Traditions

Apparently there's this tradition of cutting into the top layer of your wedding cake on your first anniversary. My mom took the liberty of freezing ours and we cut into it the other day (about a week late)

It was discusting.

There IS Fall in Arizona!

You just have to find it.

Our anniversary surprise #2 was heading up to Sedona for some hiking and camping. The camping part kind of leaked out when I was telling Ben a story but I had to tell him eventually so he could help pack and make sure we had all the right stuff (even though we still forgot a bunch of stuff). I just didn't tell him where we were headed.

When we got into Sedona it was SO crowded. I've never seen that many people in such a small area. We tried to just keep driving until there was less people but it was very difficult. I had forgotten that it was the end of Fall Break for everyone... plus it was a Saturday

Sedona is so amazingly beautiful in the Fall. The weather is perfect and the colors are so pretty and Fall-like. We found a hike to go on but then didn't end up staying on the trail. Ben and I are more of explorers than trail followers... plus we don't like to follow other people on trails or feel like we're being followed. So instead we explored the creek and hopped on rocks.

I'm laughing really hard in this picture because we had to put the camera on a timer to get both of us in the shot. I sat on the rock while Ben got the camera ready and on his way over to me he slipped in the water and disappeared for a few seconds behind a different large rock.

After exploring the canyon we needed to go find a place to camp and knew of only one area close by that didn't make us pay a fee. It was just past Jarome on the top of Mingus Mountain. It was dark when we set up so we didn't realize how awesome it was until the morning.

From our campsite we only had to walk a little ways to see off the side of the mountain. Then we were driving out and got a little lost but ended up finding this launch pad for hang gliders.

All in all I'd say it was a great weekend... just not nearly long enough

One Year Celebrations!

Today Ben and I have been married for one year. It seems weird to me that this year already came and went but we enjoyed every second of it. I told Ben that I would plan our first anniversary and wanted it to be a total surprize.

I think he's been surprized so far...

We made it home safe and now we're off to do some hiking and camping.

Amazing Dates... I mean Jakes

A few months ago Ben and I decided that we would switch off each month planning a special date night doing something that we don't normally do. Last night was the first night that it actually happened because in July and August things kept comming up that prevented us from doing it. Last night we went to Amazing Jakes... here's why.

A few years ago I was taking a break from work and as I got in my car and turned the radio on I heard "Be caller 10 right now". I used to always try my luck at those things and that afternoon I was the lucky winner... although I honestly had no idea of what I was trying to win. Turns out it was a Tim McGraw CD and a $50 gift card to Amazing Jakes... that card had been sitting in my wallet form maybe 3 years and almost forgotten about until we used it last night. It got us a dinner buffet, 3 hours of unlimited rides and attractions, and $14 worth of token games.

I would never actually spend my own hard earned money at this place but knowing that it was all free made for a fun night. Next months date night...

1 year anniversary

This is Quincy

We were kitten sitting for this cute slash crazy thing all week.

(and yes Ben and I do own this orange couch... jealous?)

Abbie was busy in the hospital this week making this dimpled chin baby
Meet Samuel Jay

Congrats Abbie and Jake on yet another amazing baby... this one comes complete with dolphin noises. He's perfect

You Don't Wan Breafas?

Going in late to work plus making breakfast with my husband equals awesome



These French Crepes did not disappoint

Swine Flu?

This last week Ben and I traveled down to Mexico with Danny, Lindsi and Ellie who graciously let us stay at their time share with them... (we did not where masks nor were we infected by the swine flu). We could only stay for a couple of days but it was well worth it. The resort was fancy, the beach was deserted and the water was nice... very nice.

We spent our 2 days there swimming in the ocean, building sand castles, skim boarding, eating fish tacos, laying out, and hanging out. It was a relaxing few days to celebrate the end of another semester of school... for Ben.

Thank you Danny and Lindsi for allowing us to accompany you on this amazing trip.

The drive home was delayed for 2 hours just as we crossed the border because of a roll over accident. We distracted ourselves by eating oreos and milk, playing about 10 games of Uno, and almost a full game of Yatzee.
It also rain slash hailed on us in our delay. The 4 hour car ride turned into 6 hours but we made it fun.

Spring Break 09

This is the first Spring Break in a very long time that I did not go to Mexico. Since most of my siblings did not go and we are trying to save money, Ben and I decided to make our own fun.

Monday we spray painted a desk I bought the Saturday before for $5. We turned it from wood color to black and it looks awesome. We also went to IKEA and did other random errands.

Tuesday we went to the zoo

(Ben looks silly in this pic but hey there's an elephant in it)

Wednesday we had Mexico Day

• we ate mexican pastries, drank soda out of glass bottles, flew kites, and ate burritos at some run down, very small, authentic, could have been straight from Mexico restaurant... And it may have been the best burrito I've ever had

Thursday we relaxed and gave our blood to the United Blood Services

Friday to Saturday we went camping in Payson
It was a good spring break





Also, Ben's birthday was the week before so we went on an adventurous hike. HAPPY 24h!

Open to the Public

My blog is officially not on private anymore. I went through and deleted any incriminating posts that had gotten me in trouble with my work a few years ago. I learned my lesson and its time to move on with life.

In other news, Ben and I are in the market to buy a new truck... and by new I don't really mean new... just new to us. The truck he is driving right now belongs to his parents and will soon be driven by his little brother Sam who returns from his mission at the end of April. If you know of any good deals please let us know.

Sorry Grandad...

Sorry that I never blog anymore and that you have to harass me through e-mail to get me motivated again. And sorry to the other 4 and a half people that look at my blog randomly. Ben and I don't have a computer or the internet so we don't get on much and plus I feel like my life is pretty boring and unblogworthy right now.

Ben and I have been married for 4 months now and its been pretty fun. I've learned a lot more about him in this past little while being married than when we were dating. Like the fact that Ben has this amazing talent of falling asleep ridiculously fast. He always falls asleep before me which is fine but the other night we were talking in bed and he seriously fell asleep mid word. When I started laughing he woke up and realized what had happened. I think we were talking about stuff that happened when we were dating and he wanted to say "Remember when..." but ended up saying "Remememmm.........."

How's that for talent?

I'm Graduated

You're looking at the newest graduate of Arizona State University.

Thank you. Thank you.

Wedding Pictures

We got our wedding pictures back on Sunday so I thought I'd post a few for the three people that actually read my blog.

I Swear We Got Married

I don't have internet at my new house so not much blogging will get done for a while. Not that I was very religious about it before. The only time I get to be online is when I go to my parents house and that usually means I need to turn in an assignment for my internet class. I'll try and post updates from the last 4 weeks sooner than later cause a lot has been going on.

Post worthy blogs will be:

The temple

Reception

Mountainous weekend in Greer, AZ

Halloween and,

San Diego/ birthday

4 Days Left!

My wedding is definitely this week! I've been super busy with reception plans and school work and trying to spend as little time as possible at my job. Wish me luck, I still have lots to do.

18 More Days!

Sometimes I feel like there's not enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished that I need to. If my body didn't rely so much on sleep I think I could manage but as for right now... I'M STRESSED!!! I think I've been focusing too much on wedding plans that my school work has been getting the minimum attention and its starting to affect me. People keep asking if I need help with wedding plans and I do appreciate it and really everyone has been more than helpful but now if you could just read a few text books and take some tests or quizzes that would take the biggest load off my shoulders. Thanks

Thank Goodness For Boys

Especially for a fiance who knows a thing or two about cars. 

(sometimes he forgets to put his shoes on the right feet though)

Ben makes my life better in more ways than I can count.

 I'm pretty lucky that I get to marry him in just 4 more weeks!

Update Time

I realize I've been neglecting my blog since I've been engaged so here's a little update on what we've gotten accomplished in the last 3 weeks.

• bought a dress
• decided on a date (Oct. 17)
  
• took announcement pictures
  
• ordered invitations
• registered at Target and Bed Bath & Beyond
• bought potential bridesmaids dresses
• chose a reception location
• hired a decorator
• hired a caterer
  
• bought a guest book
  
• my parents met Ben's parents
• found groomsmen vests
• meeting with cake lady tonight

In only 3 weeks we've gotten so much done but I feel like the list is never ending. Our top 3 things to get done next is to find a photographer, someone to do flowers, and find a place to live in Mesa. If you or anyone you know can help with these it would be much appreciated.

The Inside Scoop

I promised I would share the events of my engagement story so sorry it took so long. 

So on Friday Ben and I had both taken the day off of work. We started off the morning eating breakfast together and then headed off to Wildlife World Zoo. It was so much better than the regular Phoenix Zoo because there was hardly anyone there and all the animals were so much closer. 

(neither of these pictures is zoomed in at all... we were just that close)

We got to pet the porcupines and antelope... although I don't think we were supposed to but no one was there to stop us. The monkeys were awesome and this little guy even managed to get on the outside of his cage. My favorite part of the zoo was feeding the giraffe. You go up on this platform so you are eye level with the giraffe and then stick out your hand with giraffe food and he just comes right over. I even got to kiss the giraffe on his big fat hairy lips... How many people can say they've done that?

Anyways, back to my story. After the zoo we both went home and took naps and Ben picked me back up at around 5. He took me down to Main Street and we walked around for a bit, revisiting our favorite places. Then we went to eat at Olive Garden and headed over to a park in Chandler that we had rode bikes in when we first started dating. We walked down the bike path and found a bridge over the canal and stopped on it. Ben told me that this was the exact spot where he first fell in love with me and then got down on his knee and proposed.

I think my exact words were "SHUT UP"... I was so excited that I almost forgot to say yes... But of coarse I did and now we're getting married!

Its Officially Official

As of last night Ben and I are engaged!

More on the events leading up to this time in later blogs...

Sedona Recap

This last Saturday Ben and I decided to take a spur of the moment road trip to Sedona. We had both had long work weeks and were in need of something different so that morning when I got to his house we were trying to figure out what to do I jokingly suggested that we go up to Sedona. We thought about it for a second and then packed up a few snacky snacks and hit the road. Neither of us had ever been before and we had a great time... despite the construction traffic and tons of tourists. First we hit up Slide Rock (but didn't go swimming)

After that we just drove around doing some sight seeing, stopping at whatever looked pretty or interesting.

(Here we are at Midgley Bridge)

Sedona was a nice cool 80 degrees with scattered sprinkley showers the whole time. It was beautiful... not to mention the full rainbow we saw on the way out. It was nice to get out of Mesa and the heat even if it was for just a day.