T-minus 15 days... 'til Valentines Day.

no words necessary.

And last but not least, my personal favorite part of our New Zealand adventures

happy six months.

... To the very best part every day, from the moment I wake up to the moment we say goodnight (even if sharing a queen bed hasn't been a favorite... :) I love you to the moon and back and can't imagine navigating through life with anybody else now that I have you. Thank you for making six months the very best I've ever had. I sure do love you a whole lot.

that's what's up.

I'm pretty sure that this is the cutest video,
ever, ever.

the future of america tonight.

"It's been a part of the American experience to know that its future is better than its past...Let us begin that future for America tonight."

I voted early, and nearly ran once we parked the car to get in line outside of the Utah County Health building, to wait patiently for my own turn at the polls. I'll have to be honest in admitting that regardless of what the majority of my fellow Americans vote tonight, and even though I so desperately hope that the next President of the United States will be Governor Mitt Romney, I felt proud (as I'm sure we all do) that I was voting as an American first and foremost, for a future of a country that I so gratefully and proudly believe in.

napkin notes.

Max started leaving 'napkin notes' lying around the apartment once we got married, (closest thing to a post-it note I think he could find,) and it's been one of my many favorite parts about our newlywed days. I usually pride myself in being "the clever one," but if I'm honest, Max certainly takes the cake - especially when it comes to these.

Today's napkin note was taped on my bathroom mirror when I woke up, and I nearly squealed with joy when I saw it! Max knows I never take anything Disney-related lightly, which is why I have a Disneyland fact sheet, Disneyland playlist, and Disney fruit snacks all waiting for us in the car. I'm absolutely convinced that Max will be the best Splash Mountain buddy I could ask for, so if only I could get him to wear this costume (he refuses), I'm pretty convinced we'd make a great Mickey and Minnie pair at the Disneyland Halloween party, too :)

So we're off to sunny California and the happiest place on earth! Hope you have a wonderful week!

wedding - family

I saved family for last, because that's what all of this is about. Everything. My mom and my dad, my sister who I love so much. My new family. My new brothers. My grandparents, my aunts, uncles, my faaavorite cousin Merbear. And the feeling that my family isn't some coincidence. That our relationships aren't something that just end with time or distance; we're sealed to one another. How grateful I am for that.

And most, most, most importantly, the most permanent and precious decision I ever made, was and is starting this new family with Max. With the boy who has been my best friend for the last six years, and who will be for the next million more. Such a big decision, yet it was the easiest one I ever made.

Some of the wonderful counsel we were given on our wedding day, was that out of all the titles and callings we have in this life, the only ones we will take with us hereafter are that of mother and father, husband and wife. Of families. I will never forget that. Maybe because I had never heard anything so wonderful, or because I was surrounded by all my family, both immediate and extended; but maybe it's because a part of heaven feels that way, too. I will never forget it.

wedding - the dinner

 

Tuscany was perfect; the food was divine, (although honestly, I maybe ate a tenth of everything that night), the trees and glittering twinkle lights were gorgeous, and the intimate setting we were able to have with our close friends and family felt like the best way to have ended such a special and significant day in both mine and Max's life.

Before you get married, everyone tells you that not everything will be perfect the day you get married, and maybe it was because I could hardly pay attention to anything but Max, but truly, everything was perfect. When you're surrounded by your closest friends and family, and you're eating really good food, (and wearing a really pretty dress,) and the string quartet is playing something from the Sound of Music -- well, that was perfect enough for me.

wedding - details

The dress,
The marriage book :)
The morning of,
The temple,
The boquet,
The dinner,

The detail shots are some of my favorite, because truth be told, I hardly paid any attention to them at all. Months and months of planning, and you'd think I would better appreciate all the hard work that went into that day! But I have to be honest and say that I didn't, and really, I wouldn't have had it any other way. Thank goodness we have these pictures at least, because everything from the Vera Wang gown to the peony boquet turned out lovely.

wedding - friends

I really liked what Brittany quoted on her blog the other day, because it fits so perfectly well with the way I feel: You can never make new old friends.

I've talked about them before, and I'll talk about them again. Most of these people knew me and Max before we even dated. Most of these people heard about our first date (six years ago) the day after it happened, or were there to witness it themselves. They were the ones taking me to Wendys the night Max left on his mission, so I would eat a frosty instead of cry. They were there the day he got home, when I was so nervous I really almost threw up.

Words will never be enough for how grateful I am for this group of friends, because in so many ways, I am so much of me because of them. Their influence and example, their jokes, and their quirks, their secrets and their stories. Letting me feel and be a part of an amazing group of people.

Walking out of the temple and seeing the familiar and happy faces of so many extraordinary friends, made everything about our wedding day even better.