Just Can't Wait To Get Back On The Road Again

Man has the past week been a lot to take it.

Last Tuesday Chad and I set out on our journey to Washington D.C.

So that means Monday (the day after we got back from our honeymoon) we had to pack EVERYTHING into my little Hyundai Accent. 

Surprisingly enough we are pretty light packers because we could still see out my back window.

Monday was bittersweet saying goodbye to family for the summer.

 I was already an emotional stressful wreck so saying goodbye to my family just about did it.

 If it weren't for the loving hug and kiss from Chad saying "it'll be okay" I would have broke down. Seriously though. I've never lived away from home, let alone my family. So it was a little overwhelming

Although I am missing my family like crazy, there is no where else I'd rather be than with Chad. 

We left Tuesday morning around 7 a.m.

The drive was a total of about 3200 miles, that we decided to split into 3 days which was about 11 hours a day. The first day we drove to Lexington, Nebraska.

 It wasn't a very pretty drive, and it rained and snowed like crazy.

 We tried to play the alphabet game to keep our minds off the rain and not being able to see because of it, but it didn't last very long. There weren't enough signs.

 Lexington is a very small town that smelled like cow manure. No joke Chad and I were

 gagging a little bit over the smell.

 But we were so grateful we didn't have to drive anymore, we were pooped.

Wednesday day 2 we were headed to Joliet, Illinois. 

The drive from Nebraska to Illinois was beautiful! So pretty and green! 

 We stopped for lunch in a super small Amish looking town in Iowa, that we both fell in love with and want to live in someday.

 When we got to our hotel in Joliet later that night we decided to go out to dinner, and while driving around we found a carnival!

 I love carnivals, and was pumped! 

Until we saw it costed an arm and leg to go on a couple rides. So we just people

 watched for a bit then got some food.

Thursday, day 3 and also the last day in the car, bitter sweet!

 We listened to comedians and conference most of the drive today.

 It definitely helped time pass by faster. 

Once we finally arrived in D.C. we got all giggly and hyper (we had been in the car waay too long).

 We are actually staying in a town right outside of D.C., called Herndon. 

It's in Virginia, and is beautiful.

 The people here are so nice, and welcoming. Although we had some confusion and mix up with our apartment and couldn't get into it until like 11 p.m. it was still a successful day,

 and I absolutely love it here!

 I am an old lady secretly and Chad makes fun of me, but I love the show antique roadshow.

We such an antique junkies.

 Between going to Washington D.C. and all the cool things they have there to going to all the antique stores on the way back home, we will have to have a budget to spend on antiques,

 or else we might come home with waaay too much stuff.

I loved it though. I loved every minute of our roadtrip.

 From me getting frustrated with Chad telling me how to drive, to being so weird and goofy jammin' out to music, to barely having enough energy to talk. It was the best, we made so many fun memories.

 I am definitely living on cloud nine and could not love being married more!

Hola Honeymooners

We were seriously in paradise on our honeymoon.

 We went to Cabo San Lucas, and even though we had 5 hour layovers

 at the LAX airport it was so worth it. 

 Our condo was on a cliff, so you look out the window of our condo and can see the ocean go on forever. Then if you walk outside and down this path it takes you to the resorts private beach.

 I know my mom is the best for letting us use a week of her timeshare.

 We are spoiled.

We spent a lot of time on the beach which probably wasn't the smartest idea

 after a long winter in Utah. 

We looked like lobsters after the 2^nd day.

 But it was so worth the relaxing day at the beach!

 The weather and water was so beautiful!

Chad speaks Spanish, which helped out a lot when we were trying to bargain deals, 

one time in particular when we were trying to find a good deal to go snorkeling.

 A “family” cruise, with unlimited tacos, and snorkeling, sounds awesome right?

 Oh yeah it was, but it wasn't exactly what we thought it was. 

We get on the boat and the guy says welcome to the boose cruise! 

Oops, too late to turn away.

 So we thought we might as well just laugh about it and people watch. 

While waiting for the tacos we thought to order a drink, but a virgin one of course. 

So Chad went up to order in Spanish so he would be sure not to put any alcohol in it. 

When we took a sip of  them, we  just look at each other.

 It  definitely had a little zing to it that burned the throat.

 So we just stuck to water.

We had some of the best Mexican food known to man.

 Holy cow it was good!

 I’ll go back just to each at this restaurant called Pancho.

 Mmm so good.

It as really fun seeing Chad get really excited about a few things that reminded him of his mission in Chile, like the bus rides we took to the city. 

Cram as many people as possible in the bus. I mean we could have avoided that and taken a taxi, but we wanted to experience Mexico, and we did just that.

 It was exhilarating and a little claustrophobic.

One of the nights we decided to get all dressed up and go out to dinner. 

Once we got to the city it was too hard of a decision where to go, so we went to 3 of them. We got an appetizer at one, entree at another, then dessert at the last.

 It was fun, we want to make it a tradition and do this every once in awhile.

While walking around the city somehow every local knew we were honeymooners, and no we weren't even showing any PDA.

 We would walk past and they would say

 “Hola Honeymooners.”

 I didn't mind it at all, I loved our honeymoon and I love being a newlywed.

 Waking up next to Chad every morning for the rest of my life is the greatest blessing.

 I really have married the most amazing man, I’m so excited for our future and what we can  accomplish together.

April 19 The Best Day of my Life

I am Mrs. Hamilton!!

The day was kind of a blur.

 But a happy blur at that.

 I can’t really tell you play by play what happened that day because I was just floating,

 but I will do my best.

Driving to the temple that morning with my mom I could not concentrate on anything she was telling me. I had crazy butterflies and my mind was racing.

 I was suuper nervous, not a bad nervous just a "super excited I can’t wait” nervous!

 Once I saw Chad standing in the lobby of the Temple I felt calm. 

Man I can’t even express the feelings and love I have for him, and how much it all grew for him just in one day. My mom works for one of the quorum of the 70 for the LDS Church, Elder Wickman, and we had the opportunity to have him seal us. 

He is such a sweet man and he did such an amazing job.

 Although I was trying my best to concentrate on what he was saying

 I was having a hard time listening.

 I was just so excited alright!

Walking out of the temple my dress got trampled by Chad’s feet. 

It was pretty funny, he’s such a goof.

 We are so lucky to have such a big group of people that showed their love and support for us on our day, standing in the cold, taking pictures, while trying to keep track of all their children.

 Kelly (Chad’s sister) had the stomach flu and was even toughing it out.

 It turned out fun though, fun memories that’s for sure. After everyone left we continued taking pictures for a couple more hours. It was so fun. My amazing photographers Heather and Sierra made it so fun! The weather was really nice too so that made it even more enjoyable. I can’t wait to see how they turned out!

The Reception was a blast, we started out with pictures which was fun.

 One picture in particular that stands out was with all the crying nieces and nephews.

 It was great. 

The came the line which actually wasn’t that bad, I just lost my voice a little bit. I got to see so many people I hadn’t seen in a really long time and it made me really happy they came to support us.

Then came the cutting of the cake.

 I wasn’t planning on smashing it in his face but little birdies behind me kept tempting me and I couldn’t resist. It’s okay though he smashed it too not too bad though.

We did the daddy daughter dance (I cried), first dance (I love him), the garter and bouquet toss, then dancing the rest of the night! I had a blast and I am so glad everything went so smoothly. I don’t think I would have even cared if it wouldn’t have because at the end of the day I would get to call Chad my HUSBAND!

I married the best man alive, sorry girls!

A glimpse of our wedding. My amazing cousin makes wedding videos and we were lucky enough to have her do ours.

April 19 Eve

This was one crazy day,

 filled with errands, packing, getting nails done,

 and running around like a crazy person

 trying to get everything ready.

 But luckily I have the best mom that kept me calm and helped out SO much!

The night before we got married we had a wedding dinner with close family and friends put together by Chad’s mom and sisters. 

It was beautiful! The food was delicious, the decorations were amazing and I got to celebrate Chad and I with the people we love.

 Chad’s grandpa even came out from California,

 which was really cool because before his grandma’s funeral he wasn’t going to be able to make it.  

Both dads toasted and expressed how much they loved us and were excited for us. 

My dad had to throw in a couple of stories here and there about me but they were really sweet. 

How blessed we are to have these amazing men in our lives.

My dad also put together a slideshow video of Chad and I. 

Which might I add that my dad has had 6 girls get married and has done one 

of these videos for each of them.

 Now he’s professional and I absolutely love it!

No more weekends alone!

10 days until I'm a married woman.

 It's so weird to say next weekend I will be married.

 I still feel like I am about 16. 

I am definitely getting older and its's so fun!

 The best thought ever is that I don't have to spend anymore weekends without Chad. 

He is done with school and will be here this Friday until the wedding. 

Wahoo! 

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to go to California with his family for a funeral.

 Kind of a sad way to meet his family from California, but oh man I loved it. 

 They were so welcoming and nice to me! I loved every minute! 

How blessed I am to have met Chad and be apart of his family.

 How thankful I am for his grandparents & parents for example they have been to him of love and complete devotion to one another.

 I hope to be like his grandparents and only ever bicker about whether or not I got a kiss goodnight. Such a sweet and pure love they had.

 I can't wait to be like that and fall more and more in love with Chad. 

29 days and Counting!

Man I am bad at keeping up on this blogging thing.

 I will get better I promise. 

29 days left, until I am Mrs. Chad Hamilton.

 This is so crazy. I'm so in love, and so dang ready for, forever with Chad!

This past Saturday I had my 2nd bridal shower. It was BOMB! My cousin, aunts, and grandma put it together. They we so awesome! It was carnival themed, and was so fun!

 I made Chad come with me, because he was in town and he beat me at all of the carnival games.

 I'm not very good at them, but the photo booth made up for it! 

(Oh this is totally random, but if you are by chance looking for a wedding videographer my cousin Chelsee does an amazing job, and you will have so much fun filming with her too!

 She is one of a kind!)

Anywho, we got so many amazing gifts! Not only did I get a cute honeymoon package, Chad's sisters wanted to embarrass Chad,so they got me a "nighty," that yes I opened in front of my dad, mom, Chad, Chad's mom, and my grandma. 

It was pretty embarrassing but, I wasn't nearly as embarrassed as Chad was though, and he didn't want to see it so he was staring at the ground trying not to make eye contact with anyone.

 That was the best part seeing his face, and don't you worry we captured the moment. After we moved on to the next present, he informed everyone he didn't see it, then my aunt blurted out

 "Oh don't worry you will."

It was really funny.

Oh and for one of the games they just had to do the bubble gum game. 

Ya know the one where they ask you questions about the other person

 and if you get it wrong in goes the gum.

 My wad of gum at the end filled my mouth.

 But I will say, the best question (that I got right by the way) was

 "If Chad could be any animal what would it be?"

 You would probably guess a lion, shark, or maybe a cheetah, but something scary right?

 Nope.

 It's a sloth.

 He is obsessed with sloths. He wants to own one.

 Not sure how I feel about that, but yep a sloth. He is just an odd ball.

 I absolutely love it, because I know he will make me laugh all the time. No matter what kind of mood I am in, and I still can't believe that he chose me. Still can't believe that we will be together for forever, and all because my grandma kept bugging him take me on a date.

 Thank you grandma (:

It's becoming real.

well, 1 down 3 to go.

Holy Moley! I got so lucky with my in-laws. 

 They put on the cutest bridal shower for me and I had so much fun!

 We played this game where we had to guess the price of a certain item from Walmart and oh man.

 I have no idea how much anything costs at the grocery store, on the plus side all my guesses were waaay over the actual price!

 We got some pretty great presents, that includes me cooking, which is a talent I haven't quite developed yet.

 But it's okay, Chad said he likes burnt things.

 I think he was just trying to make me feel better or he's just weird :). 

The best part is, I know if I ever messed up our dinner he would just make a joke to lighten the mood and make me feel better. I am one lucky girl. I'm just sayin'.

Anywho, the next bridal shower I am dragging Chad along with me. Lets see how he does. He is such a trooper, and will probably just as excited if not more about our new gifts. 

He's so cute. 

Gosh I am so in love. 

1 month 13 days 16 hours 20 minutes.