Thursday, February 26, 2009
Random Stuff & Every Day Life
I have never written anything for our blog. I feel like such a horrible blogger! Countless dedicated bloggers update their blogs every day....and me....haven't ever! I'm not even sure I can figure out how to post what I'm writing now. We'll see... I wish I had something amazing and exciting to write about but I don't. Well it depends on how you look at it. I have the most BEAUTIFUL, OUTSTANDING, LOVING, wife in the entire world. To me that is something to write about. Amanda is the reason for the smile on my face and sparkle in my eye. Not a day goes by where I don't feel incredibly blessed to have her in my life. And maybe that's what I'll write about...our daily life. We've had some insane days and weeks! Amanda has been a "busy bee" with school. The amount of homework that she has had would put the average person in a mental hospital or in their grave. I'm not joking! Then added on top of that she has been the most amazing wife on the planet. I don't know how she does it....I think she has super powers....but I'm not sure....she won't tell me if she does or not. Anyhow, on top of school work Amanda makes delicious dinners EVERY night! I'm not talking about mac and cheese, these dinners are the real deal. I'm talking about pork cutlets with spiced apples, shrimp scampi, crab enchiladas....and the list goes on. I have the greatest wife ever! I love to eat, so to have a wife that knows how to cook makes me pleased as punch. I heard this guy on TV say "pleased as punch" so I thought I would use it to. Don't hate on me.
How about I'll just write about random things. I don't feel like sticking to a topic. Lately I have been eating A LOT of "Red Vines" licorice. I think I'm addicted. We buy the family pack and it usually lasts us about a week. I guess we're not doing too bad. A week is a long time to have a bag of licorice. Some of you may know that I love coke. I used to drink it all the time. Then I decided it wasn't healthy and cut down to maybe 2 or 3 a month. This past week I have had one every day. I've decided I really like Coke again. I'm going to keep this daily thing up for another week or so and then break free. But for now I'm loving my coke...not quite as much as I love Amanda....but close. The watching of American Idol has become one of my favorite activities lately. I absolutely love to cuddle up with Amanda (Coke & Red Vines nearby) and watch the rising stars sing their hearts out. It's my new favorite activity. Amanda loves it too. We really enjoy our nights together or any time together. I truly have a best friend in Amanda. It's something I will always cherish.
Saturdays and Sundays are my favorite days. Amanda gets all her homework done during the week and devotes the weekends to "us". On Saturdays we usually sleep in a little and just lounge around in the morning. Then we try to do something fun later on. This Saturday we are going to go have lunch in Salt Lake City and then do some window shopping in the city. Right in the middle of the city there are all these vintage shops that have always caught our eye as we've driven through the city....so this Saturday we are going to find out what they're all about. We don't have to do anything extravagant to have fun. As long as I can be close to my baby, holding hands, laughing, enjoying one another's company I am "pleased as punch".
Sundays are our relax and bake days. The past few Sundays we have baked something. For example a few Sundays ago we baked these yummy butter cookies with raspberry and cream cheese filling. They were the BOMB. Then another Sunday we baked some chocolate cookies that we couldn't exactly figure out the right time to leave them in the oven for. The first batch wasn't cooked long enough, then the next batch was too done...finally with the remaining dough, (enough for one cookie, which we turned into a heart) we got it right. The heart shaped cookie was perfect! You live and you learn. We also go to church, take naps and play games together on Sundays. I truly LOVE our weekends together.
I'm coming to find out that Amanda is randomly hilarious. I mean I knew she was funny before but now I know on a whole new level. For example, sometimes she will just out of the blue sing a word or phrase. It may not sound funny but believe me it is. Like when we are sitting watching TV and Amanda, who is focused on her homework and studying during the commercials all of a sudden, without looking up from her school work, sings out "free and clear" after a face wash commercial, you can't help but laugh. Or sometimes she'll be making dinner and sing out in the funniest tone one of the ingredients. I guess you have to witness it to really find the humor in it. :)
Our little FREAK of a cat Nika makes us laugh. Today she clawed up our leather couch which wasn't funny at all. In fact I'm deeply disturbed about it now. I want to cry. I still love her. But she is a Freak. Amanda gave her a ball of yarn and she completely tore it apart. Her favorite thing to do is entangle the kitchen table and chairs in yarn. You should see it. It looks like a spider web in underneath the table when she's all through. She follows us every where and won't leave Amanda alone when she does her homework. She drinks out of the toilet. She has horrible gas. She poops probably 12 times a day. She chases invisible things up and down the stairs. She is our little freak a leak!
To sum it all up, Amanda and I are enjoying our life together. I couldn't ask for a better wife and companion. She brings so much happiness into every day of my life. We are enjoying the little things and looking forward to the big things. Hopefully we can keep our blog updated on more of a regular basis. I mean blogging is my passion. I want to become the GREATEST blogger in America!
Monday, February 16, 2009
VALENTINES WEEK
Valentines WEEK: I will give a brief synopsis cause truly it was the most amazing week-Mike SPOILED ME! There wasn’t a day wherein I didn’t feel absolutely loved, needed and wanted by him. Everything he did was so thoughtful, so genuine and planned with the utmost care and recognition of the importance of our marriage, our friendship and our love.
Day 1- I came home from school late and found, as I walked into our garage door, “I LOVE YOU” cut out of hot pink paper. As I came inside there were hearts cut out of the same paper all over the house, each saying different things like “I love the way you smell, I love our deep conversations, I love your determination to succeed and achieve all you put your mind too, I love the way you serve me, I love that you know how to cook, I love your quick wit and impeccable intelligence….” It was the most thoughtful act of love. On the kitchen table I found a single red rose with a note that mentioned this would be a WEEK of Valentines ☺. That night he gave me a foot massage before going to bed…."How did I get so lucky?" I thought. I have the best husband in the world ☺.
Day 2- I came home to a cute hat (to replace the one I lost in Cancun ☺), a bunch of coupons-full body massage, bubble bath, weekend get a way, shopping spree, breakfast in bed-to redeem whenever I wanted ☺, and a print out of all the silly things I have said or done that make him laugh/smile. Again, all of it was so thoughtful.
Day 3- Mike made me dinner after we went to the temple. It was soooo YUMMY-chicken fajitas with homemade guacamole. He set a blanket on our living room floor and lit some candles while we ate our meal. He also wrote all of these precious quotes all over the mirrors in our house. My favorite one: "If I could have just one wish, I would wish to wake up everyday, to the sound of your breath on my neck, the warmth of your lips on my cheek, the touch of your fingers on my skin, and the feel of your heart beating with mine....knowing that I could never find that feeling with anyone other than you." Kuchta
Day 4- I came home to huge Valentines balloons, a black and white roxy purse, and a stuffed cat (he has known how much I have wanted a kitten lately and we hadn’t been able to find one so he got me a stuffed animal) ☺.
Day 5-VALENTINES DAY!!! My baby made me breakfast in bed-sweet rolls and eggs, gave me a massage, and two more cute hats ☺. He also made me the cutest video of how his life would be without me (it was so funny) and edited parts in of all the videos we have taken together-it was the most precious gift ever!! I gave him his gifts-chocolates, Gucci Cologne, a frame with some pictures of my bridals, and some essential church items he didn't have. We then got ready and he took me to the animal shelter to pick up NIKA-a 6month old kitten he saw there the other day and whom I got see yesterday. She is gorgeous-white with the most amazing gray markings on her face, legs, tail, and ears, and these really intense blue eyes. She has such a sweet personality as well-she is pretty much already trained, easy going, doesn’t require a lot of attention (except when we sleep)☺. It is nice to have our first animal together ☺. After picking up all the essential cat items from Pet Smart we took her home and watched her get acquainted with her new living environment. It wasn’t long before she was running up and down the stairs, playing chase with me, cuddling up next to us, and even watching a movie with us (literally watching, it was so funny). Mike and I were going to go ice-skating and to The Cheese Cake Factory for Dinner but opted to stay in doors most of the day goofing off, laughing our heads off while being so crazy. I seriously love love love spending time with him like this, we can be so crazy together-sooooo crazy. I LOVE that I married my best friend. Later, for dinner, we grabbed a burger and fries and came back home to watch one of our favorite movies-Elizabethtown. It was nice to cuddle up and be in doors.
It was a Valentines week I will NEVER forget. THANKS BABY!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Many Thanks
What a month of events it has been. I finally have time to update our blog. Christmas was amazing. We were able to spend it with both of our families (with my entire family coming to stay in Draper, and Mikes already in SLC). The week before our wedding wasn’t without trial, with family issues, sicknesses, wedding drama, and yes, even getting stuck in a snow storm the day before our wedding (not knowing if it would actually be able to take place). But, it made us stronger; it brought us closer together as a family and as a couple. It will be, to date, the most memorable Christmas. I love my family and miss them so much; they are such a wonderful support to me.
I couldn’t be happier to report that the wedding was marvelous. Everything was as Mike and I dreamed-everyone looked so good in their black attire with red accents (men in red ties, women in red shoes and red cuffs-smashing)! The setting was simple, elegant, and modern with a bit of vintage thrown in- exactly our style. The food couldn’t have been more tasty! Thanks so much Jenn for all the preparation with the food, it was amazing!! We were also fortunate to be in the warmth most of the day; we only had to manage half hour outside at the SLC Temple, getting a few shots in the freezing cold. The shots turned out sooo great; I am glad everyone was positive in being there for that. Our wish was of course to get them done the first time around since that is what we would have wanted to do had we been able to be sealed.
The ceremony was beautiful. I was fortunate to have my sisters and Mikes brothers in my line, along with Maile-my flower girl. She was adorable, my dad and I had to help her, telling her where to walk, and when to drop the roses. They always say expect at least ONE thing to go wrong at your wedding-well mine was my veil. I was so focused on helping Maile, I didn’t notice it slipping of my head right in the middle of my walk down the aisle. It was basically off my head so I just handed it to Mikes Aunt as I continued to walk towards Mike and the bishop-FUNNY ☺ (I think you can hear me in our video saying “shoot my veil is falling off”).
The bishop shared some beautiful words with us about the concepts of “leaving and cleaving.” I remember when he told both of us the leaving also related to us leaving behind our past and moving forward together, I became emotional-here was the man of my dreams, right in front of me, the perfect match for me, and the Lord, in his mercy, allowed us to cross paths and begin this wonderful life TOGETHER. I felt so blest to have found Mike. He is not only my husband, but he is more important, my BEST FRIEND. I adore him. We have so much fun together being goofy, crazy, absolutely silly-laughing all of the time. I simply look at his gorgeous face and I laugh, he easily turns my lips into smiles.
The night was so much fun spent with both of our amazing families toasting to our future, watching our crazy wedding video, cutting the cake, throwing the bouquet and garter, and of course dancing the night away. Our close families greeted us outside with sparklers as we got into our “just married” car and drove off to spend our first night at Hotel Monaco. Two days later we flew out to Cancun, to spend a an all-inclusive week at The Grand Oasis for our honeymoon. We couldn’t have asked for more gorgeous weather-sunny, blue skies the entire time, 80 degrees. We had such a relaxing time there, it was quality time spent together! We laid at the beach, ate lots of food, went kayaking, paddle boating, went on a romantic a lobster dinner cruise, went zip lining through the jungle, got a couples massage, and rang in the new year together there on the beach in Cancun. It was such a wonderful honeymoon!
We wanted to thank everyone for coming to the wedding. Thanks to our family and friends for all of your help, love and support with the wedding and our marriage. We love you all so much.
(These are just a few of the photos Tamra, our wedding photographer, who did the most amazing job, completed thus far, I wanted to post them now, but will post many, many more soon).
Monday, December 22, 2008
Bridal Shower
We are so excited to Celebrate the union of Mike and Amanda!!!! We are excited to meet Mike's family. I will be sending out an evite to the actual bridal shower with all the information in a few days. Here is the list of people invited and next to your name is what we would like you to bring to the shower. We have decided to do COUPLE'S FIRST. It is a fun theme and you can be really creative and it can be inexpensive. We will give you some ideas as to what to get if you are stuck.
Scroll down until you find your name and review your gift item. There are some families that are all living in the same house hold, you can all do the same theme and contribute to that gift. Some are doubled up and that is okay, people will get different things.
You can put your items in cute baskets (Micheals has cute ones), or bags, or wrap them up.
Those living out of state I didn't give a theme but they will be getting an evite.
Lauri Moncur, Mike's Mother, Couple's First Bath (spa day, robes, towels, massage stuff, lotions, bubble bath, chocolate covered strawberries, sparking cider)
Tonia Jensen (Mike's maternal Grandmother) Couple's First Food Storage/Gardening (couples cans of food, starters, a few items they will need to start their own garden)
Rachel Moncur (Mike's sister in law) Couple's First Entertaining Party (Recipe book, fun ideas to entertain)
Allison Panter (Mike's sister) Couple's First Breakfast (tray table, hot coco mugs, pancake or crepe mixes, syrups)
Shawna Jensen, Sam, Amanda & Parris (Aunt & cousins) Couple's First Picnic (picnic basket filled with goodies)
Rulayne Jensen, Ellie & Abby (Aunt and Cousins) Couples First Winter Night (nice cozy blanket, candels, music, sparkling cider)
Candice Wayment (cousin) Couple's First Holiday (decorations and ornament, candel etc, a book of stories)
Janelle Jacobs (Cousin) Couple's First Romantic Dinner (French Bread, music, pick a dinner theme go around that, toasting glasses, pasta)
Shannon Hendrix (Cousin) Couple's First Movie Night (popcorn and candy, movie tickets, an old classic Audrey hepburn or Cary Grant flick)
Mary Alice Moncur & Kim (Mike's paternal Grandmother & Aunt) Couple's First Winter Night (Cozy blanket, hot coco mugs)
Cynthia Doerr, Alexandra & Kristina (Aunt & cousins) Couple's First Game Night (A basket full of fun games)
Barb Eastman, in law, Couples First Movie Night (popcorn, movie tickets, candy, cuddle blanket)
Michell Nielsen, Amanda's Sister, Couples First Family Home Evening (LDS Family home evening book, fun ideas)
Mindi Memmott, in law, Couples First Camping Trip (explanatory) pick a few fun items you think they would need
Shayna Eastman, Amanda's Sister in Law, Couples First Bath
Sharry Eastman & Jennifer Howard, Amanda Mother and Sister, Couples First Dinner
Kimber Eastman, Amanda's Sister in law, Couples First Game Night
Deirdre Davis, Amanda's Sister, Couples First Art Day
Robin Barber, Ashley, Tasha, Shayla, Sharrise, Amanda's Aunt and Cousins, Couples First Sports Day (give them a basket of fun sporty things, ball and gloves, volleyball net and ball etc)
Meg, Amanda's Friend, Couples First Romantic Dinner
Alicen, Amanda's Friend, Couples First Make Up after a fight (I am sorry cards, candy, a little I am sorry book (coupons you can make these up for example "one free massage" etc)
Les, Tracey and Jess, Amanda's Friends, Couples First Hike just pick a few items you think they would need.
We had a bridal shower for Amanda and Mike on Monday. We than enjoyed a spaghetti dinner with Mike's family. The guys babysat the kids downstairs while the girls enjoyed a shower. Everything seemed so rushed but it was still fun. We didn't even let the nasty weather keep us from having fun. Mike's family even kept to the schedule even after being lost in the blizzard.
