3 days for 3 years

 

 

 

Would you believe I've never posted photos of our wedding? You would? Yeah, well at least you know me well then... We're coming up on 3 years since that day so I'm using it as a deadline to share a bit of the best wedding day ever. All I can say after looking back at these photos is I'm so happy I married who I did, where I did.

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And, I'm super happy I chose Ashley Thalman to be the one to document this. Not only because of the stunning images I now have to remember my wedding by, but because of all the wonderful fruits that have come from a relationship with this Ashley. She has made my life (and those of my family) better.

we're on the (teeny bopper) map

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We came home from Utah to find we'd missed a party in our 'hometown.' Garner's own Scotty McCreery is 2011's American Idol! (Interesting fact: just now when I Googled that link, I typed "American," and American Idol was the first suggestion, ahead of American Red Cross, American Express & American Airlines). I keep thinking I will go to Hulu and watch American Idol for the first time, but I have yet to do it. Yay for Garner! (PS: I took all of these photos just on our beaten path—from our house to I-40, I saw several others after this in and around other neighborhoods. I love it.)

misfortunes

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The above was quoted in this talk about being conquerors from our lesson on Sunday. I learned (yet again) how much the hard things in life are an integral, necessary part of our experience. It's just a fact that bad things happen to good people. Shark bites happen to Lucy. Cystic Fibrosis sends Mary Deane to the hospital. And on a much more micro scale, trees fall around the corner, cutting the power in 100°F weather. And Olivia is dumb and turns back as the light goes green only to realize with a bump that the SUV in front was still stopped.

Even the little sufferings in addition to the great sorrows are catered for our education. I know it, but why can't I know it so well in the moment? Such was the case with another sorrow this summer—Ben was denied residency status at NC State which meant no school this summer. To me, it felt like we'd suffered a job loss somehow. The lack of motivation to pick ourselves up and accomplish things every day was a pain. I beat myself up over all that I could be doing with such free time, and yet hanging out with HusBen & Cohen so often wins out over putting a portfolio online or following through on lucrative efforts with my talents.

But today, I'm finally looking back to recognize that good things happen to good people too: Ben has his first client for a landscape design! He also got a part-time job in his old watch trade! And he also was just approved residency status for the fall! We were so happy, we went out to Chick-fil-A to celebrate. We ate outside (with a little breeze!) and it was icing on the cake to watch a frog hop around at our feet.

Here's to hoping that next time, I'm better at 'being educated' during the trial before the good rewards come.

dear mrs. dill,

happy birthday brendon

this is big

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This HusBen had not worn jeans since 4th grade or something. "Too stiff," he claimed. People would ask, "then what do you wear?" You'd be surprised how much you don't notice when you avoid this 'staple.' There are plenty of cords and multiple colors of khakis to wear instead. I hear that, back in the day, his substitute was sporty work out pants.

But that is all behind us now. Ben K wears jeans today. He found them himself. But may I not-so-humbly add that he bought them with the gift card that I gave him for Father's Day?

Thank you.

"summer"

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Let it be known that we have gotten out of the house since Utah. Thanks to Mangums for having us in the Outer Banks! Thanks to Kurt, Becky and Jonses for having us in DC! We hang out at home too:

• I feel like all I do with my turn on the computer is freelance work. This isn't a bad thing, but there are funner things. And I said I feel, which is probably different from reality.
• Ben got a HuluPlus account because the free trial is longer if you're a student. We are watching The Office from the beginning (no one had personalities in season 1) and last season of Bones (Booth's got a girlfriend)! We also love/hate Twin Peaks, which is not on Hulu, but Jacob said it was rated best drama of all time or something, so we have to be cultured, right?
• For the first time, there is a game on the iPod touch that we both like. Ben downloaded Falldown forever ago but I finally tried it and then Ben saw that it must be. We've unlocked the gold ball & the crystal ball and currently Ben has the high score, with 8,876 points.
• I do laundry, dishes, dishes, laundry, dishes. Ben makes fancy pork loin, chicken Parmesan (er—parmigiana, is there difference?), and some million dollar chocolate chip walnut cookies that could be on a restaurant menu if restaurants served cookies. Oh, and smoothies. Lots of smoothies.
• We think Cohen is teething. He has a hard white dot where his top canine tooth would be. Weird for that to come in first? Uncle Aaron/Scotty/dentist says it is indeed a bud and some babies are just vampire babies. Cohen is really happy and fun if we are holding him, giving him attention, and usually standing up too. Either that, or if he's in the (for lack of an official term), Johnny Jump Up.
  

calvin moisés

the bakers' goods

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I daydream about living next door to Ben's oldest sister Ashley. She likes to go, go, go (& do), which I love too, except she actually plans it out & does it, whereas I get stuck in the "I should..." stage. If I lived right there, I could always join in on her adventures & she could always have one more person (OK, probably at least 2 more with Cohen, duh) to enjoy the fruits of her labors. Win-win, right?

I can just see it: "Wanna walk to the library for a puppet show?" YES! "Wanna go on this awesome hike?" YES! "Wanna cook donuts?" YES! "Wanna go camping? Wanna play badminton? Wanna go on a run? Wanna paint? Wanna felt? Wanna go to this foreign film? Wanna go fly kites? Wanna go to the such & such concert?" YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES!!!

While in Utah we got to do at least a few things together, some games, some food, and some Captiol Reef. It was GRRRREAT to be with Bakers again. Eli has a new little attitude that cracks me up. And Ivy's like her momma—go, go, go! Cohen did great (read slept & ate) on his first 1100ft elevation hike up to Cassidy Arch. (So did Josie and Maya for that matter!)

my love in utah

People kept asking what my plans were for Utah, and rightfully so. I have an endless list of places and things—activities, even—that mean a lot to me in and around Provo. But more than anything, all I found myself wanting was time with family and friends. That's where my love lies. I didn't get nearly enough (some dear friends were missed), and at the same time I had plenty (enough for some good old fashioned fighting with my sibs). We did and ate some Utah things too, of course, but these people were at the heart of our little summer getaway. It had been since Ashton was just six (5 years ago!) that my family ALL was together. Plus it had been like 17 weeks since Cohen was born and hadn't met his Utah aunts, uncles and grandfather. Needless to say this was monumental. And therefore called for a photo shoot.

I wish Ashley could have followed me to each of my little visits with friends, extended family, and our time with Utah Knudsen kin as well. She captured the best of us. And even the us that we think isn't picture-perfect. She taught me a lesson about loving our imperfect—another thought entirely.

In any case, thank you Ashley and thank you family and thank you friends. Wish you all were here. Or that we were there. Or that flights were free.