Happy Anniversary

Today is our 4th Wedding Anniversary. Micah and I were married New Years Eve 2004, and have been together since April of 2000. I really wanted to be married on New Years Eve for many reasons, the main one being that we would be starting a new life together-so why not start it on the new year. It is a time of reflection on the past as well as looking forward to the future...and for me that was our forever together. The other pluses of course were to have a great New Year's party, fireworks always on our anniversary, and the fact that it would be pretty difficult for Micah to forget! Here are some of my reflections on the past 8 1/2 years together...

This was my 18th birthday, and the moment I re-met Micah. Our families happened to be dining at the same restaurant, and we saw each other again for the first time in about 10 years-he sent over a cake when he found out it was my birthday and I had to put on the silly hat and stand on a chair. But hey it got his attention! and the rest is history :)

When we started dating, I was finishing up my senior year of high school and Micah's 1st year of college. This is us tailgaiting at a ND football game my sophomore year of college.

We spent as much time together during college as we could, even though we were 3 hours apart...it was a lot of driving on both of our ends-even his mom came to pick me up a few times so we could spend the weekends together.

Micah's parents had decided to hold their company party on New Years Eve in 2002 instead of earlier in December for their annual Christmas party. It was during this celebration that I decided a New Years Eve wedding was what I really wanted (even though we weren't engaged yet).

Micah and I attended a lot of dances while we were dating, including my senior Prom, pledge dances at his fraternity, and various school formals for both our colleges.

This was Micah's gradation from college

My senior year of college I spent a semester in Washington DC. I was so happy when Micah came out to visit me, and we had a lot of fun the few days he was out there.

When I got back from DC, Micah had this elaborate plan to propose to me using the 12 days of Christmas. (I wasn't aware of it at the time-although I was hoping that he would!) I got little presents each day, some came in small jewlrey boxes (to fool me). Then for the 4th and 5th day I was scheduled to visit him (he was 2 hours away for medical school) but I was feeling so sick I didn't want to go. My mother encouraged me to still make the trip, so I went. The afternoon on the 5th day was when he proposed at his apartment. He had made reservations for dinner that night to celebrate (anticipating that I would say yes) and asked if I still wanted to go...I was too happy to feel sick-so we went out and celebrated!

There was nothing more that I could have wanted for Christmas that year...I had the love of my life and we were engaged! Micah got a stethescope from my parents-and he was checking to see if my heart was beating for him :)

After we got engaged, Micah's parents decided it was time I learned to ski-so we went to Utah. I was terrified, but had a lot of fun in the end.

This was on of our engagement photos

That following May I graduated from college

And then we went to Florida for my cousin's wedding

That August we went to Colorado for my Uncle's funeral, and stayed a week to spend time with my family. Here we are at the Garden of the Gods.

Finally New Year's Eve 2004 had arrived, one of the most wonderful days of my life.
Right after the wedding we went back to Colorado to ski (since I was terrified for anyone to ski before the wedding fearing someone would get hurt) and that's where Aiden happened ;)

We had planned on taking our honeymoon to Hawaii in June after Micah took his Boards-we weren't counting on me being 6 months pregnant! We still had an incredible time-and can't wait to go back and enjoy all the activities we couldn't because of the pregnancy.

This was the weekend before Micah's graduation from Medical School.

This was taken in Texas at my cousin's wedding, and I was 6 weeks pregnant with Devin.

Here we are this past February, one of the few pictures we have together since having kids. It seems that after you start a family, it's hard to find pictures of just the two of you.

Although having a family is also pretty incredible :)
It's been a wild ride and we've been through a lot. So many happy memories, as well as tough times-but every day we have grown closer together and have learned a little more about each other. Each moment has molded us into the couple we are today, and I'm so grateful to have found my soulmate and the love of my life. Happy Anniversary Micah-here's to another incredible year together...I love you!

Here is my anniversary present! My birthstone is amethyst, and my favorite color is green...so what could beat a green amethyst ring? I LOVE it :) Thank you honey!

Christmas Morning

We had a quiet Christmas this year...well at least the kids and I did. Micah was on call, and had a very very busy day after he left the house. We got the boys up around 5:00 so he could be here when they opened their presents. Santa came :) and the boys enjoyed the toys they got.
Our family has been so blessed over the years, and the boys have so many things that this year we decided to exchange acts of kindness and quality time in exchange for presents this year. We have so enjoyed the many blessings both God and our loved ones have bestowed upon us over the past few years, and over time we have learned that time is so precious and is to be cherished. Thank you to our families who have helped us find the true Christmas spirit, and for being so wonderful to us. We love you and missed you on Christmas Day, but were so happy to have spent so much time with you over this past month. Merry Christmas!

Aiden was very excited about his new tool bench...he had to "work" all day long :)

He also got this cool globe, and was having fun flying the plane

Ever since Aiden played this game at Laura's house I have wanted him to have one. Unfortunately we got a defective one, and have to exchange it...but he was super excited about it.

I think he'll have a lot of fun with this game and it will help him learn a lot with counting and taking turns

He got this fishing Santa in his stocking that he made at preschool, and really enjoyed putting the candy canes on the hook and saying he "caught one!"

Devin got some cool clothes and a koala bear from Great Grandma and Grandpa Smith. Aiden got a full album of bible stories on CDs which we are looking forward to playing them!

It's so cute because this elephant is just as big as Devin is sitting down, and he loves playing with it :)

We have been napping Devin in his crib for the past month now and are ready to transition him fully into the crib at night (from the pack n play in our room). This toy will be fun for him I think (along with another crib toy he got from our cousins) and will hopefully occupy him in the morning for a bit when he wakes up...we'll see how it goes!

I think the boys had a great Christmas. It wasn't overwhelming, they enjoyed the toys they got, and Aiden remembered what Christmas really was about...the wonderful gift God gave us through the birth of his son Jesus. That family is everything and doing kind things for others is one of the best gifts you can give someone.

We videoed the boys unwrapping their presents, but unfortunately didn't get any photos until after. Micah got a new smart phone for an early Anniversary gift (I wanted him to be able to set it up and start using it, rather than waiting another week). Micah is very excited to give me my anniversary gift....on our anniversary :) but he can't stop talking about it! So I'll be sure to keep you all informed when I finally get it :)

In the evening, we went over to my cousin Tina's house for Christmas dinner. We were hoping Micah would have been able to get away from the hospital for a bit to join us, but unfortunately he was so busy that we didn't see him until early the next afternoon. We had a lot of fun with Tina and her family, and are so happy to have some extended family so close to us!

Aiden was very excited to watch the Polar Express after dinner, and Devin just talked and talked all through the movie :)

Isn't this the cutest? Devin posing with Marina in Grandpa Ron's hat :)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all :) I know this is posting late, but better late than never! I got the boys to take some pictures by the tree after we opened presents...so enjoy and hope you had a wonderful holiday!