Valentines Day

 

I have never been a fan of Valentines Day. I liked it when I was younger because we would get to buy old school cards and get lots of candy at school. I also liked waking up to a little present my mom would have out on the couch or outside of our bedroom door. She is always the best at doing little things like that. I had given up on Valentines day once I reached Junior High. Lets just say I had some awkward years and never really socialized with boys. Even my senior year in high school when I did have a boyfriend I don't think we got each other anything or did anything special. Secretly though I think all of us girls no matter what we say want to feel special on Valentines. 


This year was mine and E's first Valentines being married. Last year we were a month away from our wedding. I cant really remember what we did on Valentines...must have not been too special. This year however will probably go on my list of best days ever!


Since we just had E's birthday in December and Christmas and my birthday a couple of weeks ago and our anniversary next month things have been pretty tight when it comes to spending money on presents. So we just decided to do little things that don't cost us a lot of money. E got me some flowers and a box of chocolates. Honestly, that's all I wanted... I decided to make E a fort/picnic on our living room floor. I put candles everywhere and had music playing when he got home. E had to work but they let him off early so we got to spend the whole day together. We ate dinner and THE MOST DELICIOUS DESSERT EVER! Then we cuddled up the rest of the night and watched us some Lost. Not to mention Thatcher had a crazy rain/hail/snow storm that lasted the whole day so we opened up our sliding door and listened to the rain.(That is one thing I will miss about Thatcher is the great weather) It was the BEST Valentines ever! So grateful to be married to the love of my life and my best friend!


I asked E to take pictures.... they do not do it justice!

  

 Raspberry bread pudding with vanilla cream sauce...I know this doesn't fit into our no sugar and no carb diet we have been on for the last two months but we deserved a little treat! You can find the recipe here: http://purplechocolathome.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html (you have to try it!)

 Please excuse that tiny hair in my face....

Hope everyone had a great valentines day! I sure did! <3

A weekend to remember

This last weekend was great. We went up to California for Zack and Alexa's wedding. I was honored to be one of Alexa's bridesmaids. It was beautiful and I am so glad Ethan and I were able to share that special day with them. The Newport Temple is absolutely gorgeous. I love being in the temple so much. So grateful for the special experiences that happen in there. Alexa looked absolutely gorgeous! We are so happy for them. The next day E and I went to Disneyland and California Adventure. It was so much fun! We had a blast. Looking back we are really sad that we didn't take more pictures. I always hate asking people to take pictures of us. The next day we traveled back to Mesa for their reception. It was beautiful! We loved the little break away from school. Thanks mom and dad for letting us travel up with you and for paying for it! We appreciate you guys so much and love spending time with you. Here are a few pictures from the weekend. Oh ya and it was my 21st birthday on Sunday! E spoiled me rotten and so did my family! 

Thursday:

Newport Temple

The Beautiful Couple

Bridesmaids

Delicious cupcakes before wedding dinner

E and I at the wedding dinner

Friday:

D-land!

New Orleans Cafe... So Good!

Main Street

Brittney sent this text to us that morning at Disneyland. We have the cutest nephew ever! Love him!
Sunday:

Benson had to blow out candles for my birthday so we used matches... I know. ghetto. When my mom lit the matches it practically burned bensons eyes out. Poor thing. We couldn't stop laughing. Video below.

Tomorrow!

I have been wanting this day to just end so that it can be tomorrow already! Tomorrow is the day Ethan and I have been looking forward to for awhile now. It seems like it has been forever since Ethan and I have taken a trip anywhere. Tomorrow we are going to California for Zack and Alexas wedding in the Newport Beach Temple. I am so happy for them. It is going to be absolutely beautiful. Also E and I will be going to D-Land! The last time we were there Ethan proposed to me. Cant believe that it has been over a year since then. We are beyond excited. Disneyland is my favorite place on earth! I cant even count how many times I have been probably twenty or so and it still never gets old. Anyway We are pretty excited. Tomorrow come faster please.




I was looking at our pictures from a year ago...so much has changed. Ethan and I look so different!

 This will be our first trip to D-land being married. Cant wait!

The Holidays

Oh man it has been way too long since I have posted anything on here! The holidays were fantastic. The week before Christmas we were able to spend some time with Ethan's family in Sierra Vista. It was a lot of fun! Nothing better to get you ready for Christmas than to spend time with the family, make ginger bread houses, shop, and watch Christmas movies. We also celebrated E's 24th birthday there. He was finally able to eat that pecan pie his mom promised to make him!

The gingerbread house we made with E's family

Got Ethan some new basketball shoes for his birthday

Our landlords gave us a huge free turkey so Ethan de-boned it and made some stuffing and rolled it up. It was delicious.

Ethan and I then went down to my parents to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with. BEST CHRISTMAS EVER. I wish I would have taken more pictures but it was too exciting and we were having too much fun to take out the camera.But If you ask any of the Connolly family members what there favorite part of Christmas is...there answer would be Christmas eve toasts. Every year since I can remember our family has done this tradition. After dinner we sit in a circle, mom fills up the champagne glasses with sparkling martinellis, and we each take turns saying what we are most grateful for that year. Of course every year it turns into more than saying a few things we are grateful for. It turns into something so much more. It is the one time we are all together that we truly open up. It is a very emotional and spiritual time for our family. I wouldn't trade it for anything.This years toast was just so great! It was mine and Ethan's first Christmas being married. Last year we were engaged. But of course I was most grateful for my wonderful husband and the great man he is! 

Christmas morning was fabulous. Ethan did sooo good on my stocking and he spoiled me rotten! In the bottom of my stocking there was a little box. When I opened it I found a key. I was a little confused so I looked out the window and didnt see a new car... so he got on my phone and showed me the picture of my NEW SCOOTER!!!! Ah I was so surprised. He was also so shocked to see that I had gotten him tickets to the Phoenix Coyotes game. It was a great christmas... we both were spoiled this year. 

Oh and my little brother got us the kinect to go with the x box that I got Ethan for one of his presents. We have been loving it. Thanks Brett! Oh and my parents got me a fabulous new pair of red and white striped toms. I wear them everywhere.

A few days later Ethan and I went to the Coyotes game. So fun! This was our fourth time going to one of their games and our seats were amazing. We were a few steps away from the glass. We could actually see their faces!

And finally the whole fam took a little trip to the zoo lights. I cant tell you how great the holidays were this year. I love spending time with my family and I am so grateful that we were all able to get together this year and have so much fun. 


Thanks mom and dad for such a great Christmas. I had so much fun hanging out with you two. You guys are my best friends. Thanks for being the best parents ever. Love you! 

hello christmas tree!

So after begging Ethan for a couple of weeks now he finally let me put up the Christmas tree! We were supposed to put it up after thanksgiving but I couldn't wait any longer! We only have a small one bedroom apartment so we got us a tiny Christmas tree for our living room. We cannot afford and have no where to put a regular sized one. But it sure did turn out cute! We love it. I love Christmas! I am so happy to be spending this Christmas at my parents house and to have all my brothers and sisters be there! I am getting to ahead of myself though....I am forgetting about Thanksgiving! I was so excited for thanksgiving this year....we were supposed to spend it with my in laws  but it turns out Ethan has to work on Thanksgiving :( So i will be here at home by myself until Ethan gets off at 6 :( Not how I pictured my Thanksgiving. But I am going to cook a wonderful meal for him for when he gets home. Here I am complaining about being alone...poor Ethan has to go and work. I am so spoiled. I am so thankful for such a hard working husband who supports us and takes care of me. I love him!

Last night Ethan and I went to a James Bond party!! It was so much fun! We had a blast. Everyone had to dress up and we all looked legit! Everyone was also given a new name and a short sentence on who they would be playing. Then we had secret missions to accomplish! It was a lot of fun and the party was a huge success! My name was Letti and I was a sassy model from the outskirts of Hale. I had so much fun with it. The best was everyone introducing themselves as their new characters and playing them really well. Ethan was Norman the Mormon from Utah! hahahahaha it was hilarious! It was a great date night for E and I!

Letti and Norman kinda hooked up......

Mesa

This last weekend was so fun!  Ethan and I headed down to Mesa to see Chelsie and Benson get sealed for time and all eternity! It was so great and it felt so good to be in the Mesa Temple again. I cant tell you how much I loved being in the temple and looking at my husband across the room and remembering the day we were sealed together forever. I also loved that I was able to sit next to my  mom and hold her hand through the whole ceremony...yes I still do that even though I am almost 21. She is my best friend. Love you Mom! After we got out of the temple my sister had to take Chelsie and Bensons pictures so we got to walk around and watch my nephew Benson. He is the most handsome little boy in the world. We love him so much! Benson absolutely loves his uncle Ethan!

Chelsie and Benson

Benson and Ethan

Can you tell we are sisters?HA!

Thursday night was a lot of fun too! After Chelsie and Bensons reception Brittany & Shea, Janae & Walker, and Ethan & I all went on a triple date! The plan was to go goofy golfing but when we got there they were closed so we decided to play arcade games instead. It was a bummer though  because we had to rush around and we only had twenty minutes to use ten dollars! Mine and Ethan's favorite game was the basketball game. We tied 2-2 but if we would have played one more round I totally would have won! Friday we had to head off but before we did Ethan and I did a little bit of Christmas shopping! Ok so have you heard of the store: Charming Charlies???? If you have never been there before I advise you to go! Its at San Tan Village Mall. Its three huge stores FILLED with jewelry, purses and other accessories and they are all color coded! Its AMAZING! Ethan made me leave the store and walk over to B&N so that he could buy me some jewelry for my stocking :) Ah I cannot wait to see what he got me! I love and hate surprises. Ethan says the lady at the counter told him he did a really good job at picking stuff out. I cant wait for the holidays! Wish they were here already and wish school was over with. Ethan and I definitely need a break!

Bachelorette!

This weekend was just what I needed! Lately I have been feeling like I have no friends. Don't get me wrong I love my husband and he is my best friend but a girl has to have her girlfriends. I am sick of Thatcher where everyone is mostly singe so Ethan and I have no couple friends. But this weekend was so great. I got to see my girlfriends!! It started off on Saturday morning Janae, Britt, and I went to chandler mall for some shopping. Not just any shopping...sexy shopping for Chelsie's bachelorette party! We went to Spencers, Victoria Secret and Fredricks of Hollywood. Man did we get some good stuff! Later we all met up at PF Changs and had a great dinner, except Chels who had a pile of broccoli and Brittany who ate scallops instead of chicken (its a long story). After a fun dinner of sexy talk, we went back to my parents place and opened presents! It was so much fun and I hope Chelsie had a blast. I cannot believe she is getting married next week!

Sadly, Chelsie had to leave with her sisters to see her fiance. We wish she could have been there but the best part of the night was talking to Britt and Janae (and my mom) about friendship, boys, husbands, relationships, and old memories. It was a night that I desperately needed! I miss my girls so much and I cant wait to move down to Mesa so that I can see them more often! I am so grateful to have such great best friends! I know we will always stay close no matter what. I love you girls! Cant wait for Chelsies wedding and for our triple date after her wedding dinner!