This weekend we celebrated 6 years of happiness together. It's hard to believe we have three kids, a beautiful house, a great job and so many wonderful memories. So much has happened to us during the past 6 years. The most wonderful part about being married for 6 years is that we are both still madly in love with each other. We owe this to the Lord for increasing our capacity to love as our family grows. 
How long did you date? Mark and I met during the SLC Olympics 2002. Mark was dating a friend of mine and before I met him she was telling me she wanted to dump him. She didn't like holding hands, didn't like receiving gifts and all that romantic stuff. I thought she was nuts because I had just spent a lonely Valentines Day with some of my girlfriends reading "The Stinky Cheeseman" ogether in a british accent under a fort we built in our apartment. ..LAME Valentines Day. After I meeting Mark, I tried my darndest to not act interested in him, but I was drawn to him like a magnet. I told her that she needed to end things with him and lucky for me they ended their relationship the next week. A week later he tracked me down and left his phone number at my apartment. I actually visit taught his cousin so I called her first to get the low down on him, then gave him a call. We went out for ice cream that night and saw each other every day after that. So we met at the end of February, were engaged in May and married in August. And many times we were tempted to just elope. Our engagement seemed like an eternity. 
How long did you date? Mark and I met during the SLC Olympics 2002. Mark was dating a friend of mine and before I met him she was telling me she wanted to dump him. She didn't like holding hands, didn't like receiving gifts and all that romantic stuff. I thought she was nuts because I had just spent a lonely Valentines Day with some of my girlfriends reading "The Stinky Cheeseman" ogether in a british accent under a fort we built in our apartment. ..LAME Valentines Day. After I meeting Mark, I tried my darndest to not act interested in him, but I was drawn to him like a magnet. I told her that she needed to end things with him and lucky for me they ended their relationship the next week. A week later he tracked me down and left his phone number at my apartment. I actually visit taught his cousin so I called her first to get the low down on him, then gave him a call. We went out for ice cream that night and saw each other every day after that. So we met at the end of February, were engaged in May and married in August. And many times we were tempted to just elope. Our engagement seemed like an eternity.
Who eats more?
I definitely do. I still don't understand how Mark can do it, but he actually forgets to eat until around 4 p.m. when his body by that time starts to crash and then he eats a lot of whatever he can get his hands on. Usually candy or chips. Mark is still very toned and perfectly sculpted. He looks just as good as he did the day we were married. Life is so unfair.
Who said "I love you" first?
Mark did. He said it so early in our relationship (after 3 or 4 weeks) that it really scared me. I felt like he didn't even know me because he didn't even know what my favorite cereal was. I thought "how can you love someone when you don't really even know them." I felt bad that I couldn't say it back for awhile, but when I knew I loved him, I tried to make it special so we would always remember. I told Mark I loved him while we watched the sunset at Utah lake.
Who kissed who first?I think our lips met at the same time. After a week of dating, I was really feeling a pull towards his lips. It was spring and we would go on walks at night because we both had apartments full of lots of partying roommates. I wanted to hold out as long as possible because I was too afraid to loose him. It seemed like in the past if I would kiss someone too soon, the relationship would fizzle out in 2 weeks. So right around our 2 week mark, it was a Friday night and we planned a date to go see the BYU film festival. I had to take an exam in the middle of our date so after seeing the BYU films, I took my test and then met Mark back at his apartment. We were alone there because all his roommates were at a stake dance. We watched a movie together wrapped in a blanket. After the movie got started, Mark reached over and took my hand. It was our first time holding hands and I can still remember how good that felt. Zing! After the movie ended Mark put on a song (The Dance by Garth Brooks) so we could dance one dance together since we missed the Stake Dance. He pulled me in so close and held me my favorite way (when the guy takes your hand and puts it on his heart). I looked up and our lips were so close...I can't remember who closed in on it first, but it was one passionate kiss. I had never felt passion like that before in a kiss and let me tell you, it has just gotten better. I can't believe Mark had only kissed one girl before me (and that was a peck) because dang he is good at it.
Who proposed?
Mark did. I'll tell the story another day...I'm too tird.
Who sings better?
Mark. In fact, I need to get it on our blog, but Mark was staring as "The Pharaoh" in "Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat" during our engagement. If you haven't seen the play, the Pharaoh acts and sings just like Elvis. I never thought of Mark as a Thespian (I really hate the way that word sound) but he can pull his own on stage. In fact he took State in drama competitions in high school. I love it when he sings next to me in church and all through the day at home.
Who wears the rainbow spandex?
I had to include this picture with our love story because it is one of the earliest pictures we have of our married life. This was our first apartment and also was the night of Matt and Dixie's first kiss (my sister and brother-in-law) We had a few friends over (Greg and Gwen, Matt and Dixie) to play games and somehow we decided it would be fun to choose costumes and make up a commercial and which ever couple did the best job won a prize. Mark is the one moving so fast in his rainbow spandex shorts that you can't even tell it's him. I don't know what I was wearing or what product we were promoting, but we were laughing hard. That's what I do remember, lots of laughing until it hurt.
Who is taller?
Mark, thank goodness. He is 6 foot 4 inches. Still taller then me when I am wearing heels. I'm sad that height was a really big deal for me because it seems so shallow. I have to feel petite next to my man, and so I'm glad Mark is so much taller then me.
Whose temper is worse?
Mine. I think I get frustrated way more often then Mark does. When Mark does get really mad (I think I've only seen him this way twice in the past 7 years. Once was at his roommate when we were dating and the second time was when our kids were going crazy in the car on a long drive.) Mark and I rarely have disagreements, but when we do, we both take time away from each other to calm down and think clearly about what the problem really is. Usually the disagreement is over something I want and that Mark doesn't...so usually I'm just being selfish... after a while Mark and I talk things out, compromise and then we are in love again and life goes on.
Who does the laundry?
Me. Not my favorite job, but it could be worse. I could be scrubbing out each item of clothing on a wash board outside with a bar of soap.
Who does the dishes?
Mark would rather do anything else in the house but do the dishes. He hates touching the dirty gross old food. So, to compromise, he does all the garbage and unloads the dishwasher. I didn't insist on him unloading until we had our third child. For some reason his unloading the dishwasher is the key to my making it through the day with a clean house and dinner on the table each night. If he doesn't get around to unloading the dishes, my house stays a mess. I just can never seem to keep up with all the cooking, setting out the dishes, clearing the table, and getting the dishes back into the dishwasher.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
I do. Because it is closest to the door and when our babies were newborns, I was the one to wake up every few hours to assist them. Now, it's just habit. Sometimes if I want to sleep in, I will sleep on Mark's side of the bed so in the morning the kids come running in and wake him up instead of me. Ha Ha.
Who pays the bills?
I do. Mark brings in the cash, I spend it and make sure everyone gets paid. Mark really hates paperwork. I don't mind it. It helps me know just how much money we have left over to spend on fun things if I am the one to divvy it out.
Who is smarter?
Mark is. I did write several papers for him to help him finish his Masters degree in Information Systems, but Mark did all the rest. He has excellent language skills, speaks Cbuano (a Phillipino language) fluently and is a computer genius.
Who is more stubborn?
Ooooooh, I don't know. I think I am. I usually let Mark think he is getting his way, but I am persistent over a very long period of time. For example, after we had Ashley I really wanted a kitten. After talking about it out with Mark for several months (just thoughts shared here and there) around Christmas time he presented me with a Kitty Certificate with a three strike rule. I bought a kitten around New Years and this cat ended up being such a great pet. He was so low maintenance that we didn't have to feed him or have a litter box after he grew up. The cat would just show up for a few hours every night to check in and then he was off visiting someone elses house during the day. A few months ago our cat stopped coming home. We knew he must have either been hit by a car or taken to the pound. Lyndi has been wanting a kitten for a long time but I didn't push the issue because we had a cat. But with our cat gone, and Ava a little more grown up, I decided it would be enjoyable again to have a kitten. At the pet store when I called Mark, I was surprised to have him give me the "o.k." right away to bring the kitten home. (With a three strike rule of course). So ya, I usually get my way even if it takes years. With the girls on my side, we will be able to convince him to let us anything we want. Wa ha ha ha.
Who has more siblings?
Mark does. He has 7 siblings and I have 2.
Who has more friends?
Mark has two best friends form high school that will forever be there for him. Jake and Greg. Luckily Jake and his wife live close to us and Jake just got hired on with Mark's company. Now they will work from home (at our house) and go golfing together, etc.. when they're not working. Greg and his darling wife live in Idaho so we see them when we visit Mark's parents. We've started to vacation together. Last year we went to Can Cun. We will be close with Mark's best friends for years and years to come. I probably have more people I claim as friends, but with my friends, it is a different kind of friendship. I have over 100 friends on facebook...yes I am so popular.
Who cooks dinner?
Me. When Mark "cooks" it is either fast food or he takes all our leftovers in the fridge and mixes them together on the stove. He adds pineapple and cheese, some spices and then eats it. It always looks sooo nasty to me, but in the end it usually tastes pretty good. Oh ya, Mark is very good at making waffles. His are perfectly light and crisp every time.
Who mows the lawn?
Mark says he does, but we actually live in a HOA neighborhood where people come and do it for us. We are so lazy. ;) At our last house our yard took all our time all weekend to manage. It's nice to take a break from yard work. It's really nice.
Who drives when you are together?
I usually do. Mark is usually working when he comes with us so he is on the phone or on his laptop. On long trips to Idaho, I would rather drive so the trip isn't quite so boring. I didn't realize how much I drive, but the other day when Ashley was at Grandmas house she jumped in Grandmas drivers seat and said "I'm going to be the mom."
Who sings better?
Mark. In fact, I need to get it on our blog, but Mark was staring as "The Pharaoh" in "Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat" during our engagement. If you haven't seen the play, the Pharaoh acts and sings just like Elvis. I never thought of Mark as a Thespian (I really hate the way that word sound) but he can pull his own on stage. In fact he took State in drama competitions in high school. I love it when he sings next to me in church and all through the day at home.
Who is the first to admit when they are wrong?
Mark is. He's the one that finally taught me how to communicate. I have so many regrets from my past relationships. I'm so glad Mark is so good at helping me talk things out and is the one to admit he is wrong, even if he isn't.
Whose parents do you see the most? Mine, they followed us to Pleasant Grove and we see them just about every Sunday. Mark's parents still live in American Falls, ID. When we do go visit them it is sure a nice retreat to into the country away from all the business of Utah Valley.
Who wears the pants in the family?
I am so glad to say that Mark and I both have a leg firmly planted in the pans of our family. I don't know how I would survive if I wore the pants. I can't imagine what our home would be like if we had a dead beat guy for a dad. We are together on everything. We balance each other perfectly. Hopefully the kids will inherit my love for music, nature and adventure. Hopefully the kids will inherit Mark's sense of humor, athletic ability, his smarts and good looks. (We can see that they have already inherited the Stangers' mile long eyelashes.)
And here we are today.....We had a wonderful anniversary weekend. We spent the night at the Anniversary Inn Salt City Jail. Mark surprised me with a new camera (Cannon Powershot) one that I've been wanting forever. We left the kids at Grandmas house, went out to eat at Bajios, and spent the night in the Swiss Family Robinson suite. It was awesome! Mark and I spent our first night together when we were first married in the Sultans Palace at the Anniversary Inn. It was fun to re-live the experience. If you haven't been, it is so fun because when you walk in they ask you to write down what you want to drink for breakfast and what time you want it delivered. Then once in your room they have cheese cake and sparkling cider in the fridge. We also had a list of over 100 DVD's we could borrow for the night. In our Swiss Family Robinson suite there was a tree house with a queen size bed on top. We also had a huge fish tank in the room and huge jetted jacuzzi with a 15 foot rock waterfall pouring into it. It was so fun and so romantic. It was wonderful to sleep in, have breakfast brought to us and watch whatever we wanted to on television.
I married the most wonderful person for me. Mark inspires me to be better every day. He also loves me for who I am and every day I pinch myself ... I can't believe that I hooked myself such a wonderful guy. I never thought I would really end up with someone that I was so madly in love with and so attracted to. It's funny that after 6 years of marriage I am even more in love with him and even more attracted to him. Who would have thought our love could increase as much as it has together as we've expanded our family. Our kids make us insanely happy (and insanely mad) but together we keep taking each day at a time and make the most of it. We have been so blessed. Our Father in Heaven must love us a lot for we can feel His love through the many gifts He has given us. I'm excited to see what the future has in store for us. As long as I'm with Mark, everythings going to be wonderful.