*This day I will marry my friend, the one I laugh with, live for, dream with, love*

Wedding wedding wedding!!!!!! That's all that's been pounded into my head for the past 2 weeks. I called a venue in Washington (a beautiful "castle" overlooking pudget sound)..... and between the time Erik and his mom had gone to look at it, and the time I called to put a down payment on it..... it had been booked! I was sad.... but finally realized how important and crucial the planning is!

I now have a different venue (thanks Erik's mom for checking it out for us)..... A wedding planner (aka Liana) I have the centerpiece ideas I want...... the wedding dress! The colors, the flowers, the cake (ideas), the wedding party. In the process of sending save the dates (need addresses if you want one!), putting together guest lists, finding a caterer, signing contracts and the list goes on and on! Very, very exciting. Planning mode!!!

Here is a sneak peak of wedding dress shopping during the holidays. It was so much fun to have my sisters, nieces, aunt and cousin and mom there with me! They were probably bored out of their minds, but it meant a lot to me.... so thanks :-).

Don't worry...... neither one of these dresses are the one that I chose. I'm old fashion. I don't want Erik to see the dress before the big day! After 3 days of shopping, trying on hundreds of dresses, seeking lots of opinions.... I ended up with the very very first dress I tried on! Went back to it three different times...... I guess when you know..... you should just go for it. Thanks for putting up with me everyone!

Now...... for some of the engagements pictures!!! My cousins Jeff and Jon Duce are amazing photographers and did a great job with these! I love them. Despite the ridiculously cold weather (and having to warm up every 10 minutes because Erik's nose kept turning red)..... it was a lot of fun and Jeff and Jon did awesome!

Drum roll please.......

What do you think?!?! I know...... I have one handsome fiance :-). I'm very lucky! Hope you like them. Please leave your address if you want an announcement!

Winter Break..... *part two*

After returning from our 9 degree weather we recieved in Utah, we came home for a few days to work..... and then off we went to beautiful, 75 degree weather in Phoenix, AZ!

I love Arizona...... I went there for my first time for the superbowl and the Phoenix open (golf tournament) about 3 years ago, and have returned there every year since (convinced I will live there one day..... at least during the winter months). Erik has been there every year since his freshmen year of college for baseball camps (he loves it too.... that's a good sign!) We spent our weekend laying out by the pool, shopping, eating (and eating and eating some more), and went out dancing a few of the nights.

My best friend Sarah met us down there as well, she loves AZ just as much as we do! It was so much fun having her there!

 I didn't get many pictures, but the last day..... It was just Erik and I because our flight was later than everyone else's. We were wiped out, and didn't have much motivation to do anything, so we grabbed some lunch (I'm telling you, we really ate the whole time we were there), and then walked around Mill Ave. (ASU campus area in Tempe). We came across this huge park where people were playing their instruments, kids were riding their bikes, dogs were running with their owners, and their was a beautiful river where they were doing sailboat races. As corny as it may sound... I literally just stood on top of the hill and had to take it all in. We then grabbed some frozen fruit and joined everyone else on the grass. It was amazing! And the perfect Sunday afternoon.

It was an amazing weekend..... spent with amazing people!

I definately did not want to leave the palm trees, the beautful weather, the fun shops, or the relaxing vacation! But indeed, it was time to come home...... work, and start school back up. I'm actually excited for this semester! I'm taking some not-to-bad classes, and I'm even taking an advanced dance class two nights a week. It reminds me of the dance classes I took for 13 years growing up, that I've missed so much! However, not dancing for over 3 years really shows. I'm a bit rusty and not as flexible as I once was (yikes). Hopefully I don't make too big of a fool of myself! Erik on the other hand.... hard hard hard classes! And a ton of labs!! He, of course, is excited about it (always positive, that boy).

On top of working and classes..... this semester we are planning a wedding.... every little detail must come together (literally getting married the week after finals), finding a house or an apartment, and finding some time to spend together..... oh yeah, and applying to nursing school, building up our savings account, and preparing to be on our own for good (no more mom's cooking everynight)! This semester will fly by for us, but I have a feeling it will be a time in our lives we will cherish forever!!

*I promise to post the wedding updates tomorrow! I'll even post of few of the engagement pictures..... be excited :-)*

Winter Break..... *part one*

Erik always makes fun of me for how long our blogs are...... but I always have so much to share!! There is so much going on in our lives right now.... but I'll do my best to cut back, and at least break it into a couple different post.  Surprisingly, I didn't get a whole lot of pictures, considering how much stuff we did over Christmas break..... so that should help. Now if only I can keep my words limited......

As I mentioned in the last post..... Dec. 18th was our last day of finals (Hurray!). That night, before everyone went their own ways for the holiday..... we did a little Christmas for our "basically" family member (Robin and Erik). We went to Robins' basketball game, went to dinner, and let them open their presents from my parents.

(This is a pictures of Erik mocking the way girls hug)

December 19th- Got up bright and early and headed to Vegas to celebrate my 21st birthday!

This is a picture of Erik looking at "the strip" for his first time. Unforunately, that's the only pictures I have of us being in vegas. It was just too much fun to even think about grabbing a camera!

December 20- Headed to Utah. Celebrated my actual bday, and spent lots of time with family!

December 21- Erik went off to be with his family in Washington!

We spent the week shopping, and looking for wedding dresses. My family threw me a bridal shower (weird!). We had my Mom's family christmas party. Spent lots of time with family, and even more time driving to see family. Christmas eve we all gathered at my Grandma's and played games and ate a ton of junk food, opened our xmas pj's, and sang christmas songs and acted out the nativity scene (family tradition)..... Kade (brother) was baby Jesus, Dallin (cousin) was Joseph, and little Halley (cousin) was Mary. I was a wisemen... and we had lots more talented actors and actress in this event. It's always fun to do, and really reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas.

Decemeber 25- Christmas!

Aren't we all so beautiful in the morning?! My dad had to wake us up at nine to open presents..... not quite the same from when we were little waking up our parents at 5am because we couldn't bare the exitement.  Notice the card board in the background.  We drove to Utah.... and my parents didn't want to load any of the big gifts (flat screne TV for Erik and I.... nice!) and flat out forgot a few of Kade's gift, so they drew pictures of them on the card board. We each had one.... my favorite was Rachelle's. She got a trip to Spain, and both of my parents tried drawing pictures of an airplane on her card board.... let's just say, we're not a family of artists.

After we opened all our gifts, and were waiting around for the rest of the cousins and family to come over, grandma Reeder intrigued us with a few of her childhood christmas'. I love hearing my grandma's stories, and lets face it, she's enteraining as it is.

Afterwards we went to my grandma's house on my dad's side and enjoyed more family and delicious homemade mexican food. mmmmmm...... my favorite!!!

I got way too spoiled by my family..... and from my future in-laws! Holy smokes..... Erik came back with a whole suitcase filled with presents from his family. Erik got spoiled too.... including a new camera (desperately needed)! Thank you thank you thank you everyone!!

I'm not doing to well with keeping this post short..... real fast!

My sister Demi flew into Utah Dec 27th. It was so nice to have her! I always miss her when she's gone.... especailly during the holiday season. Erik came back on Dec 28th. I took my bridals that day. Thanks Jon, Jeff and Laura. They did an awesome job..... despite the fact it was 9 degrees outside! The next day they took our engagement pictures.... again did an awesome job!! Finally getting some stuff done for the wedding!

I love love love my neices!!! They are stinking adorable. I love being around them. They are getting so big! Aubrey just turned 4, and Livy (Olivia) will be 2 in March. They are complete opposites, but have quite the personalities.

On the December 30th, it was back home we went. All three of us (Rachelle, Erik and I) had to work on NYE, and we had to drive back probably on the worst day possible. What is normally a 10 hour drive, turned into a 15 hour drive due to the storms and bad roads. NOT FUN..... especially with little 7 year old demi in the back the whole time "are we there yet?!!"

I love being in Utah for the holidays. There is always so much family around, and so much going on. I look foward to spending the holidays with Erik (we'll be married next holiday season!!!) and starting our own traditions!

(coming up: arizona trip.... sneak peak into wedding dress shopping, and more wedding updates)