Today.Was.A.Fairytale

We got our wedding pictures back! They are amazing! Thanks Vanessa! There were SO many to pick from, here are some of the many!

FINALLY MARRIED!

Our parade of friends and family

It was SO cold! Look at Ma's face!

Friends!

Here are the centerpieces that took months and months to finish

Shoes

Necklace

Dress

Candy table

Our cake

Grace with the candy tongs in her mouth. HAHA!

Cake in the nose!

Best. Day. Ever.

XO

Laser hair removal

Tomorrow is my day off, today at work my supervisor said, 

"We are so short handed tomorrow!"

I say,

"I'll come in tomorrow if I can have Saturday off!" 

I was totally joking, I have to work EVERY Saturday.

She says,

"Okay!"

WHAT?! YES!

So, Chris and I made a last minute plan to go down to Mesquite to spend the weekend with his parents, SO excited!

Today I made THESE for dinner

They are little pizza balls, hopefully they'll be good, I'm still waiting for Chris to get home from work.

I'm super sore today, I ran for about 40 minutes and did lunges across this big field yesterday, it was so fun. Afterward, I just laid down on the grass and enjoyed the semi-warm (55 degree) weather. I'm LOVING the warm weather.

2 days ago I got my first laser hair removal treatment on my legs! Going into the spa, I had no idea what to expect. It turned out being completely different than I had imagined! I just sat down on the table, the technician lady put this goo on my legs, used this little hand-held machine and zapped my legs. It was over in about 12 minutes!

This is what the machine looks like. It kind of hurts. Sort of like a rubber band being flung at you a lot of times. I got this really good deal on City Deals, it was only $99 for 6 treatments. AMAZING! Usually it's around $1000 for 6! Check it out on citydeals.com under the "spa" section!

At the State Capitol

Chris received acceptance letters to the University of Oregon and the University of Maryland the other day. I thought it was really silly of those schools to wait this long to notify us of his acceptance, especially since we already sent in his deposit to Houston. Lame. He also had an interview at the U yesterday, he thinks he did well, hopefully it will increase his chances of getting in, keep your fingers crossed!

Thanks for reading, XO!

April [snow] showers bring May flowers...

 Nothing too exciting to report today! We are getting excited and nervous about our upcoming adventures. I mailed in Chris' deposit for the University of Houston last week. If he doesn't get into the U or BYU, then it's off to Texas we go. We both feel really good about it, but we're also scared, of course.

Today I accidentally ate a huge mouthful of corn starch...has anyone ever eaten something, thinking it was something else? It's always a shocker. YUCK!

For some reason, this has always been one of my favorite pictures. I love how I can completely be myself around Chris, I have been able to since day 1. He brings out the best in me...along with my weird side.

 We are READY for spring! So over this crazy weather we have been having!

And, of course, we're more in love than ever!

Law School Decision

Chris and I both work at 7AM everyday, I work every Saturday, and we have 9 o'clock church on Sundays. I don't think we have had a day since we have been married (other than our honeymoon) where we could just sleep in and hang out together in the morning. One day last month, we both woke up at 4AM to the sound of our water heater (it kind of sounds like a monster...it scares me). After double checking that Frankenstein wasn't in the pipe room, we decided to stay awake, make breakfast together, and have some morning hang out time together. It was so nice. We made waffles, that's when we discovered that we both like WEIRD toppings on our waffles...

Chris likes a peanut butter and syrup mix

I like just plain sugar (just the more solid version of syrup)

We are weirdos, but I'm so happy that we get to be weirdos together. I love being married, it literally is the greatest thing in the world. I can't imagine myself any happier. I'm so lucky to have such a great husband.

Great story:

Chris and I stick to a very strict budget, we are very careful with every dollar we earn. The first thing we do with each pay check is take out 10% for tithing. We have always felt that this is the most important part of our monthly budget. Last month, we woke up and Chris had a flat tire. We knew he would be needing new tires at some point, this is how we found out that it had to be sooner rather than later. The week before this, Chris was cleaning his car, he found several envelopes in the back seat and threw them in the garbage. After a few minutes, he felt that he should go back and look in each of those envelopes. In one of the envelopes, he found a surprise. There was a check from November for $300! Just enough to purchase some new tires. I know that the Lord blessed us because we pay our tithing.

Chris has made his decision where he will be attending law school...

DRUM ROLL PLEASE

HOUSTON, TEXAS!

• It's the 4th biggest city in the country
• At 634 square miles, Houston could contain the cities of New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis and Miami
• Population: 2,257,926
• Home of the largest rodeo in the world
• More than 90 languages are spoken in the area
• There are over 11,000 restaurants in the city

I have been to Texas once and Chris lived in San Antonio for a summer. We both really liked it. The people are VERY nice, everyone is "ma'am" or "sir". We like the endless opportunities that Houston holds. Their economy is doing well. It doesn't get too cold. The ocean is close.

Chris is on the BYU and U of U waitlist. If he gets accepted to either of those schools, we will be staying here. But, in the meantime, our plans are to head south. 

The Butterfly Effect

Isn't it incredible (and kind of scary) how one little thing can turn into a life-altering chain of events? Everyone has their stories, this is mine.

One day in August 2009, my dad called me and asked if I would like to go to New York with him. I had so many reasons to stay home, but how could I pass up an opportunity like that? So, two weeks later, it was just my dad and me in the city that never sleeps. New York is indescribable, it feels like a whole different world, you HAVE to experience it for yourself to appreciate its vast size, busy-ness, and feeling!

We went to a Met's game, saw Wicked on Broadway, viewed the whole city from the top of the Rockefeller building, ran in Central Park, and most importantly went to 2 Yankee's games. Why would going to a baseball game be so important? Well, before the 2nd game started, my dad and I went into a little Yankee's souvenir shop and bought a cute Yankee's jacket for me. The week ended too quickly and we went back home to our normal lives.

2 months later, it was mid-semester and the MLB postseason, the Yankee's were playing the Angel's, so I decided to wear that Yankee's jacket to class. Before leaving my house, I told my mom, "A boy is going to talk to me today because of this outfit." I was kind of joking, kind of serious. I got to my Abnormal Psychology class a few minutes early and I sat in my normal seat near the door. A handsome boy, whom I had never talked to, walked in, looked right at me, and said, "Yankee's huh?"

I had a million reasons to decline my dad's offer to impulsively go to New York that August: I would miss the whole 1st week of fall semester, I was participating in a triathlon 2 days after we would get home, I would have to ask for time off work... BUT It's a good thing I accepted his offer because that handsome boy who said, "Yankee's huh?" is now my husband.

Grandpa Park

On Tuesday, my Grandpa Park passed away. He had been suffering from Pulmonary Fibrosis, a lung disease, for the past few years. It made it really hard for him to breathe. I was at work when I got a text from Chris that said, "We have to go to the hospital now, I'm on my way to get you." My wonderful supervisor Erin let me leave immediately. We arrived at St. Mark's hospital and we could all tell that he didn't have much time left with us. He was hooked up to a machine that was basically breathing for him. Luckily, he was able to speak to each of us individually. He told me that I have a good heart and that I picked a good husband. He also said, "You need to send me a great-grand kid before I go", I told him that wasn't very likely. Chris then said, "Make sure you send us good kids." Grandpa replied, "How about I send you a black baby?"...that is so Grandpa Park, always able to lighten things with a joke. One of the last things he announced to everyone was, "If you don't take care of Grandma, I'll HAUNT YOU!" The whole family was gathered there in the hospital when he passed away later that afternoon. 

It was a very sad day, but amongst all the tears, I felt completely comforted. I know that we will all see him again. I feel so lucky to have the Gospel in my life and to know of the Plan of Salvation. I understand that this is just a step in our journey to living eternally. I can't imagine how devastated I would feel if I believed that to be the last time I would see my grandpa.

Grandpa Park was such a good example to everyone around him. He was always giving to others. He had such a unique sense of humor (unless you know my dad, they are basically the same), he would say whatever was on his mind (just like my dad haha). 

Just a few favorite memories: 

I am the oldest grandchild, so when I was born, Grandpa didn't quite know what to expect with kids. In their home, they had a drawer of flour and a drawer of sugar. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. I would run into the house, go straight to the drawers, and start mixing them by the scoop-full. That's when Grandpa coined my nickname "Hell On Wheels", he called me that all the way from age 2 to 22.

Just like everyone who knows him, Grandpa really liked Chris. One day, we were having a family dinner/party, Grandpa was saying the blessing and he said, "Thank thee that Chris could be here with us..." the whole extended family was there! I love that memory! Another day, my mom called Grandpa and told him that the family would be coming to visit, all he said was, "Is Chris going to be there?!"  

I am really going to miss Grandpa Park, he was a great man. I look forward to the day we meet again.

CRAIG PARK

Craig Richard Park, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away March 15, 2011 surrounded by his family due to complications from pulmonary fibrosis. Craig was born August 20, 1940 to John Sidrick Park and Stannie Amelia Burt Park and was the youngest of seven children. He was raised in Bennion and attended Granite High School. He served a two and a half year mission in Paris, France from 1960-1963. He married his eternal sweetheart, Barbara Rae Bailey, in the Salt Lake Temple September 6, 1963. They were blessed with five sons and one daughter and 21 grandchildren. He loved time spent with his grandchildren; each one knew they were his favorite. He was a gifted cabinet maker and passed that skill onto each one of his sons and son-in-law. He was also an accomplished pianist and trumpet player. Craig was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many callings throughout his life including a recent mission with Barbara to the Congo and South Africa where they developed many close relationships. Preceded in death by his parents and five brothers. Survived by his wife Barbara, sister Beth Smith (Joseph), children Spencer (Robyn), Bryan (Terri), C.J. (Lisa), Russell (Amber), Michelle Nelson (Jared), Jason (Joslyn), and 21 grand-children. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 19th at 12:30 p.m. at the Bluffdale 5th Ward Chapel, 15040 South 2040 West. A viewing will be held Friday, March 18th from 6-8 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 W. South Jordan Pkwy (10600 S.) and on Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. prior to services at the church. Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South.

Hallelujah

Remember back in January when I told you about my "baby ear" disease...well I'm happy to say, that after 5 months...IT'S GONE! I am completely back to normal. It has made all the difference in the world. It started in October and it finally just went away a couple weeks ago. HALLELUJAH!

Does anyone know where we can rent 2 scooters? Please let me know, if so!

My Grandpa Park is in the hospital. He has been having problems with his lungs for the past year or so. He has been on 100% oxygen all day. It's not looking so good. We're all hoping and praying that he'll be okay.

Ryan (Elder Park) is doing really well on the mission. It's almost been a year, I can't believe it! He is in West Jordan right now, that's where we lived until I was in 3rd grade. He actually got to go into our old house, the same people who bought it from us still live there. They let Ry and his companion come take a tour of the home. I have never been into an old house of mine, I feel that it would be the craziest thing ever!

And last, but not least, Chris and I are still doing great! Happy as can be! We are getting really anxious about law school, the price, and where it's going to take us. We know that everything will work out no matter where we end up.

I love him more than anything in the world.

That's about it for now. Nothing too exciting has been happening, just life. Oh, we did find out that we're getting a new nephew in June! Chris's brother Scott is having his 3rd son...which means when we start having kids, we'll have to bring some GIRLS into the picture. We'll see!

Thanks for reading. XO