Healthy and Happy: 9 Years

I'm trying to wrap my head around 9 years of marriage with Chad. I started looking through pictures to find one for each year to make a special Anniversary post but of course my nostalgia got the best of me and I've spent way to much time looking through pictures and saving my favorites. So what was supposed to be simple has now turned into a blog post. But the past 9 years have been so wonderful that they deserve something really special. So if you will humor me with a look into our past:

Year 1: 2007- Dating and marriage

Our first year was a whirlwind. We met in our singles ward in Modesto, CA and 2 months later were engaged and 2 months after that were sealed in the Oakland temple for time and all eternity. We moved to Provo right after we were married so I could continue at BYU but then moved up to Salt Lake and I transferred to the University of Utah and Chad started school at Salt Lake Community College. We loved our first few months in Utah together.

Our first photo together.

Our first concert: The Fray.

Chad's family reunion.

Driving to Utah to pick out a ring.

Engagement Photos.

Honeymoon in Hawaii.

2nd Apartment in Salt Lake

1st Christmas Card.

Year 2: 2008- 2nd year in Utah

We were in Utah for this whole year of our marriage. We both worked and went to school and got to know each other better. We moved to a new apartment where we lived the remainder of our stay in Utah. It was small but we loved it so much because it was ours. We had too many jobs to count between the two of us while trying to figure out what we wanted to do and also find jobs that fit with our busy school schedules. We traveled that year back to Modesto to visit our family and also to Idaho twice to visit family there as well. But we spent our second Christmas in Utah and it was the only Christmas since we've been married that we spent by ourselves. It was quaint and special, not a huge deal. Just a small tree, a few gifts and a quiet Christmas at home.

Ringing in the New Year.

Shoshone Falls in Idaho.

Boating when we came home to Modesto to visit.

Our little apartment and in the background is the fish tank Chad built.

Idaho for Thanksgiving.

Decorating our first Christmas Tree.

Christmas Morning.

Visiting Temple Square the day after Christmas.

Year 3: 2009- Utah/California

2009 was spent working and going to school through August. Chad worked for Anderson Engineering as a Land Surveyor and I worked for the Church in the call center for church distribution. We loved our time in Utah but by the summer of this year, both of us were itching to move back to California. So we decided I was almost done with school and I could finish my last class or two online and we decided to move back a little early. We busily spent our summer saying goodbye to our friends and family in Utah. Then in August, my wonderful dad drove all the way to Utah to help us move back to CA. We lived with Chad's parents for a month or two and then found our own apartment and settled in to life in Modesto. Chad worked for his dad for a few months, then a pool company for the reminder of the year. I worked for my Uncle Dave at Duct Testers.

Spring 2009- we spent as much time as we could with my Sister Nichole and brother-in-law Chase at their house in Lehi.

Spending time with Chad's cousins who lived in Utah.

Camping with Chad's cousins- the Terry's.

Fourth of July at Sugarhouse Park.

The Fray Concert (our 2nd) with Nichole and Chase.

Hot August Night's with my dad on our drive back to CA.

When we lived with Chad's parents after we moved back to CA with our first dog Oliver. We bought him just before we moved back.

Our first apartment in Modesto.

At Chad's brother's football game.

Snowmobiling at my Dad's cabin.

At the temple where it all started.

Year 4: 2010- Graduating College and our first baby

This year was spent figuring out what we wanted to do with our lives! There was a lot of transitions and growth and major changes. Chad worked for Cal Pro Pools as a pool technician this whole year and I worked at Duct Tusters until August and then started working for Honey's Air Conditioning the remainder of the year. We lived in the Marina Apartments this whole year. I graduated from College and the weekend we drove to Utah for me to graduate we found out we were pregnant with Afton! We met some dear friends in 8th ward and started to love living in Modesto. We spent much time at the cabin, made trips to the temple often and took a baby moon to Monterey. And in December, our lives were forever changed when we welcomed our first born, sweet Afton into the world. After this year, the pictures of just Chad and I drastically decrease! haha

At our Marina Apartment.

My graduation from the U of U and my first pregnant picture (we didn't know until a few days later.)

At the cabin.

At the temple.

In Monterey on our babymoon.

At the pumpkin patch with the Lee's. Our friends from 8th ward and our neighbors at the Marina Apartments.

I thought I was so clever with this costume.

Afton made her debut 3 weeks early on December 9th, 2010.

So happy to have our baby!

Year 5: 2011- We have no idea what we are doing but life is great!

This was one of our harder years. We had many sweet moments with Afton, such as her blessing day but there were also a lot of tough times too. As we try and juggle learning how to be parent's, the pool company Chad worked for went out of business and I wasn't working. We moved in with Chad's parents in March and shortly after, Chad started working for my dad. We didn't get our own place again until September. But none the less we still enjoyed living so close to our family and Afton was shamelessly spoiled by her grandparents and aunts and uncles. That summer we traveled to Utah and Idaho and spent time with my sister and Chad's family at his family reunion. We spent many weekends at the cabin and quite a bit of time in Monterey too. And before we knew it, our little Afton turned one.

February- Afton's blessing day. In our Marina Apartment. We moved in with Chad's parent's shortly after this.

Afton's first trip to the cabin.

Afton's first trip to Monterey.

Another cabin trip.

A day trip to San Francisco. Man we traveled a lot when we only had 1 kid!

Spending time with my friend Kelly from high school and her husband Alex. We enjoyed living so close to them and spending time together.

Trip to Utah. Spending the night up the canyon with Nichole and Chase.

Riding one of Grandma Bringhursts' motorcycles at the Bringhurst reunion in Rupert, ID.

Monterey with Chad's family.

Another Monterey trip with Chad's mission companion, Mark and his family who just happened to be in 6th ward with us. Small world!

Jake's football game. We are happy to have our own place again! A small little townhouse just off McHenry on Mensinger Ave.

Afton's first Birthday party!

Year 6: 2012- A year of drastic changes

We spent the first few months of 2012 enjoying our privacy in our own home again. Chad worked for my dad and I worked for Honey's Air. I drove around to different cities to pick up permits for them and got to bring Afton with me. It was the perfect job and Afton became quite the little traveler. We prayed a lot and decided we needed to move and make some big changes. Chad was still figuring out what he wanted to do for a living and he decided to go back to school for Land Surveying. He loved it so much when he did in Utah. The nearest program was at Santa Rosa community college two and half hours north of Modesto. So we took a huge leap of faith and moved to Santa Rosa. Faith is what got us through that move and those first few hard months in Santa Rosa. But we knew we had made the right decision despite some hard times.

Our last month in Modesto. Playing at the park.

At Bodega Bay when we were house hunting and getting ready to move to Santa Rosa.

At the bay area children's museum with our good friend's the Lee's who just happened to move to Santa Rosa before we did.

Back to Modesto for a quick visit for my brother Cody's wedding.

Muir Woods. Still one of my favorite places we visited our first year in Santa Rosa.

Our first apartment in Santa Rosa was a total dump but all we could afford. But we loved our life none the less and we had a cute little balcony where Afton loved to play.

A beautiful running path by our house. This is where I fell I love with running.

One of our many day trips to Bodega Bay.

Our first Halloween in Santa Rosa at the Brush Creek Ward Trunk or Treat. We were Zoo Keepers.

Christmas back in Modesto.

Year 7: 2013- Falling in love with Santa Rosa and yet more changes

We got to know our beloved Santa Rosa this year. We made many friends and had so many changes to our little family. We found out we were expecting again early in the year and adjusted to the thought of being a family of four. Chad continued school and changed jobs a few times to accommodate his school schedule. I worked from home. We had to put down our dog Oliver when we found out he was sick. We moved into a much nicer townhouse. We welcomed Hayden into our family in October.

Exploring Santa Rosa.

Another Muir Woods trip.

Bodega Bay.

Visiting a high school friend in the bay area.

Temple date. We always get in as many as we can while I'm pregnant, because they are usually few and far between with a nursing newborn.

Idaho- Bringhurst Family Reunion.

This is still one of my favorite family pictures!

Samuel's blessing day. We are a family of four!

Ending our year with Christmas in Modesto.

Year 8: 2014- Slow and steady wins the race
I feel like the above theme for us in 2014 fits perfectly. This year was about learning patience, long suffering and we truly relied on each other to get through it. Chad realized that the land surveying program he was in wasn't where he was supposed to be and we both attempted to adjust our perspectives. But a new opportunity came into our lives that has forever changed us and sent Chad on his path to finding his life long career. It was a long, grueling time to get his license to sell life insurance but it was so sweet to see him accomplish something so significant. I went back to working at home when Hayden was only a few months old and Afton started preschool. We were always busy and tired and life never seemed to slow down. But we had do many wonderful moments and growth opportunities. We really loved Santa Rosa and had already begun to cultivate so many wonderful friendships. We did plenty of traveling to spend time with our families as usual!

In our backyard of our townhouse on Primavera Way in Rincoln Valley.

After a bike ride.

Afton's first Disneyland trip. Hayden's too but he rode in the stroller the whole time so I'm not really counting it.

Our first beach house trip at Chad's Aunt's beach house in Aptos.

A family picture after church one Sunday.

A day trip to San Fran.

Bike riding on a trail in Marin County.

A day date running on the beach in Monterey while visiting Chad's sister.

Monterey Wharf.

Monterey.

Our favorite date spot: Oakland Temple

Another Sunday, another post church family picture.

Spending time with my Dad when he visited us. No one told me I had raccoon eyes all day!

Thanksgiving in Modesto.

Our announcement photo: We are expecting our third!

Year 9: 2015-2016- Almost a decade
The last year and a half have in some ways been the hardest and most trying of our marriage but also my favorite. We enjoyed the first half of the year as a family of four. Chad thrived in his new career path and loved what he was doing. I worked from home for what would be my last few months until Samuel arrived. We said goodbye to our beloved townhouse and the only ward we had ever been in, Brush Creek and moved all the way across town to the very northern part of Santa Rosa just 8 weeks before Samuel arrived. We adjusted to a new house, a new ward and new neighbors all while unpacking and setting up our new home and getting ready for Sam. It was a hot summer without AC! Welcoming Samuel was one of the sweetest moments our family has had but also took some serious adjustment from all of us. And just after Samuel was born Chad changed jobs! Although this time he only switched companies and not career paths. He started working for Teacher Pension and Insurances Services and has loved it so much. We spent the summer of 2016 traveling all over! We went to the cabin, Utah and Idaho and spent another week at the beloved Aptos beach house. 2016 isn't over but it's been my favorite year with Chad yet. I can honestly say I've never been happier!