Whoop There It Is

And there we have it.

I am officially going to be a master of something...

A master of Sociology that is.

Happy Birthday Mr. Pres-i-dent

Thank you President Obama

And those who have come before

For allowing us to miss a day of school

So we could go and pick up this little thing

No school, new car, and 6 month anniversary.

Thank YOU Mr. President!

I Would Still Love You

Dear Jonathan,

It seemed fitting to celebrate Valentines day only 4 days before our 6 month anniversary.

Love is all around these days! And boy am I okay with it.

You woke me up to some homemade breakfast (before an 8 am class even! that takes some dedication!)

I got home from class and twisted our doorknob hoping that it would be unlocked-cause that means you are home.

I was sad to realize that I really wasn't going to see you until 8 pm

But you surprised me again as I walked in to see this on our floor.

And I oddly smelled some broccoli in the air.

Then my dear Jonathan- you jumped out of the kitchen with lunch cooking and all!
And a redbox on the side.
My heart was really excited about it.

Then some homework, test reviews, dodge ball intramurals, and a surprise dinner at a restaurant i've been dying to go to.

It was a perfect first-married-Valentines day.

And this song goes out to you dear Jonathan.

Because no matter what- I would still love you.

You're right- at times it may be a rocky road- but that's what brings us closer in the end.

It reminds us how to love deeper and remember how lucky we really are.

You make me happy.

Even if you get bald,
make weird animal sounds,
and/or weigh 799 pounds...

I would still love you.

Because you love me, and you always know just how to show it.

So-thank you for everything.

The perfect valentines day, and the perfect rocky road that I wouldn't want to travel with anyone else.

Love changes everything-and thanks to you- it sure has changed me!

Love,

Hay

Tell me How to Win your Heart

If you are Jonathan then NEVER read this post. Ever.

Just back away slowly and know that I love you...but this is top secret.

For the sake of your happiness. NO READING THIS!




Okay, now that we've got that settled...

...to the greatest Valentines thing!

Moulin Rouge- my FAVORITE movie

My Sister has been doing the 14 days of Valentines for her husband since the year they got married. They have a 12 year old son now- so she's been doing this a long time!

My mom and sister gave me this list of things to do-hence why it is so creative and great.

I know that Valentines day is tomorrow, but there are still options!

Do the 14 days after Valentines day
Do a bunch of them tomorrow.
Do them on the 14th of every month all year long
(I've been thinking that I want to do something like this on the 22nd of every month. His birthday is August 22nd and he has loved this so so much-so why not keep the happiness alive?!)
Ya know, the options are endless and it does not have to be on Valentines day specifically.


But really- I have hid one of these things with a note on it around the house every day of February. He wakes up every morning and literally hunts for it. Some of them come later in the day too, so I always laugh inside when he is hunting for something that is not there. But I thought I'd share the love and give you this great idea too.

Do it for a best friend, roommate, significant other- adapt it to them and their likes. Just make it fun. Because really- Moulin Rouge says it best- The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return. So DO SOMETHING about it!

You are one hot tamale- hot tamales

I wouldn't chews anyone but you- gum

We were mint to be together- mints

You make my heart bubble over- soap, bubbles, soda whatever really

I’m nuts about you- nuts

U light up my life- Utah stuff (I don’t recommend his for the BYU fans out there (sadly my husband is one of those Utah guys... ha!)

You’re the write one for me- notebook or his favorite pens

We make the perfect pair –socks

Valentine you float my boat- root beer float stuff

You make my heart pop or Pop goes my heart- popcorn

I have ever raisin to be your valentine- raisins

I dig you- shovel? 

I’ve got your back- massage

I’m berry lucky to have you in my life- berry anything

You are the sweetest fish- Swedish fish

You are the apple of my eye- apples

It’s a treat being your valentine- his favorite treat

I was soapin you’d be mine- soap

Just betix you and me, I love you- twix

You’ve got a pizza my heart- pizza

Donut you know I love you a whole bunch- donut holes

I go bananas over you-bananas

I think you are soda-mazing- soda

Thanks for sticking by my side- chapSTICK

Life would be unbearable without you- gummy bears

It’s a joy being married to you- almond joy

You stole a piece of my heart- reeces pieces

You spice up my life- chips and salsa, hot Cheetos

Baby do I tune you on- itunes card

Roses are red, violets are blue, go ahead and buy yourself something new- gift card

Baby you’ve attacked my heart- heart attack and treat

Super fun, super easy, and he SUPER loves it! 

(and he's kept all the post-it notes which is also SUPER cute)

Happy Valentines Eve! 

Everybody Wants to be Understood

My new favorite thing.

All we need is a ball pit to remind us that we really aren't all that different.

All I Ever Wanted

After our wedding we did the unthinkable...

...we drove from SLC to LA
(boarded an amazing Mexican cruise)
then drove from Southern California to Northern California
(had our perfect open house)
then drove from Northern California to Provo, Utah
(started school the next day).

All of that was done in one week from the day we got married. And within 16 days of returning from Uganda.

Totally and completely insane- and yet totally and completely perfect.


So here it is! Wedding post-the last!

The few pictures from the honeymoon. I guess taking pictures was the last thing on our to-do list... cause we don't seem to have much to show for it.

First up was our stay on the Queen Mary. First boat- now hotel. Totally and completely awesome and hardly changed from its voyage days.

Our view from our little porthole 

The next morning we boarded our cruise!

And stopped at Catalina

Then to Mexico for Jonathan's birthday and some kayaking!

And then up to Nor Cal for our wonderful open house in the beautiful Santa Rosa California


Once again-amazing food

Amazing support from the Pierce family and friends

There ya go Stacy :)

Some of my amazing family even made the trip to California!!

And my sweet cousin drove a few hours to get there

And my most favorite part- THE FLOWERS! Holy cow they were beautiful (thank you, thank you Loke! and thank you Skabelunds for your BEAUTIFUL house!)

My bouquet!!

Even though I got a little sick half way through...(I can probably thank the fact that I had only been home from Uganda 2 weeks, had a wedding, and a honeymoon, and all that driving, and was soon to find out I had some parasites in my belly...well it only seems fitting I was sick at some point. )

Everyone was so nice to me and let me sit.

But it really was the perfect ending to a perfect wedding. Thank you Karen for all your work! And for making all my bouquet and cupcake dreams come true!

My wedding situation was nothing like I expected, but I've certainly realized that it was all I ever wanted.

Living on a Prayer

“One hot summer day a Fox was strolling through an orchard. He saw a bunch of Grapes ripening high on a grape vine. “Just the thing to quench my thirst,” he said. Backing up a few paces, he took a run and jumped at the grapes just missing. Turning around again he ran faster and jumped again. Still a miss. Again and again he jumped, until at last he gave up out of exhaustion. Walking away with is nose in the air, he said: “I am sure they are sour.” It is easy to despise what you can’t get.”**

Can I just say Aesop was a genius! It's always crazy to read a story about a milkmaid and a pail, or a fox and a grape and know exactly what this little old guy was writing about!

I hear ya Aesop!

Boy do I hear ya!

Some days I feel like I am running and jumping after those grapes and I can't seem to get em. And sadly- most days end up with me thinking of every excuse about why it's okay that I didn't keep trying to get them. I make excuses for giving up, or excuses for not even trying in the first place.

Honestly- I'm just proud of the wolf for trying. Some days I don't even seem to do that. 

But some days I do try- and that deserves some credit right? I mean, that wolf didn't just see how high up those grapes are and walk away thinking he was inadequate. He TRIED. I say good on ya wolfie...

So i'm going to take a hint from my dear friend Aesop and not despise the thing I can't get. Instead I want that to motivate me all the more. And on those days when motivation is the last thing I want- well, I hope to at least try. 

Because trying is sometimes all we can do.

And that is good enough.

Because at this point, this dear marathon seems FAR above my reach. And I have a feeling that simply "trying" won't get my body to go 26.2 miles...

So then I guess I'll just "pray" myself 26.2 miles HA!

**and pretty sure I want to make Fable Friday a thing. Because I can. And it has alliteration. And all cool blogs have alliteration days. 

Come Fly with Me

Everyone told me that once I got married my travels would stop. At least for awhile while we survive the poor college life.

I was okay with that. I mean, delay my world travel for true love, fair enough!

But HOLD UP!

Just like your social life doesn't need to go away when you get married (which is another thing people always told me)...

...your travel life apparently doesn't need to either!!

And not only that-I actually get to be a straight up tourist!

Other than our short stint in Mexico for our honeymoon cruise, I've never been out of the country to just be there. I've only gone for work and school. So this will be a whole new adventure!

And I get to go with Jonathan!
And I get to go with my amazing new family.
And I get to go to Europe.
And I might get to see my dear Sarah J who is on a mission in Belgium.

So let's just say I am one happy girl.

One very, very happy girl.

And I will be an even happier girl when I am here (London)

And here (Paris)

And here (Belgium)

And here (Switzerland)

And what makes it all the better? I get to peace out on school for two weeks!! 

Any other semester this probably would have scared me like crazy. But I got the following email yesterday  

So what does that mean?

I'm graduating college and no one is gonna stop me! 

2 weeks of school off and potential not so typical Hayley grades and all!

Hey Europe!! Get ready for us, cause 

HERE 

WE 

COME!!