Last couple weeks

We have had a crazy couple of weeks!!!  My cousin Amy got married this past week so we had family in town and of course had lots of partying to do. My mom flew in for the wedding and stayed a few extra days so I got to spend some time with her. We had a fun time just hanging out. My cousin Estef (Amy's sister-in-law) had her baby and little Nico is healthy and beautiful, arriving during all the wedding craziness!

Amy and Mark just married!

Reception night

Family dinner, fun with the cousins!

Little Nico. I need me one of these...

The week before the wedding, my great grandma passed away so my Dad flew in for the funeral and even though his visit wasn't for fun, we loved spending time with him. The funeral was very nice and my great grandpa is still hanging on at 109! During that same weekend our clutch went out and to avoid paying hundreds to take it to a shop, Justin spent two full days, sun up to sun down, working on it himself down in our parking garage. What a man. He fixed it with the help of his brother and a couple of friends saving us lots of dough! Both nights coming in looking like he fell down a chimney! He was so dirty. 

Last week was also our one year anniversary but because of everything going on we really didn't get a chance to celebrate so we went out and celebrated yesterday instead. We had some of our wedding pictures printed and then headed up to Salt Lake where we had dinner at Cucina Toscana up in Salt lake. The same place we ate the night Justin proposed. Then we went to the gateway mall and Justin bought me a new phone. Doesn't sound super exciting but it was still a fun and special day. Dinner was especially nice. I love you babe!

This week is going to be just as busy and exciting! Justin's youngest brother is leaving for his mission in Paraguay. Both mom and dad Smith are driving him out here tomorrow so we will have a couple days to spend with them before Cameron is dropped off at the missionary training center. We are so excited for him! I didn't have any brothers to send off on a mission so I'm excited I get a chance to experience it. 

More Summer Fun!

We have taken lots of trips this summer. In June we were in California for my sisters wedding. She was a beautiful bride and Scott was beaming. The wedding was beautiful and the reception lots of fun. We love Scott and his family and are excited Oak has someone amazing to take care of her.  After the two left for their honeymoon, the rest of my family and my cousin's family took a little trip to Monterey Bay and San Francisco. We went to the Monterey Aquarium, Cannery row, Fishermans Wharf, China town, Ghirardelli Square and rode the Trolly through the city. We had so much fun. The only rough part of the trip was that Justin and I were both on standby flights and missed flights here and there. It took us forever to get to Cali and Justin had to stay a night in Southern Cal on his way back. I stayed an extra 5 days and had a very relaxing time hanging out at my parents pool and visiting with friends. I woke up every morning to help my mom water plants in the back yard which I loved. I cant wait to have a yard!

I don't have pictures from the wedding yet but I love this picture of them.

Monterey Bay 

My cousins, Sadie and Cassey

Maddy posing in a giant Penguin egg...

San Francisco. On our way to China town!

Fortune Cookies being made...

I took a couple trips of my own this summer as well. My sister Summer and I went to visit our cousin in Idaho to see his new baby. It was a quick trip but worth seeing baby Christian and visiting with family. A couple weeks ago I left Justin alone again to help my friend Katie sit for some friends of hers in St. Goerge. It was SOOO hot. Luckily they had a pool so we spent most the week swimming and playing with kids. The youngest one was only 5 months so I loved it. 

Clark, Rachael and baby Christian after his blessing.

The two youngest Schone kids in St George. I wasnt very good about taking pictures while we were there...

This past weekend we went to Vegas!!! Justin has never been there and the last time I was there was a few years ago. Our good friends Mark and Katie had a time share there are invited us to come. We had so much fun. We swam a lot during the day and hung out on the strip once the sun started going down.

 

All four of us about to watch the water show. It's a little dark...

We went to Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat where we saw dolphins and tigers. 

Hanging out on the crazy strip

Summer time and blogging

This summer has been great! We have had a chance to do some really fun things and are doing really well! I haven't been a very good blogger the last few months so now it's time to catch up.

 

There have been some questions as to why I have a second blog. It's kind of silly but I'll explain really quick...

A couple of years ago while Justin and I were dating, we had a married friend that was into blogging and suggested that we start one. We had been dating a little over a year so I guess she thought we would be engaged any day... we weren't for another year. Well one night while Justin and I were hanging out at his apartment playing on his laptop, we pulled up blogger and signed up. If you look back to the first post, Justin was the first to write. During this point in our relationship I wasn't fully ready to commit. I loved Justin tons but just didn't feel ready to talk marriage. Friends kept telling me to post but I felt kinda weird having a blog with my boyfriend. Because of an experience with a previous boyfriend, I didn't want to be super connected just in case things didn't turn out the way I hoped. Make sense? So while at work one day a girlfriend helped me start my own. I had to think of a title on the spot so I chose "even on those rainy days" being the title of a song I wrote a long time ago. I started writing on that blog for the most part. I don't think I really started using  this blog until we were married or at least engaged. I think Justin posted a few way back which I teased him for but now I'm glad he did. I love to look back on those early posts since I mainly write for us to remember. After we got married and I really started blogging, I thought I'd just post on my "personal" blog the things that I have accomplished or things I've done alone. This blog would be for things we have done together. It is a bit of a pain going back and forth though so maybe eventually this will be the only blog I use. I'm not a super journal writer so I love blogging. I also love to see what friends are up too! I hope that clears up the confusion Mardee and Brooke!

Now catch up...

Justin has been super busy with work. They make lots of changes over there so he has been learning lots. On his down time, we really like to get outside. We went shooting a few weeks ago, have done lots of swimming, bike riding and hiking. I feel so lucky to live in such a beautiful place! I didn't grow up around mountains and there are so many gorgeous spots here to enjoy. We are dying to go camping but it seems like there is never a good time. I doubt we will live here forever so we want to take advantage of all there is to do while we are here. We have had a lot of rain so the mountains have stayed so green. I love it.

Finally...

Finally the rain has stopped! I wouldn't say we've had pool weather yet but at least it's been warm. Justin and I hiked up Rock Canyon last Saturday and it was so nice to spend time out side! It was so fun to just get out and stretch our legs and get some fresh air! Everything was so green and pretty. I wish I took my camera with us! We ran into a guy on the trail with the most beautiful dogs. I could tell they were happy to be out running up and down the trail too!!! Yea for Spring! 

Florida Fun...

Florida was a blast! We left Utah just as a storm was coming in and arrived in Florida to 80 degree weather! It was so nice. We stayed the first night with family friends (Mike and Liz) in Orlando. We went to their kids baseball game, ate a yummy dinner, stayed up all night talking and went boating on the St Johns river with Mike the next day where we saw alligators and turtles!!! We love Mike, Liz and their boys tons! 

Justin loves boating!

One of the Alligators we saw. This one sunbathing. 

Justin and I swimming with the alligators... JK, I'm not crazy, we were in a part of the lake where the water is clear and the gators stay away... still felt a little nervous getting in but I couldn't be a sissy right??

I'm Bummed I didn't get any pictures with Liz or the kids :(

The next day we checked into our hotel with our cousins Mike and Melissa and headed straight to the pool. We spent the next couple days with them at Disney! It was so much fun!!! It was Mike and Melissa's idea to take this trip and we are so happy we did! I'm so lucky to have family out there too so double bonus for me! My cousin Jenny and her two daughters met us at Disney and hung out with us part of the time there. She goes to Disney World like 10 times a year so she was very helpful in telling us what to see and do.

Mike, Melissa, Me and Justin in front of Micky's wizard hat!

Dinner at Planet Hollywood

In line for a ride, Justin wearing my pink backpack:)

Jus and I in front of the "Rockin' Roller Coaster"! This one one of our favorite rides!

Melissa and Mike at the stunt show... awesome show!

Because we went all the way out there I decided to meet my mom a couple of hours away at my grandmas house and stayed an extra 9 days visiting with her and my aunt and uncle. Justin and I drove down with Jenny after attending church in Kissimee and hugging Mike and Melissa goodbye! Justin only stayed one night before having to leave me to get home and back to work. Luckily he had time to hit the beach one day and hang out with the crazy fam a bit (my grandma carries a gun in her walker). 

Both in desperate need of some sun!

Sadie, Me and Cassy

Running like a model in the waves... we both got burnt!

During those long 9 days my mom and I spent a lot of time listening to grandmas stories, baking, photo copying family records and recipes and made it out to the beach again. I got to spend some time out in the yard with Uncle Jimmy and I ran errands and watched the CMT awards with Aunt Debbye. I also got to watch my favorite movie TWICE while I was there because they have had it for years and its hard to find anywhere else... Funny Girl. I stayed with our friend Crystal a few blocks away and had fun visiting with her and her family. She is an amazing host.

Three generations. Mom, Mama, and Me.

Although we had a great time in florida, I was so excited to come home. I think I was too anxious because the morning I arrived at the Orlando air port (tired and no food in my tummy) I got on the plane and had a mild panic attack! I'm so weird like that... 

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!! Seriously...

And tomorrow we are off!

Tomorrow Justin and I are off to Florida! We are so darn excited. My cousin and her Husband invited us to go with them and we can't wait. We will spend a couple days at Disney World, go to the beach, sleep in and eat junk. Justin will be coming home when Melissa and Mike head back and I'll be staying an extra 9 days!!! The poor boy will be home all alone. My mom's family is out there so I'm going to stay and visit with them. My mom is meeting me there so it should be fun. This will be the longest time Justin and I have been apart since we've been married. I wish he could stay but he has to get back to work. I'll post some pictures when i get back in town! 

So if it snows here in the next couple weeks, good luck, have fun! I'll be working on my tan! ;) 

Bye, bye!!!

Crazy Day...

Yesterday was interesting to say the least. I woke up and started doing my normal stuff when I got a call from our complex manager. He told me that the gas company found a leak and that they might have to evacuate our complex so if I needed to shower or do anything at home I'd better do it now. I called my sister who lives downstairs and a few of my neighbors to tell them the same thing. I took a quick shower and started getting ready for the day thinking I could just go over to a friends or run some errands when all of a sudden I heard someone pounding on my door. I ran downstairs and opened the door to a couple of firemen who said I would have to leave the house immediately and walk across the street for further instructions. I was a little confused as I ran upstairs to change and grab my stuff when I heard another pound on the door. I pulled my jacket on and answered the door to three more firemen telling me I had to come now. I grabbed what I could and left. I felt a little nervous as I walked down the stairs because it seemed like there were firemen everywhere, knocking on doors and taping them off as people left. Was the building going to blow!?!?! I walked across the street and sat down on the corner with some friends, my hair dripping wet. After a few minutes someone walked over and told us that a bus was coming to pick us up and take us to the red cross center to wait. We couldn't take our cars until the leak was fixed. We waited a little longer and watched the police, firemen and reporters do their thing.  The Bus picked us up and and took us five blocks away to safety... The red cross did an excellent job making everyone comfortable while we waited. Everyone there except me and one other girl had little kids so I'm sure the experience was frustrating for them however red cross brought in dippers and toys help make the wait easier. They brought in lunch too which was nice, even though it was from McD's. I would have had Justin come get me but he didn't have a car and I didn't think we would be there for as long as we were. The one good thing that came out of the experience was getting to know some of my neighbors I probably never would have known. When I got home there were people form the gas company walking into my house to re-set the gas pilot. Finally by 4:00 I was able to start my day! 

This was the only picture I took, darn it. It was taken from the bus so you can't see half of what was going on. Better than nothing.

Justin and I were talking about the eventful day later on that night and discussed how important it is to make sure we have all our insurance stuff in order just in case. On the subject of finance, we signed up for mint.com  which is awesome!!! Check it out if you haven't already! Great way to budget and know exactly where all your money is going!