Forever and Always

Today is our anniversary!  We were married 365 days ago.  Since then we have moved across the country twice, lived in 3 different states, been somewhat homeless, had two apartments, went on countless mini-adventures, seen the whole California coast, been to two universities, and fallen more in love every day.  

With my best friend, forever doesn't seem long enough.

Happy Valley

So hell week has finally (sort of) come to an end.  I did a bridal shower last week and attended the wedding this week and now we are finally home after driving through the night.  I am so glad it is all over.
So let's go in order of events.  First off we went to an endowment in Manti.  The temple was beautiful but it was an hour and a half one way and we got stuck in dead stop traffic for another hour on the way home.  Which made me late to the bridal shower I was supposed to be throwing...  So the theme was Milk&Cookies: Udderly in Love.   Dennis and I bought one of those Fujifilm insta cameras and we thought it would be cool to do a photo-booth sort of deal.  I bought 50 sheets of film and we used all of them.  It was fun. Basically all the decor was made by me.  I made the flower crowns, the backdrop, the watercolor table labels, the props, the love banner, the canvases, and some of the cookies. I had help with the cookies as well.  We had a lot of cookies.

This is one corner of a large, full table.

Of course I made Den take one with me.

Ok so thats done.  Next event.  We found a flight and went to California for the wedding 4 days later. We got to hang out with my family a lot which was awesome.  My little sister is almost as tall as me and she is 7... I am going to be the shortest one in my family.  It is ok though. These are my little brother's sunflowers and he is crazy proud of them. Their stalk is bigger than my wrist. On a side note, you can dry sunflower stalk and use it as really awesome kindling. 

 So we helped set up for the wedding as well.  Most days we spent several hours helping.  I did all the table center pieces.  Which of course I don't have a picture of.  This is the only picture I have from the wedding. It's blury but I love that Polariod's are such a one time deal. You know what? It is perfect every time. I am not a big fan of retaking.  The moment is whats perfect or memorable. So why take it 8 times just because you think your smile is off or your hair is ever so slightly out of place? I actually ended up really liking my dress. I am not a huge fan of pink but I looked hard for one I actually liked.

So.  That was that.
We had a lot of other stress.  Including a maintenance emergency in our apartment while we were out.  But its hopefully over. 
We also left late yesterday because we got to drive Dennis truck back but the window was cracked so we had to get that fixed and then I got us lost an hour out of our way and so we've had about 3 hours of sleep since yesterday.  Yay!

(^Clearly obsessed)

Independence Day and all that Jazz

So we have not had a single weekend that is not packed.  This last weekend was no exception.  I had Independence Day off but Dennis had to work. I went on a hike with my friend and her mom to Stewart Falls in the early(ish) morning.  It was so pretty.  Very worth it.

Then Dennis and I went to his grandparents for a BBQ and got to see all that side of them family and catch a bit of the World Cup game.  Then we met his other side of the family at the pool and then had dinner and fireworks with them.  It was my first experience in a firework tent.  Fireworks are illegal in California in the area I grew up in.  We got to see his cousins and aunt and all the babies.

Saturday we hung out with Dennis work friend and his wife.  Dennis also took a massively long nap. 
Sunday we went out to his uncle's for another BBQ. We got to see more cousins and kids again.
This weekend begins what I am calling hell week. I am throwing a bridal shower this weekend and next we go to the wedding.  That's all I will say.  But if either of it turns out less than a train wreck maybe I'll write a post about it. Maybe. I'll think about it.

Strawberry Days

So one of the families I work for gave me two free rodeo tickets!  I of course wanted to go as I am into expereinces and I have never been to a rodeo.  It was a carnival too. Their thing is strawberries.  Their main food item is strawberries in cream. It was delicious!  I had two.  Dennis and I went with his work friend and his wife.  We watched some of the rodeo, but had to leave early because Dennis got a nasty migraine. 

Also.  Last weekend we went with our friends (aka Brat Pack) out to the canyon for a bonfire.  It was awesome even though we forgot a spatula for our bbq... We survived.

Thankful Again

So sometimes I get really worried.  If you ask Dennis, sometimes is closer to all the time.  I worry about all sorts of things.  From little things like if I put too much garlic in the soup to big things like not having enough money.  If you ask most anyone who knows me you will also learn that I cannot do anything right in my own eyes.  Which is true.  I can't see past the flaws of something I have done. This post is brought to you by my cousin. I was sad because I felt like some things weren't fair and weren't working out the way I thought they aught to.  She said, "how can you say that?  You are married to your best friend."  It's true. I am.  I am so blessed in that regard.  Many people get married only to find out maybe their prince isn't so charming or maybe he's a little too charming and not enough prince.  Dennis is 100% through and through Prince Charming.  There is not a single moment that I am not grateful for him.  Cheesy as it is.  It is true.  With that in mind, here is another thankful list.

I am thankful for...
*Dennis
*Working in the nursery
* All the babies in nursery that make us proud and happy
*Both of us having jobs
*My mom and dad
*Dennis mom and dad
*Libraries
*Camping
*The sound, smell, and feel of a fire
*Pictures of memories
*Root beer (our weakness...)
*School
* Air conditioning
*The kids in my job. They make me proud.

The Curse

I think I've mentioned my curse before.  I don't remember. So here's the gist.  When we go to places of service, particularly restaurants, if I order or ask for something I simply won't get it.  It happens all the time.  It happened last night when we went to get ice cream cones.  I have no idea why.  I need to find a way to break the spell...
On a different note, here are more art pieces from my husband.  

Weekend Getaway

So last week we took our much anticipated trip to California to see our families and to go to Disneyland's 24 hour day.  It was a blast.  The kids in my family didn't know we were coming so we got to surprise them again. My oldest brother and his girlfriend chose to go to Disneyland's 24 hour day instead of prom so we got to see them there a lot too.  Dennis mom's birthday was also this weekend.  So we got to celebrate that.  To top it off I chopped off my hair again. Dennis says its like a Maggie from Walking Dead or Tangled at the end hair cut.  We were only there for 3 days.  So we barely got any sleep.... Not the most relaxing vacation.  Very fun though.
To pictures.

Me, Prince Charming, his sister, my cousin, my brother and his girl

 So this is my cousin.  She's like. My Bestie.  Our story runs very similarly to that of the opening song for Swan Princess.  We were thrown together.  Didn't like each other.  After awhile we became super good friends.  She also almost cried when she got to see Captain America

Took us less than 2 minutes to pose and get off.  Pros.

Fireworks.  Love their faces.

So this one is our first time picture.  It only says 10:30 I think.  We were pretty proud.  We'd been there since 10 in the morning.  There is another time picture after midnight but the silly cast member put his finger on the lens.  We stayed till 4 for World of Color.  We may have also fallen asleep on the warf in California Adventure...  As you can see in this picture, club Disney is going on in the background.  Not a fan. Made me kinda sad actually that they used the castle for a club.  We joked that Walt was facing away from the castle because he didn't want to know.  California Adventure was a total wreck come nightfall.  They should not have allowed alcohol in the park.  Overall the day was super fun. The night was weird.  But we love Disneyland. 

Unrelated to Disneyland, but this is my brother in his home made camouflage. He taped plants all over himself. I hope our kids are as creative and fun as he is.
Also.  I don't have any pictures yet of my new hair... Maybe next time.