The GOOD News and the Bad

What a great time of the year to count our blessings and realize that the everyday crisis is not without its perks.


The bad news is I got my laptop screen smashed by an orthodontist chair a few weeks ago...The GOOD news is I'm slowly getting it fixed for less money than anticipated, was aided financially by a very kind orthodontist to do so, and was able to retrieve the class notes, papers, and pictures I needed off the hard drive that is supposedly dying.

The bad news is Brad got beat up by a small Asian boy in basketball class and hurt his knee...the GOOD news is we get to drive the car to campus now.


The bad news is I have a cold...the GOOD news is I have a great excuse not to exercise.

The bad news is I'm hungry and we need to go shopping...The GOOD news is it's almost Thanksgiving, and I'll have plenty of room for Turkey!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Dating Anniversary

Today is mine and Brad's first anniversary of dating.

One year ago yesterday, Brad took on the great challenge of holding my hand for the first time as we watched Iron Man in Park City and while my dad sat by watch-dog style eating bowl after bowl of ice-cream.

The next day, we were officially dating...

Three days later, he kissed me for the first time...

Two and a half months later he took me home to Fairfield, CA to bond with the family...

One month after that, I had a diamond on my finger.....................

...and 3 months after that...Wedding bells were ringing at the Timpanogos Temple.

Last weekend during Conference, we were able to relive our Park City experience a little bit. My dad has a work conference there just about every year, and we were able to tag along with my parents and stay with them at the Hotel Park City. It was an awesome room with a back deck that had it's own hot tub and an awesome view! It was heavenly. Even more heavenly was watching conference in the morning on the big screen with the door open and the sun streaming through.

So here is my tribute to one year of calling each other boyfriend (he was my first), girlfriend, fiance (another first), husband (first and last), and wife along with some cute and cheesy nicknames.

And that is why fall leaves, cooling weather, and Park City make me feel warm and fuzzy.

The Friday Blog

It's Friday!!! What a great day of the week! I have the typical Friday ADD that prevents me from doing any really serious studying or working with even 50% of my usual efficiency. Brain power shuts down to about 10%. Self-control, almost none existent. Heart rate increases by 40% in combined anticipation of weekend leisure and weekend errands to run. Sudden cravings for unhealthy foods begin to increase in frequency. Muscles start begging for physical activity and lungs plead for fresh air.

Yes, it's the weekend, the SECOND weekend since school started, and Brad and I are off to a great start! Ask us where we'll be in 3 years....no idea! But for now we're working hard to keep on top of the BYU dogpile, and praying hard to figure out what's happening next.

In case any of our 3 readers are interested, Brad has started his own Blog called "Brad Rhetoric" which doesn't actually count, in my opinion, since he had to do it for a class. However, it may produce some interesting reads, and will most certainly be much deeper and philosophical than my own literature.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Three Months and Going Strong

Tomorrow, August 14th, Brad and I hit our 3-month marriage mark. Hoooray! "Miraculously", as some have said it, we have made it through these three months still married, still blissfully happy, and we have even managed to avoid financial ruin and are still clinging to a few gift cards that will keep us afloat if worst comes to worst.

Since the wedding day, we have managed to travel more than we probably will in the next two-three years combined. We've seen Florida, Maui, Oahu, California, Brigham city, and the exotic Deer Creek Reservoir on our summer's escapades. We have one vacation yet to look forward to before Fall classes take over. In one week from tomorrow, we head out to California to visit with Brad's side of the family one last time before we're stuck in Provo for the next four months. Brad has been exposed to the in's and out's of large families and may deserve a medal of honor for his perseverance throughout "Weibell Sports Camp" (Where "every player counts") and all other summer family get-togethers.

Brad also could deserve an award for managing his time in a way that he has been able to maintain a rigorous internship, take 6 credit hours, and press forward with mind boggling research in between our travels and newlywed errands-which includes purchasing our first car, obtaining health and auto insurance, starting new bank accounts, keeping our apartment from falling apart, and doing endless loads of laundry.

We have had many successes to triumph over, most of which required long hours on the phone with Union Square Management, Wellsfargo, or Geico. We're still working on breaking down Geico to take false charge off our account. We will triumph in the end.

In our free time, we have been playing some excellent games including, Blongo Ball, Ticket to Ride, Softball, Wiffelball, and Chess (a less excellent game in my opinion). We've also started reading the 7th Harry Potter, which I read out loud to Brad whenever we have a chance. I am working on my English accent and casting spells with the appropriate enthusiasm.

All in all, it has been a wonderful first summer of marriage, and Brad and I are indeed grateful that we did not wait to get married in August and spend the summer with Brad in an internship halfway across the country as was once discussed.

Pictures of our summer adventures will soon be posted.

Ylloh and Yeldarb

Today Brad presented me with a suggestion to make shopping more mentally stimulating. (I frequently complain that I never do anything to keep my brain from atrophying away besides the Sudokus in the Daily Universe)
Brad said, "Write everything on your shopping list backwards, and then try to find it."
"Brilliant!" I said, and then we couldn't help but try it out by saying different words backwards including our names and, in doing this, determined that Brad's mind does not work well at all backwards and mine actually functions closer to normal speed than when I think and talk forwards.
So all day long I've been calling Brad "yeldarb," and he tells me that I need to join the Medieval club so I can be with people of my own kind. It probably doesn't help that I've been wearing my retainers full-time for the last week after getting new ones.
Brad's just now figuring out that he really married a 16-year-old nerd, and there's no returning me :)

The Wedding

Brad and I have now officially been married for 2 months and 8 days! The time has flown by. We were married in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple, my home temple, and had a reception at my stake center in Orem. Our open house was at Brad's aunt and uncle's house in Fairfield, CA, one week later after our awesome honeymoon to West Palm Beach, Florida.

Here's us on the BIG day, by a tree, at the temple.

We had a lot of family present, and they were champs to stick it out during pictures through the rain that decided to let loose just as we walked out of the temple. LUckily it didn't last the whole time. All of my siblings were in town that day, though there seems to be a missing person from some pictures.

All in all, it was a glorious day! Here are some more pictures.... Most all of these pictures were taken as an excellent wedding gift from my sister-in-law, Trista. Here's a link to her website and blog: http://moxiefoto.com/

Just before the wind whooooshed away my veil.

He threw the biggest fit!
So we let him hold the bouquet for a bit.
Brad was so happy...he couldn't keep his feet on the ground. He kind of reminds me of Peeves from Harry Potter.

1-2-3 Brads!!! Polygamy in reverse.

And here's the siblings...where is Dane?
I think I'll paste him in later.
And you may wonder
Who's the mysterious man with the mustache?
That would be Christian, trying to sabotage my wedding.
He had negative influence on some of the other brothers who also
grew facial hair for the occasion to freak me out. Didn't work.
First family picture in years!
everyone must have been practicing...

I think I should have sat on Mom's lap
to keep this like our other family photos.
Bride's Maids! They really speak for themselves
Well that's it so far for the wedding pictures! Stay tuned
for Wedding Pictures Vo. II.......

Rookie Bloggers

I'm a true rookie blogger. Actually, I have NEVER seen myself as the blogging type. However, after marrying my sweet husband this last May and realizing that there may be future family events worth blogging, the time has come...to blog. With a very busy upcoming fall schedule, I am starting this blog just in time to not write in it more than once every 3 months. Just like my journal. So, all considering, here goes...