42 photos/reasons why I love my husband – Celebrating 14 years

Moving overseas, they say, can be one of the hardest things to put a marriage through. I’d have to say that they are right. Aaron and I have probably had more fights this past year since moving to Thailand than in the previous 6 years combined.

He rocks the tribal clothing.

 They were always over stupid things on the surface, little annoyances that we would snap at each other over, the leaky points at which all the stress, and fear of screwing up, and the patience that is always required here just plain worn thin and wearing out against each other.

Some are even funny, in retrospect.

There was that one time when I was 8 months pregnant and proudly told Aaron that I felt like I was getting the hang of using squatty potties finally. He, squatty evangelist that he is, grinned big and stated, “They’re better than western style toilets, aren’t they?”

I could not bring myself to agree, pointed out the difference between getting the hang of and actually liking said toilets and then told him that I still preferred western toilets because they contained things so nicely and you don’t end up with a slight misting of the ankles and toes when you use them. I know, yuck.

He then had the audacity to tell his very pregnant wife that she must be using them wrong.

That may have been when I started yelling really loud that he had no idea what he was talking about, I’ve been squatting to pee since I was small and went camping in the summers, and how dare he tell me that I’m not peeing right after 37 years of practice when he’d never, ever, had to try doing it with my parts, HE HAS A HANDLE!

But we made it. We’ve got the first year under our belts and we’re past one of the more difficult hurdles. We celebrated 14 years last week.

Date selfie.

Taken by our waiter. Of course Dek came with us. He cries if I leave him behind just to go to the bathroom.

So I decided to post some of my favorite photos of Aaron from this past year that illustrate many of the things I love about this man, and why I’m glad to be doing this crazy adventure we call life beside him.

He makes things fun, lightens situations that I would just stay heavy in. He makes us laugh.

He works hard to deliver awesome adventures and experiences to our kids.

He looks really sexy holding a newborn. Also proud.

He’s a man I’m glad my boys want to imitate.

Did I mention he’s fun? They know they can play and wrestle with him.

He’s an expert in baby talk.

Protective and inclusive at the very same time. Seriously, do you know how hard that is?

He’s always teaching, our kids, other people. It’s all about discovery.

Sheer awesomeness.

He can drive long hours in crazy weather and get us there safe, fueled by caffeine and snacks.

This is where he starts to get comfortable. When everything is strange and different and unknown, that’s his comfort zone. He thrives on it.

He’s a good dad.

There he is doing that discovery thing again. Look at this giant snake skin!!!

Did I mention funny? Kids love him.

He teaches the kids to cook exotic foods from scratch.

Its’ awesome being married to a foodie that cooks. So many amazing meals.

His is the hand you want to hold when venturing somewhere a bit scary.

He catches things, just to look at them because they’re cool.

He’s never dropped a baby, and he tosses them around and makes their life exciting all the time.

He makes friends so quickly, and again, that comfortable thing.

He has strong shoulders for our kids to stand on. Literally, and metaphorically.

He works hard, until he can’t work anymore. He says he has more important things to do than sleep.

I just love looking at this picture.

He comes home early to help the Boy launch his raft.

The kids always ask him what the things they find are, because he often knows.

Crazy eyes. He knows how to make me laugh.

Umm, yeah. The epicness. Always striving for epicness.

He’s always at the back, standing apart, the quiet rebel. I always like watching him like this.

He makes epic caramel corn.

This list is by no means exhaustive, it’s just for fun.