The Honeymoon!!

Steve and I spent a week on a Cruise visiting 3 ports in Mexico - Puerta Villarta, Mazatlan & Cabo San Lucas. What a blast!! We had the most amazing time. It was a perfect vacation to be able to spend time together relaxing and enjoying time with one another. I loved many things about the trip but having a couples massage and eating whatever, whenever was probably my most favorite. The 24-hour ice cream availability was deadly - I'm such an ice cream lover and having it available all of the time wasn't the best idea...but it was sooo good! Having a massage was the best. I've always been nervous to get one, but oh...I'm hooked. It was fantastic and felt so nice. Mexico was hot...sooo hot! We just melted whenever we were out but we were still able to enjoy some time shopping, snorkeling, eating, and sight-seeing. We had fun on the cruise ship playing bingo and blackjack. They also had fun activities, comedy shows and of course more eating. Our room was quite nice. We splurged a bit and got a suite. It was nice to have a large balcony and more room to move around. I loved having a window and balcony...I don't think it would have been the same experience if we were in an interior room with no window. I really like being able to see light. We had great service on the cruise ship - our waiters, drink guys and cabin stewards were very nice and made it a wonderful experience. Here are a few pics from our trip, enjoy!!

Our cruise ship - the Carnival Pride

On our balcony before leaving for our formal dinner

Outside the dining room in front of the sunset - it was a beautiful night and it was fun to get all dressed up.

Our suite - the balcony is through the curtains. I'm taking the picture from the entry way next to the bathroom and there is a couch and little desk on the right side.

Steve enjoying an afternoon with some ice cream...

And me enjoying some ice cream...again...

Some of our waiters in the dining room

Us at dinner

On the balcony after arriving to Puerta Villarta

A beautiful resort in Mazatlan. We didn't have something specifically planned in Mazatlan so we spent some time visiting a timeshare resort. We listened to their 90 min schpill and said no...they gave us free taxi service around the city, fed us lunch, gave us drinks, time to spend in their resort, and $50 US cash to spend shopping. We thought it was worth it and enjoyed buying a few things in the shops.

Mazatlan

Another balcony picture...we had a lot of the close-ups/extended arm pics since we were on our own most of the time.

Lovers Beach at Cabo San Lucas...beautiful!

The arch at Cabo

Steve and I at our 2nd formal night dinner

Steve gettin' ready to snorkel...lookin' oh so hot!

Check out that babe...ya, I know I look hot!!

2nd formal night dinner

Last night on the cruise ship, so sad...

Steve giving me the sign that he is done with the picture taking...it had been a long week with pics at the wedding and then pics on the honeymoon - he was a good sport!

Bridals

I didn't want to post my bridals before the wedding because I wanted to surprise Steve on the wedding day but here are a few of my favorite shots. We took these at the State Mental Hospital grounds in Provo. It was a perfect night. My mom and sister came with me to make sure I looked my best. Jenny was behind my photographer a lot of the time making gestures to get me to laugh. It was a fun night with my mom and sister!

Our Special Day

It's hard to even express the feelings I have regarding our wedding day. It was absolutely the best day ever. We had an amazing ceremony in the SL Temple with our close friends and family. We celebrated that night at a reception at Magnolia Grove. I am truly blessed to have a husband like Steve who loves me so much, who I can confide in about anything, who listens to me, who validates me, and who makes me feel like the luckiest and most beautiful woman in the world. I am truly blessed! I don't have my pics from the wedding day yet but I will post a few just as soon as I get them. Here are a few I have stolen from others' blogs (thanks Kami, Jenn & Jenny - hope you don't mind!)

My best girlfriends - Jenn W., Jenny, Jenn T. & Kellie

Mm, mm, mm!!

My family...plus a few (it's ok Michelle, we love you)!

Isn't Jenny an amazing photographer...thanks for these Jenny!

The bride's cake...

The groom's cake...

My friend and co-worker Kami at the reception.

My Sista!!

Happy Birthday Jenn!!

I am so grateful for my sister. Jenn has been such a great friend in addition to a sister. I think back to our younger years often and think how we use to fight and argue so much. Now, we are the best of friends and I love her so much.

She is an amazing example to me. I have learned so much from her as I have watched her be a wife and mom. I'm constantly impressed with her calm nature (when she ignores her slight OCD'ness). She is so good with Zoey and I know Zoey absolutely adores her.


Jenn - thanks for your help over the past few months. You have been my rock and I'm so grateful for all of your help. Can't wait to enjoy the big day that you have helped me plan.

I Love You!!

Can I Brag???

Just want to brag about Steve for a minute!! I came home last night to a beautiful bouquet of roses.

Sorry, the picture is kind of blurry...but aren't they gorgeous?

There wasn't a reason for him to do it but he did. I feel very blessed to have him in my life. He never lets a day go by without making me feel loved and appreciated. He is a wonderful man and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him.

A little update...

So, I feel like I've been such a blog slacker lately. Things are crazy busy right now and I feel like I've got something going on every moment. The wedding is getting so close, which is so exciting, there is just so much to finish up. I thought having 6 months to plan would be plenty of time...and I'm not even that big of a procrastinator...but now that we are about 2 weeks out I'm having some slight anxiety. Certainly not about the marriage, can't wait for that part...just want the wedding day to be great. I know it will be, just want to make sure I get all the things crossed off my list! Steve makes fun of me cause I'm always making lists, have spreadsheets to keep track of everything. What can I say...I'm OCD! But things are moving along and we're getting down to the wire. Invites have been sent...if you don't get one (and think you should have) let me know. We had a few problems with some of the bridal shower invites not getting delivered. I've got a family shower this weekend which will be fun. Also get to have a fun girls night out Friday...those are always good too. Anyway, just a quick update...I am alive and am trying to enjoy this journey!

Elsie is here!

After 9 long months of being so sick, Jenn & Duke welcomed their beautiful new baby girl into this world - Elsie Kuulei Tukuafu. She is such a beautiful little baby. It was fun to go to the hospital and see Jenn looking so much better after having such a rough couple months. She was such a calm little girl...even when Duke was changing her diaper...for several minutes...she didn't peep! I'm so happy for them and glad they have this new little miracle in their lives.

Practicing the Hair-do

So as most of you know my sister Jenn is an amazing hair-do gal! She's always loved doing hair and one day I think she will go to school and do it for real. Anyway, we had to have a practice run at the hair for bridals and the wedding...here are a few shots of the finished product.

Zoey and Dalyn wanted to get on the action too!

Aren't they cute kids? Most of the time they're good little buddies!

Sleepover with Zoey

Zoey stayed over at my place last night. We had a fun time. Right when she got here she wanted to put on her pajamas and watch "Wondrous and Wonderland". That is what she calls Alice and Wonderland. For some reason that is the movie she always has to watch when she comes to my house. She loved playing on the footstools and was jumping from one to the next - that kept her entertained for sometime.

This morning we woke up and Zoey said "I have to put on my dress and do my hair"...oh, if I could be that energized to get ready when I woke up.

Here is a fun clip of her playing on the pillows - doing her tricks!

The Braces are OFF!!

YAY!!! I shouldn't complain as I only had braces on for 8 months...but I'm so thankful to have them off. When I decided to get them on in December my Orthodontist told me approximately 12 months. When I told him I was engaged in March and was hoping to have them off by the wedding he said "you brides cause me so much stress!" He was great though. I did everything they said and thankfully my teeth just kept moving the way he wanted. I got them off with 2 months to spare!