Looking forward to LaBoR DaY!

When I think about what my favorite holidays are Christmas is always first of course! I plan months in advance for Christmas. Case in point, it is only August and my mom had a hutch thing she was thinking about getting rid of and I snagged it right up because first thought that came to my mind is it would be the perfect place to display my nativity's :)

See doesn't it just scream Nativity spot ;)

But I digress,   besides Christmas I don't really have a favorite holiday.  I am not a Halloween fan,  just never have been into dressing up.  I don't really love Valentine's day,  or Easter.  I mean I like them I don't go all crazy for them.  So when I really think about my favorite holidays, one that stands out to me is Labor Day and not even because of the actual holiday (sorry Laborer's), it's because of what it represents to me.   We have gone to Parowan to go to the Iron County Fair and parade for as long as I can remember.  It's a small town and although I love living in a big city,  I love small town celebrations!   I love going and spending time with my family and just sitting outside at my great grandma's (now my aunt and uncle's) house and playing card games, I love going for a ATV ride with my Uncle to who knows where he has decided that day,  I love setting out our folding chairs the night before to save our spots for the parade the next day,  and that 2nd cousin's I haven't seen in a year all know where our family saves seats and come Monday morning for the parade there they are sitting side by side with us.  And I love going to the church pancake breakfast on Monday morning before the parade.  

Us after the pancake breakfast 2010.

When you get married you sort of divvy up the major holidays between families and I have loved it,  but one holiday I am keeping is Labor Day!  My cousin Kim and I were talking and it's a weekend we both love and aren't giving up!  And I know Ryan is okay with that,  someone asked us a few month's ago what our plan's were for Labor Day and Ryan immediately said. "Oh sorry we have plans,  we go to Parowan that weekend"   (see that's why I love him)  I can't wait until we have kids and we get to go to the fair and parade with them and share those great memories I have and make many more.

Now I feel like I am writing out of turn because I wrote about something that isn't happening until this weekend and now I want to write about something that already happened.  Oh well...

Ryan and I had a great trip to Cali with our friends Walt and Lexie,   Ryan and Walt definitely have a bromance going on.  Lexie and I laugh because it doesn't take long to hear these words "On the mission"  I think we have heard just about every story, but we love how much they love each other.   We will definitely be going on vacations with them before kids,  during kids, and when the kids are all moved out :)

Laguna was beautiful,  and the temperature perfect!   Our main objectives were to eat good food,  go to Disneyland and go to the beach and we accomplished all 3!  We are talking about a Mexican Rivera cruise for our next adventure and since I am so crazy and over plan I am in charge so I better get searching :)

View from our balcony,  not to shabby

(Need to upload pics from my camera so more to come)

Ryan and I sadly got released from our church callings while we are gone on vacation,  I am really going to miss those kids.   We had been with them for almost 9 months and were getting to the point where we knew each of them really well.  They have such sweet spirits and I know Ryan and I were in that calling for a reason.   SOOOO we got new callings...   Ryan was called to teach Sunday School for the 16-18yr olds, which is a perfect calling for him.  He gets to teach which he loves but it doesn't take up so much time that it interferes with schooling,  and I got called to be the 2nd counselor in the Primary Presidency...I'm scurredd.  The other women in the presidency are great and they have been together for a while so right now I kind of feel a little out of it,  I am sure in a month or two once I get in the groove it will be second nature to me,  but right now it's a little intimidating.  I am VERY excited though and look forward to getting to know all the kids, not just my 10 year olds.

Ryan started back up with school on Monday and I was a total slacker,  we should have bought him a new backpack and school outfit and I could have taken his picture yesterday but he wouldn't let me :)   This is our last heavy semester of school and this one really counts because it is the last grades that will go in to his applications for PT school so for the next 4 months Ryan will  be studying ALOT.   He starts applying for school in November and come Feb/March we will know more about where we will be for the next 3 years.  Whatever happens,  I am so proud of him he has really stepped up.

Well I think I am pretty caught up now,  I'll post pics of Laguna and Labor Day next week when we get back.   My objective this weekend is to get alot of good pictures of my babies I have some empty frames in the house that need Maggie and Zoey pictures in them and the greenery in Parowan is the perfect place to get them :)

Until then..

ONE YEAR DOWN!

WE MADE IT!   And as Ryan likes to say  he made it in one piece  (BARELY) :)

This first year of marriage really has gone by so fast,  it seems like just yesterday we were saying I DO.  I have so many things to be grateful for in this first year and I want to list a few of them:

1. I am SO glad when I went back to church that I met an amazing man who is a strong priesthood holder and was worthy enough to take me to the temple,  best day of my life!  I am also grateful for the example he sets for me and our future children everyday.  

2. I am so thankful that I married a man who supports me in every way possible and who lifts me up, not puts me down.

3.  I am so thankful I married a man who loves my family as much as I do.  I was SO worried that my relationships with my family would change from seeing them weekly to not seeing them at all, and while it has changed a little,  I am still able to see my family all the time and knowing Ryan loves them as much as I do means the world to me.   This first year hasn't been the easiest with my dad being sick and just the little things he does by going and picking up their mail or mowing the lawn DEFINITELY does not go unnoticed.

4.  I love that Ryan excepted my girls with open arms, even with their quirks and my crazy dinnertime routine.  He loves them and they love him

5.  I am so glad I married a man who has amazing parents who have taught him how to do laundry and dishes!   I thank Renae every night as Ryan cleans up the dishes after I cook dinner, for teaching her son how to be a good husband. ;)  I am VERY blessed to have great In-laws who have welcomed me with open arms into their family.

6.  I am so thankful we have been able to travel so much together our first year of marriage,  it has only brought us closer and as we move forward and start a family I know that this time we have dedicated to one another will make the tougher years a little easier.

7.  I am so glad I married a man who loves shopping and clothes as much as I do.  It's awesome to shop together and him not get annoyed.  As long as I leave him in the shoe department he is happy!  AND I am so happy I married such a hot guy that dresses nice!  (And has a great butt!)

8.  I am so thankful I married a man who takes his schooling and career choice so seriously.  I am SO proud of Ryan and how hard he is working to finish his schooling and start his career that will support our family. 

9.  I am so thankful for all the laughter we share.

I could keep going on and on but I figure 10 is all that people could take before they start gagging. :)

10. I am beyond grateful that I married a man who let's me be ME.  I am definitely unique and no matter what weird outfit I wear or how big my hair is that day,  I know without a doubt that Ryan finds me attractive and loves me unconditionally!

So thank you Ryan for making this last year so amazing!  I look forward to many many more!

Oh and thanks for the flowers and the surprise dinner on Friday night at Roy's it was PERFECT!

We are officially not Newlyweds anymore :)

All is Quiet Again

The last of Ryan's family left yesterday morning to head home after being in Vegas for a mini reunion for the last 2 weeks.   Ryan and I had to work and go to school so we could not participate in the day activities but we were able to see them alot at night and on the weekends.   Ryan's Aunt Shari even came down and stayed 4 days at our house with us.  We had a blast.  It was so great for me to get to know everyone better,   some I had only met one time before getting married last year and their kids for sure didn't know who the heck I was. By then end of this trip most of the kids knew who I was and were giving me hugs goodbye so that was awesome!

Out of the 5 weekends in July we had a BBQ at the house every weekend but 1,  the pool and BBQ were WELL used and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.   We were able to go the dinner with Aunt Shari on Thursday night and eat at the Bobby Flay restaurant Mesa Grill.   It was so good,  I now know first hand why he is a Iron Chef.  It was a great meal,  but word to the wise be prepared to spend $100-$150 per couple so make it a special occasion.   We were also able to go out to dinner with all the adults on Friday night and had a great meal at PF Changs  (a place I LOVE).  It was the first time we had all been together since the wedding. Each sibling and their family we have seen since our wedding but they have all come at different times. 

Now that everyone is gone we have one thing on the schedule for this weekend,  sleep and rest.  We spent SO much money this month on food for the dinners and the BBQ's we are BroKe until next paycheck.  We are raiding the pantry, fridge and freezer and basically besides gas and milk we are not spending anything.  It's fine though we need a break and it was worth the extra money just to be around family and have a good time.   We WILL be going to the movies this weekend because one good thing about my braces (going on 3 years now) is I get rewards for brushing etc. and I always cash them in for free movie tickets.  We plan to see the movie the Change Up it looks so funny.

Here is a dinner I whipped up last night with green beans and peppers and onion I needed to use,  the only thing I had to buy was the coconut milk and it was good! 

Thai Coconut Curry Chicken we served over brown rice.

Some other good news my best friend Jaime who moved to North Carolina almost 2 years ago got engaged last week!!! 

So pretty and so happy for her!

Her fiance's name is Ben and we can't wait to meet him and go to their wedding back East next spring or summer,   that will probably end up being our vacation next year depending on when it is and if Ryan is able to get off of school.  She is hoping for a Maryland wedding depending on where Ben get's stationed next for the Coast Guard and if she has it there we will probably take a extra few days and see D.C.



Oh and 10 day's from now Ryan and I will be married for a WHOLE YEAR!  I can't believe it time has flown by.  As we finish out this first year I am so grateful for Ryan and how much he loves me AND my family.  I am more in love with him each and every day.  I thank Heavenly Father for giving me the patience to wait until the right person came along for me, and to be able to recognize when it was right.

We started off our marriage with me being gone every few weekends to go be with my parents in Salt Lake and he never complained or said a word,  he knew that was where I needed to be.   And now my dad is back in Vegas and is doing great.  We won't know for another 50-60 days what stage of remission he is in but I know he is strong and healthy and happy and we are all just looking towards the future.

Ryan has pushed him self so hard to finish school and come January he will basically be done and will have applied to PT school and waiting for acceptance letters.   I am just so proud of him and know he will be a excellent Physical Therapist and a great provider for our family.

We are headed down to Laguna Beach for our anniversary and you can tell we have been married a year when we ask some friends to tag along with us :)   We are excited to be able to hang out with Walt and Lexie again and hope to make it to Disneyland or Knotts or something.

Hope everyone is having a great summer,  stay cool!!  It was 107 here yesterday lol