaurant of this trip was Local Ocean, and on our drive home we stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. I’m definitely a cheese addict, and this was magnified during pregnancy, making the detour on the way home was well worth it.

For our three year anniversary, we went to Victoria, British Columbia. We love Canada! Victoria requires a ferry ride, but we can drive to Vancouver in less than three hours. It’s pretty amazing to be in a different country in that short of time. In Victoria, Kevin indulged me in going to high tea at the Fairmont Empress, we saw the gorgeous views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and went to Butchart Gardens. For this trip, we stayed at The Craigmyle, which had a delicious breakfast included with our stay.

Also, Lleyton’s face in this picture just kills me. I’m not sure who he is giving that mean side-eye too, but it’s hilarious!

Our four year anniversary was pretty low-key. I was pregnant with Easton and we were flying to Atlanta a few weeks later, so we took advantage of the fact that we had family in town and enjoyed a casual date night having dinner in Tacoma. This year, for our five year anniversary, we are spending a long weekend in Bend, Oregon. We have never been but have always wanted to go; you can expect a full blog post on the trip!

They say the day you get married is the best day of your life. I think a more accurate explanation is that it is the start of an amazing life. Our wedding day was perfect and filled with so much love and happiness. But now, five years later, when I think about the birth of our sons, the time we have spent together as a family, and the adventures I know we’ll continue to have, I know that we are destined to have lots of “best days” as the years go on. Marriage has been different from what I expected, simply because it is so much better than I could have imagined prior to being married. Each year has truly been more fun than the last. I wouldn’t change anything about our whirlwind romance because that was the start of what has continued to be a life full of love and romance. Kevin and I met while training as Military Police officers, but the truth is that I didn’t initially want to be a Military Police officer; my first choice while at West Point was to be an Engineer. I remember being so angry at first when I didn’t get my first choice for my military branch, but now looking back I know that God had a plan in mind greater than my own. I can’t imagine going through live without this handsome guy by my side, or without our two little handsome guys.

To Kevin, I truly couldn’t as for a better husband, partner in life, friend, teammate, and father to our boys. I didn’t know what was in store for us when we met in Missouri years ago. I knew that I would marry you, but only God knew how incredible our life together would be. Even though our days look different now than before we have kids, even though our “date nights” are usually opening a bottle of wine in our sweatpants at 7pm after the kids go to bed, there is nothing ordinary our mundane to me about our life. Every day is special. Every day I’m grateful to be married to you. Every day I’m thankful our boys have you as such an incredible role model. I can’t wait to see what the next five years brings.

xoxo

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Really wishing I had the ingredients for the best Really wishing I had the ingredients for the best ever chopped salad for lunch today! It’s got a little bit of everything and is the perfect lunch or big dinner salad alongside some cheesy bread or pizza. Recipe in my profile! 
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Let’s have some sourdough oatmeal chocolate chip Let’s have some sourdough oatmeal chocolate chip cookies as we await the weekend shall we? Recipe in my profile 💛.
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We all need more easy recipes in our lives, but do We all need more easy recipes in our lives, but do they have to be boring? #ad #sponsored I’ve partnered with the Washington Beef Commission to bring you this flavorful and delicious ginger garlic beef noodle bowl. It’s ready in just 30 minutes and packed with veggies, protein, B-vitamins, and zinc thanks to using lean flank steak. The full recipe is linked in my profile! 
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The chicken gyro bowls are your new favorite “me The chicken gyro bowls are your new favorite “meal in a bowl.” The air fryer makes cooking the chicken a breeze and gives it the best texture and flavor, but stovetop instructions are included too if you don’t have one! We’re using chicken thighs to keep the meal more budget friendly and truly, it’s a delicious easy meal that’s perfect for meal prep too! Recipe new on the blog today!
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Weekend baking plans? How about this blueberry alm Weekend baking plans? How about this blueberry almond coffee cake? I have several coffee cake recipes on my site but this one is so easy and perfect with a cup of coffee. Stuffed with blueberries with nutty almond flavor, it’s begging to be your Saturday morning treat. Recipe in my profile! 
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This creamy one dish chicken and orzo bake is alwa This creamy one dish chicken and orzo bake is always one of our favorites. It’s creamy and lemony with cherry tomatoes that burst while cooking to make the perfect sauce. Everyone in my family has seconds, it’s budget-friendly, and a breeze to make. What’s not to love? Recipe in my profile.
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Let me highly recommend this lemon bar chia puddin Let me highly recommend this lemon bar chia pudding for a healthy snack or breakfast that’s waiting for you in the force when you need it! It’s sunshine in a cup and so delicious! 
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Happy Easter from Team Dieterich. May your Easter season be filled with the joy of God’s love. 💛
Easter is just a few days away and if you’re sti Easter is just a few days away and if you’re still planning your menu, the good news is that all these recipes are easy to make last minute! 

• Herb Roasted Potatoes with Burrata 
• Bacon Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
• Maple Mustard Roasted Carrots with Pine Nuts and Pancetta (leave out the pomegranate arils if you can’t find them because they’re not in season!)
• Sweet and Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts 
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All these recipes and more are linked in my profile!

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(ad) What better recipe to make for Easter brunch (ad) What better recipe to make for Easter brunch than a breakfast casserole? Made with @cascadianfarm Organic Frozen Root Vegetable Hash Browns, this high-protein casserole is perfect for any Spring celebration. @thefeedfeed 

This casserole also features crispy bacon, sweet caramelized onions, and creamy cottage cheese. I love using @cascadianfarm products because they’re always USDA-certified organic and taste amazing! Their love of delicious, uncomplicated food comes from what nature has already perfected—wholesome, organic ingredients that I feel good about feeding my family.

Get the full recipe on thefeedfeed.com (https://ff.recipes/vegetable-breakfast-casserole) 

@cascadianfarm is on sale during the month of April at @pccmarkets! 

#cascadianfarm #feedfeed
Happy second birthday to our sweet Killian Michael Happy second birthday to our sweet Killian Michael! Describing you as sweet is so accurate because you absolutely are the sweetest boy. You’re so easygoing and a joy to be around. You took your time learning to walk but now you are running everywhere, always with a car or truck in hand. You learn new words every day, and when you see a truck, train, plane, or “copa copter” that you’re excited about, you shriek “MOMMY” at increasing volume until I acknowledge what you’ve seen. You will happily drive cars and trucks for hours with a subtle “vroom” as you play. Your favorite day of the week is garbage truck day. You love going to the zoo and seeing animals and always point out the “woof woofs” you see on our hikes and walks. You love when your brothers read to you but if they pick the wrong book, you slap it away and say “no” until you get the one you wanted. The second you hear the garage door at the end of the day you say “dada!” And wait at the door to run and give a hug. Sweet boy, you have brought us so much joy in these two years. You truly have the best disposition and personality. You are such a gift and we all adore you so much. Happy birthday boo bear! #killianmichael #birthdayboy #twoyearsold
Easter is one week from tomorrow and this is the o Easter is one week from tomorrow and this is the only carrot cake recipe you’ll ever need. Years ago tears were shed while I tested and perfected this recipe and I’m confident that it’ll be the right choice for your Easter dessert! 
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Who is looking for the perfect Easter main dish? # Who is looking for the perfect Easter main dish? #ad #sponsored I’m back with the Washington Beef Commission to bring you the most delicious and tender garlic and herb beef tenderloin. I know that cooking a whole beef tenderloin can be intimidating, but I’ll walk you through the right tips and tricks to make sure yours is full of flavor and melt-in-your-mouth tender. This recipe is perfect for all your holiday and entertaining needs! Full recipe linked in my profile. @wabeeflove 
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Keep a batch of these spinach and turkey meatballs Keep a batch of these spinach and turkey meatballs in the freezer and you’ve got half your dinner done on even the busiest days! Add some marinara sauce or pesto and pasta, turn into meatball subs, or serve with Parmesan orzo like you see here. I also love defrosting some for quick lunches for my toddler! Recipe in my profile 💛
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Who doesn’t love a mini muffin? I’m all about Who doesn’t love a mini muffin? I’m all about the homemade healthy snacks this year to keep them full of good ingredients and save money! These mini sprinkle muffins have already been such a hit in our house and they have a secret ingredient: chickpeas! They give these muffins a protein and fiber books and with other ingredients like flaxseed meal, almond flour, Greek yogurt, and rolled oats, they’re a gluten-free and naturally-sweetened perfect snack! 
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Yes please to an air fryer salmon taco bowl! No ai Yes please to an air fryer salmon taco bowl! No air fryer? No problem, I’ve got instructions to sear the salmon on the stove. But let me tell you, the air fryer is magical for salmon and with the cilantro lime rice and pineapple salsa, it’s a 30 minute meal you’ll love. 
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For an easy appetizer for a portable high-protein For an easy appetizer for a portable high-protein meal, we’ve got southwestern egg rolls! They’re easy to make and the homemade Greek yogurt jalapeño cilantro sauce is so good you’ll want to put it on everything. Recipe in my profile! 
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These key lime pie bars are just about the perfect These key lime pie bars are just about the perfect citrus dessert and so lovely for spring! Take advantage of end of season citrus and make a bright spring dessert this weekend! 
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Sheet pan chipotle chicken bowls! This recipe is w Sheet pan chipotle chicken bowls! This recipe is where it’s at! Great for meal prep lunches, cooked on one pan, and something the whole family will love? Be the family hero and add this to your meal plan tonight! 
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