My Pre-Valentine's Day, Sappy Hubby Love Post!

So I was planning on making this week's post about my amazing fun vacation to Las Vegas to see Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball, but that was before I went on this vacation. To sum up why I'm not going to go into detail about my vacation, it sucked! Lady Gaga was extremely crude and explicit to the point even I was slightly offended, our room was old and had bugs crawling in the bathroom, which was great considering I got sick and spent a lot of my vacation locked in that bathroom with them and to top it off the company wasn't as great as I thought it would be. Since I try to be a positive person and I don't really want to waste an entire post on the vacation from hell, I decided to write about my wonderful husband and how lucky I am to have him in my life instead!

Now I did my fair share of dating before Bob came along. I dated good boys, bad boys, friends who became something more, and something mores who became just friends. I dated boys who I had crushes on and boys who simply had crushes on me. Tall, short, skinny, fat, geeks, jocks, smart, dumb, poor, rich, college boys, high school boys, and way too old for me boys and in the end every single one of them were just that, boys! I wanted a man. Someone who wouldn't betray my trust, tell me one thing and do another, lie, cheat, or mistreat me in any way. Someone who would love me despite all my faults, would love to spoil me and take care of me, support me, listen to me and love me. But those types of guys only exist in fairy tales... or at least that's what I began to believe. Then Bob came along...

The first thing I noticed about him that was different is he took me on really nice, expensive, long dates. Our first date was 16 hours long, the next one 12 hours, etc. When he wanted to see me, he was going to spend his entire day with me and he was going to take me out, show me off and spoil me rotten. We went to lagoon, Wendover, concerts, jazz games, dinners, we were so busy going on nice dates that we never even went to a movie until we had been dating nearly 2 months! While I don't think all of this was necessary to win my heart, it definitely set him apart from the cheap-o dates with no creativity and the guys who didn't really care to plan anything. Then I started to notice other things about Bob. He was SO sweet to his mom, a true mommas boy who talked to his mom about everything including how happy I made him. I had grown up knowing that if a man treats his mom really well, then he will treat his wife really well too. I also loved how close he was to the rest of his family as well. His little brother is his best friend, and he would rave about his nieces and nephews. He was also such an animal person, and I think it says a lot about a man who is patient and gentle with animals instead of rough and mean. Then there was how he acted around me. He always opened my doors, and pulled out my seats. He could make me laugh even on my worst days. He listened, I mean really listened (not often you can say that about a man). Not only did he listen to me, laugh with me, let me cry on his shoulder when needed, or give me advice when asked -but he also did that for my friends when they came to me with problems (we were already acting like a unit). He was also the kind of guy who didn't mind talking about the future, getting married and having kids, he would even bring it up! Throughout our dating he also did the unbelievable and gave me faith in men again. He was patient with me even though I was that nightmare girlfriend who is paranoid, and doesn't trust anyone, who has to dig through your emails, texts and face book and never fully believes anything you are telling her. I was also very insecure with myself, after so many people leave you, you begin to think maybe it's me not them. He was patient, gentle and supportive with me the whole time I worked through my issues, and now a few short years later I truly feel like a different woman, a better woman. I'm confident in my own skin more than I ever have been and I can really say that Bob is a great MAN who fits everything I ever wanted in a man and more. To top it all off, he became my best friend. He is the first person I call if I need to talk, and I can tell him anything no matter how silly it may sound. I can be a goof ball with him and instead of making fun, he joins in. Waking up next to him each morning is the only way I want to wake up and falling asleep in his arms is my favorite part of each day. I really never believed it when people said you can fall in love with someone, but when you get married it changes to an even deeper love until Bob and I got married in September. However after experiencing it myself, I can honestly say I fall more and more in love with him every single day and I have never felt a bond to someone as tight and strong as the one I feel with Bob, not even with my parents or sisters, or my best friends. I feel like I have my happily ever after!

PS -Bob, you are also an AMAZING cook, and in home masseuse. Thank you for always emptying the cat box for me so I don't have to do it and cleaning the snake tanks most of the time too! You are the best and I love you!


At a park by our old apartment

Lagoon

Being goofballs at the park

Color Festival



Downtown engagement picture

On our wedding day!



walking the beach in Cozumel



On our honeymoon in Cozumel

After a Jazz game when we first started dating

Our nicklecade date

My First Time Snow Boarding!

First of all, I know I live in Utah, but I hate the snow! I don't really ski, I've never been snowboarding, I don't sled or have snow ball fights. I stay indoors until the snow melts and the sun is shining again. I don't like being cold, or getting my pants wet when walking to the car, I don't like driving in snow and I don't like seeing nothing but a blanket of white instead of green grass, trees and flowers, and I despise shoveling the walk and scraping the car off! Despite all of this, regular followers of my blog already know that I gave my hubby a day of snow boarding for Christmas last month. This last weekend Bob decided to cash in and go snowboarding. Saturday we spent the day preparing. We went to my parents to dig up our snow gear and Bob's snowboard equipment out of storage before heading to the store to rent my gear and buy some replacement essentials. When we got to the store however we found the cutest snow board in exactly my size on clearance for $89, and *bonus* an extra 10% off. They also had bindings on clearance and I already had an old pair of Bob's boots that fit, so we decided to go ahead and purchase my equipment instead of renting.


Me with my first board!

Mine and Bob's snowboards

The next morning we tried to wake up bright and early (we hit snooze a few times...) before we finally rolled out of bed, put on our snow gear, packed a lunch and change of clothes, loaded up the car and headed to Brighton. I'm not going to lie, I was nervous! I have been skiing before and I remembered enjoying that, but snowboarding is a totally different ball game and one I wasn't sure I could handle! Despite all that, I was excited to try something new with my hubby and check something off my bucket list! We got to the top of the slope and strapped in, Bob gave me some instructions and it was time to test my luck. I tried to stand on my board but kept losing my balance, then next thing I knew I was facing the top of the hill but moving down the hill, then my snowboard hit an edge or something and I was falling, I tried to sit but I wasn't fast enough, my head smacked the snow, HARD! I could taste metal, and my head was throbbing, I stayed there for a while starring at the sky and wondering what did I get myself into? Finally I was able to slide/fall/scoot myself down to where Bob was waiting for me. He asked if I wanted him to hold me up for a little bit to get a feel for it. Of course I said yes! Maybe I wouldn't fall so hard with his help. It was easier, but I was so bad I managed to pull Bob down with me several times. Sometimes I would ask for his help, and sometimes I would try it on my own but no matter what I did I still managed to spend at least 95% of the time on my butt or my hands and knees. Finally an hour and a half later we reached the end of the slope and we headed into the lodge to defrost and eat our lunch.

I could tell that Bob was really enjoying being on his snow board again! That's why when Bob asked me if I was done for the day or if I wanted to try the hill one more time, I ignored the throbbing headache, and the pain radiating from my knees, wrists, hands and right shoulder and told him I thought I could make it down the hill one more time. As we rode the chair lifts I was even more scared than before. How much more damage was I going to do to myself this time? Would I make it? Or would I end up in a silly medic sled? I HATED snow boarding, I would love nothing more than to have my ski's with me so I could trade in this damn board and never touch it again. I was ready to give up, but of course I didn't tell Bob any of this. This was his special day, my "big" gift to him for Christmas, and he was really enjoying it. What kind of wife would I be if I ruined his fun now?

Bob helped me off the life and we headed down the slope. Something in me suddenly clicked. I can't really describe what it was but suddenly I knew how to stand on the board. I still fell but not nearly as often and when I did fall, I could somehow control it so I got minimum damage to my fragile body. I started being able to go faster without being scared, and I could almost steer effortlessly. This was actually kind of fun. Bob was by my side the entire time, giving me more pointers, and cheering me on when I went farther between falls or steered away from something instead of just falling. We got to the bottom of the slope in closer to 40 minutes this time, and that was with periodic breaks down the hill. Now Bob allowed me to go to the bunny hill and tweak my skills. I was so proud of myself when I made it down almost the entire hill without one fall despite all the kids and newbies cutting me off and falling around me. It was exhilarating, and I finally felt like I could do this! I was enjoying myself so much that when we finally left (due to numb faces and tired bodies) I started talking to Bob about teaching my family and getting season passes next year! The next morning I had some sore arms, but honestly the rest of my body was pain-free, I actually felt great! We will see what happens, but I think I may have found a reason to like Utah winters!


That's me standing on my board
and NOT falling!

Taking a little break



Me and my board at the end of
the day!

Still taking a break...
This was hardwork!

 

Making THE Cut!

So some of you may already know that my dear, sweet cousin Tiffany was diagnosed with cancer at the young age of 18 early last year. Growing up I was always pretty close to that side of my family and Tiffany had spent a lot of time around my family so I wanted to do something for her but I could never really figure out what. I was at a complete loss, does she want visitors? Or is she too sick to see anyone? Does she want to be distracted and entertained? Or does she need someone to listen to what she is going through? I really didn't know. The only thing I knew I could do is donate my hair to locks of love in her honor and show support to the whole community of people who have suffered at the hands of cancer. Unfortunately I had a wedding comming up and I had always pictured my hair longer for my wedding day, and the only way I had enough to donate was to go to a pixie cut. So I waited until after my wedding... but it still wasn't quite long enough! I waited, periodically going into the hair salon and having them measure my hair. Finally in December they said it was long enough, but just barely. To be on the safe side I gave my hair one more month of growing time so that my hair would look decent (I still have to be presentable to go to work, etc!). This last weekend was the end of that month, and it was time to make the cut! For the record, yes this is the shortest my hair has ever been, yes I'm cutting my hair almost a year after my cousin was diagnosed (who is in remission and looking more beautiful than ever in case you wondering!), and yes I love my new do! It so easy to take care of, It takes about 2 seconds to style, my hair already looks perfect when I wake up, the wind can't mess it up, I can head bang to my favorite songs without worrying about tangling my hair and I think it's a great cut for my face shape! I hope someone enjoys my old hair as much as I'm enjoying my new hair!

Front view of my hair

Back view of my hair

Trying to swish my hair and
strike a zoolander pose, I guess
I'm not model material....

Whipping my hair around for the
last time... at least for a while!

Holding my Locks of Love
donation

My stylist making the big cut..



The final product!

This last weekend was also a fun one since it was my best friend Sarah's 23rd birthday. You know we had to celebrate in style! I got to get all dressed up (and show off the new hair). We started out at Wild Grape Bistro for dinner and pre-party cocktails. The food was AMAZING! I got the filet mignon, and it practically melted in my mouth, and Bob thought the mushroom stuffed chicken was to die for. After dinner we went to Keys on Main, which is cute little piano bar located right in the heart of down town, for more cocktails and lots of dancing, laughing and hanging out with some great friends! I really enjoyed myself and hanging out with such great people! I hope you had an amazing birthday Sarah, and that we get to celebrate many more happy ones with you in the years to come!

My Dinner

My sweetheart giving me some love

The girls!

Me and my boo at dinner

The birthday girl and her main squeeze!

The boys (minus my hubby)



Us girls again!

Lovin on my man




 

Going full metal...in our PJ's!

So this is a pretty silly, non-sensical post since our lives have been pretty uneventful this week. Some of you probably already know that I don't play video games.... EVER! One of the very very few exceptions to that rule is Metallica Rockband/Guitar Hero because I love Metallica and I like having an excuse to listen to their music and dance around like a crazy person. Unfortunately my copy of the game is for a PS3 which is a game consol that Bob doesn't have, so I have been left without the only game I actually enjoy. Bob being the amazing husband he is, and knowing I missed playing my game, surprised me last month with a copy of Metallica Rockband for the X Box (which he had to track down and have shipped all the way from St. George's Game Stop), which is a consol we do have. He is just THAT sweet, he wanted a game that we could play and enjoy together! Just our luck though, the guitar controller we had, hadn't been used in a long time and no longer worked.... So now we had the consol, and the game but no controller! Lucky for me, my husband pulled through once again, and he was able to find a controller at a pawn shop for me so I can play my new game. Needless to say I think I have played every day since then! Here's a few rockin' pics of us cute little metal heads!



Smiling for me in between songs

Bob trying to concentrate

Trying to concentrate on the game
instead of Bob holding the camera

Bob chillin while playing

Posing with my new guitar

Rockin' out!



Bob's "just because I love you" gift

Happy New Year!

Bob and I had a really great year in 2012. We got engaged in February as well as we adopted our little cuddle bug Jazzy. I finally made it to the color festival in March. We had a few stressful months of wedding planning before tying the knot in September, doubling the amount of family we each had and allowing me to finally have the title of Aunt to 13 beautiful nieces and nephews. Tessa was also able to adopt Braxton in September making him an official member of the family (though in our eyes, he had always been a member). We took the vacation of a lifetime to the beautiful island of Cozumel where we swam with dolphins, ziplined over the rainforest, pet monkeys, scuba dived and snorkled with stingrays, sea turtles, sharks and thousands of different fish, snorkled in a Cenote, went repelling, made a lot of new friends, relaxed on the beach and spent a lot of time having fun in the sun! We then spent our first Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas together as a married couple.

While 2012 was an amazing year, we are so excited to see what 2013 has in store for us. It started off great! We rang in the new year surrounded by Bob's side of the family including Ana and the kids who came all the way from Washington to spend time with the family. (Anyone who knows Bob and I knows that there is a special place in our hearts for Ana's kids!) I was so happy to spend time with all the nieces and nephews as well as the in-laws, I feel like every time I spend time with them we bond a little more! Unfortunately I have been sick and miserable every day since then! This year has been a roller coaster of good and bad already, so we will see how the rest of the year goes...


Me with my nieces Mimi and Lauren

Me and cute little Mimi

Lauren insisted on a niece pic with her dog

The only pic Ryan managed to
take of himself instead of the
ceiling!



Me and Lauren

Me and my nephew Ryan







Bob and I waiting to ring in
the new year

Our new years kiss










The Boys, Bob and our nephews David
and Russell



Lauren holding Cleo on New Years
Day before the drive back to
Washington










Most of our New Years party crew

Lauren holding miss Cleo



This is where Jazzy lays so no one will
take down her tree...