Married! Flowers! Graduation! Baby!

Well folks, we here in the northwestern portion of Utah County have now reconnected with the world- We have Internet and cable in our home. YAY!!!! Now I can update my blog and Facebook, AND I can watch AI and The Office in the comfort of my own living room- which, by the way, thanks to my sister and Brett, now has some furniture in it. Our home is great, work is coming along, and we're just sitting back and enjoying the whole newlywed thing.

Anyway, LOTS of pics to give y'all the update...

Yesterday, Biff graduated from the University of Utah!!!! She now holds a B.S. in Nursing- and I tell ya, I couldn't be more proud!!!! I have no comprehension of the work this girl has done with school, a baby,a husband, and everything else she's had going on in the last few years. GO BIFFY!!!! Interesting fact: Ever since Biff was a teeny little girl she wanted to be a "nuse." She knew when she was three... I STILL don't know what to be when I "grow up."

Kensie is becoming a full on girly girl and I LOVE it. Before her hair was even done, she was putting on Nana's lipstick.

Yeah, kid. I'm glad your entertained by simple things...

Our graduation present to Biff was an iPod extravaganza. She will now learn to love the gloriousness that is the iPod.

A few weeks ago for FHE, Chuck and I went to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. I LOVE LOVE LOVE FLOWERS and this really was a highlight of my month!

CHUCK'S BIG NEWS

I have a happy husband. Only we've had it for about three weeks and we're just now able to watch TV on it. Ha ha. Good thing he's more of a movie boy.



I, on the other hand, begged him to rig something up so I could somehow manage to watch American Idol. This was what he came up with: (With the use of an antenna which didn't quite get a good signal out here...)



What a nice boy he is. I could hear and see it well enough to be satisfied. But I'm thankful for Dish Network now... no more rigging random antennas.

We have a new niece!!! Mayzie Elise Keeler was born on April 14. We love her!

My husband is still a little nervous with newborns... but gosh he's cute.

A few weeks ago we also celebrated Sam's 30th birthday at Maddox in Brigham City! His wife TOTALLY hooked him up with an amazing surprise party. So glad we were a part of it!

So there's the update on life. I'm feeling a bit lost right now, not quite knowing what to do with myself... I need to really buckle down and make my house cute and get on the voice lesson biz. I had a bit of a breakdown the other night, so I'm thankful for a cute hubby who constantly tells me how great I am while I'm wailing "I'm not good at anything!" Yeah.

But all in all, life is fantastic right now. I love spring.

Just a Little Preview...

Confessions of a Costco Model

Cute dress, eh? Well, here's a good story about my life.

Yesterday, as I so diligently did my modeling of Mikarose dresses at the South Salt Lake Costco, a woman approached me and started discussing that the dresses look frumpy unless you add some bling to them. Then she started telling me the history of her sister's pregnancies and health ailments... and then she said, "Do you know what the sex of your baby is?"

...

Blink.

Uh...

I told her it was a girl.


PS: I'm not fat.

Easter Thoughts from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Let's Play Wedding Again...

Is it normal to get all sentimental and bummed out that your "big day" is over? That's how I've been feeling the last few days. I was in one of my bags, cleaning out things from the past month or so, and I found a bag with my temple socks and all my jewelry from the wedding day in it. Sniffle. All of a sudden I felt this huge pang of sadness that the day is over and that I never get to play bride again. It's just this day that you look forward to your whole life... and then, it's quickly gone. Sigh.

Good thing I have amazing photos.

Easter Sunday Sunshine!

#1: I bet many of you have NO idea how much I LOVE daffodils. I ADORE them. Definitely my favorite flower. Well, Saturday, while Chuck and I were by the Gateway, we ran into a lot by the southwest corner of the Rio Grande that was FILLED with daffodils. WHAT??? I random lot in Salt Lake filled with daffodils? I had the sudden urge to get out of the car, find a shovel, and dig them all up so I could take them home to my front yard. However, there were scary transient men standing nearby, and as much as I love those dang flowers, I didn't dare leave the safety of my husband and car to swipe the flowers. Well ok- that AND ya know... I don't really believe in stealing. But I'm telling you- they were in a random lot that will probably be cleared for a business complex or something. I WANT THE DAFFODILS!!!!

#2: This Boy of mine is passionate about Pixar films. Saturday morning we had the chance to go to a critics screening of the new film, "Up." It was FANTASTIC. I loved it, and loved, even more, seeing Chuck so giddy. It was like unto me seeing a Broadway show- my FAVORITE Broadway show. Too cute. And gosh, what a fun Saturday morning.


#3: As of some day this week... hopefully tomorrow or Tuesday, THIS will be our house!!!!!!!! It makes me feel so domesticized. I hear Pine Sol, paint brushes, and a broom calling me now.

The doors I love!

Our sinks and counter!

Our bedroom!

Where I will become a good cook...

Where I will (hopefully) make a living!

#4: I worked my little behind off this week. I put in about 55 hours at three different jobs, and I feel GREAT! Also- if any of you ladies want a cute dress, check out mikarose.com. And, if you're in the Provo or Lehi Costcos before Wednesday- or in the Sandy or Bountiful ones after that, all of the dresses will be there! Fun. Dresses. Happy. Point is: I made money this week. I haven't done that in almost two months.

#5: We went to our new ward today. After being in singles wards for like, oh, TEN YEARS, this is quite the shocker. There's this muffled roar that can be heard at every meeting of every family ward... noise that we are SO not used to. Welcome to the rest of our lives...

#6: Biff graduates in about three weeks!!! I am SO proud of my baby sister who always said she was going to be a "nuse."

#7: We have had some GREAT Easter food! Chuck's dad hosted an awesome Easter dinner last night and Chuck's grandma's cooking still makes me happy.

#8: My computer is still messed up- lame- but Chuck has a computer that works perfectly. I'm a little jealous- but at least I can use his!

#9: The weather was perfect today. I LOVE SPRING. And I LOVE Easter. And I love church on Easter Sunday. It was just a really fantastic day.

#10: I'm beginning my training sessions at 24 Hour Fitness again tomorrow! YAY! When I moved to Orlando I still had 6 sessions left. They froze my account until now, and tomorrow I am ready for that little Heidi trainer of mine to whip me back into shape! Fun. And painful. Ouch.

So that's all for tonight. I need to get to bed. But hey- it's been a great week. I love being a newlywed, I love working, and I love just feeling content with where life is right now. I am blessed.

Things I'd Forgotten

I have worked nearly 30 hours in the past two days. Part of me thinks that working like that is great. If it means I get my week's worth of work in in just a couple days- I'm all about that. But I'm pooped. Come on folks, you're talking to a girl who playing PRINCESS for a living for more than two years of her life- getting back into the "real world" of work is tough. I'd forgotten.

So here I am in Utah-picking up odd jobs here and there to make money (that we really need) and to keep myself from getting bored to death. So far I have become a cleaning lady and a wardrobe mistress. Oh yeah- and today I am going to be a model at Costco. (I know, I can't stop laughing myself...) HA! All this is temporary while I build up students (want voice lessons??? CALL ME) and try to get some coaching type jobs here and there. Fun fun fun. Starting over with job stuff is exciting. And exhausting.

WARDROBE MISTRESS: Did you know that my costumes don't just magically appear in my dressing room every morning? Nice, clean, pressed and ready to go.... Nope. That business takes a LOT of work. I spent all day yesterday working for the national tour of Bye Bye Birdie in Provo- and I must say that it's VERY interesting being on the other end of things. Those techs, costumers, stage managers, etc work their tails off. It's amazing. And then, at two hours before show, the performers prance on in with just enough time to get ready for the show. Hmmmm. Anyway, the point is, the whole thing made me appreciate- even more than I already did- the whole technical aspect of what I do. Not only that, but it made me EXTREMELY grateful for Equity. This was a non-equity tour, so the costumes don't exactly have to be WASHED.... gross. Yeah- they all wreaked of sweat and Febreze- and the smell threw me back into my days at the Playmill. Ahhhhhhhhh the Playmill. How I loved those years of my life! Sweating on someone elses caked in sweat... :-) - which eventually turns into sweating someone else's smell... (Actually Tiffany- the purple dress was one that didn't smell so bad... ha ha) Trust me- it sounds nasty but there's also a great sentimentality that goes along with it. Hee hee.

I've also forgotten what summer feels like. Spring keeps fooling around with my emotions by giving me sunshine and warmth one day, and snow the next. Hmmmm. At least I can still wear my cute coats...

Monday (Meant to be Sunday) Sunshine!

Yes folks, I'm back to the regularly scheduled blogging habits of my old life. Sure, I'm a day late on SUNDAY SUNSHINE- but hey- I've been busy! (No laughing... I really have! Today I was job hunting all day long!!!!)

#1: I have a cute husband who loves me. That's fun. We don't have to go to separate places at the end of the day, and we now can hang out on our computers at night, completely ignore each other, and then when it's all done, still have time to snuggle. Yup.

#2: The past weeks have been filled with friends and family. I LOVE that. I have had bridal showers, a dinner, and a reception where I was able to see friends and family who I haven't spent time with in years. I LOVE that. I LOVE people. I love MY people.

The Ladies of Layton.
I go back 15+ years with these gals.
LOVE THEM.

My BYU/HALE/ETC Shower
Haven't seen some of these girls in years.
Thanks for making me happy!

The Layton Shower- Plus Some.
Again, girls I haven't seen in years.
I LOVE REUNIONS!!!

#3: Today we found out that everything on our house is going through!!!!! We'll close at the end of this week or beginning of next. Is it odd to anyone else that I go from a carefree Disney princess to a wife and homeowner all in a matter of days? When did I grow up?!!?!?

#4: Nielsen's Custard is mine and Chuck's latest kick. I want to eat their custard all day long. FOREVER.

#5:

Enough said. I love this kid. :-)

#6: Chuck and I are waiting for another niece to come sometime real soon- yay Mayzie!

#7: Tonight Chuck and I had a fun FHE doing our budgeting and finances and all that stuff. I don't like money when I owe it to people, but spending it is fun. ;-) Unfortunately the OWING people thing outweighs the SPENDING right now... but all will come in due time.

#8: Chuck's grandparents are amazing and letting us newlyweds crash at their place until we get into the house. THANK YOU, Robinsons!!!! We love being here with them and I have to say that Chuck's grandma is the best cook ever! I need to be domesticated like her someday! (Thanks for the recipes!!!)

#9: Did I mention I LOVED my wedding cake??? I did. It looked great and tasted divine. Can I have a wedding again? (Same Boy...)

#10: Today I shed my winter coat. I'm sure that's short lived, but it got warm enough, that even I, Miss Florida, got hot in my coat. Awesome.

#11: I LOVE the mountains. They are BEAUTIFUL and I'd forgotten how much I missed them when I was in FL.

#12: Lotion is nice. I don't like dry skin.

#13: The gym at my mom's apartment is great. I love it. It smells nice and I like to watch Good Things Utah and The View when I work out. Ha.

#14: Target gift cards are awesome.

#15: Job hunting is going well, and I am thankful for that. I am working on getting voice students, and in the mean time I have a few other things to keep me busy. So that's really nice. I feel guilty while Chuck works all day and I don't have anything on my agenda.

#16: Last, but not least, I LOVE Conference. I loved this weekend and the things we heard from the prophet and the apostles. I feel like I'm watching Conference with a different eye now that I am married. I have a little family to take care of, I have a marriage to preserve and make thrive... it's fun. I love it.

Night.

Calling All People Who Read My Bloggy

I need a piano. Cheap. But nice. One that works well. And looks pretty. Help.

My Cake!

I LOVED my wedding cake. Yup.