finishing february

Warning: This is going to be a long post.. I'm determined, over the next few days to catch up, since I'm more than a month behind.. yikes! Apparently I only blog when Nick is out of town. Oh well!

16 february 2010

Another night w/ Garn and Heidi. It's fun having our best friends around so often.. and SO fun seeing their little girl grow up. She's gotten so big, and has such a personality. Below is a photo of our adorable husbands.. both keeping themselves entertained.

17 february 2010

This was an enrichment activity I missed out on.. Nick and I were both feeling sick. But Heidi brought me back all the peices, so I can put it together myself. Cute!

18 february 2010

This is the morning little Riley Apsley was born. Meanwhile, her precious older brother and sister got to hang out with "Aunt Jen", mini donuts and Thomas the Tank Engine? Could life get much better? I think not.

Later that night we got to head over to ALA and watch Jake in Sound of Music. He was part of the Vienna Children's Choir. We were a huge fan of the costume ;)

19 february 2010

Yeah, okay.. this was a stretch. One of our favorite treats is slicing up potatoes, brushing them with olive oil and baking them in the oven. Mmmmm.. fries and homemade fry sauce. See? Even the fry is enjoying it...

20 february 2010

We found this photograph hiding out in our car... I think we had it out for our reception, or something like that. I love love love this picture. My in-laws were cute little kids, weren't they? (Julianne's not born yet, but she would have added to the preciousness). I'm a huge fan of Lisa's glasses and Nick's bald, fat head :) What cute kids we'll have!

And of course she's a cute baby too!

21 february 2010

I LOVE Sunday dinners.. mostly because I don't have to cook them (mom's cooking is best!).. and also because we ALWAYS play games. I always win, of course. I was really amused when I looked up from our game to find Dad had drawn a moustache on himself. He thought it would make him look more.. thoughtful?

Since Maya wasn't able to participate in the game, she felt inclined to eat.. a banana peel. Yuck!

22 february 2010

I was able to go judge a Reflection's contest at a local charter school in American Fork. There were SO many talented entries. This one was definitely my favorite. Made by a little elementary student, out of scraps. So cool.

On my way home I stopped by the Mt. Timp Temple to take some photos. It was a gorgeous, overcast day. We're so lucky to be so close to such a gorgeous temple!

23 february 2010

There are more photos of food in this blog than there probably should be. But cookies.. in a pan.. mmm...

24 february 2010

I love my job.. because we just do weird things. Like make co-workers Available/Unavailable signs. Kim puts up with so much from us... really.

25 february 2010

Mmmm.. I never ate foods like this 'til I married Nick. We had our home teachers over for dinner and made shrimp tacos with mango salsa and chicken fajitas. Mmmm! Then we spent the rest of the night playing games.

26 february 2010

Apparently we had some extra paint.. so we painted half of Jan's office red. I should have done before and after photos, but it looks SO much better with red. (We also cleaned her desk, haha)

27 february 2010

Why would I put in a photograph of our stairs? Probably because I dropped my camera down them. Yeah. I've learned why I married Nick.. I break things and he fixes them. This poor guy, who has never looked inside a camera, took the whole thing apart and put it back together. What a keeper! (I rewarded him with BLT's.. with avacado.. BLTA's? See? I'm cool too!....)

28 february 2010

We got our beautiful quilt that Aunt Melody made for our wedding.. isn't it gorgeous?! This doesn't really do it justice, so you can come to our house to see it in person. But I LOVE it.. thanks Aunt Melody :D

Well look at me go! Done with February.. now just another month to go and I'll be mostly caught up. Bleh, taking the photos is so much easier than blogging them :) I'm loving this project, though.. it's so much fun! Thanks everyone for putting up with me having my camera in your face 24/7. I'm off to the aquarium with my family to take more photos and then I'll come back and we'll see how much of March we can get through.

(If you read this whole thing, thanks for being such a trooper!)

plants and husbands

11 february 2010

Today was one of those days where you work all day and it feels like all day.. then all you want to do is come home and sleep. And then you realize.. shoot! Haven't taken my photo of the day! (okay technically I had taken photos, but they were of cars my work is selling.. no thanks!) We decided to attempt creativity with our good friend Ferb. He's put up with a lot.. he's a champion.. and obviously deserved a photo shoot.

12 february 2010

Okay I guess technically the 11th would have been our 8 month anniversary, but like I said.. one of those days. Nick has almost every Friday off, but mine are few and far between. So we decided to take this day off and be friends. We dropped the car off to get work done on it and walked a couple of blocks to the movie theater (saw "The Blind Side".. SO good), then went to Texas Roadhouse. Mmm! We couldn't finish our food, so it ended up being dinner, too, and we kicked back and hung out the rest of the night. Seriously, this guy is my best friend. I love holding hands, walking down the street, and laughing our heads off. Or talking about things that don't matter. Or just being together.

(I love that I made him a Converse boy... love, love, love.)

13 february 2010

Happy birthday, Mike (two days late!). I guess Mike is a Colts fan.. I'll bet the cake was on sale.. heh heh heh. Just kidding, Mike! It was a fun night of pizza, games, cake and friends. Perfect!

14 february 2010

We're not big Valentine's people. We usually get an "us" gift.. a cd we wanted, this year.. but we don't do the flowers and chocolates. So on Valentine's we smooched a lot, hit on each other, and made belgian waffles with Garn, Heidi, Dad & Lisa. And of course took photos of this perfect baby. I tell you, she's taking over my blog. Too cute...

15 february 2010

I know, I know.. I've already been cheesy for this post, but Nick's out of town again, so obviously I've got to end on a lovey-dovey note. If you begin to feel queasy, I won't be offended if you skip this part.

Nick rarely lets me take photos of him (without making faces.. even in this one you can see him "putting up" with having it taken).. you'd think he'd be used to it by now! But he is so amazing and I'm definitely missing the snot out of him right now (cute, huh? snot.. yuck!). Here are some things I miss...

- someone to sleep next to.. the pillows definitely aren't cutting it

- someone to humor my snide and oh-so-clever remarks.. I've been talking to myself a lot

- kissing him.. duh.

- having someone to cook for. i'm on a cereal and noodle diet this week.

- all the compliments.. my ego is practically withering away without him

- the door opening. i missed that the most today. my favorite thing is being at home, cooking or reading or whatever it is i'm doing... and hearing his key in the door. my heart skips a beat and i run to the stairs with my doofy smile and ask him how his day was. then he comes up the stairs and hugs me so tight i don't want to move. it's the same EVERY day and i love it. i'm excited to hear him open the door on thursday.

(was that cheesy or what?! thank you, thank you...)

365 days

5 february 2010

That's right.. I've joined the club. Sixteen days ago, on a Friday night, Nick and I headed out the door to go get a late night Jones soda (I'm sure we were getting other things, but only the Jones seemed important). I love our random outings, because we just talk.. and because we call them outings. Anyway, I told him about my dream of someday doing the "365 day project" so many photographers do. He asked me why I hadn't started. And so I did.

It's only been sixteen days, but it's been an interesting sixteen days. I've learned some days are full of fun photo ops, and some days you have to make up your own. I have learned to start looking around for photos. I've learned how incredibly supportive and creative my husband is (okay, well I already knew that, but you get the idea). So much learning. Some days are full of a hundred photos from some African restaurant, and other days only have five photos of cookies. But it's still fun seeing what makes those days good. Hope you enjoy!

6 february 2010

Mark and Maria's wedding... in Denmark. We decided to celebrate without them. That's how the Savage family rolls. And yes, that fabulous cake was made by yours truly, and frosted by the other half. The raspberries in the middle are two M's, for Mark and Maria... (just in case you forgot, Uncle Steve).

7 february 2010

As previously stated, some days are cookie days.


8 february 2010

Many of my photos will be of Maya. Her parents, Garn and Heidi, are living with Nick's parents for a little while. We usually split the week and take turns cooking (SO nice not cooking every night). This also usually consists of playing games, watching random youtube videos, and playing with little Maya. She has the best seven month facial expressions.. ever.

9 february 2010

This was somewhat of a tragic day. However, I did get to give my brother a ride home from school. He, like Maya, is the child of a million facial expressions. Many of which, I'm sure, will grace this 365 day project. After spending time with him, however, tragedy soon ensued...

Moral of the story: don't leave your laptop on top of your car... or if you do, remember to take it off before you drive away. Nick's Christmas present to me... ouch! Luckily the screen was the only thing damaged, and it's under warranty.

Blessing of the day: For some reason, being the lazy person that I am, when I realized I hadn't packed my planner in my bag, I slid it into the laptop case. Therefore, when some sweet lady found it lying on the side of some random street, she was able to find a name and phone number. (Thank you!!)

(And of course, more Maya...)


10 february 2010

When I carpooled to work with some co-workers, one of them mentioned that she was taking a group of her students to an African restaurant in Salt Lake City. She asked if I wanted to come... and what the heck! Honestly, the idea of the fun things I could take photographs of is what swayed me to go. But the food and the experience is what made me want to go back.

This man was truly fascinating! He and his sister own the restaurant and are from Ethiopia. He spent a little bit of time telling us about his past and other incredible stories. I need to find out what his name is, but he was a lot of fun!

(Sorry the layout is a little sketchy... I'll come back and fix it when it's not midnight. For now, time to go smooch my husband!)

"Newlyweds"

I came home from work very angry today. Seriously annoyed. And I don't get seriously annoyed. I think it's pent up frustration that finally popped. Yes, popped.

I understand that I am not an expert on marriage. I have only been married 8 months... I am quite positive there are a great many things I have not yet figured out about marriage. I know, I know... I don't know everything? Shocking!

Regardless, I'm sick of people telling me my opinions of marriage aren't valid because we're "just newlyweds". I'm sick of being told that I shouldn't miss my husband when he goes out of town.. in fact, in a year, I'll LOVE it when he's gone. I'm sick of my husband being told that pretty soon he's going to get tired of eating only green skittles and is going to want to try some different flavors. I'm sick of being told I haven't experienced "real marriage" yet.

My response? You're an idiot.

I understand some people say this in jest. I'm not regarding them. I have a sense of humor, I understand. I am talking to you people who have had bad experiences with marriage, or aren't happy with where you are in life, and feel the need to condemn my marriage and tell me I know nothing about it. False.

I know that it takes work. I know that life isn't always wonderful. I also know that life wouldn't always be wonderful if I were by myself, either. So I chose to have a wonderful (or not-so-wonderful, depending on who you are) life with my best friend. I am genuinely happy and insanely in love. And a year from now, or five years from now, or whenever your definition of "real marriage" starts... I can't wait to show you how "newlywed happy" we still are.

(A little venting for the new year.. sorry!)

Also, thanks to all the INCREDIBLE couples I know who have shown me that a happy marriage lasts beyond the first year. My parents, Nick's parents, Katie & Rob, Brian & Kelly, Julie and her husband, all of my uncles, aunts.. grandparents. I don't care how many of you tell me marriage gets old.. tell it to these people.

PS- In response to the skittle comment at work, Nick took in a bag of ONLY green skittles the next day. Best husband ever.

Loving the holidays

I promise we haven't fallen off the face of the earth.. I never was good at this blogging thing. However, rest assured that posts are coming.. family parties, trips to Florida, Christmas.. all sorts of happiness. Until then, I am busy enjoying the last week of my break and treasuring every moment I get with the best husband ever! We have an unhealthy obsession with each other and have been spending every single spare minute together.. putting Christmas up, taking Christmas down, playing games, cuddling, playing with friends, writing messages in the snow, and not getting enough sleep. I love being married! (And I'll make actual blog posts soon!) Happy Holidays :)

Not cool

Bleh.. I was looking on our online bank statement today (thank goodness for that!) and found someone had spent nearly $500 from Nick's card. All of it was in California, for all sorts of random things. I freaked out and ran to the bank, where they assured me that we would get all the money back, and they'd cancel his card, order a new one.. blah blah blah.

I just have to wait until tomorrow, because the big chunks of what they spent haven't gone through yet.. they're pending. So now I'm patiently waiting for someone to spend my money so that I can report it. Yuck!!

(Poor Nick just can't get a break.. fraud, fraud and more fraud...)

PS! Not to worry.. we're still happy and loving life :D Just inconvenienced by the stupidity of others.

Life in Lists

I believe I think and live in lists.

I'm excited for two Thanksgivings, two days of work, two big families to see and love, and a whole weekend of fun.

(I'm most excited for homemade mashed potatoes... mmm...)

Disney World is calling to me. 13 days.

I love the smell of the heater.

Nick told his friend at work he wouldn't "let" me decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving.. so I put up our nativity set. Heh heh...

I get to wear jeans to work tomorrow.

I'm in a wait-and-see stage of my job.

I'm jealous of my husband when he sits down to do homework. I need to go back and finish school.

Today I turned off my radio on the drive home to work and listened to silence. It was refreshing.

Time to go get stuff done!