Thursday, April 15, 2010

ONE MONTH!!



EXCITEMENT!!!!!!! I can NOT even believe we are only/STILL ONE month away from getting married! ONE month from being sealed for time and all eternity!! I CAN NOT wait. We have a week and half left of school/finals, and then we fly back to Houston (Kevin and I). Kevin will stay for a few days so we can get our marriage liscence and I can GO THROUGH THE TEMPLE!!! Then Kevin flies back to Utah because he has to work. :( While that is a sad thing, I am very happy to get to spend 3 weeks with my wonderful Mother!! and the rest of my family :) I get to help with all of the last minute plans and things, which I am actually very excited about. :) I get to fly back out to go to Kevin's sister's wedding in Boise the weekend before our wedding, which should be fun. And then I fly back to be home for our final preparations while Kevin and his Dad drive out to Houston. Life is going to be crazy for the next few weeks, but it is going to be worth it and SO exciting!! YAY!!!!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Engagement Pictures!!












We took these awhile ago, but I still wanted to share. :)





Sunday, March 21, 2010

Skiing!!

Kevin and I looking rather cute all bundled up.
Kevin is good at skiing :)

Enjoying a sunny lunch.

Me, not so much.

SO. Since most of my life has been spent in Houston, Texas, I never really had the opportunity to go skiing growing up. The only time I had gone before this weekend was over spring break my senior year, when my mother took all the kids. She just made us take a small lesson and then waited at the bottom of the hill while we tried skiing. The whole idea of strapping flat sticks to your feet to slide down an icey mountain seems crazy to me, but I tried it anyway. I HATED it. Mostly because I only enjoy doing things that I am good at, so the fact that it did not come naturally was frustrating. I swore that I would never do it again, but then this Christmas, Kevin's dad gave us two passes to go to Brighton, so I decided to try again. Kevin is an excellent skiier and was quite excited to go with me. I was pretty nervous about it. But we rented everything we needed and Kevin just made me go right up on the chair lift. Unfortunately, neither of us realized that there was a smaller slope, but I did the real one just fine, kind of. When I started, I didn't do very well, It took almost an hour to get down. And Kevin was very patient with me, he used his swim lesson instructor voice :) It was pretty funny. I went down one more time, but then my muscles were shot so i just let Kevin go down the harder slopes for his own enjoyment. :) We enjoyed a nice lunch, and then I read a book while he finished skiing. I think next time we go I will try and go down the mountain more than twice... It was really fun. :) I do have some pictures from the day though, so enjoy :)

20s dance picture :)


Not a very great/close up picture... but we looked pretty great :) Especially me, if I do say so myself ;)

Monday, March 1, 2010

Date Night=Great Night

Kevin and I went on TWO dates!! It was pretty fabulous. Friday night I arranged this big group date with 3 freshmen girls from my hall, and 3 of Kevin's mission buddies. Us girls, since we have dining plus meal plans, each bought a pizza from legends gille and then brought it to Kevin's house where the boys were all waiting for us. We had a few awkward moments until Kevin decided to have us all play some get to know you games, 2 truths and a lie. The goal is to tell the group 2 true things about yourself, and one lie (not in any specific order) then have the, guess which one was the lie. Mine were, I have 3 citizenships, I have gone skydiving, and I love riding horses. For those of you who didn't guess right away, my lie was that I love riding horses. I actually hate even being near them. Partially because that was always my sister's "thing" growing up, partially because they could kill me, but mostly because I just hate animals. I think I will allow my children to have pet rocks. Maybe low maintenance fish, but that is ALL. Kevin can have a dog if it lives outside and I don't have to ever smell it, pet it, or hear it bark. So probably not. :) ANYWAY- then we drove to Fat Cats (a bowling alley)... Kevin and I played DDR (Dance Dance Revolution arcade game) while we waited for lanes. Then we bowled for an hour. It was fun, but my backwards-between-my-legs bowling style is starting to fail me. I have resorted to throwing the bowling ball like a basketball chest pass down the center of the lane. That was okay, but not great for accuracy. I think I am doomed to being awful at that sport for the rest of my life. I am okay with this. Then we walked across the street to the Malt Shoppe and got yummy milkshakes. I do love those guys. :) That was a great night. Saturday, after doing homework through the last BYU home game against New Mexico. Kevin and I went to IN-n-Out Burger for dinner. Personally, I don't see what the big hype is, but Kevin and his family seem to threaten to disown me everytime I mention that fact :) Then we went to the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra Concert featuring my freshman roommate, Allison, as CONCERT MASTER, err concertmastress? anyway, she is the BEST violinist in the BYU School of Music right now... and that is saying a lot. It was REALLY a great concert, but since it was 2 hours long, Kevin fell asleep for a little bit :) It's okay though, it was a really slow, soft part.... then we hurried to the BYU Preference "Great Gatsby" dance. It was super cool and 20's themed. SO neat. It was in the Provo library big banquet room upstairs and they had this sweet live jazz band playing, "mocktails" (unalcoholic cocktail drinks...), and a few of the BYU Ballroom dance team members even performed a couple dances that were popular at the time... It was super neat. Kevin and I got all dressed up for it. :) I had a great time. We even rented the Great Gatsby movie to watch after. What a fabulously 20s night. :) I sure loved our fun dates this weekend. I love my Kevin :)

Friday, February 26, 2010

Are we there yet??

So, as fun as being engaged is... Is it over yet!? Things have been really great. I really love planning everything and it hasn't seemed all that crazy yet. But I'm sure it will get more so.... 76 more days!!!!! That seems soooo long. But every time I tell my mother, she kind of gets stressed. :) probably because there is so much to do still. But I really really wish it would go by faster. Kevin made me a REALLY cute countdown for Valentine's day, "100 Day Countdown To The Marriage of Melanie & Kevin" :) It was super cute and it helps me keep track. But to be honest, I started counting down the days all the way back at 115 days :) When I was young, I used to do that for the last day of school, days until I went to EFY or girl's camp, and days until big dances I was excited for. Now I am counting down the days until I get to start the rest of my life with a wonderful husband! :) Everyday I fall in love more and more. And I will continue to count down the days until the happiest day of my life!! :)

Friday, January 29, 2010

I like you




I like you, By Sandol Stoddard :)

I like you
And I know why
I like you because
You are a good person
To like
I like you because
When I tell you something special
You know it’s special
And you remember it
A long long time
You say remember when
You told me
Something special
And both of us remember
When I say something is important
You think it’s important too
We have good ideas
When I say something funny
You laugh
I think I’m funny and
You think I’m funny too
Haha
I like you because
You know where I’m tickleish
And you don’t tickle me there
Except
Just a little tiny bit sometimes
But if you do then I know where to tickle you too
You know how to be silly
That’s why I like you
Boy are you ever silly
I never met anybody sillier that me
Till I met you
I like you because
You know when it’s time to stop being silly
Maybe day after tomorrow
Maybe never
Oops too late
It’s quarter past silly
We fool around the same way all the time
Sometimes we don’t say a word
We snurkle under fences
We spy secret places
If I am a goofus on the roofus
Hoolering my head off
You are one too
If I pretend I am drowning
You pretend you are saving me
If I am getting ready to pop a paper bag
Then you are getting ready to jump
That’s because you really like me
You really like me
Don’t you
And I really like you back
And you like me back
And I like you back
And that’s the way we keep on going
Everyday
If you go away then I go away too
Or if I stay home
You send me a postcard
You don/t just say
Well see you around
Sometime
Bye
I like you a lot because of that
If I go away
I send you a post card too
And I like you because
If we go away together
And if we are lost in Grand Central Station
And if I get lost
Then you are the one that is yelling for me
Hey where are you
Here I am
And I like you because
When I am feeling sad
You don’t always cheer me up right away
Sometimes it is better to be sad
You can’t stand the others being so googly and gaggly
Every single minute
You want to think about things
It takes time
I like you because if I am mad at you
Then you are mad at me too
It’s aweful when the other person isn’t
Phooey
They are so nice and hoo-hoo you could
Just about punch them in the nose
I like you because if I think I am going to throw up then you are really sorry
You don’t just pretend you are busy looking at the birdies and all that
You say maybe it was something you ate
You say the same thing happened to me one time
And the same thing did
If you find two four-leaf clovers
You give me one
If I find four
I give you two
If we only find three
We keep on looking
Sometimes we have good luck
And sometimes we don’t
If I break my arm and
You break your arm too
Then it is fun to have a broken arm
I tell you about mine
You tell me about yours
We are both sorry
We write our names and draw pictures
We show everybody and they wish they had a broken arm too
I like you because
I don’t know why but
Everything that happens
Is nicer with you
I can’t remember when I didn’t like you
It must have been lonesome then
I like you because
I forget why
But I do
So many reasons
On the fourth of july
I like you because
It’s the fourth of july
On the fifth of july
I like you too
If you and I had some drums
And some horns and some horses
If we had some hats and some
Flags and some fire engines
We could be a HOLIDAY
We could be a CELEBRATION
We could be a WHOLE PARADE
See what I mean?
Even if it was the nine hundred and ninety-ninth of July
Even if it was August
Even if it was way down at the bottom of November
Even if it was no place particular in January
I would go on choosing you
And you would go on choosing me
Over and over again
That’s how it would happen every time
I don’t know why
I guess I don’t know why I like you really
Why do I like you
I guess I just like you
I guess I just like you
Because I like you



Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The Beginning: His Story

I was kind of a chubby and awkward kid growing up. I assumed for a large part of my younger years that I was not destined to talk to any pretty girls. Then in JR. High a funny thing happened, girls began to acknowledge my existence, not only that, but I even mustered up the courage to talk to a few myself. Soon a shift in my thinking occurred, not only did I know that I could talk to any girl, but I was sure in the fact that any girl was approachable. Then the culmination of my shift from awkward kid to bustling teenager occurred when I suddenly knew that I had it all wrong, not only was I able to talk to pretty girls but I could get them to like me, maybe even love me I thought. Soon I was more selective in the girls I would pursue and hang out with, only the prettiest would do as I searched out countless crowded classrooms.

Now flash forward from 12 to 22, I am done with my mission and eagerly looking for that next pretty girl I could talk to. Before going to BYU my expectations of endless lovely ladies were very high. However, the dream did not exactly meet that reality, or that is until I began Resident Assistant training.

Scanning a crowd of enthusiastic college kids my hopes were high again, but from the lessons of my youth I knew only the prettiest and only the best would do. I don’t think Melanie was the first girl I saw those first couple days of training, but she is the only one I remember, and the only one I wanted to talk to.

Introductions are always the hardest. What to say to a girl who has probably heard it all? No matter I thought, any other girl here would be a waste of my time compared to this one.

My chance to talk to Melanie came as most chances in my life do: pure luck. As the line for dinner formed I saw Melanie at the end and I hurried to be the lucky guy next in line.

Think quick Kevin, she has had guys flirting with her all day.

“Nice earings.” Is what I think came out first, hopping she would like the fact I noticed her earrings were mismatched.

Success, conversation followed, and we found our first similarity in our argyle socks.

After my first few words with Melanie I knew I liked her, and let myself have a glimmer of hope that she would like me back.

So I did what any young man should do when he likes a girl, I avoided her and did everything possible to make her think I was not interested. With so many other girls there, it was easy to find a few in eye shot of Melanie to talk to.

It must have worked because a funny thing started to happen: where ever I went, Melanie would happen across me to start back up the conversation we had earlier in the food line. I had her, or at least I hoped I did.

Soon my hope turned into a late night trip to Wal-Mart with just the two of us. She made me wait by the phone all night, but all good things you have to wait for.

I knew from our first adventure that Melanie was fun and spontaneous; I mean how many girls ask a guy out so she can buy a Dora the Explorer backpack?

I remember calling my friend Monte that night to talk to him about how awesome Melanie was. I still wasn’t sure if the feeling was mutual, but I was certainly convinced. Not just convinced that I liked her but convinced (and kind of scared) of the fact that Melanie was not only the prettiest girl in my RA class but the prettiest girl I knew and exactly the kind of girl I would be lucky enough to marry.

I figured it was time to stop playing the make-Melanie-think-I-don’t-like-her game, and begin the much harder task of not kissing her too quickly. Sounds easy enough, but when every day someone commented on how big or nice Melanie’s lips are, the goal became increasingly more difficult.

I finally gave in after driving Melanie home from her friend Amy’s house, where we discovered what was soon to become our favorite kissing corner, next to the back door of her apartment. I had no intentions of kissing Melanie that night, but her beautiful brown eyes made me think different. Then as Melanie lingered and avoided the final good night I guess I could not help but give Melanie what I could have only hoped she wanted, an amazing kiss goodnight . I never would have guessed as I said my final goodbye that night that although the night was ending one of the best things to ever happen to me, my life was just begining.

The rest I guess you could say is history, but really it is history that lead me to Melanie. Thanks to all those pretty girls who gave awkward me a chance I was able to have the confidence to finally kiss the prettiest girl I will ever know. That night she liked me, now she loves me. So I guess I was right.

Monday, January 11, 2010

The Beginning: Her Story

So. I (Melanie) am going to tell my side of the story of how Kevin and I met. It's quite a story, and I have our first week practically engrained in my memory. I went to the first day of RA training, kind of nervous about starting my new semester and my new job. I knew a few of the other girl RAs from Heritage and tried to hang out around them as much as possible. As I met my co-workers, I was being my outgoing, dancing self and really enjoyed that first day. We were up in this huge house down past Springfield doing all sorts of games and getting to know you activities. The first thing i remember about Kevin was sitting in the circle during meal time, i think he had talked to me in the line ;) and he was talking to this girl named Jordan who was in his major. I remember thinking how cute he was and that I wished he was talking to me instead of her. We probably flirted a little bit, and I was really loving talking to everyone. Tuesday during the day, Kevin mentioned that he had a car. Looking for a reason to hang out with him, and also needed a ride to WalMart, I netioned he should give me a ride to WalMart. during one of our many classes, I was playing with his rather complicated phone and figured out how to put my phone number in so he would have it... I felt pretty bold considering he hadn't asked for it :) That night, after a rather long and unpleasant date with some other guy, I called Kevin and we drove to WalMart. I loved talking to him and listening to all his crazy music. One the way I told him I needed to buy a backpack- but it was going to be a special one. I told his to guess what it was, he said, "Dora the Explorer?" (I'm pretty sure he was just joking, but I responded with, "YES!! How did you know!?" :) Wednesday the RA training took us to Salt Lake where we texted pretty much all day, and even though we were in separate vans and groups, we managed to hang around each other and talk A TON. That night I went to watch a movie at his friend Monte's house, with his girlfriend (now wife) Nikki, where Kevin held my hand for the first time! :) Thursday, we went to Camp Williams and did out door type things... I'm sure we hung out Friday, but Saturday night i had to go to this wedding reception as a blind date, long story, but when I got back Kevin and I went to my good friend Amy's house and helped her build a desk from Ikea and then when Kevin took me home that night, when we were talking at the back door, he kissed me goodnight!! It was pretty wonderful i tell ya. Sunday we hung out again, and that night decided to start dating. Pretty fast, but I wouldn't change a thing about how things began. Life has been pretty wonderful since that first crazy week. We've had many ups and downs, but I have ended pretty much everyday with a smile :)

XOXOX
~Melanie