*Christmas Lights*

Matt and I went to the Gateway to meet up with one of his mission buddies for a holiday visit. Doug Kroll is one of Matt's favorite companions from his mission, and he doesn't get to see him much since he is going to school out of state. We got there earlier than Doug did, so we killed some time taking pictures. The big tree there is amazing!! It has all these light phases that it cycles through, and I sat there by the fire pit watching it for a while. We ate dinner at Thaifoon, and let me tell ya, if you have never tried that place, you totally should! It is so delicious!

Doug and his date with us. He is so freakin tall!! He makes us feel like midgets when we stand next to him... He is such a funny guy! We always enjoy every time we do something with him. Too bad it doesn't happen more often!

I love that there is a narrated Nativity scene at Temple Square. I always love to stand there and listen to the whole thing. It's just done so well, and it's a nice reminder.

I honestly love going to see the lights! When we went there were actually not very many people around, so it was nice. Go after 8 pm on a weeknight, and you will enjoy yourself....that was always the worst part to me....too many people!!!

I love the red tree! It's my favorite, and I love that it's the same every year. I think the people who plan out the lights know that loads of people love it. I don't think it will be going away anytime soon. It's my dad's favorite tree too, so this is for you!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! I really can't believe it's almost here....it seems to get here faster and faster as I get older. Enjoy every minute, and try to remember what the holiday is all about!

*Mr. and Mrs.*

Yeah......I love pictures.....so sue me!!! Honestly, how am I supposed to pick just a few?! I took the picture because I liked it! So this post is long (even for me) because there are so many pictures.....but you all just love looking at them, right? ;)

Mr. and Mrs. Price!

the umbrella went inside out! It was so hilarious!

look at the snow!!! It was so cold!

These two (up and down) are my favorites....

Keep kissing!! Five cameras need to take a picture of it! haha!


*LUNCHEON*

What an adventure the luncheon was! It was at Hamilton's....which I LOVE, by the way, but there was a bit of a mix up on their part. So we (my family) are all there, drinking our wassail and chatting in the appetizer area, when we notice this large group of people come in and just start scarfing the appetizers....my dad and I don't recognize anybody, but we just figure they're Annie's relatives that we haven't met yet. A few minutes later Adam walks over to us, and informs us that both him and Annie have no clue who these people are. WHAT?! So now we're all a bit flustered. Then I notice this guy going back for thirds, who is one of these suspected invaders. So what do I do? You know me....I ain't scared! I walk up to him and ask him if he's a part of Annie's family. He gives me a blank stare. BUSTED! No, he says, he's there with another family. Then I inform him that this is a wedding luncheon for the Merkley and Price families. Then he's lame and says this: "Well, we were just at a wedding at the temple too." Ooooookay......seriously, like that should matter to me?! Get your butts outta here and quit eating all the food!! I'm not kidding when I say that these people ate half of the food that was brought out. So now dad's furious....with good reason. And the people at Hamilton's are just running around, not having a freaking clue what to do! It was pathetic! Eventually they got the wedding crashers out, but it was quite the fiasco. And now a great memory, haha!

Right before all the chaos began...

*RECEPTION*

I did all the flowers! It was so fun!

To see more pictures of the flowers, look at my floral blog here.

Could there be any more gorgeousness in this picture?! I think not!!!

The gals of the Price Family. :)

Me and my hard work.

hahahaha! Oh dad, what would I do without a silly picture of you?

Annie dancing with her dad. It was so sweet.

Adamo watching his wifey dance with her dad. I think it's adorable.

Cuttin the cake!!

It was such a great day!! I really couldn't be happier with the woman my brother fell in love with....she's absolutely wonderful, and I'm so glad that she is my sister now!

Congratulations you two!!! To Eternity and Beyond!!!

*Bridal Shower*

I know it....I'm a little slow with these pictures, since they're MARRIED now, but I couldn't just NOT post them!
My mom and I did a bridal shower for Annie with all of our family. It was a lot of fun! My mom made yummy treats, and we played Bride Bingo and opened presents....I was in charge of the games, and I'm not a big fan of "shower games" so we kept it simple. :) Of course, I made Annie wear my veil....you kinda have to do that at a bridal shower, right?

Annie and her sister Katie. She is the cutest thing when she gets excited, and she was STOKED to open presents!

I gave her the towels she asked for on her registry. Of course, right as I took the picture she put them in front of her face!! haha!

It was loads of fun, and she got tons of really great gifts. Thanks to all the family that came, you guys are the best!! I know we are all so happy to have this wonderful girl in our family!

*Oh WOW...*

OK, so posting this first picture is incredibly embarassing, but I'm doing it to prove something.....like, to prove why I'm so gosh darn proud of myself!! I haven't mentioned it on here (I think), but right after our Alaska trip I did the hcg diet....and had great results.....and then did it again.....and had pretty good results. And let me tell you.....

It was the hardest damn thing I have ever done!!!

Wouldn't have been worth it if it didn't give me the amazing results that I got. I can't believe how yucky I let myself get....I didn't even look like myself! It's so nice to look in the mirror again and actually recognize that girl in the mirror....why, it's ME!!! :)
So these are my BEFORE and AFTER pics......and I am a fan of picture number 2, so try to look at that one more than the first one. (Ick. And it literally is right before the diet...it was taken in Alaska, so it's me at my worst.)

BEFORE....(ew)

*

*

*

*

*

AFTER!!! (yay for me!)

Oh yeah.....I'm thinking it's just easier to not eat the extra crap that you really don't want to say no to than to have to work your butt off and starve yourself (practically) for a few months. Never again!!!!

Yes, I'm so darn proud of myself!!!! :)