Christmas Adventure

What would our first Christmas be without a little adventure?

Our car, "Larry" the Alero, was acting a little funny on our way down to Salt Lake yesterday. It was doing this thing where it would accelerate and it would just jerk a bit. We were a bit annoyed but after we split up in Salt Lake there weren't anymore problems.

11:00pm- Girls Day ends. We leave Kellies and hit the road to get home.

11:02pm- Larry starts freaking out. Jerking, lack of acceleration, causing major frustration.

11:30pm- We stop for the third time. Fred pops the hood. Looks around under there and we're off again.
12:00am- We're now in North Salt Lake after traveling on State street for a half hour and having to have our flashers on.
12:15am: Larry has pushed Fred's last button and is not cooperating. As long as we stay under 10mph he's fine which is not an ideal situation to travel another 60 miles. We stop at a Tesoro station in North Salt Lake and call AAA (thankfully my mom isn't cutting me off of that one until Jan 1!)

1:00am: Tow Truck arrives. There was suppose to be room for both of us in the truck but he brought his teenage daughter so there is no way the three seater will fit 4 of us. So...We got to ride in our car--on top of the tow truck.

It was freezing! We both had on good coats so that was a good thing and luckily my husband is really smart and puts a blanket in the trunk during the winter. It was pretty cold but not too horrible.

3:15am: We pull into Logan. We get our car off the tow truck say thank you and go home and crash.

It was really stressful and a little scary but in the end it was really funny.

Girls Day

Every year for Christmas, my group of friends either draw names or end up buying all of us gifts. This year things are very different. We are no longer all roommates, all single or are all still around the area. So instead of buying presents that we don't need, we decided we'd rather spend a day together and get pampered.

I think this will be the tradition from now on. It was so much fun and so relaxing.

After spending as much time as possible at the spa, we went to dinner and then did a little window shopping.

It couldn't have been a better day with all of my best friends. I'm so glad that we were all able to get together for a day. It was so much fun!

I miss my hair

Please talk me out of going dark next year when I'm dying to have dark gorgeous locks.
I want to be a blondie

I've been tagged!

I'm always harrassing my friends to update their blogs. So today Diana told me that she finally did (she is by far the worst). So I read hers, loved it and then saw that she tagged me!

So here are 7 facts that you probably didn't know about me:

1. I DON'T share milk. I WON'T share milk. Never. I don't care if you're my husband, my mom, my sister, or my best friend--get your own glass sicko. I won't share my milk with you. Once you take a drink it's yours. Sharing milk (or any other nontransparent liquid) is disgusting. You never know what backwash is breeding in there!

2. I don't like the crust. I never eat the crust on anything. Sandwiches, pizza, and brownie edges included. I'm not sure why I choose to act like a child but I have severe issues with the brown stuff. Some may find this annoying but others are actually blessed by this. McKell loves my pizza crusts.

3. I have a habit of making my hair go staticky. I love it. I've been doing it since I was really little and had a horrible case of the unkept bangs. I'm pretty sure I stopped for a few years only to rediscover this later. Now I can't stop. Whenever my mom see's me do this she makes me pull my hair back and says, "it's time to cut your hair" as soon as she leaves the room I start doing it again!

4. I have a secret wish to be on "Good Things Utah". I know it's "so Utah" but that's why I love it! I love how trendy and cute they all are. I want to be just like Regan or Nisha when I have kids. Plus I think that I could be better than a couple of the people on there. Cocky maybe but you'd all be addicted to it if I were on!

5. I have RFS, Restless Finger Syndrome. I have to always have something to play with. This is the reason I pop my knuckles, play with book corners, do that page folding thing, take the ends off of pens, ruined the back cover on my phone and constantly loose jewelry. My fingers must be touching, pushing, ripping, popping, poking, or moving!

6. I cry in everything. No seriously. If I'm happy, if I'm sad, if someone says 'I love you' on tv, in hallmark commercials during the holidays. You name it and if it has any emotion connected to it then the chances are that I'll cry. Reality television makes me cry. America's Next Top Model has been know to make me shed a tear. Today I got teary eyed over a Christmas card.

7. I've never had a snickers bar. I've never eaten PB & J. I haven't eaten a tootsie roll. Not because I'm a freak but because there are justified reasons for each. I don't eat nuts. So a snickers bar would be completely out of the question. I have recently warmed up to the idea of peanuts that are by themselves but if they are in something else I'd rather go without. Next, I love cheese. I mean LOVE cheese. My little sister always had PB & J and I always had a cheese sandwich. Mmm. Yummy. The last one is because tootsie rolls look like poo. I don't know why so many people like to eat a little baby turds. I love the flavored ones but the poo can be passed thanks.

There are 7 facts that you probably never wanted to know about me!

I am tagging: Sydney, Mandy, Abbey, and Jeff.

Another Birthday!

Happy Birthday Christina!

While up in Idaho this weekend, we were able to visit Fred's sister Christina and her husband Michael. They recently moved to Boise but we haven't see them since the wedding.

Today happened to be Christina's birthday so we celebrated at The Cheesecake Factory.

It was really fun. We wish that we got to see them more! Especially since they live the closest!

We love you guys! Come visit us!

Happy Birthday Easton!

This past weekend we went up to visit my sister in Mountain Home, ID. We went to celebrate Easton's 1st Birthday.

We had so much fun! When we arrived on Friday night, our nephew Gibson was so excited that he hadn't gone to bed and didn't until after 11:00. He was completely bouncing off the walls. He is so funny.

On Saturday morning, the boys went and played basketball. When they got back, Syd had made this amazing cinnamon and cream cheese breakfast goodness that she won't share the recipe for because she's mean.
Later that day, my parents arrived. They made giant snowmen in the front yard, and taught Gibson to throw snowballs.We went shopping and then ate some dinner and played. We watched Easton play with his cake...barely eating any of it. Then Easton, I mean Gibson opened presents.

It was such a good weekend! We're lucky to have family so close (though the drive is horrible).

We love you Condie Family!

In Loving Memory

My pink Razor passed away this past week. After a lengthy struggle with fidgety owner, an 18-month old and a destructive husband, she died.
My magenta phone was my never failing companion for almost two years. It is with great heartache that I purchase a new-cough-better-cough phone.
In Lieu of flowers please send money.

The following pictures could be disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

Our Boring lives

I don't really have much to blog about today. Our life is pretty boring and anything semi-exciting that we have done doesn't have pictures to document it. But here is an overview of what we've been up to lately:

-For Thanksgiving we went to Salina for the Taylor Feast. It was really fun. This was the first year in about 6 that all of my siblings and their families were there. We took familiy pictures for the first time in like 4 years. This was one of the only ones where Children are included. With that additional factor being 2-3 year olds, 1- 1 year old, 1-11 month old, 1-9 month old, and a newborn...none of our pictures turned out. So maybe over the Christmas holiday.

-After Thanksgiving we went to Moab to stay with my brother Jason and his family (you wouldn't know this by looking at their blog though). Fred had never been there so we went to do some off-roading and such. On Friday morning we woke up to about 2 1/2 inches of snow. In Moab. There wasn't snow anywhere else. None in Park City...none in Logan. Just in Moab. So we didn't go. Then we were going to hike but Addie who had been fighting taking a nap finally fell asleep and there was no way we were going to not let that happen.

It's finally snowing here in Logan. It's cold...and icey. Last night we went four wheeling and had a bonfire. It was really fun. Really cold but totally worth it. We love logan. We're never going to leave.

Breaking the Sabbath

Today I'm at work. Not at my actual "career" but at my little side job occupation.
When I got a real job, I decided that I needed to keep working at Planet Beach so that I could keep my tanning benefits and also for a little bit of extra money. So far the only thing utilized is the money. If you've seen me lately you know how un-tan (aka white) I am.

Well I work exactly four hours a pay period which equals a whopping $30 paycheck. Big money I know! So today I am working as my sunday rotation. So my paycheck will be around maybe $40. What a girl will do for a buck.

Working at a tanning SPA is quite interesting. You learn how gross people really are. For example: We've had scary nasty men ask for lotion to be applied, older women walk out in their underwear, poop, vomit, feminine hygiene products left in the garbages and my favorite, couples who go in together and request that their bed is not cleaned between uses, I love Fred more than anything--but you couldn't get me to lay in his sweat.

This blog has absolutely NO purpose except for the fact that not many people tan on Sundays. Therefore I feel as though my time spent here is wasted. I could be lying on my couch watching TV in my PJ's where every other self respecting Mormon is today.

Oh could all of my "blogging buddies" update their blogs--Nowish. I need new reading material.

The Builder and the Babysitter

Last weekend we went down to Happy Valley to help build my brother a deck for his house.

Fred does construction so this wasn't anything out of the ordinary for him. However for me to actually build something is, lets just say, a risk to whomever is going to use it.

Luckily my mom was playing Grandma so I got to take two 3-year olds and a 10 month old to the zoo. It was really fun and really tiring.
Here are some pictures of our weekend.

Me and my nephews Kaydan and Gibson

Grandma with the boys, Gibson, Kaydan and Easton

some of the wild life

I love this picture!

Office Pet Peeves

I've been working at my new job for about a month and a half now. I'm really beginning to catch on and I've been able to create some pretty cool stuff.
However--Now that I'm working in a good sized cubie surrounded by other employees--I have found some things that absolutely drive me nuts.

1. A person that sits near to me, clears his/her throat continually. I mean all day every day. It's like this person is digging for clams.
2. I hate when people have the hiccups. It's gross. I know it can't be helped but its still is sick.
3. Lurkers must be punished. This hasn't been a huge problem but sometimes my "neighbors" will pop up and just talk for lengthy periods of time. This I am not opposed to. It's the lurking that happens after the initial topic has been exhausted and there is no other reason for conversation. Please just sit down so that I can get back to work or something like it.
4. When co-workers repeat things you say. This happens ALL the time. I'm funny--but when you repeat my funny sayings or outrages it doesn't make you funny--Sorry.
5. When people throw away my Firehouse leftovers the day after I put them there. Especially when they are clearly marked "Chana's NO TOUCHY!".

Wow. The venting helped. Except that the throat clearing just began.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

This Halloween was incredibly low key. We didn't even think about costumes until the night before. We were lucky to find what we did in the leftovers at a grocery store.

As for festivities-- My work had a Halloween party. We dressed up for that and then headed home and didn't leave our house again. How boring are we!
I love Halloween. I love dressing up and going to parties but for the first Halloween ever, I didn't want to go to a party and neither did Fred.

Next Year we'll have great costumes and we're going to through our own party.

Oh and I'll be better at blogging--I swear!

Road Trip!

In continuing in the wedding festivities, Fred and I headed out to Arkansas this past week. We rented an SUV (so we could bring back some of Fred's crap--as if there was room!) and headed out for the glorious 24 hour drive.

The drive only took us 19 hours which was so awesome to us! We didn't leave Salt Lake until 9pm and we arrived in Van Buren Arkansas around 4pm.
In order to make it through this journey we took the essentials: Harry Potter on CD, pillows and blankets, and snacks. (But only the healthy stuff except for the nibs that I smuggled into the shopping cart)
We were completely absorbed in Harry Potter. Well...I fell asleep but that's what kept Fred awake through our overnight drive.

We had so much fun in Arkansas! Fred and his parents showed me some of the historical sites such as the gallows-- where lots of people used to hang. It was pretty cool--and haunted.

Our reception was held in Alma at his old Bishop's giant house. It was outside by their large pool that over looked a million acres of forest. It was beautiful!
It was fun to put back on my wedding dress and do all the wedding stuff again. I was also able to meet a bunch of Fred's high school friends.

I am so lucky to have married into such a great family! They are so much like mine that it's scary! My Mother-in-Law was so great and planned this entire thing herself. My Father-in-Law spent many hours repairing pool area lights and working on the electrical side of things.

We loved Arkansas. It's beautiful and it's cheap. So who knows maybe some day we'll end up there.



It was so hard to leave. Our 2:00 departure quickly turned into an 8:00 one. We almost finished all of Harry potter so now we've resorted to listening to it before bed.

On our way home we stopped by in Moab to see my brother and his family. We were hoping that Jen had gone into labor and delivered their baby right as we got there but we had no such luck. We did get to go to lunch with them and my adorable neice Addison. (Jason was really sad we forgot our cameras so we couldn't blog about our experience!) He's a dork but you've got to love him.

FHE-the dresser that love built

For FHE Monday Fred and I put together our dressers we purchased at IKEA this past weekend.

IKEA is our new favorite store. If you haven't been there get there but plan for at least 2-3 hours once inside. We go crazy in there! With such low prices you can actually afford stuff!
When we began with our project, my first thought was 'oh good, my husband is super handy therefore he'll whip these out and I can sit and watch some good tv. awesome!' I was completely wrong. Fred is very much a team player. So we built them together.
It was actually more fun than I thought it would be--and easier!

It took us two hours to put two dressers together. We did things backward a couple times but were able to repair all mistakes. Unfortunately you could tell that by the second one we were both getting tired, so Fred's dresser wasn't put together with quite as much TLC as mine was.
We love them! Plus it's so nice to actually be able to put clothes somewhere! Fred is excited because I've been telling him that as soon as I got a dresser I would be able to put all my clothes away.

Now that we have them up and I've started putting clothes away--I have found tons of clothes that I don't wear and ones that I've had to ask myself if I'll ever wear that skirt I bought in New York in 2003 again. the answer was probably not. so off it went. (TV is such a great learning tool! I learned this one from Clean Sweap)
Fred will be happy to know that in an answer to his plea--I gave a huge bag of clothes to my little sister. Whether or not you can actually tell is another question.

Sales people lie

I am so frustrated! Fred and I recently bought a new mattress. We picked one out and then I went back to buy it (this is in August). When Erin and I went back to purchase it, we got snatched up by a not very nice salesman. Not only was our mattress not in but it wouldn't be until September. The guy was such a jerk that he wouldn't sell us the model, or give us a break in anyway. But because it was during a sale and I felt major pressure-- I went ahead a bought it. The guy reassured me that I had 14 days from when I received my mattress in which to bring it back and then after that I had 30 days to make an exchange.

We got home and Erin and I complained about how rude this guy was. How he talked to us as if he didn't need to respect us or our money because we both are much younger and therefore stupid. I soon forgot about how angry I was.

At least until he called to tell me my mattress was in. He called and said that he needed a decision right that second as to whether we wanted to pick it up in salt lake or provo. I told him I would have to call my fiancee because he would be the one picking it up, and I would call him right back. The jerk told me that was impossible because he absolutely had to put in the order right then. I put my foot down and told him that would be impossible and I'd have to call him back.

I was so angry that after conversing with my parents I called his manager and got angry. Luckily the manager was a nice guy who gave us a frame for the trouble (something the butthead refused to do). I decided to get the delivery.

Last Monday our bed was delivered. Its big and beautiful and too soft. So now we have to return it because we end up on top of each other in the middle (which isn't a good thing all the time).

I called today to talk to customer service. They transferred me to the lame-o who said I had to talk to them but he couldn't transfer me so I'd have to call back. So I called back. I told the girl that I needed to return it and that my sales guy told me to call them. She then puts me on hold for five minutes transferring me back to the sales guy. ANGER! He once again tells me that I need to call back and tell them that he told me to talk to them--things I'd already said but whatever.

So on phone call #3 the girl finally talks to me. She tells me that everything that my sales guy told me about having 14 days for a return and 30 to exchange are totally wrong. I have to KEEP the bed for 30 days and then I have up to 90 days to exchange it. But I can't have my money back and I can't exchange it before that. How gay is that! We KNOW we don't want this bed so why can't we exchange it now so we can actually sleep at night?? Anger. RC Willey angers me.

Surviving my first week

Well it's finally Friday. YAY! I'm exactly 19 minutes away from walking out the door for 2 glorious days of scheduled freedom before I come back for another crazy week of trying to get the hang of things!

This week went by great here at NDT. I'm catching on a little and was actually able to write a case study (okay parts of it) and write a blurb for the Enewsletter. It doesn't sound difficult but what the company actually does is like a huge ball of confusion right now.

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who speaks english and I stranded in Kulembacka, Greece where no one speaks english. I've heard time and time again that it's just a matter of time before I get it--I hope everyone's right.

Here's the web address so you can check out my company. justware.com
It really is pretty cool what they do. If I understood what that really was!

I guess I'll grow up

The hardest part about being married is that fact that I'm now an adult. I mean I'm 22 so you'd think this would have happened before now but I guess I hadn't fully bloomed. (a different bloomage besides certain body parts)

For the first week of married life-- I worked once a week at a tanning salon making an hourly wage then I was home the rest of the week trying to put our new super cute apartment together and looking for a grown up job.

Mid way through that first week I got a phone call from a job that I had applied for (but was positive I wouldn't get because I'm so underqualified and I'd only done a phone interview). I then received the best news ever! They actually were crazy enough to hire me!

I am now the Marketing Representative at New Dawn Technologies. My favorite part about the job is that it's salary and it comes with full benefits--if you know Fred you know that insurance is very much needed because super glue does not always work.
My first day was Monday--and here I am on my third day. So far so good. It's going to be a challenge but I think I'm up for it.
I'm still learning what the company actually does and what my position actually means so so far I'm a little frustrated and very tired.
But can you beat a job the doesn't really care when you come in in the mornings (as long as you get your work done), lets you wear whatever you want (no speedos), provides free drinks, pays for half your gym membership and requires you to dress up on Halloween?? I think not.

I think I'll like my new grown up job a lot.
Now if only there was someone to clean my house now because it's a mess!! Any volunteers!?

OUR WEDDING DAY!

I'm not even sure how to start this because our wedding day was such a blur but also SOO perfect! (all pictures were stolen from my sister Syd's page, and kellie and Mauri's pages because my photographer hasn't gotten our back to us yet! So thanks!)

We got married at 2:20 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Fred wasn't so thrilled about me really really really wanting to get married there because of the enormous amounts of people who do but because he loves me so much he gave in. Much to both of our surprise-- there were only 2 other couple getting married around the same time! Which is unheard of! It was so nice to be able to get ready without a million people around.

Fred and I arrived at the temple just after one to get everything signed and ready to go. This may be a shocker to some but I'm a complete cry baby. Every time I would look at or think about this amazing man that I was about to marry I would tear up (okay more like start to bawl but whatever). I wasn't sure I was going to make it through the day.
It was such an amazing experience to be sealed for time and all eternity. It was also a tear jerker to be surrounded by family and friends that are there to support you. I especially loved my friends that were able to be in the Temple with us. Even though none of my very best friends are married--Mauri got to be there which was so awesome! (note to the girls- get married or go on a mission soon)
After being sealed my mom and I began the process of the dress. For some reason I fell in love with a lace up dress. I'm crazy. My poor mother had to lace it twice!
After we finally got me ready I went out and met my new husband who is so unbelievably attractive in a tux!
We exited the temple to be in the midst of all of our family and friends. This is the real shocker--I didn't cry!
We were able to take lots of pictures with all our family and friends. Then we were wisked away to do all our pictures and video footage.



Instead of having a reception we settled for having a dinner. (small was the idea--but it quickly got big) Our dinner was held at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.
Luckily our families are amazing so by the time we got there, everything was set up and looked awesome!!!



Fred and I barely ate anything but it was really fun to see everyone and to watch our video that by some miracle was put together during the dinner so everyone could see footage from the day.
We cut the cake, I through the bouquet and Fred took off my garter.


We left in a carriage that took us to the downtown Hilton where we spent our first night.

All in all we had the most perfect wedding day. From perfect weather to the perfect amount of people. We both were exhausted!

I just want to give a huge thank you to my family for dealing with me through out the entire planning period and also for making my special day SO perfect. I love you all very very much!! (oh here come the tears...)

Also to all of my friends that willingly babysat all the kids while their parents were in the temple.
And to Diana who flew home for this even though I didn't get to spend nearly enough time with her!! I'm so lucky to have the friends that I do. They are the best! i love you all!

The only thing we would change is the amount of time we were able to visit with people! There were so many people at the dinner that I saw but was never able to talk to! We both HATED that!




So for anyone reading this that was there but I didn't get to talk to you-- Please call me or something because I still would love to!

More Pictures will be coming--ones that you haven't seen!!

Curiosity killed...the wolf?

I saw this link on my sisters page and absolutely had to try it. Turns out I'm most like Jacob. Who knew! What I really loved about the results was seeing which actor was who is the book!
I'd say that I could see this one. I think. Although I'm pretty sure this kid played Mogley in Jungle Book.
Here's the link to take the quiz yourself! You know you're curious!
(I'm still learning so I'm not sure how Syd got her clickable link...show off.

http://www.quizilla.com/users/twilightnexus/quizzes/Which%20Twilight%20novel%20character%20are%20you%3F

Dirty Dirty Dirty

This past weekend Fred and I went with my parents, My brother Carey and his family down to my grandparents cabin at Acord Lakes by Richfield, Utah.

We had so much fun! We only went overnight but it was perfect!

On Sunday we rode four-wheelers, shot the bb gun, played cards, and just sat around talking.

Yesterday, a couple of my parents friends came up and we all went on a four wheeling trip. It was really fun.

This time Fred and I rode our own. Which was a good thing because there definitely wouldn't be enough room for the two of us while he was doing all his tricks! My favorite of all his moves (and there are a lot) would have to be the superman. He's pretty talented I must say. It was a really fun ride. My dad took us to some awesome views and a cool headstone. But boy did we come back filthy!!

It was so fun to hang out with my family. My nephew Kaydan was really fun to play with and he was so good through the entire trip. He loved the four wheelers, even though half the time he couldn't see because his helmet was over his eyes. He just says 'WOW' to everything. I just love him!

It was such a fun weekend. We both loved it. Hopefully after we get married...in 10 days we'll do lots of stuff like this!

My Bridal Shower

I just wanted to give a HUGE thanks to all of my friends who threw me an awesome honeymoon shower a couple of weeks ago.

Kim, Kellie, McKell and Mauri put together a really fun party where we had to create a bride out of chewed bubble gum and we had our very own coldstone complete with waffle bowls. (which didn't help in the attempt to lose weight before marriage...) It was a really funny party...let's just say I learned a lot.

Lots of my friends were able to make it and it was really fun to see everyone after a long summer in different parts of the world.

I'm so lucky to have such great friends. I love you guys a lot a lot!

Thanks again for being so great and for being there through all of this crazy wedding planning!

We gave in!

After watching all of my friends and families blogs for a couple months now and really wanting to get in on the action...I gave in. I've been telling Fred that as soon as we got married that we were getting one. Well, we're 15 days from tying the knot so I figured we're close enough.

Fred and I get married on September 14th in the Salt Lake Temple. We are both just working for this semester and then Fred will go back to Utah State University in the Spring to finish up his associates degree before we transfer somewhere for him to finish his Construction Management Degree.

I just graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelors of Science in Public Relations. What I'm going to do with that I'm not quite sure.

So here's our cute little blog-- It'll be amazing pretty soon.