Already a Year??...No Way.

On Sunday, Brian and I celebrated our 1st Wedding Anniversary...what?!?!?!?! A whole year! I can't believe it. Like really...I think back to how long a year used to seem when I was in high school, and I truly can't believe it's been a year. Two semesters. And a summer. A YEAR!

On Saturday, my in-laws had us out to their house, along with my parents and my grandfather, to have a nice dinner and to watch the wedding video again. The food was great, and remembering all those times of last year was just unbelievable. My mother-in-law set out little mementos from our wedding, too. I loved reliving every moment and realized, yet again, how blessed and lucky I am to be married to my best friend. He is truly incredible...truly!

On Sunday, we revisited the church we were married in, and it was very special to think of all we've done since we last stood at that altar. Then, we went to lunch at his grandpa's house, and that afternoon we just relaxed with one another, watching golf...which is weird because I HATE golf...oh what you will do when it's your anniversary!

That night, we went to eat at Outback and went to see Captain America. It was a GREAT night! We came home to a surprise set-up from my mom. She set up the cake top from our wedding (and she made us a delicious Italian Cream Cake for us to eat after we had that tiny bite of our cake top!). She decorated it all with little aspects of our wedding a year ago...Look at what she did!



As if you couldn't tell, I love my husband. I love him so much more, though, for being my husband. He's my best friend. My caretaker. The father of my future children. My rock. My hero. My provider. He is unbelievable. I don't know how I got so lucky....thank You, God, for blessing me with this wonderful man. And thanks for making him SOOOOO easy to look at, too!

I love you, babe....to the moon and back!

From our family to yours,

New Mexico's Little Taste of Heaven...Ruidoso

Last weekend (the 5th-7th), we went to Ruidoso. Let me clarify. Mom and I went on Wednesday...the boys met us Friday because dad had work and Brian had class. Anyway, we did a bunch of shopping and relaxing and finishing my class while they were away. The real fun started when they got there, though!

We went to the races...duh!

We went dancing...surprise!

We...I mean Brian...went to the casino!

We saw old friends!

We played tennis!

We went out to eat....

It was a pretty typical trip to Ruidoso, and did I mention it was anywhere from 55-65 degrees everyday! We watched it rain every day and wished we could take it back with us (which we sort of did!). It was a great trip...

I don't know if I've told you about Brian and I's tree. I'll refresh your memory. In 2007, my family and I took Brian to Ruidoso for the first time. We stayed in a little cabin that had a big tree right in front. Brian spent a couple days carving out B ♥ M 07 into the tree. From then on, we have gone BACK to the tree every year and taken a picture with the carving. We missed out in 2008, but we have a picture from 2009, 2010, and now 2011!! In order, here are the pictures....starting from 2009 until 2011.





From our family to yours,

Rangers and Birthdays

Well, on a random Tuesday, I wake up to decide that hey! why not go to the Rangers game that night? I talk it over with Brian...he's game...call dad (who already had tickets) and we were off that afternoon!

We had a great time and figured we are at the point in our lives where we can be spontaneous like this, so why not take advantage of it! We first sat pretty high up in the stadium, but we were in the shade and had room to kick back. Then, we moved to a suite where my parents and Morgan were sitting.....

Then...

THENNNN....

We moved to the first row RIGHT BEHIND HOME PLATE!!! Yes, we were on TV...Saw Josh right up close...took pictures....made ourselves look like idiots.... It. Was. Awesome.

Here's a few pics from our time (notice how my hair changes from cute to AWFUL as the game progresses. Thanks Texas weather!)





Now onto birthdays....MY birthday, in fact! I turned 22 this year, which means I can do basically everything I've been able to do for a year now...only I'll be 22. woohoo!

I had a great day. Brian took me to eat breakfast at my favorite - Kenny Blanek's! They have an amazzzzinnngg Western Omelet. Try it! Brian had a test that day, so he was off to school and I....well IIIIIIII did a whole heck of a lot of NOTHING! It was great! I went to eat lunch with my mom, my sister-in-law, and my mother-in-law. The night before, my mother-in-law had us over, and she made me chicken strips. They were sooo yummy!

That night, my mom and dad had us over, along with Mama Pat, Uncle Tommy, and my best friend, Emily. She made BREAKFAST FOR DINNER (translation: only the most delicious thing on the planet!). We had multi-grain pancakes (I have the recipe for this one...they are FANTASTIC), the famous Charlotte Weishuhn Waffles & Syrup (yep! have that recipe, too!), sausage balls, bacon, blueberry muffins, and a HUGE platter of fruit. Huge. It was a great night!

I got wayyyyy too many presents from my family and friends, but I HAVE to show you the cake Brian had made for me. Check it out!


I am way too blessed to have the family that I do. Love you all!

From our little growing family to yours (nope, still no baby!),

Watch Out Texas!!

I guess it is about time I let you all in on my most recent news - no, not a baby...sorry for the disappointment! On June 25th, I got up bright and early to head up to ASU to take both the PPR 8-12 and the ELAR 8-12 tests (translation: the certification tests I have to pass to become a teacher...whew!). I showed up around 7:15 AM, eager to take my test at 8. Well...we waited.

And waited.

Waited a little more.

Then topped that off with a little more wait time.

Did I mention it was 7:15 AM? And did I also mention it was already well over 95 degrees outside? I guess I also forgot to mention that we waited OUTSIDE!!! Gracious...

Anyway, at 8:30, we were all a little concerned. We finally found out that the "test administrator" didn't show up (translation: they had no idea we were coming and tried to make it right in the hour and 15 minutes we were standing there and it didn't happen so they blamed it on the MIA "test administrator"...lame). Talk about frustrating! I had spent several...severalllllll weeks preparing for this test, and now I had to put it off until July 9th when they said they would let us make it up. Well, I guess I was better off than the woman on the floor wailing because she had to have her test taken by July or she lost her job. I guess I was also better off than the woman who drove over 4 hours to get to the test that morning and had rented a hotel room. I guess I was also better off than the woman who was in route of moving and had her U-Haul hooked to her Tahoe...

Anyway....I took it again on July 9th.

3 weeks later - results.

I PASSED BOTH WITH FLYING COLORS! :)

Say hello, Texas, to your newest certified secondary English teacher! I will student teach this fall at Grape Creek High School, graduate in December, and hopefully get my own classroom in January. Hey seniors of GCHS....bring it on!

From our family to yours...