Love and marriage, goes together like...

Today Cary and I were asked to speak in our old singles ward about the joys of marriage.

Being experts and all (ha, we've been married a year), we had soooo many insights (heavy on the sarcasm)

Anyhow, we probably didn't have any impact on the group, but they asked us a lot of good questions. I felt the questions were sincere and deep... too bad I don't ponder the depths of how Cary and I ended up together or why we are happy because then I might have had an answer to some of the questions.

But,

Just some funny things Cary contributed...

He equates marriage to the lessons learned in the Princess Bride.

For example, "Marriage is like the fire swamp. Once you learn the dangers (i.e. what not to say to Carla) it's actually quite beautiful."

Also, "Marriage is great. You finally found a special person you can annoy for the rest of your life."

Ha, good times.

We'll probably never be asked to share our thoughts on marriage ever again.

Where we're gonna be when we turn 25

***Sidenote: Cream cheese is perhaps one of the most delicious substances known to man***

Just call me "CARLA THE CONQUEROR"

Tears may have been shed.

Sleep was definitely lost.

Frustration met it's peak.

Don't look too closely or you'll realize I'm not really a seamstress

And it still doesn't hide my belly...

However, it is done!

I haven't sewn a dress since high school... but why should that deter me? Ha, someone should save me from myself sometimes.



Where are the little cinderella mice when you need them?


Just plugging along.


I have unpicked and re-sewed about 4 times already! Despise is a fitting word for this project.


Looking more like an electric blue potato sack than a dress... desperation and emotions are spinning out of control, so i decide to call it a night (at 2am).



Still managing a smile. Finished at 2 am! Flight leaves at 6 am... ugh.

I love my friends.

I sometimes lose sight of why I get caught up in projects and I apologize for the cuss words in my head.

My friends mean the world to me, and I will try to do what I can to make them happy (or their big day what they hoped). With all that my friends do for me.... what's a little sleep?

What am I gonna say

Do you ever have moments in your life where you pause and think, holy cow, how did I get here

I specifically remember, being about 20 and looking at the missionaries and thinking, WAIT A MINUTE, you guys were always so old and wise. Ha, now they look like little boys and I pray that they'll be able to handle all the challenges ahead of them.

Pregnancy is another one of those moments for me. I walk past a mirror and see my belly and think WHOA, hold the wagon! Since when am I old enough to be pregnant, and how can I maintain a semblance of my fashion and personality?

I must admit...

I am not one who loves my body pregnant.

I enjoy having a flat stomach and fitting into cute clothes.

I have a hard time not comparing myself to other preggo friends.

I generally don't care to post weekly updates on the growth of my belly.

I also am not sad that I don't have many pictures to document this period of my life.

However...

My family is so supportive, and has sent fun maternity clothes, and I think I owe them a fashion show. Also, in an effort to embrace my body exactly how it is and just be grateful for the strength of my body. Here's my update:

6 months ish

15 lbs gained

(if i continue at this rate, about 15 more expected)


(***Disclaimer: Cary is a terrible photographer apparently... I didn't realize it would be so difficult to zoom in or not chop off my legs, but i guess not :/ and I will post the pics anyhow)

This is the point at which I realize, how comical cary's photography skills are so I might as well have fun with it.

This shirt looks huge, but it's actually more flattering with the black shirt underneath because it's a sheer fabric.

Yes. No. Maybe. I don't know. Can you repeat the question?

I currently work for Verizon Wireless.

(I should probably say a wireless phone company that shall remain nameless... but this really has nothing to do with verizon and everything to do with their customers).

There are two circumstances that occur repeatedly on a daily basis in our store and I feel the need to clarify/vent.

1. Indirect v. Direct Retail Locations.

Have you ever bought a cell phone from a kiosk in the mall/walmart/costco and wondered how come they can sell AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile?
Well, that's because they are an indirect retailer.

They are essentially a franchise, that buys the rights to sell Verizon cell service with their own merchandise. This concept seems especially difficult for our customers to grasp.
Daily, people argue with me that they bought their phone from Verizon.

Technically, if you didn't go into a Verizon Corporate location you bought the phone from whichever indirect retailer is on the top of your receipt (i.e. bullfrog, diamond wireless, wireless advocates). This is a little confusing because they say Verizon in large letters above their store followed by premium retailer (or something similar).

So... this means you can't return your phone to a Verizon Corporate store.

I accept that customers may not understand this concept initially, but once I explain the difference to you--it is not necessary to scream and throw a fit.

A perfect analogy would be if you bought a samsung tv at walmart, and although target sells the same brand, you can't return the tv to target.

2. Free phones

DAILY, I have customers who enter the store, and when I say "Hi, how are you today?"
They respond, "Well I have a piece of crap phone, how do you think I am? Maybe I'd be better if I didn't have this piece of crap."

First, if someone smiles and says hi, how are you? It's more polite to respond with a sociable answer, such as fine, ok, i'd even take a been better.

But, I digress. So they're case is that their phone is a piece of crap.

Well, I don't admit this to the customer (but their phone is a piece of crap).
It was free.
I guarantee they walked into the store several months prior and said "I want the free phone."
Now, they are back, crying foul because that free phone doesn't work like an iphone.


Back to analogies. If someone gave you a free tv, would you expect it to be a flat screen, have perfect picture, and get all the channels?


And when the free tv died a year later, would you call your cable company and cry foul?


No, for some reason I don't think you would.


And, yet.... that is what I deal with all day every day.


Thank heavens for Sunday.

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine

So I finally plugged my camera into the computer and realized, I haven't downloaded pictures in about 3 months. So here's just a few of my recent fav's.

Cary graduated!!!! And it was a gorgeous sunny spring day in Utah at a cool 55 degrees...

Roger and Mama T came out for baby wyatt(our newest nephew)'s blessing and graduation. It was fun to spend the weekend with family.

I couldn't help but suprise my little choc-a-holic beau with a fun Easter basket. Mmm cadbury eggs, jellybeans and everything in between.

American fork canyon.
Gorgeous.
I've hiked Mt. Timp before, which is extreme, so we decided to go easy this summer and hike timp caves. I had heard it was paved the whole way, how hard could it be?

Well, I don't like to make pregnancy excuses, but at twenty some weeks, I'm not sure any hike is easy. It was paved,
but that doesn't mean much when you have a 1000 ft incline.
Also, I recommend lighter clothes even though it's cold in Utah.

oh baby, baby

The fans demand pictures... so even though I'm not a lover of the belly shot, here is my buddha belly for all to enjoy.

I apparently suck at taking my own photos... but I actually look really good in this one ;) Gotta love a dirty mirror

Cary says I'm not big. I say it's all a matter of angle.

Ba-da-da-dum. (This is also a more flattering pic, I'm not seriously gonna post my really huge pics)