7 Is A Magic Number!!!

7 is an interesting number for Shay and me.  Winnie was born on the 7th of August. Shay was born on the 7th of January. On the 7th of April Shay and Winnie were granted their hearts desire!  LIFE IS GREAT! Now, should we keep up the 7 pattern and get married on the 7th of July?? No one would be able to attend, seeing as it is a Tuesday, but it seems to be our lucky number!!....maybe we should keep the ball rolling?!?!? :-) Either way, we am so excited!!!!!  We are getting married!!!!

Spring Break in Chicago

I have always loved going home for spring break! When my family lived in Diamond Bar, California, it was not only a chance for me to spend time with them....but also an escape from the drab Utah weather that seems to always plague this state at this time of the year! Now that my parents have moved to Chicago, it is definitely not an escape from the weather ;-) but is a wonderful chance to spend time with family and see many wonderful things that I have never seen before. My parents have spoiled me rotten with much loved museum trips, concerts, Chicago deep dish pizza, exploring new and amazing restaurants, and many other FABULOUS adventures (Thanks Mom and Dad---you both are the best!!).  This year was no exception! It was even more fun having Shay come out and be spoiled together!

Friday night, as I proceeded to the baggage claim to pick up my suitcase, I found out that my parents had accidentally gone to the Midway Airport instead of the O'hare Airport where I landed. This gave me a wonderful chance to chat with my brother Mark on the phone while my parents quickly drove the 30 plus minutes it takes to get to O'hare. We all had a good chuckle.

Saturday, my mother and I went shopping. We were gone all day. Found some wonderful things for my upcoming wedding.

Sunday was stake conference, which I wrote about already in a previous blog.

Monday and Tuesday was a repeat of Saturday....unfortunately the weather was so cold!!!

Wednesday I went to humanitarian with my mother and helped quilt quilts for those in need. I was able to finish tying two toddler quilts---very exciting! That night Shay flew in. :-)  I was so excited to have him in Chicago.

Thursday, my mother surprised Shay and me with a surprised bridal shower. It was Shay's first shower--not sure if he really wanted to be there but he flattered us anyway. Friends and family friends were able to come over and meet Shay and spoil us. It was really fun! Thanks mom!!

After the shower (I am sad I didn't think to take any pictures of the shower!!), my mother suggested we go down to the river walk in Naperville and take a few pictures. We were toying with the idea of hiring someone to take our engagement pictures out in Chicago....since I am a bit worried that we won't be able to get them done in time for our wedding.....
Well, I was quite skeptic. You see, my mother has an awful reputation of taking crazy pictures among our family members....but I thought, what the heck, won't hurt.
Well, you will see below the best of the best that I could find amongst the many pictures. I was very proud of my mother though, there were only about a 1/2 of a dozen pictures with only legs and arms-- Love you mom ;-)

We started at the bridge. I would love to have my engagement picture taken here. There is something really cool about a bridge. Maybe because it looks like a journey is about to begin.

Here, my mother didn't quite get us in focus but we did get an additional man as a bonus in our picture ;-)


It stinks that I am 7/8 inches shorter than Shay!! I love that he is 6'1"/6'2" I just wish I wasn't trying to hit 5'4"


After an enormous amount of pictures were taken at the bridge, I said we needed to move on. We walked along the river walk and ran into this sculpture. I think it is so cool.


Well, I didn't like this picture because you can see me standing on the curb, hoping to elevate myself to a reasonable level.



Then we thought we should go to the other side.....bad idea, the sun was way too bright...plus, my mother wasn't quite able to get the whole sculpture into the picture.


So we then decided to venture to the other side of the river walk. My mother suggested we take this picture....with the "lovely" background and all. Maybe this will be a great picture to blow up at my funeral...heehee....since everything behind us is DEAD!!!!


This was one of our more brilliant ideas. Hey, let's sit in the tree. Does this not scream, WE NEED A PROFESSIONAL'S HELP!!


My mother finally figured out the zoom on my camera and got some really close ups.


Too bad the sun is so bright....


We are starting to look like we have perma-grins on ;-)
Although I do love this picture of Shay.


I wish his beautiful blue eyes can be seen better!!! I am not kidding, his eyes are gorgeous!!!


Love this man!



I love this picture of Shay!!! Isn't he such a cutie! We are actually laughing at my mother, who still can't figure the camera out yet!!


Can you tell we are done smiling?!?!


So long, farwell......no more pictures!! Yippy!!


That night we went with my parents to the Chicago Temple. We had a great time. The temple truly is an amazing place!


I love to go there and enjoy the peace and joy that is found within!


Friday, Dad wanted to take us all out to celebrate our engagement, so we went to

La Sorella Di Francesca

It was an AMAZING Italian restaurant, where I literally wanted to lick my plate!



Here's my mom and dad deciding what to order.  I hope Shay and I will be just like them when we get older.  They are always having fun together and doing things for each other!



Here's our happy faces!



We then took a stroll in Naperville and went into Barnes and Noble.  Shay of course thought it would be funny to take a picture with the old lady statue:



Saturday, we also took a trip to the The Museum of Science and Industry in down town Chicago.


Shay and I love to do things that make us laugh:



Through out the museum, there are many fun places to take pictures.



Here is Shay posing as a car racer:


Here we are in front of a miniature skyline of down town Chicago.  It was amazing!


Having fun learning about trains:



We also go to go see an IMax movie together:



and take a ride on a cow:


Sunday, we had to fly back home. :-(

We had such a fun time hanging out with each other and the folks!

Thanks mom and dad again for another memorable vacation!  You guys are the best!!

LOVE FLOWERS!

I have always loved the sight and smell of fresh flowers! I am not sure if this love came because I was able to work at a florist one summer or what......but I love fresh flowers!
When I lived in Belgium, I absolutely loved that the home (in which I lived) had fresh flowers in the front room every single day! Every day I would walk into the house and stop for a brief moment to admire the beautiful flowers.
Unfortunately, flowers cost a heck of a lot more here in the States and are a very rare indulgence. So I am sure you can imagine how excited I was, on Valentines day, when I opened the front door to find the cutest man ever, Shay, standing there with flowers in his hands! My heart skipped a beat!
Of course, as time has passed the flowers have faded too......but the memory and feelings have not!
So I had to take some pictures and post them so I can look back on them often and remembered how loved and happy I felt!
Don't flowers just make you smile! They do me!

Thanks Shay......your really made my day!

Who is Shay?

So, for the past six months I have had the privilege of dating a man named Shay. Yes, six months....first official date was on my birthday, August 7th. WOW, how time flies!! I don't know where all of the time has gone!
Well, right now -as I am freezing in Utah :-) due to my choice and stupidity ;-) -- Shay is basing in the warm sun of Mexico with a bunch of his friends. I am sure he is having a FABULOUS time!
Due to Shay's absence, I have had tons of extra time on my hands to try and catch up on all the things I have ignored so that I could spend time with him. During this time, I have had the chance to reflect on our relationship and what it is that I love about Shay. So, since it is sappy Valentines Day week, I thought I would share just a few amazing things about Shay that makes my heart go pitter-patter...


1. Shay makes me laugh! He has the most contagious laugh ever! He brings joy and contentment to all those around him!

2. Shay is patient. He is dating me, enough said ;-)

3. Shay is someone who is always willing to serve.
I will always remember the weekend Shay literally spent hours rubbing my back to try and help the pain go away (and we weren't even dating at the time).

4. Shay is extremely intelligent --he is constantly amazing me. If one takes the time to listen, one can learn a lot from him. Yet, Shay is so humble that he isn't one to trumpet his own horn!

5. Shay is such a gentleman! After 6 months of dating, he still opens the car door for me--both to get in and get out (as well as all doors).

6. Shay is very spiritual. A quality that is so hard to find nowadays. He puts God first and is very in tune with the spirit. I love this because it pushes me to be better

7. Shay has amazing self-control! He doesn't allow others to ruffle his feathers. He is able to back away from a situation and look at it from all angles. He doesn't allow anger to get the best of him.

8. Shay is analytical. He thinks everything through. So when he does make a decision one knows it isn't something done haphazardly!

9. Shay has the most beautiful blue eyes that I have ever seen! Seriously, take a look! My heart is pitter-pattering just thinking about them!

10. Shay is a deep individual. I really love talking with hm. We are able to have deep meaningful conversations that leave me feeling safe, happy, energized, and thoughtful, etc. A few times I have found that we don't necessarily hold the exact same points of view---but I also have found myself having to respect, reflect and at times even change my views due to the thoughts and feelings he has shares with me....he is amazing!

Well, I could go on and on but it is past my bedtime and I need to get up really early tomorrow morning....but I just wanted to share a few things about the man I am dating! Now can you see why I am so excited to have him return from Mexico!

Trip to Bear Lake

Saturday night I went with a few friends up to Bear lake for the night. Jay's family owns a cabin up there and we felt we needed to get away and have a good time.

It was such a blast! We left at about 2:30pm and got in around 5ish.
 Who said woman are the only ones who pact too much--MIKE!

Since I have such a happy body at the moment (and the fact that I had stayed up the night before to purchase the last Twilight book....at midnight...and then proceeded to read until 3:45 am) the drive up was quite painful. I resigned to lean over the entire back seat (which wasn't that big, since we were in a little Mazda) and lay my head on Shay's lap--poor guy--nothing like having someone snoring on you while traveling.
 Picture of cabin
and "backyard."

Once we got there we unloaded and the first group of 4 wheelers went for a ride.
 Jay, the fearless 4 wheeling leader.
 The first group to go four wheeling: Jay, Mike, CJ, Audriana.
 Taking off.
 The second group: Nicole, Shay and I.

Nicole, Shay and I decided to go for a walk around the area while we were waiting to take our 4 wheeler turn.

To take a few pictures.....

and to see the beautiful scenery:


We ran into a fun swing set....


a pretty little stream:
 

 

Saw some cute little dessert flowers:


And took some fun pictures:


Shay being a hick:


Then we returned to the cabin to wait for our trip out:


We lounged around and enjoyed each others company


When the first group of riders came back, Nicole, Shay, Jay, Mike, and I went 4 wheeling up to a lake. 

It was a gorgeous view....
 

 

Jay decided to take the rear this time.


We crossed over a river.


I, of course, found a nice muddy puddle to land in when trying to find the perfect picture spot.


It was disgusting!


But I got the shot!
 


We then returned to the cabin for a bit to eat.


Unfortunately, the bumps in the road didn't help my back. Luckily, Shay was willing to work on it for me. Let's just say the poor guy spent more time trying to help relieve the pain in my back then he was able to do anything else (thanks Shay--I owe you big time!).


We then decided to go shoot off fireworks. It took us about an hour and a half to finally find a place to shoot them off.

This is a picture of a firecracker I was holding.


We then returned to the cabin to chat and sleep. We finally settled down at about 3 in the morning. It was too bad the sun came out so darn early. I was up with the birds at about 6. We went to church and enjoyed the wonderful people of Wyoming.

When we returned we enjoyed games, conversations, and a great cooked meal by Nicole.
 

And after a little R&R we loaded up and headed back to Happy Valley.


It was a great break!!