Day 64! Welcome 2011

Woot! Woot!

The wedding is no longer next year!

 It's this year! In fact, it's two months and five days away now!

     Sadly Brian wasn't able to celebrate the New Year with me, he had to work the night shift for CNA. So I spent the morning with him where we played in the snow and white washed each other, and then we did our own little countdown to 12:00.. NOON! So I got kissed at 12, just not at midnight. Brian went up to Logan early to move into his new apartment, a room above his friend's Jaron and Olympia's house. Then he was off to work alnight where he recieved his first kiss for the new year from an old lady he was taking to the bathroom. She was resisting his help and kept saying, "Hold on, hold on!" So Brian stopped and she grabbed his arm and kissed four times from the elbow up to his sleeve and then said, "Alright, I'm ready!" Ha I had to laugh when he told me that.

     Meanwhile, I went to my friend Matt Lund's house. I felt that this would really be the last time to see most of my friends before I was a married woman. It was a great party and it was wonderful to see so many great people. Wow.. I am once again SO blessed! As the clock stroke 12, I was on the phone with Brian wishing him a Happy New Year and reflecting with him on what a great year the both of us have had. We are so excited to start 2011 off together! :)

Day 65! Family Fun!

BOWLING!

    Brian and I started out the day great with writing a list of wedding responsibilities. So at least now, I feel a bit more organized and more confident that this will all come together quite nicely. When it's all written down before your eyes it's much easier to comprehend and know where to begin!

    We had the great opportunity today to have some fun with both our families. First we went bowling with mine which was a blast! Brian put my name down as Flapper because he says if we lived in the 20's I would have been one of them. Brian's name was Bubba and I don't even know why. Ha! Brian beat everyone with all the strikes he got pretty much everytime he got up there. My dad and James battled for the second highest score pretty much the entire game and Dad ended up the winner there. The rest of us just played for fun and enjoyed some hilarious moments such as my mom falling over as she rolled the ball. She is seriously the cutest! We all love her so much... especially when she gives us moments like this to smile at. Check out this video! :)




     After a great game of bowling Brian and I headed back to his place to have dinner with his family before Brian's older brother Curtis caught his flight back home to Pennsylvania. Curtis chose Chuck-a-rama to eat at and so we all headed over. It was quite delicious and I think I may have outbeat Brian in eating ha! We later said goodbye to Curtis hopefully until March for the wedding. I am honestly so blessed to be apart of this new and wonderful family. :)

Day 66! WinterWONDERland!

     We woke up this morning to a blizzard outside our house. I was suppose to drive down to North Ogden to see my friend Becca Tanner to order books and run some errands but due to how bad the weather was we decided to stay home. It was a good choice because we played games and watched Inception (Great show!) and even studied a bit... Well, Brian did--for the MCAT. I went to the post office in the morning only to find out that all along I was missing my birth certificate because my last passport was issued when I was underage. So I had to go back home and wait til one to go back and finish the application and send it in. Later at one I went back, paid, and sent it in. Once home I could finally relax. It was done and submitted so I was free. And then the post office called back to tell me that I had "forgotten" to pay. Ha! My fault to forget? I had paid.. a fee of $25. Now I had to go back for the third time to pay for the actually passport.. $110! My money is being sucked from me like a vacuum that is for sure!
    Anyway, Life is wonderful and Brian and I are so happy together. I constantly am singing to myself the song by Brad Paisley, "Then" where throughout the song he names different points of his life where he thought he loved his wife then but found the love to grow stronger throughout time. I know Brian and I still have a lot more time to go but I can already feel the love growing. I am loving him more and more every day and I know that this is right! It's been confirmed so many times that I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever! The church is true! We feel our Father in Heaven's presence in our relationship, helping it to become stronger. I can't wait to be sealed to this amazing young man for time and all eternity!

Day 67! *Let it SNOW!*

    I woke up this morning and went with Brian to get my passport. My passport expired this last November so I need to get a new one very soon before Brian and I go off on our Honeymoon. So far we have been to three different post offices and some even more than once! We went to two down in South Jordan only to find that they didn't do passports there or that we needed an appointment. It was pretty frustrating altogether but oh well. I'll try again tomorrow.
   We went back to the house and got ready in our snow stuff. The family was going up to Alta Ski Resort for the free ski day after 3 on the bunny hills. Most of Brian's family (besides Curtis and Mike from what I understand) are snowboarders and so they are learning to convert from the darkside over to Skiing. We rented stuff and went up. It was a bit crowded because it was free but it was worth it because it was super fun! Mandy was a pro and really caught on quick for her first time. Brian did really well as well. I loved watching how fast he picked up on the skill.
    When Brian and I got home we played with Esther, Mike, and Robyn, for a bit before they headed out and over to Robyn's parents house for the next week. That little girl is such a doll! We played tea party all morning where she just drank and drank and drank water from these little tea cups for hours! Family is so wonderful to be around, they really are the most important things in our lives and the thought of being sealed to them forever is beautiful and touching.

Day 68! Expenses

     Brian stayed the night and while I ran down town this morning for a doctor's appointment, he stayed back with my family and went sledding. Brian and I later drove back down to his house to spend some more time with Brian's family while they were all out together. We ended up watching a movie and playing some games before going to bed. Here is the picture of the family from the night before!
     My mom got me another magazine called UtahBride and I really like it because there are some fun ideas inside and even some modest dresses that the other magazines certainly didn't have! So that was fun to go through. Brian and I discussed our budget today and the expenses with everything we are paying for. We went through all the items we can do without and which ones we really wanted to have. Talking about money has turned out to be kind of worrisome just because I can actually see how much life costs! It makes me ever so thankful to my parents all the more because of how much they spend on me on a daily basis. It's wonderful and Brian and I surely are SO blessed to be apart of such great families!
     Brian and I officially started a budget today with keeping track of where all the money goes, whether it's to eating out and gas or just entertainment. We will certainly find out over the next couple weeks!


The whole family altogether!



The Boys in their Christmas Bow ties!

The Larson Kids from oldest to youngest: Sarah, Mike, Curtis, Brian, Amanda

At the DELICIOUS dinner!

Day 69! Christmas Day Again!

     Last night Brian worked the night shift and so he stayed up in Logan to catch up on sleep while I went with my family to my cousin Aaron's homecoming talk. What a talk! He spoke for the entire sacrament meeting and the entire audience was captured and mezmorized by his experiences. After the meeting Brian came and picked me up and we drove down to South Jordan to hear Brian's little sister's boyfriend, Tanner Hansen speak at his farewell. Brian was really tired, I could tell, but he made it through the talk. Tanner spoke with so much authority and we could really see that he is going to be a great missionary. He is going to Cleaveland Ohio, Spanish speaking. What a great opportunity!
    Then it was over to Brian's house for Christmas dinner. This made it feel like it was Christmas day all over again! The entire family was gathered and there was so much delicious food and a lot of wonderful chatter. After we opened presents and Brian and I recieved the game Apples to Apples. Brian's family is such a fun family, especially with his nieces and nephews around. They are all very close to each other as well as the gospel as shown by the spirit felt in their home.
    Brian and I later left around eight and headed back up to my house where I got reading Hunger Games and ended up finishing the whole book. It was a really good one too, kind of brutal, but definitely very creative and enthralling. Definitely a good one to read!

Day 70! Tis a VERY Merry Christmas!

Merry CHRISTmas!

       This is one of my favorite pictures of Mary and Baby Jesus. It shows the emotion of the occasion of Christ's birth. Imagine being in Mary's place. How would you feel? Worried? Excitement? Frightened? Of worth? The figures in this picture show their emotions through their eyes and it's very piercing. It reminds me of the song Breath of Heaven. My favorite version is sung by Amy Grant.

I have traveled many moonless night
Cold and weary with a babe inside
And I wonder what I've done
Holy Father you have come
Chosen me now to carry your son

I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now, Be with me now

Breath of Heaven hold me together
Be forever near me Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven lighten my darkness
Pour over me, your holiness
For your holy Breath of Heaven

Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one, should of had my place
But I offer-all I am for the mercy-of your plan
Help me be strong, Help me be, Help me

       This song is very touching. It raises many feelings and questions in my mind. Can you imagine the task of raising the Son of God? To raise a son so perfect when one feels as if He really should be raising you? What a challenging task to accomplish and who better to be called that Mary?

       Brian and I had a fabulous Christmas with our families. We were blessed to be given some marvelous gifts that will be very beneficial to our future home life together. The two main gifts was a Nikon d3100 camera from Brian's parents and a laptop from my parents. We are extremely blessed and we loved being with our families. Brian's entire family was out from all over the country and it was a wonderful experience for him to be with them. There was so much love felt this day that we really felt the love of our Savior and His atoning sacrifice for us. It certainly was a very Merry Christmas.

Day 71! Christmas Eve

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

     Brian stayed overnight last night so that he could spend a little party of Christmas Eve with my family. We waited until Raquel's boyfriend, Jeremiah, came over and we set to work on our "Gingerbread" (but really made out of grahm crackers) houses. Everyone was very creative this year! My dad, mom, Raquel, and Brian designed some awesome looking houses. Brian said his was like the house off of Wizard of Oz with a tornado coming through and knocking down all his candy canes in his yard. Brooke made sports fields with soccer and basketball and a little store. She even put herself playing out on the field. James made a Porsche GT3RS and eventually went from using frosting to hot glue. Jerimiah did an outhouse that made us all laugh. It was very well thought out and creative. I did a castle in which the actualy building of the castle took a lot longer than I thought it would so I didn't have much time left to decorate. Oh well! It was still a blast!

     After we ended up playing games and we all went down to the ping pong table to play around the world. (This was probably one of my favorite parts of the day) It was hilarious to watch everyone try to run around the table to grab the paddle on the other side. It was great! Brian left not long after that so he could go home and be with his family and I spent the rest of the night with James and Brooke where we watched Christmas movies and then did our Christmas Eve tradition of opening up a present and reading the Christmas story pop-up book that we've had since I was born probably. James, Brooke, and I all slept in my room where we talked and watched a couple more movies until about 2 in the morning before we finally all fell asleep.. Merry Christmas! What a WONDERFUL DAY!

Day 72! Parties

    Hmmmm.. Today was more in the Christmas spirit. Brian got to meet the other side of my family (My Mom's side) and he was welcomed in. My cousin Aaron Bott got home yesterday from Minnesota. So it was great to see him! He had an incredible mission! We thought he was going stateside but it turned out to be foreign because of the experiences and language he had to learn. What an incredible young man! It was wonderful to see him again! After games and food and some chatting, Brian and I drove to Christmas Village on 25th Street and walked around and looked at the lights. It was a BLAST! There was music playing and so we got up on the stage and danced and swung around. I have to admit it was very romantic :) I didn't even realize people were sitting watching us in the crowd til after when they started clapping. Next came a wonderful drive home and snuggling watching Despicable Me! After Brian begged us to read Hunger Games on the couch before bed. He read the third and I read the first. I haven't gotten very far but it does seem really good! :)

Day 73! Wedding Dress!

  Dress Me Up!

Found these zebra bride's maid dresses. I won't use them, but I made Jess and Chrysti try them on!

   

    I woke up this morning to Brian jumping on my bed and grinning. He pecked me hello and I got ready for the day. It was more of a relaxing day for the both of us. He finished the book Hunger Games in two days and had already started the second one. I made my plans with Chrysti Huntsman and Jess Jenkins to go wedding dress shopping and at noon I left Brian's and drove to Layton to David's Bridal to try on dresses. Jess and Chrysti met me in Layton and so started our adventure. When we walked into the store and began to look at dresses I just felt so giddy. I still can't believe it's really happening. We chose about ten or more dresses and I began trying them on. It took me only three dresses to find the one I liked. Most of the dresses were strapless but the consultant told me that they could make it temple fitting. So here are a few pictures of dresses! Check it out! (They aren't all me because I couldn't put all the ones I tried on due to them not having sleeves!) 

    After wedding shopping we went to do more shoe shopping! No one has just simple plain zebra. There always has to be a dash of red or maroon or a bow or straps. It's so difficult to find what I want. But I guess I do have a long time to look for now- Less than a month. Ha! No worries, it'll work out. Another debate is whether to do a pink sash or zebra. And then with whatever I choose there to then decide on the shoes. After MUCH shopping (I'm not a shopper) we went to eat at Chili's where we saw some more friends Kirra McBride, Emily Fergusen, and Shaylee Creeze'. It was so good to see them all and to chat about the wedding. It made me realize more how young I am. On my drive home to Huntsville, I couldn't help but think how much I missed Brian even though it had only been 6 hours since I had last seen him. I just can't wait to be able to just always be with him and not have to say "goodbye." Anyway, dresses, shoes, sashes, receptions, parties, etc.. are all still a BIG debate! But who says I have to decide right this minute? :)



Day 74! Announcements

    Today I started it out with looking at announcement ideas, and then I did some shoe shopping with Heather Hogge before I drove down to South Jordan. I wanted to hurry and get it all over with so I could see Brian that much sooner. It didn't happen though, finding zebra shoes is SO much harder than it seems it would be. Everyone in the world seems to like cheetah and the black and white leopard quite a bit and no one seems to like zebra at all! (Their loss!) We found some at Dillards that were quite expensive but I bought them just in case I couldn't find any others. The clerk told me it was real zebra fur.. so that's nifty! Anyway, I bought the shoes and it was off driving south. I got to Brian's house and hung around for a bit and then we decided to get his Christmas shopping done and then off to Bri Peterson's birthday dinner in Salt Lake at the Sugarhouse BBQ. It was quite delicious if you are one that loves meat! They had a live band there and so it was pretty chill. After that it was home again to snuggle and watch Elf with Brian's little sister Mandy and her boyfriend Tanner Hansen.
    So my announcement ideas are a tough choice. I'm a simple girl, so I'm probably going to go with one picture.. 2 or 3 at the max. I am not a fan of announcements that have TONS of pictures or weird pictures that don't show the couple. An announcement should be what it sounds like: announcing the marriage of two people who have fallen in love and are starting their life together. This way people can see who it is that is getting married. I'm trying to find one that fits my style. The zebra may be a little much so this is only just a taste!

Day 75! All About Anna!

Anna Larson.. *Cough *Cough I mean.. Kendell (Soon to be Larson)

Ya that's right! This is my future wife!

    So it's my turn to talk about Anna.... where to begin.  Anna is.... well... Anna is... indescribable!  She's amazing!  All the good things I could say about her would not be enough.

    Anna was born on September 16, 1991 to her parents Mark and Valerie Kendell. Her oldest sister Camille is married to Ben Garrison and they have a beautiful daughter named Claire. (She's pretty much Claire's favorite Aunt!) Then is Raquel who just graduated from WSU with Honors in Elementary Education. Then proceeds Anna and after her James who is a sophomore at Weber High and on the swim team there where he pretty much is the next Michael Phelps. Last but not least is the sports star Brooke, or Sasquatch is what the family calls her due to her huge feet and small and skinny body. Altogether they make up a pretty awesome family that I'm excited to join in on!

    Anyway, Anna is a sophomore at Utah State studying FCHD, don't ask me what that is.  She's incredibly smart, gotten straight A's her whole life, and continuing that tradition in college.  Anna is a what you call a talker, she could talk to anyone about anything for as long as you let her.  I learned that the first day I met her.  We were driving to Lava hot springs which was nearly a two hour drive, and I think she talked the entire drive (Well maybe I got in 4-5 words).  She's a lot like my mom in that regard, loves to talk to everyone.  That's one reason why everyone is drawn to Anna though... she'll talk to you and make you feel wonderful.  Anna loves to give compliments while she talks.  When we went to general conference together, that was a way for her to start conversations with people.  "I love your necklace, where did you get it?" she'd say and then five minutes later she's made a new friend.  Valerie, Anna's mom, told me she's always been like that.  If Anna ever got lost as a little girl, she could be found talking to some random person about anything and everything.

    Anna likes to do anything out of the ordinary.  She's loves everything from night hikes, to swimming in freezing bear lake, to dressing up as the abominable snowman and scaring her neighbors.  It's never dull with her.  If something not happening, she'll make it happen!  Initially that's why I asked her out for a second date.  I thought, any girl who will let me throw her into Bear Lake is worth asking out again.  Then for our second date, I took her Ice blocking.... I figured, if she enjoys ice blocking then I'll take her on a third date.  Well needless to say we've done lots of extraordinary things since then. 

    Anna likes to dance and sing.  In high school she was always in the school plays, dancing and singing.  Now, due to her chronic laryngitis, she is unable to sing as she used to.  It's no fun to see her unable to do what she loves.  But we make up for it... Anna and I go swing dancing nearly every week.  It's our thing!  She makes me feel masculine, because it's easy to lift such a thin girl!   She's a star on the dance floor as she spins, twirls and flips.  You'll have to watch us sometime!  The only problem is that she is accident prone.  She somehow manages to get hurt (don't worry I've never dropped her).  We'll be dancing, doing backflips, and everything's great!  Then when it's over as we're walking to the car, she'll slip on the ice. 

    Most importantly, Anna has a strong testimony of the Savior.  She'll jump at any opportunity to share it with others.  Anna will make sure I hold to the rod my whole life.  I'm blessed to have Anna in my life!