Happy 8

I have to say that it is really crazy to think that it has already been 8 years of married life. When I sit down and think about life before marriage to the greatest man on earth, (just my opinion but I am a little biased), I really can't even remember what it was like. To commemorate this special occasion and for my own journaling purposes lets go back in time and see how it is exactly that Nic and I ended up together.

The first real memory I have of Nic is about 1994 I was about 12 years old. We were both working for a man in our ward who owned a carpet company. He installed carpet and I cleaned the store on Saturday mornings.

Fast forward a couple years to Nic going on his mission. I was now 14 and my sister and I took him some treats the night before he went into the MTC. All I remember was him having about 4 girls come to say goodbye to him. He will probably tell you different but he kissed all of them.

Now two years later I am 16 and he is home from his mission and now my Sunday school teacher. He never actually taught us anything I don't think. Just asked us about our lives and what we had going on. Class always involved donuts and chocolate milk! (He tells me now that at the time he thought I was hot, still weird because I was still in high school)

A year later I was dating his little brother, I was 17. When he went on his mission I still would go visit with their family and be invited to family parties. I remember going with Nic to buy a gift for his niece, he bought her a prince Barbie and I bought the princess to go with it. Everyone says now that they knew we would end up together because we were always together at these gatherings. (But in our defence I don't remember having any feelings for him in that way).

A year later I had graduated and moved to Louisiana to be a nanny. Nic was living in California selling alarms. We both just so happened to come home to visit on the same weekend and saw each other at church. Later that day I stopped by the Aguirre home to say hi to his parents and visit. Nic was there and asked who my friend was that I had brought to church. I told him who she was and we agreed that after the summer and we both moved back to Utah we would set each other up with a friend and go out on a double date.

September of 2000, we set a time to go out. He set me up with his friend and I set him up with my friend. We went to the symphony. I was living in an apartment with my sister and Nic came to pick me up. I remember being attracted to him for the first time. The whole night I was thinking to myself how mad I was that I wasn't on a date with him, (I love you Dan and had a great time, don't get me wrong).

For a couple weeks we would get together with friends and do the silly things that single people do, all the while my feelings for him were getting stronger and stronger. I really had no idea whether or not he had similar feelings. Keep in mind I am supposedly 'waiting' for his little brother who is still on a mission, making my feelings and thoughts way complicated and confusing. Finally one night after we had gone to a party in Park City I decided I was going to tell him how I felt and see what he thought! After a long conversation we realized we both had been feeling the same way. Knowing that a relationship between us would bring up some problems in the family we decided to not 'date' but to continue to be friends and see where things led.

Shortly there after I wrote his little brother to tell him that my feelings had changed and I no longer wanted to wait. I did not tell him that I was wanting to date his brother! It turned out ok and Nic's brother and I both had the same feelings of not wanting to continue our relationship, after all I was only 16 when he left and how many 16 year olds know what they want anyway and two years is a long time for people to grow and change.

Nic and I decided that if we were to date it would have to be the real deal and after a couple months of pretending to be ok with friendship we decided it was worth the risk. I kissed him first, all though he will tell you different.

Needless to say his Dad and Mom were not happy. They were worried about his little brother and didn't want him to get hurt. I guess after knowing that I had let him know it was over and him agreeing, they decided it was ok and started accepting the fact that Nic and I weren't just a silly little irresponsible thing!

After a few months of dating he proposed to me on Christmas night 2000. I swear to this day that I had no idea, even when he went down on one knee I didn't know what the heck he was doing. A great Christmas surprise!

On May 18th, 2001 we were married in the Salt Lake Temple.

Although our relationship was complicated and one of the worst Mormon tales of 'Your older brother stealing your girl while your on your mission', it was worth it. And seeing how his younger brother is now married to a great lady and who is now a good friend to me, I think it is safe to say that things worked out the way they were meant to.

Our 8 years have been a roller coaster of emotions. We have had the bad times but have also seen the best. We have grown from being kids who like each other a lot to somewhat less child like in love, (we are still kids really). We have welcomed 2 beautiful children into our lives and also seen 2 that didn't make it to our home. We have gone from one career to the next and then back again. We fight and disagree but always find a way to come back together and work it out. We have learned to let the little things go and accept each other as is. We have set goals and made them and set goals and not. We have supported each other through tough times, but also celebrated with each other through the good. 8 years have flown by and been amazing. If the next 8 or hopefully 58 are equally great I can't wait! (You like my rhyming?)

I love you Nic!