If you see Dan out and about this weekend, be sure to wish him a very happy birthday!! It’s such a big deal, they’re even giving us all a three day weekend to celebrate! 😉 AND on top of that, Dan and I have officially been together for two full years – so we have lots to celebrate!

First of all, I just want to say that I’m going to be talking about how awesome Dan is for this entire blog post, so if you’re tired of hearing about him, I suggest you stop reading now. 🙂 For those of you who aren’t tired of me bragging about Dan, please continue!

It is hard to believe it’s already been two years with Dan, and he’s not sick of me yet! Time flies when you’re having fun. We’ve made TONS of memories in the last year, and it’s just going to continue to get better and better.

This time last year, we were preparing to go on our first ever vacation together. We spent a few days out in the hills, exploring, hiking, and just getting away for a few days. This year, we’re kicking it up a notch – or ten – and we’re planning to spend a whole week in ALASKA! My parents and the Hauck’s will be joining us, and we’ve been preparing for this trip for months. It’s safe to say it’s going to be an awesome time. And for a nature lover like Dan? He’ll be in Heaven!

For a greater part of last year, I spent a lot of time training for races, and while Dan couldn’t physically be there at all of them, he was always cheering me on, near or far. Before every race he’d text me good luck, and throughout the race itself he’d text me and say he was thinking about me and hoping I was enjoying the run. I have my watch on me at all times, so I can see his messages come in while I run, and it always puts a smile on my face! He was a trooper last year with marathon training, since it kind of messed with our ability to do anything fun on the weekends – Saturdays were for long training runs! And being the awesome man he is, is willing to do it all again this summer since I’ve signed up for another full! Sorry Dan!! Maybe next summer I’ll take a recovery break. 🙂

We love to spend the summers at the lake with the dogs, and they love it too! It’s definitely nice when it’s way too hot to be out walking with them. Dan and I will sit along the shoreline and watch the dogs have the times of their lives. Hoping this is something we can continue doing despite all those zebra mussels moving in! 🙁

Towards the end of summer, Dan brought me into the country and taught me how to shoot a gun! I didn’t grow up with guns, so to be honest, I’m actually kind of afraid of them, but he was so patient with me and it was actually a lot of fun. He even went out and bought a smaller gun for me to shoot with – doesn’t want to admit it’s MY gun, but we both know it’s too small for him haha! 😉

We’ve spent oodles and oodles of time with each other’s families for holidays, long weekends, dinner, you name it. I love that Dan wants to be involved with what’s going on in my family. LOVE IT! I’ve never had someone who will just out of the blue suggest we invite my parents for pizza because he wants to catch up and see how they’re doing. It means the world to me, and I know my parents love it, too! He’s always willing to help them with projects, and he even went out of his way to watch Dobby AND Dakota while my parents and I were in Deadwood a few weeks ago. Including Carter, he had three dogs to look after that week, and I know firsthand that’s a lot of work! But he didn’t bat an eye, and I was so grateful he did that.

Big moment or small, Dan has made my life better. Little things like offering to do the dishes, or going to the store and buying me my own tub of ice cream 😀 to just checking in to see how my day is going. He puts in a lot of effort and I see it everyday. Dan, I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you do for me. You deserve the best birthday ever, and I can’t wait to spend many, many more with you! Love you bunches!!

Until next time! 🙂

Megan Reiffenberger