Happy anniversary!

3 years ago, Steve and I professed our love for each other in front of our family and friends in a beautiful chapel. We will most likely be attending Mass in that chapel for the last time on Sunday as it will soon be torn down to build a bigger and even more beautiful one.

These three years have been wonderful. We've grown in our love for each other and have two amazing boys as a result. I'm looking forward to the many years to come. I love you, Steve!

On this day in history

4 years ago...
I was in my 3rd year of teaching 3rd grade here in Colorado. I had just decided I would be staying here for another year and was finally at peace with the decision. The weekend before I had watched my girls play their last basketball game of the season and inadvertently left my water bottle in the gym. On Wednesday, February 13, 2008, I was standing outside at dismissal time as my students got picked up. The coach of the girls team (Steve) came over to thank me for coming to their games during the season. I mentioned that I had to stop by the gym to find my water bottle. After my kids were gone, I headed to the gym. I searched through the lost and found but it wasn't there. One of the girls told me she thought Coach Steve had it. So I went and got my bottle from him, thanked him and left the gym. I was almost to the school door when I heard someone behind me. (The gym and the classrooms are in separate buildings at St. L.) Steve had run after me and asked if I would like to get coffee sometime. I said yes, but I was going out of town for the weekend. He said he would stop by school next week and we could set up a date. Our first date was on February 22. We started at Starbucks and then ended up having dinner at Table Mesa. (Both places are now closed.)

2 years ago...
Steve and I were joined in holy matrimony in front of many of our family and friends in a beautiful ceremony on a cold winter day in Nebraska. I couldn't have planned a more perfect day...except for warmer weather.

I can't believe we've been together for 4 years and married for 2! Time flies when you're having fun! :) God has blessed us abundantly in our marriage and our growing family. I love you, Steve! Thank you for being an amazing husband and daddy. I'm looking forward to our date tonight...our first since October! It will be nice to get out for a bit.

A house built on rock...

Yesterday we made our annual trek to visit "our rock." We weren't sure if we would be able to find it since there has been a lot of snow melt this year. We were afraid it may be covered or been washed away. Amazingly enough, we did find our rock! Because the water was flowing pretty quickly, we didn't want to attempt jumping out to it with a baby in tow, so we settled for a picture on the rock next to our rock. Of course, we picked up another rock to add to our collection. Then we hiked up a bit farther and had a picnic lunch. This was Stephen's first trip to the mountains and his first time in the hiking backpack. He loved it! He was talking and bouncing up and down almost the entire time. This is definitely a tradition I hope we keep up as the years go on.

Getting ready for the hike

Near our rock

Our rock

Peek-a-boo

Picnic on a rock

Daddy and Stephen at the end of the hike

One year ago...

August 22, 2009 - Steve and I had been dating for 18 months. We ventured up Kenosha Pass for a picnic. The rock we had picnicked on a year before was already occupied, so we hiked up a ways. Steve kept saying, "We'll come back to this spot if we don't find something better." We finally found a nice grassy area with a couple rocks to sit on. We enjoyed our lovely picnic lunch and then headed back towards the water to hike back down. After a little bit, Steve said, "Do you think you can get out to that rock?" and pointed to a rock in the middle of the stream. As soon as we were both on the rock, Steve handed me our backpack. He took something out of his pocket and got down on his knee. As soon as I realized what was happening, he asked, "Will you marry me?" with a beautiful ring in his hand. I, of course, said Yes! We then sat on the rock for awhile and talked. He told me all of the planning that had gone into the special moment...asking my dad when they were visiting at the end of June (I later found out that my whole family knew he was proposing that day.), talking to people about engagement rings, buying the ring on his own, and finding the perfect spot. We took a couple rocks with us as a reminder of our special spot.

August 22, 2010 - We ventured back up Kenosha Pass for another picnic. I wasn't sure if I would be able to hike up to our spot, but I made it. It took a bit to find "our rock." The water is flowing differently, trees have fallen/grown, etc. But we're pretty sure we found the special place. Of course, we took more pictures and grabbed a couple more rocks. I'm glad we have our own special spot to visit. I'm pretty sure that we are the only ones who have gotten engaged on that particular rock. I love you, Steve!

25 weeks pregnant