WonderWife
14 and 19
May 4th
This is anniversary week with the Denbows. WonderWife and I are celebrating 14 years of marriage today and 19 years all together on the 5th. I first met Jenny in 1991 at a McDonald’s in Tulsa. It sounds cliché but I knew instantly that I would spend the rest of my life with her. I had no idea how I would make that happen so I just relied on my charm I suppose. I didn’t have the guts to ask her out directly. I snuck a cheesy note into her textbook asking her to check the box indicating if she’d go out with me. I paid $20 to a co-worker to give me her phone number because again, my guts failed me and I couldn’t ask her for it.
What the ……..? She agreed! I took her to dinner (it was horrible) right before we viewed the Silence Of The Lambs (her choice). It was a disgusting movie but she enjoyed it. We almost hit a cow that night. I took her to a dance club only to discover that A) she doesn’t like to dance B) she wasn’t 18 yet and wasn’t allowed in anyway. We promptly agreed to calling it a night. There goes the one I was going to marry. No way we’d see each other again.
Surprisingly we did and it took 5 years of dating but we then got married on May 4, 1996.
Here is a look back through the years. We really need someone to take current portraits of us. We’re photographers and we hate being in FRONT of the lens.
I have no idea how or why God allows this to happen but I am grateful to Him. There is no way I deserve Jenny. None. She was too good for me then and she is too good for me now. She is intelligent, has that super power called common sense, gorgeous, sharp wit and is one of the strongest women I have ever known. In other words, she is a perfect balance of the things that I want to be.
On August 28, 2007 we finally brought a child into our lives. Daphne is a terrific blend of the two of us. She has her mom’s beauty and mind.
I love my wife and she is my best friend. She has endured these past two years and it hurts me that I haven’t been able to make her as happy as she deserves to be. This is testimony to how strong and supportive she is. Maybe one of these days I will appreciate it and not take her for granted?
Jenny, I love you. Thank you.
Long Weekend
Sep 6th
Yes it is Labor day weekend and people are used to getting 3 days off, but when I say long weekend, I mean something else. WonderWife left out of state on Friday for her sister’s baby shower and won’t be back until mid-day Monday. This means that little DVD and I have a long weekend together. Fortunately I have my father-in-law to assist with her.
To my fellow dads: Appreciate your wife and the way she raises your child.
Image courtesy of the movie Mr. Mom and Michael Keaton Central
My Day
Jun 20th
First of all, I would like to thank my WonderWife and Daphne for making this possible. I would not be a father if it were not for them. Jenny & I went almost twelve years together without a child and I cannot tell you how much she was worth waiting for.
Daphne reminds me of myself in almost every way. Energetic, social, rambunctious and a free spirit. Even as I type this the little girl is in her crib crying her head off because she is like her father. There is too much to do and so much energy to be spent on anything else besides sleeping. She can also be very moody and display an attitude when something happens that she disagrees with.
She is very playful and daring. She doesn’t scare easily. Her new favorite act is twirling until she is dizzy, which is nothing new for toddlers except she does this all while balancing herself on my stomach.
If you cannot tell, I am very proud of my daughter and love her very much. My hope is that she will have no doubts of this as long as I live. Thank you, Daphne.
Love, Daddy
13/18
May 4th
Wonderwife and I are celebrating our 13th year of marriage and 18th year together overall. She has made me into a better man and I will always be grateful for her love and support.
Our first date was a complete disaster. She wanted to go see “Silence of the Lambs” to which I had no desire to see but agreed out of fear of missing out on her. It was gross, and it felt like I was sitting 3 chairs away from her because of my squeamishness. Hard to believe it won the 1991 Oscar award. Dinner was absolutely tasteless. I suggested going to a dance club but she was turned away for not being 18. I could have gone in but would have felt bad leaving her by herself. Imagine my surprise when she agreed to a second date. A year after college we were married on May 4, 1996 and had our honeymoon in San Francisco.
Thirteen years later, I am still amazed that she stuck it out with me for this long. I am not deserving. No one else could have been my best friend, be the strengths to my weakness, or love me like she does. She is wise beyond her age, an excellent cook, a creative soul and has always been attractive to me. On top of everything else, she is a brilliant mother to our 2 year old daughter. How did I manage to win her heart? I am nothing without her.
I love you, Jenny. Thank you.
1996
1991
Drawing A Blank
Mar 30th
Me: I wish I could draw…or paint.
Wonderwife: There’s drawing a blank…that happens quite a bit.
Of course I drew a blank and couldn’t respond.
Owned.
Road Trippin
Mar 9th
daddy’s little blue belle
Wonderwife, DVD and I jumped into our car for a quick day trip to Brenham, Texas and back today. It took us about an hour and a half to get out of Katy (just west of Houston) thanks to a donut stop and a department store. The store visit was promptly after opening an over-pressurized chocolate milk bottle.
Just before reaching Sealy, Texas we pulled off to visit Stephen Austin’s memorial site and state park near San Felipe. Little DVD romped and played through the area and bluebonnet fields. This was one of the main reasons for the trip was to capture the mandatory bluebonnet portraits.
After sampling some BBQ beef brisket in Sealy, we headed north to Brenham and the Blue Bell creamery. Of course the best part of any tour is a sampling of the manufactured goods and this was no different. Once 3 scoops of ice cream had been devoured, we went back to a field covered in Texas’ state flower for another photo session. By this time the very patient, fun-loving girl had been away from home for too long and Wonderwife was chewed on by a few ants. So we grabbed a few shots and made our way back to the house in Katy.
High As A Kite
Feb 28th
That explains the kind of day we had today as we celebrated little DVD’s 1.5 years of existing. Today’s activities included kite flying, ice cream consumption and chillaxin. Photos are courtesy of Wonderwife since I was piloting the aircraft. Video is here.
Little Big Girl
Feb 9th
She looks so mature at only 17 months, doesn’t she? Golly tamale!
photo credit to the Wonderwife at EagerLittleMind