8 years!

Brian and I celebrated 8 years of marital bliss yesterday! We treated each other to a new SLR camera! I'm so excited for it!! I'm looking forward to learning all about it and getting great pics of all those things that our point and shoot camera just couldn't capture. We plan to do this year's family photos soon, so keep posted!

 Since we both enjoy cooking AND we know we can make betterfood than what we could buy if we chose to go out to eat (and for cheaper!), we decided to cook our own anniversary dinner together. We put the kids to bed early, used the fine dishes, and decorated the table with boquets of flowers. It was very special, and no need to leave home!

We had a chopped pear salad for starters, than made an amaranth soufflé (it was supposed to be the appetizer, but it filled us up, so our steak will have to wait for another day), and finished it off with a peach triffle (our neighbor gave us fresh peaches from her tree, so it was absolutely delicious)!

Here is a countdown to what the past 8 years has contained for us:


8- years ago (2004), we were honeymooners! I was working at Synergy Dental, Brian competed in LOTOJA with friends. We were living at Riverwoods #101 and loving our new life together!
7- years ago (2005), I went back to school to finish my associates degree at UVU- taking a killer 23 credits to finish it off in one semester! Brian officially launched Alianza, and won the BYU business plan competition in April. We visited San Miguel de Allende and we celebrated our first anniversary in Kauai!
6- years ago (2006), Brian was traveling a TON in Mexico. I certified as a yoga instructor and began teaching at Sundance resort. We moved to Canyonbrook and we were expected our first child! We took a fun trip to Puerto Vallarta.
5- years ago (2007), I transferred to BYU studying Health and nutrition. Our first boy was born! I started taking on-line classes so I could be at home and still work on my degree. Brian was busy with work travel, church service, and home "honey-do's." We got pregnant with #2!
4- years ago (2008) we had our first baby girl! I quit school and became full-time mom. Brian started classes back up again to finish his bachelor's degree. We moved to our first home in Lindon! Brian became an expert repair man in his spare time. I took up crafting to decorate the new home, and we really started enjoying family life- especially Saturday morning pancakes and holiday traditions!
3- years ago (2009), life is busy! Work is stressful and time-committing, a lot of changes at Alianza as they downsize from economic instability. We are pregnant with #3, and decide it would be fun to wait until birth to find out it's gender! I am teaching yoga from our home studio every Thursday night. Brian plays basketball on Tuesday nights with the ward, and is loving his calling with the Young Men. We sell the Jetta.
2- years ago (2010), Brian graduated with a Bachelor's degree! Yay!  We bought a minivan. We had child #3-- it was a boy (Eli)!
1- year ago (2011), I run in an Epic relay race running from Logan to Jackson. We got  pregnant again and find out it will be another boy! Brian's work is taking off and we have high hopes for the future!

Today- incredibly happily married! Calvin is now three months old. Brian's work is going really well. We stay busy trying to support each other in our health goals and make sure we each get turns to run, bike, hike, or do yoga- or any of our other hobbies we like to do (and it's not as often as we'd like, being busy with 4 kids is tough work, but at least we get something!). We spend quality time together and with our kids. Here is to many, many more years ahead.