Mission(s) Accomplished!

I'm baaaacccckkkk!

Let's just say that in the 9-ish days we were in Utah County, we got A LOT accomplished.
And when I say A LOT, I mean... like, a SHIT TON.
So, as a good blogger, let me give you a recap.
It's going to be long and wordy, sorry in advance.

Saturday, May 25: Instead of going down to my co-worker's wedding reception in St. George (sorry Natalie!),  we decided to hammer out our laundry, git-r-done, pack, and head up to Lehi. We also drove around collecting pictures from Trev's grandmas for our tribute decoration at our wedding. (More on that later.)

Sunday, May 26: Slept in a tid bit, got ready in our Sunday best, and headed off to Josh's mission homecoming. Josh was one of my dear friends in high school, and just got back from serving in the Tennessee Nashville mission. Although he did not convert Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, or any of the members of Lady Antebellum, he did get to meet and teach a couple of people who wrote hit songs for Montgomery Gentry and Steel Magnolias.

Ready for Josh's mission homecoming!

Sunday afternoon, we broke Sabbath rules and pestered my mom to come with us shopping for engagement clothes. She was the biggest blessing during this process, because I had gotten quite discouraged about the process. I love having new clothes, but I hate actually trying them on and purchasing them, let alone trying to match them to another person. Mom walked right into JC Penney's, and immediately found us both one outfit. From there, we went to Kohl's, Gordman's, and Target. We were able to find Trev two more shirts, and me... well, just one outfit. (I am picky, people! And big chested. And a little fat. So that makes it kind of hard.)

Monday, May 27: Memorial Day came a little to bright and early. As a family, we ate breakfast at the annual American Fork Fire Department's Memorial Day breakfast. There's just something about hash browns and eggs that make my day a little bit brighter. We spent a couple of hours at home on the couch letting our stomachs settle before Dad, Mom, Trev, and I headed up to Midvale to look at a car I found the night before on KSL. It was a 2007 Ford Focus, 86,000 miles on it, in great condition, for $4,900. I thought it was too good to be true.

... but, it wasn't too good to be true! The car was beautiful, ran well, and had been rebuilt properly. We were even able to talk Bruno, the nice Mexican man we bought it from, down to selling it to us for $4,800! What a steal! We made our promise that we would be back the next morning to get it bright and early, cash in hand. To celebrate our car purchase *sarcasm*, Trev and I went more clothes shopping with my mom (mind you, we were shopping for me; Trev's a champ and didn't complain at all about being dragged along) and I was able to find two more outfits for engagement pictures. I was still fretting about shoes and jewerly, but didn't want to drag Trev to anymore stores for the day. Our evening was then filled with watching Jurassic Park and playing Clue with Tedo.

Clue! And of course Trev was Mr. Green in the game... duhhh.

Tuesday, May 28: I don't think either of us really slept well the night before, so Trev and I were up and ready to go get our new car by 9 a.m. After a brief crisis at Zion's Bank because the money from the insurance check hadn't been released, we were able to walk out of the bank with $4,800 in hand. I've never held so much cash in my life. Bruno happily took the money, and we happily drove away with our new car.

Buying a new car wasn't the only thing on our to-do list for Tuesday. On the way home from Midvale, we stopped at Men's Warehouse and ordered tuxes, vests, pants, ties, and shoes for our wedding. It was the longest two hours of my life. The lady helping us was a new employee and had no idea what the hell she was doing. And, to give her a break, it was a tid bit confusing naming off the members of the groom's clan: Trevor, Tyler, Trevor, Tyler. Who wouldn't get confused? When we were done at Men's Warehouse, we stopped at Flowers on Main in Lehi and ordered our flowers for the wedding. I walked in there with a sour attitude, not knowing what I wanted, and walked out with a receipt reading $400. Who knew bouquets, corsages, bridesmaid bouquets, and boutineers could cost so much?

Trev and I had a brief fashion show for my dad and brothers when we got home from Flowers on Main to show off our outfits for the engagement pictures, because I was freaking out about shoes. Shoes are important, and are what make or break an outfit! (I am seriously so blessed with a fiance who deals with my grumpiness, stress, and overreactions. Trevor Green, I love you!) And to let you all in on a little secret, my dad is very blunt when it comes to appearance. If he doesn't like something, he'll tell you! The fashion show was a success, and the three other important men in my life liked our outfits and gave me ideas for shoes. With the fashion show over, Trevor and I hurried and changed and I drove us to Lindon like a maniac for my friend Kaylie's ring ceremony. Her and her {very tall} husband were married in the Draper temple, but held a small ring exchange ceremony for family and friends unable to go into the temple. Kaylie was also a dear friend my senior year of high school, and one of those friends that even though we don't talk that often, when we see each other it's like we've never been apart. The reception venue was small, but gorgeously decorated and fit Kaylie's personality perfectly. Her husband is definitely charming, and I can see why Kaylie married him. On our way home from ring ceremony, Trev encouraged me to stop and buy shoes for pictures. (Again, he's an amazing man.) Thank you Gordman's for the sandals, and Shoe Carnival for Buy 1- Get 1- Free.

New car! (:

Men's Warehouse, renting tuxes like a boss.

Wednesday, May 29: Dun dun dunnnnn, the day of engagement pictures finally arrived. I was freaking out for three reasons: 1) my bangs were still too long and my Utah County hairdresser friends ditched out on me, 2) it looked like it was going to rain and 3) we were supposed to meet Dave, our photographer, outside of the Salt Lake City library. Had I ever been there before? No. *Stress levels seriously rising.* Trev helped me screw my head on straight. I took a big risk out of desperation and went out to Wal Mart in Saratoga Springs to the SmartStyles Salon, and told the girl exactly what I needed. She made my bangs look great! Trevor kept commenting on how great they looked as we headed back home to Lehi. After a long hot shower and two hours of getting ready (and some encouragement on Facebook from my maid of honor), we drove up to Salt Lake City to meet our photographer. Pictures went great! It didn't rain, and the weather was just right. Dave Jaffa is seriously one of the easiest going, nicest men I've ever met, and made taking pictures fun. He loved our outfits, and kept complimenting my ring. Almost immediately we were known as "Trev" and "Tash", and became accustomed to the phrases "Hit me!" and "Kill it!" We went into alley ways, against old buildings, on top of parking garages, into spiraling staircases, in front of waterfalls, and on top of the SLC Library. It was a blast, and all three of us really clicked. Dave thought Trev was so funny, and loved that we were willing to do anything. I don't have the pictures yet, but I can't wait to see them!

Three and a half hours later, Dave decided we had plenty of pictures and our photo taking session was over. As we started to drive home, it started to sprinkle. When we got to Saratoga Springs to go to dinner with Trev's uncle Layne and cousins Rian and Nate, it started to pour. I secretly counted my blessings and thanked God for a great, non-stressful day.

My encouragement from my best friend and maid of honor. Isn't she great?

Huge rainstorm, AFTER our engagement pictures. 

Thursday, May 30: My mom doesn't know what sleeping in is, even though it was our vacation, and she made that well known the whole week we were home. She was in both of our rooms at 8 in the morning, nagging at us to get up and get going. Mom, Trev, and I met my aunt Lori (aka: Martha Stewart, aka: the most creative woman I know) at Highland Gardens a little before noon, to look around and get ideas for decorations. It's already so green and beautiful in there, so the need for decorations isn't too pressing. Mom and I walked away with some great ideas. We may or may not have spent a little too much time looking around our venue, because from there it was rush rush rush to go home and grab our next door neighbors (who are basically our grandparents) to go to Buffalo Wild Wings for my brother Trevor's graduation lunch. B'Dubs was good as usual, and we even went on 60 cent boneless wing Thursday, so the cost was decent, too. Trevor and I were in charge of getting pictures of Big T in front of the decorations Mom put around the house for our graduate, and then we hauled him down to the UCCU Center at UVU for graduation. Mom and Dad were able to juggle soccer tryouts and graduation just right, and made it into their seats for graduation in great time.

{Side note: can I just say how amazing my littlest brother is? Tedo had four different soccer tryouts for outstanding traveling teams the whole week we were in Lehi. Four! He came home each night sunburnt and tired, but proud of his hard work. And his hard work paid off. He made it onto the reserve team for Surf, a soccer club based out of San Diego. He'll have opportunities to travel and play the sport that he loves all over the state. Also a big shout out to my parents, for allowing all of us kids to participate in things that we love(d), and for hauling our asses around to tryouts, practices, games, and/or performances.}

Graduation started a little bit after 7:30, and all of us yelled and screamed as my brother made his way across the stage to receive his diploma. Honestly, none of us thought he would graduate. Big T hates school, and getting him to do his homework was always a struggle. Thanks to FFA, great teachers, and a new outlook on life, Trev flipped his attitude around his senior year and was able to graduate. Mom was a little crybaby, and I think Dad even shed his tears. We sure were proud of him! All of us safely made it home from graduation at around 10:30, and our little graduate changed his clothes and headed out the door for the all night grad party. Meanwhile, Trevor and I lounged around the house and waited for the call from Jenna, Trev's stepsister, who was driving through Utah County with her sister on their way home to North Dakota. The call from Jenna came at around 11:45, and we were able to meet her and Danae at Wendy's in Lehi. It was Trev's and mine first time meeting Danae, and she was such a sweetheart! It was good to see both girls, even though it was only for a few minutes.

Turquoise shirt, orange cowboy boots. My brother.

My handsome graduation date. <3

First picture in the new car. 

Whooo, Westlake graduation!

Love my Mr. Green.

Tried to get a picture of him posing in front of the "W"... didn't work too well.

My family, minus Tedo.

Trevor sandwich!

At Wendy's with our sisters; L-R: me, Danae, Jenna, Trev.

Friday, May 31: I honestly don't remember what we did on Friday, other than sleep in till 9:30 (woot woot) and play Life with Tedo. That kid is ruthless when it comes to playing board games. If Trev and I made the slightest wrong move, Tedo would chime out, "A cheat, a cheat! That's what you are!" He doesn't own the game Battleship yet, so I think Trev and I are going to purchase that for him. He would love it. Friday night Trevor and I met my mom at my uncle Jeff and aunt Lori's house with other family members and friends to watch my cousin Dallan open his mission call. It was a surprise when we heard that Dall-pal turned in his mission papers; he's 21, has a cute girlfriend, and is almost done with school. We didn't think he was going to go. Well, Dallan turned in his mission papers and got his call in the mail on Thursday. And as for the cute girlfriend, turns out that Abby is going on a mission to Arizona and enters the MTC on Wednesday. She's from Atlanta, Georgia; she has the cutest accent, and her and Dallan spent some time there in Georgia a couple of weeks ago when Abby moved home. For the past week, she's been staying at the Barnes' before her MTC stay, making her trip to the Provo MTC more convenient. Anyway, Dallan opened his call a little after 8. His face registered pure shock when he read out that he was going to be serving in... the Georgia Atlanta mission. I don't really believe in soul mates, but I think Dallan and Abby might be meant to be together. Dallan enters the MTC on August 14th, and will be around for our wedding.

Saturday, June 1: I honestly haven't done yard work at my house in three years, so when Mom woke all of us up on Saturday to do yard work to get ready for a barbecue for Tedo's soccer team, I was a little bit pissed. {Sometimes I'm a pampered little princess, what can I say?} We accomplished Mom's list of tasks and received her thanks, and were able to enjoy the BBQ. Trevor got to meet the Haunga's, an awesome Hawaiian family in our ward. Their son, Nainoa, plays soccer with Tedo, and we've become friends with them over the years from serving in church callings to me being friends with their aunt Tevai. Trevor loved the Haunga's, and kept telling me that we need to do a pig roast for our wedding luncheon. Say what? The barbecue was a success. Later that evening, Tedo, Trev, and I went out for ice cream and watched the final Jurassic Park. My littlest brother loves my fiance sooo much, it's adorable.

BBQ time!

Kong Kones at Macey's with my boys.

Yesterday we were able to order some decorations and items for our thank you favors, ate some lamb and garlic mashed potatoes, and came on home to Cedar City with our two cars. There were no problems on the way home with the Ford Focus, which made both Trev and I happy campers. It was a successful, busy week in Lehi, but we got a lot accomplished. Our wedding is coming together, and I'm starting to get more and more excited. I am so thankful for my parents' love and support {as well as their checkbook} and the support of so many others who have offered to help. We get married in 2 months from today. In fact, by this time in two months, I'll be married and enjoying my reception with my husband.

Holy shit.
Things just got real.