Obviously, there are five other people that have been very involved in most of the forty years of Julianne and my marriage. During the course of our first decade of wedded bliss, we also had the blessing of five wonderful children… We did the girls first gig with Amaree, Marissa and Chelsea. These three were born within 35 months of each other and were all married in a six week period in 2005. Then the boys Seth and Solomon came along in 1987 and 1989, almost exactly 2 years from each other (Well, actually 2 years and 2 days).
In many ways our children grew up with us Julianne and I were married at a young age. We were ready. And we were also ready for children.
All three girls married in 2005
The following shots are of our first three girls as they were growing up. I intentionally did not add anything with brothers. Those will be added in Part 2 tomorrow.
AMAREE
Julianne and David with first daughter Amaree on a winter hike near the San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff, AZ 1980
Here I am with Amaree as a newborn
I was there at Julianne’s side in Flagstaff, Arizona on that cold winter morning when Amaree was born. Word can never express all of the feelings that went through as I became a 23 year old father. I still get chills when I thing back to the MAJOR event in the life of my wife, myself and our new first child.
As with any parents, we had many hopes and dreams for this sweet little daughter of ours. And, obviously, we had no idea if any other children would come our way. But, we made sure that THIS child was loved beyond measure.
Amaree in Flagstaff ca. 1983
Amaree in front of the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, AZ ca. 1983
Amaree Getting Made Up 1982
Amaree around 1989, taken in Mesa, AZ
Amaree all dressed up nice in the early 1990s
Amaree in an ad in Japan in the early 1990s
Amaree at her high school graduation in June 1998
Amaree and Aaron June 18, 2005 in Cardston, Alberta
MARISSA LEA
Just about 14 months after Amaree was born, we had another cold winter March morning in Flagstaff when our second daughter, Marissa, came along. The feelings of joy I had when Amaree was born were the same for Marissa. No favoritism in joyful feelings!
Marissa baby picture – don’t have many. (Wish I had a better one!)
Dad and two daughters in 1983
Our little family in Flagstaff AZ in 1981
Hiking with Marissa and Amaree at the Grand Canyon
Julianne with Amaree and Marissa in the fall if 1981
Amaree and Marissa were fun sisters (taken in Sedona, AZ)
One of my favorite shots of little Marissa taken at Student Housing in Flagstaff
She is STILL a Supergirl and SuperMom
Marissa getting a swing from her Aunt Laura in Mesa, AZ
Family picture at family reunion in early 1982
Marissa with her friend Rika in Japan in 1987
Posing in Japan
Marissa in Japanese advertisement in 1989
Marissa in High School
Marissa Graduation from High School
Amaree and Marissa hanging out during ther high school days
Marissa reporting that she is going to Thailand to serve an LDS Mission
Marissa at her wedding in Louisville, KY in June 2005, just five days after Amaree’s wedding in Canada
CHELSEA DAWN
About 18 months after Marissa was born, we had another visitor. Chelsea came into the world on a cold November day in Flagstaff. Joy continued for us as our third daughter entered this world. Couldn’t find any baby pictures, but
Little Chelsea sleeping when she was about 2
I think Chelsea was around 2 in this shot
Julianne and me with our first three…all girls..(L to R) Amaree, Chelsea and Marissa
Chelsea’s 3rd Birthday November 1985
Young sassy Chelsea Dawn — “you WILL NOT spank my little bottom Mom!”
Chelsea was a cutie at age 5 in Japan
One of my all-time favorite pictures of Chelsea taken in August 1987 in Oita, Japan
Three Sisters
Three Sisters in Kamiura, Japan around 1989
Chelsea was in many ads in Japan – This one for a large department store
Julianne with the three girls
Chelsea in a kimono in Japan around 1988
Visiting grandma in Arizona
Chelsea in Sedona in 1993
Three Sisters in Monument Valley – July 1993
Chelsea in high school
Chelsea Senior photo
Chelsea’s mischievous look
Dad…QUIT – 1998
Chelsea was also married in 2005, but that didn’t end well. She married Jorge Mendez in 2015 and they are great together. The first photo was one I took of Chelsea on her wedding day in 2005.
Chelsea – wedding shot 2005
Chelsea at her wedding to Jorge in 2015
And finally, to finish off Part 1 — about the girls…
Dad and three married daughters June 2005
I love this ❤️