Christmas Time

Temple & Mount Vernon

I love Virginia. 

fin (end)

I am finally done with dang finals! They are so stressful, and you'd think when you're finished you'd be relieved. This is not true however because you now have to worry about the grades you haven't gotten back yet (like papers, presentations, written finals), and feel the remorse and disappointment when you thought you did great on a test but ended up not doing so well. That is the hardest part, it's easy to accept a grade when you knew you had no idea what you were doing on a test, but when you felt like you knew almost every answer, that's when it stings!

Something else that stings is finding out your life isn't as planned as you thought it was! I have had every class scheduled and planned for every semester I'm going to school so I knew exactly when I was graduating. Well, Chuck pointed out that you have to have at least 120 hours to graduate, which didn't bother me at first. I had all my generals planned out, all religion requirements, and all my major classes scheduled! Of course that was 120 hours...not! 

Holy cow, I about died when I found out it wasn't! How could you have a major where the requirements didn't help fill the hour void needed to graduate! I just wanted to drop outta school right then and there. I went down to my college advisement center to see what was going on. Apparently I needed to choose a minor as well, thanks for telling me! So, ladies and gentlemen, in April 2010 it is predicted that I receive my BS in Geography emphasizing in Tourism and my 

Minor in Communications. Only time will tell! Wish me luck!

Also, we are coming to Virginia tomorrow!!! I am so excited, it's been snowing a bit lately and I'm sick of it! Can't wait to see everyone! Merry Christmas! I hope everyone has started receiving their Christmas cards from us! Props to Nicole for taking the picture and Leah for making my card! Where would I be without you two?

The Lights

Andrew and I went up to SLC this weekend and met up with our friends Derek and Ally. We went up a bit early to meet up with Leah and her family for a little while. Then went we got together with D&A and saw the "Body Worlds" exhibit, which was gross, yet interesting at the same time (I think my biologist brother, Aaron, would spend hours looking around in there!). Then we drove around for about a half hour trying to find parking to walk around to see the lights in Temple Square. It was beautiful! At one point I felt some tapping on my back, and I thought it was Andrew, until I realized he was in front of me, then I got weirded out! Thankfully it was Leah! What are the chances we'd run into each other with the hundreds of people there!

This is Derek and Ally (they found out this morning they're cooking a little something if ya know what I mean ;)! )

And this is my husband, he is absolutely crazy and I love it!

And here he is redeeming himself with his usual better looking than any model self! I am so lucky!

First Christmas

As a married couple! We got a tree....it's a baby! But it's the right size for to have for the next week and a half until we go back to Virginia! 

As a side note, I got my first wedding contract in the mail signed by the bride's mother for a wedding photo-shoot in SLC in April, I am so excited!

Thanksgiving Break

This break from school was amazing. I hate living so far away from my family and from Virginia! Luckily I only have to suck it up for two more years until Andrew goes to dental school (hopefully) back east! 

Here's a family pic the amazing photographer Nicole Pasquini took. It's amazing we're all looking at the camera with eyes open!

The three girls! (we're hott)

Mom & Dad (they LOVE each other)

This was an attempt to recreate an old picture when we used to go to CW for vacation!

There were beautiful Christmas decorations all over, I would just love to walk around forever!

We even got Chuckie to strike a pose!

Aaron's eye's are so blue, I love them!
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Can't wait for Christmas! 23 more days!

I really love him.

I am Thankful

So before I get home and am so busy having a blast with family and friends I wanted to sit down and write out just a few things I am thankful for. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

I am thankful for:

My wonderful Husband who takes care of me and loves me to no end, he is so thoughtful and loving

My parents that love me even though I am crazy, I love their sense of humor, my family is never dull

My faith, I never feel weak or alone because I know who I am, where I came from, and where I'm going

My country and especially those who serve to protect my country and preserve my freedom

Flowers, they're so beautiful, all of nature is just gorgeous and peaceful

Cheap gas, I no longer feel like dying after filling up the Jeep

Federal grants that help pay for tuition, "grant", what a great word, so much better than "loan"

My siblings, they're hilarious and always make me smile

Chocolate, the perfect thing to help celebrate, relieve stress, or give me a boost of energy

Our little apartment, it's not luxurious, but it's our home

And lately, space heaters.....enough said!

Bridget & Evan

So I had a photo-shoot today thanks for a referral from a good old friend Missy (http://missyandmicah.blogspot.com/). The couple was so much fun and they were very goofy! One of the most fun things about taking pictures is the adventure of getting a good background, we "trespassed" to get a great shot with a bright blue house, it was great!  I'll work on them on Monday, but I wanted to give a huge THANKS to Missy! Thank you!

Salt Lake City

We met up with Rob & Andrea to do a session at the SLC Temple Saturday night. I went pretty much straight from work to the road, with the exception of going home to grab a skirt and my husband! It was GORGEOUS. It was the first time I've been to this Temple and it was so beautiful inside, totally different from the D.C. Temple (which will always be my favorite since that's where we were all sealed together!). Andrew had a ball getting to see the inner workings of Temple Square. My aunt's father was a 70, and they still get to park down in the "special parking spots". We got to enter the Temple where the authorities do and some other things, and Andrew was just soaking it up, he's funny. I brought my camera to take some sweet pics, but I didn't have my battery (I had it on the charger because I wanted to take pics of Erin and Jack, but when I got to Leah's I didn't have the battery then either!). So this is as good as it's gonna get for now, Chuckie's camera, at 9 pm! I like the one I took of Chuck though! We are going home NEXT week! We're so excited, can't wait to see everyone!

Passion

So I am almost done with Ashley's pictures, and I have to say I'm loving how they're turning out! You can check out a bunch at my website: amourphotographie.com

Also, I don't think I've said this on here, but I'm a bridal consultant at Allyse's Bridal! It is so much fun watching girls try on wedding dresses! The dresses are so beautiful, I want to go back to April and have like 5 different dresses! It's a fun job, and I hope I get to stay at it for a while!

I am so excited to come back to Virginia! Only 18 more days! I am such a Virginia girl, I love everything about it, especially the family and friends I'll get to see! Can't wait!

Busy Weekend!

This weekend was busy for sure! I got to fly up to Spokane, Washington to take pictures of Ashley and her fiance! It was a ton of fun! On the way to the airport Andrew and I stopped at Leah's for a bit and join them for Jack, Erin, and their cousin trick or treating. Leah has two of the cutest kids, Jack is talking so much and Erin is really getting bigger! So I flew out at 8pm Friday night, and got back in at 7pm Saturday night, thats some fast traveling! I know I wasn't even gone for 24 hours, but I missed Andrew, especially watching Ashley and Caleb being all in love! Andrew was such a sweetie and clean the whole apartment, even organizing his desk which is always a black hole for books and notebooks. I love him so much, he treats me so well! I'll get some pics up on my website sometime this week, but here's one of my favorites, you can't even really see them, but I just think it's pretty!

The BIG .5

As Andrew called it today at church. We have been happily married for 6 months now! I know it's not a lot, but it's kind of a mile stone, right? Well, we'll pretend it is! A while back during the summer, I found a tiny piece of paper in Andrew's wallet. I started reading it, and I was so confused! I asked him what that was and he got so embarrassed and took it from me. He said it was what he'd written out in case he "had to" give a toast at our reception! He's too funny. I love him so much and am very grateful for his love. Enjoy the wonderful almost toast!

You know, it's kind of funny, when we were younger Afton was always my best friend's little sister. We never talked, we never hung out, so she was just Chuck's little sister. Well at the end of my sophmore year I moved to England and when I came back at the end of my senior year, Chuck's little sister had grown up..and she looked good!
So I finally learned her name, I finally had an opportunity to get to know her, and I fell in love. I discovered what an amazing person she is inside and out. That love for who she is has brought me to where I am today, a very blessed son of God because I get to be married and sealed to one of His choicest daughters. Its going to be a great eternity and I promise sweetheart to do everything I can to make you feel special...and try to get you to Disney as often as I can!
I love you Afton, and I always will!

and this is my favorite part:

(kiss her)

A little laugh

My grandma sent this to me, I find it quite funny.

Have a productive Halloween!

Kristen & Aaron

This couple has been married since January, and they wanted a shot or two for their christmas card, and they were so much fun to hang with for a little bit. Aaron is even from VA! They helped me take some extra pictures for my portfolio! Check em out!

amour-photographie.blogspot.com

Jennifer & Ryan

My second shoot! So much fun, they were really goofy, I loved them! 

amour-photographie.blogspot.com

Natalie & Andy

I had my first engagement photo-shoot yesterday, I was really nervous but it was a ton of fun and I think the pictures are turning out great! I was worried that we wouldn't get a ton of "good ones" for them to have, but I ended up with 510 pictures! I've narrowed it down to around 200, so thats a more manageable amount! check out my other blog for a few favorite shots! 

amour-photographie.blogspot.com

Ashley Brady

Soon to be Stuart!

Ashley was down from BYU-I to run some errands and we got a chance to take some pictures in her beautiful dress. I think I had about 300 images from half an hour! We took them out at Utah Lake and the sun was setting, gorgeous shots but freezing cold weather! After her wedding I'll put some more pictures up, but we don't want to give away what her dress looks like! She's getting married December 13! I am so excited for her to marry her missionary (who just happened to go on the same mission as Andrew! He was his AP for a while!). Love you Ashley, you're a gorgeous bride!

Days like today

Are the ones I'll look back on and miss about college days. Not the stressful tests, essays, and papers. Not worrying the professor might call on you and you don't know the answer! Well, Andrew and I made dinner before he went to work. Steak ka-bobs and garlic bread, it was delish. I made cookies for dessert (from total scratch!). Then I took Andrew to work, went over to Chuck's to watch the Office. He showed me the family history he'd been  working on, he's in the 1700's right now! He's great at family history. After that, I went to Lauren's to chill for a bit before I needed to pick my hunnie up. I finally got to grab him, we came home, relaxed drinking sparkling cider in champagne glasses, and listening to romantic music. I love just spending time with Andrew. We then went on to do homework together. I love being married, what isn't there to love about it?!

Gotta keep it interesting! (this is after 11pm!) We're loving life!

Thanks!

We got a package from Lisa (Andrew's mom) and it had throw pillows in it! I can't tell you how many times I have almost bought some that look exactly like these ones, but ended up not. Good thing! We also got a Yankee candle "sun & sand" which makes me miss the beach! Yankee is the best candle store, hands down! Love them Lisa, thanks so much!

Weekend News

Friday night Andrew had a mission reunion he was way excited about. It was pretty much impossible to stay caught up with him as he zig and zagged through the crowd to meet up with old companions. I'd eventually find him and be introduced as his wife (it's been almost 6 months and it's still weird!) and some of his old companions would say "Oh ya! I was there, he got a letter every week...I never got any letters!" or "I remember seeing pictures of you!" so it was pretty fun since it seems to be a miracle I actually "waited" for him. This picture is Andrew with his old mission president and his wife. President Owen said Andrew looks like a missionary still and that he liked that. I think he was referring to not have long curly hair or a beard, but Andrew took it as a great compliment. Andrew really looks up to his mission president.

In the less happy news, I had to cancel an engagement photo shoot for a really nice couple Saturday because it was dark and rainy all day! Even worse, I got a call from my mom telling me my great grandfather was in critical condition due to one of his lungs filling with liquid and collapsing. I just got off the phone, crawled into bed bawling, waking Andrew up pretty startled. He was a great husband and tried to comfort me until I fell back to sleep. On the up side, dad got there and said he was actually recovering! I couldn't believe it, I was totally convinced he was going to pass yesterday, I really hope he makes it so I can see him at least one more time at Thanksgiving or Christmas. I REALLY want him to make it 5 more years so he can have a great great grandchild. 

Conference was great. I can't tell you how excited I am about a temple going up in ROME! Wow! That's incredible, the most catholic city ever. And we get to go see it when I go on my European tour (which is my graduation present) in just two summers! Andrew and I watched Saturday session at Chuck's, he made some delicious crepes for breakfast. He even bought Nutella! Sunday session we watched the first half in bed,  how great is it that it's on TV in Utah! We made some cookies, and steak kabobs for dinner, sooo good but I put too much spice on mine my mouth was on fire!

I gotta jet, we have to take our New Testament test tomorrow! eek!

Promiscuous?

Tonight was pretty busy. I had a good ole "get to know ya" enrichment in the lounge of my apartment complex. We played the game where you introduce yourself and then tell two things that are true about yourself and one lie, and the audience has to decipher which one the lie is. I happened to be sitting next to the girl in charge, so I got to start. I was totally caught off guard. I'm not very good at coming up with a lie fast (right mom!?), and the room was so quiet, you could actually hear crickets in the background. Everyone was staring at me, I had to crack a joke to give myself some more time. Here were my things:

~ I have dated my husband since high school.

~ My husband is the only man/boy I've ever kissed.

~ I used to be a cheer-leader in high school.

If you know me AT ALL you should be able to pick out the lie easily. My mom on the other hand knew the lie, but didn't believe that was the only lie. She said, " Oh I remember your old middle school days." What is that supposed to mean! I don't know what she is talking about. Apparently she thought I was kissing boys all through middle school or something. But I want to set the record straight...I was not a promiscuous pre-teen mom! Goodness! I've always been proud of the fact that my husband is the only man I've ever kissed, and my own mother didn't even know it!

Anyway, I have a geography, statistics, new-testament, and art history test to worry about this weekend. I just want to get them over with! Oh and a paper tomorrow, dang it! You guys that are moms should be happy that you're finished with tests! I envy you!

Also, The Office came on tonight, it was great. I was watching it at my room-mates apartment, and then there was a knock on the door. It was the police. Her room-mate had just had a huge fight with her boyfriend and they broke up, so he called the cops and had them take everything that was his or that he bought from her. It was awkward, so we came back to my place. It was a pretty eventful night!

I love this!

TAG

Nichole tagged me! haha so this is the second post of the night!

Rules:

1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Write 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post
4. If you're tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag

Here we go!

1) This is the 100th blog I've ever posted! woot woot, I love blogging it's like a way better form of journalism!

2) I'm really mad and jealous that Nicole is in Disney World right now, I absolutely love Disney World. She's even staying at my favorite resort! I still love you Nicole.

3) The Nichole that tagged me is an OLD OLD friend. We used to play together when we were like 3 or something, our grandmas are friends. Her grandma was actually at my wedding ceremony!

4) I really don't want to get up for classes tomorrow, or ever for that matter. I have to work on papers and study for tests. Those are much more important than just sitting in a room ignoring a professor by playing solitaire on my phone.

5) I can't wait for Thanksgiving, and especially Christmas, and most importantly the end of winter semester because we're going on a disney cruise! That's what keeps me going!

6) My husband is asking what I'm doing. I'm sitting on our bed, in the dark, because I randomly got online and saw I was tagged and was really excited. I just tell him, "Don't worry about!" I sure do love him.

Bonnie, Trish, MOM

Hair

This is for mom, because it took 3 hours for me to get my hair done so by the time I got home, it was bed time in VA. I got my hair high-lighted.




And this is because I just couldn't help myself.

Lonely Finger

Today I took my engagement ring in to be "pretty-fied". I've been wearing it for about a year now, and it needed a touch up. Sadly I'll have to go all week with out it! My finger looks so naked with just the wedding band. Andrew said it looks like he's really cheap, like he didn't give me a ring when he proposed! So I put on the ring andrew gave me when he left for college (tear) four years ago. I was still left behind in high school, and Andrew wanted to give me a promise ring to show that he would love me even the whole hour away at JMU! I wore it from that day until he got back from his mission. Then I took it off so he would be reminded he needed to replace it! ;) So now I have a blue stone with two ity bity diamonds on it. It's a cute memory, but I want my real ring back!

Thanks

for the cookies mom!

Go Cougars!

Left to Right

Lindsey, Me, Andrew, Chuckie, Kevin

We pretty much dominated UCLA!!!

Temple Visit

I love going to the Temple, it's a new and wonderful experience every time. Granted, this was only the second session I've ever done, but it's great! I love being so close to so many of them. I met up with one of my friends, we've known each other ever since we were little, from back when my family lived in North Carolina. I got there a bit early, so of course I had to take some pictures of the scenery, love it!