Thanksgiving 2012

Our first Thanksgiving together. Lovely.

We had a busy weekend as we were driving north to south to east to west back north, even more north, south, and then south again (with a few more north and souths and easts and wests thrown in there).

I started off working my glory job at Hill Air Force Base. Everyone was really antsy to get out of there and celebrate the holidays. Some buildings got out THREE hours early. We were released ONE hour early. I'll take it. I drove separate than the van pool for this very occasion. I rushed my little black Alero home and I drove in a way that would make Mike upset. Even with Thanksgiving traffic I made the 70 miles home in just 50 minutes. Woot. Woot.

We packed and headed to Myton for some local pizza and UNO action with Mike's family. Sadly, because of my sleeping schedule - I headed to bed before ten. (This did get later and later as the weekend wore on.)

Thanksgiving day we woke up, had a yummy French Toast breakfast and headed to the courts. Yay for Roosevelt High Tennis Courts. We took up three of the four courts with some double action going on. Mike and I had never played tennis before. Do you believe that? A first within a first. He actually really impressed me and I can't wait to play with him more. I told him if we would have been playing the past four years (dating time) he could be playing in the US Open by now. Sadly, we haven't so in turn he's not.

We went back and helped prepare some food for later that afternoon. And then....

We ate.

We ate alot.

I won't lie. I was disappointed that they didn't have my grandma's homemade banana pie. Okay, my grandma makes like a gazillion types of pies for Thanksgiving but I like the banana one best. I sent some quick texts to my dear family about the dilemma and I received a text back, "Mission Accomplished." My mom had nabbed me a piece and it would be waiting for me the next day when I arrived "home." YESSSS!

It's bad when you eat so much it's uncomfortable to sit isn't it? Yes. It is. That's what happened. (At this point I know Austin has stopped reading my blog post because it's too long. Oh well. Mike and I will want to remember these moments one day.) We watched Brave while we let the food work its way out of our stomachs.

It was our first time seeing Brave. We wanted to watch it to know if Black Friday shopping would be worth it or not. All we would go for is Brave. It ended up being worth it. A story about a girl who puts off being married because she loves her current life and adventures? Who couldn't love that story? When the time is right, she will get married. It was a story after my own heart.

So we went Black Friday shopping.

I don't want to bore you with all the details. But know this:

- I broke in to all of the cardboard boxes
- I tore through the saran wrap
- I ripped off tape and lifted off the delivery boxes
- I told the Assistant Manager of Wal Mart I was not leaving her side until she helped me
- A few rumors started with me and I heard them come back to me through random people
- While waiting for movies two cops and two Wal Mart employees came to search my stuff
- The clock hit 8 and I didn't even have to wait in line to check out - until Mike needed more stuff. I waited for him. When he came back I still didn't have to wait in line.
- I got Brave

That was all actually on Thursday night. So technically we didn't go Black Friday shopping.

Friday Mike rallied the troops to go shooting clay pigeons.

Then we headed to Logan.

Mike got his hair cut. (Handsome Handsome)

We went out for pizza.

And we played some intense rounds of Farkle (new favorite game).

Saturday morning we woke up super early (blast that 4 am alarm clock)  and when everyone else woke up my mom and dad made us an incredible breakfast of gingerbread waffles with homemade whipped cream and caramel sauce. *Delightful*

Then we caravanned up to Idaho with our permits to cut down our Christmas trees.

Mike found a tree he loved. I saw about twenty, so we settled on his choice. Our first Christmas tree and our first Christmas in our own house as a family. *Sentimental*

 

Annika rode in the truck with us. When we were almost home we commented on how pretty the sunset was. Annika quickly flipped the iPhone to camera and took a photo out the window. Although you can't really see how pretty the sunset is - I love the photo.

And to put any questions to rest about her and the littlest one, I think this says it all:

It was a good day. We were pretty worn out since we can't just get the first great tree we see  - we have to hike to the top of the mountain and then all over. :-) All for good fun.

Afterwards some people went shopping, some people went to the USU basketball game, some people played Blokus and Farkle, some people watched TV/Movies, and some people relaxed in a nice hot bath.

It was another late night which ended the next day with Mickey Mouse, monster truck, and alphabet shaped pancakes.

I can't believe I made it to work the next day.

6 Years

November 16, 2012 marked 6 years of me being home from my LDS mission to Washington DC South. I still think about it and miss it on a daily basis.


I miss talking about the gospel to every.single.person. we saw.
I miss that my sole purpose was to share it.
I miss answering people's questions and searching the scriptures for things I would have never thought about before, so that I could teach them.


Thank goodness for Mike.
Thank goodness I have a companion who is willing to study with me, pray with me, and discuss with me. A companion who reminds me of scripture study and prayer when I fall asleep at 6pm on our couch.
Thank goodness we have goals to work towards and a love of the gospel that we can share.


But it's not really the same.

I have to go to work. I have to focus my attention on jet manuals instead of on sharing the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I have to think about worldly things - finances, vehicles, insurance, etc. Blech!

I hope that me missing it so much will change when we have kids. I just want to teach it again more than anything. I want to start from the beginning and see the plan of salvation click in someone's mind and I want to see how their eyes change when they understand Heavenly Father's plan for families. I want to hear someone pray from the first time again. I want to hear someone tell me that they felt something in their heart that they had never felt before, but they aren't sure what it is. I want to see them make sacrifices and I want to make sacrifices with them because I know blessings are in store. I want to see them develop a new love for their Savior Jesus Christ and I want to see them feel His love and for the first time realize that He does live and that He loves them individually. I can't wait to teach that to our kids. It will probably be all the better too since Mike will be my companion.

Six Years Ago:

Waiting for the train to arrive with commuters from the district. 

President & Sister Wixom and I. Last time I would visit the DC Temple as a missionary.

At the airport. (Our group coming was not this big. We went home with different Elders than we came with since they get to stay 2 years.)

Flying Home.

Side note: Last month, the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson lowered the age of LDS missionaries. For young men from 19 to 18 and for young girls from 21 to 19. Wow. What an announcement it was. Coworkers and friends began asking me, "Would you have gone at 19?" I think anyone who knew me at CEU knows the answer to this question because for months I was announcing, "26 more months until I can send in my mission papers.... 25 more months until I can send in my mission papers... 24 more months... 23... 22... 21..." until finally I could send in my mission papers and wait for the call. I would have gone. But that would have changed so much in my life. I probably wouldn't have graduated from CEU, I wouldn't have gone to New York to be a nanny twice, and a whole slew of other events/experiences wouldn't have happened that I have come to appreciate and that have had huge impacts on my life and on me learning and growing on my own. I would have gone, but I hate thinking what I would have missed out on. For those that it does apply to - those that can go now - I am excited for them. I am excited for them to have missionary experiences at such a young age and to carry those experiences on throughout their lives as they travel and interact with people from all over. I am excited for them and I only wish that Mike and I could take a sabbatical and go out for a bit right now...

Hurricane Sandy and the LDS Church

Very neat. When you are far away, and want to help, it's nice to know that there are people out there who are willing to help and serve in ways you can't. And you can volunteer and help out from a distance in ways that they may not be able to. I am grateful for the life, the example, and the spirit of Jesus Christ which leads people to be and do good.


Mormon Helping Hands :: Hurricane Sandy :: Rockaways, NY from Joshua Brown on Vimeo.


God bless all the people affected by Hurricane Sandy and all the helping hands across the nation.

Best.Family.Ever

Seriously.

How many families would contact someone to help them plan a family flash mob for a reception?

My family would.

They in fact did just that for Mike & I.

Done to the one and the only *NSYNC - Bye Bye Bye.

It was epic.

So the DJ kinda messed up. Just a little bit. But it turns out he was getting a lot of hidden requests.

One for the secret breakout Father Daughter Dance
One for the secret flash mob Family Dance
and One for a secret 'making a music video' Friend Dance/Tribute - yet to come.

My family had planned a flash mob. They wanted the DJ to just start playing the song and suddenly they would all be out on the dance floor doing this awesome dance.

Instead, after Mike and I finished dancing he announced, "and now we have a special family number..."

I was like, "What? No! Who told him that? No we don't. We don't have anything planned. Shoot, what's going on?"

He starts playing, "Bye Bye Bye" and my family begins walking to the dance floor.

I was shocked. I was surprised. It was pretty much a flash mob to me. I loved it. LOVED it.

Still waiting to get the video back from our video guy - but I do smile every time I see these photos and think of the beyond fabulous dance they put on for me.

P.S. Brian mentioned to me that I should pay especially close attention to him in the back row because everyone else was obviously doing the wrong moves when he was doing the right ones ;) I thought they were all very in unison but if you want to pay special attention to him ;).

Dang excited for this video! Thanks for the best wedding gift ever!

Our Father Daughter Dance

I am working on a photo book for Mike and I and have been going through all of our wedding photos. When I look at all of the details of the wedding reception I think, "Holy crap my mom went to a lot of work!" She did soooo much and had thought about every detail. I told her what I wanted and she just made it happen. We had lots of vendors to coordinate and plan with and I know that planning everything became more of a family effort and everyone pitched in and helped, so I am grateful for my entire family, but I know it was her vision which made it complete. I have the best mom ever.

I have the best dad ever too. (How lucky am I to score two of the best parents EVER!?) He does anything and everything for all of us. He is so patient, so kind, and so willing. I really wanted to do a breakout Father Daughter Dance (still waiting and excited to get the footage back from our videographer) but in addition to doing the dance with me - my family planned a flash mob dance. So my dad had to learn two complete dances for my reception night, and he kept it all a secret. He was so wiling and so happy the entire time even though deep down I am sure it must have been overwhelming. What a stud. He pulled it off like one of Katy Perry's back-up dancers and now I have the best, most unforgettable moments ever of my dad and my family dancing at my wedding reception for me.

We started together

*N SYNC "Here We Go"

I may not remember all of the songs we danced to, but I will always remember my dad doing the "Stanky Leg".

"Big Butts"

"Tik Tok"

And we ended together

I guess I should also mention that I was very impressed with our DJ's. I told them what I had in mind, the songs that I wanted, and they put it all together over night. They were fabulous to work with.