Once upon a time...eleven years ago...

That's right! Travis and I hit our eleven years married (together, in case there was any confusion) last week on the 19th. I would love to put up some of our wedding pictures, cuz we look like little kids and *sigh* I wish I could look that skinny again, but alas, I do not have a scanner. I may have to come over and raid Heidi's or my sista's. We'll see what we can do. So, instead of pics, you guys get reminiscing! Was that cheers I heard? EXCELLENT. Read on.

Once upon a time...eleven years ago...before my children were even a twinkle in my eye let alone an extra 30 pounds on my belly that never fully went away...I got married. Actually, let's rewind a little further. Nine months (seriously ironic, huh?) earlier I saw this guy at work in the lunchroom and thought to myself, huh...he's cute. See? Nothing earth-shattering here folks, just a casual observation that women routinely make about men.

Well, that's not entirely true. I vowed to be honest to you today (I crack myself up) so let's keep it REAL kids. Usually our observations tend to run more like this in our heads: Girrrrllll...he is checking you out. He think's you are HOT as well he should because dang, you have on your nice shirt today that actually makes it look like you might have a chest even though really, we all know that you are sadly lacking in that area, but you do have a nice tush, so maybe he'll check it out. Yup. He is totally checking out your butt. And hey, he has a nice butt too. Oooo....cute eyes, and is that a dimple?! *sigh*

Well...maybe that's just me.

And yes, when I am conversing with myself, it is always in the third person.

Ok so back to the story. I see cute guy, find out from the mail guy that new cute guy is training in the mailroom as well. And he's deaf. Well, crap. Ah well, at least I don't have to worry about sounding like a total moron. A gal that I worked with, Annette, she knew a family member that was deaf so she knew some sign language and invited new cute guy to eat lunch with a group of like 6-8 women. Poor guy. Poor recently returned missionary guy, surrounded by women. I'm sure he was devastated.

Since Annette is the only one who can sign, the rest of us look like idiots, we whip out the paper and pens and start conversing via paper. Very old school. None of this texting stuff, which SO would have been helpful. I thought he was very cute, and was strangely interested in him, which at the time, seriously bugged me. I didn't want to be interested but I was. And it had to be noticeable because I'm telling you, I blushed every time I saw him. It was humiliating. Luckily it was summer, so he thought I just got out in the sun alot. whew!

TWO FREAKING MONTHS later, he finally asked me out. I didn't think it was ever going to happen, and had pretty much given up any hopes when he finally did. Our first date we went miniature golfing, to dinner, then to a movie cuz we didn't want to go home, and then picked up ice cream. On the way home, with our ice cream. We stopped at a park and he asked me if he could kiss me. Never had a guy ask me that before...felt seriously awkward, but hey, you go with the flow, right? The next day he apologizes for kissing me. WHAT? (So then I have a complex on being a terrible kisser. The drama!) But then a week later kissed me again (drama averted).

I left a month later to go to Utah State for school. I figured we would still date, but honestly? He had already said I love you and while I knew I had really strong feelings I was feeling the slippery tingles of panic. It seemed way too fast, and like I said, I was not wanting to be falling in love. One weekend without him was more than enough to realize that not only did I love this guy, but it might really, really be in love with him. Mary Ann and I had a lovely "homesick for our men pity party" that first weekend and from then on, almost every weekend I was either back home visiting or he was up visiting me.

By my birthday we were talking marriage in the future...by Thanksgiving we were looking at rings. CRAZY! Then on the first day of Christmas break he proposed in front of the Christmas tree. I, being the crybaby that I am, cried and hugged and cried some more.

We got married March 19th, three months later, in the Bountiful temple. And now, eleven years later, I still can't imagine being without him. We have our four beautiful kids and each other. Life IS beautiful. :)