Goodbye Blogger

Blogger has been giving me far too many problems. 

Check out my new blog at 

http://nanationblog.wordpress.com/

See you over there!

Its been too long...

I can't believe it has been over a month since I posted. I guess I have been a little busy.

The first item of business that we must attend to is the wedding itself.

Do you notice that Richard has a tan mark on his face from his sunglasses??

I could not have asked for a more perfect day (well, I could have it be a little cooler, instead of 105 degrees, but what do you expect in Orlando in July). We were surrounded by family and close friends and sealed for time and eternity. The ceremony was beautiful and it was so special to be married by the same man who married my mom and Tony.

And the reception was so much fun!

The map said "The road you tread to see us wed"

Who is this man?

And where is he going?

 

After the reception, we spend the night at a B&B and then flew to Detroit and crossed the border. We drove to the east coast of Canada (an 18 hour drive!) and spent a week in a cottage just outside of Shediac (Sh-e-di-ac), New Brunswick. The honeymoon was lovely and we enjoyed day trips to places like Prince Edward Island (you know, Anne of Green Gables) and Moncton.

Our honeymoon cottage

Yup.

Hopewell Rocks

Shediac, the Lobster Capitol of Canada.

After the honeymoon, Richard and I started back to Cambridge. We spent the night at this wonderful hotel in Quebec City and even got to sample Montreal smoked meat.

We arrived in Cambridge and it was back to work for Rich and I flew to Miami to pack up my parents and my car and drive it up to Canada. Our first stop was in Gainesville (of course) and then a stop in Arlington (I still had stuff in my old house!). We crossed the border into Canada with no problem and made it to my new house. That Saturday we had the Canadian reception and on the Monday my parents flew back to Miami.

And that pretty much brings us up to speed. 

Right now I am a stay-at-home wife, as the country of Canada will not allow me to work until I become a resident. But Rich and I are renovating the house (we started with the kitchen, we have painted, bought a dishwasher, and are about to install a new counter top), I bought a sewing machine and have been working on little projects here and there...

And I plan to write more, both on this blog and other projects.

Onward to a new adventure!

Are you ready?

This Saturday, 3:30pm.

Marriage: An Education

I am getting married in two weeks. 

Let's say that again...two weeks.

My room is a disaster of wedding stuff. And gifts. And shoes. 

But that is not why I am writing this post. 

My mom gave me a book written by one of her professors from BYU, Brent A. Barlow. The book is called What Husbands Expect of Wives and it offers all sorts of advice and answers to the tough question of how to make a marriage work (there is a companion book, What Wives Expect of Husbands that my mom gave to Richard to read. It has been enlightening apparently)

In reading it tonight, I came upon a quote from Jerome Chodorov. He said, "I'll tell you the real secret of how to stay married. Keep the cave clean. They (husbands) want the cave clean and spotless. Air- conditioned, if possible. Sharpen his spear, and stick it in in his hand when he goes out in the morning to spear the bear. And when the bear chases him, console him when he comes home at night. Tell him what a big brave man he is. And then hide the spear so he doesn't fall over it and stab himself."

Heck, if marriage is that easy, I would have gotten involved with it a long time ago!

Its a shame that my guy is more of Stars Wars fan...

He wishes...

So maybe I have to put the light saber into his hand? 

Goodbye DC...

I moved to DC in August 2007. Having just graduation from college, I was looking for an adventure,  a place to add to the fire of life. 

I certainly found it. 

I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly wonderful my time in DC has been. 

(I am just going to warn you right now, there are a lot of pictures coming up. But you might find yourself in one or two, so take a quick look...)

I started my DC adventure living in a house in Pentagon City with these fabulous women. We could not believe our luck in finding each other...it was truly an amazing house!

I was able to get a job on The Hill working for a Congressman from California. I felt on top of the world! 

My first Cherry Blossom parade experience!

 The first of many "Mary Sponsored Activities"...

...which lead to this magical weekend in Deep Creek Lake.

And my only trip to Harper's Ferry...

Our Emo Halloween...

...followed by a trip to King's Dominion.

I made some amazing friends along the way.

And all of a sudden it was 2009!

Which was the year the Gators won the National Championship. Again.

 That year was also the year Barack Obama became President of the United States and we were able to go to Inauguration and hang out with all the celebrities! 

I started my Master's the year before and quit my job in April 2009 so that I could complete my student teaching that fall. Laura and our moms were kind enough to come up and help me move for the summer...

I came back and was placed in an amazing school but still managed to have some fun

 And fun was had!

The DC Temple was always a great place to visit, especially at Christmas time...

Let's not forget Snow-magedon!

Another wonderful year started with the a bang!

 And a wedding, which allowed for a roommate reunion!

Deep Creek Lake that year had a Havana Nights theme...


 I got a job at my dream school!

And in the fall we went and picked apples

 There were quick trips to NYC

As well as a St. Patrick's Day parade in Harrisburg...

One more visit to Deep Creek Lake

And another wedding...

Suddenly, completely without warning, this man entered my life

But he lived in Canada...so we couldn't see each other that often.

And I kept chugging along

I moved into a new house with these fabulous ladies

Let's not forget the Halloween kinda-sort murder mystery dinner

 And the Super Bowl!

Then that Canadian asked me to marry him

And we will be married on July 28th, 2012 in the Orlando LDS Temple.

So now, as I pack my things and prepare to move to Canada, I am so grateful to all of you who made my DC experience as wonderful as it was. 

Thank you for all the wonderful memories...

Nearly there...

I am getting married in

days!

I was going to try to think of a clever intro, but I am too excited/exhausted today

This means, my dear readers, that I am finally closing out the school year and getting ready to leave DC. I am making finals, packing all my stuff (I still have furniture to sell if you are interested...), and starting to say my goodbyes.

Thankfully, the stress of my school life, Prom 2012, was a total success, as you can see...

I was the guinea pig for the photo booth.
And yes, I am part of a zombie apocalypse group. You always have to be prepared!

Let's check with my countdown
Last day with students: 11 days!
(although after today I see each class 3 more times, and that includes the final!)
Leave for Miami: 13 days

I have decided to break down my trip to Miami into three days so I don't get there in total exhaustion. And the best part is, my mom and I are going to meet in Gainesville (GO GATORS!) and then drive the rest of the way to Miami together (there may be some shopping going on, no biggie).

I can't believe how fast the time is flying...

Two more down!

Another update 

ps- the ones in gray are the ones that I will most likely not be able to complete. but who knows, sometimes life surprises us...

1. Buy a car on my own

2. Reach my goal weight

3. Go to Greece

4. Learn a new language

5. Design a quilt with all my college t-shirts

6. Go on a blind date

7. Learn how to make gnocchi

8. Attend a St. Patrick's Day parade

9. Survive a zip line through the forest

10. Have some of my writing published

11. Learn how to play guitar

12. Take a cooking class

13. Attend a live session at the Salt Lake Temple

14. Make homemade sushi 

15. Go to Chicago and Boston

16. Attend a live broadcast of a talk show

17. Stand in the middle of The Swamp and take it all in

18. Go to Vizcaya

19. Own my own temple dress

 20. Have the perfect kiss

21. Spend a month in a European city, just living 

22. Attend a Jane Austen event 

23. Read more books for pleasure (this is a work in progress, but I am doing really well!!) 

24. Volunteer at Miriam's Kitchen 

25. Pay off my credit cards

 26. Visit the Adriatic Sea

27. Be a vegetarian for a month

I lasted two weeks and one day. I just found that I didn't like the lack of options. The entire time I had to keep reminding myself (one day I completely forgot and ate a chicken salad gyro. I was like five bites in and realized what I was doing. And let me tell you, that gyro was delish!). But the point of this was to figure out if it was something I could do. While I don't eat a lot of meat anyway, again, I just like to have options.

28. Run a 5K

Kate and I did the Warrior Dash. We are awesome!

29. Learn how to do The Rueda 

30. Get Tim Tebow's autograph

pps- Wedding countdown: 58 days!!