Thursday Thirteen: Twelfth Anniversary

This Sunday, my hubby and I will be celebrating our 12th anniversary. It's been an adventure. We began as buddies, then stopped talking for awhile, and then became best friends. I always joke that I fell in love with his singing voice long before I fell in love with him. I thought I would do my Thursday Thirteen about a milestone from each year of our married life together.

I only hope I can remember...

1. 1996
We got married on December 21st, a week after college graduation. Your typical white trash wedding. Cold cuts and homemade decorations. My in-laws were appalled, but it was all we could afford...still is.

2. 1997
We picked up and moved to Wisconsin, three states away from all of our family. We still believe to this day that it may have been the best thing for us as we started our married life.

3. 1998
After a year and a half later, we moved back to Michigan so we could start our family near our own family and friends. We settled in the Grand Rapids area since it was within an hour of both our families...just the right distance

4. 1999
Moved out of the ghetto house in which we were living into a "real" apartment.

5. 2000
Started my first full time teaching job. Steve worked for a utility locating company.

6. 2001
We take our first and only vacation as a childless married couple to Disney World with my brother and his girlfriend (now wife) and my parents. Wonderful trip and we look forward to our trip with the boys this March, the exact same week as in 2001.

7. 2002
We bought our first (and current) house and had our first child, a beautiful baby boy named Noah.

8. 2003
How sad is this? I can't think of a single memorable event in this year. We were busy struggling, learning how to be parents and dealing with the guilt of having a child in full time day care.

9. 2004
We added a second son to our household, a sweet baby named Aaron.

10. 2005
Steve loses his job, throwing us into the world of unemployment and panic.

11. 2006
Steve falls of a ladder at his new job (after being unemployed for seven months), suffering severe injuries to his ankle and giving us our biggest challenge as of yet. We made it through with prayer, friendships, and Mike's Hard lemonade.

12. 2007
Steve returns to work as a warehouse employee. I began teaching piano at a music store as an employee, versus self employment.

13. 2008
A year of major ups and downs, but with two people who still love each other and are happy to see each other at the end of the night and when they wake up in the morning.

Happy Anniversary Steve. I Love You!