Halloween Decorations

I finished decorated our entry way tonight - I've still got about half a bag of cobwebs that we are going to put up Monday night - of course our front porch gets hit with all the wind, so it all falls down literally overnight.....I am excited for some trick-or-treaters. Chad and I will be working on his second Dental Applications.

Sunday Funday!

I was stuck at work today, leaving my poor mom home. Thats okay, she has definitely earned herself some piece and quite. I'm glad that she was able to relax, and enjoy some quiet time!
After I got off work we went to the 99c store to get some more halloween stuff for the apartment, and to get a Birthday present for Grandma. Then we got 2 RedBox movies, and stayed up till 130 watching movies.
I love my mommy.
I'd do just about anything to have her here all the time.
Thanks so much for coming Mom. I love you and couldn't think of a life without you as my mother. See you in 2 weeks!!

xoxo

Saturday......

Work. Sometimes I seriously DREAD going to work. I love the weekends because I am by myself, so I can catch up on all my tasks {and homework...shhh!!} but I don't like working when I should be spending time with my mom!! We went to In-N-Out on my lunch break (Nebraska doesn't have these!) and then after I got off work we went into Stockton to visit Chad at work. We got some appetizers and sat and relaxed, then went to a couple stores to look for a Birthday gift, and a purse hook. We went home and watched Beastly....absolutely GREAT movie!

Birthday time!

I'm pretty sure I've over birthdays. I think I'm content at the age of 24 - I wouldn't mind just freezing time right here. Where's Edward Cullen when you need him?
Man. I can't wait for Breaking Dawn. I need to start reading the books again.
Kari - you are lucky you are in Costa Rica right about now :) Or else I would making you watch non-stop Twilight with me.

So, today my mother and I slept in and then got ready for the day, went and grabbed lunch, did some shopping (Ross, Marshalls, Target) on the hunt to find her a new suitcase.
On her trip here, they absolutely DESTROYED her luggage.
Then we saw the Dolphin Tale movie.

I cried like a baby. It's a really good movie....
Then we went home and I was greated with some flowers and a new Coach Bag from Chad.
Am I lucky or what?? Chads soooo good to me.
Mom and I got ready really fast for Dinner and we went to Dave Wongs for my Birthday dinner....
It was so great to be surrounded by all the best people.
Rich and Nancy
Fred & Terri
Brad, Cyndie, Caymen & Ruby
Stephanie and Leial
Cameron, Brad, Chris, Noelle, & Katy
Matt & Lucero
My mom and Chad
....and me.
It was perfect. Thanks everyone for coming. You made me feel so special.
We got home late, and were so tired so we feel right asleep.

Sorry we don't have more pictures!!

Errands, Girls Night, & Pinterest Wreath

Having Mom here has really made me miss my family {even more than I already do on a daily basis}...I appreciate them so much, and cannot imagine the trouble my mom and I would get into if we lived closer to eachother. I think everything around us would be covered in Pink & Glitter.
Our favorite colors...
We woke up early and did all of my errands I had planned for the day.....Walmart, Micheals, 99c store (to get stuff for Girls Night) and then Mom and I got Pedicures, it was my Moms first one - and I'm pretty sure she LOVED it.
We got some Fast Food & Soda Pop (My family LOVES to eat out)
and then headed back to the house to make treats and get ready for Girls Night...
I was in such a hurry after dropping all our supplies on the bag to go to the bathroom....
That I forgot my phone was in my back pocket.
Ker-Plunk. My poor little 3g that has made it 2 years without a scratch, sitting at the bottom of my toilet.
And now sitting in a tub of rice.
Of course - the 4s that we ordered on the 7th, is backordered, and still hasn't shipped.
This should be interesting. Living without a phone until the new one is in.
UG.
Anyways.
My mom and I made this (inspired by Pinterest, duh!)

and I'm pretty excited that I have tried to be festive. I see all these amazing ideas on Pinterest, but never really feel like I will use them more than once, so I can't see the point in buying all the stuff....
But the wreath I loved. And my mom is oober creative - so she ended up doing most of it! Thanks Mommy!
I also made Root Beer fudge tonight, recipe here

Turned out AMAZING.
So glad to have Mom here. I definitely think that we should live closer. I miss my family. It sucks not being there for all the amazing things going on in their lives. My brother and his mission call, my other brother and his growing up. It's hard being here, but I guess we can't all live right by our families.
If you are reading this, and you live by your family - give them extra love.
And feel very blessed, because you are so.so.so. lucky.

Happy Wednesday!

I love Wednesdays. Probably because they are my Fridays. I don't know what I will do when I actually get to have a Monday-Friday job. {other than love it because I get Saturday and Sunday off!!}...So, after a rather pleasant (I said that sarcastically) day, I went home and plopped into bed. Chad got home from boating, and was changing when we heard a knock on the door, Chad went to get it and came back in to the room.

Me. Well who is it?
Chad. I don't know. Never seen them before.
Me. Just great. *Rolling eyes and dragging myself out of bed*

I thought it was a tenant (because we live, were I work) and that I was going to be disrupted from my nail painting, watching Netflix night. Heck no my relaxing Friday night gets ruined. This is MY get to be selfish night.

Guess who was standing in my entryway?

My Mom.
*tears*

Nebraska is a GO!

For reasons not really fair, or worth explaining....Chad and I (and Dexter) will be celebrating "Thanksgiving" with my family in Nebraska, November 10th-14th.
(THANKS DADDY FOR BUYING OUR PLANE TICKETS!)
I CANNOT wait to see my family:
We are going to have some family pictures taken my a photographer in Omaha
hopefully eat out A LOT {my family LOVES eating out}
my mom and I will probably be talking non-stop Twilight
I am going to take my little brother Landon clothes shopping
plan our Fiji vacation with baby brother
Hopefully we will find time to visit the Dental School with Dad
We cannot wait!! SEE YOU GUYS SOON!!!
(Little nervous about Dexter being locked in his tiny bag for our 9 hour airport experience - any suggestions?)

Baby Brothers Mission Call

This is my baby brother as a remember him. A little kind hearted goober, who in an instant would go to the end of the world and back for me {or anyone for that matter}.

Ya know, life happened...my family in Nebraska, me here. I went about a year without seeing him and he turned into this:

(Nic and Tori - Tori's Senior Pictures)

literally overnight.
Well.
Not really overnight - but it was for me. BAAM. He grew up. I am still absolutely amazed at his positivity and faith with the gospel and the world. He has given me such good advice, and I've often slapped myself for not being the 'advice giving older sister'. In times of trial, or negativity - he fixes thing. Makes funny voices, and even quotes the scriptures and prophets. This kid blows me away.
Studmuffin is 18, and started doing all of his mission paperwork a couple months ago. He had to get off his heavy sleeping medication, which was a very rough trial - and of course, make the ultimate decision that he wanted to serve the Lord.
I am impressed by every single missionary that makes the decision to leave their entire lives behind to preach to the world of the amazing gospel that we have.
I got the phone call that he recieved his mission call in the mail - and I seriously couldn't breath!
I was pacing.
Sweating.
Is it 4 o' clock yet?!
Updating my facebook status every 2 seconds.
And then it was time to get on Skype.
I got to see my little guardian angel open his mission call, and got to watch my family share a moment so special that I don't think I will EVER be able to forget it.
My heart absolutely melted when I saw the tears streaming down his face. I was a wreck. I lost it. I cried like a little fruity tooty pansy.
My baby brother. Leaving on a mission.
This lucky guy is going to Fiji.
Lucky right? Yes, he will be working his butt of serving the Lord, but still. Heck - can't get too much better than that.
I'm so proud, and thankful, and overwhelmed with feelings of anxiousness, happiness, sadness.
Congrats baby brother - I am so proud of you. I cannot wait to see you next month, and to just hold you and thank you for the AMAZING example you are setting to so many people.
I love you so.so.so.so. much.

Oh. And we will definitely be visiting you in Fiji.
Thanks for the excuse for a vacation.

Package from the Fam.

I think that Chad and I got incredibly lucky. We have the BEST families. EVER. My parents always send us care packages, and I love getting them. Unpacking all the little trinkets, shirts, and thoughtful gifts from them. This package my parents sent us a Christmas box - filled with ornaments, glitter decorations {my momma and I share in intense love for glitter}, christmas cards, stocking holders....I am so excited to decorate the house for Christmas. Thanks Mom and Dad. We LOVE you.

If we were still dating....

Today would be our 6 year anniversary.
TO me, this is incredible.
Incredible because: now-a-days, it seems like relationships just don't last.
Incredible that we still LOVE eachother as much, if not more...Then we did at year 1, and 2, and even 3,4,5.
It is incredible that we are now married.
Incredible that we know people that were married & divorced, or married & unhappy all in the time span of our dating.
I am beyond thankful for Chad. I cannot even put into words how lucky I am to have him as my best friend and husband. I know, every girl must say that. But truly - Chad gets the grand prize, blue ribbon, gold medal.
-I am still excited to come home from work and see him every.day.
-for our weekly date nights
- when he holds my hand
- kisses my head
- whispers sweet nothings into my ears
- holds me just because he knows I had a hard day
-Listens when I complain about stupid things
-When he just smiles and lets me cry
-Compliments and thanks me for EVERYTHING I do.

Alright. Stop rolling your eyes, I will be done with the list. :)

The good stuff about us:
There is a 6 year age difference and I couldn't be happier with it
I met Chad on a blind date that my Young Womens leader set us up on.
Our 2nd date was to the movies
Our 3rd date was a 10 day cruise to Mexico.
(Yep. Thats me with a fo-hawk, skunk color)

We lived about 2 hours apart, so we made weekend trips to see eachother.

I moved to Nebraska, and for 9 months we talked on the phone, video messaged, emailed.
Had a quick {tramatic for muah} breakup. Then we realized we (=Chad {haha}) were meant for eachother so Chad flew to Nebraska, rented a U-Haul and moved me back to California.

We dated, got jobs, went back to school, did the whole life thing.

Dated some more.

And....dated some more. About this point I was getting a little anxious {"understatement" quotes Chad}
because little mama wanted some commitment {and bling}
And then BAAM.
Engaged!

And now. 6 years later - even after years of complaining about dating, and dating, and dating - I am so thankful for all the dating. I was so focused on getting married - that I wasn't focusing on creating a solid relationship. Which, thankfully we had time to do.
Now that we are married - we have a solid relatonship. We had 5+ years to work out our differences,
to grow up, to help eachother adapt and change,
to disagree and fix things, to forgive, to trust,
to learn to comprimse, and to give in.
We learned to be understanding, accepting, and willing
to better our relationship in any way we can.

It is the greatest feeling knowing that the person I am with, is really with me. We are on the same page about our lives, and where we want them to go....and that is such a great feeling.
Sometimes I feel like SCREAMING how thankful I am for Chad.
and our relationship.
And even, the fact that we dated for so. damn. long :)
SO.
Happy 6 years Chad. I am so excited to be your wife, and for all the things that life has in store.
For us.

I'm in love....

...with Bath & Body Works "Twisted Peppermint" candle. I'm not allowed to burn it at home, because Chad only likes 'fruity tooty' smells - so I've officially starting burning this at work. October is the officialy Holiday start month, that means my Garth Brooks Christmas C.D. is coming out soon too. YES!
Bummer I'm no longer employed at Bath&Body Works - my candle supply is running low, and that discount would be nice.

Seven and going Strong.

I cannot believe that is has been 7 months since I married my PrinceCharming. Time FLIES.

Happy 7 Months to my little Studmuffin!

Chads Ceramics

Chad is still taking his Pre-Dental Ceramics class and loving it. He is making us a key bowl right now, and I am so excited to see how it turns out.

Chad is so talented when he gets behind the wheel. All of the things he makes turn out so beautiful, and I cannot wait until all of our store bought tableware are replaced with all of Chads things.
I'm so proud of this guy. He just submitted his Dental Application, and we are crossing our fingers, and praying that we hear back from at least one of the 15 schools he applied to.
Keep him in your prayers!

Breaking Dawn

Alright. The Twi-Nerd in me is about to come out. I am so freaking excited for this movie. Just over a month, and I will be sitting in a comfy theatre watching a wedding and honeymoon...can.not.wait.
SO.
It's official, the tickets are on sale via Fandango - and get this! Google offers is selling a $13 fandango voucher for $5 bucks. SO YEP. This girl is seeing midnight twilight for $5. I bought 2 tickets - not sure if we will be here, or in Nebraska. Hmm..maybe I should buy one more. Why not right?
Anyways. GO BUY YOUR TICKETS for el CHEAPO.
De nada.
Here is the link for the $13 Fandango - for $5 Voucher

Basket Fail

Chad and I were going on a bike ride tonight, and I wanted to try to take Dexter in my basket....So, Chad took him on a test ride.

About 2 minutes after this, Dexter squeezed by Chads hands (he was trying to keep him safe in the basket) and hopped out of the basket while Chad was riding, he swerved to not run him over....and we made sure he didn't break anything.
Good parents aren't we?
FAIL.

General Conference

I am so thankful for our church, and the fact that we have modern day prophets who speak directly to us, and I am also so thankful that the church has a website were we can listen to General Conference live (Or recently live)....So, since I have to work on the weekends, I was able to listen to most of conference during my ever.so.slow. weekend. I was especially appreciative of THIS talk by Elder Neil L. Anderson - focused on having children, I LOVED this talk because it even included a comment about having children even when one of the parents is going to school, while the other stays home (BOOYAH for muah)....So, it was comforting because It's stressful to worry about paying for school, and babies, and not working.
Hope all of you enjoyed Conference as much as this girl did :)
<3 conference weekend!

Leial's Baby Shower

The Greenlee's are very close friends of us, and we have seen them excited to have children for years, after a very long trial and error process, with undying faith - The Greenlee's were able to adopt and recieved a daughter of god straight into their arms. Tonight, Leial had her very own baby shower and got spoiled with lots of gifts. I only snapped a few pictures:



As a decoration for Leial's room, everyone decorated a letter - so she will have the whole alphabet on her wall. Mine was the "T"....great idea huh? Thank you Pinterest!