Halloween 2011

Happy Halloween!!

From a princess and her frog prince.

What are YOU dressing up as?

(These costumes were put together one half hour before a Halloween party this weekend, do not judge. Kthanks ;) ) check out our costumes from last year HERE.

Texas Has A Whole New Meaning For Me

This weekend was simply fabulous.

I got to be at my best friend's wedding in Texas.

Literally. At her sealing. In a holy temple.

It was simply magical!

And the reception was beautiful. The dancing was amazing (I love some good pop music)!!! (of course I tore up the dance floor with some others all.night.long.) And the bride (Rebecca) looked totally stunning.

And the memories, friends, and experiences I had there are never to be forgotten. 

Just to name a few : nail salon with the bride-to-be and a new great friend (Hi Marliett!), random dance party the night before the wedding, ice cream, salsa and chips galore, setting up for the reception, drying tears, cutting flowers, running last minute errands, dancing, dancing, dancing, laughing hysterically all weekend long, eating an amazing tres leche cake (to-die-for really!), taking down decorations, getting into a jammed packed car with all the gifts *when the car wouldn't start......

the bride, me, and my new friend Marliett <----she is awesome!

don't judge--it was a dance party wayyyyy too late the night before the big day

the tres leche stole the show (the white-ish one)

*....Let's just say that car died on us 4 times in the middle of downtown Lubbock between the hours of 12 a.m. and 2 a.m (after an exhausting wedding day & reception) without jumper cables.....and we all laughed the whole time!! It was quite hilarious because we were all dead.tired. We said lots of prayers while in the car, among the variety of drunk people outside, and finally a sweet brother of the groom came to our rescue in the middle of the night. The groom's parents also helped us out as well<---his family rocks!...*

I got like NO sleep all weekend long. ANd for me, this is a problem. But, I did have an incredible time. 

I definitely missed my husband, yes, but I got to see him when I returned and that was sweet--because I had all our wedding memories floating in my head then too :) 

Marriage is beautiful. It is sacred. And it is only truly amazing when you find the right person for you. So don't give up (if you're still searching), and live your life as best you can--be yourself. At the right time, the person you will want to spend eternity with will come along! 

luckily he found me! 

(That all happened to me--almost made a bad choice, and so glad I did not!)

I am so glad I could go to Texas and join with a best friend in seeing her and her husband sealed for time and all eternity. It was truly awesome!

Oct 20 means....

It is my sister's birthday!!

Happy Birthday to Caroline! 

I am so glad we're truly best friends :)

It is amazing to me that we made it through such an up-and-down childhood.....

check it:

Childhood:

-We frequently hit each other

-We played Barbies and American dolls all.the.time. But I always told her who to be and what circumstance we'd be playing in.

-We ran around outside and did everything.

-She punched me more than I did her (I was a big baby)

-We danced together in various classes.... and sometimes naked (on a porch outside. Long story. But pretty sure I convinced her to do it.)

-I watched her hit her head and gush blood....like 4 times.

-One of those times I threw a bowl at her head. Stitches were needed....for the 4th time.

-We talked until the late hours of the night--which drove my mom cArAzY

HS:

-We shared clothes (aka she took clothes from my closet numerous times)

-We fought about clothes. All. The. Time.

-We went to early morning seminary together for 2 years.

-I always thought Caroline was gorgeous (hello blue eyes and brown hair!) so when my friends in HS saw Caroline her freshman year & came up to me and said "We thought you had dyed your hair brown!" I was immediately flattered

-We played sports together (field hockey and lacrosse) in HS--and I think this is where we started to become closer....

-We shopped, watched movies, and baked together. A lot during high school!

-We still fought quite a few times about clothes during HS. Le sigh.

College:

-We talked every week on the phone my freshman year at BYU

-She wrote me every week while I served a mission in Germany/Austria

-I was the first to find out she was getting engaged ;)

-We lived together in college for 4 months before her wedding....and she totally helped me recover to being *more normal* after the mission

Halloween 2007--2 months before she got married

-We both majored in health related fields, and feel strongly about healthy living

-Caroline is super witty and funny<---I always wished I could be as funny as her!!

see--I'm trying to be funny! hah.

Wedding:

-I was her Maid Of Honor for her wedding!

BFF

-We trained for a marathon in 2 different states, and did long runs twice together during vacation.

-We ran the St George Marathon together in 2009---BEST event ever. We crossed the finish line together holding hands and yelling. It was a fabulous experience--prob one of my favorite memories!

26.2 miles--don't mind if we do.

-Vegas 2009....right after a marathon. It was crazy cool.

we look tired b/c we'd been on our feet all morning. No joke.

-Oh and I visited her in Alaska for 1 week. That was insanely awesome.

Alaska 09' --they let me tag along while I was VERY single.

-Caroline met my future husband before any other family (before he had asked me out on a first date), and told me she had a great vibe about him, and totally thought he was great <---this influenced my decision to accept his date request the following week! She was integral to our eventual marriage :)

Work:

-We both live(d) in StL at differing times, so we understand how living at home feels post graduation--great but also a tad bit odd! And SO very grateful for awesome parents. 

-We both got jobs in health fields --her as an R.N nurse in Iowa, and me as a personal health coach for an insurance company and fitness instructor for various gyms

-We did a photo shoot together for my other sister (who is a photographer) in 09'

-I got her hooked on Drop Dead Diva and she is totally obsessed---so we could talk about each episode together. Score!

-Whenever we're in the same place now, we go to the gym together, drink our spinach smoothies together, and eat cookies (her : cookie dough) together. Serious fun. 

She was in my wedding too --2010.

To sum it up: Our relationship has seen the ups and downs. We've cried together, laughed hysterically together, baked together, fought together, run together, and even been by each other's side during special moments such as marriage together. 

I love you, Caroline! Thanks for being an incredible sister, best friend, confidant, gossip listener, running advicer (?), and support. 

Have a MAGICAL Birthday. You only deserve the best.

Family Pictures

We took family pictures with Jared's family in September.

Wahoo :)

(more to come)

We sure did love spending time in Colorado. His family is fabulous! My biggest fear earlier on in life was that the guy I fell in love with wouldn't have a great family.....because I have an AMAZING family this was a huge concern.

However, with the Perkins, my nightmare became a dream. They are the bombdotcom! 

Three cheers for great in-laws :)

October Nephew

I have a new nephew! 

Henry Evan Buckwalter.

Congratulations to my sister and her husband and their two little boys. 

The little tyke (Henry) was born October 2, 2011 at 4:34 a.m.

He was 7 lb. 14 oz. And was 21 inches long.

YAH for new, cute babies. I can't wait to meet him!