Thursday, September 18, 2008

September 19, 2006


I married the most amazing man in the whole world :) I know it sounds cliche, but you have no idea how absolutely wonderful Matt is! Tomorrow marks the 2 year anniversary of our engagement...and it's only fair that I take a second to write out the engagement story (mostly for my memory's sake). So, here goes...

On September 19, 2006 I began my brand new job as a bookseller at Deseret Book. I had just moved back to Provo for the new semester, and Matt was living in Kaysville going to Weber. We officially "hooked up" March 19, 2006 and wanted to celebrate our 6 months together after I got off work. Unfortunately, I was training at my new job and didn't get off until 10:00 pm. When I got home to the condo, Matt was waiting outside for me. I was kind of disappointed that he didn't have flowers or something sweet to celebrate our 6 months, but I kind of blew it off. I was so excited to see him, long distance relationships are the WORST! He was wearing a black jacket, which I thought was kind of odd since he is NEVER cold. We had only looked at rings a month earlier, so...I was a little suspicious. I teased him that he had a ring in his pocket and checked them just to see. No ring though. Since Matt had to travel all the way back to Kaysville that night, we decided to do something low-key and quick. We had been up Provo Canyon earlier that month on Labor Day to see all the leaves and came across a gorgeous waterfall called Bridal Veil Falls. We decided it would be fun to go see it in the moonlight- conveniently, it was a full moon ;) he he he. Since I had just gotten off work though, I was starving- ha ha ha- so I told him I was going to change out of my work clothes and grab an apple. I was kind of shocked by his response...he was kind of pushy! He said, "No, let's just go! It's a full moon and I really want to see the falls before it gets too dark." I was a little confused as to why we had to hurry so fast (little did I know my family was awaiting the exciting phone call), but...off we went.

So...we pulled up to the falls and we were standing outside listening to the water and enjoying the beautiful night (all to ourselves) when Matt handed me his car keys and said, "You're probably cold (which I was)...I have some blankets in my trunk, you can grab one ." Ok...for those who do not know me...I am terrified of the dark, and of seeing deer in the dark!!! I was not about to go walk back to his car in the dark to get a blanket. Plus, in the dark I didn't even know which key was the right one. So, I made him go with me. We got to the car and I gave him the keys back and told him he could just get the blanket out. But, he insisted that I did it. I kind of started to suspect that something was in his trunk since he was making such a big deal about it. So, I opened the trunk and inside was a GORGEOUS boquet of beautiful roses with a gift certificate to my favorite restaurant in Salt Lake City. I was so glad that he remembered to do something for our 6 months! I turned around and gave him a hug. Honestly, I didn't really expect anything else to happen-- but to my surprise, he reached into his pocket (it WAS in his pocket after all! He had conveniently put it in his jacket pocket and taken off his jacket when he met up with me) and pulled out a black velvet box with a sparkling ring and got on one knee. Adorable! 7 1/2 months later we were married! Apparently he had bought the ring the same day we went looking. His proposal caught me completely off-guard! We had talked about getting married in the Spring, and not getting engaged until December or January--yeah...didn't happen. Oh well, he's the best and I love him! I wouldn't trade any of it for the world.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

EW YUCK!!!!!!!!


THIS is what was in my house!!!!!!!! Can you believe it??? EW! A while ago I posted a blog about a spider I found under my bed. Ugh. I LOATHE spiders. Anyway...this is it! (Gag.) Here is the problem though. I was outside watering my plants a few minutes ago and tying up my potted tomatoes (Yes, they actually grew in pots! I am amazed.) when I looked up on the deck railing and saw another one of these NASTY jumping spiders!!!! This time it was smaller and brown- but still very colorful and fuzzy. I tried to kill it, but it jumped into my plants while I was getting a shoe to smash it with. If it ends up in my house...I just might have to move. Ha ha ha! Why do we have to have such nasty creatures on this planet? :(

Thursday, August 28, 2008

The Big Rock Candy Mountain

We spent last weekend at the Big Rock Candy Mountain (thanks to Uncle Rick and Aunt Maryann). It was SO much fun! It was so nice to get away from crowded civilization and cell phone service for a little r&r. We rode the 4 wheelers all over the mountain, ate at Hoover's (not Hooter's), and played lots of games. Here are some pics of the fun vacation. :)

The gang (Matt, Jen, Allie, and Matt) posing in front of the Big Rock Candy Mountain while on a 4 wheeling adventure.


The amazing Matt trickin' it out.


I know, I lucked out-- he's a hottie!!! ;)


More tricks! :) Aunt Maryann & Uncle Rick were nice enough to leave us two 4 wheelers AND the Polaris.


Too fast!!!! Me and Allie tried to take pics of the boys' tricks...but most of the time they were too fast and we missed them! :(

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Paging Customer Service

My whole life I have worked in foods, retail, or been involved in supervisor positions. It's been my blessed calling in life to take crap from other people. I have been yelled at in the face by complete strangers (yes, in Deseret Book of all places with Mo-Tab playing in the background), had numerous people tell me they think I need to change my "Store Policies" (as if it is MY store), and watched customers storm off in disbelief and yell "I'm never coming back here again!!!" because of something I have just told them. I have been called multiple names, and have had soups and sandwiches thrown back in my face with shouts of, "This is disgusting, I want a refund!" (of course, they waited until they ate 3/4 of the food until complaining...idiots)...that's just to mention a few. Despite dealing with all the crazies and taking all of their crap, I have remained calm and kept a smiling face. Well, today I FINALLY got to play the other part, and it felt SO GOOD. I think it released years of pent up rage, and I can't even begin to explain how much I loved it! I think I may play the "crazy customer" again sometime... :)

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Well, the river trip has come and gone. We all had a blast on our trip and here are some fun pictures to enjoy!


Heading right for Lunch Counter

Lunch Counter at it's best

The Ropes

Finishing up the Ropes

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Changes...

This week has been filled with so many fun things, but also a lot of changes. My little sister Stephanie came down to stay with us for four days while she went to a track camp at BYU. On the last day of the camp, they held a mini-track meet. She did SO well! It was really fun to watch her. After that, our friend Matt Day came down to stay for a couple days. We went bowling and out to dinner at Red Robin. Last night we went to the 11:30 pm showing of the new Batman movie. It was SO good!!! The movie was really long, though. But, definitely worth seeing!

Now for the changes...I quit Deseret Book!!!! I'm so excited! Tomorrow I start my new job at Utah Valley Eye Center. I'm a little nervous, because it's always tough to switch jobs. It will be hard to go from a supervisor position to a "I have no clue what I'm doing" position. Ha ha! Oh well, it will be an awesome change! I'm really excited.

This week is going to be crazy as well because...we are leaving for the Snake River!!!! YAY! It's about time! We have been looking forward to this ever since we got home from the trip last year, ha ha. :) This year we will have lots of new people joining us. We just can't wait!

I really hope our garden doesn't shrivel up and die while we are gone. It is doing so well! I already have 8 green tomatoes! Matt's cucumber plant is full of big yellow flowers, too. Its vines are already crawling over our balcony it's getting so big! :)

Well...I guess that's it for today! I'll try to post some more before we leave :)

Monday, July 14, 2008

Welcome Home Ron!

This last Sunday Jen and I were able to go and see my Mission President Ron Godfrey's homecoming. It was a blast being able to see him and hear him and his family speak again. We had such a good time being able to speak with him briefly and hearing of his strong and powerful testimony.

Here is a picture of two of my favorite people in this life, and two of the most influential in my life as well:)