I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in December of 2003 and moved to Kansas City in April of 2004. I married my husband, Chad (also an Iowa native), in 1997. I worked for Hallmark Cards, Inc. until January 2000 when we decided to move back to Ankeny (never thought that would happen, but the death of my brother David in 1999 made us realize the importance of raising kids around family). Since returning to Ankeny, I have been at home raising our four kids and supplementing our income by running an in-home daycare during the school year for teachers children (love my summers and holidays off).