Vacation Number 3: Virden, New Mexico

After a long 16 hour drive we finally made it to our first stop; Safford,AZ.

When we arrived the hotel reservations were not found so luckily we stayed at the Comfort Inn. It was a really nice hotel and we spoiled ourselves with a king bed, they even gave us a deal since we had issues with the other place! 

Kelly & I went to Little Ceasars and got pizza & crazy bread (my favorite) for everyone, you could tell that no one is in a big rush in that town after waiting for the what should be a "hot and ready pizza".

Although it was satisfying after a long trip! 

After eating we decided to spend the rest of the night in the hot tub & relaxing! As I asked a million questions to Kelly about the families I would be meeting the next day! Phew, was it a lot to take in but I survived and I think it helped me out! 

Friday October 25,2013 was the wedding day for Kevin & Katrina! They were sealed in the Hila Valley Temple, it is a smaller temple so only immediate family was invited to the sealing. So Kimmy, Samantha and us two went to the temple later to see them walk out & for pictures! It was a gorgeous temple and reminded me a lot of the Oqquirh Mountain Temple with the exterior and windows! It was fun to sit and stare at what a marvelous structure! 

After pictures were done we checked out at the hotel and everyone went to a restraurant called La Paloma (authentic Mexican) and they aren't kidding they had some dang hot salsa! I got the bean & cheese burrito, it was yummy! Kelly got 3 cheese enchiladas! It was a fun place, I realized how loud Kelly's extended family and how funny they are!

We then headed to Kelly's grandparents in Virden, New Mexico. They didn't come to the temple because they weren't feeling up for it. The temple is maybe a little more than a half hour from their house!

Front Door of their home

As we made our way there we stopped in the Virden Cemetery and saw some ancestors graves. Kelly's aunt is buried their she died a day after she was born from RH incompatibility. (When a fetus has a different blood type than the mom, they have shots to cure it now). We also saw his great grandmas gravesite as well along with his grandma & grandpa Nelson (yes, they are alive they just already have their headstone done). As we talked about certain stories and the headstones Samantha started to cry because she thought Grandma & Grandpa Nelson had died ( we probably should of visited them first...oops).

Myrtle Nelson

We then drove past the dairy farm that Kelly's uncle owns. Also we saw the cotton gin that Kelly's grandpa use to work at. Finally we made our way into the dirt roads of Virden. What a cute town with old homes and laid back atmosphere. As we walked in to his grandparents house it was fun to see how Kelly's dad grew up since they still are in the same home! They were so happy to see us and we gave hugs and talked! Kelly's grandpa (Donald) is very deaf and couldn't hear much but man oh man is he the sweetest 94 year old ever!! Kelly's grandma (Myrtle) is 89 years old and completely full of life. My favorite thing she said was; "You kids have to keep doing the right thing because I won't have empty chairs next to me in heaven! I need every single one of you there next to me!" 

After a few hours of talking, looking through the Donald & Debra Nelson family book of pictures, organizing toys we headed back to Duncan for the ring ceremony and reception!

Katrina & Kevin are such a cute couple. Katrina wanted to make her own wedding dress and they didn't finish it until late the night before! Katrina was a marine and the sheriff of the area but she was a sweetheart! She quit being the sheriff so she could become more of a homemaker and now drives the school bus, that is why she wanted to make her own dress! She also told the girls in the whole primary that they could come be her flower girls for the ring ceremony. I bet there was about 20 flower girls, including the nieces & nephews! They were adorable! The kids loved her! Katrina is a convert she got baptized a year ago, she then met Kevin through a mutual friend as they discussed marriage she new she had to wait out the whole year so they could be sealed and not just civilly married! They told the story at the ring ceremony! The missionary who baptized her came back from his hometown in Florida for her endowments! 

We sat by them during the reception as they were trying to eat, they showed us their rings! She had her engagement band and then a wedding band that was pink camo around the inside of the band! Then Kevin's wedding ring was camo in the center of it as well! They were very cool rings and creative! 

They had the coolest posts for white lights and tulle! They used real quakie trees and shepherd hooks on the top! 

The family was all very welcoming and friendly! I had met his Aunt Diane & Uncle Skip they came out for our wedding and I also met their son and his family before he was deployed to Afgahnastan! It was fun to see Kelly's dad tell so many stories of his childhood and tour us around so many places! 

I did know one cousin; Jeff. He came and painted for Kelly's parents this last spring/summer! It was nice to see him again and to meet his sister Janeal & their dad, Uncle Dale. He was a riot! 

They had done a full meal for everyone who came with BBQ Beef, rice, beans, salads, rolls etc. they had a delicious drink called a frappe (no, it's not coffee) it's like frozen fruit with sprite and fruit juice that's frozen before hand! They also had different cakes! Of course I had to go with the chocolate!!! That is when Uncle Dale realized I liked cake because he said I will bring you as much chocolate cake as you can eat all you have to do is raise your hand & I will come! Well after the 1st slice he got me my 2nd and then my 3rd by the 4th I secretly fed some to Kelly! After that Dale changed our names to: Kelly & The Cake Girl! (Sadly! I am proud of it.. Nothing better than a dang good cake)

Honeymoon Room

Nothing better than a Vintage Tub!

The Simpson Hotel opened in the 40's

On Saturday after a nice sleep at the cutest bed & breakfast we headed through the town searching for a Cabinet TV for me. After antique shops and talking to different stores the people who had them wouldn't give them up... darn them! Although, all was solved after we walked into a little boutique that is somewhat like the Quilted Bear; each vendor rents out a section to display their talents and each of them work once a week for the whole store. They had a homemade soap vendor and man did they have some good smelling soaps, I loved the pumpkin one. We ended up getting three soaps for 10 bucks. Sexy Man, Pumpkin & a Blackberry! I showed the "Sexy Man" soap for Kelly's mom to smell.. the first thing she said was; "This makes my mouth water!"... we shared that with some of the cousins later on it became quite the joke! Everybody ended up leaving the store with a Sexy Man soap in hand!

In that same shop they had our favorite commercial/product.. Poo-Pourri. You may not have heard of it but its a spray before you go toilet spray! The girl who is in the video is a student from BYU, she is probably the only BYU student I will ever like.. tehehe. But, because she has her British accent they had to give her the part of the commercial.. go ahead and watch it! 

Poo Pourri Website the video is on the top of the page

We went to the 3 Sisters Bakery, where we enjoyed sandwiches, a cookie and pumpkin doughnuts. It was yummy and super cheap for a bakery.. but after all it was Duncan Arizona.

This was inside the bakery! adorable!

After, we headed to Virden. Where we went on a walk with Grandma over to Aunt Jeanie & Uncle Nelson's house. It was fun to see them more since they were so busy with the wedding the day before.. talk about hilarious people! Uncle Nelson had knee surgery not to long ago and he showed us his scar, Deb told him you need to put Vitamin E on it he said "I don't know what that is!" "All I know is that I get Vitamin D, from the sun".. I laughed and laughed, maybe let out a few snorts..oops! ..The jokes were cracked about the Sexy Man soap and that Kelly bought some even though his mom said her mouth waters. It was fun to catch up with family for Kelly! I am very happy I got to meet them, talk about some of the nicest, happiest and funniest people!

Janeal, Grandma & Kimmy walking

Grandpa isn't he adorable?!

Walking the streets of Virden!

This cat hid from Samantha, it didn't want to be
played with

Best bakery right there folks!

Kelly talking to his Grandpa and doing
yard work for them

I am the same height as Grandpa

We decided to leave Saturday night around 5pm to do part of the drive. As we were saying our goodbyes, Kelly's grandparents were telling me how much they were happy to meet me and they loved the things they had heard about me! I started to cry, maybe because I wasn't sure if I would see them ever again, but probably because I had never felt so much love from someone in that short amount of time! We hugged and both me and kimmy were crying!

The picture on the left, is in their kitchen. They have some of the family measurements on there. Well, out of Kelly's immediate family I was the first to be put on there, none of his siblings were on there before me! hehehe.. but, then we had to measure Kelly as well! It was fun to see the years of everyone who was measured!

We made it to Chandler Arizona at about 11pm saturday night, we found a hotel and slept until 6 am. We ate breakfast and then trucked the rest of the 8 hours home! It was a long drive but it was nice to get home at 5pm! Kelly will admit to you that I was hard to handle the last hour of the drive because I wanted to get home! I was singing songs, making up my own and pestering him! The drive from SLC home has never felt so long! 

In short, it was so nice to be able to meet the family I have now been apart of for the last year & a half! It was fun to be welcomed in! I know Virden isn't a tourist place or a dream vacation! But, I do know after the 2 days spent there that some of the world's greatest people live there & luckily I can say I am related to them!

The last and final picture says it all! I am so happy I got to meet these
two adorable people finally!

A Year & A Half..Already?

It has been quite crazy to me that we were married for a year but now a year and a half! Wow!

Its kind of hard to write how I have felt the last year and a half, just because it has been such an awesome time in my life!

Its crazy how happy someone can make you, how many times you can laugh with each other! Even when we have had bad days or bad weeks, we still can make each other find some happiness! I am so grateful for Kelly. He works so hard and has become so much happier since the couple months he has worked in Ogden.

I will admit that I have a list of things I would like to do better like cooking meals and being able to keep up on cleaning, laundry and organizing. But by the time I get home there is little I want to do besides cook some bagel bites and watch some Parks & Rec with Kelly!

Some of the things we have done in the last year & a half is:

Four wheeling
Camping
Spending time at my grandparents cabin
Double dating with all of our friends
California/Disneyland with my family
Watched multiple episodes of Parks & Rec
We love Netflix
Finished multiple projects in our house

A few of my favorite dates:
Get Air Trampoline Park
Movie Nights (at home, friends home of theaters)
BBQ parties with friends
Salt Lake City Creek

I am very happy that I have learned the things I have from Kelly, got to work side my side with him, talking with him, day dreaming with him and just being married to him for eternity! Okay sappy post is now over!

But look at him he's cute!

Vacation 1 Destination: Disneyland! Day 1

First off! California, California... HERE WE COME!

Sunday:

5 am comes way to early for me, considering I don't pull myself out of bed until 7:20 for work everyday! But we finally made it to California! Along the way we stopped in St. George at the temple and did a stroll around the Visitor Center, we met a elderly missionary from Sydney, Australia. He was very fun to talk to and I wanted to ask him if "42 Sydney Wallaby Way" really exists. Sadly, I didn't ask.

We stopped in Vegas for some lunch and then made the long trek after a potty break in Barstow, California to our condo. It was nice to finally get there!

Monday:

We got to the park before it opened so we got to wait around on Main Street for a few minutes before we could run into Fantasyland and did Peter Pan, Snow White, Pinnochio, Dumbo, Teacups, and the Matterhorn. Most of the rides we were able to walk on to or maybe a 15 minute wait. 

The walking began and the butterflies of riding rides came as well. Kelly & I stuck around with my family before we split off to ride bigger rides. I remember we did Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Teacups and Pirates of the Caribbean. I also went on Indiana Jones for the first time, I don't think I would of been so nervous if I wouldn't of been in line with my sisters and dad who were running their hands over me acting as if they were spiders and mice.

I definitely got "hangry" (hunger + anger = bad) I didn't have time to eat breakfast and we didn't take any Coke into the park, then once we finally ate we spent way to much money on eating a hamburger at the park.. it wasn't the best hamburger. Kelly fixed it though once I had some Coke in me!

We went over to Critter Country and did Winnie the Pooh with Kelsey & Curtis, I could tell Graham really knew the sounds of the voices & seemed pretty enthralled with it for being 11 months old. We also did Jungle Cruise which I had never done, it totally would be lame unless you get a good tour guide! We also did Space Mountain, can I just tell you how creepy that is when they change it to Halloween and the creepy skeleton hand looks like its going to touch you.. Although, it is probably one of my favorite rides, we did have a Fastpass for it!

Also I tried my first Dole Whip. It was something I had told everyone I was going to get, I had seen them on Pinterest. I needed to know if they were really all that everyone was saying. In fact, it totally was everything! Yummy! 

Pineapple Juice- Soft serve ice cream... I don't think there was anything better!

Marci, Landon, Kelsey, Curtis, Kelly, My dad & me all went on Indiana Jones (fastpass)...coolest thing ever. I had never been on it, I don't think I would of thought it was so scary if my sisters, dad & Kelly wouldn't been grabbing me and scaring me.


Haunted Mansion aka The Nightmare before Christmas in the fall time... is amazing! It was totally different inside. Its crazy how Disney does things, they changed it so much that I couldn't even remember what the Haunted Mansion looked like! Its funny how much longer the wait time is when its the Nightmare before Christmas than when its just the Haunted Mansion. But it was definitely worth the wait!

I thought it was interesting how I finally realized that you go underground for the ride... clueless to that two years ago.       

We also walked right onto Pirates of the Caribbean, it was towards the morning. I love how cool that ride is. The water totally makes it so cool, we also thought about eating at the Blue Bayou (the restaurant inside the ride). But we decided it wasn't worth it. We went to the Iron Man exhibit! Talk about cool! Corbin was sporting his Iron man Muscle suit the whole day. Inside there was a simulator where you virtually have a suit on you and have to practice shooting or flying inside the garage of Tony Stark's house. Corbin loved it... I loved it as well. They had real parts of suits that were actually used in the movies. Its crazy to see how much work and wires went into those suits. They also had full five suits to look at.


We went to dinner in Downtown Disney Napolini. It was so much more reasonably priced than the nasty hamburger we had for lunch! Plus, it was just us and my parents.. so much smoother and easier!
After, we met back up for our fast passes of Splash Mountain. It was about 80 degrees or so that day, it was hot compared to the cold weather in Utah. We were hoping to be able to go on before it was dark & well that didn't happen! I realize why that ride bugs me.. I don't mind getting wet but at night it is hard to tell when you are finally going to stop dropping plus they blind you with a flash.. so then you can see how ridiculous you look! Plus, I was wearing white... luckily I had a scarf! The girl behind us was laughing because I was so not happy once you get to the singing after you are drenched & of course Kelly made us be in the front! 


Everyone headed back to the condo while Kelly & I stayed for the last 2 hours. Kelly decided he wanted to do It's a Small World.. I know right! We waited a half hour & by the time the ride started Kelly said "Why are we doing this?" ...Exactly Mr. Nelson! It was fun to watch the kids on that ride and how there eyes light up & how they don't get annoyed by the repeating song. 

We walked through some shops & then walked back to the Condo where everyone was fast asleep.. its like we played all day or something!
We watched some Parks & Rec on my iPad and then off to bed to get up bright and early for California Adventure!

Hello October!

Its here! Remember that Green Day song "Wake me up when September ends"? Yeah, its never really been one of my favorites but I now know how it rings true! September has felt sooooo.... long! It's been a good month, its crazy how busy life stays! I was looking on my phone, it will tell me if I have anything for the upcoming hour or days! It says I have nothing, I am wondering if I should start following what it says?! I don't want to put in everything I actually have to do..but, dreaming of having a break would be wonderful.

Oh wait, it's October 1st. That means one thing and one thing only! Disneyland is in 5 days!!! AH....
Also, that means we will be going to Moab & New Mexico/Arizona this month! Its going to be an insane month of driving, laughing, vacationing. I decided our summer vacations are really this month! I filled out my time card for the month and realized I will only be working 13 days in October! Nuts! But, I am excited and well due for some time away from home!

Although, with all the vacationing coming on I can barely stand the fact of getting everything packed, cleaned and actually leaving. Plus, then coming home from the vacation and doing all the laundry! So if I start posting in December about all the vacations in October, I at least told you where I would be!

This past weekend we went to the Malad derby.. lets just say its pretty ghetto but Kelly's friends were competing. It was fun for me because I got to talk to Janae! We laughed and watched as the boys were crazy..

With it now being fall and the weather is changing so I can wear boots and warm clothes it makes me happy, and the fact that I can regularly drink Maverik Hot Chocolate gives me a perma smile! The only downfall with the cold is that the AC is off and we have turned on the gas for the winter. My hands are starting to dry and crack...boo! And if it wasn't hard enough to get out of bed and get ready for work its even harder now because my bed seems ten times more comfy!

I am sad we won't be home a whole lot because it means I don't get to enjoy all my Halloween decorations in my house. Like our blow up pumpkin ghost & all the fun and spookiness of this season!


Kelly was modeling these foam Halloween hats at Target!

By the way I bought these pants in Springville a couple weekends ago! I just love them! Don't you?