Themio and Christian smiling together outdoors

26Years

Themio & Christian

Twenty-six years later, I still choose this life with you. Happy anniversary, Christian.

Christian,

Happy 26th anniversary.

Look at us. Yosemite with Sunny, long drives with Tobby, Christmas mornings, and Yiannoula right there growing up with us. I dug these pictures out because they feel like home.

Thanks for the laughs, the road trips, and the life we built. I love you. I love our family.

Themio and Christian close together in winter, July 2002
July 2002. That smile of yours gets me every time.

From the start

How we began

Just you and me back then. No Yiannoula yet, no Tobby. Hiking, freezing, grinning about it.

Young Themio and Christian together on the rocks at Yosemite
Yosemite. You on the granite in that plaid skirt, and me already sure about us.
Themio and Christian with their dog Sunny at Yosemite
You, me, and Sunny under Half Dome. Our first trail crew.
Themio and Christian in leather jackets by the rocks
Leather jackets, roadside rocks, zero chill. Classic us.
Younger Themio and Christian embracing in the mountains
Your arm around me in the mountains. I remember that day.
Themio and Christian sitting together on a rock, May 2003
May 2003 on a rock with nowhere better to be.
Themio and Christian by the fireplace at Christmas 2002
Christmas 2002. Fire going, snowmen on the mantel, your hand in mine.
Themio and Christian embracing in the snow, January 2002
January 2002 and freezing, but you kept me warm.

On the trail

Miles we made together

Rivers, lakes, Bryce in winter, then Tobby tagging along. We did a lot of miles.

Themio and Christian by a rushing river, May 2011
May 2011 by the white water. You in pink, me in blue. Happy day.
Themio embracing Christian near a mountain river, June 2005
June 25, 2005. I held you tight and the river was loud behind us.
Themio and Christian on a sunny coastal overlook
Old film print from the coast. I still love this one.
Themio and Christian in an inflatable boat on a lake, September 2005
September 2005 on the lake. Look at that smile. Pack the raft again?
Themio and Christian smiling on the water, July 2003
July 2003. Water, pines, and you cracking up.
Themio and Christian at Bryce Canyon, February 2005
Bryce, February 2005. Cold sky, weird rocks, your hand in mine.
Themio and Christian by a creek and sandstone wall, June 2004
June 2004. Creek water and sandstone. We looked content.
Themio and Christian hiking with their dog Tobby, July 2016
July 2016. Matching teals and Tobby sprawled across you.
Themio and Christian among pine trees, November 2006
November 2006 in the pines. I was leaning on you, as usual.
Themio and Christian by a rocky stream, March 2002
March 2002. You in my lap by that little fall.
Themio and Christian at the white cross overlook, April 2003
White cross, April 2003. Years later we brought Yiannoula here too.
Nighttime selfie of Themio and Christian, March 2003
March 2003 night selfie. Your ring caught the flash.

Then & now

Same us, bigger crew

1999 was just the two of us. Then came Yiannoula. Then Tobby. Twenty-six years later, here we are.

Themio and Christian among boulders on January 2, 1999
January 2, 1999. Just us on the boulders.
Themio, Christian, and Yiannoula at the cross overlook, April 2025
April 6, 2025 at the overlook, Yiannoula in the middle.

Our people

Yiannoula, Tobby & us

Redwoods, stream hikes, that white-cross overlook. Normal family days, if you ask me.

Themio and Christian with Yiannoula holding pine cones in the redwoods
Yiannoula on my shoulders in the redwoods, pine cones held up like she won something.
Themio, Christian, and Yiannoula on a mountain hike with Tobby, July 2014
July 2014 stream hike. You, me, Yiannoula, and Tobby. Everyone made it.
Family waving from the base of the white cross
Waving from under the cross. Blue sky for days.
Themio, Christian, and Yiannoula at the cross overlook, April 2011
April 2011. Yiannoula in your lap under the white cross. We kept coming back.
Themio, Christian, and Yiannoula under the white cross, April 2011
The three of us under that cross. Clear sky, no hurry.
Themio, Christian, and Yiannoula selfie at the overlook, April 2025
April 6, 2025 selfie with you and Yiannoula. Late light. Good one.

Home & celebration

The life we keep at home

Birthday cake, Christmas by the fountain, small nights that mattered.

Themio celebrating Christian's birthday with cake, February 2004
February 29, 2004. Chocolate cake for you, Christian. Leap-year birthday.
Themio and Christian by their garden fountain at Christmas
Christmas by our fountain. Holly frame, your red top, home.
Collage of Themio and Christian skiing, at the beach, and by the harbor
Ski kiss, sunset beach, Harbor Restaurant hug. A few of our better weekends.

Love you,

Here’s to us, and plenty more years.

Thank you for 26 years, for Yiannoula, for Tobby, and for the ordinary Tuesdays in between. Happy anniversary, Christian.

Love, Themio