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!!