2011: My new adventure begins...

What is so hard about Fridays? I mean, work has ended for the week, I get to sleep in, catch up on my favorite TV shows (thank you Hulu), and get all my "lists" done (well, at least attempt). Maybe it's because I'm having withdrawals from this:

Work is a drag, but marriage is FAB.

One "perk" to working for the State: Fridays off. One "un-perk" to marriage: This rule does not apply to Husband. For some weird reason his non-government job has this idea that they employed him to work on Fridays.

Ugh, total bummer.

How much do I love marriage? This much: ______________________...and it just keeps going and going and going and going....kind of like eternity.

How much do I love Brandon Johnson? I think my heart just might burst, because that amount of love can't be contained. Again, total cheese. But I've decided I like cheese...especially with Brandon Johnson.

On January 14, 2011 my life changed forever.

Brandon Johnson officially married me.

The. Best. Day. Ever.

Marriage rocks.

Don't try to convince us otherwise.

Because we won't believe you.

Recipe for a Great Christmas

Considering that our wedding is less than three week away, Christmas this year was kind of put on the back burner. That doesn't mean, though, awesome memories weren't made and gifts weren't given with love and tenderness. It was a smaller Christmas this year, but still full of joy and happiness as we spent time with family and friends, celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Here's my recipe for a Great Christmas:

#1 An epic Christmas Eve breakfast, filled with

Did I mention that I LOVE him? Okay, because I do. Def do.

#2 Annual Christmas Eve snowshoeing hike to Donut Falls up Big Cottonwood Canyon (it's time to hit the pavement again, because those hills kicked my fanny WAY too hard.)

It was the whole Fam minus one fabulous mama, as she thoroughly enjoyed some much-needed peace and quiet in a home deserted of needy children and husband.

Can't imagine why, can you?

Fact: We're nothing but a bunch of loonies.

Fact: Spending too much time with us could make you're

face look like this.

Fact: There's no hope for B. He's a goner.

#3 A pleasant Christmas Eve night out with the in-laws. The Johnson's treated us to a lovely dinner at Olive Garden and presents back at their house. Of course I was too lame to remember my camera to document such events. The evening was topped off with happy tears (in-laws presented me and B with our gifts: framed picture of the Salt Lake Temple and hand-made sign that read: Dreams do come true. Prayers are answered. Miracles do happen) AND a legit game of Uno. Ask me who won. Go on, ask me. Need you even guess- OF COURSE it was I ... Uno Champion of the Universe. Eat that Brandon Johnson. :)

#4 A happy Christmas morning, full of really awesome Mickey Slurps and morning breath. After about the first 30 minutes, I started to wake up and thoroughly enjoyed the new 55-200 mm lens B got me for my camera and license plate cover "Brigham Young University Alumni". Of course my gifts to B weren't nearly as exciting- slippers, clothes, and a gift basket full of Warm Vanilla scent (okay, for me to wear as a gift to him :) ) Am I lame? Possibly.

NOT these pics, though. They are the epitome of Christmas morning at the Shaw household. Epitome.

say cheese...

If there is anything I remember worthwhile from Kate Gosselin, it's this:

It may be a crazy life, but it's our life.

Ha. And so it is.

(just minus the 8 screaming kids, trendy blonde hairdos, and paparazzi bikini pictures.)

Ok, I'll stop.

For the record: I really REALLY liked that show, until it got very VERY sad.

I am so SO grateful for the family I do have and the eternal bonds we have to each other, which are the foundation to our happiness. We are not perfect. But we rely on the gift of the Gospel to keep those special ties strong and immovable. How excited I am to continue this legacy of love and strength with my amazing future husband and children.

Fact: Families can be TOGETHER FOREVER.

#5: A Christmas evening with the Birch and Johnson families. We gathered together at B's aunt and uncle's house for good food, games (including Seinfeld Scene It, Scategories, and a game called "Things". Unfortunately B won that one, with me coming in close second.), and laughing. I don't think there is anything better than gut laughing OVER and OVER again with the ones you love! I am so glad to be part of this great family- love them!

Last, but not least, ingredient for a GREAT CHRISTMAS:

#6 A good-night snuggle session and kiss, with the love of your life whispering "I love you." in your ear. I submit there is NO better way to end the season! ;)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Now the REAL count-down begins....19 MORE DAYS!!!!!!! And a post entitled "The up's and down's of wedding planning: How to keep a healthy sleep schedule and help your man STAY up and interested in wedding details for the next 2 1/2 weeks."

Bless his little patient heart. He's been a champion.

Happy New Year, because it is for us!

Engaged, why is it so fun?

For the female variety, there are certain days of our lives we plan and prepare for from the time we are little. I can remember many nights, lying in my bed, dreaming about the day the man of my dreams would get on his knee and ask me to marry him. Why is it that I still get a little mushy and my heart skips a beat when I hear these words from Taylor:

He knelt to the ground, and pulled out a ring, and said.....

"Marry me Juliet, you never have to be alone.

I love you, and that's all I really know."...

Oh goodness, even writing it makes me soggy inside.

It's because, getting engaged is lovely. Perfectly lovely. I know this now, because the man of my dreams knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring November 11, 2010- on a blustery Thursday afternoon. September 11th, being a day celebrated and cherished by Brandon and I, he thought it would be sweet to take me to eat at a little Greek place down the street during his lunch break. We chatted and chatted, and then headed back to his apartment to look at drawer space and potential couch placement (okay, you got me. We even had our date at the temple set. Always be prepared, right?) As we entered the apartment, B gave me a letter with my name on it. I looked at him a little surprised, then opened it up and started reading. As I got to the end, I read "Will you be my wife for time and all eternity?" Completely thrown off (really...truly), I gave a short squeak and looked up to find B on his knee with the ring.

It was sweet and straight from his heart. As he slipped the ring on my finger and I looked at him before smooching his face, I thought my heart was going to burst as it grew bigger and bigger with all the love and emotion I felt for this amazing person. (Cheesy? Yes. But that's my new life- full of love and cheese.) ;)

8 weeks. I have to wait 8 weeks until I can be married to my best friend. And, I CAN'T WAIT. Well, I can. But, I can't...but, I can. But really... I can't wait. We have picked January 14th, 2011 to be sealed and could not be happier.

(okay, hair is a little "skeewampus", but I feel no guilt. I'M ENGAGED!)

BYU vs San Diego State

P decided he'd had enough of the Cougars and relinquished his ticket so boyfriend could accompany me to the football game. Brandon informed me that he didn't have one single BYU t-shirt. Of course, there was NO way he was wearing any shirt with an A on it in Cougar Stadium! (We needed all the help we could get. No distractions ;)) So, during a girl's day out, Nycole and I stopped by Walgreens and picked one up. And...dang. I just wanna kiss him.

In fact... I think I will.

Mmmm.

Check out the girl behind us. Annoyed? Grossed out?

Or...totally in awe of how awesome we are. Yeah, I'm going with that one.

Let me catch you up.

Ever feel like you're living in a whirlwind? That's what the past 3 weeks have felt like for me. A whirlwind. Sometimes I look back and think "This is crazy! So crazy, crazy!"

It may be crazy, but it's mine.

On September 11th, I grudgingly walked up to my friend's doorstep to pick her up for The SLC Greek Festival downtown, which she wanted to do for her birthday. I was cranky. When I walked through the door, I noticed a boy and a girl that I recognized from my ward, but didn't know very well. I offered to drive and we headed downtown. After about a half an hour of being there, we decided to stand in line to get food. As we stood there, I noticed that my friend was gone. Great. I didn't know where she had gone, so I turned to the boy. Realizing this would be more awkward if I just stood there, I decided to talk to him.

I've been grateful for that decision ever since.

Dating is a funny thing. Usually I would say it's extremely stressful, confusing, and just plain hard. But this round has been fantastically easy. I love it. It's enjoyable, exciting, and fun! I never thought I would use those words, but I am. It's true. It has been a crazy couple of weeks, but oh so enjoyable. I'm constantly asking Brandon "Is this crazy for you? Are we going too fast? You let me know when this gets old, but FYI..... it's not getting old for me."

Who knows what the future holds, but I'm enjoying every minute.

Every. Single. Minute.

It's quite refreshing. ;)

Thinkin' about something...

So, I'm thinking when Brandon and I were standing in line chatting it up for the first time at the Salt Lake Greek Festival, he did not imagine this:

That's right, I dragged the boyfriend to a HANSON concert. Actually, I didn't have to drag too hard, and it was really mostly the influence of Whit- Hanson's number 1 fan. When we first started dating, I warned him that W loves, LOVES Hanson. Of course his first response was "You mean the boys that look like girls?" Yeah....them. Anyway, when he met Whit the first night, she eventually made him watch one of their music videos. Then she asked if he wanted to come to their concert with us. He asked her "Is Hanson worth $30?"

Of course, her response to that is "That was hurtful."

He came anyway, that trooper of mine.

So, I brought W's new camera and she asked if we would take pics and film some songs. So, we're standing in the crowd, trying to figure out the light settings and this random guy comes up to us asking if he could take our picture. We didn't mind, so he grabs the camera and just starts snapping picture after picture while asking if we're stoked about the concert.

We didn't see him again, until...

Right then Brandon turns to me as I turn to him in total disbelief and says

"Um ... that's the guy that took our picture." Lead singer. Of the opening band. Right on.

After a couple of bands, Hanson came out and they were great! I mean that honestly- they were amazing. Def a good show. Def. I would go again. (W paid me nothing to say that.) I was even impressed with boyfriend for dancing to the tunes and taking pictures and video. Oh how lovely he is.

We saw Hanson in concert. It rocked.

And I like this boyfriend of mine more and more everyday. ;)

Lovely. Simply lovely.

I think life is the best when it throws you something unexpected.

Like him.

Yeah, funny.