Twelve Years!

Today is our twelfth anniversary. Hard to believe twelve years ago we were standing at the entrance to the temple, giddy and a little nervous. I don't think I comprehended back then what life would truly be like being married to Rob. He is an amazing husband. We make a happy and unified team. I love him so much!

Just for kicks, I thought I'd write about how we ended up on our first date. (This message has been approved by Rob...)

Rob and I met on my 19th birthday (Aug. 30) at a ward function. For about four months we were good friends. I was in charge of our Family Home Evening group and he and his roommates would attend every Monday. We began to play piano duets together and I was impressed by his talents. I loved talking to Rob and admired his knowledge about so many topics. But we were always just friends (I don't think either of us considered that we might one day date, let alone get married).

In January, Rob's apartment invited our apartment to attend a CES devotional at the Marriott Center. I was excited to go and immediately said yes. When the actual time came around, every single one of our roommates bailed. Rob and I were the only ones still planning to go (which ended up being a good thing, albeit a little awkward). After the fireside, we got stuck waiting for other cars to clear out from the Marriott Center parking lot for about 30 minutes. While we waited, we talked. Like, really talked. We realized we had a lot in common and wanted the same things out of life. This is where my tiny crush began.

A few weeks went by in normal college fashion. One weekend, I had asked out a boy in our ward. About two hours before our date, I got a call from Rob. Rob explained that he was going on a triple date with his two siblings and their dates. His date had to cancel at the last minute and since he was the only driver going on the date, he needed a "back-up." He was racking his brain to figure out who he could ask spur of the moment and thought he'd try me (because why would I have plans on a Saturday night? ;). The best part? They were going bowling. My least favorite date activity. Ever.

I had a date lined up and yet, I really wanted to go out with Rob. I decided to cancel my date with that other guy and be Rob's back-up date. BEST DECISION I'VE EVER MADE. We were together every day after that (including lots of trips to the BYU library and Smith's grocer store). Literally. We dated for a year and a half and then were married on April 28, 2001, in the Mount Timpanogos temple. Sometimes I think I should write a thank-you note to "Rob's date that cancelled last minute."

Here we are twelve years later with some funny stories to tell (like the time a spider nest hatched under our mattress or the time the power went out with an explosion and we discovered the culprit to be a smoldering duck) and some amazing memories (for example, the birth of our children, buying our first home, and eating chicken tikka sandwiches in Seattle). We love our lives together and look forward to what the future holds.

Our younger, skinnier dating days:

FINALLY tying the knot!

If my scanner was working, I'd post more pictures. 

Love you, Rob!