9th Anniversary.

Chris and I celebrated our 9th anniversary on May 2nd.  Neither of us knew that the other was in "cahoots" with our friend, Tiffany to surprise each other!  That girl can keep a secret!  I surprised Chris at work with 9 silver balloons, each one having a scroll tied to the bottom of the ribbon that was a favorite memory of mine or a letter I wrote to Chris with a picture of us that year.  

Where it all began...BYU-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho

Engagement photos 2003

Married 1 year - 2004

At Rodizio's in SLC during Conference Weekend that we attended

Married 2 years - 2005

We had Brady is February of our 2nd year

This is actually the best picture I have of Chris and I during that year

Married 3 years - 2006

We moved to Maine DURING the week of our 3rd anniversary!  Chris had just graduated from college and we had no idea what the future held!!!  This is us on a camping trip in one of my favorite places, Camden, Maine at the Mt. Battie tower overlooking the harbor.

Married 4 years - 2007

We spent this anniversary down in Philadelphia, visiting Chris' sister Nickie and her husband Nick.  Chris' mom also flew out for the week as we were also throwing Nickie a suprise baby shower for her first baby!

Married 5 years - 2008

Expecting baby #2, Olivia!  We went out to waterside Portland for Brazilian food.  Nothing compares to Rodizio's or Tucanos!!! Later that summer we spent a weekend in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for Chris' work retreat with Enterprise where we were treated to a harbor cruise and dinner.  We were lucky because we were able to spend this weekend with our good friends, Jared and Tyneal, as he also worked for Enterprise at the time.

Tyneal and I were the two pregnant ladies on board!!!

Married 6 years - 2009

We had recently moved back to Idaho and Chris' parents took the kids so we could have a quiet evening and day to ourselves.  We went out to a steakhouse for dinner and explored the local canyons and waterfalls the next day.  What a beautiful, unique area.  I had come to appreciate Idaho and it's beauty!

Married 7 years - 2010

Went out to a "fancy" dinner at Canyon Crest and spent the next day relaxing without kiddos in tow and,went to a movie!

Married 8 years - 2011

Expecting baby #3, Zachary and moved from Twin Falls to Idaho Falls for Chris' promotion to Branch Manager of Idaho Falls, Airport and Rexburg.

Married 9 years - 2012

I picked Chris up from work and we went out to Olive Garden (his pick) and had a very yummy dinner and much needed one-on-one time.  Then we headed back home where a surprise awaited both of us!!!

I had set out mason jars from the front door leading into our bedroom and all over the bedroom, which Tiffany helped with and lit for me just prior to us getting home.  She and her husband, Aaron took the kids for the evening so we had plenty of alone time!!  VERY ROMANTIC!

When we got to our bedroom Chris had his surprise waiting for me...a dozen red roses and a new frame with a letter to me inside.  It was so nice to have an evening to ourselves, to rekindle our feelings and remember why we chose each other.

Chris, last nine years have held many joys, laughter, sadness, the birth of our beautiful children, many moves (including two cross-country!), job changes, job loss, trials, challenges, journeys of self and as a union, travels, building our first home together, sacrifices, blessings, and so many rewarding memories.

Thank you for staying by my side, even when I was willing to leave yours.  Thank you for having patience with me, even when I had no patience for you.  Thank you for committing yourself, your time, and for working so hard so our family can not only survive but thrive, and so I can have the opportunity to stay at home with our children.

Thank you for loving me through "thick" and "thin" (and everywhere in between!)  Thank you for being willing to make personal changes as I make mine and we make some together.  Thank you for listening, even when I would not hear.  Thank you for your hugs and kisses, even when I did not give mine as readily.  Thank you for being you, and for letting me be me.

I know that we can make the "YOU" and the "ME" continue to grow into a stronger, more unified "US."  I look forward to the next year, and the next 10 years, and so on, ahead of us.  I look forward to the life that we will continue to build together and how we will continue to build ourselves.

Love, Hannah






P.S. Chris had been "hinting" at me for some time to cut my hair shorter as he prefers it that way...so the day of our anniversary I finally did it and surprised him!  He got to take a new lady out that evening!

Before:

After:

Audrey and Zach.

A few weeks ago I watched Audrey so Ben and Rachel could go on a date.  It was very cute watching these two little cousins wiggle around next to each other. Zach is 4 months older than Audrey so is more mobile than she is yet...he rolled over onto his tummy and stared at her as she bopped him in the face with her hand over and over.  Ge wasn't quite sure what to do, so he just looked at me with a weird face!

It will be fun watching these two play together and grow together, as it will also be with their new triplet cousins!  I love being close to family so "my babies" can grow up close to my cousin's babies!!!  When I was growing up I was so close to my cousins on my mom's side of the family that we felt like brothers and sisters a lot of the time and are still very close today!

"Look at me!!!"

"No!  Look at me!!!"

"Look at us!!!"

Visit with Grandpa Morgan.

I made a quick weekend trip up to Montana with the kiddos to see my dad who was flying in for a few days.  We got to meet our new little triplet cousins!  They are adorable and we heard barely a squeak from them the whole time!  It was fun comparing Zach's size at 6 months to theirs at 10 weeks!

Sammy (Samuel), Lizzie (Elizabeth), and Vikie (Victoria)

Zach with his aunties (Linda and Donna)

 

Grandpa loved seeing Zach at this fun age!!!  

So glad we were able to visit with you dad, even if it was too short!!!

How do they do this????

Proud Grammie Linda with the babies

Brady was so excited to hold Sammy!  He was very careful and loving.

Audrey's baby blessing.

We had the opportunity in April to attend our little cousin's baby blessing.  Audrey Kristine was given a name and a blessing by her dad (my cousin), Ben.  There were several family members and friends who were able to travel and be part of this occasion.  Isn't she adorable?

Precious...

The family who attended:  Rachel's mom and three of her siblings, Ben's parents and sister and our family

I had to get some pictures because these were our Easter outfits and I never got good pictures of the kids then...

And Chris was delighted to find that Zach is FINALLY ready to "perform" a "trick" that he has "taught" each of our children....

....Introducing GENIE BABY!!!!  

(I love how this picture makes Zach's head look as big as Chris'!!!!)

Spring Break!!! 2012

We had a great spring break!  We were thinking of going out of state on vacation but decided to stay close to home and spend time with friends and family!  We started out on Friday evening after Chris got out of work.  We met up with our good friends, the Daniels (I can't believe I forgot pictures!!!) in Pocatello and ate some delicious Pizza Pie Cafe!!!  (Our fav!!)

Next onto Burley to Grammie and Grandpa Graf's house!!!

Zach and Grandma Jones got in some cuddle and bonding time as we enjoyed a Saturday morning visit from her!!! 

Grandma and Grandpa have been busy at work tearing their former kitchen, dining room and living room apart to remodel!  We can't wait to see all of the changes the next time we visit!!!

The kids always love to help out around their house with projects, especially helping Grandpa with the garden!  It was spring tilling time, which Grandpa had done before we got there!  The next day it was scooping compost from the truck into the wheelbarrow!  Our little princess girl also has a gravitational pull towards dirt!  Who do you think was in heaven!!!

Brady got good and filthy as well, and this momma is still learning how to relax and let the kids dive in and get dirty!!!



Although Zach didn't join in on the dirty work he sure had a great time being held in the warm sun by Grammie and watching big brother and sister!!!

Saturday afternoon we headed up to Twin Falls to check into our hotel and play in the pool with some of our best friends in the world!  (Don't worry, Olivia's TOO SMALL swimsuit got swapped out for a brand-new yellow polka-dotted one-piece the next day!!!  I didn't realize just how TALL she had grown since last summer!!!)



This picture came out really grainy- the humidity in the pool area must have affected my camera...

This was both Jane and Zach's first time swimming!  They both loved it!!!




It made my heart so happy to watch my kids swimming around and having a blast with their buddies again!  (Also, it didn't hurt that I was with my best buddy too!!!)



We swam for quite a while and then had a movie night with the kids back in the room!  Popcorn, a movie, soft comfy beds....sounds like a great night to us!!!

And then it led to this....





Sunday we attended church at our old ward and enjoyed seeing friends there.  Many people were hoping we decided to move back, but alas...in Eastern Idaho we remain...for now!

That afternoon daddy took the kids swimming again while mommy took a nap with Zachary.  Then Zach found his identical twin!  Which kept him occupied for a while until we were ready to leave to have dinner with our friends, the Wells!

On Monday we checked out of the hotel and the kids took a spin down the hallways in style!!!

Then onto a little shopping to kill some time!  We (or maybe I should say, "I") raided Once Upon A Child and got some great swimsuits for the kids this summer!  Because I was so thrilled at all of the deals I was getting I was late to the play date that I had arranged at Hop2It!!!  

It is very hard to get pictures of kiddos while in midair and bouncing!!!

For lunch we had an indoor picnic at Jon and Charlotte's house, due to rainy, windy weather!  The kids all had a great time exploring new toys that Sam and Alivia had gotten since our last visit (Christmas) and we stayed and played/talked for several hours!  So good to visit!!!

Of course we tried to capture a picture of the two little cuties!  Unfortunately, Jane was not too thrilled to be woken up from her nap to snap a picture with her boyfriend!!!

The rest of the kiddos anxiously posed for their photo when we told them they could all crawl into the box fort together!!! LOVE these kids!  LOVE watching them all play and be creative and imaginative together!

That evening we drove up to Hailey (making a brief pit stop in Shoshone for some shakes and french fries (tradition)).  

As soon as we hit the road from Twin Falls I looked back to find not one, not two, but THREE zonked out kiddos!!!  (Olivia always has the same expression when she falls asleep in the car!  It's so hilarious!!!)

Brady utilized Zach's carseat and feet as a pillow...good thing Zach didn't seem to mind!

Zach was happy to see Grandpa again and enjoyed the evening sun together!

Grammie and Grandpa met us up there and we had a movie night with the kids at the theater on site in their townhome community!!! 

(Ignore the freaky night-vision eyes!!!)

The next day we set out for some fun window shopping and thrift store searching.  We found a few treasures along the way and the kids had a fun time posing infront of all of the local statues in Ketchum! 

Chris was gracious enough to pull off to the side of the road so I could snap this picture.  I LOVE barns, and a barn + a wreath + mountain backdrop = sweet photo opp!!!  I'll be playing around with some editing on this photo to see what results I can come up with!

We had lunch a cute 50's-style diner...you can see how impressed Zach is with his daddy's sense of humor here!  The face says it all!!!

The rest of the day/evening consisted of some time in the hot tub, relaxing, playing and another movie night!

The weather was dismal so we spent Wednesday afternoon at a pottery painting shop called Local Color!  I've always wanted to go to one of these places but never have.  It was a great idea from mom and dad and they treated the kids to their own piece of pottery to paint!  When Chris and I saw how much fun they were having both of our creative/artsy sides started to "itch" so we jumped on board and found a piece for each of us to paint!  It was fun to something unlike anything we'd ever done!


Olivia liked that she got to pick out her very own colors to paint with!!!  She chose a fairy and we were all very suprised by how meticulous she was about painting it "just right!"  

Brady chose to paint his own mug for hot cocoa.

Grammie painted a special SUN VALLEY sun photo holder to put pictures of her grandchildren on!!!




Everyone was very patient, especially the kids!  It took me a LONG time to paint my platter.  Thank you guys for allowing me the time to be creative and have fun painting!  The shop lets people eat there so we had a "picnic" lunch while it rained outside and we were warm and cozy on the inside.  Grandpa entertained the kids by playing with Zach and telling stories.

Daddy deep in concentration as he painted his PATRIOTS plate

The process of painting my platter...first I had to cut out stencils that I drew using pencil and contact paper...then I had to paint around the contact paper, pull it off and then paint in the flowers.

  

The finished products...ready to get kilned!!!!

Dinner followed at Smoky Mountain Pizza...this was my calzone!

Eat up folks!!!

The next afternoon we went back to pick up our works of art!  I think we've found ourselves a new tradition!!!!