Turning ONE is Oh So Sweet!

I honestly can't believe my niece is already a year old. We have had so much fun together this summer since my brother and sister-in-law have moved up. She turned one on June 17 and we had quite the party for her. My mom came up and we had the party at our townhouse. As a tradition, she got her own cake and lots of presents. She was more intrigued with the cards than with opening the presents obviously. We then went swimming as a family at my complex pool. She has such a fun personality and her favorite words so far are wow, hi, momma, dada, and some others. It's always lots of fun when I go over and see her because she gets so excited and she yells "hi!" It's just plain adorable.

Look how small I was!

Digging in! Oh so good!

Let's play instead now!

Hesitant to start eating

I can read!

Graduation!

As you can tell, I'm somewhat behind on my blogging. On May 4, the day before Chris and I got married, we both graduated. I, obviously, didn't walk because mine was from Arkansas State, but Chris walked at the U. I got my masters in education and he got his Bachelors in Family and Consumer Studies. He will be starting his MBA through Western Governors in October. It was a very busy, yet great weekend! 

For Time and All Eternity...

On March 16 and 17, my family was able to attend the endowment session for my brother Ryan and the sealing of him and his wife, Alicia, and their little girl Lily. Lily was about nine months old and was the cutest thing in white. She was in a short sleeve white dress with her hair in pig tails with white bows. During the sealing, she just wanted her mom, and cried through the entire sealing, but it was so beautiful. It was great to be able to witness their sealing and they will be bringing another baby girl into their family in November! 

Today I Marry My Best Friend...

On May 5, Chris and I were married in the Saint George Temple. It was a beautiful day, bright and sunny and warm. We had been waiting so long for this day and were anxiously awaiting the day we could kneel across the altar and be sealed together for time and eternity. Well, after 6+ years, from the time we met, we finally made it! We had a simple wedding and luncheon that followed at The Ledges golf course. We ended up getting married the same day as the Iron Man competition as well. I do not recommend getting married on that day. Chris and I had to take quite a few detours to get up to The Ledges. We had our luncheon, cut the cake, (which was fantastic), threw the bouquet and garter, and ended around 5 PM. Short and sweet, and we drove back to our townhouse in Sandy and caught a red eye the next day to our honeymoon in Florida. It was totally worth taking off an entire week of work! My wedding day was everything I could have imagined and it couldn't have gone any better. I also have the best friends in the entire world, and I get to work with them! They drove down for my wedding, and apparently had quite the girls' trip. Kinda sad I missed going down with them but I got married instead :)  

Coming out of the temple

One my favorite pictures: my dad

Janae and Natalie

The cake...it tasted amazing!

Janae and Natalie's "lovey" poses  

Amazing friends!

Classic Saint George Sun Bathing 

New Blog

As of May 5, 2012, I will have a new blog address. It will be chrisandnickipaul.blogspot.com. Start following us!

Engagement Pics

We took our engagement pictures during the middle of January in Oceanside, CA. Our photographer is Nichole V at nicholev.com (check her out! she's amazing) and she happened to be on vacation that weekend down there. So we upped ourselves at 4 in the morning, caught a plane at 6 and spent the day (that's right, DAY) in Oceanside. Here are a few of our shots...

Engaged!

My birthday is Oct 17 and now is the anniversary of my engagement to my best friend! Chris took me to dinner at the Roof; we had decided on the Garden the day before, but apparently he had reservations there since September and I just fell into his little plan when I suggested the Garden. We had a table in the very back corner right in front of the Salt Lake Temple. It was gorgeous. He gave me the perfume Aquadigio which I loved and thought it was my birthday present. I was pleased with it, but he had more up his sleeve.

The Roof is a buffet style formal restaurant and he kept making me go up and eat over and over. After the 4th time I gave in and said no more. He asked the waiter to bring out the check and the waiter also brought out a ring box. Needless to say I was very surprised and sat up in my chair quickly. After staring at him and the box back and forth for about 30 seconds, I started to reach for it. He stopped me and took me hand, looked me in the eye, told me he loved me, that I was his best friend, and other phrases. He then asked me to marry him. I said yes of course and was so excited. He kinda teared up a little bit and I really tried, but I was too excited. We are planning on getting married May 5, 2012 in the Saint George Temple. I am so excited and CANNOT wait to be with my best friend forever!! Is it May yet? :)

My gorgeous ring!

(He custom designed the

whole thing. I had no part

in picking it out. How good is he!)