This One Goes Out to Jenny H!

I was recently scolded for not updating and was told I couldn't be blog buddies with someone if I didn't post so....here's a post.

I admit I have not been perfect with the blog, I'm still adjusting to having our internet privileges back. I also have a rather massive project going on since I got my wedding pictures! Woo woot. My bridals are posted on facebook. I'm done with the pre-ceremony and ceremony pics. Now all I have is the reception pics....They're probably completely boring to everyone except me and I shouldn't post them all on facebook but I like them and I'm going to! So there!

We are currently being bombarded with snow and I LOVE IT! I'm so excited to have a white Christmas for my first married Christmas. I just hope that mommy and daddy don't get stuck in Kansas for three days again like they did the last Christmas they drove out here. If everything goes well they should be here tuesday evening! I adore this time of year! Everything from October 1st through the fist part of January (and maybe now through Feb. and then Johnny's Bday in March) is just wonderfulness. I'm so excited for Christmas this year because we have two new babies and Tristan will be blessed the sunday after Christmas and my mommy and daddy will be here and now I'm married. Its gonna be great!! I work tomorrow and then not again until NEXT friday and then not again until monday. It's MADNESS!

So Jenny, I hope this fulfills your need for a boring insight into my world. Please forgive if I do not post again for a week or so.



MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

4 MINUTE UPDATE

I only have a few minutes left on break so I thought I'd just post for the sake of posting. I can't believe it is already December 5!! November just disappeared! Our Thanksgiving was quite nice. We had a delicious vegetarian feast--if you're a vegger I highly recommend the Quorn Turk'y Roaster. It was very tasty and I even had the leftovers I was so jealous of last year! We are still working lots and just plugging away. We would love to find a job closer to my home so if you hear of someone needing a fabulous chef let me know!

November was crazy! I got to spend some time with my Mommy and baby nephew. Two of my best good girl friends are pregnant (and due a day apart), and another dear friend gave birth to a beautiful girl. The Baby is perfect but mommy Kylie has had some health complications so please keep her in your prayers. Ok Break is over! Sorry to jabber and dash--call me if you miss em that much!

October Wrap-up!

I spent the Tuesday before Halloween in the most fall-tastic fashion I could think of. I made caramel corn and and caramel’d apples, I made little treat baskets for the ladies I visit-teach, and Johnny and I carved our pumpkin that night. Well Johnny emptied out the disgusting-ness and I carved the pumpkin.
SIDE A—Sassy Jazzy Ghosts

SIDE B: A SpOoOoOoky House. Don’t be Too impressed….they are from a pattern book. And I managed to slice my thumb a few times with that Darned old saw.

Ok so I absolutely love October and fall and, of course Halloween. But the absolute BEST part of our October this year came very early in the morning on Halloween. The long awaited Tristan Nelson Coons finally came out to meet everyone and a nice solid 8lbs 4 oz and 21 inches long (not to mention a 37 cm head and 4 inch long feet). After thirteen hours of Labor the Doctor realized that his head was just not gonna fit so they prepped Brittany and took him C-section. It was not an emergent situation so Chad still got to be present for his son’s birth. I know I may be a little bias but Tristan is seriously the most perfect little baby I have ever met!

Ignore the makeup. I was team supervisor at work so had to be a good example and dress up. I came speeding over as soon as I could get out of work. (I even forgot to clock out). I love this picture because his eye is open. The whole night he would open one eye at a time and look around. It’s a little too bright to have both eyes open the whole time I think.

A non-costumed picture. He’s so tiny and precious!! He loves to be laid skin on skin. In fact, Brittany said that’s the only way he will sleep now that he’s home. He just wants to be close to his mommy. I cropped the picture so it’s closer tin on us but from as far back as it was actually taken he looks so itty bitty. From his cheekbones up he looks just like his daddy, Chad. But he has Brittany’s lips and chin. And, someone, Caitlin’s snotty face. Oh yeah--he’ll glare ya down when he isn’t happy with you. (He really likes me so I haven’t been glared at yet but I have been pee’d on…I think I would prefer the glare.)

I think he looks like a little baby doll in this picture. He is THAT perfect that he looks molded. And notice that strawberry blonde hair! His eyes are really dark but they have some almost gold/brown around his little pupils so Brittany thinks he’s got his daddy’s hazel eyes. Mom will be quite excited if his hair goes red. Notice the little Winnie the Pooh in the background? That is a stuffed toy Chad’s mom gave to his sister before she passed away in, I think, 2001. So Jen gave that to Tristan on his birthday so that he would have a present from his Grandma. He’s so perfect and I just love him!! So you see….October really is the best month of the year!


Happy November!

Welcome Back!

I am severely behind in my posts. Our stats have tanked hard over the summer at work and continued with our staff shortages so we have limited our internet use to our breaks until we bring those stats back up to our goals. So marathon post.......GO!

Early this fall I played on a co-ed softball team. And we had a PERFECT season: 0-7! WHAT!! These pictures were taken right before our final game of the season. We were the AU Goldstars.
My friend (and green bridesmaid) was the manager and we had a blast sucking it up hardcore!
Its funny how competitive boys are in comparison to girls...as a generality of course. I'm a pretty competitive person but as we began our downward spiral each game the boys would get SO mad...one would even sit down in the field and pout after he missed a catch. we had one game where we played AWESOME! We were tied in the last inning and they got two in and took the W. Even THEN some of the boys were pissed that we lost...oh boys.

In other news I celebrated my 23rd birthday last week and had a wonderful time doing so! I've always had pretty disappointing birthdays...at least since my teenage birthdays set a trend that way. But we seem to have shifted the tide this year. The tuesday before my birthday we ventured down to the heart of Happy Valley to meet our friends in Provo. We had dinner at the Brick Oven Pizzeria with Todd and Kristie:

This picture pretty much sums up the night. Kristie is glaring at Toddy for being a turd and Todd is just goofy as normal. They are a lot like Johnny and I in that they argue back and forth a lot in a playful way: It was quite nice to be on the other side of that situation for once I must say. After dinner John and I went over to Liz and Erik Anderson's adorable little apartment to hang out and catch up with some friends I very much adore. Erik and Johnny soon ganged up together on Liz and I making fun of our midwest "accents" and like verbal graffiti and stuff.

Before our adventure my cute husband told me that he didn't have any wrapping paper so he had hidden my presents somewhere in the house and that I had to find them. He said it was up to me whether to look right away or wait until my actual birthday 3 days away. But was rather anxious and ended up insisting that I look straight away. So I was off on my quest:

That is my quest for presents face I guess. I found the first one rather quickly...it was hidden in the front coat closet. It was a little white toaster! Something I have had my eye on for a while but not been able to justify buying for myself. Then came the big one: I looked in the bedroom, in the backroom, in the water heater room, the bathroom and still had not found it. I had to have a little help from the "warmer colder" game. I finally opened the kitchen cabinet to find this:

No, your eyes do not deceive you. That is, in fact, a Magic Bullet!! I have wanted one of this contraptions for YEARS! Heather and I used to watch the infomercial in our dorm room any time it was on dreaming of the day that we could use the two different blades to make meals in less than 30 seconds. We made smooties that very night and a smoothie has never tasted sweeter!

These are from my actual birthday: Friday, October 10. I spent the day doing absolutely nothing! I took a bubble bath and gave myself a manicure and pedicure and just relaxed until my husband got home with these beautiful roses and PUMPKIN TREES! Have you ever heard of pumpkin trees? I hadn't but they are very cool and perfect for my favorite time of year!
My sweet husband then whisked me off to a fancy dinner at the New Yorker Club. I love getting dressed up for special occasions and going fancy places and it isn't something we get to do very often so it was a wonderful birthday present! I had french onion soup, black mushroom stuffed chicken (seasoned Perfectly) and Apple Beignets with 3 sauces. It was very delicious (that day and the next when I had it for lunch).
I am so grateful for my husband! He is so cute and very sweet. He has taken care of me this last week while I've been sick and is always very loving. Yes we may argue and no I don't always love everything he does...but I am very happy that he is my husband forever. Look how cute he is!

We Have Babies!

...well fishies anyway. I have a fish tank I got while attending Truman, it has had angelfish, fantails, tetras, and dwarf frogs in it before but has been sitting empty since the frogs died while I was in France. Last night we brought home our first joint-pets. 5 brightly colored guppies, including one whose tail had been nibbled a little in the store. I was so excited to bring them home and watch them swimming around. But it concerns me a little at what kind of mother I'll be: I know that sounds ridiculous but let me explain. I got the fishes home and was worried about them being in the plastic bag too long, and then whether the water was too warm or too cold, I worried when one wasn't swimming around enough and when they were all swimming crazy. With fish you can't tell if they're happy or sad, or sick or hungry and I was worried about them all night, and now I'm worried the water will get too warm with the heater and light on all day. My sister (the preggers one) developed an irregular heart beat this weekend and I was a nervous ninny until we got it figured out. My mom said that if I had a normal pregnancy I'd read things into everything and be one of those hypochondriac pregnant women. I thought that was crazy, and that my concerns were just stemming from the rash of pregnancy problems that have surrounded me this year. Now, after my baby fish have turned me into the nervous wreck that I am starting to think that Mother may be right.....



But Happy October!! October is pretty much my favorite! It's fall and who doesn't love fall!? and then there's my birthday, and halloween. It reminds me of being a little kid in Sioux Falls and I love it. After October we all gear up for the holidays and it's all wonderful from here through about February. I'm so excited for October...I can't help it!

Happy Anniversary Mom & Pop!

Last night was Jim and Kathy's 32nd Anniversary! Johnny and I are broke so we just decided to make a tasty dinner to celebrate. Our little nephew, Preston, wanted to do the fancy napkins so those were all his! He also set the table to make it look nice with the "two bowls on the ends and the platter in the middle." I tried to get a picture of the happy couple but they weren't having it. So Happy Anniversary Mom & Pop Velasquez...and Happy "15th" Birthday Kathy! When we got to the house Kathy had decided to move their family room all around (including the big projection TV) so that was some excitement to start the night off. I found out where Johnny got his argument style: he got BOTH of his parents tactics....Oy!
We took these pictures while making dinner. I'm totally bummed that the first was fuzzy cause it is MUCH better than the second. But Johnny is giggling in the second and very cute so you get both! His g's are hanging out a bit...I think his wardrobe was sluttier than mine! HA!
We have been so so busy at work today and its wearing me down...going home to watch movies and eat popcorn!! Hopefully the New Yorker will be slow tonight so I won't be doing so alone.

Karate Chop

I've been saying it for a year: after the wedding, I'm cutting my hair! So tuesday my lovely blue bridesmaid Jannali took care of the mess that was my hair and left me with this lovely 'do. I gave her two rules: Shorter and cute....and a sub rule of nothing that would make my face look fat.
I had gotten to the point where it was put in a low bun everyday cause it took long to do anything with and my ends were not cute... It's shorter than I expected but I love it! Especially curly cause now that all the weight is gone my natural curl comes out so much better. I'm still getting used to it....Johnny is getting used to it even more so. Granted I did kind of spring it on him. He's a good husband for telling me he liked it and thinks its cute even though I know he liked my long hair.


Homemaking news: We finally have a microwave!!! After 3 months I can re-heat leftovers without the stove or oven. As we were leaving the store Johnny said it had been nice not having a microwave...I would have responded but I was too busy weeping for joy over our new appliance. Until last night: I took the microwave for her maiden voyage of two-minute reheat of lasagna...with 30seconds left the stupid thing died. Johnny took it back to the store while I was at my softball game and was told that he had just returned the third of that microwave for that shift. So we just got a refund and bought something else at another store. It has so far lasted through4 hotdogs...so I think it just might work!

Rewind!

I have to play catch-up a little. I've had these pictures on my camera haunting me. Johnny hid the cord and didn't tell me so I couldn't upload them, and I didn't want to post about the events sans pictures so here we go: (NOT in chronological order)I made a diaper cake! I was so proud of myself and my entirely Mormon shower gift for my sister! The little butterfly guy on the top makes sounds and giggles and lights up when you move the wings. The giggle is pretty creepy but the little guy at the shower was quite entertained so I guess it might work. I was so proud that I got it to stand stable given that the center is supported by bottles that are masking-taped together...that is it was stable until I had to drive it out to West Jordan. It, much like my wedding cake, couldn't handle how cute it was and the top toppled. I think I've learned my lesson and the next one will be much better and far sturdier. The diapers were newborn size so that they don't hurt little Tristan's umbilical cord...but the only go up to 10lbs. so that boy better be smaller than his mama was. (I think he's going to be a tall boy...about 8lbs.)

Yes this is the best picture of this shot. We tried about 4 times: the first one was zoomed in, the second one was too too bright, this is the third, and Johnny is talking in the fourth. I'm smiling but its not as cute so I picked the one with my cute husband. This is by the Mississippi River covered in Lilypads 2 days before our wedding in Nauvoo.
We got to Nauvoo a few hours before my parents with Brittany and Chad so we got to spend some time walking around one of my very most favorite places. These are just a couple shots of the Nauvoo temple. It is so beautiful and the spirit is unavoidable in this place. I have heard some really cool stories from people who have worked in the temple or helped in its construction, and I have a few of my own cool experiences. Our last trip though definitely took top prize when Johnny and I received our endowments and were sealed as husband and wife for all eternity! Forget a fancy reception hall, I can't imagine a more beautiful place for a wedding! This is my favorite part of the Nauvoo temple. Every LDS temple has this inscription over the entrance, the significance in this plaque is the second to last line: Commenced April 6, 1941. The first time I saw that I broke down in tears. The early members of the church began building this temple before they were once again chased out of their home and across to Utah. The building was never finished, it was looted, burned, and eventually finished off by a tornado. After that there were only a few cornerstones left and a dent in the earth from the foundation. The temple was rebuilt and dedicated in 2002. I love it! The saints finally finished their temple...161 years later.This sculpture depicts Joseph and Hyrum Smith as they rode toward Carthage where they were eventually martyred. They paused to look out over the City Beautiful where they had met joy and prosperity, if for only a short while. The sculpture's detail is hidden by the sunset but I still love this picture!
This is Johnny's favorite sculpture in the Relief Society Gardens. Not gonna lie, I got a little choked up while we were there, knowing that in two days we would be beginning our own family. We are so excited to start expanding our little family when the time is right and can't wait to act out this same moment in our lives.
It was a long and crazy engagement but I am so glad we waited. Going through the temple with Johnny was the best moment of my life so far. I love temples, most especially the Nauvoo temple. What happens inside those walls is so amazing and I can't even begin to tell you how happy I was that day and how happy it makes me knowing what it means in our lives. And I love Nauvoo! I'm so happy Johnny agreed to get married in Illinois! I hope to have more rewind pictures coming soon but for now enjoy a current: I decorated our table with our plates and fall colored napkins and I think it looks so cute! Now all we need is chairs!

NOklahoma

So they filled Johnny's position at the resort in Oklahoma on Monday. He had the HR department take his resume over to the chef anyway to see if they could use him in some other facet but we haven't heard anything. We are a little bummed but it has definitely opened our eyes. We have realized that we are a little more ready and wanting to move than we thought. We've started looking at other jobs but we are taking our time. I told my boss that we were starting to look. I didn't want to spring my notice on her when we finally find something. We've had people giving notice left and right around here and so I promised it wouldn't be before the middle of October. She told me that that was the reason I didn't get the promotion in August. She was afraid that 3 months after training me in the position of executive secretary that I would be running off the midwest. Its funny that not getting the promotion has made me want to move a little sooner...I think I'm finally starting to get a little burned out. Everything is catching up with me and my body so I think I will go home and nap and everything will be better in the morning.

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A....OK?

Johnny got done early last night so we got to spend some wonderful and unexpected time together. We watched Kitchen Nightmares and ate some mac'n'cheese before we headed over to Bed Bath and BEYOND to grab a present for Danny and Jenny and a pot for us (to cook in...not piss in.) Right after we blessed our dinner (in which Johnny asked for guidance in our careers) my mom called. My phone was still on vibrate so I heard her leave message. I had just talked to her and she knew Johnny and I were spending some time together so I thought...hmm. She said she'd been reading the newspaper from two days ago and found an interesting listing. About 45 minutes from where my parents live and brand new Vegas-style casino and resort just opened and is looking for a Sous Chef to be over two of their 5 restaurants...native american preference. It has free benefits including medical, dental, vision, a matching 401K and paid Holidays. We haven't decided on anything...its a little too big of a decision to make in 5 minutes...but we are contemplating it. It would be a BIG deal. We would be packing up and moving across country...so they would have to make it worth it. But we had planned on going back to the midwest eventually...like in a couple years. Johnny says if they tell us to move tomorrow we're nto going.
Here are my pro's:
We'd be closer to my family...and OUT of Utah
Johnny would be AWESOME at that job...and would only have to work 1 job!
Cost of Living is much lower...as is the cost of Housing!
Found out the Restaurant I worked at there is also hiring Managers....possibility?
Johnny DESERVES this kind of position.
It's just starting out so if he can be a part of this who knows what kind of opportunities lie in this.
I Could say Forget you Uof U and Finish my stinkin' degree already!
I would get to see Holly once a year!!

Of Course there are Con's:
We would be moving...hello hugeness!
We don't have much in the way of savings to get out there.
It would mean a big upheaval in our lives...apartment, jobs, friends....
I would miss spending lots of time with baby Tristan (though if we were settled and making good money we could afford our own little baby a little sooner...hello pro!)
....I can't think of any more right now"

I'm trying not to get excited about it and treat this like a mature and responsible adult. But I can't help but get a little excited at the sheer possibility. Much fasting and prayer will go into this decision...and it may turn out Johnny doesn't even want to apply...or that they don't want us. For the record though, I think it's a great opportunity and we should at least apply...who knows.....?

I Need to do Thank You Notes!

I have not even started...oi!

It only rained Sunday and a little bit Monday morning but the resulting crisp, fall-like weather has been FABULOUS! I love fall...it just makes me want to bundle up and go cheer for the football team. I still don't know how I ended up with the guy who hates to go watch football....oh well. OH! and go pick apples and make tasty apple treats!...man I love Autumn!

We had a nice date night last evening. We went and saw Hancock at the dollar theatre a couple blocks from our house. We were going to stay and see Kung Fu Panda but the hubster had a headache so we called it a night a little earlier. He is a hoss. He went and worked a full shift at the bakery, ran to the chinese market for his boss, came home and did yardwork until I got home at almost 6 and then went upstairs and put the baseboards on in the kitchen and bathroom in the upstairs apartment. He didn't even get a chance to eat dinner before the movie. His dinner was popcorn and reeses pieces and soy milk...no wonder he had a headache. I'm trying really hard to be a good wife...I guess I kind of dropped the ball on that one last night.

Work has been pretty frustrating these last few days. We're really short staffed for all of September. It means I get some much needed overtime moneys but it makes it crazy busy, especially when we have people call out. I'm one of the team leaders and we end up having to be Nazi's and that's just not fun for anyone. I absolutely hate being the bad guy! We've hired several new people and we're workign on getting them trained so I'm sure it will get better in the not too distant future. For now I'll just blow off some steam playing softball after work!

Rain Rain Come and Stay!

I absolutely LOVE the rain. Most especially thunderstorms. I think thunderstorms may just be what I miss most about Missouri. Missouri has the BEST freaking thunderstorms!

Yesterday was probably the best Sunday Johnny and I have had for a while. We were a little late to church (we're still adjusting to the 9:00am time) but we had our records read into the ward and got to see a baby blessing. I think baby blessings are my favorite! We came home and had an awesome brunch. I kind of snarfed a few of the pancakes but I ate those ones so it was okay. Then we both laid down and took about a 6 hour nap. I can't tell you how much I have been needing sleep lately. We got up and had dinner, watched a movie, and went back to bed. Sleep is good!!

I had to work today so I left the hubby with a honey-do list including laundry and caulking the kitchen baseboards in the upstairs apartment. It has been pretty slow because of the holiday and I am not complaining. It stopped raining for a bit but I hope it picks back up so I have another night of snuggles and movies.

I love the rain!!

Big Step

Johnny and I finally took the plunge and got a joint phone account! I know...its pretty serious. I've been on my mom's family plan since I got my first phone at 16 and have had the same number ever since. I was kind of sad to give up my 417 area code and the number by which I have been identified for the last 7 years but since Evan is home, he needs a phone, and I live in utah so....bah. I'm not the happiest camper since we are still with SPRINT but my phone is really cute and has an MP3 player and camera so I can still be excited!

If you haven't received my mass text my new phone number is: 801-750-8744.

In homemaking news: we finally got our plates last night and switched out the broken ones. I'm pretty excited cause they are so nice and my grandparents were so wonderful to buy two sets for us! We discovered that shopko also carries them so we can get the expansion serving set and big ice cream/soup mugs. We also got our fabulous cookie-making-kit from my cousin and made-of-honor Annie! I don't think I've ever been so excited to make sugar cookies. Johnny and I keep picking up the pail to see what fun shapes we can find in the cookie cutters.

We still need to get a few more picture frames and get stuff up on the walls. They are looking more and more naked as we get stuff settled and put away. I can't wait until we start our big project of putting in a washer and dryer. Sending Johnny to his parents' once a week to wash our undies makes me feel like an inept wife. Maybe I'll venture to the laundromat this week just to feel a little more domestic!

OK: So I feel like Johnny and I skipped the entire honeymoon phase of our marriage. He has been really stressed about finances and chores with building maintenance so his fuse is even shorter than normal and I never know when I'm going to say something that upsets him or when someone around him is going to set him on edge. I'm mowing the lawn for him tonight and going to make the house spotless. Any suggestions on how I can make him happier / relieve his stress level?

Dum Dum Da Dum

It is official. We have been sealed for Time and Eternity and we have walked down the aisle and exchanged rings and one hot and steamy kiss! Ok not really hot and steamy...but sweet and simple. It was so much fun...except certain people refused to dance...LAME!

My wedding party is awesome and they looked fabulous! We definitely partied...especially when we busted out the karaoke! I have to thank them for the car decorations....most specifically the sardines-EVIL CARLOS!! I don't have any good pictures yet. My mom has some from the temple she is supposed to be emailing me when they get home so it may be a couple days before I get those. Carlos has posted quite a few on facebook. I'm not sure when I'm going to get my bridals and official pics from my photographer but I'm most excited to see the pictures from when our cake toppled. Yes...ahh smashed cake. But it was still delicious!! :D

The temple was amazing! I love Nauvoo!! I Can never get enough of that place! The weather was perfect. It had been 105 the day before so I was a little leery of wearing my dress outside but it dropped and it was a gorgeous 85 on our wedding day! We were able to see the Pageant the night before we were sealed and there was a couple sitting in front of us that just as the lights came up on the temple he got down on a knee and popped the question...now THAT is a mormon Proposal!! We met a lot of the cast members before and after the show, several of whom we saw the next day who wished us well and remembered everything. Johnny and I did some touristy Nauvoo stuff after our sealing which was fun, got the brick, the prairie diamond rings and the rope. They don't do wedding candles anymore and I was VERY sad about that. But we did get the mini horseshoe since it was our day!

Our Open house in Carthage got rained out so no bonfire. We just all gathered in the house and we still got to have our fireworks so I was happy! We had a lot of friends show up and it was so good to see everyone! Especially several people I hadn't seen in years! I'm kind of bummed that a couple people weren't able to make it but I understand that life takes place...its all good!

So now Johnny and Halley live together (WEIRD) and are back to work. We're actually living a married life. The project that has been my focus, obvious and underlying, for the last year is now over. I have to do thank you notes and everything...but I don't have a big project anymore. Guess we'll have to start trying for a new one if you get my drift ;)

Speaking of! My sister Caitlin came up for the festivities and brought my adorable little nephew, Justice. He's almost 4 months and I just love him! He was blessed by my daddy on sunday and Johnny got to assist. It was pretty cute. Daddy held him as he slept through sacrament and he just couldn't stop staring at his grandson...ADORABLE!!

There is of course more but this is getting a little long. I'll be back with more details later...Happy days!

10 Points to whoever can tell me the significance of this post's color scheme!

2 Weeks!

We are getting SO CLOSE! I can hardly believe it! I have been so busy at work with the privacy stuff and I just haven't had time to post so...I fail. They did find the tapes on July first so that is way good news. However people just don't seem to care. You tell them and expect them to say...oh nevermind then. Instead we get more of the "yeah. but that doesn't mean anything." Ok these guys are IDIOTS! one tried to put one of the tapes in the VCR thinking it was like home-made porn or something. The Sheriff is quoted in the news as saying "I don't think these men could find their own rear-ends with two hands." So we've slowed down a bit but we're not out of the woods yet. We also got all the returned mail (all 250,000 letters) that we needed to sort between forwarding address and non-forwarding address and now go through and update any of the ones with forwarding addresses (about 20,000). I am SO glad I only have 6 days of work before I head out of here. Can you believe that its almost time for me to be Married?! CRAZINESS!!

Our apartment is slowly but surely becoming our first home. We finished painting the bedroom last night and we put our bed together. Its very pretty. Now we need a ceiling fan...and some nightstands. BUt those aren't too important. We are half-painted in the kitchen, the bathroom hasn't even been started yet, and our living room is all but complete. Our makeshift TV stand will eventually have to be replaced but it works for now. We got our gorgeous plates from my grandmother. Target or UPS did a not so awesome job of shipping though and 5 of the 8 dinner plates were broken and one of the bowls. We have a replacement on the way so hopefully we'll have dishes soon.

Wedding planning is done....its all planned...its the execution of the wedding planning that has me ripping out my hair at this point. It will all work....I know this...but that doesn't calm the wedding coordinator inside me. I just figure that by the time all the ring ceremony and reception stuff gets here it won't matter because we'll already be married.....holy shizrick wixfoz!


On a very sad note, Grandpa George (pictured below) passed away Sunday. He had suffered a stroke last week and his poor little body just couldn't handle it. Johnny actually woke up at the exact minute that it happened. I'm so grateful though because the lesson in Relief Society and Priesthood that day just happened to be about comfort at the time of someone's death. Does Heavenly Father know us or what?! I'm so glad we were able to spend some time with Grandpa George in June and what a beautiful picture of him with Johnny. Would you just check out that smile! Johnny is of course upset, especially since we can't make it down to the funeral today. But the important part is that he will be put to rest with Military honors and the fun-loving joker will be able to walk and run again. Something he hasn't been able to do since he returned from Vietnam.

I think that's all I've got in me today. I'll try and get some pictures of our home posted soon. Oh! and I got Johnny to agree on a girl name! CUTE!

Sorry About That

Ok so first of all I love love LOVE my fiance! Everyone talks about Edward Cullen like he's the best thing taht men could ever be...but I just laugh at how much Johnny Ray and he have in common sometimes...plus he's not a vampire so Bonus!

Recap: Johnny's grandmother passed away on June 7th so we spent a week on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. It was educational to say the least! A lot of the res runners were confused by the random white girl at the family meetings but they were very nice and welcoming. One of his grandma/aunts (its an Indian thing) told me I had to watch out for the red ants cause they don't know me. I'm white so they might want to try something new. hahaha...of course I got a little sunburnt and we decided I was an official Redskin. We first went to Albuquerque and saw his Grandpa/Uncle George and spent some time in Old Town. The picture up top is from us playing in a touristy hat shop.


This is Johnny and Grandpa George. Grandpa George is in the Spinal Cord unit at the VA as a result of Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War. Johnny was very close to Grandpa George when he was younger so they spent the visit talking and laughing about the pranks they used to pull on his Grandmother. Heaven help me with this man's children is all I can say!


It wasn't the happiest of reasons be visiting family but we did have a good time. It also means there was a week on the reservation so wedding stuff is a little behind right now but we'll get it taken care of.

When I got back to work I was informed that the morning of June 2, 2008 2.2 million patient's billing information was stolen out of a courier's personal vehicle. As a privacy specialist this means I've been working everyday. I will have 20 hours of overtime this week alone. Its stressful but it is definitely a blessing for our finances.

Our apartment is shaping into a very nice home. We painted our living room and have a sofa. It looks great! I'm so excited to have furniture! We've gotten half of our kitchen painted, we bought a mattress (Side note: It is amazing how much better you sleep on a mattress when you haven't had one for 2 years!) We also ordered our bed and it will be ready for us in July.

Here's the forecast: I'll be working A LOT over the next couple weeks; we're getting our engagements taken sunday morning (if Ryan comes through), invitations will be stuffed and sent on monday and tuesday; I have to get my dress altered and shipped to my parents' house; I have to get shoes for my wedding day and my tiara; I need to stop eating in my stress; and about a million and a half other things. Stress Stress Stress but it will be worth it......it will.....just breathe!.... :D


PS Jenny you're adorable and I heart you!

OH MY LANTA!!

GAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!



More to come.....just breathe!

Transition

So I'm in our new apartment. It's so big and I have nothing to fill it with. We get to paint and I finally get to pick out the color I want the rooms to be and have someone else pay for it! Hooray! We got a kitchen table...its an octagon which I think is pretty sweet. We found it on Craigslist for 40 bucks! We don't have any chairs for ti yet....but we have a table!! My bed is still sitting under a tarp in Johnny's backyard. We're planning on getting a bed so we just need to move the mattress over to my place so I have something to sleep on. I slept on blankets on the floor last night. Luckily we have nicely padded carpet so it really wasn't too bad. We're trying to get settled and find furniture, and juggle our budget, so it can get a little stressful but we're really coming together as a couple. Johnny has been so cute about "our place." We were at the store tuesday night getting some necessities and he got really sad looking all of a sudden and just kept saying "I hate this."...."I hate this" I couldn't figure it out....finally he told me he was bummed cause he couldn't move in with me into our place yet. It was really cute. I really kind of love him.

In other news: My little brother Evan came home last night from his mission in Africa. I'm kind of excited to have him at my wedding! And I'm excited for him to help me with my french (it has suffered greatly in the 4 years since I went to France)....now I just have to get him to be nice enough to slow down and not make fun of my non African Accent. Johnny and I still have his TV so I have a bargaining chip!

OH! And my sister Brittany is having a boy, Tristan Nelson Coons!

Otherwise not really too much going on. Just getting busy trying to set up my home for my husband...63 Days!!! <3

1 Move Down 2 To go!

OK. So we signed a lease on our apartment tuesday, and I move in this coming Tuesday. We are going to be living at 2263 South 800 East #3 in Sugarhouse, Utah. It's the two bedroom one we looked at last week that doesn't have washer dryer hookups. Johnny looked at the other place but it is OLD and has original windows and wiring so utilities would be beastly high and He decided he'd rather pay low utilities (gas was only 50dollars at it's highest this winter) and pay for his laundry. We're still hoping that we'll be able to get washer dryer hookups put in. I'm so excited to just get in there and be in our first home. Granted it will be pretty empty for a while since I have basically No furniture but it will still be nice. I'm basically done in my house. Johnny came over last night at 9 to find me lost and unmotivated. So we finished packing up my room, he helped me carry out my bed frame and television and we loaded up both of our cars and took it all over to his house around midnight. Tonight after work I have to: Pack up my dishes, put the last dozen bags/boxes in my car, finish cleaning and vacuuming and head over to my sister's in West Jordan (oh! and try not to annoy the pregnant woman!)

We got our invitations on Wednesday and I couldn't stop looking at them! They're awful cute! We don't have our engagement photos yet so they aren't ready to be stuffed or sent yet....but they will be awesome! :D

Unfortunately no matter how cute my invitations are there are certain members of my family that will be declining. I found out on sunday and I am rather offended. ESPECIALLY because the reason they gave for being unable to attend. Not that they've actually said anything to me or my mother...oh well. Its still gonna be a rockin' party!

10 Weeks from Today!! :D is everyone excited?!!?

And We're Back

I know its been a bit of a sabbatical ( I love that word) but I have resolved to get a post out by EOB today! (I started this monday...I fail) It hasn't snowed to the point of sticking since mayday...the mountains and hills are still white most of the time but the roads aren't. In fact down in the valley its been quite toasty the last couple days. I was beginning to think we'd bypassed spring and jumped right in to summer but its cool and rainy for the rest of this week.

I haven't been blogging cause I don't want it to be a whine-spot and I've been feeling a little stressed lately. I have to be out of my house next week and we still have not found where Johnny and I are going to living post-marriage. We were going to buy....but without a sufficient down-payment we weren't going to be able to afford anything worth buying. So we were going to rent...but then we found an application for a down-payment grant from the government so we're in limbo. Luckily there are a couple of girls in my ward at church that I can stay with for a while-up to a couple months until we find something. We actually found a great place last night. It's right over in sugarhouse, its big, low utilities, well maintained....the only problem is it lacks the hookups for laundry. This is a major problem. NOT because I'm a princess!! The issue is that Johnny is a chef and only has so many jackets and pants and they always have to look nice....he does laundry about every 3 nights. We talked with the landlord about the possibility of putting those in either the kitchen (which is big enough to put a shutter closet around a stackable) or in the back bedroom closet. He said he's thought about it before and is more than happy to have it priced out but that he didn't want to promise us anything. He was actually really great and the girl that lives in the apartment now actually knows Johnny and I from the ward that we're in. She said the ward was awesome, they're only moving a few blocks away and will still be in the ward. It was honestly the first place we've looked at that I really liked and felt like I could live there and be happy with it. But the washer/dryer issue is an issue. So we have another one that Johnny is going to see tomorrow ( I might if I can get out of work for a little bit longer of a lunch break). SIGH....I just want to move in!

We have been so busy at work this week! We took over a new call center that includes two of the biggest clinics and we've been slammed all day long! I left early yesterday with a migraine. Nerves and stress plus crazy busy= nausea and headaches for Halley. But today is a short day and I'm going visiting teaching...so hopefully I'll be buoyed up and blessed by finding a house we can afford! Oh I hope!

Around the May-Pole in Snow Boots

Yes....it is May Day....and SNOWING. It snowed a little bit yesterday but just the little snowball pellet things and only very briefly. But today there is snow sticking to the ground....I'm having some deja vu from my childhood in South Dakota.

But on to bigger and better subjects: I haven't blogged in a bit because I got tattled on for venting about my future MIL in a venue where they will never see it...but I have repented. I should probably take the post down or make it private...maybe.
Since I haven't written in a bit a lot of schtuff has gone down! So get settled in for a blog-tastically long post...or just leave. No skin off my nose.

A) Most importantly I am FINALLY an Auntie!! My sister Caitlin Reed Sageng gave birth to Mr. Justice Kyng Braithwate on April 29 at 5:18pm. He was 6 pounds 13 ounces and 20 inches long. Caitlin did a great job and I am very proud of her! The labor was definitely not an easy one, Justice was face down so she was having back labor and had to have an epidural. A couple hours later Justice was still being stubborn and didn't want to come out. It turns out the cord was around his neck and started to go into distress, his heart rate dropped into the low seventies so they wheeled Caitlin into the OR and did an emergency c-section. It was a little scary but Mommy and Baby are both doing well and are beautiful!















They're from a camera phone so they're a little blurry. But these are the very first shots.










B) My Class at the Youth Theatre is finished. I don't think I have ever been so proud in my life! As of the wednesday before class they were still not off book or even close to as ready as they should have been three weeks before. And they got a little bit of a bum chewing. But Friday they were awesome!! They went for quite a while without any missed lines and when someone did miss they caught on and covered. The audience was laughing and they were all having a good time. I was afraid they all just thought I was the mean old lady that yelled at them once a week and that they had no fun or learned anything. The day of the performance they were all happy and having a blast and I caught them playing a round of "Big Booty" before the show....so if they learned nothing else, they learned big booty.
































If that last shot doesn't scream "THEATRE KIDS!!" I don't know what does.


C) Johnny is back at work...and we're trying to be very careful with his back. He's on some medication that is supposed to help build up his muscles for the next month or so and then we'll look at more physical therapy or maybe injections to get that herniated disk taken care of. He's been kind of grumpy because he's in pain but it has been quite nice to spend so much time with him. And we've been cooking some delicious dinners. A couple of sundays ago he made a portobello wellington, wild rice, and carrots & parsnips. here are a couple of shots of him (all messy and not happy I took his picture hee hee) and a shot of dinner to make you salivate.






















Trust me it was delicious!
Until next time. HAPPY MAY DAY!!