The Love Month

One word to describe February - BUSY.

Wake up, work all day, come home exhausted, go to bed, wake up and do it again. Clothes are strewn all over the room, dishes are piled in the sink, I haven't made dinner in weeks, and Joey and I only see each other a few hours a day, yet I am very content with life. I wake up, Joey is still sleeping next to me, I cuddle closer and just drink it all in. I want to enjoy and remember this time in our life. 

Even though we don't have much time together, we make the most of the time we get. My favorite time is the morning. Getting out of bed is hard, since cuddling is so much fun, but we pry ourselves out of bed somehow. Then we play music and dance in front of the mirror as we do our hair and try to pump ourselves up for another day. We flirt a little as we get dressed for the day and always rush out the door a little to late. 

On good nights we cuddle close in bed telling each other all about our days, laughing and kissing. Other nights, we lay in bed on our various electronic devices, unwinding from the day, no energy to talk at all. On worse nights we come home frustrated and exhausted not wanting to work another day. But each night we fall asleep in each others arms.

We were so happy to both get off at 6pm on Valentines day instead of the usual 9 or 10. We picked up a romantic meal of hamburgers and fries from Five Guys and took it home to our apartment. We ate and watched our favorite TV shows. Joey bought the most delicious dessert of raspberry chocolate mousse. It was so nice to spend a whole night together just enjoying each others company. Definitely my favorite valentines day yet. Oh and I forgot to mention the amazing heart shaped banana pancakes with strawberry syrup and whip cream that I made for breakfast. :) (sad to note that this is the only picture I have from the day)

Sunday is our only day off so after church at 8:30 we spend the day catching up on sleep, being social with friends, and trying to fit in some sort of adventure around the city. 

Overall, February treated us very well. It taught us that working hard feels good and to enjoy the small moments and to live in the present, because we will  never get this time again.

I hope February was good to you as well!

 

Car Salesman

I have a great husband. When we were planning to get married and planning out what life would be like when we were married, Joey agreed to go with me to Virginia after we graduated because I had a job opportunity there. He would be leaving the life he loved at BYU where he had a job he loved and friends but was willing to go for me.

When we got to Virginia at the end of December he didn't know what he would be doing for the next 6 months. He worked so hard looking for jobs and talking to everyone he knew. Within a week he had a job offer. We talked about it and decided it would be a good thing for him and so he took the job! 6 days after we arrived in Virginia he started his job. 

What is that job you ask. Well... he is a CAR SALESMAN! (see the picture below for how excited he  is). He is selling Nissan and Mazdas.  It's a hard job because he has to work 60 hour weeks and it's all commission based but wouldn't you know, he is great at it! It was a rocky start but I think he is liking it more now. Really the only downside is that he works Saturdays from 9am-9pm. I get pretty bored and lonely and he hates not having the weekend off but we are dealing with it. He doesn't have to work any Sundays even though all the other salesmen do and the dealership is right across the street from my office, which is nice because we only have one car. So overall we are feeling very blessed and Joey is putting his wonderful people skills to work. I sure love him and his hard work!

                                                      Beginning of the week

                                                               End of the week

2012

Yes, we started a blog. Typical newly married couple thing to do. But I just couldn't resist. So I hope you enjoy.

I am going to start out by recapping 2012. I know, I know, it's February, but January was just a dreadful month. My mind was in a muddle and I would just like to forget that month. So my new year is beginning now....

2012. What a year! This year will live in my memory forever as THE year.

We rang in the new year with my family in Las Vegas. It was Joeys first time meeting my family and they loved him instantly. We had already decided we wanted to get married so I'm glad they liked him!

After the new year I was anxious to get engaged so I could share with everyone how happy I was. Joey told me it would be a while until he proposed. February 5, during the half time of the super bowl, Joseph Rulon Stuart asked me to be his wife. And I said YES!

We spent our first valentines day at the Lady Antebellum concert.

Can't forget the For Like Ever Party!

I turned 24! (I can't for the life of my find a picture of this. Tragic.)

We spent the next few months planning a wedding and finishing the semester of school. We did have some fun as well. Joey taught me to long-board.

In May Joey was able to travel home with me to South Carolina. I loved being able to show him Charleston! My wonderful mother had a joint wedding party for Mackenzie and I in Charleston. Joey was also able to go with me to my ol' Kentucky home!

My beautiful sister married the wonderful Jacob Bell on May 25th! It was a wonderful day, perfect in every way. Kenz was a beautiful bride and I couldn't be happier for them!

After the wedding Joey and I parted ways for the two longest months of our lives!

I went to Washington, DC for an internship with Ernst and Young doing tax accounting. It was a great experience and the highlight was my first trip to New York City to see Lorina!

Joey went back to Utah to work as a research assistant for the Charles H. Redd Center for Western Studies at BYU. With his research, he is presenting at this year's Mormon History Association and used it on his writing sample for graduate schools.

Joey and I were reunited one week before our wedding! We spent the week walking in graduation, spending time with our families and moving our stuff into our new apartment. My friends also threw me an awesome bachelorette party.

WE GOT MARRIED! Best. Day. Ever. Seriously though, the day could not have been more perfect. If I could I would live that day over again for the rest of forever.

We spent a magical week in Kauai, Hawaii for our honeymoon.

We moved into our apartment and started our last semester at BYU.

We went camping for labor day.









Adjusting to married life was different but also wonderful.

Joey had his most stressful semester ever. He took 21 credits, worked as a research assistant, and applied for grad school. Even with all of that he found a way to make me feel like I was number one and was a wonderful husband!

I got the best grades I have got since I started my masters.

We had a fun trip to Yellowstone with Joey's family.

Halloween happened.

We had some fun with our friends as well.





We spend a wonderful week in Portland with some of my family for Thanksgiving and visiting people from Joey's mission.

Joey turned 25! We had a birthday bonanza. We spent a weekend in Park City, ate at Tucanos, and watched the Hobbit.

We spent a wonderful Christmas at Joey's parents house and then the day after Christmas we started our journey to Virginia.

We drove four days across country.

We rang in the new year together at our new apartment in Virginia!




Goodbye 2012, hello 2013!

(Joey approves this message.)