Summer, sighs of relief.

Well, it's finally here! The end of an APX summer is in sight! I can't believe it. Has it really been 4 months? Um, it DEFINATELY has and thank GOODNESS there are only single digit days left! I was a lucky one though, I actually got to leave to Utah for a month. And then just this weekend both Blake and I flew out for his brothers wedding for a few days! So we were lucky. Others..not so much. They were here..THE WHOLE TIME (amy). So my excitement is only a portion of what others may be experiencing with the end in sight.

Blakes brother's wedding was absolutely beautiful! Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures! Too bad. Once some are posted, I will be sure to steal them and post them on here! Brayden and Janae were beyond happy! It was such a beautiful day, and I was so glad Blake and I could be there with them! Chris, the guy that filmed Blakes and mine wedding (video on the side) actually came and did theirs as well! He is such an amazing guy! If anyone is interested let me know and I will give you all his info! It was so much to hang out with him again. He is legit.

It was for sure hard to come home though, we kind of wish we would've just driven out home, so we could stay, but its going to be worth it to be back here because we are going to meet our quota of installs! BIG YAY! We had a red eye flight home, so our flight left from Calgary to Toronto at 1 a.m, 4 o clock eastern (which is even worse because we both still suffered from jet lag). We were sooo tired, we thought the 4 hour flight would be easy to sleep through. We got seated, there was hardly anyone on the plane, and we were in the back, where there were hardly any people. It was so dark and quiet. All is good, right? WRONG. Once we got into the air, this lady walked her old mom to the back, and sat her RIGHT behind us. They were talking..sooo much. And on top of that, they turned on BOTH of their reading lights. Seriously, the only lights on in the WHOLE plane. Were we mad? Uh, chya'. Blake, a little more than I...okay, a LOT more than I was. I got probably an hours worth of "sleep" the whole 4 hour flight. And that was all the minutes I got some shut eye added up together. Not an hours straight of sleeping.

We finally got to Toronto and we just both felt shakey and sick..so we got some food and that helped a lot. We had 45 minutes, which was just perfect to walk to the end of the airport to Tim Hortons (I had never been before that). I hate waiting around. Which..is why it was horrible when our flight left an hour late. But, it was our final destination so it was okay, no stress there.

Once we arrived in Moncton it was a 2 hour drive back to Saint John. Wahoo....No, really, I was happy because its the LAST week of being here. And I'm actually quite excited for our drive home. We're going to stop in Wisconsin for a day or so and visit Blakes mission. How cool is that?

Oh, some other good news. The 2nd day we were back at home (in Alberta). We got a reply letter from the Immigration office. Wahoo!!!! Unfortunately, I can't work, still, until my permanent residence gets approved, which is kind of a bummber because we thought I could work while it was being processed. But the point is... THEY REPLIED. They HAVE my paperwork. And it IS being processed. No more wondering about if anything is happening, it is!! Yay! So, I think its another 6 months, not 3 like i thought..because I was counting from when I sent it in..so I'm just gonna say its 6 from when i got a reply! So by Christmas basically I will be legal! Hopefully, its less time then I'm thinking. But either way we are sooo much closer then where we were! Yay!!!

Anyways, come Sunday we will be OUTTA here!! So good. So good.

1 year Anniversary

So, when our anniversary morning approached, (Aug. 14th) I was just full of love, joy, and gratitude. I watched our wedding video a number of times, and had to share it with the world! (It's on this page if you want to see it). Blake isn't usually into the wedding video at all..but...yesterday he was!!! He actually LIKED watching it with me!! And WANTED to watch it!! :) proud moment in my life, thats for sure. But there really is no better feeling then going through the temple with the one that you love knowing that you will be spending the rest of your life with them! So it was awesome to be able to have that little gem of a video. I'm sure I will make it a tradition to make him watch it with me each year! No matter how fat, or wrinkly we get. It will be nice to know we looked good on the best day of our lives right!?

I had been planning our anniversary for a while. Given our situation, I thought Blake would be working ALLL day, so I just planned a dinner. A dinner that I would make! I hadn't cooked in FOREVER!! (Not exactly doable in a hotel room). I was excited. But to add to the excitment, our awesome head tech Chance, gave blake the rest of the day off!!!! (Big Thanks to Amy as well for that ;) ). We weren't expecting this, so we had to make last minute plans..what was it? We went to ....the name is escaping me now...but it was a beautiful nature park!!! It's a little penninsula of New Brunswick, with coast all around it. Blake was determined to find creatures, so we drove, and hiked, and HE searched and got gross. It was fun!! So much better then me sitting at home alone, not knowing when I should start dinner. :)



When we got home I started dinner. It was a pretty late dinner. I made Ham and Cheese Chicken Bake (SOO good!!) with Bleu Cheese mashed potatoes (yes I made them) and a salad! I had also planned to have a somewhat romantic Sparkling cider as a beverage but I couldn't find any..so Coke in wine glasses would have to suffice. After an hour and a half, the chicken was cooked, and the potatoes mashed. We were ready to chow. All that was left was to get the salad out and washed. Blake had been waiting patiently at the table the whole time. He was anxious. He wanted to get the salad ready..so..as he was making way to the fridge..it was slow motion. His elbow caught the top of the Wine glass, and it tipped. CRASH! It was Broken. At this point I could NOT stop laughing.




Why was I laughing? Well, the night before I had made spaghetti. The table was set, and it was our first real dinner together since being out in New Brunswick. The table was set with glasses, that were..in fact glass. I had originally put out the plastic cups, but I switched to the glass ones because I thought it looked more appealing. Well..in the midde of dinner, Blakes elbow had caught the glass, I have no idea how, but it did, and knocked to the ground. Also, just to add, Blake had an aboslutely HORRIBLE day with installs..he was already in a bad mood.

After a repeat, I handed Blake a plastic cup and said with a smile " Sorry Hun, you're not ready for glass." He frowned. Then I added "Or..more so the glass isn't ready for you." We finally got dinner on the table, unfortunately having to nuke it in the microwave, because of the clean up we had to do. He felt so bad!! I just had to keep telling him it was okay! But it probably didn't help that during dinner after my glass was out of coke, and he had to refill his, because his 1st serving was now soaked into papertowels in the garbage can, that I said "Dang, we should've got more coke!" hahah. He didn't appreciate that. But all in all, the dinner was a success. The food was great, and the company was greater.

While we were waiting for our food to settle, so that we could move onto to dessert (Fudge Sundaes), we were lying on the bed, and just back and forth were asking eachother "What was your favorite experience of our 1st year being married" "What was your least favorite" etc. "I love you" "I love you too" , and me of course asking "are you glad you married me?" I always ask that. :) and I always get the same answer "Nope. not at all" *sarcasm*.



Blake and I live such a wonderful life. Yes, there have been many up's and downs, and when people say the first year is the hardest, I can honestly say that it is. At least, this far. At times it really has been a struggle for me. But as we continue down our path of an eternal marriage, and life together, I know that Blake and I will continue to grow as individuals, and as a couple. I'm so excited for whats ahead! I am so happy about the woman I am becoming, and the wife that I have become. I am so happy to have a husband that works so hard for the both of us, and really does carry the weight of our lives on his shoulders. I couldn't do it with out him.

Happy Anniversary Babe!!!

Six. 6. ses. s-i-x. SIX. six. SIX.

six days until i come home to my sweetheart!!!!

So far, so good.

I know, I know. I've completely slacked on keeping the blog up to date. So here I go!!
I've been in Utah for almost a month now. In fact, I leave back to New Brunswick a week from Tuesday. As much fun as this trip has been, I am SO ready to go back to my husband. No more of these Utah trips without him!! Blake, this means you need to make sure a girl can see her family more then every 6 months! ;) No it's not convieniant, but trust me, it's very much needed.
I've gotten such a good fill on girl time, family time, and special "auntie melissa" time in. It's been wonderful. Two of my best girlfriends will be/ have already getting married this summer. I've been spending mucho time with my twins, seeing all the plans, and have gotten a good feel on to what will be going down on August 20th, in which I will not be able to attend. I feel much better about missing it, though it will still be hard! On Friday I was able to go to one of them. It was so beautiful. It was my first sealing I was able to attend since being married. I'm so grateful that I was able to be there and experience that special time in such a special place! A few days before I was also able to go to a session with my mommy!
Amongst all this wedding stuff, I've had lot's and lot's of time to reflect on my own special day. I've remembered so much about the planning, stresses, and happiness that I've seen these two brides experience. And honestly, I wish I could go back. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I would marry Blake over, and over, and over again if I had to. Luckily, our marriage is for eternity. And as much fun as it would be to do the whole wedding thing again, I have so much comfort in knowing that where I was married, was the right place. When I was married, was the right time. And who I married, was the completely right guy. Forever. And I love that I can look back, and regret nothing about any of the experiences I've shared with Blake.
We're coming up on our 1st year anniversary, and I can't believe that I've made it this far. If I can make it through a year of being a wife, and month of being away from Blake...as well as 2 months living in a hotel..I'm pretty sure I can take on the world. Or at least.. that's what I will tell myself!

Anyways, Utah... Thank you for the memories, and thank you for being my home for so long.... But alas, it's time to REALLY go home :). And I will be seeing you again. Soon. I'll make sure of it.

Here are some pictures, enjoy.

This is a fire that happened right next to my house the weekend I got to Utah. It was terrifying.


My adorable Nephew. :) He's definately a water baby.
Chopped my hair off! Love it.

One of my besties. She got married!!!

Destination? Anywhere...Kind of.

So, for the past week I have been in Utah!!! Yes!!! I finally am here, after almost ANOTHER whole 6 months have gone by of not seeing my family. I will be here for about a month, and I know I will love every minute of it. For the most part.

So my flight was at 6:30 in the morning, New Brunswick time, so in reality I was leaving to go to Utah, before anyone in Utah had even gone to bed!!! Blake and I didn't even end up sleeping that night, because we only would've gotten 2 hours worth, which would have made us both more tired..at least we thought. My sweet, sweet hubby, drove me allll the way (10 min) to the Moncton airport. It was then 4:30 in the morning.

He walked me in, figured out tickets, and where I should go. I was very anxious, Im not too fond of traveling by myself. And I definately wasn't used to a small airport..even though that should've made things better, I didn't like that everyone in the whole airport could see me..and maybe figure out my plans?? (jokes) But really. Also, everyone was speaking French...they'd immediately switch to english once they said a whole phrase, or who knows maybe two, of french and I would simply reply "Hi, how's it going." :)

Blake watched me go through security, which is the part that makes me the most nervous. Not because I'm scared they will find anything, because of course ..they wouldn't, but it's the part where you have to walk through the metal detectors..does anyone else get nervous that it's going to beep simply because of a bobby pin or something? I purposely didn't wear a belt that day because I don't like forgetting to do things like that.
Anyways, I look back after successfully completing the security, and through the metal detector, I see his face. Smiling..and yep, I star to BAWL!!!! I've left him before, but I'm telling you, it get's harder everytime!!! I blew him a kiss goodbye, and he blew one back. And that was that. ( A few minutes later he texted me that I did a good job, *presh*)

After many, many, hours, and some close calls, such as almost missing a flight because they didn't give me a pen to fill out the declaration card, and the customs line being FOREVER weaved back and forth across the floor, I made it to Utah!!!

Much to my dismay..my family was in fact NOT waiting at the bottom of the escalator like I had expected..did I get a little teary eyed? Maybe. Did I go to the wrong terminal? Yep. But eventually I did find the white haired man with a salt and peppered goatee waiting by my luggage. Yes, this was my father!!! My mother, sister, and adorable nephew were also there, waiting in the car outside. I was living the life.

Utah has been amazing so far. Just like I remembered it, minus all the new developments right next to my house, and the new church we go to! I have just been soaking everything in again. I have loved seeing a Church on every block again. It's a nice change from driving down the road for 10 minutes wondering when the Church was finally going to appear. It's also been so nice to see the temples up on the hills, in the city, and everywhere else!! I love to see the temple. Really.

I miss my husband terribly, but he is such a good man for letting me have what I so desperately needed. 2 of my best girlfriends are getting married this summer. One I can go to, the other I can't because of another wedding I must attend with my hubby. (his brothers). I've been spending so much time with the one I can't attend, and it has been wonderful. I love that the bonds that you can share with some people are so strong, that they will always be there, no matter where you have been, or how long you've been there, when you find a way back, it is the same. I still get sad thinking about how I'm going to miss what we grew up talking about, but I know where I need to be, and that's right next to my hubby!

So, my life is pretty much all fun and games right now. I'm having much needed mother/daughter, sister/sister, and time with my girls. Blake is the BEST husband anyone could have, and that I am lucky enough TO have. He works so hard so that we can be comfortable financially, and takes care of me in a inumerable amount of ways. Including sending me off to see my family and friends for month. After this trip I'm hoping to come back refreshed and ready for the next adventure that Blake and I will have.

We've been married for 11 months yesterday.

:) Bring on eternity!!!

Dare to Hair

So, this is how I have felt about my hair lately. I was going to be creative and take a picture like that myself.. but thats how HORRIBLE my hair looks. I can't even post a picture.

Since being married I've had to cut back on what I spend on getting my hair done. As much as I don't think I can survive if I don't color my roots as soon as I see them, I always do. In fact, I've been surviving WITH roots for the past 3 months!!

I also have a hard time trusting people with my hair. I've had some pretty bad experiences. I miss my hairstylist back home sooo much! Not only does she make what seems to be an impossible head-of-hair look amazing, it's just SUCH a therapy to be able to sit there, chat, and leave looking amazing.

So, for a healthy head of hair you're only supposed to color it every 6 months right? Well, this works out perfectly...I only go to Utah about that much! And luckily, my hair grows sooo slow so it needs about that much time before it needs a good trim.

Well, it's about that time again. A week from today I'm leaving to Utah and at the top of my list of things to do, you will find "Get New Hair".

Yep folks, I'm cutting AND coloring. I already have found a style, but what I need your opinions on are what color to go. I've been brown, blonde, red, red/brown, brown/blonde, blonde/red, brown/blonde/red. You name it, I've done it.. well kind of. I always stay with the comfortable warm colors, when I go blonde, its not BRIGHT blonde, its sandy blonde. When I go brown, I go light brown, not CHOCOLATE brown. So..people... I need change. Right now I'm gold/red/blonde/brown. Keep in mind its very faded.

So do I go BRIGHT blonde, or DRASTIC dark, (usually when I go that dark, I always get a red tint to it, but everyone is doing that color now so thats out) What should I do??

HELP!!!

P.s. Blake wants Blonde..but...I'm really..not so sure how I would like that.
P.s.s If you want to know my hair type : Thin and Fine.

Don't let the bed bugs bite

So lately, I have been having the WORST sleeps of my life. I toss and turn all night, then end up beeing groggy and tired all day, just to do it all over again the following night. And on top of that

My back is SOOO SORE.
I hurt.
A lot. Call me weak.

In fact, one day I cried about it.
These beds are NO BUENO.
Thing is, Blake is sleeping just fine.
What is going on?!

I won't complain too much, but I will tell you this.....

Back Rubs
Are
THE
Best.

I love my husbands hands.
Always have.

But right now,
I appreciate them.