This week Jason and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary. We were tempted to "skip it" this year, neither of us were in the mood to celebrate nor was it financially responsible :) But thanks to mine and Jason's parents we were able to have a wonderful night to ourselves. We are so grateful to them. Here is a look back at the last 5 years.
First Year: November 2004-2005
This was our first home. Jason refers to it fondly as the "white crumbly"(it was remodeled when I took this picture - it used to have 2 doors in the front - the current residents made it into a window). Although it was old, small, and drafty (built in 1897), I loved it and I remember being nothing but happy there. We were extremely poor - and we thought extremely busy (now looking back - whose busy without kids??). We had some wonderful neighbors, the Waters and the Ransoms - we still talk about them on a regular basis.
Jason was attending BYU and I was going to UVSC. We were both working, me as a wedding coordinator and Jason worked graveyards at BYU. We also had 2 nieces born in our families. When we got married neither of our families had grandchildren - and we were determined to have the first on both sides (we figured it would be the best way to get the best gifts) - but by our first wedding anniversary we had a niece on both sides of the family.
Brock ended up being the fourth on Jason's side and the second on mine - so we did not accomplish our goal very well.
Marriage was not a big adjustment for us - so this first year went by without too many surprises or problems. The hardest part was balancing my family and his family - they just lived a few blocks from each other - so it seemed like we were always expected at both. When I asked Jason what his strongest memory was of our first year he said I cried every time we ate dinner - the truth is I cried every time
I ate dinner - because he wouldn't eat because he didn't like it. After the few fights and lots of tears he has learned to eat whatever I make.
Second Year: November 2005-2006
This was a fun year for us. We had planned a wonderful road trip to West Virginia and through all of the church history sites. We never went on a honeymoon - so this was our "make-up". Just three days before we were supposed to leave I found out I had to have an emergency surgery to remove a dangerous cyst. We were sad (still haven't taken that trip), but it worked out great - the money we had been saving for the vacation went to medical bills and we had already saved up 2 weeks of vacation time at work so I was able to heal and Jason could stay home and take care of me. Some of our favorite memories of being married with out kids took place during those two weeks. We just laid in bed and watched movies and bad TV (America's Got Talent) and talked.
We also moved into our new apartment complex and found out we were pregnant with Brock. We had wonderful neighbors in our new complex (it was the reason we moved there) -namely the Kapfers and the Currens. The Kapfers had the cutest girl named Maggie who we loved and babysat for often. I was working for NET Marketing Alliance and loving it and Jason was a phlebotomist. Jason's little brother Travis left on his mission, Jason and Travis are close so it was quite the adjustment. Jason and I became foster parents this year - unfortunately we have never been able to take placements because of our growing family, but hope to one day in the future.
Third Year: November 2006-2007.jpg)
This year is obviously filled with memories of Brock. While I was pregnant with Brock I was working over 40 hours a week, taking 14 credits, and doing my student teaching (I ended up having Brock in the middle of finals week). Jason continued working as a Phlebotomist and started applying to medical school. We were busy - but I don't remember that part of it much. I had the opportunity to travel for my work several times and I enjoyed that a lot - towards the end of my pregnancy they still wanted me to go, so they sent Jason with me, that was a lot of fun. I remember my wonderful friend Ashley getting me through everything (she was pregnant also) and looking foreword to being parents.
Brock was born in April and our whole world changed. We fell instantly in love with him and wondered what we did to deserve him in our lives. When I asked Jason his number one memory of this year he said, "mornings with Brock". Jason took him every morning after I nursed so I could sleep a little longer. He would take Brock out onto the couch and "play" with him. Brock was just a few days or weeks old - but Jason would wiggle his arms and sing to him. I know those were some of Jason's best times. We also had a great apartment complex. Most of the apartments were full of kids and stay-at-home moms. There was Jessica Richins, Ashleigh Smith, Jess Curren, and Ashley Kapfer who all had kids, and Corinne Myers who didn't have kids - but we were great friends. We had a great support net and an awesome ward.
I stayed home with Brock and Jason was finishing up his last semester at BYU. He was working up on campus - so we had him home a lot. Jason and I both had busy callings in our ward and were very involved - it made Sundays hard with all of our meetings - but we loved every minute of it - our ward was great and our testimonies grew.
Fourth Year: November 2007-2008
This year was great. Brock was a the funnest, easiest toddler. Which was great because I was pregnant! I have so many wonderful memories of this year I am having a hard time doing it justice. I LOVED being home all day with Brock, we went out and did things everyday and played hard. Jason was done with school so when he came home from work at 5 he was HOME and didn't have to go do homework or anything like that. Jason decided not to go to medical school - which was a hard decision - but for the best. He decided to focus on human resources and is hoping to go on and get a masters in it, so this year he was just working and I was home. We joked that is was actually like a "real life".
My sister and I were pregnant at the same time - both with boys! It was so fun and still is! Our ward boundaries changed during this year and we got put in another ward; it was hard (still is). The week before Noah was born my brother Michael left on his mission, my uncle Steve died, and my best friend Ashley moved away (maybe that is why Noah was 3 weeks early - all that could put anyone into labor). I am still feeling the effects and dealing with the emotions of all of those events - especially my uncle and my friend, I miss them both terribly and think of them daily.
Our Noah-boo was born in September - and our lives literally became wonderful. He has been such a joy - he gets better and better everyday. He was such a good baby - but having a newborn with a 16 month old would be hard no matter what - they definitely gave me a run for my money. I was always feeling guilty that I wasn't fully giving either one of them what they needed - I still feel that way... will that feeling ever go away?
Brock was the best big brother and just fully excepted Noah into our family.
Fifth Year: November 2008-2009
This last year has been so much fun with two boys. To be honest though it is kind of a blur. It has gone by so fast. Brock has always been the best older brother to Noah - it has made life easy. I think this year is still too fresh to look back on it with rose-colored glasses yet. The lay-off and impending lay-off seemed to consume our year. We have wanted desperately to get out of Provo, into a house and on with our lives - but so far that hasn't been in the cards for us. This year we kept thinking, "next month we won't be here anymore", so it has kept us from really making new friends or getting involved in our new ward.
But despite our financial difficulty and our "where are we going"s and "what does our future hold" issues - the central part of this year has obviously been these two boys. They bring more joy to us than we ever imagined possible. Jason and I seem to have the most perfect marriage sometimes - these challenges have brought us the opportunity to truly become one, we are always on the same page and communicate about everything. I think in a few years looking back on this year I won't remember the financial difficulty or the uncertainty, but I will remember the love and happiness in our family life - because when we are all together, everything else just melts away and we get a taste of heaven ever day.
Was that cheesy enough for you??
I am still home with the boys and Jason worked full time (up until a few months ago) and now we are all home. Jason has been working so hard at finding a job and I am so proud of him. We now have our good friends, Rob and Jill Tobler, who live in the building and are so glad to have friends to hang out with.
We were able to go to the Salt Lake temple on our Fifth wedding anniversary to do a session - so of coarse I had to get a picture - a before and after of 5 years of marriage.
Sixth Year: November 2009-2010
We obviously don't know what the next year has in store for us - if we would have guessed 5 years ago where we would be now we would be way wrong - if we had to guess a year ago where we would be today we would still be wrong. But we know that the Lord has a hand in all of it and we know that no matter what it will all be for our good. But according to "our plan" - for what it is worth - we should be either:
In a Masters Program in either Tennessee or West Virginia
or
In a good job in Salt Lake (or close to) and have bought a house
and hopefully have another baby or at least one on the way.
And as for the next 5 years... 2014... who knows??? I am not even going to speculate - I just know it will be awesome and I can't wait!
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