9 years!

Um, so sweet, yet we look about 14 years old. Wait, we were about 14 years old. ;)
The beautiful roses that Spencer bought me for our anniversary.
All I can remember thinking is, "Holy crap. Did we just do this? Am I seriously married?". I was completely in love!

Yesterday was our 9th anniversary. It's amazing how quickly time flies; at the same time, it feels like I've known Spencer forever. Yesterday, we celebrated by eating at The Cheesecake Factory on Pearl Street in Boulder. We took the kids and, while it maybe wasn't the most relaxing meal I've had ;), it was fun and sweet to reflect on where we are in life and in our marriage.

I am so thankful to have a husband who really is my best friend. We both work hard on our marriage and our friendship and have been rewarded for it. In honor of our anniversary, here are NINE things I love about Spencer:

1. He is the most patient and well-intentioned person--and most especially father.

2. His dedication to rock climbing is matched by no other and it helps take some of the heat off me and my love for working out. ;) Oh and it gets him some sweet abs.

3. He is incredibly selfless in his job and in his love for our family.

4. He loves, loves, loves to sit and laugh with me. :) We could goof around for hours.

5. He loves adventure of all kinds, whether it's trying new food, going to new places, or just hiking around in the mountains, he loves to try new things and see new places.

6. He understands the "whys" of me better than anyone on this earth and when he doesn't understand, he seeks to understand.

7. He loves his family so completely. He is devoted to each of them and thinks of them/talks about them/asks about them more than they probably know. He and his brother have a bond that is amazing and he adores his sisters and still feels so protective of them. Even though his relationship with his stepsisters is a little more quiet (as in, Spencer is a quiet person and Mel and Erika are quiet people making for one wicked quiet combo ;)), he reallys cares about them and appreciates both of them for who they are--and how funny they are.

8. He still buys me purple irises (the first flowers he ever bought me--when we were 16!) for no special reason.

9. He wants nothing more than to live life as a close and strong family and to grow old together--while rock climbing every chance he gets of course. :)

Later today, we're heading down to Mt. Princeton resort for the night and going snowshoeing tomorrow. This is only the second time we've ever left our kids--makes me anxious but they could not care less. They are so psyched to stay with Grandpa Manuel and Grandma Kim. Isabel has asked me every day this week if we can pllleeeeeaaaase go "outta town" today instead of Friday.