The Last 10 Years

Yesterday, was our 10 year wedding anniversary.  You better believe that I won't let that day go without some kind of post.  I decided to have a picture for each of the 10 years, to represent what we have done, how we have gotten older, and our journey so far.  

This is a picture of Chad and I at his parent's house before when we were just dating.  We were still in school at Ricks College, and would come down for the weekend to visit both our families.  This was the Sunday that I went with him and his family to his home ward. Doesn't Chad look so handsome?

2001:  Here we are engaged, and at a bridal shower that my Aunt Sandi put together for us, just a about a month before our wedding.  We got married on May 4, 2001 in the Bountiful Temple, and were sealed for all time and eternity by my grandfather, Horton D. Hess Jr.  It was a beautiful day, and was everything I had hoped it would be.

2002:  We had such a fun time living in Cedar City, and going to school at SUU.  We were working part-time, Chad at Wal-Mart and me at Winger's, but we looked forward to the weekends, when we would head down south to St. George to go to the temple, go to Costco, and visit my grandparents.

2003:  We finally got our first addition, Keaton Chad, and boy was he a good natured little guy.  He came only a day early, and at 7 lbs 2 oz.  Chad and I were new graduates from college, and I got to spend my days taking care of Keaton, while Chad worked full-time for Bach.  It was fun to tote the baby around, and take him places.  We were able to take him up to Mccall, Idaho to Chad's grandparent's cabin that year for a little vacation and give him his first boat ride. 

2004:  In the Spring, we moved back up closer to family, first living at my Grandma and Grandpa Hess' condo while they were away on a mission, then to an apartment in Bountiful when they came home.  It was good to be closer to family.  Keaton and I were able to have lots of play dates with my sister Abby and her son Tanner to fill up our day's, and I was working at the Church History Museum at night.  We also found out that summer that we were expecting our 2nd child, and were excited to share the big news.

2005:  Early in the year we moved down to Provo, since Chad started working at Vancon in Springville.  I was put on best rest the next few months, as Sam was coming too soon.  He ended up being  born just 2-1/2 weeks early, and at a whopping 8 pounds.  Samuel Hess was a full of noise and energy from the very beginning, and our family was never the same.:)  That year we also bought a lot in Payson, and built our first home, moving in the day before Halloween.  Chad was the general contractor, overseeing all the construction, and we did some work ourselves. 

2006: I spent my days chasing after my 2 crazy boys, and getting to know my new home and neighbors.  It was our first experience at Payson's Onion Days carnival, and it wasn't a good one for the boys.  One of them was in tears on each of the rides, (but now they love them and we look forward to it).  We were loving our new home.  We also found out that our third baby was on the way... 

 

2007: Emmi Elizabeth arrived 2 weeks early and very suddenly in the middle of the night early in May.  She was barely 7 pounds, and just beautiful.  We were so delighted to finally get our little princess.  Just before I got pregnant with Emmi, Chad and I were working every Friday night at the Provo Temple, down in the baptistry.  We met the sweetest people, and it drew us closer as a couple and as a family.  I had to stop going after Emmi came, and it has been on and off for us ever since.  We are hoping to start going back to work regularly soon. 

2008: We were able to say goodbye to the "dirts" and finish the backyard, hooray!  The boys were loving life as Dad brought home all kinds of fun construction equipment to get the job done. 

2009: The kids were growing up! Both of the boys were in school, Keaton in first grade, and Sam in Preschool. Chad was still working at Vancon, getting better at his job every year, and still enjoying it.  After trying a year or so to add yet another addition to our family with nothing happening, we decided that maybe this was the end of our brood.  Then, the next month we found out that indeed we have one more still to come, and we were excited.

2010:  We welcomed our 4th and last edition, Jack Brent in May.  I was induced just a couple days early, and the day after Emmi turned 3.  He was bigger than we had expected, just shy of 8 pounds.  He had the worst go of all the kids and ended up coming out bruised all over from where he was sitting in the womb, and then had to be under the lights for a pretty bad case of jaundice.  He was beautiful to me nonetheless, and such a good mixture of all of the kids. In preparing for his arrival, we knew that we needed more bedrooms, and were lucky and able to get our basement finished just weeks before he came.  Finally, our home was completely finished of all major projects.  That summer I also graduated from an online school becoming a certified Medical Transcriptionist, and started working part-time. 

2011:  Much of this year is still left to be written, but the highlights so far would be our first trip as a family to Disneyland, and Keaton's baptism. We are looking forward to Jack turning 1, summer fun, and football games later on in the year.  

Looking back, we sure have been blessed these past 10 years. I know that I am so happy with my decision to marry Chad, all those many years ago.  He has given me a very happy and fulfilling life thus far.  Happy Anniversary Chaddy.  I love you.