Toads and More!

It happened! Five of our nine Laurels graduated, and boy, will I miss them! I went to graduation, and although I was a little out of it because my surgery was four days prior, I was so happy I could go. Their class is the same class I student taught so I knew many of the graduates--I was able to teach English to three out of five of my graduating Laurels. Poor things had to transition from "Mrs. Browning" to "Sister Browning" and finally to "Let's go eat cookies at Katie's!" The Valedictorian and Salutatorian were from our ward; Ben Lomond 11th really represented the show! I only found a couple of the Laurels in the crowd afterwards, but it was worth it!

The Weber Warriors!

Hannah!

Tasha!

 

Ben and I had Taco Bell last week (post-surgery=fast food for us~) and loved these little packets...Speaking of marriage and love...Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend marked two years since meeting each other on our blind date at Toad's! We decided to relive our first date by playing mini-golf! (Did I mention that my parents also met on a blind date playing mini-golf in Provo--coincidence? I think not...)

Our meeting place!

I actually got a hole-in-one! That never happens! Ever!

My prince and his castle

Ben was a pro-golfer through the hut!

Toad's is actually quite pretty!

We finished our date off with a brownie sundae~

If you live in Ogden and haven't been to LongHorn Steak House, you should go! It is delicious--I mean, wow! And the price, especially for a steak house, was spectacular. Ben and I both got burgers, ironically, and then split a sundae. My cheddar bacon burger was one of the best I have ever had. Ever.

With fun times at graduation, our Toad's date, and Sunday and Monday filled with fun times with both of our families, we have been having too much fun!

What I learned from Nose Surgery

Yes, I had a nose job, but it's not what you are thinking--promise! It was the inside of my nose that got reworked, not the outside! I have had lots of breathing/sinus/cold problems since, well, forever.

When I was twelve, they thought it was my tonsils, so they removed those. Then I was told I have athletic-induced asthma, even though I have never had an asthma attack....Then I was told I must have allergies. I have had those tested out twice, and I apparently have minor allergies but not enough to provoke the level of congestion I usually had. I finally went to an ENT who did a CAT scan of the inside of my nose, turns out--the inside of my nose had abnormally narrow passageways and swollen turbinates (I still don't even know what that means). My adenoids (in the back of my throat) were swollen as well--so the consensus was...."septum reconstruction/turbinate reduction/adenoid removal surgery." Honestly, I don't even know what it all means....still...other than that I should be able to breathe better, recover from my colds faster than the month they usually last (because they had no where to go in my nose), and "my quality of life would be enhanced"--direct quote from my amazing doctor. So I went in for my inner nose reconstruction last Thursday, yipee! And I learned a few things from the whole experience....

1. If you ask the nurse the day before your surgery if you have to wear a hospital gown, she will laugh. One of my worst fears came true, and I had to wear one...but it was more comfy than I supposed.
2. I can't look at the IV. I just can't. It weirds me out thinking fluid is going into me through my hand. I don't care what the nurse said; I know that when she was tapping my vein to "tell it hello," that was not what she was doing!
3. Morphine makes me cry. I woke up from the surgery balling because....I don't know why.
4. Percocet makes me sick to my stomach. 
5. Ben and my mom take great care of me, even when I am acting crazy.
6. Wearing a taped, masked, beak thing over and below your nose for a few days is really annoying.
7. Blowing your nose is the best thing ever. I wish I could blow my nose right now; however, I have to wait two weeks to blow, even though it has been draining grossness constantly for days. So appreciate blowing your nose while you can!!
8. I'll be honest, I thought surgery would be kind of fun because then I could relax, watch movies, and do things I never get to do in my typical day; in reality, I was too miserable to enjoy movies, relaxing, or anything at all really.
9. Telling people you are having "nose surgery" can be awkward--I repeat, it really wasn't a nose job on the outside, just the inside!
10. Doctors and nurses are amazing and deal with gross things that I can't handle. at. all. My surgeon/doctor called me every day for three days after the surgery to check up on me--talk about amazing!
11. Friends and family are so kind and thoughtful! Everyone has been so sweet to brighten my day! Even some of my Laurels came by to check on me and visit! Texts, phone calls, meals, flowers, and treats has been a wonderful reminder to me how blessed I am to have wonderful people around! Thank you!

 11. Flower deliveries are one of the happiest things ever! I have never had flowers delivered to my door in my life (a secret wish I always have had), and Ben's parents and aunt delivered a beautiful flower basket the day after surgery--and it made me so happy! I had Ben move it to the mantle so I could see it from "my couch." Then yesterday my work delivered a yellow flower arrangement! I have the best boss ever and work with amazing people! Opening the door and seeing a surprise delivery is one of the happiest things ever!

 12. All in all, surgery taught me to be grateful for smart and caring doctors, amazing moms, brilliant husbands, caring friends, delicious meals, beautiful flowers, wonderful people, and blowing my nose!

Things That Make Me Happy Right Now

Here are some things that have made me smile today:

This picture from a week ago when I attended Jen's wedding reception. She was such an amazing roommate and friend--I needed her that last year at BYU! I want to be like her one day when I grow up!

That this construction is over (before and after pictures to come). This is what five rooms looked like in our house last week...

That I don't have to wear this nose thingy anymore--post surgery, more to come.

My graduating Laurels. I love them. so. much. (I am going to cry when they graduate and forever leave YW tomorrow). Lex, one of my Laurels, took this pic of us a couple of months ago--I can't do cool poses like she can.

Our YW Girls Camp fundraiser was a huge success--we dipped over eight hundred strawberries and posted numerous signs in homes throughout the ward for Mother's Day! Watching the Beehives hammer those stakes into people's yards was a wonderful and amusing sight. 

Our YW were pretty amazing at making their strawberries so pretty!

Ben's brother found my cousin at BYU, patrolling a motorized couch on a date. My cousins are hilarious, and I got to see them yesterday--extra bonus!

Finding stray cats at Ben's parents' house makes me happy! This cat became my little cat friend; I felt bad afterwards when I found out that they had been trying to get the cat to leave for a while, and then here I was taunting it--I need to learn that most normal people don't like stray cats! 

 My husband is an amazing photographer, and that makes me happy, especially when he takes pictures like these :)

Yay for happiness!

A (Last) Cabin Adventure

Due to this being the craziest month of married life so far, I have been MIA in my blogging. A couple of weeks ago we invited five families from our ward up to my parents' cabin. It was perfect timing considering we just found out my parents are selling the cabin, so we created some fun memories while we still had a chance! All in all, there were twelve adults and ten children, so we made for a lively crew! We feel so blessed to be in the ward we are in and have so many dear friends. As girls, we get together once a month for book club, go walking three times a week, and know we have each other to vent whenever we need a listening ear. Ward friends really are our second family! Spending the weekend with all these wonderful people and their cute kids was the cherry on top of a crazy week--it was all worth it!

We had delicious meals, the guys had male-bonding time while the girls stayed up way late talking after the kids were in bed. Games were played, walks were taken, and more food was eaten--picture perfect!

They found the Davy Crockett hats!

 

Such cute families! Ben finally had an opportunity to use his new camera, so all the good pictures are from him :) My laptop is almost officially broken, and so for some reason my blogging is having a hard time sorting out right so these are all out of order!

 

 

Badmitton tournament!

 

 

One of my favorite parts of this trip was watching all the kids become best buds :)

 

 

And having girl time :)

 

 

Ruby riding the "horse"

Brooke's little Johnny makes some of the greatest faces!

The boys enjoyed some guy time!

Baby time!

Such fun moments!

These two babies are only a few days apart--so cute!

We talked and talked!

Jack posed for me.

Watching Tinkerbell!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amber Time

I seriously believe that one of the main reasons my parents were called to be mission presidents in the Washington Kennewick Mission was so that Amber Haueter and I could meet. When I was a senior moving into, yet another, third high school, I was nervous if I would make friends because so many people check out of making new friends their senior year. Well, I was wrong. Living in WA that year was one of the best things that ever happened to me; I made many friends and found one of the neatest friendships ever with Amber. We both loved to sing, dance, and analyze--basically, this meant we were the same person. I haven't seen Amber since she came home from her mission in September, and since she was in town for a mission reunion, we spent a couple of days together! 

We sang, danced, talked, walked, and shopped just like old times. Amber brings out the silly side in me, which can be hard to do :) I learn so much from Amber Haueter! I am so grateful our friendship is still so strong! Good friendships bring me so much joy! 

A Utah Spring

I love the four distinct seasons in Utah (although winter is a little bit too long for me). Growing up in southern California, I didn't experience true springs, falls, or winter--mostly a steady summer with a little spring. Spring, along with fall, has to be a favorite for me. It goes by too quickly!

Ben and I at the nursery to pick out plants for our yard--we don't know why it took us this long to decide to go to a nursey as opposed to Lowe's; nurserys are way better.  

At the nursery!

At the temple with Ben's family. A perfect spring day. 

Forget Me Not's

I love North Ogden walks and views, even though the air is gross sometimes :)

David O. McKay's home in Huntsville for mutual--such a beautiful place