Challenge #8

The little accessories: veil? shoes? jewelry? what did your bridesmaids wear?

 

Veil: Check!  From Alyssa's Bridal, finger length, bead work at the bottom.

Shoes: Check!  From Payless (I know I should be ashamed for admitting that, but they've held up pretty well.)  White Ballet flats.

Jewelry: Check!  A set of freshwater pearls including bracelet, necklace, and earnings given to me by my Uncle Pat and Aunt Debbie.  I was/am so excited to have my own set of pearls.

Bridesmaids: Check!  ha ha, four checks would be more accurate.  The lineup included Heidi, Shilo, Annette, Camille, and plenty of sass.

 

 The dresses were purchased from Shabby Apple while the necklaces and earrings from Claire's.

Annette's dress was tastefully modified to suit her baby bump- I think it turned out marvelously.  She made Cambrie's cute little dress, too. 

Challenge #7

The dress: Was it what you always imagined? Did you have it made for you? White or ivory?


We picked out my dress pretty early in the scheme of things so that my dear sweet Grandma Ann and Aunt Debbie could come dress shopping with us.  We went to Alyssa's Bridal in American Fork with an open mind and excited for the day.  Prior to this outing I had imagined a simple dress, white, probably A-line, nothing fancy.


The lady who helped us grabbed a dress out of the blue just to see what my size was.  That was the dress we wound up purchasing.

Aunt Debbie helping us get a full view of the dress.

Cute little Grandma Ann.

This is the second dress I tried on.  It had some silver bead work around the middle in almost a Renaissance fashion.

 

Dress Three.  Cute, but not as beautiful as that first dress.

Grandma picked out this dress for me to try on.  I think my face says it all.  I felt like a cupcake in it...

 

Real smiles now that we're back in the favorite dress.  We picked out a veil, too. Mom looks so ready for summer here!

Back of the dress.

The end!  Wasn't that a fun shopping trip?

Challenge #6

Your wedding colors: show some of the flower and colors you used

Well, after much debate and changing of minds, we decided to have a more elegant wedding reception than a fun/nerdy reception.

We planned to be wed December 17th, 2009 but I did not want a Christmas wedding, just a classy wedding that happened to be in the same month as Christmas.



We decided to use a color scheme consisting of Ivory, Navy, and Cranberry. (please note that these colors are not the same as red, white, and blue.)

 Flowers included red Roses and Calla Lilies.

Our photographer for the wedding day was Kristi Cefalo.  http://kristycphoto.com/

Challenge #5

Engagement/bridal pictures: Post a few.

Our engagement pictures were taken by my very talented Mom the first weekend in October up Logan Canyon.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Mom took my bridals, too.  These were taken just before our engagements down at the American Fork Amphitheater and up American Fork Canyon.  I love taking pictures with my mom, we have a very smooth system down since she practices new poses and techniques on me. 

 

Challenge #4

The ring: Did you pick it out? Did he? tell us about his ring too!

 

Alan insisted on picking out my ring, which I thought was so sweet and tender.  The only guidelines I gave him was a) white gold and b) simple.  I love love love my ring.  I probably would have picked out the exact same ring, actually.  The thing I think is the neatest about it is how similar it is to my mother's engagement ring.  Granted hers is yellow gold and a marquise cut, but otherwise it's the same idea. 

Since Alan picked out my ring on his own I picked out his ring on my own.  His guidelines were a) white gold (so it matched my ring) and b) some detail on the ring to make it unique.  I worked really hard to find his ring; I even dragged my Dad to the jewelers with me to get his opinion before I purchased it.  Alan loved his ring.  

Wait, loved?!  Past tense?  

Yes, Alan lost his wedding ring by our three month mark.  I bought him a second ring- significantly cheaper, dragon design on the inside, didn't match at all but I knew he would like it.  

Don't worry, he lost that one, too.  So for most of our marriage Alan has been wearing a $10 stainless steal ring from Shopko that is too big for his finger.  His training ring, I call it.  If he can successfully keep track of this ring for X amount of time then I might be willing to fork out another couple hundred dollars for a white gold ring with some unique detail again.  Hopefully we get to that point, but for now I'm just glad he has a ring.

Challenge #3

The proposal: how it happened, how long were you engaged for? was it a total surprise?

After Alan asked my parents for permission we announced our decision to be married even though Alan had not formally proposed.  If I remember correctly we began telling family members during the middle of June.  Wedding plans began from there, a date was chosen, my wedding dress had been picked out, arrangements at the temple made, etc.  By July 11th I was anxious and wondering why he hadn't proposed yet. It was the day of Riverton City's Demolition Derby, so I had to work that night.  Alan came down to spend time with me before work and then was planning to help out at the event that evening.  He suggested we go for a walk either around the lake at Daybreak or down in the riverbottoms.  We headed to the riverbottoms and set out on a walk together.  I voiced my concerns to Alan- something I regret now- and at that point he made a few excuse which I bought.  When we reached the turn around  point the following dialog occured:

A: "I have a question for you?"
H: "I have an answer." (please note I hadn't notice Alan fall behind me at this point.  I turned around to find him on his knee holding out a little black box with a beautiful ring inside.)
A: "Will you marry me?"

I was so taken aback! I squealed.  I said yes.  I threw my arms around Alan and kissed him.  In my excitement I put on my engagement ring-  I still feel bad for not letting him put it on me but I wasn't thinking too clearly at that moment. 

I think it's important to note that this rivertrail is the same one the half marathon ended on which means Alan proposed to me maybe a mile away from where we were working that first day we met.  

We frolicked back to our car and then to the rodeo grounds to help with the demolition derby.  I was grinning the whole night.  Mom and dad surprised me by showing up early from their trip to St. George; Mom's arm was in a sling and she had scrapes and bruises all over her.  She hurried over to see my ring- Alan had apparently called them to say he was going to propose today. 

And then we watched the demolition derby.  How romantic.

Challenge #2

When you knew he was the one: self explanatory.. but how and when did you know?

I don't know if this realization was an "ah-HA!" kind of moment for me.  All I knew was that it felt right whenever I thought of a future with Alan.   I've not had the warm, peaceful feeling when thinking of a future with other men I've dated, so that was a confirmation to me.  Alan had his own series of promptings.

I remember the night when we first shared our desire to be married to each other.  That night I went to bed grinning and feeling so white and warm with peace.

Comic Climbing

So while I was looking through my picture files I came across this item:

 

It brings joy to my soul!

Challenge #1

How it all began: how you met, first date, first kiss, how long did you date? first picture together.....etc.


Well, on January 20th ish of 2009 I attended a protest at the State Capital against lowering funding for higher education in Utah.  At the time I was attending Snow College.  A bus had been arranged to take students up to the capitol; however, it was full when I arrived.  One of the girls standing near me offered to drive anybody to the capitol who was willing to pitch in for gas, so I went to Salt Lake in the back seat of her car.  I was sitting with an individual who I had never met before but who I now know and love as Camille Johnson.  At some point on the ride we began discussing boys, as is common among college girls. After vocalizing my opinion of dating a man based on his computer rather than his vehicle Camille excitedly called Alan up to have him rattle off the specs of his computer box.  It was an awkward phone conversation, let's be honest. 

After that we found each other on Facebook and began emailing daily.  I would run to the computer lab between classes to see if I had a new message from Alan and was ecstatic every time I had a new message in my inbox.  Soon emails turned to phone calls and text messages.  Samm was kind enough to put up with our phone conversations- he and Alan were rooming together at the time.

We first met in person on March 28, 2009 at Riverton City's first annual half marathon; Alan offered to come volunteer for the event.  The following week we went on our first date: Sunday morning session of General Conference followed by a picnic in the park. The week after that we went bowling with my friend Karleigh, and surprisingly shared a first kiss.

The memory of our first kiss makes me laugh every time.  We were sitting on the couch discussing the physics of vision, mainly the near point of the focal range.  I started teasing Alan by moving in and out of this focal range when suddenly we kissed.  Personally, I think it's the perfect first kiss story.

We dated for a few months from that point marriage became our focus.  I'm glad we got to know each other through emails and phone calls before we met in person.

Here's our first few pictures together!  Sorry for the quality, they was taken in Photobooth.

Wedding Challenge

I have a friend participating in this challenge on her blog and thought it might be a good way to document a few facts about our relationship.


1. how it all began: how you met, first date, first kiss, how long did you date? first picture together.....etc.
2. when you knew he was the one: self explanatory.. but how and when did you know?
3. proposal: how it happened, how long were you engaged for? was it a total surprise?
4. the ring: tell us about it! did you pick it out? did he? tell us about his ring too!
5. engagement/bridal pictures: let's see em!
6. the colors: show some of the flower and colors you used
7. the dress: was it what you always imagined? did you have it made for you? white or ivory?
8. the little accessories: veil? shoes? jewelry? what did your bridesmaids wear?
9. the ceremony and reception: where was it at? what day did you get married?
10. the cake/food.
11. your song and/or the first song you danced to at your wedding.
12. favorite part of the day and least favorite part of the day: can be anything.
13. honeymoon: where did you go? was it enjoyable?
14. thoughts on marriage: what is the easiest/hardest part? if you could change anything, what would it be?
15. first place that you lived together: pics if you have them!
16. kids: do you have any yet? if not, when do you plan on it? how many do you want? any tips on good/bad birth control?
17. most recent picture of you and your significant other and what you love most about them.

Full Time Housewife, in Training!

With a new full time position created at work there was a need to downsize the part time help.  As such, I have been  laid off.  For the first time in a long time I'm with out a job, and being a self diagnosed Workaholic I went through my few days of sadness as this reality sunk in.  Surprisingly, though, I woke this morning with a vigor and a desire to work hard as a house wife!  I think it will take me a few days to get a routine down but I am ready to make sure my house is clean as can be.  Once my house is significantly cleaner than it may or may not currently be I have sewing projects to complete before the baby comes.  Hopefully I can live up to the name of "Housewife" and "Stay at Home Mom."

Ode To Running

My feet on the road
You know, I do miss you so
I can't wait to run!

So the most difficult part of pregnancy, at this point, is being unable to go running.  I often dream of running, and not struggling with my asthma while I'm running, only to wake up feeling jealous.  Walking is still a physical possibility for me, though walking as quickly as my non pregnant self used to might not be. 


Oh well, only a month and a half left before we can start running again.  At least I can go walking and I'm not bed ridden.  Thank Heavens!

Soon to be Missionary

Madam Camille has been kind enough to let me take pictures of her again.  It's always fun to do a photoshoot with Camille.  Here are some of the better shots:

 

She'll be a good little missionary, me thinks.

Lightroom

Photographers are like runners at times.  Both feel so passionately about their hobby that they are eager to share their knowledge and learn from anybody who seems to take an interest in it.  It's amazing what you can learn by talking with strangers who are passionate about photography.  For instance, last summer while Heidi, Mom and I were in Jackson Hole shooting at Mormon Row a gentleman arrived at the location just after the buffalo had walked past.

He was disappointed to have missed the buffalo but excited that we could be there for that magical moment.  We later saw this man again as we were shooting pictures of the Tetons.  Mom struck up a conversation with this gentleman asking what he did, what some of his pieces of equipment were, etc.  During this discussion he mentioned a piece of software called Lightroom which he used for post-processing photos.  He told us that Lightroom is made by Adobe with photographers in mind and that is much easier to use than photoshop for editing photos.  

Well, kind gentleman, we finally took your advice and purchased Lightroom.  Adobe is kind to students by giving great discounts on software.  I picked up Lightroom from the bookstore for Mom and now we have it running on both of our laptops.  I can't believe how wonderful this program is!  Here are a few examples of what I've done in Lightroom:
 

Camille Before

 

Camille After

 

Camille Before

Camille After

I still have much to learn about this software, but I have enjoyed using it so much already!  I definitely would recommend this to anybody who classifies them self as an amateur photographer who is new to photo editing, especially if you can get the student discount!

Geek Zodiac

 

Quite delightful.  I'm a fan of the "Super Hero" type font used for the title, though I'm ashamed to admit I don't know the name of that font off the top of my head.  Alan disagrees with categorizing Jedi Knights as Ninjas; I'm still debating, though.

So in my routine of checking up on the world via internet (i.e. email, web comics, news, etc) I came across this delightful find: The Geek Zodiac!