HAPPY 4th ANNIVERSARY!

Although Brett and I have only been married for 4 years, I believe it was in the works for several years before we actually "started!" I think we were destined to be together because there were a lot of ways we were put into eachother's paths and finally they intersected. So, here's our story (for anyone who cares to know)...

9 years ago....(2000)

I was going to college at Weber State University. I met up with some of my friends at a football game in Logan. Some were attending school there, and some were attending SUU. I was introduced to a lot of new people that night that each of our friends had met since moving to college. This is a picture from the football game that night...Jaime, Jami, and Jami....yes, 3 of us!! This picture hung in my room for several years.

8 years ago...

My aunt helped me find a job in the dental field since I was new in town. Her friend worked as an office manager in a dental practice and I was able to get my foot in the door. I started work in a family dental office part time while going to college in Ogden. One of my first days at work I noticed a picture of the dentist's family hanging in his office and recognized Brett from meeting him a year before at a college football game.

6-7 years ago...

Brett was serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. I was working as a dental assistant full time, going to school part time, and having lots of fun with my friends.

5 years ago....

Brett and I were officially "re-introduced" at his dad's office where I was working. Brett was home from school for the summer and was helping with odd jobs around his dad's office. A month after that we started dating!

Brett moved back to Logan for school at Utah State and I was in Ogden beginning the dental hygiene program at Weber State. We saw eachother on the weekends and sometimes during the week on spontaneous whims!

4 years ago (today)...

We were married for time and all eternity in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. It was a perfect day! Somebody asked me if I was nervous and surprisingly it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever made...no, I wasn't nervous!

We were headed off to Island Park the next day for our honeymoon...

Much to our surprise we ended up spending a night in Pocatello, ID! We had some car issues and ended up taking a rental the rest of the way! I was quite pleased (ha ha) as we waited for the car company to pick us up at our hotel! I think they gave us a good deal though since we were honeymooners and they felt bad our car broke down! They waived the "under 25 yrs" fee. Thanks Enterprise!

We were back in business and had a great honeymoon... this is us at Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park.

3 years ago...

I graduated from the dental hygiene program at Weber State and Brett continued his undergrad studies there while applying to dental school.

2 years ago....

We bought our first home together....and it just happened to be in Columbus, Ohio! We started making our own life here and learned to depend on only eachother for everything.

Brett started school at The Ohio State College of Dentistry and I was the sugar mamma!

A year ago.....

We found out we were expecting this little miracle!

We spent lots of time preparing for her to come and went on lots of dates and some little trips for the last time as a family of 2.

Recently...

Life as we knew it had changed forever when this sweet little angel became a part of our family.

Also, recently our lives revolved around studying, studying and more studying and I just have to tell Brett CONGRATULATIONS on passing his national board exam with flying colors!! We found out a couple weeks ago and it's such a relief and a blessing to know that all the studying and hard work paid off! We're so proud of you! You're halfway done!

Today....

We remember our wedding day, we celebrate our lives together as a forever family, walk hand in hand through the challenges and adventures that lie ahead, and look forward to an eternity together! I LOVE YOU BRETT and I couldn't imagine going on this ride with anyone else! Happy Anniversary Babe!

A side note: I'm posting this picture again because I find it really strange that behind Jaime, Jami & Jami is BRETT....

...the man I would marry after 5 years of this picture being framed in my bedroom! We didn't realize it until we started dating and looked back through the pictures from the 1st official time we met! Weird!

So, I also added a new song on our blog...and you can all gag if you want to, but everytime I hear this song I want to cry! It's just so sweet ("And I thought I Loved You Then")!

The Graduate

So, my amazing friends did it again! Thanks to Jaime who created Kolby's graduation announcements...

And Kara, who took some great senior photos! Luckily Kara had just arrived in Utah days before we flew out, so we showed her a fun spot in Ogden for pics and had a great model to use! As you will see, he doesn't have a problem having his picture taken, though he'll try to make you think otherwise! I just wanted to share her great work....and her link if anyone is in need of a photographer! You can click on each picture to see it bigger.

This one is perfect...this is Kolby....his real smile....and always a twinge of mischief in his eyes!

We were flirting with storm clouds the whole time....it started pouring and we took cover in some doorways...if you look closely you can see the rain

Football: this kid's PASSION. period.

He thought the 21 door was just for him

The true Kolby....striking a pose....always trying to make someone laugh...which I think Kara did a lot of that day!

Thanks Jaim and Kara for sharing your talents once again!

5 MONTHS!

Emri adds so much to our family! She has the funniest little personality and knows just what to do to make our hearts melt! We took a few pics before going to the pool on her 5 month birthday (I obviously couldn't pick my favorite, so there's a few)!

She took this one herself!

Some of Emri's traits and quirks at 5 months:

• She's not too camera shy anymore and will smile at just about anything (she's even comfortable being photographed in her swimsuit)!
• She's always doing little crunches while she lays on her back....her tummy is getting strong
• She found her toes and her legs are always in the air now as soon as she's on her back (thanks to the crunches)
• She rolled over yesterday...from back to front! It was while Brett was at school, and of course she only did it once!
• She loves to spit! This is what I hear through the monitor in the morning and I know she's awake!
• She has a silly squeak for a laugh
• She loves to lay in her stroller and relax with her feet up on the bar. She also grabs at toys with her toes (Brett says she gets it from me because I'm always picking stuff up with my toes)!
• She loves her new reflux medicine tablet....thank goodness
• She likes to pull herself up while you hold her hands to sitting, then standing position....those knees sure lock tight
• Sleeps 10-11 hours at night
• Her favorite toy is her chain links
• Sounds ravenous when she eats or sucks her binky as of last week....
• EVERYTHING goes in her mouth....except her rice cereal!

For family night we decided to celebrate Emri turning 5 months at one of the classiest places around.....

The FRANKLIN COUNTY FAIR!!!! ha ha

We at fair food (corndogs, gyros, elephant ear scones)....yummy!

Watched big kids go on rides.....

Walked through the petting zoo....

And hung out at the motocross arena (then went home and sterilized ourselves and everything we took)! I really do love the fair, even if it's just to people watch!

Uncle Kade was in town working for a couple days and got to stay with us.

Just a couple random pics of the little monster!

As we were headed out the door one day I asked Brett to grab her burp cloth and put her headband on....this is his translation of the task! E thought he was pretty funny too!

Zoombezi Bay

Emri and I have been enjoying our lazy summer days at the bay..... Zoombezi is a waterpark at the Columbus Zoo. It's really nice and really fun! We got a season pass with several of our friends and their kids!

Although this pictures seems to say otherwise, Emri loves it there! We spend most of our time sitting in the kiddie pool splashing our feet or lounging on a tube in the lazy river! Yeah, don't mind the interesting couple behind me! Pretty sure their kid is drowning.

Below is Emerson (aka "little E")....and this is what the lazy river does to him! Maybe one day Emri will take her naps on the river too! Isn't he so cute?!

I swear she's plotting something! She looks so deep in thought! And yes, this swimsuit fit much better a few weeks ago! ha!

Emri's new thing is spitting! It is funny....especially when she eats, but I have to hold in the laughs or it turns into a game! This is while she's supposed to be napping at Zoombezi....in her stroller! YEah, right, too much going on! I wouldn't want to nap either!

One Year Older....And Wiser Too ?????

Wowza....27 already?!?! I think every birthday after about 24 is a bit depressing! I had a great day, but I didn't document all of the activities with pictures so this is what you get! Brett woke me up with breakfast in bed (at 6:30 am) before he left for school! Very sweet! He served me Ricotta Pancakes with Banana Pecan Syrup....DE-LISH! Then I went back to bed until Emri woke up. I had an orthodontist appt (I know, lame, but they are super busy and I couldn't avoid scheduling on my bday unless I wanted to wait another week)...I forced him to give me good news since it was my birthday! We scheduled a de-band for August!!! I won't cheer until I actually come out of that appointment with no braces!

My wonderful friends treated me to lunch at Panera Bread....one of my favorite places to eat here. Emri and I spent the afternoon hanging out till Brett came home and then he made me a wonderful dinner and I opened presents from him and packages that came in the mail from family and friends! We went out for icecream that night, then sunday Brett made my favorite: banana cake and cookies n cream icecream! So yeah, basically my whole day revolved around food! Thanks everyone for making my day a special one!!!

Emri checking out my new salt and pepper grinders! I've been really wanting a nice set of these for a while! Brett also got me a bluetooth set for driving/talking in the car, and a dough hook and whisk for my KitchenAid mixer.

Emri pooped out after lunch with the girls....I love that she fell asleep holding her links! These are her favorite toy right now!

Emri playing in the exersaucer....

The two loves of my life (well 3 if you count E's snuggly bear that has to go with her everywhere)!

So, this is Emri's "laugh" for the time being!! It's always totally delayed (by like 5 seconds) and always a high pitch grunt or squeak or whatever it is??!! Maybe one day it will turn into a full belly laugh, but for now it's all she's got! She cracks me up! (you might have to turn my music off to hear it, sorry!)