New Blog

I have to change things up a little bit. Now I share a blog with John. Well, I guess I should really say, I have a new blog but this one has John's name on it. So feel free to update your readers or whatever links you have to our new blog address. Gracias!

http://cannons09.blogspot.com/

Just Follow The Yellow Brick Road To.....

PHOENIX!!

That's right. I'm moving to Phoenix for the summer in less than 2 weeks! I'll be leaving Provo on May 3rd, w/ a couple days stop in Las Vegas to meet with wedding people (pick out linens, centerpieces, etc...), get my hair done (very important!), and then it's off to Phx! I'm soooo excited. It's going to be so hot so I'm trying to prepare myself now but that's really hard in Provo where we've been begging for heat for months.

I have a little "To Do" list while in Phoenix. This list includes, but is not limited to:
hiking "A" mountain
swimming at least 4 times a week
getting really tan
and hopefully 'toned' for the wedding ... but i'm not good at the 'working out' thing
working lots
going to some Diamondbacks games
befriending one of the Suns players so I can find out what happened this season
GET MARRIED
go on a cruise
go to Lake Powell
that should cover it for now.


Anyways, I'm excited.
I feel like I should also mention that his originally started out as John's idea to go to Phoenix, and then when he said "why don't you come too?" I thought ..."duh"
So, we made some phone calls and worked out the logistics and now our adventure is about to begin!



This pic is kind of old and not that great - but we both look happy so that's important, right!?

There's No Turning Back Now!

Well we did it. We took our engagement photos between Court and Jared's sealing and the reception last Saturday. It made for a very long day, but it was worth it in the end. We took our pics at the same place where Court had her reception and where it looks like we're going to have ours as well. I'm excited!! Things are coming together nicely and I can't wait for June 20th!
THANK YOU to Jamie Hammond who took our pics for us!

And a big THANK YOU to John's sister, Mandy, who surprised me (w/ John's help) on Christmas with this plate she made. John was so excited to watch me open this gift that was somehow forgotten under the Christmas Tree on Christmas Day ... I knew by his smile he was up to something, but I love it! It sits proudly on my dresser. Here's the link to her site: http://laneyjanedesigns.blogspot.com/



Mama always says lips are better with a little color - I guess I should've listened to Mama. Oh well! John still loves me. ;)

Not gonna lie -- It's kind of weird seeing me kissing someone in a picture!

It (finally) Happened

Last weekend I was in Vegas (again) for my sister, Courtney's, wedding. Everything turned out just beautiful and it was very hard to leave and come back to Provo on Sunday. The wedding was a success and we had quite a turn out. Food was amazing and the reception was very fun.

Here are a few pics from the weekend

Here's the link to the slideshow from the weekend:
http://www.jamiehammondphotography.com/webslideshows/jaredandcourtney/

Milk's Favorite Cookie

"The OREO has landed in Britain. And it is giving rise to a furious Battle of the Biscuits."

Somehow I stumbled upon this article and couldn't help but share it with you.

I have always enjoyed OREOS and feel it is safe to say that my OREO shakes are pretty famous. I also feel it is safe to say there will be OREOs at my reception. You are welcome to all my fellow OREO-lovers.

Now go grab yourself a nice cold glass of milk and a couple OREOs and enjoy!

Costco = Funeral Needs??

Does anybody else find it kind of morbid that Costco offers caskets and things for funerals? I realize they are the "one stop shopping" place for a lot of people...but c'mon! Caskets? Urns? Awkward!


Costco's Funeral Site


Do you think maybe you can get a discount if you're a "lifetime" member at Costco?
(sorry that was kind of off color)

My (last) white dress

I have really been dreading going dress shopping for a very long time now. I realize that is not what normal girls would say. Most people who know me know that I am not a big fan of shopping and trying things on. I'll go to the store/mall get what I need, walk around if I have to, and then I'm done. I've learned the art of people watching (and must say I am REALLY good at this) while waiting for others to finish their shopping.

The point of this post is: I TRIED ON 10 DRESSES IN LESS THAN AN HOUR on Saturday and I am so proud of that. The lady at the dress shop was very impressed at how efficient I was. I put it on, looked in the mirror and it came right off if I didn't love it. I like 4 of them, and loved 1 of them. However, I will not be making my purchase until I have a mother's opinion. (b/c that's what every girl wants, right?!)

Yep, I rock.

I Want to Hold Your Hand

My cousin Walker did this on Facebook and I loved it ... so, obviously I followed in his path. Now you will all see that I have a random taste of music.

Rules:
1. Put your music library on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song title as the answer to the question, no matter how silly it sounds! Most of the time they seem to work though, strangely enough.
4. Ok, go!
5. When you're done, tag 20 people in this note, and make sure to tag the person who sent you this.


1) IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OK?" YOU SAY?
This is the Countdown - Mae

2) WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
A Whole New World - Disney's Aladdin (yes, I love Disney)

3) WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Mean Girl - Unwritten Law

4) HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Run Through The Jungle - Credence Clearwater Revival

5) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Awake - Secondhand Serenade

6) WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Down South Jukin' - Lynyrd Skynyrd

7) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
I Walk In - Brougham (from the movie 'Can't Hardly Wait')

8) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Running On Faith - Eric Clapton

9) WHAT IS 2+2?
L.O.V.E. - Frank Sinatra

10) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
From Me To You - The Beatles

11) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Something - The Beatles (From Across the Universe Soundtrack-sung by Jim Sturgess)

12) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Vulnerable - Secondhand Serenade

13) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles

14) WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Don't Ask Me Why - Billy Joel

15) WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Is Anybody Loving You These Days? - Dierks Bentley

16) WHAT SONG WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR WEDDING?
Try A Little Tenderness - Michael Buble

17) WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Lonesome - Unwritten Law

18) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Stop and Stare - One Republic

19) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Where the Green Grass Grows - Tim McGraw

20) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Commotion - Credence Clearwater Revival

21) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles

I said YES...eventually

A couple of days ago John told me he had something to show me. I asked and begged him to show me but since we were not at his apartment where the "object" was I could not see it. I kind of forgot about it until we were at dinner tonight and I asked if I could see the previously mentioned object. He told me I could but not at his apartment b/c he didn't want his roommates to make fun of him. (or he wanted to surprise me .... )

Anyways, we leave dinner and we're driving back towards Provo and he says we'll go to the park that we went to all the time before the ground froze over and this white stuff stuck to it. We pull up and he has the box in the back. I'm thinking 'is he serious? it's so cold out right now! Oh well' I'm always curious and like to know what's going on so I put my coat on and step out of the car with my interest on high alert.

We walk over to the light and he's holding this shoe box (from a pair of shoes I got him from Christmas) and we sit on this bench. (marble bench + snow all over = freezing cold!) Anyways, he finally hands me the box. I open up and look inside and kind of just stare at him. It's has a bunch of things inside that he has saved from previous dates, or concerts, trips, events, games, etc, and things we have done together. I take each item out and my smile keeps getting bigger. I think there is no way he has all this stuff and remembers this (and put it in a shoebox he saved that I gave him. nice touch)!! I'm so excited and tell him thank you again and again.

So we begin walking back to the car and I'm pretty cold by this point and we're walking back to the car. I feel like I'm tugging him along by this point and then he has something in his shoe. I say "Ok, hurry" and keep walking. After walking maybe 10 paces I turn around and his shoe is off and he's emptying it out. I walk back to him and I'm like "Come on. It's cold!"

Then he takes the menu from where we had dinner at out of his back pocket and hands it to me. (I asked him at dinner if I should put one in my purse b/c we like to take the to go menus of places we like) He told me not to take the menu. So when he pulls it out of his pocket I say, "Seriously? Why'd you take that? You told me not to." And then he says, "So you can put it in your little box and remember it from the night I proposed to you." I'm all "WHAT!?" And then he's on his knee with a ring in his hand.

So of course I'm all excited (and I dont remember being cold after that) and I give him a big hug and tell him I love him and put the ring on (and it fits perfectly!) and hug him again and I'm just elated. As we walk back to the car John says, "So...does that mean yes?" I looked at him and he said "you didn't say it earlier...but I assume..." And I kind of cut him off and laugh and say, "of course! yes."

And then we get in the car and go back to his apartment and I make the phone calls to my folks and family members...and texts...and everyone seems to be happy for us. It's a good day.

Swald

My cousin, Swald, has officially left the building. She is now in Guatemala and we wish her the best of luck while she serves the Lord for the next 18 months.

Catch Up

Christmas Break was so great! I spent a couple days in Vegas, then went to Phx to spend Christmas with John and his family, and then we went back to Vegas to spend New Years there. The weather was practically perfect and I enjoyed getting to know some of John's little nieces and nephews a little better...


First we have Kate, Paige, Ellie, Seth, and Chase.

I stole this one from Courtney's blog. (sorry...but thanks.)




and also Laney and Allie. (i think Laney liked the gift we got her:)

(Also stole this pic from Mandy--thanks again)




While in Vegas we spent time with Cade, Chloe, and Claire...

(again, pic stolen from Kamy. gracias.)





Christmas was great! I enjoy the idea of a "White Christmas," however, you just can't beat playing outside when it's sunny and beautiful on Christmas day. Gotta love Phx and Vegas!!

Vegas was also fun. We helped my Dad at his (new) annual New Years party for the youth in our stake. They had a ton of stuff -- Wii games, ping pong, velcro wall, great food, bouncing/obstacle course blow up thingy, and a couple movies showing. Hopefully next year there will be a lot more people.


Sorry for the pics of just the kids (these are all John's nieces and nephews for those friends thar are probably slightly confused why I'm posting pics of random kids) Enjoy them. :)