Happy 11th Anniversary!

Yesterday (Friday the 13th!) was our 11th anniversary. While some people may be superstitious, we are not--maybe a little crazy, but not superstitious. Back in early 1997 when we were trying to plan our wedding date, we looked at the calendar in June and decided Friday the 13th sounded fun. And it's been wedded bliss ever since--well, for the most part anyway.

Throughout the rest of the post are various pictures and facts that you may or may not know about us.

Engagement picture

*Our first "date" (we actually just kind of paired off from the group) was on New Year's Eve 1996

*We were engaged only two weeks later! (Crazy, I know, but that's us!)

*He surprised me with the ring while we were flying over the Salt Lake Temple in a Cessna 172 (N4395R!)

*On our wedding day I didn't want wind or rain, but of course, we got both--wind in the day, and pouring rain that night

*Tom and his friends "hid" our car in Salina (our reception was in Aurora) so it wouldn't get decorated. However, he didn't tell me this, so I had no clothes to wear after the reception. I had to wear my mom's sweats to our hotel!

Emerging from the Manti Temple as husband and wife

*We went on our honeymoon to Jackson Hole, WY, and stayed nearby at my Aunt's cabin. We had a blast and would love to go back.

*Our first apartment in Salt Lake City was only 500 square feet

*Tom worked at the Salt Lake Hilton and I was a paralegal when we got married

*We moved 11 times in our first seven years of marriage (yikes!)--at least we're pretty permanent now

*We vowed we wouldn't have kids for five years; however, I only lasted a year before I rethought my plan!

*We wanted a boy and girl and chose their names a whole year before we ever started "trying"

*Samantha Lyn was born in September of 1999 after only 18 hours of labor!

Nice hair, Sarah--I know, what was I thinking?

*Tom's first official flying job was flying Cessna 207's and 210's over the Grand Canyon

Tom's first multi-engine gig at Sunrise Airlines (the Jetstream is slightly smaller than a 747, eh?)

2002

Trip to San Diego (to visit Aunt Shari) in the summer of 2002

Our first home (finally after seven years of marriage!) Despite what many may think, pilots make NOTHING the first few years of flying!

Trip to San Diego and Carlsbad in May of 2005

Proud big sister--finally!

Tommy's blessing in Utah in March of 2006. Where was Sammie, you might ask? Go ahead and ask, I don't know either!

Daddy's boy

Christmas lights at the Mesa Temple in December 2007

And Sammie's personal favorite (gross, Mom!)--two old people still in love after eleven years!

We've come a long way, baby. We've had disappointments and setbacks, but they've been outnumbered by immeasurable blessings!

Happy Anniversary--I love "us"!