Married in the Fall

I had always thought that you shouldn't get married while you're still in school because it would make things a lot more complex and school work would get harder.  This theory was completely wrong.  Now that I'm married, I don't worry about wanting to go out to be with Karsten, or worry about the pressures of dating.  I can come home and know Karsten is coming home too.  We can relax and do our homework together on our couch.  Things were so easy, that I started up a few more hobbies.  My new idol, Martha Stewart, helped me out with all of this.

I started getting really into cooking and baking.  I know how Susie homemaker this sounds, but I found it super full-filling to make everything myself.  I learned how to make my own bread, pasta, and other stuff from scratch.  It was not only better tasting, but tons cheaper and what doesn't appeal more to a poor, newly married couple than saving a few dollars.

When the temperature cooled down (just a little.. this is still Vegas), I began decorating for one of my favorite holidays: Halloween.  We decided that something fun we were going to try and make annual was a murder mystery party.  After scoping out a few sites, we found the perfect themed party:  the Deadwood Saloon.

Karsten made the bar by cutting a giant cord spindle he found for free on craigslist.

My masterpiece is the tumbleweed chandelier.. Martha taught me that one!

Shout out to all our friends and family who came and made this night a blast!

Halloween day was also eventful.  We also had a dress up day at work and I came as one of the attorneys.  My little nephews always love dressing up!

Thanksgiving was just as fun a creative.  I cracked open my new Martha Stewart Baking book and learned how to make pie crust from scratch.  There was one test dough that was immediately thrown out, but otherwise, it was easy, fun, and successful. 

I borrowed my mom's leaf pie-cutters to make the crusts of my pumpkin pie and the top of my apple pie.

November was also filled with weddings, shopping, and waiting for the next awesome season!

Post- Wedding

I feel like people have been hiding how fun marriage is from me.  It is awesome!  No comments from you older married cynical couples, please.  After our wedding, we had some of the most fun months we've ever had.
Of course for the first little while, there was business to take care of.  I ran errands to the Social Security office, the DMV, and the post office for all of my marital name changes.  I went right when all of them opened and was in and out within minutes.  Easy-peasy.  We also had to finish moving in to our temporary home.  We have been looking for a house of our own to buy, but have had the worst luck in the world.  we'll work it out, though.

These were our helpful movers.

After we got settled into our home, I got around to making our wedding and honeymoon photo books.  I found this much easier than scrapbooking (thank you Costco!)

Then we began buying furniture.  First we decided on a couch.

Then a dining set.

Before we knew it our house was a home and we began to play.  

For Karsten's birthday, I bought him his first hand-gun.

Then we went on the annual Lake Powell trip before school started.  Karsten's first time!!

Even though we got pretty busy with school, we still went on dates.

We went on hikes at red rock.

We had a nerf gun war.

  And went bunny hunting.

 Of course we know rough and scary times are ahead.  However, with how good things are going now, we say, "Bring it on!"

Honeymoonin'

I'm sure most people have a good time on their honeymoon... I had a FANTASTIC time!!  We chose to go on a cruise for our honeymoon in the Mexican Riviera.  This was the first of many good decisions.  A cruise was such a good idea!  We drove to California early the morning after our wedding.  Once we got on the boat, we took a short walk around and went straight to our beautiful room

Then, everything from the past week caught up to us.  We just crashed.  The best part was we didn't even have to feel guilty.  Since it was the first day, we were just at sea so relaxing was expected.

Then we took our tour around the boat.  The boat was awesome!  Since it was Karsten's first cruise, he was a little more amazed than I was.  We began with on board activities and planned our on shore activities.  It was incredible.

Although I wished this week would never end, I was excited for the next step: a marriage.

July 16th, 2011

In all seriousness, this day was the most amazing day of my life.  Nothing I write can quite describe the way I felt.  The most I can do is try and bring the magic of this day into writing in just the series of events.  So let's start with the morning...

1:00 a.m. Although, I had a BLAST at my bachelorette party, those girls kept me out until 1:00a.m. (I probably wouldn't have slept anyway).  When I got home, I mostly packed my suitcase for the honeymoon and just double checked all of my checklists and schedules for the day because that would be the last time I look at them.

3:00 a.m. I layed down to rest my eyes... and fell asleep.

4:50 a.m. My mother comes to wake me up and asks if there is somewhere I needed to be.. yes.  My hair and makeup appointment was at 5:00 a.m.  Bad start.

5:20 a.m Hair and make up appointment

7:30 a.m. I get home to put a skirt on and grab my temple bag and wedding dress.  Don't worry, I had to be at the temple in 15 minutes!

8:00 a.m. Driving in the car with my mom, I was hyperventilating, crying, and trying to eat breakfast.  It was starting to hit me.  Today was my wedding day.  It was 80 degrees.  For those who don't know for Las Vegas in July, this is unheard of.  It made me cry.

8:15 a.m.  We arrived at the temple.  All of the nerves stopped once I saw my husband to be in his suit sitting and waiting for me. 

9:00 a.m.  The sealing was to start.  However.. you can't start without the groom's parents...........

9:15 a.m.  I became Mrs. Smith forever.

Many things went off this morning.. I woke up late, forgot to bring my hair net to the temple and my dad had to bring it, and we arrived late to the temple.  None of it mattered from this point forth.

10:00 a.m.  Family pictures

11:00 a.m. Bride and Groom pictures

12:00 p.m. Home with my husband

5:45 p.m. Arrived at Angel Park- Touch-ups and waited for people to arrive

6:45 p.m. Ring Ceremony.  I have the cutest ring-bearer ever!

7:00 p.m. Grand Enterance

7:15 p.m. Food.  Family. Friends. What more do you need at a wedding.

Cake
Toasts
First Dance
Father/Daughter and Son/Mother dances
Moneydance
Ladies Dance
Man Dance
Bouquet Toss
Garter Toss
More Dancing
Grand Exit

And the lived happily ever after...

Pre-Wedding

 Whenever I talked to other women about their wedding, I get similar responses.  Many say "it flew by" or "it happened so fast I don't even remember it".  I wanted to make sure I soaked up every minute of my wedding day and everything leading up to it.  SoOo we did just about every wedding tradition there is.

The Engagement Party
At my parents.  It got me SOO excited for the rest to come!

The Engagement Pictures
Sunrise and sunset pictures.  We had a great photographer for doing this!

Wedding Dress Shopping

My bridesmaids loved this more than I did.

Invitation stuffing
Cake Testing
Flower Picking
Venue Shopping
DJ Interviews
Dance Lessons (Yes, it was choreographed.  Ha!)

The Bridal Shower

I have Litany Rosequist and Michelle Crouse for throwing this lovely "sweets" party and for other family friends and my bridesmaids for helping to put it together.

They loved to embarrass me.

Karsten and I were both asked the same questions to see how well we knew eachother.. I must say, we are pretty dang good.

The Rehearsal Dinner

Karsten's mom put this together for family and the bridal party after I went to the temple on Thursday for the first time for endowments.  I loved getting to spend this day with people I love!

The Bachelorette Party
For the sake of my own embarrassment, details of this last night of being single will remain secretive and many pictures will not be posted on any form of internet.
For a quick over-view:

We went to Dick's Last Resort for dinner

Learned how to pole dance

Went Shopping..... :)

And had dessert at serendipity

Special thanks to all of my married and single girls that participated in this night with me!  You girls rock!

Next is the day we've all been waiting for... or at least, I'VE been waiting for!!

SEVEN

One week.  ONE WEEK!  I can't believe it is here. Karsten and I are moving into a house in the next few days and we are doing a deep cleaning before we start the move.  I can't help but think the entire time that Karsten and I are going to live there together.  We won't have to leave each other at night and go home because WE ALREADY WILL BE!

Everything else is super smooth sailing as far as wedding prep goes.  Invitations are out.  Dresses and tuxes are picked, altered, and ready to go.  Catering, venue, DJ, flowers, cake, accessories, temple interviews, marriage license... ALL DONE!