Harold Ned Snowman...yes that is his name!

Well, it started snowing two nights ago and it hasn't stopped. Literally. I think the snow around our house was at least 12 inches high this morning. It certainly will be a white Christmas. That being said, what a better activity than to build a snowman!! (Well, if you're talking to Bryan, he would say snowboarding, but some things are just not meant to be.) So to tell the story....

Bryan loves snowboarding. Me. Well, it kind of scares me. But I am willing to try again! I refuse to be scared of something that 5 year olds can do. So we got all decked out in our winter snowboarding attire. Got our passes to Sundance. Was driving up the road. And.....!! We weren't allowed up the Sundance road without 4x4 or chains. Which we had neither. And by the time we would have gotten back down the mountain, to a store, back up the mountain, put the chains on, parked, shuttled to the actual slopes.....we would have had no time. We go night boarding. Number 1 - because we work all day. Number 2 - it's cheaper.

So with a bummed husband and both of us sweating in all our gear, I had to come up with another idea! Apparently "playing" in the snow wasn't good enough, so I called Nathan and Korina and asked them if they wanted to go sledding. (We have some tubes that we "inherited" from Bryan's old apartment.) They both seemed really excited, especially Korina who has been wanting to play in the snow. We ate dinner together, got them dressed and headed to Rock Canyon Park. We had such a blast!! A few topples, but so worth it. Might I suggest trying riding down on a one-man tube (that's only supposed to hold 120 lbs.) laying on top of your husband (or spouse) almost completely by accident. You'll be in for a big laugh and a big tumble. The only problem....walking back up that ridiculous hill.

After that we decided that we just had to build a snowman. We didn't exactly know how it would turn out, but when you kinda start it out as a competition to see who can make the biggest ball, you get a pretty tall one. So I present to you....Mr. Harold Ned Snowman!!!!

We named him Harold because he just had to have one of those slightly awkward names. No offense to anyone named Harold. Then we added Ned because he kind of looks like Daddy, don't you think? Yep, he has pine eyebrows, pine cone eyes, a twig mouth and nose and stick arms. The baseball cap was provided by Nathan and the scarf by me. Isn't he amazing?!?!? And I swear, he almost did come to life!
When we were about to leave we were all so sad. All that hard work. So what does Bryan do....he gives Harold Ned a hug. Seriously how could I not take a picture of my hilarious husband?
So here we all are taking pictures with Harold Ned to prove that we are master snowman builders....and so that we always remember this day. And look at him! He must be at least 6 feet tall!
So, thank you Harold Ned for a wonderful time and the magic that you provided 2 couples on a snowy day when snowboarding didn't work out.

I really hope he's still there.

Burns

For those of you who have lived or visited Provo, this may come as sad or shocking news. This morning at 2:45am, the Provo Tabernacle was reported to be burning down. Perhaps burned down isn't the correct words for the four walls still stand, but the roof, inside and beautiful stain glass windows are all gone - perhaps also a turret by the end of this. And smoke billows from the top even now as I type this, as firefighters continue to try to put out the flames. It is yet unknown what started the fire, but it is believed it started in the attic.

I'm so glad that Bryan, Nathan, me and especially Korina, who had never seen the Tabernacle before, were able to go to our Stake's Musical Fireside in the Tabernacle last Sunday. The Tabernacle has been my favorite building in Provo since I moved here and I am truly sorry to see it in such a state. I hope they rebuild it, seems saving it seems more and more impossible as the fire continues to burn.

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving and Christmas. Actually, I love Halloween because that's where it all begins. I swear, they have so many of the best holidays in Fall and Winter because they know there is nothing else to do. And that's just how I like it! Anyway, I signed up to make a pie for our Ward's Pie and Game night. Sadly I didn't start it until I got home from work at 5 and so it wasn't ready in time. Oh well, I don't think Bryan minded. I found this recipe on Allrecipes.com and apparently everyone loves it and its won all these awards, so I had to try it. My conclusion...it's really good---or I just make one really great apple pie. I'm leaning towards the latter. Anyway, it tasted great and looks even better, if I say so myself, which of course I do. I mean look at it, it's picture perfect!!

Bryan and I spent Thanksgiving at his brother's house (Craig and Sarah) in Layton. His two younger brothers were there with us too. Sarah made almost the entire dinner herself (props to her) and it was delicious. We had so much fun. We even played Balderdash and your's truly won. Apparently I'm really good at making up things that sound real (which I believe is a useful tool) or, as Bryan pointed out, I've been watching too much Lie To Me and have been using my lying detection skills to figure out who was lying. Maybe it was a little of both. Or I'm just a genius. I'll take either.

That Friday Bryan had to go back to work (sadly) and I got to stay home, so what did I do...I put up the Christmas Tree!! I love decorating. Especially Christmas. And in our little apartment it looks like a Christmas card it's so perfectly traditional. I love it!! I did silver and gold again this year. It's just so classic.

And even though these pictures are fuzzy I wanted to get the feel of the room with the lights softly glowing. YAY!!

Plus we have that huge window so this year everyone else can really appreciate my beautiful tree like they haven't been able to the last couple of years. I think that Bryan is figuring out that I am the Jones' that everyone else is trying to keep up with. I can't help that I like showing off. I'm just too good at what I do!!

Later that night we rented Toy Story 3, I know, I know, we're a little slow when it comes to watching the must-sees. Bryan built us a fort because our living room is huge with no furniture in it other than a tree and piano. It was so simply perfect. I commented how it is nice to know that if we are ever stuck out somewhere my husband can build me a fort with some safety pins. We had so much fun. I would suggest that everyone should make a fort now and again. It brings back so many memories and can be the beginning of a great adventure!

The Apartment

So I know that everyone has wanted to see the apartment, but up until now it hasn't been anything special. Only now is it starting to take on personality.

It's hard to explain but when you walk into the front door you see this huge wall with built-in bookshelves, a fireplace, two large windows and a huge mantel. It's one of the reasons that I loved this place. So this is one side of the mantel. It's full of our pictures, family pictures, The Proclamation, The Living Christ and a digital picture frame that Bryan got me for my birthday. In the bookshelves are our movies and all those binders and books on the second shelf are Bryan's piano music.

Yes we hung up our ginormous picture of us above the fireplace. It's the perfect place! And everyone comments on it when they come over. And on the other side is our sign in book, our engagement photos book and my crystal bowl with my bouquet in it. What I love is that everything from the wedding works so well in our house too. AND, I'm just not willing to give it up yet.
This is on the opposite wall where our couch will hopefully go when we finally buy one. Our diplomas are on the left, our marriage certificates on the right and we are in the middle. Almost everything on this wall was a wedding gift, so thank you everyone for making our house more like a home.
I had to take a picture of this because this is a 21" clock that I wanted so much. I don't know what is with me a really big clocks, but I like them, I feel like they can be artwork in themselves. And yep, Bryan got we that for my birthday too. (He knew I really wanted it, plus he got me my own Reader's Digest Christmas music book which is very nostalgic in the family, and a bathrobe that I kept complaining I wish I had and he took me to P.F. Chang's which I love!! Obviously forgot to blog about the birthday.) Anyway, I love the clock. Plus I don't have to go all the way into the kitchen to see the time.
Our kitchen. For married college housing we think we hit the jackpot. Look at all that space! Plus there's more on the other side with the oven and microwave! And it's all new with granite counter tops. What I love most about the kitchen now is that everything MATCHES!! The plate, bowls, cups, silverware, measuring utensils, pots, pans.....everything!! It has been my dream since I first came to college and it's mine!!! (And yes, that is my love cooking dinner in the background! He was making stuffed mushrooms. Yum!)
And this was our latest addition. We had so many pots from Mom that they didn't really fit. I mean, we could make them fit, but then getting them in and out was a huge hassle. So we decided to hang them on the wall because we don't have one of those cool island light/pot hanger things like Larissa. But we thought we'd use the same concept. We had to make it up because they didn't sell anything what would work at Target (and we still had some gift card money, so we thought we might as well use it) so we used a window curtain rod, some wall hanger hooks and shower curtain hook. I think we are pretty ingenious and that it looks pretty good. And please, some one mention to Mom how good the copper-bottom pans look! Yes, I keep them that clean all the time!

So anyway, that's a little glimpse into our apartment. I couldn't get a good angle on the bathroom, but well, it's a bathroom and it all matches too. (And Heidi and Larissa, we have all new towels so feel free to come and shower in our clean bathroom and have a nice fluffy towel to dry off with. I think you'll be proud.) And the bedroom....well it's the least seen, so although it is picked-up and clean, it looks funny because it's a mattress on the ground and there are no dressers. But one day it too will look like the rest of the house. So yep, there you have it my friends (and family). Casa de Stiles.

One Month

Yesterday was our one month.....anniversary, I guess you could say. Don't worry, I'm not the type of crazy person that is going to celebrate each month, but I thought that the first month was kinda special. Especially since we haven't killed each other yet. :)

I didn't even really plan it out until about an hour before I got off work and realized what day it was. I knew I was going to cook dinner anyway, so I decided that I would just liven it up a bit to make it special--plus I knew that Bryan had Frisbee so he wouldn't be there to ruin the surprise.

I ran to the grocery store to pick up some ingredients we didn't have and then I went to Kmart. Okay, I know this is weird, but I'm starting to really like that store. I wanted placemats and they were the only ones that had nice, simple ones. Target and Walmart looked like a college magazine. I defiantly did NOT want bright pink and white polka-dotted placemats and Kmart had the nicest light gold ones. Plus we got our table (yes, for now it is a card table) with chairs there for cheaper than anywhere else and it looked like it at least tried to have some design to it. Anyway, basically I feel that I should rethink my perception of Kmart.

So I made dinner and set the table - I think even Ms. Manners would be proud.

I even looked up how to fold napkins. This one is called "Lily."

We needed two cups so that we could have a drink with our meal and for our toast. Yep, I got Martinelli's. It's tradition. We couldn't celebrate without it.

So even though it was simple, I'm proud. And I think Bryan liked it too.

So it wasn't completely a surprise. Bryan's brother had asked for help moving his stuff and Bryan asked me if we should invite him to dinner. I normally would love to have his brother come over, but I thought that would be a little awkward, so I had to tell Bryan that I wanted to make a special dinner. Of course, he caught on immediately. (He was wondering why I was pushing him out the door.) Sadly, he thought he needed to take his time, so he didn't come home until 8:00. I thought I needed to rush, so I had everything ready at 7:15. The food got a little cold and I had to make more sauce because it all cooked away, but it turned out okay in the end. Other than that, it was just how I planned it. We ate, we toasted, we smiled, we love. Basically......I love my husband!!

Honeymoon!!

Oh......where to begin. I'm only buckling down and do this because Daddy told me I had to. Just kidding! Well, sorta. He did call and tell me to update my blog, and I have wanted to, I just wanted to do the wedding first, but I almost don't know what to say about that either. I'll sit down another day and write it I think. Simply - it was wonderful...everything I could have hoped for...and I was and am so happy to be married to Bryan. THIS, however, is not about the wedding, it's about the Honeymoon.

We went to Florida for our Honeymoon. We started in Ft. Lauderdale and worked our way up. We did miss our flight from DFW (we mixed up the return time with the departing time) but luckily US Airways was really nice and got us out on the next flight. Thank goodness! For the first 3 days we just lounged around in the resort, eating lots of food and enjoying our time together. It was nice to not have to worry about any plans.

I guess the exciting stuff didn't start happening until our cruise to the Bahamas. I have never been out of the country, let alone on the East coast, so this was all a new experience for me. Bryan had gotten us a berth on the top floor with a big window and comparatively a lot of space. It was interesting to see what people can fit into if they try. We had a queen bed and there was only the 2 of us sharing everything. Some berths had 4 people and one bathroom. I don't know how they did it.

The first picture we took. We finally remembered that we needed to document this!

This was the view from one of the decks. That island is called Peanut Island and apparently the Kennedy's had a vacation home there. I don't even think you can stay there. It's now used for the Coast Guard.This cruise ship was smaller, but it still had all the fun stuff with it. It had the casino and pub, the nicer restaurants, the night club, the lounge, the pool and bar area. It was so much fun. Bryan took me dancing one night. It was 50s and 60s hour and we were the only ones up there dancing! I'm so glad that Bryan was willing to dance with me although we were all alone. Everyone else seemed to enjoy watching us though. We had dinner at the nicer restaurant where there were 5 courses and the presentation was beautiful! I almost felt like I was on the Titanic. Then we laid on lounge chairs outside, listened to our audiobook, and watched the ocean.
When we actually got to the Bahamas, Bryan had us signed up to go snorkeling. I have never done it and I've always wanted to! I got to swim with the fishies!! There was corral all over the place and Bryan dived down and got us some shells.

We totally found this starfish!! Just kidding. It was the boat's owners.

After snorkeling we had lunch at the resort and decided to be lazy. We went into the water for a little while, but it was rainy and kinda cold (at least for me who is perpetually cold). Luckily they had a hot tub so I could warm up.

Yes that was the color of the sky.

We decided to listen to more of our audiobook and rest. It was tiring swimming around for over an hour.

After that we went shopping of their little boardwalk where Bryan bought me a manu, or lava-lava. I wore it to dinner. That night we got fun little non-alcoholic drinks and listened to a jazz singer. We listened to more of our book and had a marvelous time!!

After we returned the next day we had to drive back down to Ft. Lauderdale (the port was in Palm Beach--about an hour away) to pick up a shirt that Bryan forgot in the resort. We then drove up to Orlando to begin the next stage of our journey......Universal Studios!!!!!!!

I think this was the funnest part for both of us. Don't get me wrong, we loved everything, but seriously, who don't love a great theme park?
Oh where to start? This is on the Universal side. There is Universal and Islands of Adventure. Everything is so clean and well done. They REALLY know the meaning of THEME park. This is the New York area where they played Frank Sinatra and had the Blues Brothers.
It also had The Mummy ride! Seriously, at Universal (every part of it) it was almost FUN to stand in line just so you could look at everything. This was such a cool ride, it was one of those that's in the dark so you don't know what's coming. They really like their pyrotechnics too!!! Every ride had some sort of bursting flame in it. I'm almost surprised that I still have my eyebrows! This ride had a napalm ceiling at one point.
This goes into the San Fransisco district. Bryan danced me down the alley. I love him!
Then there is the Jaws area. This ride was pretty fun. Lots of explosions and again, more fire. These poor little kids got scared on the ride and had to hide behind their mom. I really can't complain. I've never even seem Jaws--I've been too scared.
Men In Black - a shooter ride. I still don't know how you know when you shot the aliens, but Bryan kicked my trash like 150,000 to 65,000. Oh well, I know I'll always be safe with him.
The Simpson's Ride - It's one of those virtual rides with the smells and stuff. Not too gross, but after awhile all the virtual things were make us a little queasy.
We have no idea what this used to be. It doesn't look like it's been open in awhile, but yes, that is my name on the sign......I'm so cool!
Then the adventure REALLY begins!! The Universal side is really fun, but the Islands of Adventure is ten times better!! Probably because it's newer too.
Everything here makes you feel like you stepped into a different world. And it's all so well done!

This is the best ride in the entire park. I find it funny that the movies haven't done as well as the ride - or why they named a ride after the Hulk anyway, it's not like he is that well known.
This ride is the bomb. You slowly start to tick up as it counts down, then you realize that the counting will be over before you make it to the top. Suddenly...........WHOOSH!!! You are shot out the top and start spinning and dropping. It's such as interesting combination. And the best part is that you actually feel like the ride is worth your time. Yes we had to stand in line for an hour the first time, but the ride actually felt long. I kept expecting it to end, but like I said, it's so worth it.
The Hulk is part of the Superhero Comic area. They had a 3-D Spiderman virtual/moving ride. You almost couldn't tell what was screen and what was a set in front of you.
Then you move to the Comicstrip area. And yes, I hadn't had that much fun in a long time.
This is the best log ride ever!! It has such a big drop! Islands has every ride that other parks have, but they are done bigger and better.
This was Bryan's favorite part! He really liked dinosaurs as a kid. They had John Williams' music playing all over the place.
This is the fossilized sidewalks that were over the entire Jurassic Park area.
These dinos looked legit! I told Bryan to look scared and all he said was that he's too amazing to be scared of a dinosaur. And it's sadly true.
This is almost like a log ride again, but you're in a large boat. The ride takes you through the building and has the biggest drop ever!!! And the biggest splash too! I almost am scared of this drop.

This is the Jurassic Park Island.

This is the ride. They have life size animatronic dinosaurs.

I don't know the names of the dinosaurs, but just call Bryan, he can tell you them all.

The end of the ride has a HUGE T-Rex coming at you like he is going to bite your head off and then you fall the big drop I was telling you about. It looked so real!

Then you move on to MY favorite part. HARRY POTTER WORLD!!!!! I don't even know how much I need to explain. It's like walking into the movie, expect with a lot more people. Actually it's just like Diagon Alley in the first movie when Harry sees it for the first time. It is cram packed!

That's so right. It's Hogsmeade!

Everything around here moves. The reflection is bad, but Sirius Black moves just like in the movies. I understand that it's just a screen, but it soooo doesn't look like it.

The Three Broomsticks. We had lunch here. It is so cool.
Like I said, just like the movie. And yes you can buy chocolate frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans, chocolate wands, lemon drops. You name it from the books, it's there.
These are the cards from the Chocolate Frogs, and yes, their pictures move too.

The Hogwart's Express. They had a conductor and everything!

This was the most interesting ride. I don't even know how to explain it. It was similar to other ones where it was virtual and motion, but the motion wasn't just from the bottom of your seat. It turned you almost upside down and spun and ups and downs, some in front of a screen (when flying through Quidditch) or with big sets when Dementors or gigantic spiders were after you. It throws you for a loop. Literally.

Standing in line. Yes--that is Butterbeer. Delicious!!!

Since Harry Potter World is so new and everyone wants to go, they have pretty long lines, but this was the coolest line to wait in. You walk through the castle dungeons a little bit, then through the greenhouses.
You zigzag through that and then make it to the front doors!!

First thing you see. Big statue.

The House Cup counters.

Dumbledore's eagle in front of his office.

The hallway with the moving stairs. It was so tall, they have lots of pictures and yes, some of them move too!

Dumbledore's office where they have all his little contraptions. There is a screen in the back with him talking to you. You know it's a screen, but it's still pretty cool.

Defense Against the Dark Arts class room.

Here you meet Harry, Ron and Hermione. There is a screen of them too.

The Fat Lady. I know you can't see her, but you can see that they even texture the screens to look like oil paintings, but yes, she moved too.

Lastly, the Great Hall where you actually get onto the ride.

Everything about Harry Potter was cool. You could go to Ollivanders and get a wand (too bad that line was longer then any ride in the entire Universal Resort park). They also had a Dragon Challenge ride with the Triwizard Cup and they send two coasters out at the same time. Really cool if you're in the front seat.

Lastly we come to The Lost Continent. It's like Persia and Greece combined. This is called Poseidon's Fury. It's more of a show than a ride.

They have a little actor and this is another one of those fire-burst shows with water explosions. Bryan's favorite part was walking through this tunnel of water. The water is rushed up so fast on one side that it makes it clear across the top and other side without getting you wet. Pretty amazing!

There was also Dr. Seuss land. It was really kiddie though. Still, we had 2 day, park-to-park access tickets, so we made sure to get into everything we wanted. It was so fun!!!

That night we made it to the Hyatt (in the airport--which was so cool), luckily made it to our flight. (There was hundred of people and we were running a little late.) And flew back to Texas for our 2 day drive home. It was amazing!!! We had a blast with everything and now all of you want to go to Universal too. Don't worry, it's okay, you can admit it!!