Our Belated 10 Year Anniversary Getaway

Thanks to my friend, Lindsay, Sam and I were able to escape for the weekend to celebrate our belated 10 year anniversary!  (May 10th was our anniversary.)  Anyway, we spent the weekend in Midway, Park City, and Sandy, Utah.  It was so fun to be able to relax and not have to worry about our kids for a whole 48 hours.

The first night, we stayed at Johnson Mill Bed & Breakfast in the Waterfall Terrace suite.  This suite covered the whole top floor of the place.  It was super nice.

The next morning, they served all of their guests a hot breakfast at 9am.  It was a fun setting to eat in a dining room surrounded by huge windows overlooking the property.  Fresh snow was gently falling and they were playing Christmas music.  Kind of romantic, even though we were eating with strangers.
After breakfast, we checked out of our room, packed up the car, and tromped around the property.

We decided to drive up to Park City for lunch.  The snow was sure coming down and we found this cozy place to eat for lunch…The Eating Establishment.  Lucky us, we were seated right next to the fireplace.  The food was okay.  

We strolled up the Main Street and wandered around two art galleries.
The first art gallery had a more eclectic mix of artwork.

The second art gallery was mainly an amazing collection of the Old Mountain West oil painitings mixed in with some bronze statues and small wood carvings.  I was super impressed with that gallery.  The most expensive painting in that place was $70,000… a painting of cowboys on horseback with a train in the background.  The painting was done by an old man from Russia.  Too bad my camera ran out of battery to take a picture of the painting.  It was a massive piece!

On our drive from Park City to Sandy, we saw a sign for Olympic Park.  We just had to take a little detour to see what was up there.  We wandered around the nice 2 story museum.  We we got back outside, we walked over to watch some skiers to some sweet jumps.  In Sandy, we went to a fancy movie theater at the Jordan Commons Center and watched the movie, Gravity.  It was very interested and we enjoyed it.  Then we walked across the street for dinner at Catina's, a southwestern grill.

That night, we stayed at the Hyatt House in Sandy. This place had a sleek and modern vibe to it.  

It was SO nice to get away for a couple days and celebrate being married for 10 years.  I love us!

10 Years

 Ten years ago, I became Mrs. Ward.

May 2003 - sealed together for time and eternity in the Palmyra New York Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
August 2003 - moved from Rexburg, Idaho to Ogden, Utah and both became students at Weber State University
February 2005 - we became parents... Brian was born
April 2006 - Sam graduated from Weber State University
August 2006 - moved to Pleasant Grove, Utah
September-November 2006 - Sam trained for his new job on the other side of the country (Brian and I missed Sam so much)
December 2007 - Tyler was born
May 2008 - moved to Logan, Utah and Sam started his current job
April 2009 - bought our first home in Logan, Utah (best birthday present ever)
April 2010 - became a two vehicle family (I earned the proud title of Minivan Mom)
May 2010 - Katie was born
May 2013 - 10 years together and expecting baby #4 (a girl) in September

Ten years with this handsome fella!

"My husband has made me laugh. Wiped my tears.  Hugged me tight.  Watched me succeed.  Seen me fail.  Cheered me on.  Kept me going strong.  My husband is a promise from God that I will have a friend forever."

We call our anniversary our Family's Birthday.  We had a fun filled day as a family.  While Brian and Katie were both at school, Sam and I took Tyler and we each picked out our favorite donut.  Then we went to the "Ninja Warrior Park" so Tyler could show off his monkey bar skills to his Daddy.  We went to another park too for a bit.  After we picked Katie up from school, we grabbed a quick bite to eat and came home for a bit.

Sam made all of us some Jamba Juice and we had those all ready for an after school snack when Brian got home from school.  Then we told the kids to get in the van and that we were taking them somewhere they'd never been before.  They were so excited and couldn't guess where we were taking them.  We surprised them with their first trip to The Jump Zone Trampoline Park.  It was SO much fun! A jumping wonderland for kids.  Check this place out:

Our 9 year Anniversary

I have known Sam for over 10 years.  He is such a good example to me.  

He works hard, has a very even temper, is great with our kids, and is just an all around positive person. 

 I am PROUD to be his wife and I'm so glad he chose to be with me forever and for always.  

I LOVE YOU, Sam!

"Find arms that will hold you at your weakest times, eyes that will see your beauty at your ugliest times, and a heart that will love you at your worst."

Dear Sam, 

Thanks for loving me even when I whine more than I should.  

We've built a beautiful life together that I truly treasure.  

I love our home and our little family.  

Thanks for being such a wonderful husband and father.  

You amaze me.  

XO, Lisa

*  *  *

We started a new tradition this year... our Family Birthday Party.  Our family was "born" (created) 9 years ago in the Palmyra New York Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Our kids LOVE celebrating birthdays, so we decided to celebrate the "birth" of our family.  For dinner, we had steak and "smashed" (mashed) potatoes.  We made a round double layer fudge marble cake with chocolate frosting, stuck 9 candles in it, and sang, "Happy Birthday to OUR FAMILY."  All of us helped to blow out the candles.  The cake went fabulously with our homemade mint Oreo ice cream.  Then, we went downstairs to open up some family gifts.  Sam and I got matching blue camping chairs and we got a large Book of Mormon timeline/cartoon mural puzzle and some new church videos.  

It was a happy day.  

Hip Hip Hooray for our awesome family!

Happy 8th Anniversary!

Don't we look so young?

Sam and I are very different.

He's tall.

I'm short.

He's quiet.

I'm loud. 

He thrives on a routine.

I thrive on having an open schedule.

He's thinks logically.

I like to think outside the box.

I'm so glad that Sam was the one who thought outside the box on the day we met.  Over 9 years ago, in the BYU-Idaho cafeteria, Sam  walked right up and asked if he could sit by me.  We had never met before.  I thought that was quite a bold move to make and I was flattered.  From the day Sam and I met, my life changed for the better.  

To read the rest of our story CLICK HERE.

 Like the creative picture I took? And I think candy grams are fun to make.

Happy 8th Anniversary to us!

Happy 7th Anniversary to US!!!

Seven years ago today:

- I was 21 years old.

- Sam was almost 23 years old.

- We were surrounded by friends and family.

- I made the best decision of my life.

- I married my best friend.

- Sam and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Palmyra New York Temple.

Today, seven years later:

- We have 2 (almost 3) kids.

- We have lived in 5 apartments.

- We have bought our 1st house.

- We have owned 3 vehicles.

- We have been married for 2,555 days.

- I love Sam more now than the day we were married!

HaPPy 7th ANNiVeRSaRY to US!!!