Where We’ve Been: A Look at the Past Decade

The credit for this blog entry goes to my friend, Megan, who posted a timeline for her family over the past decade. I thought it was so cool, I decided to do the same for us.  A lot has happened in our lives over the past 10 years!

2000

The year is 2000 and Tom and Melissa are in their first year of the “real world” after graduating from college in the spring of 1999.

Melissa is renting a house in Maple Leaf with 3 of her college friends: Megan, Sarah, and Carrie. She is working as a caterer for a small company just down the street from her house while she applies to graduate schools for education.

After traveling through Thailand, moving to Crested Butte to be a ski bum, and living on a boat in downtown Seattle, Tom is living in a tiny apartment on Eastlake by himself and working as a temp. at a law firm in downtown Seattle. He is studying for the LSAT test and applying to law schools.

Together, they decide to attend school at the University of Oregon. Melissa’s Master’s program begins in June, so she moves to Eugene and finds an apartment with a girl in her education program.

Tom begins school in August and rents a house in Eugene with two other law students.

2001

Melissa graduates with a Masters in Education and accepts a position with the Bellevue School District teaching 7th grade (which she ends up “trading” with another new teacher so that she can teach 6th grade). She moves back to Seattle in July, living with Sarah in a condo on Capitol Hill.

Tom has completed his first year of law school in Oregon, but decides to transfer to Seattle University to complete school since Melissa’s program is done and he can no longer stand to live among Duck fans. :)

2002

In the summer of 2002, Melissa and Tom plan a trip to New York City. Melissa has never been there and they are excited to travel for the first time together. On the plane there, Melissa is baffled by how nervous Tom is, but figures he must be an anxious flier. Little does she know, there is a reason for his nerves (and it isn’t flying!). Nearly upon arrival, Tom whisks the two of them to the Empire State building. Melissa is wowed by NYC and is trying to take pictures of the city as they stand on the observation deck. Tom keeps trying to talk to Melissa. Finally, he stops her mad photo taking, gets down on one knee and proposes. Melissa says “yes” (of course) and the skies immediately open up, a torrential downpour occurs, and the observation deck has to be evacuated. Desperate to have a picture of the “big moment,” the security guard will only let them have the picture seen above (inside the building). They spend the next few days touring the city in a total state of bliss.

2003

Tom is in his final year of law school. At the end of July he takes and passes the Bar. Two weeks later, they get married.

Melissa and Tom are married in Mount Vernon on August 9.  Their wedding is filled with family, friends, and one great party!

Days later, they leave for two weeks in the Cook Islands and Maui.

 

On the beach in Raratonga, Cook Islands.

When they return home, Melissa and Tom rent a home in Greenlake and begin their life together. Tom starts his first job as an attorney working for a solo practitioner.

2004

In June, after losing 5 multiple offers on homes, Melissa and Tom buy their first home in Maple Leaf. It doesn’t take them long to get the golden retriever they’ve always wanted. They name him Montague, after a harbor on Galiano Island, where Tom’s parent’s have a cabin. Monty quickly becomes their baby and they spoil him rotten.

Hard to imagine that this tiny puppy is now nearly 100 pounds!

2005

In March of 2005, Melissa learns that she has passed her National Boards and is now a National Board Certified teacher. This comes after months of intense writing and test-taking.

Tom is offered and accepts a position at Ellis Li McKinstry. He continues to do estate planning, but also gains experience doing other kinds of law.

2006

Melissa and Tom decide to do a little kitchen and bath makeover. To save money, they do the demo themselves. Too bad they picked one of the hottest days of the year to do it!

Melissa and Tom celebrate 3 years of marriage by taking a trip to Puerto Vallarta. They quickly learn why it is so cheap to travel to Mexico in August—it is sweltering there!

 

 

 

 

2007

In the spring of 2007, Melissa and Tom learn that they are expecting a baby boy due in December. They excitedly begin preparing the nursery, gearing up with all things “baby”, and waiting in anticipation for this little one’s arrival. On the night of December 15, after enjoying one last “just the two of us” dinner out, Melissa tells Tom she is feeling kind of strange. That “strange” feeling turns out to be labor and they head to the hospital. At 11:26am on Sunday, December 16, John Asher enters the world. They name him after their fathers, both named John, but know that they will want to call him Jack. From that moment forward, their lives are completely and utterly changed, and they can’t imagine life any other way!

Jack moments after birth.

2008

The Roddas settle into life as a family of three. Each day marks a new milestone and through the ups and downs of parenthood, Tom and Melissa thrive. Jack’s first year of life is so much fun!

This same year, Melissa decides not to return to work so that she can stay home with Jack. This is a big adjustment for the family, but the right choice for them. Melissa and Jack embark on daily adventures together.

In July Melissa’s brother, Matt, gets married. Not only do the Roddas celebrate with he and Joanna at their wedding, they accompany them to Poland for a second wedding!  Jack becomes an international traveler (complete with stamped passport) at the ripe ole’ age of 8 months. The family has a blast exploring the country of Poland with family and friends.

2009

2009 brought with it more joy than Tom and Melissa could ever have imagined. They welcomed Emmett Thomas into the family on October 13. A healthy, thriving baby boy, Emmett fits right into the active life that his toddler brother enjoys. Now completely outnumbered, Melissa is the sole woman in the household. Sometimes she still can’t believe that at age 32, she is the mother of two small boys. She loves it.

 

The past 10 years have been a journey for us. It is incredible to see the progression of our relationship and our family. I marvel at the path we’ve created and look forward with a smile, knowing that whatever is ahead, we’ll share it together.