Paradise!

May 1, 2011
We had talked to a friend-Jeanette Knight-who had a friend in Honolulu who does photography there. So we got up early and went and took pictures on the beach with Conrad Prusse. We had so much fun! He complimented us the whole time on how easy it was to photograph us. We just really enjoyed taking pictures on Waimanalo Beach where the water is blue and the sand is white. We are so happy with the way they turned out. The hardest part is picking some for all of you to see but how can I get just a few from 159! They are all so beautiful!

We went to the Aloha Stadium for the Swap Meet! Oh we loved the swap meet! We found so many fun things that we wanted. We did limit ourselves but we did go back 2 other times to find what we found the first day and decided we wanted them. After the Aloha Swap Meet, we went to Schofield Barracks to get us some groceries for breakfast. We bought them at the base because they were cheaper. We then went back to our room because we were so dang tired and rested. We had KFC for dinner and listened to the light rain outside our room. We were out cold by about 9:00 PM local time.

At the Swap Meet!

The view from our door....see the ocean is right outside our room!!!

Ryan standing in the rain with his souvenirs!

Me out in the rain!

HAWAII

April 30, 2011

We had a crazy day! We had had graduation the day before and packed until late that night. The morning we were leaving Elyssa and Christopher were singing in the Community Messiah Sing In and we weren't going to see the real thing so we went for a listen. They both had solos and WOW!!!! they are AMAZING!!! Christopher did a great job on his tenor part and then Elyssa sounded like an angel. At that point, I was even more disappointed that I wasn't going to be here for them the next day to hear and support them. I did hear though that they did just as amazing of a job the next night. Anyways, after we left for the airport for our HAWAIIAN VACATION! We were getting on a jet plane and leaving all 7 inches of snow behind and heading towards SUNSHINE and WARMTH!!! We were so excited! This was our first vacation since Ryan got home and what was even more special is that this time when we got home.....HE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE AFTER!!!! Just so everyone knows, Ryan has left for training or gone back to his deployment when we have had our own vacation before so this was a real treat! We flew out that afternoon and got to Hawaii around midnight Utah time. By the time we got to our cabin at the Army Recreation Center, it was around 2 AM Utah time. We were so tired. We literally crashed when we got in the room.

The morning we left.
See...7 INCHES!!!
On our first of 2 flights to Hawaii.
We got there and just loved the feeling of vacation!

GRADUATION!!!

I graduated on April 29, 2011 from Utah Valley University with my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. I am so glad that it is over and now it's time for decisions of what to do next. I am trying to decide what is best for my family and I at this time. We will see what the future brings!

Where do I start?.....

I have so much to update on this blog I don't know where to start....except with pictures of the best moment in the last little while. Ryan came home on March 20, 2011. It was the best day since my wedding. I am so glad he is home. I thought that I would share some of my favorite pictures from that day.

(The above are all from Rachael Nelson)
This is embarrassing...but it's all the emotion that I felt when I finally saw him come through the airplane door. I really do hate this picture but it shows the emotion that I felt at that moment.

(The above are courtesy Salt Lake Tribune and UTNG.)

(The above are all from Rachael Nelson)
These are either from Elyssa or me.

All these pictures do most of the talking. I hope that everyone who was there that had their picture taken with Ryan was included. The ward lined our street with flags for him when he came home. It was quite emotional for both of us.
It was such a fun day and I now have Ryan back in my arms and love having him home.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DARLING RYAN!!!

Well since Afghanistan is 10 1/2 hours ahead, Ryan's birthday is a little longer as are most of the holidays we celebrate!!! Ryan is now 26!!! I sent him a fun box and was able to watch him open it on Skype. He is so funny. I love him to death!!! I am so sad that we can't celebrate together but I am grateful that I am his eternal companion and get to always celebrate with him.

This is what I am thinking of how much longer till I get to be with him again!!!

He is so hilarious!!!

I can't wait till we get to be this....TOGETHER AGAIN!!!

I love him with all my heart!!! I can't wait till we are together again!!!
I love you Ryan! Happy Birthday!!

Our Summer....

This summer has been a crazy one. It has been a whirlwind of events. Ryan and I celebrated our first anniversary completely separated but were able to spend the day on SKYPE together. It was a hard day as I am sure you can imagine. We really had a hard time being separated that day.
We were counting down the days till we saw each other again. Well it wasn't far away. He came home on July 1 for his 2 week R and R.

Ryan stepped back because he wanted to give the lady that offered to take pictures his camera. I wasn't sure what was going on of course. Elyssa and Christopher came with me to the gate to surprise Ryan when he came off the plane. He had no idea at all. It was totally awesome!

My hug that I finally got after 2 1/2 months without him!!! The greatest feeling!
My accomplices...We had so much fun waiting for the moment!!!
We spent the first 2 nights at Anniversary Inn. It was so much fun! I got to cook for someone other than myself!!
Here we are on Mom's birthday-July 3rd-at the cemetery. Hard day but we also celebrated Ryan's halfway mark with his contract-not the deployment, that's September.
We celebrated with all of Ryan's family and my family with a BBQ!!! It was so much fun and Ryan was so glad to see his family.
After the BBQ, we went to the Sandy Library to watch the fireworks across the valley. This was our first 4th of July together. He was gone last summer to ROTC training at West Point. We spent Sunday the 4th just relaxing and did pack for our vacation. Monday the 5th, we went to Long Beach, CA for a week to just get away from everyone and relax. We drove down Monday and were there till Saturday. Tuesday we went to Venice Beach and it was a little more chilly than we planned but we still had fun.
Here we were unsure if we were going to have fun on a cool beach. We planned on warmer weather and it definitely wasn't.
Us with our picnic lunch on the beach. It was an overcast day and we forgot to put on sunscreen and we were COOKED! It hurt bad!
Ryan rolled up his pants but that did no good obviously!!!!
I don't like cold water at all as you can see. We drove back to the hotel and got our favorite Jack-In-The-Box for dinner. Wednesday I was in a lot of pain from my burn which was on only half of my body because I was laying on my side when I got burned. Not a good idea. We did walk down to the beach that night and walk around after sunset. So romantic. I enjoyed every moment.
My favorite picture of us on R and R.
Ryan and I decided that we didn't want to go back to the beach because we didn't want to get burned any more so we decided to find something else to do.
WE WENT TO DISNEYLAND!!!
Now we took TONS of pictures here so I am having a hard time deciding which ones to post. We rode Buzz Lightyear and Ryan won that! Then when we rode Toy Story I WON!!! It was great!!! We went to the new water show "World of Color". That was spectacular! I don't want to post those pictures because you just have to go see it!
MICKEY MOUSE!!!
Another one of my favorites!!!
We rode this classic ride for the last time before they change it so that it is updated with all 6 movies. Love this ride and can't wait to ride the updated one!
Had to be cheesy at Disneyland!!! I love my knight in shining armor!
Saturday we drove to Las Vegas! There we went to one of our favorite broadway shows...
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA!!!
After the show, we realized it was our 13 month anniversary! See the date!!!! We were so excited that we got some sort of an anniversary! And we enjoyed every minute of it!!!!
Sunday we started our final leg home. We stopped at the Bell's for a break and to say hi. She posted pictures of us there. (We stopped after my siblings did.)
Monday the 12th when we finally got home after spending the night at the Bell's, we saw our friends the Swart's. They didn't know Ryan was in town so their surprise was awesome.
We then had 4 days left till Ryan went back. We went that night to Toy Story 3 and cried our eyes out. Then we went to Spaghetti Factory....our favorite!!! It was the perfect family night. I couldn't dream of a better way to spend it.
Wednesday the 14th, we saw Eclipse! Then had dinner with my family at Winger's.
Thursday the 15th, we went to dinner with Ryan's parents at Los Hermanos. It was good. We had to wear these funny looking shirts to get our drinks for free.
That night we slept under the stars!!!
Friday was so much fun. We went to the Draper Temple and did sealings.
We then went downtown to the Roof Restaurant. Uncle Gary gave us the money!! Thank you! We enjoyed it. It was our first time being there!
We then went and walked around Temple Square and the Gateway before going home.
We then cried because we were going to have to say goodbye the next morning. Man it sure was harder the third time saying goodbye. We still had 8 months till he was home for good. It was so hard. I cried and cried and cried. I miss him so much and am so glad that we had such an amazing 2 weeks together.

I then went to Nauvoo with my dad and siblings and to Yellowstone. Those pictures aren't as important so I won't post them. We did a lot in those 2 weeks with the family that you all would get bored with it if you aren't already.

Ryan and I are counting down the days till we get to be with each other and the number is 211. That's still a long ways away.
Ryan, I love you and am so glad we spent every minute together while you were here. Can't wait to make more memories!