GOODBYE LITTLE DUDE-- VEGAS HERE WE COME!

For some reason I have been dreading updating my blog.

Is it because I am SO far behind? Probably!

Is it because I have SO much to write about that I feel overwhelmed? For sure!

Is it because I want it to be updated but it doesn't update its self? Definitely!
So here I sit, so much to write, and so little time. So much to catch up on, and wanting to be caught up.

So lets continue so that when we move to Arizona, I'll finally be up to date, and will not dread writing again!

**SURPRISE to those of you that may not have known! That blog will happen later, but just be aware, its coming FAST!**

So it was September 10th (2 days after being married). A day I had been hoping would never come, yet so happy for the huge step being taken. Why you might ask- was I hoping it would never come? Cause I was going to have to say goodbye to one of my best friends for 2 years.

We went to breakfast with Josh. Got ready, then headed over to the MTC.

I was so nervous the WHOLE time. Being newly married, and trying to recover from the previous week and a half, and not to sure how I was going to make it through the day- I pressed forward.

We took pics out front of the MTC. Tears stayed where they needed to- for the time being.

We walked in...Josh got his tag... and we all lost it.

I literally never stopped crying from that moment on.
We walked into the room of doom (so it was in my head).
Had a meeting- much to quick for the occasion

sang (yeah like I could ever make it through that)

and then it happened.
We had to say goodbye.
Josh started at the end of the line (I was #6).

Please move slowly, take your time with 1-4, Russ being #5- But it happened faster then we could blink.
I hugged him goodbye, telling him that I was SO proud of him, and how much I loved him. Tears streaming down ALL faces, including my dear husband.

As we started to walk out, I told my self not to look back, but I couldn't help it, I did.
I cannot even describe the look my little brother had on his face.
He looked alone, lost and SO scared.
I was SO sad for him. We left him!!

We chose to walk out! He was ALONE!

Why am I describing this WONDERFUL event in this way, cause this is REALLY how I felt at the time. I felt this way for DAYS until I got my first letter.

Since leaving Josh that day, we have heard NOTHING but positivity from him! He is the same little dude I have always known. (I call my little brother little dude- if you haven't picked up on the already) He is SO happy, and leaving to Korea Wednesday!!!

He is SO ready, and definitely was NEVER alone. None of us are EVER ALONE! We have a loving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ who NEVER leave us, and love us more then we could EVER imagine! Just look around you, at EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN!
We always have our loving Family as well!

So we left, me in Russ' arms, tears streaming.
I was convinced I was going to cry the WHOLE way to Vegas.
I was SO wrong.

Russ knows just how to cheer me up!

We had to stop to pick up a new camera case (for our new camera).

And that's where this will lead us.

The rest of this blog is going to be Pictures only.
I hope you don't mind, but really, I am not going to give you ANY details of our Honeymoon.
You don't need any!

We took pictures of everything we did.... That can be posted.
So here you have them.
Forgive me for my honesty, but lets get real, this was my HONEYMOON!

Enjoy!

WHO PUTS THE ALARM CLOCK UNDER THE BED?

And we continue.

(Our 1st "US" picture as a MARRIED COUPLE!)

So we left after EVERYONE, and had to go pick up Russ' truck.

We were smart enough to hide it in a good place!

(Thanks Chayse and Anne)

Then we headed up to Thanksgiving Point- My dad was kind enough to get us a room at the SpringHill Suites up there.

We were SO excited, and WAY hungry!

So of course we had to get a little JCWs, even if it was 10:00 PM.

We headed up to the room, food in hand, luggage dragging behind us.

We got the the door and the "Do Not Disturb" sign was hanging on the door...

My Dad had been here.

We walked in, ate our food, and watched the 5th Element. NO JOKE!

We were tired, but couldn't sleep.

With our minds racing from the events of the day, it was hard to wind down.

Eventually I did, but I was woken up SEVERAL times by my DEAR HUSBAND informing me that he couldn't sleep, but was SO tired!

Around 2:00 AM I was nudged REALLY hard, and then heard "HEY, I'M HUNGRY!"

I looked up at him, and said "Umm... ok, What are you hungry for?"

He wasn't sure, so I recommended my friend down stairs- The Vending Machine.

He got up, left, I passed out yet again, and before I knew it, the TV was being turned back on.

At 2:30 in the morning, the only good thing on TV of course is... the news.

So I got to hear all about the troubles of the world for a good hour!

I asked him what he had eaten, he informed me Cheese and Crackers.

The TV turned off right around 3:30 and shortly after that I heard the best noise... Him SNORING!

As I slowly awoke to the sound of him, I realized the radio was on. We were listening to Country Legends. Had he finally fallen asleep to the radio? Thank heavens for whatever it was, but wait... Where was the radio? And why did it sound like it was coming from a speaker in the wall... Not to worry, Russ was FINALLY asleep and that was all that mattered.

I had listened to 3 songs and then the song "For all the Wrong Reasons" came on by The Bellamy Brothers. I had never heard it before, but man were those lyrics CLASSIC!

Below are those "FABULOUS" Lyrics.

I love you for all the wrong reasons

I need you every night and every day

Yes, I love you for all the wrong reasons

Cause you love me in all the right ways

Shimmering lips that kiss me

And a body to make a fool of any man

I'd like to run away, but

I just haven't had all that I can stand

Our love is like the darkness, it just keeps on getting deeper with the night

And though we'd never say "I love you",

You know it feels so good when we get it right

Repeat Chorus

There's no reason for us to be here,

But we are and we have been for some time

Yeah we both have other lovers, but

What they don't know they sure don't seem to mind

So we throw it to the wind

We don't worry bout these pleasures that we steal

Cause there's oh so many reasons, but

It's really how we make each other feel

Repeat Chorus 2x

All of a sudden, Russ rolled over and said

"WHY THE HELL IS THE RADIO ON?!?"

Like I had magically gotten up without waking him and turned it on.

I responded with "HA HA HA, I thought you had turned it on!"

He was SO not happy at this point!

Me- laughing HYSTERICALLY as he jumped out of bed to turn the lights on.

We searched EVERYWHERE for the Alarm clock... and couldn't find it ANYWHERE!

Me-I am back on the bed, laughing SO hard I am crying and not able to stand.

Russ- searching, like he is looking for a Needle in a Hay Stack, finally put his head on the bed and realized, it was coming from UNDER THE BED!

He asked me to hop off the bed and in one motion RIPPED the bed up like it was a blanket.

There lay the infamous alarm clock.

He pulled the plug out of the back, and then we heard a horrid sound...

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.

The dang alarm clock had a back up battery!!

I told Russ to pull the batteries out, and he did. Finally silence.

Of course we are both WIDE awake at this point, 4:45 in the AM.

We climb back into bed and Russ says, with all honesty-

"WHO PUTS THE ALARM CLOCK UNDER THE BED?!?"

I began to laugh even harder at this point- he assumes it was me!

I told him it may have been my Dad. Russ declines and begs to differ.

This was someone from before! There was NO way this happened just today.

Everything was put back too perfectly.

Then Russ suggests- "Lets just go home!!"

I told him that it was not an option and to go back to bed.

So we did, of course the early riser that I married, woke up at 8:30 and was ready to go home.

We got home before 10:00 AM.

We decided it was a good idea to move Russ in that day (to my room) cause we wouldn't have time until we got back from Vegas.

As we were unloading his bed, my Dad came out to help.

Russ told him our "FUN" story of the night.

My Dad quickly replied with "Oh, the alarm clock I put under your bed?" - and laughed HYSTERICALLY!!

I think Russ forgave him? Not too sure, but I can tell you this, Every hotel room we will ever enter, we will ALWAYS check the alarm clock!

Up Next?

We Send Josh off

THEN VEGAS- HERE WE COME!!

THEN WE GOT MARRIED!

The day was finally here! (September 8th 2008)



*There will be a LOT of pictures on this blog. I think pictures tell stories much better then I do. MANY Thanks to Wes and Stanna- Our AMAZING Photographers! We love you guys so much! If I haven't told you already, I will now, We have over 600 pictures of the Wedding Day alone! I wont post ALL of them, but a LOT will be on here.*

I was so excited, I woke up early and did what any bride would do... I took a BATH!
I tried to relax but that didn't work so well, Heck, it was my WEDDING DAY!

I got down to Russ's parents around noon, we finished the backyard, and started on the final prep.

Anne made my bouquet, and I just sat and watched. I remained as calm as possible. I had decided that if I got TOO emotional, that things may get out of hand. So I just sat back and let everything happen. Nothing bad happened mind you, but had I been all ruffled, it may have.

Lacee (MY M.O.H) got there around 3:00 and we all just sat around and talked. I kept getting the "Are you ok?" Cause I was SO calm. I seriously was just trying not think too hard, and not to let things get inside my head. I wanted to enjoy the whole day and not miss a thing.

Russ's aunt Nancy did my hair, she got there around 4:30 and so we got started.
The time from 4:30-5:30 was the usual Bride prep. Hair, Make-up, Dress, shoes...





Then it was time to walk out and see my soon to be Husband!! I walked into the Kitchen and there he stood... No words were exchanged, Nothing had to be said, he was FLABBERGASTED, and had a HUGE smile on his face. I was speechless as well (not normal) he looked SO handsome, and I got butterflies looking into his eyes. Russ kissed his soon to be Bride and we headed outside. We took pictures with the family until 7:00- See below.













I then went inside, I have to admit, I was a little nervous/excited at this point, had no bad feelings but I was SO ready! Everyone started to arrive, and I watched from the bedroom window. Russ mingled, and had a great time talking with his buddies.



Music was playing, people were talking, and I was ready to walk down that isle.

It was 7:30, I walked out into the kitchen where all the "Wedding Group" was. We handed out the flowers to the Bridesmaids, then someone noticed the Bridger and Brooklyn were MISSING! Total PANIC filled the room. Everyone ran outside, SCREAMING for them. (*Russ's parents live on Center Street, it was VERY NERVE RACKING) They were "playing a game" and hiding from us in the bedroom. Thank heavens they were safe!!

We headed to the side of the house, and then... It STARTED!!


As we stood there, my dad was so sweet. Saying things I'm not going to repeat here, because it really was only meant for me. But I will say this, Dad- I love you SO much!!! You are the BEST DAD IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!

Chayse & Anne walked out first, Followed by Josh & Lacee, Issac & Mandy, Richard & Teea, Julianne & Dustin, Jen & Kyle, and then of course Bridger & Brooklyn.

Brooklyn wasn't too sure about throwing the flowers, so Bridger helped. He grabbed HUGE handfulls and just THREW them, it was SO cute. They were out of flowers before they even turned down the isle. I LOVED IT! It was perfect! Bridge turned around when they ran out and said "JACKET! (what he calls me) We are out of FLOWERS!!" Then we told him to go get "G" and he ran to her.

Then out walked My Dad and Me. I was walking on clouds, saw Russ and LOST IT! Yes, I cried like a BABY! I recovered quickly though!

I Hugged my Dad for the "last time" before being a Married woman, and he handed me over to Russ.

The Ceremony was BEAUTIFUL! I loved EVERY minute of it. Bishop Andersen (Allie's Dad) Married us. We were SO happy he was willing to do it! He means SO much to us, and we didn't want it any other way!
Here are some pictures from it.










We got to talk to everyone that was at the Wedding, and gave MANY hugs! I was SO glad that SO many people we loved were able to be there on that special day with us! It was VERY short notice, and I am SO glad that we have so many people who love us! We love ALL of you SO VERY MUCH!! It wouldn't have been our PERFECT day without you. And yes, that's what it was ... PERFECT!

We got to dance our first dance as "NEWLY WEDS" to OUR song- Johnny and June! Russ said so many SWEET things while we were dancing. I am SO glad I Married my best friend! I love Russ SO much and am SO blessed to have him as my Husband now!! I love you DEARLY Russ, and cannot wait to spend ETERNITY with YOU! BRING IT ON BABY!!

I danced with my Dad, again another bitter sweet moment. He did such an AMAZING job with all us girls! Its because of him that we chose such AMAZING men!

We all danced the night away, mingled some more, and us "Newly Weds" were the last ones out of the house! Seriously, We left after our guests, but we wouldn't have it any other way!!

We headed off to our Honeymoon night, and we'll stop there for now.

There is a story about the Honeymoon night I have to tell you. No nothing inappropriate, no worries. Its all "G" rated! :)

Until Next time, Enjoy a HONEYMOON picture!!