New name

Look what I got today!

Rainy day

I LOVE fall weather. I LOVE the rain. I do not love how people forget how to drive when it rains. I saw three accidents on my way to work today. Crazy. Through all of the mess I was thinking, this will be the last time I drive to work from my Dad's house. Next time I come to work I'll be married! YAY!

Shower #6 {Ben's Ward}

Ben's homeward did such a fun shower for us. Lots of fun ladies to meet. Lots of fun presents to open. Ben came to this shower so it was lots of fun!

Pink Lids

Remember to save your Yoplait yogurt pink lids! Send them in to help fight breast cancer. I'll be sending some in if you want to keep them and give them to me. Thank you for your help!

Shower #5 {Friends}

Thanks to all my friends who came to my shower. And special thanks to Amy and Trish for making it so fabulous.

4

I can't believe it's been four years since my Mom died. So much has happened...graduate school, surgeries, falling in love and more. Four years ago I couldn't have fathomed I could do it without her. I still have those days but I know she is always with me and that keeps me going. She is the reason for any goodness in me. I think of her everyday. I miss her everyday. I love her everyday. I hope one day to be like her. 

This is a song from the broadway musical Little Women. It reminds me to be thankful for the time I had with my Mom and to remember that she is still a part of my life. 

I never dreamed of this sorrow,

I never thought I'd have reason to lament,

I hoped I'd never know heartbreak,

How I wish I could change the way things went!

I wanted nothing but goodness,

I wanted reason to prevail,

Not this bare emptyness.

I wanted Days of Plenty.

But I refused to feel tragic,

I am aching for more than pain and grief.

There has got to be meaning,

Most of all when a life has been so brief.

I have got to learn something,

How can I give her any less?

I want life to go on.

I want Days of Plenty

You have to Believe,

There is reason for Hope.

You have to Believe 

That the answers will come.

You can't let this defeat you.

I won't less this defeat you.

You must fight to keep her there,

Within you!

So Believe that she matters!

And Believe that she always will!

She will always be with you!

She'll be part of the days you've yet to feel!

She will live in your bounty!

She will live as you carry on your life!

So carry on,

Full of Hope,

She'll be there,

For all your Days of Plenty

Shower #4 {Work}

Beyond Glaze. Doughnuts. Who would have thought they could be so cute? My awesome fourth grade team did a little shower for me at work on Friday. We had fun!

Girls night out

Some of my life long friends took me to dinner for a girls night out. We had a delicious dinner at Sego Lily and an even more delicious peach dessert at Dawnell's afterwards. I have the best friends ever!

Shower #3 {Hodgkinson Family}

I feel SO blessed to be joining such an amazing family. The Hodgkinson's had a shower for me on Saturday. It was so much fun. They are are so loving and accepting. I feel right at home with them... Kristy Hodgkinson, I like the sound of that!

Kitchenaid vs. Bosch

It's always been my dream to have my very own Kitchenaid. Lately I've been hearing that the Bosch is better. I have always used my Mom's no name brander so I have no idea which to choose! Please advise...

Bridezilla

I think I have been pretty reasonable throughout this whole wedding planning thing. I'm sure Ben and Jess would say differently. Yesterday we had our groomal photo session. My dad has a friend who has a flower shop in Tooele who my dad said has to do my wedding flowers. I was a little nervous. We went down to pick things out and so I could tell them exactly what I wanted and exactly what I did not want. I was pleasantly surprised and my nerves were eased after our visit. Well yesterday because we had pictures I needed a bouquet. My brothers headed down to do a delivery in Tooele and pick up my flowers. They came home and all three brother and dad came inside to show me my bouquet. I opened the paper it was wrapped in and saw this...

I explicitly told them a few things, 1: NO carnations, 2: NO babies breath, 3: NO weird stiff ribbon bows, and most importantly 4: NO NO NO weird twisty metal things sticking out (I've seen this done a lot lately and it's just not me). I open the paper and see only the 4 above mentioned items. I starting yanking out the twisties so fast I didn't even realize that the only flowers in it were carnations. Then I see the babies breath, then the yucky ribbon. I got a little panicked. Everyone started laughing. Then they brought in this...

Tooele Floral sure did fool me. The bouquet turned out exactly how I wanted it. I can't wait to see how the reception flowers turn out!!!

It's official

I sure do love this man and can't wait for October 10th!

Annual Cody trip

Another fun adventure to Star Valley, Jackson Hole, Yellowstone, Cody and back again. I was so glad Ben was with us this year!

At times like this I wish I hadn't had foot surgery so I could wear by boots!

Ben is such a good sport letting Laci do his hair.

The first grizzly bear we've seen in Yellowstone. Ben is a good luck charm.

The new cabin begins!

The boys are loving the dirt mountains around the new cabin.

Taylor Swift

I didn't see this live but it's all I heard about on my way to work so I had to find it and watch it. Kanye West totally ran up on stage and stole the microphone from Taylor. He got kicked out of the awards which he should have. Later when Beyonce won an award she let Taylor come up and finish her thank you speech. Kind of funny.

Shower #2 {Bott Family}

Saturday September 12

Family shower at Vicki's

I felt like a movie star...

This is really a movie poster with Ben and me on it. SO cute!

The amazing quilt my Aunt Darla made for us.

Grandma Hazel munching on popcorn.

September 11