Wedding Day!!!

Here are the pics from our wedding day! Wow! I can't believe we've already been married for 1 1/2 months! Time has just flown by! I guess time flies when you're having fun! :) Anyway, we got married on November 3rd, and it was the most amazing day! As I talked about in one of my earlier posts, I was worried that it wouldn't be, because we couldn't get sealed in the temple.  But, as everyone had assured me, it was still the best day ever! I just felt so overwhelmingly blessed and grateful to be marrying the most awesome man in the world, and to finally have what I have always wanted. (And of course I cried over just about everything!) We had the ceremony at Heritage Gardens, and then had a family dinner party afterward. It couldn't have turned out more perfect.  Of course, I think that's how everyone feels on their wedding day...I mean...it's your wedding day!  But everything was really so beautiful, we had SO much fun, and I am just so thankful for all of our wonderful family and friends that have given us so much love and support. (P.S. Sorry the slide show is so long! It's hard when you have 100s of pics to choose from! :)  ) 

Another New Chapter!

In the words of Fiero from Wicked, "Maybe I'm brainless...maybe I'm wise."  It's hard to say really. I will never understand why I have this constant feeling of needing to something with my life, but it's one of those things that just never seems to go away.  So, in an attempt to satiate the hunger, I'm going back to school!  Ahh!  I've toyed with the idea of getting my Masters for a long time.  And so, with the encouragement of a loving husband, I'm finally going to do it!  I just got my official acceptance yesterday, and I'm starting in January!  I'm going into the Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy program at Argosy University in Draper.  I decided to go there, because I will only have class 1-2 nights a week for about 4 hours.  I will never get a summer or holiday break of any kind, but this way I can still work full time, I won't have millions of tests and projects consuming my life, and I will still get done in 2 years.  It's just a great way to be a full-time student without really feeling like one.  And when I'm done (and after I get licensed through the state) I can be a full-fledged counselor!  It will be great to at least have something that I love to do where I can create my own schedule.  So, when I have kids, I can work as much or as little as I want...but at least I will always have options.  I'm really excited to finally be doing this!...I just hope I can survive! :)

 

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

I love holiday time!  It's so fun when all the Christmas festivities start happening!  This past weekend, we kicked of the season with a couple of our favorite traditions.  One tradition we have in our family is every year we go out to a fancy, family Christmas dinner.  We usually all vote on where we want to go, but this year, my Dad decided to surprise us.  We went to Five Alls! It was SO delicious!  I had filet with crab on top! Yum! Then we drove around and looked at a bunch of Christmas lights around town.  Thanks Dad for an awesome night!

 Saturday was Girl's Day Out at the festival of trees!  The festival is so great every year.  I cry almost every time.  There were so many great trees, but I decided to take a picture of the Harley tree in honor of my Brady. :)  After the festival, we went to lunch and worked on some Christmas shopping.  I finally found a garland for my railing!  I'll have to post a pic when it's all done...if I even get to finishing it this year!  Thanks everyone for the fun weekend!  I can't wait for more holiday fun!

Thanksgiving 'N Such

Happy Holidays everyone!  I don't know about you, but I sure enjoyed my Thanksgiving break this year!  It's the first time in years that I've had the Friday after Thanksgiving off of work, so I tried to take full advantage of the extra long weekend!  We spent Wednesday night watching Friends and putting up our decorations!  It was SOOO fun getting ready for our first Christmas together!  Brady even put up Christmas lights on our house!  I'll have to try to remember to take a pic of them.  Then we spent the rest of the weekend sleeping, eating, shopping, going to movies, and hanging out with family.  Good times!  Now that we all have Thanksgiving under our belt, we can officially get into the Christmas spirit!  Happy December All!!!

P.S.  I threw in a couple of other random pics in the slide show because I didn't know what else to do with them...enjoy! :0) 

Honeymoon in Oahu!

I'm finally posting our honeymoon pics!  Sorry it took me forever!  We went to Oahu, Hawaii and stayed at the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore.  We had a blast!  It was about 85* the whole time, with a few showers here & there.  We did just about everything there was to do-shopping in Waikiki, snorkeling in Haunama Bay, eating Dole Whips at the Dole plantation, visiting Pearl Harbor, playing in the waves on the beach, visiting the temple, seeing Punch Bowl, and of course stuffing our faces with lot's of yummy food! It was a trip we'll never forget! Hope you enjoy the pics of our Honeymoon in Paradise! :0)

Sharing is Good!

We did it! Brady and I FINALLY got married last week on November 3rd! It was such a perfect and beautiful day! Everything went smoothly, and I couldn't have asked for it to be any better! Thank you SOOO much to all of you who helped to make it such a special day for us! We just got back yesterday from our honeymoon in Oahu, Hawaii and it was amazing! It was hard for us to leave the warm weather, but we're happy to be home and getting ready for the holidays! Woo hoo! So anyway, now that we're officially married, I thought it was only appropriate to make it our blog instead of just mine. Brady will be so happy I'm finally sharing! He blog stalks me all the time and has kept asking for me to add him as partial blog owner. I told him not until he made the committment! ;) (He wants to join my facebook too...but that's still iffy!) So...welcome to the new Thorn family blog! (He he he he...that sounds weird!) We've only been married 1 week today, but we are already loving it so far! Last night was our first official night at home when I didn't have to leave...and it was so lovely! I'm still in the process of making myself at home and moving all my stuff in, so I'll post more when I'm more organized. I will post pics of the wedding when I get them (which probably won't be for awhile), my new digs, and honeymoon pics very shortly! So here's to sharing blogs, homes, and hearts! Thanks again everyone! We love you all very very much!!!

Groomals!

I just got my "groomals" back yesterday, and I love them! I don't know how I'll ever decide which ones I want printed! Here are some for you to look at and give me your opinion on which ones you like best. If any of you are looking for a photographer...Vanessa Millecam is the bomb!

He Never Said It Would Be Easy...He Only Said It Would Be Worth It

I normally don't like to post things that don't have pictures to go along with them. Mostly I just feel like people would rather see those instead of read my ramblings! However, I need to make this post to get it out into the void, and there's just no happy, fun picture to go along with it. Sorry! Anyway, people keep asking me about my wedding plans and where we're getting married, so I thought I'd just put it out there to everyone at once. As most of you know, Brady and I were planning on getting married in the Salt Lake Temple. Because we've both been married before, Brady had to get a sealing clearance and I had to get a sealing cancellation, so we've been waiting on that before making a final plan. I got my letter back this past week. They canceled my previous sealing, but they won't let Brady and I be sealed for 1 yr., so we're going to have to have a civil ceremony at Heritage Gardens. You can imagine my shock! It is the weirdest thing, and neither of us can even begin to understand it. The only real explanation we've received is from Brady's mission president who said the first presidency is doing that a lot now, because so many people keep getting divorced and remarried, and don't take their covenants seriously. I guess that makes sense...but still! Any of you who know either of us knows that definitely wasn't the case! We're both perfectly worthy to go to the temple, we can do sealings for other people, but WE can't be sealed? Needless to say, I was a complete wreck for about a day. Then Brady, being the rock in my life that he is, helped me to calm down and realize that the important thing is that we're getting married, and we just need to move forward. It hardly seems fair after all the two of us have been through, but we have to have faith that the Lord has his reasons for everything. So there it is. When you hear I didn't get married in the temple, there is no need for speculation. It is what it is. I think we'll do a session together the night before we get married, still enjoy having a fabulous wedding day celebrating our love for each other, and look forward to next year when we can finally be sealed for all eternity. It will be an awesome anniversary present at least! And it's like Brady says...we get to have 2 celebrations! He he he! :) He's just the best. He's so positive and never let's anything cramp his style. So even though it won't be exactly what we planned...we still just can't wait for November 3rd! :)

Engagement Pics!

It's almost here!  Brady and I are less than 1 month away from our special day!  I can't wait!!!  We're so freaking excited!  I hope the next few weeks go by fast!  But at the same time...I still have tons to do, so maybe not too fast! ;)  We got our engagement pictures back this weekend and they turned out so good!  Our photographer is amazing!  You should check out her website! www.vanessamillecam.com  She was so cute and made us a little video of our pics!  Here is the link!  Hope you all enjoy! :) http://video214.com/play/F7V355QNozQkz4I1Kv3Emg/s/dark

We're Engaged!!!

I'm sorry it has been so long since I've posted! And really I should've had this post up a week and a half ago! I've just been so busy! Anyway, for anyone that hasn't heard, Brady and I are officially engaged! I am so excited!  I just couldn't be happier! 

How did he do it you ask?  Well...he took my family and I up to Sun Valley for the weekend as a nice little get away.  The night we got there, after we got all settled in, Brady took me on a walk to "show me around".  It was such a beautiful night!  There was music playing, the grounds were lit up by soft lighting, and there were ponds and streams everywhere!  After awhile, we stopped and sat in two little chairs by one of the ponds.  We started talking about our future, and Brady was saying all of these nice things. (Don't tell him I said this, but he even got choked up.) Then, he asked if I was ready to go back to the condo.  However, when we stood up to leave, he told me to hold on a second.  I turned around, and he was getting on one knee...tears in his eyes, ring in hand.  Well, obviously I said yes!  How could one refuse such a man?!  So we went back to my family, got some dinner, and spent the rest of the weekend celebrating! But it doesn't end there!  The day after we got home, he met my parents and I for dinner, and when we went to leave, instead of his car being parked there, he surprised me with a Range Rover Sport! I was totally shocked! I didn't even believe him for about 5 minutes until he gave me the keys!

Brady is seriously the best guy ever.  He is so loving and kind to everyone.  He is always happy, positive, and so much fun...it's pretty hard to get him down! He works so hard and has such an unwavering testimony, and he's the only person I know that can calm me down or cheer me up in an instant.  I just couldn't be happier, and I am so lucky and grateful to be marrying my favorite person and best friend.  I can't wait to marry him on November 3rd!  I love you so so much Brady James!!! :0)

Spring has Sprung!

Okay, so again I've been a slacker and haven't posted forever! Sorry guys! To make life easier, I decided to do 1 big slide slow of a few things we've been up to so far this spring!

1. We moved Brady into his new house! Sorry the pics aren't great. Maybe I'll get more later.

2. We went to St. George...again! This time for the Knaras family reunion! It was way fun hanging out with the Thorns & Knaras's. I should've taken way more pictures...but I always feel dumb making a bunch of people stop what they're doing every 5 minutes to take my picture. So call me crazy...but I just opted for a few of little Crew boy in the pool. He's the funnest thing to look at anyway! ;)

3. Brady has been golfing quite a bit, and sometimes he let's me tag along! I wish I could play with him, but we all know that's just a disastrous thought! So I'm the cheerleader on the sidelines for now!

4. Madi Moo graduated from high school! Can you believe it?! I feel so old! Now she's off to live on her own & go to nursing school at UVU! Good luck Madsi!

5. Brady's cousin had his farewell...one of many family shindigs! It's always fun to get together with our families!

6. We've gone to Brady's happy little cabin near Park City a couple of times! It's way fun to get away for a night! But there's no running water...so a night is all I can take! But we love it! If you're wondering about the steak picture...funny story! On our first visit, Brady started the BBQ and the propane tank caught on fire & engulfed the whole thing in flames! Needless to say, our lives flashed before our eyes and the thing ended up torched! But luckily we got a new one, so we no longer have to cook our steaks on the mini stove! :)

So there you have it! I'll try to start being a lot better! But you guys better not slack because I love blog stalking all of you! So hopefully you're all having a Happy Spring! I think the rain is going to stop soon, and then it's on to summer! Here's to hoping! :0)

Happy Birthday Mom!

This last weekend was my mom's birthday! We had a really fun day celebrating! Since Dad was golfing and Brady was working on his yard, we spent the day just us girls! We went to lunch, got pedicures, and went shopping in the sunshine at Gardner Village! Later, we met up with everyone for dinner, and then went to Angels & Demons. It was tons of fun! Happy 30th Birthday, Mom! ;0)

Ash & Brady Bonding Time!

Do you ever have those times when you need to get away to unwind, and you just want to sit and think about everything and nothing all at the same time?  Brady & I seem to have those times quite often.  It's just so nice to drive somewhere relaxing to take your mind off of everyday life, and think about things that your brain normally doesn't seem to have the time or energy to think about.  Maybe that sounds weird & creepy...and you all now want to delete me from your blogs...but trust me! It's great! You should try it sometime! :0) 

A Wicked Easter Weekend!

Finally!!! We waited 4 months and finally WICKED rolled into town!  It's only the best play ever! I've seen it before...but it was just as good, if not better the 2nd time around!  Brady wasn't too sure about the whole thing at first...but after he got the chills in Defying Gravity he was sold! Needless to say...it was amazing!!!  And right after Wicked, the Thorns & Hendricksons all packed up & went to St. George so that the boys could golf in an AGC golf tournament!  Talk about the ultimate Easter weekend!!!

California Dreamin'

A couple of weeks ago, we all went to California for Madi's cheer nationals!  Well...it wasn't so much about cheerleading as it was the free hotel for Brady and I! (Thanks parents!) We drove half way, and stayed in Las Vegas for a night on the way there.  The only reason I'm throwing that in there is that the hotel was quite an experience!  I wish we would've taken pictures! It's possible the thing was once used as a homeless shelter or something...and Brady definitely gave me some crap for booking it!  Kinda funny.  Anyway, California was so much fun!  The weather was only nice 1 of the days, but who cares?!  It's California! We did the whole hopper pass thing for a couple of days, ate at a bunch of fun places, and acted like a bunch of kids the whole time! It doesn't get much better than the Happiest Place On Earth!

Let's Play Catch-Up!

Alright everyone!  You asked for it!  I know I've been a huge slacker on the blog thing.  It's so funny...I get so bugged when no one updates their blogs...yet I've been the worst one! Ha!  Anyway...in an attempt to redeem myself I have created all these slide shows to catch everyone up on my life!

The top slide is a little random.  It has a bunch of stuff that when on at the first of the year.  I went to Florida to watch the BCS Championship game with some friends which was a blast!  Also, my wonderful friend Kim came into town from Kansas so I got to see her!  I think the other pics are just from New Years and such...kind of old & boring.

The next slide is of my birthday!  Can you believe I turned 23 this year?!  I feel like I'm getting so old...at least in Mormon years! :)  But it was still way fun!  We all went to dinner & bowling to celebrate!  I think there's another random picture in there of the Jazz game too with Brady.  And who's Brady you may ask?  No, he's not some random guy that just happens to be in all my pictures!  We started dating in January & he's awesome!  So for those of you that I don't get to talk to much...now you're no longer in the dark! :)

The last slide is of St. George!  Brady took us there last weekend, since he had to go visit some clients.  We had so much fun!  It was great to get away & have a little sun in our lives!  The boys got to go golfing at Sand Hollow while the girls shopped & got pedicures!  And of course we hit up Fiesta Fun, swam, and shopped some more! We also got to stop in on our way there & visit our great grandma in Scipio.  She's 98!  Can you believe it?!  And on our way home...the fun continued when we stopped in Beaver to hit up the gas station with the Big White Chair...then on to the historic Cove Fort!  It doesn't get much better than that! ;)  Thanks Brady for whisking us all away for a fun-filled weekend!!!

So there you go!  A quick update on what has been going on with me!  And I promise I'll start being much better!  After all...I don't want to become a disgrace in the land of blogging! :0)

10 Honest Things About Me

So...I was tagged by my wonderful friend, Kimi. I've never done one of these things before, but considering I've turned into the lamest blogger ever...I figured it would give me a good reason to start back up again. And not to worry...there really are more exciting posts to come! :)

#10 I'm afraid of the dark. More so of being alone in the dark. Yes...I still turn off my lights, run at sonic speed to my bed, and throw the covers over my head. I then shake like a leaf until I can get my tv turned on in order to fall asleep to something happy! I'm not sure how all that is going to save me from the scary monsters in my closet or under my bed...in fact...it probably puts me in a more vulnerable position! But it makes me feel better...and that's all that matters!

#9 Contention gives my anxiety. I guess that's why they've always called me the "peace maker" in my family...and why I usually get walked on a lot. I hate arguing & tension between people, so I panic & try to solve problems as quickly as possible...even if that means taking one for the team & not sticking up for myself. Pansy...I know.

#8 I have a weird quark...I hate it when cupboards and drawers are left open. I don't know what it is. It just makes me feel icky! There have even been times when I've walked by an open cupboard on my way to bed, crawled under the covers, and laid there for 10 minutes until dragging myself back out to close the cupboard! I'm so weird! I wonder if there are medications for my cupboard/drawer disease!

#7 My family is my life. There is nothing I wouldn't do for them. Even when we drive each other crazy, they are always my best friends and "go to" people. I've loved always being so close to them, and they've never let me down! They're always there no matter what. I love you guys!

#6 I'm a hopeless romantic! I've been hurt a lot, but every time I come out of it hopeful and ready for the real thing to happen! I'm like that girl in "He's Just Not That Into You" who just can't help but be so excited about love all the time! I eat up sappy chick flicks, I stare at happy couples, and flip through bridal magazines while waiting in line at the grocery store. What can I say?! I love love! :)

#5 I love to shop! I don't always spend tons of money...but dreaming is half the fun! I love finding good deals...sometimes the sale is more exciting to me than the purchase! Nordstrom is definitely my happy place! When I'm stressed, all I have to do is walk around Nordies for a little bit, and I feel much better!

#4 I'm a sucker for dogs! My mom always teases me that I'm going to become the "crazy cat lady" but with dogs! They just look at me with their huge, innocent eyes and I melt! But my favorite of all of them is my precious baby, Gizmo! Even though he's one of the brattiest dogs alive, I just love him!

#3 I have a hard time letting go. Relationships of any kind mean a lot to me, and care strongly about everyone in my life. That's why I try my best to at least stay on good terms with everyone I know, including exes. When I care about someone, the thought of them being gone out of my life forever gives me a pit in my stomach, and if they just disappear, I feel and grieve like they died. So...anyone considering becoming my friend, beware! I may latch on and you'll never be rid of me! ;)

#2 I've always been the child with weird things. I was born with a skin tag, which is a disgusting extra chunk of skin protruding from the side of my ear. They were able to cut it off, but now I'm left with a nubbin that looks like a zit...awesome. I have one hitchhiker thumb and one straight thumb, I have a "tumor" on my eye that's really just a disgusting lump of tissue, I pass out if I get overheated...the list goes on and on! Let's face it...I'm kind of a mess!

#1 I am what I say I am...for better or for worse. I'm a total nerd at heart...always have been. I'm not athletic or outdoorsy...in fact, I'm very girly! I'm a deep thinker. My mind is constantly running, pondering, considering, weighing, and analyzing. I'm really shy and get intimidated easily...until you get to know me, and then you won't be able to get me to shut up! I love traveling & experiencing new places! I can be patient and understanding of a lot of things for a long time...unless you push just the right buttons (don't worry...I only have a couple! :) ). I'm a sucker for a good musical...Phantom makes me cry every time! I love to help others anyway I can. I'm perfectly content just hanging out, eating yummy food, watching a movie, and pretty much just doing nothing. I am overly organized in some ways and totally cluttered & scatterbrained in others. I am easy going and passive...but if there is something I feel strongly about or if someone I care about is crossed-I'm not to be underestimated. I get happy and excited over the little, stupid things in life-a note from a friend, the first warm day I get to put my flip flops on, sparkly or fluffy things, hugs, a good song that I can sing at the top of my lungs, the smell outside when it's about to rain, a long drive somewhere with a special someone...let's just say I'm easily entertained! ;) I love hard, my heart and feelings are worn on my sleeve, I try my best to always do what's right, I love to give, and what I want most out of life is to find someone I can love with every part of me that I have, raise and adore our beautiful kids, and get us all back to live with our loving Heavenly Father. So there it is...take me or leave me!

I tag Rachael, Hillary, and Dani!