Years Gone By

On Saturday, Lester and I celebrated our first year of marriage together. As I mentioned below, we spent it with friends and family, and did a low budget date the next day.

As we spent our time talking that night, I asked Lester when he thought he first loved me. While to many of you this may sound extremely corny and cliché [which it probably it is] I have to give you some background. I met Lester at a youth conference when we were 14. We both remember it-there was a slow song and Lester asked me to dance. We both remember feeling so enamored with each other-even with my frizzy hair and braces, and his slicked down, parted in the middle hair and glasses. But we were in different wards, and although we often wondered about each other, never really expected to see much of each other again. Then my ward was dissolved, and his ward boundaries were changed and we ended up in the same ward. After many miscommunications, we found ourselves officially dating one another at 16, and I suppose the rest is history.

While I can remember all these things, I can't remember a time when I didn't love Lester. This is one of the reasons I asked him-because I couldn't remember when I first started loving him. His answer was just as corny as my question, but just as true-he referred me to the song by Brad Paisley, "Then". It goes through the sweet story of a couple and his feelings for his now wife, and how no matter how many years go by, he always thinks he can never love her more. But every year, every moment he looks at her, he realizes that he was wrong-he loves her infinitely more with every day, which he thought impossible. The chorus says, 'And I thought I loved you then." This song defines us. When I was 16, and the first time Lester held my hand, I thought I loved him. Maybe I was a twitter pated teen, but I loved him. When we had our first kiss, I knew I wrong-this was real love. As the years went by and his mission came, and he was preparing to leave, I thought my heart was breaking-and I thought I could never love him more. Again, I was wrong. When he came back, and proposed to me years later, I thought that was it-I could never love somebody more. Now, a year of being married him has gone by. We have laughed, cried, fought, and done all those first year things-but I thought I loved him then, and I love him so much more now. I realize now that it is as that song says- "What I can't see is how I'm ever gonna love you more…but I've said that before."

And now that it is a few days later, it is my grandparents 63rd wedding anniversary, and I look at them and see how much they love each other, and feel overwhelmed with love, gratitude, and excitement for the day when I can love him even more then I do now, although it feels impossible.

So happy anniversary to both me and my sweet, amazing husband, and my incredible grandparents. I look forward to an eternity more for all of us.

PS: This song is numero 31 on the playlist-check it and then ball your eyes out while you think about your sweet significant other!

Summer All The Time

Its amazing how busy you can be when your only priority is having fun! We have done so many fun things so far this break, to many to count or even mention. So I will just mention the most recent ones, that I have actual pictures of! Hillary and Andrew got here on Wednesday for a few days, and after playing soccer with them and visiting, we all played some games and hit the sack. The next morning, us two couples woke up and headed over to Oakland to hit up our favorite Montclair bakery, and then do a temple session/visit-it was my Hillary's and my first since we were both married in this exact place so it was really great! After enjoying that and exploring the visitors center, we headed over to Livermore for dinner with our good lifelong friends the Benning's. It was so fun enjoying these new days with our new and improved families, while still laughing and thinking about the good old days. Both Amy and Mike were important parts in our growing up, so it was wonderful to spend time with them and see how well we each are doing. After visiting with them, we headed to Tracy quickly stop by and visit our friends the Morco's. It was fun sitting on their trampoline under the stars thinking about how crazy life is and how many wonderful possibilities there are out there. Good times.

The next day [Friday] we headed over to San Jose for my cousin Karen's Open House-her husband Richard and her had just gotten married and it was so fun to help them, and see them and how happy they are. Everyone in the wedding party looked beautiful, as did the reception as a whole. The entire night was full of great visits-I got to talk to some of my cousins whom I haven't seen in a while, and it was so good to see them all.

Then on Saturday we headed over to Saratoga for the annual awesome Hanaike party at Auntie Kathy's. SO FUN. We swam, and ate REAL food, the way it as meant to be, the kind you can't get in Rexburg, played games and just had so much fun. Lester and Andrew made themselves right at home with Kyle, Blake and Trenton while they all roughed each other up in water basketball. My Lester slept really well that night, and woke up with scratches, bruises and sore, as I'm sure all of them did [although he said it was worth it!] Over all, it was just a real blast.

Sunday me and my sweethearts wedding anniversary-its only been one year, but an incredible one which we will forever look back on fondly. But I will blog more about those mushy feelings later. Ultimately, we went to church, where I once again enjoyed helping in nursery, and then came home to party it up with many good friends whom we've made in all walks of life. My family got us these sweet balloons and my mom made two AWESOME cakes for the occasion-after which we played pounce and monopoly deal for hours, coupled with lots of laughing and catching up.

These are but some of the MANY awesome things that Lester and I have been up to of late. I am convinced that this life of waking up late, to endless days of fun, is how life should be. Summer all the time.

Who wants to fight me?

Sometimes, I just feel like yelling that question to the world when I feel that it is conquering me. Or to be honest, when I am sometimes just bored. Since being married, no one has really answered this call. Lester just is to sweet to really fight me. But growing up, I was always wrestling with my Dad or Uncles and I have missed that. I never thought I would say this, but I even miss dead weight sometimes, where my crazy Dad would flatten us like pancakes, with us gasping for air begging for mercy. Now that I am home, I don't have to miss things like that, even though my Dad is out of town. You know why?

Because Luke and his friend Andrew Porter answer this call. Like every morning when Lester and I have slept in WAY too late, and they come barreling down the stairs to tackle us. Luckily we can fight back with our own fancy weapons like 'morning stink' and the many lightsabers they have strewn across the house. In fact, just the other day Andrew had fashioned an old broken dart board to carboard arm slots, in order to construct a shield. He used it as he shot his nerf gun at me, and I lunged with my yard stick and the moves I'd just learned on the Wii.

I realize to most people, this may sound silly, but this along with a million other strange things that nobody else would understand, make coming home so wonderful! I just love being here.

Good on Yah, Mate!

As I mentioned in my last post, Lester's cousin's and Aunt made a long awaited visit from Australia! They were in the US for a few weeks total, with trips everywhere from L.A to New York. Luckily, we were here in time to spend about a week with them, while we went all over SF for shopping, sightseeing, food and fun. It was a blast! We went to all the usual spots, like Pier 39 for clam chowder, sourdough, and to see the seals and sights. We also spent a lot of time in Ghirardelli square, some basketball games, and of course Union Square. Apparently, in Australia things are ALOT more expensive, which surprised me. When we went to see Transformers at the theaters, I was warning them that it was a bit expensive-they then told me that to see a movie there its upwards of $20 PER PERSON! And people pay it! Cuz thats the average price! I couldn't
believe it! Same with shopping!

BUT, they also have a lot of awesome things that have me and Lester jonesin even more for a trip down under. They have incredible beaches and activities, weather [which is reversed from us-right now, its winter there, and in December its summer in Sydney! Crazy!], food, lingo, work, health and school system, and amazing food.

While here, they brought us TONS of goodies from Australia-sweatshirts, baking tools, candies and snacks, purses-they were so incredibly generous and kind! My favorite treat they brought were called Tim Tam's. They are chocolate cookies coated in dark chocolate. To make it even better, they have this thing called Tim Tam slams, where you take a Tim Tam, and dunk it in chocolate so it melts the outer layer and the inner cookie and its SO good. I'm a little bit addicted.

Best of all, three of them were are age. It was so fun to spend time with Lester's side of the family that I hadn't met before, and to learn more about Lester's life before he came here. They welcomed me into the family with open arms even though they hadn't met me before, which was a first for me, and it really touched me heart considering everything.

Over the course of the week, we took 'heaps' of picture-but sadly, the camera was lost on their flight back! But over all, it was a GREAT welcome home, and fun family time!

Good To Be Home

WELL. It has just been far to long since I posted on this thing-I never wanted to become one of those 'blog once in a blue moon' people, but I suppose I am. But now that we are home for a few weeks hopefully that will change!

The last week of school was insanely hectic. While Lester dealt with his massive amounts of finals [the longest of which was up to 8 hours might I add..] I attempted to finish my own finals while packing us up both to go home and move into our new apartment in the fall, and also getting things ready for when my family came to visit. Amidst that though we did make time for a few fun things. The Sunday before we left we had a bunch of friends over for Lester's bday. I got him a soccer ball and a football, which he and a few other friends immediately put to good use. Meanwhile, the rest of us played everything from Monopoly Deal to Ticket To Ride [Lester's new favorite game.] It was a fun chill night and we finished it up with angel food cake, strawberries and whipped cream. Then on Monday we had our last ward party. It was a blast, and again Lester played with a bunch of dudes from the ward, while we all enjoyed the sunshine and BBQ aspect of things. They even sent us home with a TON of leftover G's dairy ice cream which was perfect with my family arriving and not used to the heat of summer Rexburg!

On Wednesday, my Mom, Luke and Sam rolled into town and I was ecstatic!We immediately ate the pizza I made, laughed, talked planned our week, played games and went on a short tour of campus. The next morning we finished the tour, including where my Mom used to live, shopped at the bookstore and then headed to Rexburg Rapids [a small, new water park]. I, of course got fried [remember that as your looking at my red, shiny graduation pics!]. When we got home we played Disney Scene It, visited some more, and then saw Kung Fu Panda 2 at the dollar theatre.

The next day was Friday, and my college graduation. Ya, I know I can't believe it either! It was so bittersweet thinking about all the good times I've had, things I've learned, crazy memories and wonderful people I've met. I feel like for so long I've been focused on 'lets finish this thing!' that now that it is here I wish it wasn't. College is the best. My graduation started in the I-Center, and ended in the Barrus Concert Hall. When I walked across the stage, I though how funny is it that in just a few short steps I go from college student to college graduate. It was great. The members of my family who were able to be there made it all the more special, and I'm so grateful for their efforts to be there. After the commencement ended, my parents treated us to dinner at Winger's and afterwards we went home, played some more games, smothered me in aloe, and went to bed.

Saturday was our last day in Rexburg-while my family finished up their vacation at other places, Lester and I cleaned and packed ALL day. Again, a little bittersweet-our first apartment all empty. But it was a great place to start our life and we will miss it; what a great year it has been there.

The next day we headed on the LONG drive home. We caravaned as far as Battle Mountain Nevada where my family stayed for the night and we kept on truckin, as we wanted to spend lots of time with Lester's family who was visiting from Australia, whom he hasn't seen in 10 years.

I have LOTS more to blog about regarding that fun stuff, but since this is already so long, I'm going to hopefully save that post for when I have pictures of our visit with his Aussie family.

But seriously-it is GOOD to be home.

Memo to Self

Look before you eat.

this will help you when your so excited to see a stray chocolate chip on the counter you pop it in your mouth before you realize its a magnet and gag....

or your mom saves grease in the fridge for whatever reason in a juice container, and you drink it thinking its-go figure-juice....

or you eat something that you are morally opposed to like sick watermelon or chewy octopus or blood pudding.....

again, all these things will be resolved for you, and others, if you simply....

LOOK BEFORE YOU EAT.

That is all.

Playing Catch Up!

OK, I have two excuses for not blogging lately-first is that I have been really stinking busy! This business has consisted of both boring things and really fun things, so that's good. But my second excuse is that I am the worst at remembering to take pictures, and I know that I like it when people post pictures. So ya-but don't worry-this blog post has both, thanks to many awesome friends and family!

As stated in the last post, I went home for about a week. It was SO great being there, with the crazy, loud awesome family that I call my own, and I miss them more then words can say. Especially my sweet baby Cali-we are now bffs! But in that time there were a million fun things that happened-to many to list. So I will just do the highlights

On Thursday, Hillary went to get her endowments [or special blessings] from the temple. Because of traffic, some of us were a bit late, but it was still great to be there waiting for her in the temple. I'm so glad families are forever and that I can be a part of the family I was raised in, and be an important part in the family Lester and I have made. It is such a beautiful thing to have. Later that night Auntie Kathy brought dinner that Uncle Gil made, and let me tell you-it was so much better then the stuff we get here-and I'm even a good cook haha!

Then on Friday, we all went to the church for the whole day. It was actually really fun to be on this side of things, as a helper and bridesmaid haha! I got to help Andrew's Aunt Darla with making some of the cake stuff, and then helped cook-well-everything. We ironed table clothes, sang, dance, decorated the ceilings, put up the centerpieces, made the bouquets and a million other things. It was actually a lot fun! All of Andrew's family were there to help, plus my own of course, the Paredes's, Angie, and the Lualemagas and Auntie Kathy and Kyle. Fesuluai and I took a few breaks to practice our dance moves, and let me tell you-that kid is a trip-he put my dancing to shame! I also got to bond with Kyle a bit more-I still can't believe how adultish he is, and yet still little Kyle. It was really fun. Then that night, my amazing husband finally got there. Have I said lately how much I love him? Its funny bc I think we were both looking forward to getting a little break from each other, but after about a few hours, we missed each other so much it hurt. I know corny, but whatever, we just love each other. Anywho, we got back and just got ready for the next day, laughing and having fun.

The next morning, we all got up to the temple in no time. Watching Hillary and Andrew be sealed to each other was beautiful-I'm not gonna lie, a little bittersweet, bc now we are all scattered and grown up-but they are a family now, making us all a family even more. It also reminded me of almost a year ago, when we were in their shoes, covenanting and vowing these promises to each other. Best decision I ever made-ever.

The reception was beautiful-very Hillary, and we danced, and ate and laughed and cried like there was no tomorrow. But unfortunately, there was, and it took us back to Rexburg and school. But that's life, and at least it was together.

Since being back, we have been CRAZY busy as it is the last four weeks of school [and the I graduate crazy!] and we have a lot to do. But we have made time for some fun-we went to our friend Emil's bday dance party and it was a BLAST. Then next night we got to go to our friend Josh's surprise party, which had bowling, pizza, drinks, cake, mini golf and balladium. Sorry Lester-there wives are way more creative then yours is! haha-but I'll think of something!

So that is what we have been up to lately-again, I will try to be better about posting pictures and blogging, but I imagine it will really be picking up once school is over! Until then love you all and hope all is well with you! PAYCE!

PS: Most of these pictures are courtesy of other people-namely Jordan, Catherine, and Emil. So thanks-you guys are great!