One year down, PHEW!

Well, I know this is super cliche, but I can't believe it's been a whole year (and a month, since I'm so late posting this as usual)! Holy smokes! To celebrate I thought it would be fun to do a little bit of reminiscing, so I put together this totally awesome recap! I love the recap. So, without further adieu, here we are :)

Once upon a time, there was this cute little hellion of a boy, and this cute little girl who was forced to wear giant bows.... ALL THE TIME!

Then one day, they got a hold of some guns... Haha, jk, that's not what I meant by recap. But weren't we cute kids?!

Brig and I started dating in the summer of 2008. He had just recently returned from his Army service, and I was living with my friend Becca. Becca was starting to date Dave at the time, and long story short, Dave and Brig were friends, so on Brigs second day being home, Dave invited him to come over and hang out at our house. He was pretty much silent, haha. And I was SOOO nervous! You see, I had had a little crush on this "Pig" that I had heard about for a very long time. When I was in 7th grade, he was a senior in high school and was a friend of my brother Dustins. Well, at the end of the school year, naturally I was rummaging through Dustin's yearbook, scouting out cute boys (like all normal 7th grade girls do), and I came upon this:

And I was in love :) Haha. (Side note: Don't you love that paper folded up in his pocket?! haha! Yep, thats the boy I know and love!) So anyway, since I was 5 years younger than Brig, and he left for the army while I was still in high school, I hadn't really ever gotten to meet him (obviously, because that would have been weird and creepy if I had). Hence the nervousness.
Anyway, after Brig came over that first time, we went boating. Then after that Becca and I had this plan to "trick" pig into asking me on this date that Dave was taking Becca on. We decided that Becca would very discretely suggest to Dave that we should turn a double date into a triple, and that Pig should think of someone to ask... aka me. And our plan worked!!! I found out later, that Dave had already talked to Pig, and he was already planning on asking me, but its more fun to tell it the other way.
The first date was really fun. I got to know Pig a little better (because he actually talked! Amazing, I know) and it was really fun to be with our friends. Toward the end of the night Brig and I decided to make a little bet about how much my brother Dustin weighed. Don't quite remember how that came up in our conversation, haha. Needless to say, the next day I talked to Dustin, and found out that I had won. I texted Pig and gloated as much as possible, and asked him what he was gonna do for me. Later that day, he came over with a whole bag full of gummy candy for me (I had previously told him how much I love gummies)! He had been to 3 different stores to make sure he got exactly the right kinds. I thought it was so cute!!! haha.
I obviously found this out later, but Brig had talked to his family about me (his sisters later told me that talking about girls to them was apparently very unusual for him) after a few more times hanging out and told them that he was totally smitten. Using those very words :) And so was I! I told my family that he loved horses and dogs and that I was going to marry him :)
As romantic as this is, the pictures of us shooting above, are where we had our first kiss! We had just finished cleaning up and he was walking me to the truck, and before he opened the door, he went in for the kill. Mmmmmm :) We held hands all the way home and he's never let go since. Aw, tender!



Lake Powell:

The first weekend in August Brig went to Hawaii with some of his family. We talked every night and I missed him like crazy! I picked him up from the airport and have never been so excited to see anyone in my whole life! The next weekend we went with Becca and Dave to Lake Powell. Brig and I are both in agreement that Lake Powell is the best place on earth, no joke. Before we left, my aunt Jolene said to my mom, "You know people fall in love at lake powell!" And she was dead on! Best vacation of my life!

One night, Brig and I were off on our own, and he said he had something to tell me. I told him that I already knew what it was, and that I could tell by the way he looked at me (which was true, I really could tell!). Then he said... "When I look at you, do you know that I love you?" and my heart melted and I said "Yes. I love you too........" And then we kissed! Gross! He had missed me so much when he was in Hawaii that he knew it must be because he was in love with me :)



A few random times of fun:

Brig's first birthday with me! Can't say I had ever canoed at night before!

First (and last) hunting day together. I even went out and bought a camouflage shirt! The bad news is, they only sell those in size L, XL, XXL, and XXXXXXXL. So I had to cut it up and sew it so that it would fit. I always told myself I would never marry a hunter. Whoops! :)

Once upon a time, I told Brig that I would love him forever if he took me to a Bronco's game. And what do you know? He took me to a Bronco's game! My first ever! And he doesn't even like the Broncos! What a sweetheart. Guess I have to love him forever now ;)

Ice skating in Salt Lake. Cute.



Engagement:

When Brig proposed it was the most perfect night! It was the 23rd of December, and he and some of his siblings put this all together. It was totally a surprise! He took me down the path to the tree, gave me a present (the teddy bear pictured below), and then pulled out his trick, which I totally believed. Then he got down on one knee and proposed! And I was excited! Obviously :) It was a beautiful night with the snow falling all around us. Cheese!

So excited!




WE'RE ENGAGED!!

We were engaged for about 5 months because I really wanted a summer wedding. During that time we were pretty much never apart. And then....




WE'RE MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 13, 2009

The wedding day was exactly what I had hoped for. It was raining a little bit, but at that point I didn't care. I was more happy than I had ever been in my life!



The first year:

Our first apartment... I think I've blogged about this enough! But, for me its like everyone says, even though it was gross and we had to get out of there asap, it still holds some sentimental value and of course, it was so much fun being able to live with, and wake up every day next to the person I love more than anything in the whole world.

One of our first meals... I have to admit, I did not cook that chicken (thanks Becki), but I did the rice and the beans, haha. That was one of my favorite things about being married at first, was sitting down and having meals together as a family.

Our first halloween as a married couple.

First Christmas together.



And here we are now:
June 13, 2010

For our anniversary, Brig and I went to Park City and stayed at the Marriott Mountainside. It is such a beautiful place! This is us getting ready to go down to the hot tubs! Cute face huh? That's my boy! :)
We went to eat at the mexican place that I can't think of the name of right now, spent a good amount of time in the hot tubs (which are so cool!) and then watched a nice romantic movie... shutter island. ha! Then well... you know...

In the morning we took a drive together up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was foggy and beautiful, and was nice and peaceful and relaxing... perfect :)




A shout out:

I just want to say to Brigham how much I love him. He is a better person than I ever hoped to marry, and I thank my Heavenly Father every single day for giving him to me. I am also so thankful for temple marriage, and thankful to know that our marriage is eternal. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't be with him forever. Brig, you're the love of my life. Thank you for always being there to take care of me, to pick me up when I'm down, to make me laugh so hard that I cry, and to take me boating whenever I ask you to. I love you so much, more than I could ever describe. Can't wait for the rest of eternity!

I LOVE YOU!