Pinterest Disasters

Ok this is going to be a very random post!

But I tried some Pinterest recipes yesterday... and they were awful!!!

It was a sad day and I don't find many disasters like this.

I tried Paula Dean's Mashed Cauliflower... http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/mashed_cauliflower/

GROSS! I don't know if I made 

it wrong but it was nasty and I threw it all out!

Then I decided to make cookies, but I didn't have many ingredients so I looked on 

Pinterest for a quick easy recipe and I found these Meltaway cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting.

http://www.landeeseelandeedo.com/search?q=meltaway

They were easy... butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and flour... and they were yummy, but the after taste was horrible, so I also threw them out. It was a sad night.

Weekend in Texas

This was a great vacation with such a sad ending.

To begin with I was suppose to fly out Wednesday, February 6th at 8:00 pm with a straight through flight to Austin arriving at 12:00 am Texas time where my husband was going to pick me up.

Well, the Army decided to switch some things around with training and they added an extra day for some, and 2 days for others!! What a bummer for these guys who were suppose to be on pass with their families!

Luckily with the job I have, and the girls I work with, I am pretty flexible and when Jared asked me to try and get an earlier flight it was an option.

 sitting in the SLC Airport

 I found a red eye I could switch to and got on it. I left Salt Lake at 1:00 am, after my dad was kind enough to drive me down, and that put me into Atlanta at 6:00 am (4:00 am Utah time) with a 2 hour layover before the flight into Austin. I won't lie I was kinda nervous about this flight with the switch... I usually only take a carry on so I wasn't quite sure how checked luggage worked but I was very happy to find my suitcase made it safe to Austin with me.

 Atlanta sunrise

When I got to Austin I was also nervous about my car rental. Jared was originally going to pick up the car so he could come down to Austin and pick me up, but then after they switched training we cancelled that and rebooked so I picked up the car. But now I was coming 12 hours earlier. It was no problem they had one ready, I just had to have it back sooner on Monday so I didn't get charged for an extra day.

 rental

I then got directions and headed up to Ft. Hood. I discovered that Texans don't speed, going 1-2 miles over I felt like I was flying by them. Except in a work zone... they didn't slow down, adjusting their speed for that. I stopped for a bite to eat at Jack in the Box when I realized I hadn't eaten actual food in about 12 hours.

 lunch

Then I finally made it I found Jared!!

I got a big hug from the love of my life!! And it was so good to be in his arms.

We had fun that weekend in Texas. We ate good food, saw a good movie, hung out with friends, and just spent good quality time with each other. 

One thing I've learned from our relationship is that the distance has helped us grow closer together. Its helped us learn the little things that we love about each other. I love Jared  being around to do the shopping with me, or doing the dishes, or cleaning the house. I love curling up on the couch while we put in a movie and I fall asleep on his chest. I love him just being in the house. I love the faces he makes to get me to smile. And most of all, we've learned that time together is precious. You never know what will happen so you need to make the most of every minute you are together.

3 long weeks

Tomorrow!!! Tomorrow is the day I get to fly out to see the love of my life!!!

Isn't he so handsome!! And he's all mine for a few days.

My flight isn't till 8 pm  so I don't get to Texas till midnight, and now there has been some change with their pass days so I may have to get the car and check into the hotel by myself and not see him till Thursday afternoon. But the bonus is that he doesn't have to be back till Monday morning where he was originally suppose to be back Sunday at midnight.

Even though it has been hard having him gone, I think it makes our love for each other so much stronger. I realize the little things that I miss him for, like cleaning the house together, grocery shopping together, hanging out with family together. Relaxing at night together. I think that is the hardest one. When I've worked all day and get off at 7 I don't really want to go anywhere, but it gets lonely sitting on my couch, eating dinner, and watching something on Netflix by myself.

I truly fell in love with Jared when he was gone this summer. He had to go to California for 3 weeks in July for his AT (annual training) and in that time we fell in love and started talking about maybe getting married. Sometimes distance hurts the relationship, but in ours it brings us closer together. It helps us appreciate the other person, and helps us remember why we love each other.

Broken hearts

I didn't want to put a black spot on my last post as it was a very happy occasion. 

But I guess every story needs some trials to teach us lessons and make us stronger.

In September when we were thinking about getting married, setting a date, looking at our future, we found out Jared's reserve unit got identified to Deploy, and it was going to be in April that they left for Fort Hood to train. We were thinking of getting married in January after the holidays, and after a few more months together but this put a kink in things. We decided that we loved each other and were planning on getting married so why not do it quick. We planned for a November wedding, this way even with him being gone for a week each month for training we'd have a good 5-6 months together before he left.

Sadly a week before the wedding Jared got a call while he was at work. He thought it was going to be about his drill weekend so he called them back... It wasn't about the weekend. They moved up the deployment, he not only was leaving for Fort Hood in January, but since his unit was in Salt Lake he would be living down there Monday through Friday. He was suppose to report November 13, four days after our wedding. 

You could say they were kind enough to give us a week to be together. 

That first night after Jared left I had a hard time sleeping. It'd only been 10 days Jared said, but it was so natural having him around and sharing a bed with him. It was nice that it was Thanksgiving that week and Jared was only gone 2 1/2 days and then we had 4 1/2 days together before he was gone again.

November 29 and 30 Jared was out in Minnesota doing paperwork. November 30 I went with my father in law to Salt Lake to watch Rhetts' hockey game and then I was going to pick up Jared from the airport. Well Jared always likes to surprise me... he caught an earlier and was waiting at the ice rink! After the game we went to his grandparents house to spend the night. December 1 was a Christmas party at the Army Center. They had a big lunch for everyone and then we just mingled with the other soldiers.

At work Tami was so helpful to me. Her husband is in the National Guard so she was very understanding of my situation and she worked every Saturday so that I could have my weekends with Jared.

Poor Jared wasn't home for 2 weeks in December. The 9th I drove him to the airport and he went to Fort Bliss till Thursday. I left work early as Jared again got an earlier flight. We got lunch and then went shopping, Jared got my Christmas Present (a pearl ring) from Morgan Jewelers. After that we went to Jared's grandparents to stay the night again.

Friday we got to the airport as we were going to a Yellow Ribbon Event in California. Sadly, the tickets were put in my maiden name and all I had were my married IDs. They finally let me through security but I had to get patted down. And now we were stressed about coming back from California. 

California was great. We got a lot of information that was very helpful (if only I could organize it). And it was somewhat warm too. We spent some time in Downtown Disney and bought Jared some legos at the Lego store. He was a very happy 'kid'. Sunday getting back through security wasn't so bad as we called Andy and he got a marriage license faxed to us at the hotel.

The next week Jared was out Camp Williams, but they were nice to keep them mostly inside as it was so cold outside. 

The next week was Christmas, then New Years, and then we got 1 1/2 weeks together before he reported to duty and flew down to Fort Hood where he is now.

An Engagement, and a Wedding

Wow. I so thought I updated this sooner... but life gets away from you sometimes, and a lot has changed

Jared and I got engaged!! 

He proposed right before my birthday (he knew he wasn't allowed to on my birthday).

We had 6 short weeks to plan our wedding. I suggest this to everyone, you don't have time to change your mind on things, and you can't lollygag around, you just have to get the planning done.

Simple Things Photography took our pictures and they did a fantastic job.

   

   

  

Then on a very cold day they took our Bridals/Formals

 

And then November 9th, 2012 was our wedding day. We choose to get SEALED for TIME & ALL ETERNITY in the Brigham City Temple. It was the best choice I have ever made, to marry my best friend in the house of my Lord.

  

  

  

 

  

  

 

 

 

                  

There was a lot of family waiting outside for us after the sealing! It was raining outside, so that made for quick pictures, and not so great hair. Thanks so much to my wonderful stylist Nicole who I called and she quickly fixed my hair before the reception.

Lots of fun was had the reception. We got some more pictures of just us, then some of the families. My favorite pictures are when Jared and his brothers dropped me and then proceeded to laugh about it. We cut the cake that my bestie Lindsay made, and no one smashed it in the others face. I did that once before and it wasn't fun. Then my dad and I danced to "Stealing Cinderella" where at the end Jared came and cut in. Then Morgan sang "I Will Always Love You" while we danced. 

It was a great party for us all before all the craziness started.