Happy Anniversary to Us

Today we celebrated 11 years of marriage! So much has happened in that time!

We've lived in 5 different cities (Provo, Spanish Fork, Hyrum, Orem, Taylorsville).

We've owned 3 cars (93 Mercury Topaz 2 door, 98 Ford Taurus, 01 Dodge Caravan).

We have two adorable children (Christie, 9; Jordan, 7) with one on the way (due in October 08).

Between the two of us, we've had 8 jobs (Steven: Waterford, Western Wats, Ellis, Digital Brand Translation, Sorenson Communications. Merilee: McLane Foods, USDB--teacher aide/Deaf Mentor, Alpine School District--ASL teacher).

We've both worked as ASL consultants for Signing Time!

We've bought 3 TVs, 1 living room furniture set, 1 family room furniture set and 1 dining table with chairs set. One TV died shortly after we moved to Orem, so we bought a new one, then bought the second one when we got our videophone and didn't have the internet connection we needed in the living room.

We've lived in 3 Deaf wards/branches--Utah Valley Deaf Ward, Cache Valley Deaf Branch, Utah Valley Deaf Ward (again), now we live in SLC 2nd Deaf ward.

We've had callings almost too numerous to mention. Steven: activities chairperson, assistant ward clerk, high priest group leader, ward financial clerk, branch presidency second counselor, Sunday School teacher, high priest assistant, 2nd/3rd Sunday Priesthood teacher. Merilee: RS music leader, RS secretary, nursery worker, RS homemaking leader, RS second counselor, YW president, Primary teacher (twice), Primary secretary, sacrament meeting music leader, sacrament meeting assistant music leader, Primary Activity Days leader.

We've been to the ER twice: once for Jordan to get stitches in his finger (from accidentally getting it caught in the car door) and once for Merilee for pregnancy bleeding.

Nobody's ever broken a bone or needed to stay in the hospital for illness.

Steven's the only one who's had major surgery--two hip replacements (2004 and 2006).

I've had more dental work done than I care to think about.

Christie and Jordan have had no cavities.

Steven's had a couple.

For family activities, we enjoy swimming and going to the bookstore to check out the latest.

We WANT to go camping. Every year something comes up and it doesn't happen (though we DID go camping last year at Lagoon. And one year in Orem we went to Nunn's Park which is just up Provo Canyon over Labor Day weekend).

We've taken two family vacations--once was a family reunion in Washington State in 2003 and last year we went to Disneyland.

Steven and I took a 5 year anniversary trip to San Jose, CA in 2002.

We planned to go to Hawaii for our 10 year anniversary (which was last year) but we bought our house instead! I'd rather have the house! We'll try again for the 15th anniversary!

We've grown 2 gardens (Spanish Fork and Hyrum).

I've canned who knows how many jars of jam, tomato soup, chili sauce and green tomato relish. Last year I canned peaches for the first time. The year before I made apple butter for the first time. I did pears once (can't remember when exactly). Don't know if I'll get any canning done this year with Baby due right when everything needs to be done.

Happy Anniversary to Us!