Stuff, stuff and more stuff...

It's been awhile. If I had written this blog post a week ago Monday it would have turned out much differently than it's going too. It probably would have read something like this... "BLAH!". I've been stressed lately, but that's nothing new really. I'm always stressed. For proof you can see this previous post. Matt and I are happy. We just had a house warming party, and now that that's over I'm A LOT less stressed, haha. In all seriousness though, it was REALLY fun, and it was so great to see so many people come celebrate with us! Thanks to those of you who read me, and who came! We love you. :)  I also made quite a few things (recipes) I found on Pinterest and now I feel pretty accomplished. ;)  Anyway, what I really wanted to write about in this post is just the sense of peace I've had lately. I had been so stressed, and just so irritable that I new I needed to do something. My mom and I went to the Temple last Tuesday and it had been awhile since I'd been. Wow. I really need to make going a habit. I just prayed to Heavenly Father to please help me be more patient, less stressed and more proactive in changing the things I want changed. I've realized that I need to remember to be more grateful for the things I do have, and not worry about the things I don't have, or the things I can't change. I've felt incredibly grateful for my sweet hubs more than anything lately. He's just the best. But I'm also grateful for my friends, my family, my job, Matt's job, a roof and warm home. Just everything. Cars, heaters, sunlight, clouds, rain and all kinds of stuff (literally everything, gosh... maybe I'm manic...jk). Other than feeling incredibly grateful for everything, and planning then executing a party (the first at our house) not much has been going on. But I will ask, if you haven't already seen (on Facebook) Matt is applying for a new position at work that comes with a raise and hopefully better hours. Please pray for him. That he will at least be able to get an interview and that he will interview well. After that it's in the Lord's hands. Thanks to all of you who have stuck around and continue to read my scatterbrained, non-cohesive, and irregular blog posts. I appreciate it! Til next time...

More life.

What's been going on with us lately you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Not.a.whole.lot. Slowly I'm getting organized. And I'm really enjoying decorating. Matt and I have been working, and being lazy a lot. The last two weekends we have just spent with each other, doing our own thing. Two weekends ago, we spent the whole weekend at home watching movies. This last weekend we rented movies, wandered around Trolley Square and City Creek and took pictures. Don't get me wrong, I love everyone in my life, and I love spending time with them, but it's been really nice not to have to rush around, and to just be with Matt. It also helps that since we have a house now, Matt enjoys, and can completely justify shopping with me. :D  YAY!

January always marks one of my favorite times of the year, the time of year when the University of Utah gymnasts start competing! I started going with my parents to the meets back in middle school because the schools used to give the students free general admission family tickets. We stopped going for a while in high school because the family passes were harder to come by, and then a few years ago I found some and we started going with our buds, Matt and Jenn. It's been tradition ever since! We love our RED ROCKS! During the season there is about 5 or 6 meets, and we get in for free so it's a fun FREE date night. And it's lots of fun. It doesn't get much better than a free date night with great friends!

Other than that, life has been normal. Nothing else terribly exciting, but life sure is GOOD. I'm so thankful for my friends, and my family. I truly have been blessed with the most amazing people in my life. Thank you all for putting up with me!

Life

Gosh, it's been awhile. Matt and I have been swept away with life lately. For those who don't know, we bought a house. After having our closing date pushed back twice, we finally closed on Dec. 15. Then we spent almost 3 weeks painting and getting the house ready for us to move into. I'm grateful we lived with my parents so we didn't have to rush to move in. The house still needs a lot of work to get it into the shape I WANT, but it's livable for now. Pictures will be coming soon, when I finally get all the clutter put away into its rightful place. Probably we will have some type of house-warming party, also when I get a little more organized. I still can't believe we actually bought a house, it will probably hit me when we make our first mortgage payment in February. EEEP! I was nervous about buying a home because well, my current job is only good for about 2 more years, if that, and what if Matt gets laid off from Ebay? We haven't actually heard anything of the sort, and as far as we know, his job is safe. But there is always uncertainty, we thought his job was safe at Comcast too, and it wasn't. I guess that's life though isn't it? Nothing is ever certain. That's where faith comes in. Faith that no matter what happens, it happens for a reason and everything will be okay. Without faith, we'd still be living with my parents (it really wasn't that bad, but we had to move on and get on with our lives sometime right?). Without faith, we'd be sitting around wishing we had the opportunities we have now. Sometimes you have to put the "what if's" aside and just live life. Anyway, this is just what's been on my mind lately and I felt I needed to write it down. Til we meet again, when my house is organized... more... tata! :)

Matt's 29th Birthday Celebratorium

This year I decided to surprise Matt with a party for his birthday. This is the first time I've thrown a successful surprise party where the person is actually surprised. It was so much fun! We all had a blast and Matt was truly touched that so many people would come celebrate him. For those of you that missed out, you missed out on a great party! So, here's some pictures for you to view.

Me and the birthday boy, gosh I love him!

Lydia, Jenn, Me and Kelly at the cornmaze, thanks for coming girls!

We broke the rules... haha

Me, Mary, my mom and Hayley.

All of us minus Kelly who's taking the photos, and those of our friends that had to leave early.

Spooky birthday cupcakes.

All in all it was a great night, and a special shout out to all who helped make it so! Thanks to Jenn and Matt for the use of their time, and their home! Thanks to Brian and Kel for helping set up decorations, thanks to my mom, dad and sister Hayley for helping with food, and the cupcakes!

Adventures in growing up...

        So, Matt and I have been talking a lot lately and we decided to take the plunge and see if we qualified to buy a home. Matt isn't keen on paying rent much longer, and frankly, it would be nice to have a place of our own and really get settled down. Especially since we are feeling ready to get started on trying to start a family! (I know, I can't believe it either!) So, we've gotten our limit, and the realtor called me today to set up some times to go look at some homes. We've been looking at a specific website, and had quite a few homes saved that we liked. I went through the list, got the listing numbers of the ones that are doable, and sent them over to him. Most of the houses we liked are short sales, and I'm well aware that short sales can take months and months to decide and close. Since I'm still really nervous about becoming a homeowner its okay, I'm not really in a rush! We are going to try and go out and look at some places Friday afternoon/evening. Did I mention I'm really nervous? Pretty excited, but REALLY nervous. Maybe something will come of it now, or maybe it won't and we'll end up waiting another year or two, I don't know. I didn't want to Facebook about it because I didn't want EVERYONE to know, but I don't care if the people who take the time to read my blog know, because obviously YOU reader, are a pretty good friend. Well, that's all for now, I just needed to get that off my chest. EEK!

Fall Bonfire

We went up Big Cottonwood Canyon a few weekends ago to enjoy the fall weather, a fire, some roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and of course some good friends. :) I didn't get pictures of everyone, but we went with Matt and Jenn, Kelly, Lydia and Fernando. It was a good relaxing time.

Our Seattle trip

Back in July, Matt and I took a trip up to Seattle to visit my family, and for a friends wedding. My cousin let us stay at her place since her and her family were out of town. It was nice to have a place to stay for free and to have it to ourselves.

Ferris Wheel on the dock at the Pier.

A boat called 'Beaver'

The Space Needle from the freeway

Matt and I with cousins, from left: Ellie, Cole, Trevor, Me, Lincoln and Matt.

Space Needle from the parking lot of the Space Needle

This cat was doing the robot outside this museum and his friends were filming it.

The view of Seattle from the restaurant inside the Space Needle.

Space Needle as seen from Alki Beach

Bridge we drove over one of our scenic drives

I was feeling artistic, what can I say. Check out the barnacles

Matt and I atop the Space Needle

Driving and being tourists

Seattle

More Space Needle, its so cool

Us and Seattle

Us on Alki Beach

Not a sandy beach

Looking for rocks

Lunch, yum!

Rooftop seats at Duke's Chowder House at Alki

Ferry ride

Snoqualmie Falls

Snowqualmie Resort

Cheesing it on the ferry to Kingston

Makes my heart melt

My favorite and I

Me and baby Lincoln

All in all we had a wonderful vacation, and we are so grateful for all my family that took care of us while we were there and those that showed us around and showed us a good time. :)