We went to beautiful Arizona to get some sun and relax before school.
We continued to plan a wedding.... finally set a date and booked a venue!
Started school back up.
More wedding planning.
School and work became the routine.
Enjoyed our one and only Valentine's Day as "fiances".
Brother got his mission call to Barcelona, Spain!
Started the huge project---->backyard for our New Mexico reception (Yard work would be our life from here on out)
Crysti (sister) and my two nieces came to visit!
More and More wedding planning.... designing, emailing, cutting, stuffing, coordinating, etc.
Mariners came to play the major league game at Isotope statium
The yard project became bigger and bigger than originally planned
Stress took over me
School and work and wedding consumed both of our lives.... no joke!
We got married!
We took our endowments out in the Albuquerque Temple, then a small open house at my parents house.
We were sealed in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple.... with a dinner reception to follow.
Then a beautiful ceremony in Auburn, Washington..... with a dinner and dance reception after.
We went to Puerto Villarta, Mexico for our honeymoon!
We moved into our very own place :).... definitely a newlywed "starter home" but we love it.
Erik went back to Washington for his brother's graduation.
We adopted two German Shephards.
We went back to Washington AGAIN for Erik's dad's wedding :-)
July
Brother got set apart as a missionary.
He was sent off to the MTC in Provo, Utah.
Erik started summer classes.
Demi was down here for summer!
We relaxed from all our traveling.
Built back up our bank account and worked like mad!
I went back to Washington for Ryan and Amanda's wedding (good friends since we were in middle school).
Broke my foot.
We both started school back up (crazy crazy semester!)
Struggled with finding a balance of crazy school schedules, me out of work with a broken foot, Erik working extra hours, making our home a home, finding time for married life, family, friends, homework..... the list goes on!
Doctors confirmed I had 3 more fractures in my foot--- continued on crutches and a stabilizing boot.
Managed to go on a fun camping trip with friends!
Celebrated Erik's 24th birthday!
October
We hit up a Rascal Flatts concert!!! (And Kelly Pickler and Chris Young)
I had another month off of work.
Doctors confirmed my foot was not only multiply fractures... but the tendon was torn.
Between Baxter (our dog) and I..... Doctor's appointments became regular
Our dog was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer.
We took it one day at a time and learned to just enjoy life!
.
I finally went back to work with my boot :) (after 3 months)
Baxter passed away on our bathroom floor
We were sad.
Got a new puppy..... not as perfect as Baxter
Went to the temple with my dad for the 1st time.
Enjoyed a small but perfect Thanksgiving with my family.
Got our first Christmas Tree/
December
We stayed focused for the last few weeks of the crazy semester!
We got way excited for Christmas!
We celebrated my 22nd year of life (8 times--- I have awesome family and friends!)
We went to Washington to spend Christmas with Erik's family.
We went to Montana to visit Erik's mom's side of the family.
We went to The Great Wolf Lodge with Erik's dad's side of the family
We got to talk to my brother on the phone (from Spain)---> first time I heard his voice since July!!!
Wow!!! What a year! That was a lot of stuff..... but it was a big year for us! Big, amazing, fantastic, unforgettable, incomparable, simply.....THE BEST!!! We are so grateful for married life, for the happiness it has brought to us this past year, for our family, our friends, and the endless amount of blessings we have!
