8 Years and Counting.....

So it's here... today is our Wedding Anniversary and we are celebrating 8 years! We sometimes joke that it's actually longer than that due to the fact that we dated forever so in reality we've know each other for more like 12 years, crazy!! Today I keep thinking about the first time we went to Colorado together. It was in the beginning of October and the weather going over was fine. That is always the big issue the driving conditions... well anyway we get there and I think we picked up my brother Matt and went into Pueblo where my mom, dad and sister Maureen were. We went to Crackle Barrel for dinner - my dads favorite and at that point it started to snow outside... by the time we were done eating the snow was falling pretty hard but the plans at that point were to go to the Harvest Ball - the Stake Dance. Getting there was a little scary as the roads were turning bad, but once we were finally there it was hilarious as there were very few people due to the weather, so there was music playing but no one dancing, our group was by far the biggest, so if we weren't dancing it was like an empty dance floor / gym. My dad made some phone calls and we found out they had closed the highway, so we were not going to be going home. We decided to make our way across town to a friends apt. where I think we were thinking we would just stay the night. We barely made it there... yes this wasn't a little storm it was a full force BLIZZARD!! So it turned out that night and the days to follow there were 6 adults and 2kids staying in a 1bd apartment. I was shocked the power never went out, but the next day, Saturday, Steve and my little brother Matt decided they would try to walk to some stores - what they were thinking I'm not sure, I guess they were just trying to get out of feeling claustrophobic... It was still snowing and Steve did not have any kind of snow clothing at all, he had a jacket/coat and I think some running shoes? When they finally returned they told of how they went to the hotel lobby across the street to see if there were any snacks there and of course the machines were empty, so they continued on across the other way and found the one and only store that was open, they bought a shovel and some snacks and I think Steve got some socks or something... they said that as they were walking Matt was stuck a few times up to his hips in snow, so Steve had to dig him out.. it took them forever to get back. Then on Sunday we were still waiting to hear if the highway would open so we were watching the news and my mom decided to put together a little family home evening lesson, on ETERNAL MARRIAGE... I was horrified, this was Steves 1st time meeting my family and my mother does that... i just rolled my eyes the whole time. We watched a Bronco game, where Steve got to see more of my family in full force as we love the Broncos and finally, we were allowed to go home. Getting up our road after all of this snow and no one had really plowed was an experience. I was very grateful for our Jeep and 4-wheel drive that day..... So I'm sure after that experience Steve was thinking what did I get myself into.. but here we are. It's been a crazy road, but amazing. Besides when we were married my favorite moments were when we had Elle and Jack. With Elle it was just the look on Steves face as I was delivering her, and then after as he held her for the first time.. oh it was something to see. Then of course when we had Jack, this was a little different as we were told of his diagnosis right after delivering him so the first few days were filled with tears and questions, and I know Steve was struggling with a lot, a ton, but he was there to comfort me and helped me get the needed jump start to this whole new world we would be experiencing with Jack. I look at Steve now with the kids and I just can't give it justice with words. He is an amazing dad, and he loves his children more than I can believe. In the end I couldn't imagine going through this journey with anyone else!! Happy Anniversary : )