Feliz Octavo Aniversario!!

And for those of you that don't know a little spanglish that means 'Happy 8th Anniversary!'  I can't believe it's already been 8 years since we said "I do!"  We have actually been together a lot longer than that...circa 1998 ya'll.  I guess I'll give you all the abridged back story to how we met.
I was 18 and in my first semester of college.  Elijah was 20 and was working for Wilson's Leather (I think.  The guy was Mr. Retail for a long time!!).  I worked with his roommate at Hastings and they came in together one time.  I asked Brian who that was and he told me.  He then sort of hooked us up and we went on our first date...which was really movie watching at his apartment.  A couple dates later we made it official.  December 13, 1998.  We moved in together the following year and then got engaged around Christmas time of 2001.  The timing was great because my mom got to know him for a few years and we got engaged not knowing that she would pass away just a couple of months later.  Thank God for Elijah because during that hard time he really was my rock.  I'm so glad that they got to know each other and that she got to see us engaged.  I wanted to finish school so we had a long engagement.  I graduated in December of 2003 and we got married June 19, 2004.  We were going to have the big wedding here in NM at the Botanical Gardens, but it just started getting out of control and too much so we nixed all those plans and opted for a very small wedding at a place called The Grove in North Las Vegas.  It was really pretty (and hot) there.  We had a good time...with some bumps right before.  A few weeks before we said I do I came down with what we thought was a virus and was really pneumonia.  Needless to say, being the happy asthmatic that I am, I was hospitalized for 5 days and then put on house arrest oxygen for the following week. I missed my bridal shower and was barely given the go ahead to leave for our wedding.  My dress was falling off of me and I had bruises up and down my arm due to the IV and other crap they were feeding me.  But, we made it and here we are 8 years later.  It hasn't been all roses and daisies, but we have overcome a lot and are stronger from it!  Here's a little look back to our lives as individuals, a couple, and then a tripod. 

Circa 1999.  My mom was fond of taking photos which was somewhat embarrassing.

At the bowling alley. Me: on meds for wisdom teeth removal.  Elijah: duck lips extraordinaire.

Ambiance...1999.

This is what happens when you are bored and live together.  Maybe 2000?

Vegas circa 2002.

Halloween party in 2002 in our new house!

San Diego maybe 2002/2003.

On our way to get married!!!

June 19, 2004.

Sometime in 2004-2006.  Pimples were big in our photos back then!

2005 and Elijah's first trip up the tram.

2006 when I started being a creeper in photos before it became cool.

2007 self portrait.  Don't we take good photos?

April of 2008 at the Phoenix race track

2009 at McCall's Pumpkin Patch.  Elijah loves his sleepy eye look.

2010 when we finally had a +1 to our original 2.

August 31, 2010 when we officially became a family.  

June 2011 and Audrey's first time in San Diego.

Still 2011.  Nice picture to send to family.

So I can't find any pictures from any camera that we have taken as a couple/family in 2012.  We have some on Elijah's tablet, but I can barely figure out how to turn the thing on much less upload a photo.  I loved looking back on our years together!  Happy Anniversary baby....I love you!