Since we've been gone...

from Provo, I haven't blogged. But since my last post, Blake graduated from BYU! I'm so proud of him and glad that we had such wonderful experiences in Provo. I was sad and excited to leave. Sad to leave family and friends but excited for our adventures on the East Coast. Here are just a few thoughts and pictures of things that have happened since then.

This is the last time we saw our friends, Cliff and Tess. It was a really hard goodbye. We miss them a lot.

It was nice that Blake and his brother could take some pictures together too. We're really excited to have them fairly close in Connecticut!

Is this not a super awesome jumping picture?

After graduation we spent a week in California with my parents and Blake's little brother, Mason. I was so happy to be a part of my best friend's wedding. Cassie, Katie, and I have been best friends since we were about 12 years old and went to Girls' Camp for the first time. Even though we haven't always been in the same place we have remained the best of friends. It's been really special to have the three of us together at each others' weddings. We are, as Anne would say, "kindred spirits." 

First was me. 

Then Katie.

And last but not least, our beautiful friend Cassie. 

Hopefully it won't be too much longer before we're together again. If you're ever on the East Coast, please stop by and visit us in Virginia! 

Days in DC: Take two

Well, in case you haven't heard, we're heading back to DC in just two short weeks! Blake and I each have a day and a half left at school/work and we've started packing up our little home. I love DC and am super excited to go back, but I can't lie. I shed quite a few tears about leaving our little apartment in Provo. It has been the most wonderful place to live, a true source of happiness for me. We put it up on craigslist one day and had 5 different couples come to look at it that night and after every couple left I would cry for just a couple minutes. I kept telling Blake that I didn't want anyone else to live there, but we're starting a new and exciting chapter in our lives and I'm not so sad anymore. A while back, one of our friends Greg volunteered to take some pictures for us, so I decided to get a few in front of our house and in the cute apple orchards down the street so we could always remember it.

Photos by: Greg Williams

and one for fun!

I am looking forward to the move, even the 35 hour road trip in a big moving truck. I'm excited to have a one bedroom apartment instead of a studio. I'm excited to have a car this time around. I'm excited to be working at my old job that I loved and super excited to watch Blake play softball all summer! We're excited for new friends and new experiences and hope that you'll all visit us when you're passing through DC!

Lucky in Love

Have you ever entered into a contest figuring you'll never win? I enter contests and giveaways sometimes and when I don't win, I think, "I never win anything." Well, honestly, I think I've actually been pretty lucky. Like that one time I won a Google laptop. Or that one time when I won a jimmer jersey. And I never posted about it, but I also won a bracelet from Hair and Makeup by Steph in September. So I guess I should really stop saying I never win anything.

I recently discovered BYU Hitlist and play every once in a while. Blake found out about it a month ago and while we were chatting on gchat a week later he said, "I just won $200 to Target!" I thought maybe he was joking but he really won. Here is his winning photo:

So, hopefully posting about our luck doesn't make us unlucky, but if it does, at least we'll still have the "in love" part going for us =)

Against All Odds

I used to think I was a really good driver. I'm beginning to think that I am the worst driver. I hate driving now and make Blake do it whenever possible. It doesn't help that I've got the female, Asian, California thing going on. Throw in some snow and I'm bound to do something reckless. Yesterday and today I lost traction while driving and slid into the curb. Two days in a row! Yesterday, cars were being super dumb and not giving me room to try and back up out of it. I was so frustrated. 

And today when it happened again, I felt like crying. I was backing up and turning my wheels and probably doing everything wrong, but I was following my natural tendencies for dry weather driving. It wasn't working. I was just stuck. And then two young men gave me some instruction and helped push my car out of the snow. It was then that I thought, even when all odds are against me, there are sweet souls who take time to help others. Thank you to whoever helped me today. It was greatly appreciated. 

Our dayly dose of fruits and veggies

I have always been a good fruit and vegetable eater. Blake does pretty well with them too. I feel like I don't always buy enough fresh produce, but I have found a great solution for us. Bountiful Baskets. A lot of you have probably heard of it, but have you TRIED it? I've known about it for more than a year and finally did it for the first time in early December. I looooove it. Wow...didn't realize I sound like an infomercial but I just thought I'd share how wonderful it is for us and maybe it's something you want to try too!

Some people may not like that you don't know what you're going to get, but I feel like it's Christmas every two weeks and I can't wait to open my present. I also feel like it gives me the opportunity to experiment with new recipes using vegetables I may not be inclined to buy myself. Try it! And if you don't like it you never have to do it again. I'm getting into a routine of getting it every two weeks, but if you like it you can decide how little or often you get it and you're not locked into a subscription or anything. Don't forget to eat your fruits and veggies!

A December to Remember

December 2012 brought so many great things.  I'll just go in order.

 



The first grand-baby on the Day side was born! He is adorable and has so much hair. We loved him instantly. Welcome to the family Henry Chatsworth Day! My heart melts every time I see Blake hold him. 

My big brother and best friend married his sweetheart on December 15. It was so nice to be with the whole family again. And since I took so many pictures, I might as well post them all.

Blake and Eden

Ailee and Blake

I couldn't help but post this one where her leg is crossed. She is such a little grown-up.



Marina, Mei Li, Mylee, Eden

Jeremy and Boen

Lance, Jackson, Maika, Kai

Grandpa Howard and Grandpa Amy with all the grandkids. Let's see if I can do this in age order:
Jackson, Maika, Lance, Kai, Devin, Mei Li, Mylee, Marina, Teo, Stephen, Ailee, Boen, Eden, Mi Na, Li Ya. I think that's right...

A beautiful cake for the special day!

Blake and I volunteered to bring this little puppy from Utah to California for some family friends. I'm not much of a dog person, but he was pretty darn cute and sometimes I find myself looking on KSL for puppies...

 

Blake and I celebrated our first Christmas together as a married couple! It was really fun talking about traditions that we wanted to have in our family. I told him I wanted to give each other new PJs every Christmas Eve. He delivered. He doesn't really do PJs, so I gave him some athletic pants instead.

We also celebrated with Blake's mom and siblings. It's nice to be a part of two loving families =).

 I'm vain and want to show off my ribbon skills...

And last but not least, Blake and I ended 2012 by celebrating our first year of marriage together on New Year's Eve.

We checked into the Little America in Salt Lake and took a stroll through City Creek and relaxed for just a few minutes in the hot tub and pool, where we ran into our friends Jordan and Britton. For dinner we headed to the New Yorker and it was delicious. The next morning we relaxed and watched bits of the Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA. It was a great celebration for the both of us and I'm so glad that we have so many more to celebrate.

Looking forward to time and all eternity with you, Blake!