6 Months

6  months ago today...

 Tonight we're driving to Logan to go to the Bluebird to have some of that delicious Bluebird chicken that we were too nervous to eat at our wedding dinner.

Yummy

Viva Las Vegas

We had such a good time in Vegas!  Such a good time.  We got to there on Tuesday night after Erik worked 10 hours at Enterprise, I worked 6 hours at the elementary school, and we drove 6 hours to get there, so we were pretty beat.  We mustered enough energy to explore our hotel and see all the shops and kiosks.  Maybe it's because I was so tired, but I thought it was hilarious to listen to Erik negotiate the kiosk salesmen down, and I enjoyed the benefits when he negotiated the water massage lady to 1/8 of the original price.  My very favorite, however, was talking to the dead sea spa guys.  You've seen these people, the guys from the middle east who draw you in, spray some goop on your arm and refuse to let go.  Upon finding out that we were from Utah, our salesmen insisted that we should buy his $80 face soap because we were Mormon and he was Jewish, and "Mormons and Jews are very good friends (fist bump)" .  He was also shocked that I was only 21 and married.  I had him test the product on Erik's arm, and after he rubbed off the dead skin he showed me the messy cotton ball and went "And you are going to get into bed with that!?"  It was a good time.

Erik and our Jewish buddy

On our way up to the room, we were assaulted by this fellow. 

In charming broken english he told us how we could earn $100 to the spa if we "went on a tour of a new hotel".  We were a little skeptical, but $100 is a $100, so we agreed, and at 10:00 the next morning we were bused to "The Greatview at Las Vegas", where we endured 2 hours of a former boxer-turned-salesman trying to sell us a timeshare.  Right.  On the plus side, we managed to get breakfast and lunch out of this little outing.  And we left with $100 in spa services, that my wonderful husband gave all to me. 

The spa was INCREDIBLE.  They gave me this comfy robe and sandals to put on, and while I was waiting for my services they brought me hot chocolate, a water bottle, and chocolate covered fruit.  I first got a body wrap and a massage.  After this cute lady rubbed out all my tension and slathered me with some concoction of cucumber, coconut milk, etc.  and wrapped me in body foil like a great big burrito, she actually offered to feed me my chocolate covered fruit while massaging my scalp.  I love that place.  Next I got a much needed manicure, I rip at my nails as a nervous habit and they were a mess.  I left the spa with baby-soft skin and beautiful hands, ready for a night on the town.

After I got ready, Erik and I hurried to grab a bite to eat before Donny and Marie.  We went to the closest place, a little restaurant called Dick's.  This fulfilled my requirement of going somewhere I could only go because I was 21. 

We both ordered waters, and we were a little surprised when our waitress brought us this:

Our meal was yummy, and we hurried to the Flamingo for Donny and Marie.  I was too distracted to take pictures, but can I just say, they were FABULOUS.  They were everything I wanted them to be and more.  The show was so fun.  Erik and I were in a booth with a 65 year old woman and her 40 year old daughter (a much better representation of the average audience member than Erik and me).  I ordered a virgin strawberry daiquiri in a special Donny and Marie glass and it was so fun to sit there and drink my fancy little drink and watch the show.  Even Erik enjoyed it, and said it was almost worth the dignity loss of walking in and out of the showroom.  A particular high point was when were walking out of the theater and the little old lady in front of us squealed "He touched my hand!  I'm never washing it again!".  Hehehe

 

After the show we walked the strip, but it was a little chilly, so  we went inside the Bellagio.  I love the Bellagio fountains, and we found a perfect little window with a great view that was close enough to hear the music and we watched the fountain.  It was a very romantic ending to a a wonderful day.

The next morning we laid by the pool for a little while and then checked out and drove home.  We had the best time, and I have to say Erik intimidated me a little bit as far as birthdays go.  What the heck am I supposed to do for his birthday to top that?  Luckily I have until July to figure it out.  

Goodbye Excalibur

Year in Review

So I never really looked back on my year, and after reading several other people's blogs (don't judge me for reading  the blogs of obscure people from my graduating class, you totally do it too) I realized that "year in review" posts are kind of the thing to do.  Here are our major events from 2010:
 -Erik and I got engaged.  He proposed to me in my little apartment with the ring tied on top of a pyramid of roses.  I was expecting it that week (Erik kept me up on the ring buying process, so I knew he had it already), but I wasn't necessarily expecting it that day.  He proposed in the evening, right after I got home from SI.  It is somewhat relevant to note that I had already reserved us a temple date, I like to engage in bold living.
-I finished my junior year at USU.  I survived social statistics and read more textbooks than I read from 1995-2008 combined.  Erik started at Enterprise after graduating in international business and economics in December (technically 2009).
-On July 31, 2010 we got married in the Logan temple. It was a beautiful day.  I thought Erik was leaving me at the alter when he forgot our marriage license and went to the car to get it.  I thought the car was in the temple parking lot.  Turns out it was parked across town in an effort to avoid having it trashed.  Besides giving me a pre-wedding panic attack, he only delayed the inevitable.

 

-I got a passport and traveled out of the country for the first time.  We went to Bermuda for our honeymoon, and it was awesome.  

- We moved to Layton (Erik in April, me in August), and I started my practicum with the Box Elder School District and a couple of jobs utilizing the thousands of dollars my parents poured into my cheerleading, dance classes, and music lessons.  I probably haven't made as much money as they put in, but it feels nice to use the skills a lot of resources went into obtaining.  

-We watched 6 seasons of Scrubs, 5 seasons of How I Met Your Mother, and we've just started watching Chuck.  Clearly we need to improve our social life.  Please invite us over.  

-We went to Idaho 5 times and to the Northwest 4 times as a couple and had a great year getting to know one another's families.  

-We started life as a married couple.  When I look back at my last birthday, everything has changed.  We live in different city, we're working new jobs, we're living together.  My education plans have changed, Erik's career plans have changed, and we're working on figuring out what we want for the future.  I go to bed an average of 3 hours earlier every night than I did last year, and I have waded into the waters of domesticity (I make a mean sack lunch).  

I have big hopes for 2011.  I'd like us to get into a house and I want to start graduate school.  On the wifey side of things, I'd like to try two new recipes a month (baby steps) and learn more about basic home repair.  We want to build up our little bank account and we have a goal to go to the temple together 6 times.  I'm excited about our goals and about turning 21, and I'm excited to see what 2011 has to offer. 

Eclectic Mix of Happenings

This week I am particularly thankful for this handsome man!

 I don't know if he made a New Year's resolution to be the best husband ever, or what, but he's been so awesome this week.  It all started on Christmas when he told me what my birthday present was going to be (my birthday is on Tuesday)-- We're going to Vegas to see Donny and Marie!  I am soooo excited.  I think this is such a thoughtful gift on Erik's part, because let's face it, as hard as I try I can't get him to love Donny the way I do.  What a perfect way to spend my 21st birthday! (pictures to come)
On Saturday night I woke up feeling really sick.  I spent the next five hours throwing up upwards of 15 times.  We don't know if it was food poisoning or what, but I was not doing well.  Erik stayed home from work and took such good care of me.  He went to Wal-Mart at 5:00 am to get me medicine and 7-up and later that day when I insisted the only thing that sounded good to me to eat was fried rice from Panda Express, he went and got that for me too.  I am not the most pleasant sick person.  I know you'll probably have a hard time imagining this, but I tend to get a little whiney. Looking back, I kind of sounded like this clip from our favorite TV show

But through all my whining, Erik stayed with me and was a good little male nurse.  And yesterday he even cleaned the apartment on his day off.  I am one lucky girl.

On an unrelated note, we had an awesome time in the Northwest for New Years.  The weather getting there was a little sketchy, but we made it and had a great second Christmas with Erik's family. Also, last Friday I chopped all my hair off.  It's shorter than I've ever had it, and I still can't quite figure out how to style it.  I will get there though.

Also, some of my cheerleaders choreographed a really cute stunt routine for their last halftime performance.  I'm really proud of all their hard work.  Check it out:

 

Stay tuned for highlights from our awesome Vegas trip.  I can't wait!