Sweetheart Dance

John took me to a 'sweetheart dance' over the weekend.  It was actually a dance at his parents ward :) but was still really fun.  He really wanted me to wear my black boots (which he later regretted because I couldn't dance very well), so I did.  We were probably the youngest couple there by 10+ years so I felt a little awkward at first, but once we started dancing we both forgot about it.  We only danced about 5 songs because they all started sounding the same - some old man band was playing.  After we left we went to Olive Garden for dinner.  It was a fun date night! 

(these picture cracks me up!)

the old man band is behind John

ADDICTED!

I've been spending any evening that I can plopped on the couch, eating popcorn, and watching the Olympics.

I'll probably continue to do so.

I just can't help it!

This is awful to admit - but I love seeing a good crash or fall (as long as they don't really get hurt).  I'm a terrible person. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOafMpTleEw

It is AMAZING that she skied the very day and won a bronze medal!

Happy Valentines Day!!

John and I had a 'low-key' Valentines this year.  I was busy with bridals on Saturday and we decided to forego dinner alone that night and spent it with his sister Heather's family, to celebrate Chinese New Year.  John's bro-in-law Curtis made some AWESOME Chinese food - soooo good!

We exchanged gifts Sunday afternoon after church.  I made a "love box" (thanks to Kelsi for the idea!) for John and think it turned out really cute.  Inside was '100 Things I Love About John' and some candy.  It was fun and so easy to come up with so many things I love about him. 

John gave me flowers (earlier in the week), my very favorite, and made me a picture of us from his computer and framed it.  He also got me candy and a valentines bear.   

We spent Sunday night at my cousin Camilla's wedding shower. She and her fiance Taylor are getting married two weeks before John and I.

 

Thess pictures of Hannah crack me up!  She likes to have her finger in her nose lately :)

Engagement Pictures

Here is just a FEW pictures from our engagement shoot - you'll have to wait to see the rest!!

THANK YOU Shari for taking our pictures!!  We LOVE them!

Mission Presidents...

to the RUSSIA MOSCOW MISSION!!

Our family is so excited for my parents and their call to Russia!!  They report to the MTC around June 22 and spend a few days there before heading to Russia.  We can't imagine not having them around for 3 years, but hope to be able to at least visit once!

my mom and the grandkids reading their call

explaining to Kate where they are going

John and I have already started our "Russia Fund" :)

Trip to California

Over the weekend we drove to California to take our engagement pictures.  We left early Friday morning and finally arrived in California around 7:00 p.m.  It was a long drive but we kept each other entertained through music, reading books outloud, and dancing (the best was John dancing to the "Cha Cha Slide" - I cried from laughing so hard).  We stopped at Brad and Shari's (John's brother-in-law and sister) in Huntington Beach and went to Pei Wei with them and their boys.  It was fun to finally get to meet Shari and her family. 

John and I with his cute nephews Drew, Jakob, and Josh

After dinner we drove the rest of the way to San Clemente.  We stayed with John's parents, at their families condo on the beach.  John's aunt and uncle and Grandma were also staying there that weekend, so it was fun to meet and get to know them. 

Saturday morning we went for a run on a trail along the beach.  It was windy and raining and we were SOAKED by the time we finished.  But oh it was fun!  A funny story - as we finished our run on the pier I looked over at John and his face was covered in boogers.  Seriously covered.  Apparently he had tried to blow a 'snot rocket' and it didn't work out so well :)  We went back to the condo, showered, ate a delicious breakfast, and got ready for our pictures.  Shari is a photographer and offered to do them for us.  I was so excited when I found out we'd take some on the beach! We were worried about the weather because it had been raining on and off the last few days.  LUCKILY it stopped just in time for our pictures and started right back up again when we were finished.  It was so fun taking pictures - first we did some on the beach and then went on main street and did some around all the little shops they had.  Once we were finished we stopped for some donuts at Surfin' Donuts (mmmm....so good) and then spent the rest of the afernoon in the condo.  

That night we went to dinner at Fat Burgers - wow!!  John and I walked back to the condo and stopped by a few little shops on the way.  At one point on our walk we past a man who smelt awful of alcohol.  A few seconds later we heard him collapse to the ground.  We didn't know if we should stop and help to see if he was ok.  John just figured he had passed out from too much to drink so we kept going.  I couldn't help but keep looking back at him to see if he was going to get up.  It was such a sad sight to see - poor guy!

Sunday morning we woke up and ate yummy pancakes with everyone and then hit the road.  It seemed to be a MUCH longer drive on the way back, only because we were both so sick of being in the car.  It was such a fun weekend though and nice to get to meet more of John's family.  I can't wait to go back this summer! 

Engagement pictures coming soon :)