Not so Project Runway!

The overzealous mechanical up and down pitter patter of a sewing machine can wear on your ears. I'll tell you what's worse, the sound of 12 sewing machines in non-harmonic competition for 4 straight hours! Where did Nate spend his Saturday afternoon? ... In the BYU sewing lab. Ashley suggested that I come with her to work today and since I don't see her during the week, I thought I had better take advantage. Not that it was horrible, because it wasn't, but it's just a long time to be in a basement full of not so exciting things (at least to me). For me it was like being stuck watching 4 hours straight of the worst Project Runway episode I have ever seen. That sounds harsh, I know, but just not my thing. My only salvation... access to the internet in a chair that's too short and slides away from the counter where the computer rests. Sorry Ash... I love you with all my heart, but this will probably be my first and last 4 hour session in the BYU sewing lab!

Weekend without Nathan

This weekend was the first weekend Nathan and I have been apart since I came to school in Provo. Next weekend wont be any better because I will be home in like 8 days and what is the point in spending money on gas when Ashley will be home two days later?? Two and a half weeks is a long time for us... basically forever! The longest we have been apart was when I went to El Salvador for a week. While I was there, we did not even get to talk to each other so at least we get to talk to each other on the phone every day which makes it seem like we are not so far apart. It has been hard being apart, but Thanksgiving break will be here before we know it and we cannot wait! This time apart has given us a new perspective to the old adage, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder".
Since Nate and I were apart this weekend it was not the most exciting weekend for me. Okay...maybe a few exciting things happened but the rest of the weekend was spent trying(that is the key word) to study for the Praxis (a test you have to take to become a teacher), waking up at 6:30 on Saturday morning to take the Praxis at 7:30, working Saturday afternoon, and not seeing Nate once.
So, for the very best part of my weekend....It started at 10:30 Saturday night. My roommates and I have been wanting to have a craft day for a few weeks and since Nate was not here we decided this weekend would be perfect. Our craft night consisted of making cute headbands...I am sure all of you have seen the cute headbands everyone is wearing now a days but since we did not want to spend the money to buy them, we decided to make them. We bought some cheap headbands and the stretch headbands and covered them in ribbon and then put buttons or fabric flowers on them. One of my roommates put feathers on her headband and it turned out super cute. They were easy and they turned out really cute. I am sure we will be making more soon since we did not have much time to work on them! Here are some pictures to show you my two creations.



If you are into headbands but you do not want to pay the money for them I would recommend making them yourself. They are fun and easy to make. Get a group of your friends together and have a party...it will be a blast! Happy Headband Making!!

January or May

So... family, friends, and frequent followers... Ashley and I have a question. We'll it's actually more like a survey. For the past couple of months we've been brooding over this subject and we're almost 97.9% sure we've reached our decision. However, we thought it would be fun to ask each of our valued readers what their opinion is with regard to this life changing matter.

First, the question: When should Ashley and Nate get married?

Second, the options: Some time in January or May

Third, the madness behind each option: Why January and Why May

Why January:

1. Ashley and Nate don't have to endure 5 more months of painfully miserable separation during the week. (Nate and his gasoline tab are getting sick of the round-trip drive from Pocatello to Provo almost every weekend)
2. They can begin to reap benefits much sooner. Nate reap the benefits of Ashley's cooking expertise on a daily basis. Ashley reap the benefits of being entertained by Nate's silliness on a daily basis.
3. When you're engaged, you love someone and want to spend every waking moment with that person. Who wants to wait another 6 months and 20 days?

Why May:

1. "It's cold! Who wants a January wedding?"(Ash) May is a much warmer time of year.

2. It's not the prettiest time of year. Well maybe that's an understatement. It's butt ugly in Ashley's opinion. She didn't use those exact words, but you can imagine who did.

3. Ashley would be stressed out with planning a wedding for January while finishing up a tough semester. May gives Ashley more time to help Sally plan the wedding.

4. Ashley can finish another semester of school at BYU, which means one semester closer to graduation.

Fourth, the decision: January or May. You decide...

Once Upon a Time

Well everybody it's official! We're Engaged! It only took Ashley 6 months to propose.... JUST KIDDING!

Once upon a time in a quaint little town called Pocatello, ID a boy (well maybe more like a man) by the name of Nathan, saw a girl (jumping out of the cradle) by the name of Ashley and being the gentleman that he is, decided to catch her. They embarked on a 5 day voyage, during which time, they fell in love. When he was tired, she drove. When she needed a blanket, he had one for her (although she didn't even use it). When he was hungry, she fed him. When her shoulders hurt, he carried her backpack. When he wanted to go swimming, she did too. When her feet hurt, he carried her. When he said something funny, she laughed. When she needed water he fetched it. When they forged the river, he held her hand. When she smelled the donkey poop, he did too. Yes, it was during the dirty, filthy, grimey, smelly, beautiful, hot, sweaty, and ridiculously fun times in Havasupai Falls that these two fell in love. From this trip forward, there was not a day that passed by that Nathan and Ashley didn't want to be with each other.

Fast forward 4.5 months to October 24, 2009...

It was a beautiful Autumn afternoon in Provo, UT. It was an extra special day, Ashley's 21st Birthday! Nathan decided to surprise his Ashley by preparing a picnic while she was gone with some friends for a couple hours. So he found the perfect spot up Provo Canyon at Nunn's Park. He went to Zupas and got her favorite kind of sandwich (Turkey Cranberry) and soup. Then he went to Magelby's and got her favorite chocolate cake in the whole world. When she texted him to pick her up, he rode up on his most trusted steed, Bullet. Ok it was more like Sally's Subaru Outback, but you could imagine. They made the switchback turns up the canyon, all the while Ashley not knowing where their final destination would be. They shared lunch by river and then it was time for Ash to open her present. I had asked Ash for weeks what she wanted for her birthday and all she would ever say is, "I want you to pop out of cake". Well mabye her exact words weren't those, but that's what she was thinking. And so Ash opened her bracelet and love boquet charm to go with it. Just when she thought the birthday surprises were over, Nathan said it was time for dessert. And knowing Ashley like we all do, she would never turn down dessert.
Now, we've reached the climax of this short but true tale. Here are three possible story endings. You decide what happens next...
Option #1- Ashley opens up the box to find chocolate cake. She is so elated that she proceeds to hord the cake all to herself. When Nathan asks for some, she appears put out, and smears it all over his face.
Option #2- Ashley opens the box to find nothing left but crumbs. To her dismay, Nathan has ruined her birthday by prematurely devouring the cake all by himself. The evidence is found on his sweater.
Option #3- Well you'll just have to watch and see for yourself!



In the moment that Ashley said "It's perfect", an overwhelming gust of wind filled with dirt flew into Nathan's eyes and they started to water. He then got "down on bended knee" for all you Boyz to Men fans and told Ashley how much he loved her and how he wanted to spend a really long, long, long time (forever) with her. After this he started to get up off his knee when she said "Aren't you going to ask me?" Nathan feeling sheepish now, had completely forgot to ask her the most important question of his life... He got back down and said, "Do you love the cake?"... oh I mean... "Will you marry me?" and her response was "YES!!" So my friends, the moral of the story is Chocolate cake is the way to Ashley's heart.


THE END