The Story of Us

I have always loved reading blogs, so after much thought I finally decided to start my own....why not? My purpose is to document all the crazy, funny, sad, and happy moments in our lives, as well as, fill in important moments from the past. So, let’s start from the beginning of us...Nick and I met at the University of Portland during our sophomore year. Nick asked me out on my 19th Birthday, and we always joke that it was love at first sight....we have been together ever since.

This is probably one of the first photos taken of Nick and I as a "couple"! Classy I know, but what can I say we were in college.

The August, after graduation in 2001, I found out that the two of us were soon going to be three. Nick actually almost drove off the bluff after I told him... he almost did not make that last big turn on Willamette in front of the school. Terrified was an understatement, but we knew that this could be something wonderful for our lives!! On April 30, 2002 Jaxson Robert (after my dad) Dente was born and he was the greatest gift we have ever received!

8 lbs and 10 oz...21 1/2 inches born at 1:42 pm 

Jaxson was an amazing baby that filled our lives with joy. He was a busy baby though, and did just about everything early, really keeping us on our toes. We all knew from birth that he would be stubborn and that he would forge his own path, and thus far has stayed true to form!

On August 31, 2002 I married my soul mate, Nick. At the the Reserve Vineyards and Golf Course we said, "I Do" in front of our family and friends.

August 31, 2002

We may have done things a little backwards, but we would never change a single moment, choosing to forge our own path....sound familiar?

We soon bought our very first home, which we still live in now, and set off to raise our wonderful son, all while attempting to live the "American Dream."

Moving in day! I can't believe how much it has changed!

Picture of the backyard....so different now!

In 2004 while working at Mortons, Nick was offered a job at this little firm called Western Architectural doing water proof testing. Little did we know what would happen...two years later he partnered up and bought that company and now has offices in Portland, Salt Lake, and Las Vegas, with more to come. We are all more than proud of all his achievements. All while Nick was getting settled into his career, in 2004, I decided to make the leap into the family business, auto and motorcycle sales. I started at the very bottom and wanted to work in every position possible, with the end goal being to help run the entire business. Although I spent many years learning all I could, I still felt like something was missing. At our good friends wedding in 2005, Nick professed his desire to have another child (some of you know this story), something that I had wanted and had tried to convince him of for awhile! So there began a year’s journey to try and get pregnant again. In December of 2006 about 20 minutes before a dinner party at our house I found out that I was pregnant...FINALLY!!! We were so happy and I could not wait to share the news with all my girlfriends that night. So much for waiting for the first trimester to be over...like I said before we are not much for convention.

After many years of putting Jaxson off we decided, for his 5th Birthday, that we should get a dog…enter Barkley. He is such a pain in the rear, but we love him none the less and he fits into our little family perfectly.

This is Jaxson and me bringing our little Barkley home. I was five months pregnant with Grant at this point....what were we thinking?

 After a pretty uneventful pregnancy, Grant Michael (after Nick's dad) Dente was born on September 5, 2007. The very moment he was born, Nick and I knew our family was finally complete!!

8 lbs 6 ozs 21 inches, born at 5:29 pm

After attempting to go back to work when Grant was three months old, we decided that it would be better for me just to stay home with the kids. Anyone with a school aged child knows that is a part time job, and raising two boys is a full time one as well. I had more than enough to keep me busy. Grant was such an easy baby compared to Jaxson, but little did we know that once he turned 18 months he would give us the biggest run for our money. He has tested every limit and pushed every boundary known to mankind. He is full of spit and vinegar, and everyone who meets him tells us that he will rule the world someday.

Both of my boys are so strong willed and know exactly what they want, and are not afraid to ask for it. I would not change them for the world though, and I am truly amazed by something they do every day. They both teach me life’s greatest lessons and show me what it means to be a real human being.

This August Nick and I celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary, WOW what an eight years it has been. Here are a few pictures from over the years:

First Halloween.... Jaxson at 6 months old.

Christmas morning 2002...8 months old.

One year old.

Visiting New Mexico when Mackenzie was born...18 months.

Star Light Parade...Jaxson is 2ish.

Jaxson and his cousin Dominic

Mt. Hood

Jaxson and his cousin Kendal

4th Birthday at Safari Sams

His 1st best friend Jayden

Mama's Fish House Maui 2006

Pre-School Graduation

6 months pregnant with Grant

First Day of Kindergarten

Grant

1st day home...my dad's 50th Birthday Party too!

First Halloween 1 month old

Aug 2008 Astoria

Grant's 1st Birthday

Hawaii January 2009

April 2009 Fish Hatchery

Jaxson's 7th Birthday

Sept 2009..Carter and Grant right after Carter's surgery

October 2009 with Brayden, Mackenzie and Carter

Christmas 2009

February 2010...all of Jaxson's swimming medals

July 2010 Coos Bay

August 2010 Prineville, OR

It is so hard to pack the last eight years into a couple of paragraphs and a handful of pictures....but there it is so far. It has not always been easy, in fact, there has been a lot of ups and downs, happy and sad, and love and hate, but this is our story and this is our lives.......