Simple Pleasures

Oh how I wish this was my parents basement. I don't like sharing a washer and dryer with 5 other people. It makes it too hard to wash my clothes when I need to. Starting my new job tomorrow and I don't really have anything to wear. YES.

Love.

"Love is the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yet it is not found only at the end of the rainbow. Love is at the beginning also, and from it springs the beauty that arched across the sky on a stormy day. Love is the security for which children weep, the yearning of youth, the adhesive that binds marriage, and the lubricant that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death. How rich are those who enjoy it in their associations with family, friends, and neighbors! Love, like faith, is a gift of God. It is also the most enduring and most powerful virtue."
—Gordon B. Hinckley

2 fantastic years!

I can't believe its already been two years! It feels like just a few months ago we were in Vegas celebrating our first year. This second year has just flown by so fast! I am so blessed to have Matt in my life, and I'm so happy he chose me to be his wifey and eternal companion! Seriously, just thinking about it gives me this super happy and excited feeling. He's my best friend, and the absolute best husband, I couldn't have asked for a better one. He's so sweet, and selfless, talented, smart and hardworking. His faith in the Gospel and The Lord, Jesus Christ is so strong and he teaches me new things daily and is always helping me to be a better me, and without even knowing it! I just can't get over how awesome he is and how loving he is! Well, today was just one of the million great days we'll have together and I'm stoked! HAPPY 2nd ANNIVERSARY MATT! I love you!

Oh how I love California!

This month we headed out to California for the annual Reese Family Reunion! We had an absolute blast! I didn't take many pictures, but I did get some. We ate at our family's all time favorite mexican restaurant Arroyo's as soon as we got into town and met lots of our family there. (We won't be able to eat any mexican in Utah for at least another couple months) Arroyo's is the best! The next day was Sunday, and was the annual reunion and it was a great turnout! Matt got to meet the rest of my family, but it will probably take a few more before he really remembers all the names! While hanging out with the family at the reunion we took some of the kids over to the "stream" with some hotdogs and chicken bones to hunt for some crawdads! SO FUN! I haven't done that for so long, and Matt never had so it was a good experience! Monday consisted of Matt Hayley and I finding our way around Stockton to do some shopping, swimming at my cousin Brett's house, then meeting up with a ton of family at, of course, ARROYO'S! Tuesday morning we left early for San Francisco, we stopped in Oakland on the way because we were going to do a session at the Oakland Temple early Wednesday morning, so we were looking for a hotel, but since none of us new Oakland well enough to know what areas were good, we just decided to do that another time and we headed on in to San Fran. First stop, a lookout that looked onto the Bay bridge, then it was on to Fisherman's Wharf where we enjoyed fresh shrimp, crab, oysters, calamari and of course clam chowder in the infamous sour dough bread bowl. If you love sourdough, and you haven't been to San Fran and had it there, you've never had sourdough. It was so delicious! Then we hopped on a boat that took us on an hour long ride around the bay. We went out to the Golden Gate bridge and came back around Alcatraz all the while listening to an audio tour that taught ME things I had no idea about. It was way fun, but super windy and cold. Glad we all bought our touristy sweaters! After the Wharf we headed to find our hotel we would stay in that night, then it was off to Haight Street! Matt really wanted to see Amoeba Records and he finally got his wish! You really need at least 4 or 5 hours to devote to the store, its huge and has so much music. We wandered up and down the street, checked out all the totally awesome shops and had a blast! Then we drove down the ocean. It was so breathtaking, and also, because the sun was starting to set, super chilly! The water was freezing! After the beach we met up with my cousin and her man and went to dinner on the Wharf. We ate at Allioto's, once again, delicious! Then it was up to Coit Tower and down to Lombard Street! Then we headed back to the hotel to get some rest. We got to sleep in a bit, then we headed to AT&T Park to watch the Giants beat the Orioles. Matt came out of that park a Giants fan through and through. =)

Then it was time to head back into Stockton to eat dinner at Arroyo's again. Can you tell we really love that place?? Thursday and Friday we filled with visiting more family and friends, eating some delicious BBQ, shooting pool, and finding black widows. We left Friday afternoon, stopped and stayed in Reno to visit with my Aunt Barbara, ate at Red Lobster (gosh, we ate a lot of seafood) and Saturday spent the day driving home. All the while I'm trying to devise a way to move back home to California! It was such a blast, and now Matt's wants to move there too! HAH!

My Husband.

Occasionally, ok well, like once a day I get this overwhelming feeling of warmth and excitement and love for my husband. Its really hard to explain. But I'm so happy he chose me to be his Eternal Companion! He just never ceases to amaze me, he's always always always thinking of me, and always places me first. Even when I feel like I don't particularly deserve it, he's always kind and loving. He has never ever raised his voice at me, he never yells period. He's such an example to me. He has never once called me a mean or rude name, even in joking, and even when I maybe deserve it. I feel like I have so much to learn from him, and so much work to do to get on the same level as him. When we fight, which all couples do, its not your average fight. It usually just ends up being a "disagreement" and we always just talk through it calmly, and if anyone loses their temper... its usually me :( Then I just have to take a step back and gain control of myself again. He is always willing to listen and try to understand my point of view and opinions and I want to learn to do that more for him. Unfortunately I am just a little too opinionated for my own good. :-s Now that I've shared more than I originally wanted to, or more than you cared to read, I'm just going to end this by saying that I love my husband so much, he is absolutely the perfect man for me.

Home Sweet Home, here we come!

Only 18 DAYS until I get to go home to California and Matt gets to meet the rest of my insane family! I'm so so so excited! I haven't been home in 4 years, and so many of my little cousins are so grown up! AAAH! I just can't even tell you how good it will be to see all my family again! And I get to take Matt on his very first trip to San Francisco! He can't wait to hit up Amoeba Records, and I can't wait to see the ocean and eat me some clam chowder on the Wharf!!! YAY!

Mothers Day

I just wanted to say a little something about how awesome my mother is. Though she doesn't read my blog, yet, you all do and I think you should know how awesome she is.

She is my original BEST FRIEND. She never judges me, and always listens to me. She isn't afraid to tell me if she disagrees with something I've done, or may do, and I take her opinion very seriously because lets face, she really has "been there, done that". When Matt and I have a question about something, our first thought is, "lets ask Kay". I appreciate so much the sacrifice she made to stay home with us kids until we were in school full time, the things she went with out because there wasn't the money. She made sure we never went with out anything that we needed. She is so smart and she still teaches me so much. I remember my first day on the job as a nanny in NY, I called her crying, and I said "I don't know how you did it, all 4 of us home at the same time!" I only had 2 kids with me and it was so hard! She worked so hard as a mom, keeping us clean, fed, keeping the house clean, doing the laundry, and making sure our homework was done. I have such a greater appreciation for her and really for moms everywhere. She is such a comfort to me, and I know if I have any problem at all, I can call her and she'll go out of her way to help me, and to comfort me. I'm so blessed and I thank my Heavenly Father every day for sending me to her. I LOVE YOU MOM!