18 years!!

Yesterday, Devin and I celebrated our 18th anniversary!! 18 years is a long time with one person, but I wouldn't choose anyone else to have spent the last 18 years with. What a ride it's been! I love this man more and more with the passage of time and I would say our marriage has never been stronger than it is now. Not that it's been easy- it takes continuous work- but both of us have been willing to put in the work. 

Here's a picture for each month of our last year together. He's always up for an adventure and I love that about him. My best adventure buddy.

May 2024 @ The Grand Canyon

June 2024- backyard games!

July 2024 @ Banff National Park

August 2024- @ Yankee stadium on our baseball trip

September 2024- Chaperoning homecoming 

October 2024- Jazz game

November 2024- @Zion National Park Angel's Landing

December 2024- Happy New Year!

January 2025- Ogden Temple

 

February 2025- Scout Trail in St George

March 2025- Cruise to the Carribbean (Belize here)

April 2025- Hiking Grandeur Peak SLC

From the mundane to the exciting, I'm so happy to have Devin as a partner. Here are 18 things I love about him:

1) He is incredibly hard working- he's so talented at his work and takes pride in what he does

2) He's endlessly supportive. He's always asking me how he can better support me and he let's me do what I need to do to fill my own bucket 

3) He's always up for an adventure. We have an equal sense of wanting to travel, explore, and see the world

4) He's an incredible dad. He's honestly often more engaged with the kids than I am and definitely makes it to more of their games and events than I do.

5) He teaches our kids good life skills. Each of them is learning to work hard too because of his example 

6) He's super fun- I love hiking with him, playing board games or yard games with him, or going to dinner

7) He's a great listener. I've been through some emotionally difficult times lately and he's been so good to just listen to me and provide a safe space to say what I need to say without needing to "fix" it

8) He does not have a jealous bone in his body. He trusts me and equally, I trust him 

9) He's pretty hot. Just look at him!

10) He's dedicated to educating himself on issues that are important to me. In the past, he wasn't super interested in researching things outside of his life perspectives. Now, he often brings information to me that he's found. He's willing to shift his opinion, which I value so much.

11) He is incredibly service oriented. We know some of our neighbors because of him- whenever there's a snow storm, he's out there plowing the entire neighborhood. He doesn't want recognition. He just does it. 

12) He does nearly all of the laundry and grocery shopping. He's a real trooper and he never complains

13) He's become a Braves fan. 🙂

14) I love the relationship he has with Flor. They have such a darling and special relationship. She's lucky to have a dad like him

15) He has supported me in my crazy hiking goals and is always willing to come with me, even if it's not his favorite thing

16) He loves my family and is always willing to spend time with them and travel with them

17) Equally, he loves his family and makes effort to reach out when he can. He loves having his sister Jana and her kids over and being a support to them

18) He is a true partner in every sense of the word and I love him dearly. I count my blessings EVERY DAY that he's the one I get to do life with. More and more, I think who you marry is a real crap-shoot and you have a 50/50 shot (or maybe less) of having a good partner in marriage. 

Love you Dev. Happy 18th!! 

 

Vacation Days 7 & 8: Cozumel, Mexico and Day at Sea

Friday March 28 & Saturday March 29: Cozumel & Day at Sea

Our last stop on the cruise was Cozumel, Mexico, where we went to a resort beach and had a blast. The kids loved the blow-up ocean toys, the beach, and the pool as well as the unlimited drinks/food. Saturday was a day at sea and the kids enjoyed the ropes course, swimming some more, jenga, the kids club and more. That night we had our own "formal" night and said goodbye to our awesome wait staff. We also enjoyed the 90's show- this ship had awesome entertainment!

Overall, rate the cruise 10/10. We had the best time. We compared pros and cons of Norwegian and Royal Carribbean (who we normally go with) and they are some positives for each. But we would definitely cruise Norwegian again!

 The kids had a great time making their own memes with their awesome photos. Aren't they funny!

Best of times!! I love traveling with my family and I am so glad my kids get to make these memories with their cousins!

Vacation Day 6: Roatan, Honduras

 Day 6, Thursday, March 27: Roatan, Honduras. I think each of our kids would say that this was their favorite stop of the cruise! Mikey served his mission in Honduras, granted not in Roatan, but it was fun for us all to be in the country where he served. Roatan is an island and so beautiful in many parts. We made the most of the day and hired a guide who took us around in a 20 person van. We did zip-lining first, then an animal sanctuary where the kids got to hold sloths, monkeys, and parrots! Big highlight. We spent the afternoon snorkeling. Roatan has some of the best snorkeling in the world and an awesome reef. We had such a great time and came back with lots of smiles and sunburns. Then of course to our favorite night time routines- 2 hour, 3-course dinner, then games and more food and ice cream!

And now, of course, a ton of pictures.