Thanksgiving!

For Thanksgiving, Mom and the kiddies went to Las Vegas to spend the weekend with Lauren and Sean at their new house! It is gorgeous! We went shopping at the Forum Shops, ate at the wonderful places Vegas has to offer, cooked a fabulous feast together, went to the Las Vegas temple, the boys got to golf and watch football, and we got to SHOP! Chase and I are very close to being done with our Christmas shopping, can I get an AMEN?? I am sooooo excited to get it all wrapped an stuck under a tree! (We bought our stockings, tree skirt, and wrapping paper. But we still need our REAL Christmas Tree!)

I got a CRICUT!!!! It's a fabulous little machine that cuts paper into a bazzillion shapes for scrap booking, vinyl lettering, cards and other cute randoms. I was using Lauren's to make Christmas cards and then we found one on SALE!! So I also bought a lifetime worth of scrap booking and card making materials. I never thought I would be a crafty one, at least not crafty enough to venture into the world of scrap booking, but never the less, I AM CRAFTY!! Preview of my creations yet to come (If I ever get pictures up of course.).

State Champs!

Let's get real. OHS cross country has been killing it! This last Wednesday the boys cross country team won their state race, STATE CHAMPS! I think I have more school spirit for Ogden High now then I did back then! Z man made his goal to run at state and he ran so well :) They were all so stoked to win, now where are the rings?!

The COOLEST thing that has happened in Ogden High girls soccer in 10 years happened today. I am SO proud of Avery, and all the girls on the OHS girls soccer team. They are fighters! There was more hustle, fancy footwork, beautiful corner kicks and pure heart in todays game than I have ever seen! These girls have passion for the game! Check it out. And these pictures show it!
Gallery: Prep Soccer: Ogden High School defeats Cedar High School During the State 3A Championship g
The whole tournament was so fun to watch. It made me miss playing! Well done lady's, I can't say enough about how awesome you all are. STATE CHAMPS!!!

Let's talk for a second about Weber cross country. I miss my girls. I have to go to physical therapy and it tends to fall right when the team meets. But I need to give them a shout out-- TAKE CONFERENCE. These girls are going to show the Big Sky what Weber Wildcats are made of! And the men too :) KILL IT!

Chase has been home for one year. ONE GLORIOUS FABULOUS THRILLING YEAR!! I have known him going on about 5 years. I have been his wife for just over 4 months. FOUR GLORIOUS FABULOUS THRILLING MONTHS. I decided to put together a big document that comprises all of our emails over the two years of his mission. WOW. I am about 18 months into the beast and it is TWO HUNDRED NINE PAGES!!! Already!! Gah! We had fun writing, that's all :) Chase had to work all day on the anniversary of his homecoming :( But we later had a discussion about all that has happened between October 22, 2010 and October 22, 2011. Mostly about all the places we have been!...

The cabin with the family (a few times!), St. George (Twice- Chase's first visit to the house), Canada (HATE/LOATH), Park City (honeymoon and Chase's birthday), Hawaii (honeymoon), Cedar and Las Vegas (helped La and Sean move), Lake Powell (sum fam vaca), Boulder CO (visit the girlies), Idaho (track meet), and a plethora of of other places that have made the past year ROCK MY SOCKS. Of course there ring shopping, wedding planning, bridal showers, the groom going MIA for 5 weeks (I hate Canada), and then the Wedding of course. What a year. (Suddenly I feel like I should be writing this the last week of December...eh)

Latest and greatest news! I got my wisdom teeth out! AND I FEEL GREAT! I had an moment of feeling rather nauseous because i had taken so pain meds on an empty stomach. But other than that I am coherent, not to mention the numbing still hasn't worn off. Cross your fingers! I have a hub, Connie mama, and Mama to take care of me. And of course an endless supply of peach sherbet and green jello!

That's when you know that blog should end. At green jello.

Home

(Actually written 9-29-11. I have this thing about writing blogs, then letting them marinate for a little while. I didn't intend it to take over 2 weeks. Here we go.)

Chase is at work :(

Blog time :)

Ok. So basically my life has been full FULL of “Wow I MUST blog this!” moments lately.

Moving. We did it. We have moved. The move has occurred and we now live at 1235-2 27^th Street Ogden UT 84403. The dash 2 means PARTY IN THE BASEMENT! I love, no we love our house, no we love our home! Virtual tour—The front of the house is straight out of a story book, so cute! Our door is under the front door of the house. We have our own porch light bulb! I know right! It has the cute little chain that you pull on to turn it on. And it’s one of those twirly light bulbs that saves energy- Go green or go home! Then you go in the front door and Vooalah! (Holy heavens that is the hardest word to spell ever. Or it’s me forgetting how to spell a word that is easy to spell. I once forgot how to spell of. Ov? Uv? Except I was in like 3^rd grade.) Anyway, the front door.

The great room is wonderful! It serves as fireplace snuggle hub, movie watching snuggle hub, dinner eating hub, and everything else hub! Maybe a little homeworking every once in a while. We have put ceiling to floor drapes on one full wall. LOVE. We were lucky enough to inherit, for the span of the rent, a very spacious and convenient entertainment center/ storage unit. It begged the question, “Why is there no TV in this hole here in the middle?” That’s what it said to me. It didn’t ever beg, it just whispered it one time… I think. But to Chase the spacious and convenient entertainment center/ storage unit was SCREAMING and WAILING in AGONY, “HOW CAN YOU STAND THERE WHEN I AM BLEEDING OUT THIS GAPING HOLE IN MY CHEST???!!!!!” So, we promptly did a little research and got a TV. Just kidding, we both wanted a TV, but TVs speak differently to different people (genders).

Back to the great room. I am finally able to utilize and love some of the beautiful wedding gifts we got. It helps home be more homey and less housey. Our table is counter height, LOVE. The fire place is so quaint! Ahh! I can’t type fast enough to match my excitement :) Bedroom—Newly painted furniture, new bed stuff and a tiny closet. Perfection. Kitchen-- $10 microwave, cabinets full of OUR stuff and OUR food, a new rug, and more happiness than orange slices at half time. Bathroom—not enough storage, light bulbs that get warm and feel really good on wet hair, and a shower that is really hot really fast. (Second time I have mentioned light bulbs. Unintentional.)

We also have a new vacuum. “This one here will suck up all your dirt for $525. This one here will suck up 99% of you dirt for an emotionally relieving $440 less. I’ll take it! And if it fails within a couple years, I will recoil my distain for Dyson and their ability to sell a dirt sucker for $650!

Back to the bedroom. One day, I wanted to put the bed skirt that was not yet between our mattress and our box spring, just there. I thought I could do it alone. Woah!! Spoiler alert—It can’t be done. Imagine- me holding the top corners of the bed skirt in each hand. Enter Chloe under top mattress, above the mattress on the bottom, squirming from the foot of the bed to the head of the bed. Chloe sandwich, with mattresses and a bed skirt as garnish (I would have said mayo, but mayo is against religious beliefs in our home. What would Chase have said?). It is not an easy thing to straighten a bed skirt while trying to balance a mattress on your back. Even if, heaven forbid, you were to get the skirt straight, how in hellsbells are you going to get OUT of the sandwich without messing up the skirt! I kid you not, the ENTIRE time I was in the mattress sandwich I was thinking. MUST BLOG.

Yesterday was well, a great day. I got to spend more time than usual on any given week day with Chase. Most of it was spent studying in quiet time, but pre-study time with Chase and I is super fun. Smiths—What treats shall we get for our study session? Doughnuts and vitamin water and root beer? FIVE DOUGHNUTS and vitamin water and root beer? Oh ya, bring on 4 hours of silence and textbook literature. Then to top it off, we had a discussion about deodorant, use your imagination. Then, to top off the topper, we found the BIGGEST birthday card I have EVER seen! And it was a singing card. I laughed out loud and have never been so amused by something so trivial (Oh whoa, that was a straight lie. I definitely have been.).

Well, my crave for blog has been quenched. One last note; home is the coolest thing ever. I love home. My home with Chase, and my home I grew up in. But the best thing about home is the fact that home isn’t a location, it is a feeling or mentality associated with anything you feel is home. Lately the more trivial things I have associated with home have been household appliances and décor—the picture of Chase and I in our room or a George Forman grill! What I am trying to get at is -> the most happiness I have ever found is when you can associate home, not with a location or anything else, but with people. Chase is my home. Where he is, I am home. My sisters and brothers. My parents. Connie Mama and Tony’s home is home to me. Not the house, but the people that are there.

I love home because it means you love people and those people love you back.

The Deed (written July 19)

Something big has happened in my life... I think you all are aware but I feel like I should give it a recap.

Ready???

Yes. Harry Potter is done. It is finished. The deed is completed. (this is a warning to those not wishing to read a spoiler-- please skip this paragraph. You're welcome.) who could have guessed that Harry would have survived the curse of death TWICE!!!!! Ya I know, nuts right?? And honestly, disregarding how cheesy the very ending was, there was no other way to end the dynasty other than watching little Albus Severus Potter run off on the choo choo to school. Could it have been a lead up to an entire next series? I doubt it. I don't think JK is up for another run. Nor do I think the emotional tank of the children of america can handle that again. I think I speak for all of the kids that read Harry Potter in elementary that are now my age... There will never be another Harry Potter. And for that matter, the Weasley family is irreplaceable. It's time to move on. Our parents had the Star Wars series and we have now seen the cap stone of our child hood series placed. Lets just hope that the famed series of our younger siblings and our future kids isn't transformers or anything up that alley. At least wizards and witches keep their clothes on right? The only thing that could have made it better would have been a rockin outfit like Kristin Gardener's. I seriously want one, I am on the hunt.

Let's be honest. A lot has happened in the last long while. Chase and I had our one month anniversary spent at Harry Potter of course, and we are loving every second!!! We are in Canada working. Yep, summer security sales! Chase is really good at this ish. However I am not. I think my first sell might go through tomorrow. Thanks for the pity party on my behalf. Anyway, this is some hard work I tell ya. But it's super fun!!!!! Oh wait. No. No it isn't. Whelp, I get to work with Chase everyday, and I like him a bushel and a peck so I am still having fun. I will be sure to let you know when I am not having fun anymore.... And if you have ever met my hub you know that having fun is not something we lack :)

Did I mention we spent our honeymoon in Park City and Hawaii?? Yes we did and whoo doggy I tell you what it was a good good time. I really want to do an anniversary up in PC, our hotel was a ton of fun. I would go into details but let's be honest, yall don't care where we went to dinner and how much time we spent at the beach huh??? Ya I know.

And since we are working backwards on the timeline, this leads us to the wedding. The glorious wedding. I can say it was perfect for two reasons- firstly it was my wedding, I can say what I want right? Secondly- it was, indeed, perfect!! The morning was calm and stress free. Walking into the sealing room in the salt lake temple hand in hand with chase was so overwhelming. Seeing our family and a couple best friends in the beautiful room was so sweet. Our sealing was blissful and moving. I nearly squeezed my moms hand off for 5 straight minutes and I could not get my heart rate to slow down! Our sealer was a very sweet man and the words he said haven't left us. That moment when we came out of the temple that I had pictured a million times was magical. The luncheon at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building was gorgeous thanks to Connie Momma. Lunch was a delicious and intimate experience with most of our family and close friends. I hadn't planned at all what to say, and I ended up gushing all over about how much I love my husband. The truly beautiful words were spoken by our four parents and my well spoken husband. Our pictures were so fun to take and to see. Go ahead, creep on my fb. Between the lunch and the evening festivities, I said, "Where is my husband?" then i gasped at the sound of those glorious words!! The ring ceremony was perfect too. My sweet daddy got to walk me down the 'aisle' to my husband. Brother Allen Mueller who spoke at the ceremony was wonderful. The reception was stunning and everything I had ever imagined and more. I love every man and woman that gave of his or her time and talent for this special day. Especially my florist, Samantha Olsen of Paris In June flowers, her sweet mother, and my relief society. But mostly my mother. She put the design concept i had and basically took it out of this world and beyond. The cakes were gorgeous and the cake cutting was really fun! Chase didn't smash cake into my face, two brownie points for the man in black!! I surprised chase with a golf bag grooms cake :) The music and MC were classy, way to go Kyle! My last dance with my dad and my first danc with my husband were very sweet. The three of us shared a moment there on the dance floor that is precious to me. Seeing my new sister gush in the corner was cute as can be. Dancing with my father in law was too fun, and the words "in law" are gross to us. I am just thinking of this now, but if i could change one thing about the whole day, i would have asked my baby brother to dance. Z man, make it up to me at your own wedding in like ten years :) The bouquet toss was perfect too. I had a perfect view of the yard and our wonderful and generous guests, so I took a quick second to take it all in. Sarah Diamond caught the bouquet, and who else but the girl I have been best friends with since second grade? And the garter toss was cute, Chase blushed ;) that is after Avery ran to get my garter from the house, I forgot to put it on!!! But once it was off, so were we. Our exit hadn't really been planned the way it ended up, but it was great!! We had a funnel of guests and I got to tear up with Mugs and my parents before running off (literally) up the hill with my husband to our car that was appropriately and beautifully decorated!!! Yay! We had specifically asked for no nastiness and smooshed oreos. I believe it was Lauren and Sean and company, well done. And finally I attribute my sanity through the whole thing to, aside from knowing that in the end I would be with chase, my two gorgeous sisters. My three siblings and I are best friends. Always and forever. I miss them. Anyway, I truly could not have pictured a more perfect day. But let's get real....

The most perfect thing about the day was Chase. What a man, I tell you what. The absolute crowning moment of the day is seared into my memory, and i replay it often. When our sealer announced us sealed, Chase's eyes welled up, so did mine, and we both smiled through tears. It is the happiest and most tender moment I think two people can experience.

It has been 34 days since the deed was done.

Bring Him Home

Chase is home!

Picking him up at the airport was so fun and perfect, even better than October was! He his better and cuter and happier than ever. He did really well working in Canada for the last 5 weeks, but I am so so happy to have him home. You know that song that says "I thought I loved you then"? IT'S TRUE!!! My heart was leaping around in my chest when I saw his cute face. The best part is that he made sure I knew he felt the same way. AND HE BROUGHT ME SHOES! He knows what he is doing. I love the man :)

The very next day we got to do bridals :) It was so ridiculously FUN!!! Jess Curren is a wonderful photographer and she does fabulous work. Both my mom, sister, and Chase's mom came to help us... well help me. Chase pretty much handled himself, whereas my dress and veil and everything else require some maintenance. High maintenance. But so worth it. Chase is seriously hilarious. I know for a fact I will never be bored for the rest of my life, ahem, I mean eternity! He kept pulling weird faces and making it impossible for me to not laugh. Then I was told to "mouth breath". What? I have two faces- straight faced almost mad looking, and laughing my head off. Two extremes. By the end of the day I had kind of figured the middle gound out, but I still prefer laughing to the sultry look. Which works out considering I am always laughing with Chase. He is more fun than "a jar of peanut butter on a flat bed truck"! (Comparison courtesy of Chase) And he is also fun to look at. When Jess was taking pictures of just Chase she said, "Um... you are smokin!" I couldn't agree more!

My flowers were gorgeous! Thank you Sam :) And I could not love my dress any more. The Gallery by Lynette-- she turned my vision into a dress. Thank you :)

I am headed to New York with my dad tonight! He and I get to spend some time away from the planning and stress of the wedding and go play for a few days. YAYAYAYA! We are still working on finding Chase a suitcase that he can fit in so he can join us. I have only had him for 2 days in the past 5 weeks! So this could get a little crazy. More to come.

The showers last week were so fun! A perfect way to prep for a wedding! I got to tell every woman I know all about my fiance. The company was wonderful, the food delicious, and we got so really fun and needed gifts. The ward shower that the wonderful Poulsen women threw was perfect! She asked me to talk about Chase for a minute. Sometimes saying all the wonderful things I think in my head out loud reminds me how much I really love Chase... a whole lot! My wonderful bridesmaids, Sarah and Emily, also threw a shower for me! So so fun! It was themed Date Night, so Chase and I now have endless dates to go on and things to do at home, yay! Movies, games, card... a few other things ;) It was a blast! And finally my aunt Steph threw a family shower for me. We played fun games and each wonderful woman gave me a piece of marital advice and financial advice. My favorite marital advice was simple, just talk about everything. Communicate. And keep the Lord involved. My favorite financial advice was to always talk before making a big purchase. All good things. Thank you so much to everyone that has made our engagement so fun! And to all the people that have supported Chase and I. We love you all. Amen and Hallelujah.

13 days until we get married!

PS Hopefully I start adding pictures sometime soon!

Spectacles

Today I had the privilege of watching my little sister run. For those who have never been to a big track meet, you might find the following to be a bit dramatic-- it was moving to see Avery run. She ran six races in two days. Twelve laps in total of pure guts. In one particular race, she moved some to tears. One of her coaches described watching her run as spiritual. She is a very talented athlete, but more than that she works her butt off. And even more than she works and prepares for races, she can hurt better than anyone out there. She pushes herself so hard. The ability to put success above pain is something not everyone can do. But she... she can definitely do it. More specifically, in one of her races she was neck and neck with a girl from another team for about the last 200 meters of an 800 meter leg of the medley relay (she had also gained about 30 meters after getting the baton in 7th place). In the last 100 meters she went so hard, that she literally collapsed on the track as she crossed the finish line. It was so cool! Tough as nails. I love track, always will, but I doubt I will see too many races that are more impressive than today. Well done sugar.

While I was in Provo, I found wedding shoes! I found out that my dress will be finished this week! I bought a temple dress(my wedding dress isn't pure white)! I picked up announcements so we can send them this week! Slowly but surely, it's all coming together!

I also had the opportunity to attend the wedding of a good friend, Danielle Talbot now Anderson. Today she wed Justin Anderson for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. The reception was beautiful, the bride was GORGEOUS! and I couldn't be more happy for them both. And the bridesmaids had some really awesome shirts :) Tonight made me look forward to our big day so much more! I love weddings! And I am so excited to have a cute pair like Justin and Danielle to have as married friends!

Side note: Crossfit is bomb.

Last but not least, congrats to all of those who conquered the marathon this morning! Well done, whether it was a part or the whole 26.2. A particular shout out to my bridesmaid Eminemily, my new running partner. We start Monday!

25 days until I wed my best friend. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE

The Dress

I have been a journal keeper forever. I loooove keeping a journal. One rule I have about journaling is this~~ Never journal when emotionally charged... unless that emotion is super happiness :) Or you will most assuredly go back and read it thinking "Who is the crazy/cranky/enraged/delirious person that wrote this. Ohhhhh right... That'd be me." I think this idea should also apply to facebooking. As entertaining as emotional fb statuses are, I would challenge all patrons of facebook to STOP MAKING FACEBOOK THE CENTER FOR EMOTIONAL VENTILATION. I swear I will make a t-shirt (Then I hope someone would make a t-shirt making fun of my blogging vents... and my ugly t-shirt).

This weekend I was in Sacramento with Weber State Track and Field Team. We had some awesome performances, and some heart breaking injuries. But overall this season, this whole year, has been a blast! I love that our team is kind of like a family. Especially when we are stuffed in a bus together for long stretches of time. Next year, Chase will be on those bus rides. Can I get a FIST PUMP? WOOOOO!

Today I went to my first dress fitting! I love my dress. LOVE. It's perfect. I was really nervous to go back and see it after a few months. You know, the classic 'Say Yes To The Dress' moment when Randy has to come save the bawling bride from her worst nightmare because her gown that she has been dreaming about for months is, in reality, not really all that dreamy? Yep. I had that moment a few months ago. Luckily, Lynette saved the day(Randy who?). She got me my dream dress after the first fiasco, and it is perfect in every way. My bridesmaids (save the lovely Lauren) and MOB and MOG (Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom respectively-- Come on people. Watch Father of the Bride already) came with me. It was just what a girl wants when she is wearing THE DRESS~~ lots of compliments and oohs and ahhs. Lauren, it's ok. I will send pictures when there are pictures to send.

Quick note about Chase(I know, you're surprised. I don't usually talk much about him). He is doing so well in Canada! He is just working his little butt off and being so successful! Congrats to my workin man, love you ;)

30 Days until the wedding. Now that we are within the a month of the day, the alias (BBQ) is no longer suitable. Wedding time baby.

The Dream Team

Long time, no see.

Since we last spoke much has occurred. I know you are interested (Megan), so here's the 4-1-1.

I have a florist. She is wonderful. She is fabulous. And she is Sammer Bammer. We booked earlier today and I could not be more excited! She totally sees my vision and she is quiet the artistical little gem and a great friend.

We are back at square one with bridesmaids attire. Good. Great. We may have a giant fiasco on hand with catering. Better. And my cake lady won't call me back. Swell. Hopefully we can start alterations on my dress this week. Hopefully. HOWEVER.>>> We have ordered announcements, and they are perfect :) I love them. I am most excited thus far about two things- Chase's suit... HOT! DANG! and the announcements. I have a master To-Do-List of all things wedding and it is slowly but surely coming together. I have loved planning our wedding, ahem... on most days.

I also had my first bridal shower! The lovely Green women hosted it in their home. It was perfect in every way. When we arrived, all the girls were helping tie a quilt that was a gift for me and Chase from Connie and Meg- that will be a precious memory forever. My cute sister Lauren drove 3 1/2 hours each way from Cedar City to spend 2 hours at the Bridal Shower. And it was finals week, AND she was finishing her job, AND she was graduating. And, oh she's just moving to CHICAGO for the summer a few days later. Wonder woman. I doubt she left any in the gene pool for me (More on that in a sec). All the Reynolds women made wonderful food as always. And we laughed ALL night. It was so fun! A few tears were shed when I opened Lauren's gift, a husband and wife Willow Tree, and my mother's gift, a Christus. I NEARLY cried over the Ninja blender and rice cooker and all the other awesome gifts that a nearly wed wants. Lauren's blog has a wonderful account of the whole thing, take a look. http://snickledipsy.blogspot.com/

So more on Lauren. She just graduated today with a BS is Accounting, Master in Accounting, and Master in Business Administration. Sean, her hubby, graduated with a BS in Accounting and Master in Accounting. We helped them move out of their house and they kindly passed some furniture onto Chase and I. Muchos gracias. They are currently driving to Chicago to play and work until they more to LAS VEGAS to work for Deloitte and Touche this fall (In laymen's terms, that mean WE ARE THE BEST and WE GOT THE BEST JOBS). They just bought their home there and I am pretty sure that next on their list of To-Do's is cure cancer. Or was it solve world hunger and achieve world peace? Ya I think that was it. Congrats to you both. I love you dearly.

School is OVER! Chase and I both finished finals is good shape and are both very grateful for the summer break. Our schedules for fall semester are beastly. Bring it on.

J got has mission call! July 27th to the Dominican Republic, spanish speaking. Congratulations J, you are going to be wonderful :) Tropical, beautiful and spiritual. Speaking of tropical (smooth transition huh?), Chase and I are spending our honeymoon in Hawaii!!!!! Nuff said.

So... I was putting this one off, but here it is. Chase is gone. Yes I know, he is coming back. But the last 12 1/2 days have been slightly off key without him here. Slightly? K fine. I hate being without him. There I said it. Public display of affection by way of extreme sadness. What can I say, I love him more than anything and, that said, I like when he is nearer rather than farther. And he is currently farther. He is in Grand Prairie (Hi. That sounds like a huge oxymoron to me Grand+Prairie=Not a very clear picture in my head. Grand+Beach=Freakin Sweet. Grand Prairie? Not so much.). He is selling security systems. We get to talk about as frequently as we want, which I am eternally grateful for, and he is doing very well. But let's be honest. I am not surprised. If that boy showed up at my door trying to sell me mustard by the gallon, I would buy it. I would buy a few. Then invite him in for tea and crumpets and kisses.

Happy Mother's day tomorrow to all mothers. Especially the mothers in my life. My mother Alison- I love you more than you will ever know. It's hard to summarize this, and you like symbols so here we go>>> Like a flower, a perennial. Regardless of the heat of the day or cold winters and being buried by snow, you are very resilient and you keep coming back for more. As strong as they come. I love you for it.

In other news. Z man ran a PR in the 1600m-- 5:35!!! Champion of the district. Avril ran a 5:16 today after being out of commission for about a month with a shredding ankle. I am really proud to come from a family of kick butt people. I love my family.

Speaking of family. I have realized more and more each day for the last little while that Chase and I are about to start one. I have been studying Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple with my Mom, and it has been truly humbling to even begin to comprehend how significant June 15th, 2011 will be. I love Chase. I love the Lord. And the three of us are going to make quite the team.

38 days until the BBQ

(But only 23 until Chase comes home!)

The Right of Spring

Chase, the family, and I spent our spring break in St. George.

ST. GEEZZZZZZY!!

Golf. Chase plays lots of golf. You should take the opportunity to watch him swing a golf club one day if you can. It's impressive. He taught me how. Bend your knees. Loosen your elbow. Head down. Eye on the ball. Athletic stance. And a hundred other commands that he sounded really good telling. He's a good teacher. I managed to hit half a bucket decent, or almost decent. The other half ended up in someone's backyard across town, compliments of Chase. Give that boy a driver and hope he can't hit it to your house too. I love dates to the driving range :)

I learned to cross stitch. I did pretty well too! By the end of the trip, Chase asked me as we started the 400 miles home, "You aren't going to do that allll the way home are you? It's fine if you are, I just need to prepare myself." I proceeded to get car sick, like two seconds later. Cross stitching is for vacations, Sundays, and old women! I am secretly so excited for Sunday.

Pedicures. We got them. It was Grandma Reynolds first one ever. She's the cutest. Speaking of Grandma, did I mention that we got to eat Grandma and Connie Mama food for four days straight, three meals a day? Ya.

We also got to see my dad and broski for a minute. For some unimaginable reason, my dad let Z-man take four friends to St.George with them. He's crazy.

Just as a quick side note... Tony, my father-in-law-to-be (save my soul), did in fact attack me with a canister of whipped cream, in case you were wondering. "IN THE EARS OR THE MOUTH!!!??" I frantically opened my mouth. Apparently he wasn't planning to do it at all. Whatever. Whipped cream is yummy anyway.

I checked a movie off my list. The list of movies that when you say, "No, I haven't seen that." Tony looks at you thinking, what a heathen. What About Bob? So. What is it about Bob? The best parts were... "Son of a ____!" "She never says that." and Bob's initial fit of turrets, "___, ___, ____, _____!!!!!!" So... maybe I am a heathen. But my fiance made sure I stayed awake as he cultured me in the ways of Bob.

Dixie rock? Check. The wind nearly blew us away. And I got worried the third time I heard J say, I want to hang my head over the edge!

The kicker of the whole trip was Saturday night. Tony invites us all to meet him at Linn's grocery store. We each get three dollars to buy the "most random" thing we can find. As we searched, the intercom came on... "Attention all customers participating in the random $3 challenge, there are three minutes left, three minutes!" Who gave Tony the microphone??

Chase and Chloe- Shake and Pour pankcake mix. We didn't win. COME ON TONY!! Shake weight? Shake and Bake baby!!!! ???? Random!

Meg and J- Sport Jelly beans. I ate them and they didn't win.

Clark and Maddi- A travel sized. temporary. crown filling. kit. Amen and Hallelujah.

86 days until the BBQ

Saving Daylight

Today was the first day I could feel summer coming. It's on its way folks! My dear sweet fiance demonstrated how to juggle a golf ball on the end of a golf club this afternoon. I wanted to play. I got 12 bounces! Count em, TWELVE! Just prepping for St. George this weekend. Whether I end up golfing or not, Chase will golf lots.

Chase + Golf = Happy Boy

Chloe + Happy Chase = Happy Chloe

Need I say more?

But let's be honest. This is a boy that is always happy. Which makes for one happy girl.

On Saturday, which will have to be blogged when the hours is not so obscenely late, Chase did a wonderful thing; he introduced me to Jon Schmidt radio on Pandora. That boy has fabulous taste in music.

I must say, this whole blogging thing might just turn out to be a public display of affection.

You have been fairly warned!

Tomorrow: first dress fitting

93 days till the BBQ

I love love.

Today Chase and I have been engaged for 1 month and 2 days! Before we were engaged, the family referred to the wedding this summer as the BBQ. "So when is the BBQ again??"

Yesterday my dear sweet mother hosted an engagement dinner (soooo yummmmy) for my family and Chase's family together. Our family. Let me tell you, meeting the in-laws was super difficult...

HA.

I love my fiancé's family so much. Calling them his family sounds wrong. They are my family too! I think I adopted myself into that family a long, long time ago. We talked about funny stories of baby Chloe and baby Chase.

"Hey Lady! You are SO FAT."

"Hey Mommy, look at that monkey!"

Judgmental little babes.

On Sunday, we went to Reynolds family dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We do this every week. It is my favorite family tradition, and I am not even legitimate yet!

-The best food to ever grace Bountiful, Utah

-The best birthday songs ever sung

-A house full of love. So much love it usually gets 10 degrees hotter than it should.

-No hobosacs of course.

Then we went up to Grandma and Grandpa Thomas's for Grandpa's birthday. Earl took a minute, or so, to be the patriarch of the family. It was a sweet moment when he said that he and Joyce have been married for 56 years. Chase looked at me from across a room full of family with the cutest smile that every girl should wish to see from her man. It said "I can't wait to spend the next 56 years with you."

99 days till the BBQ