10 years!

On March 7, Christopher and I went on our first date to Macaroni Grill and then bowling.  A week later we began dating exclusively.  Today on March 14th we have been together for 10 years!  That's over 1/3 of my life!  It hardly feels like it's been that long, but at the same time it feels like we've always been together.

In celebration of our anniversary, here's our story.

Christopher and I met when I was a junior in high school (Fall 1996) and he was a freshman in college.  His best friend Mikael (see their blog here) was the drum major and I was in the marching band.  Christopher got a job (because of Mikael) as the color guard instructor.  We dated briefly (he was my first boyfriend and my first kiss at age 16!) and we even went to my junior year homecoming dance (he made me pay for dinner at the Denver Buffalo Company!). 

Things didn't work out, which at the time was for the best for each of us.  We lost touch for a couple years and when I went to college we reconnected.  (He came to my high school graduation, but did not come say hi to me).  We hung out a few times, but both of us were seeing other people so it was just friends at that point.

In the spring of my freshman year at college (March 1999) is when we began dating.  We went to various sorority and ROTC formals during college.  I spent every weekend in Boulder with Christopher and his room mates. 

During my senior year of college after I came back from my super fun trip with Heather and Camille to New Orleans, Christopher took me back to Macaroni Grill for our 3 year anniversary and proposed to me!!  After graduation a few months later (June 2002), we moved to California for my job.

I was incredibly homesick for about 6 months after moving here, but Christopher who is the adventurous risk taker in our relationship couldn't get enough of our new life and soon his excitement rubbed off on me.  After living here for a year, we went back to Colorado in August 2003 and got married!  It was a beautiful brunch wedding and the day was amazing.  We honeymooned in Negril, Jamaica and Couples Swept Away Negril. 

We began branching out and building a life in California.  Some old friends and some new friends.  I have joined several organizations and then went back to school to get my MBA in 2005 and graduated in 2007.   We have vacationed throughout California and gone back to Colorado for several ski trips.

After 4 years of marriage, we decided in 2007 that  it was time to have a family of our own and along came Cooper and Charlotte within 1 year! 

Honestly, these have been the best 10 years of my life.  We have been together through death and birth, sadness and  joy.   We've learned how to communicate better, how to set and achieve goals, and how to save money.  We've learned more about ourselves than we ever thought possible.  We are better people because we are together.  I am so thankful to have a partner to bear witness to my life.  I have never felt more in love with my husband than I do now.

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