I heart Shutterfly

Story: Kelly and I got married two and half years ago. It was awesome. That day deserves to be preserved. But me being me, it has not been. I don't quite have the temperament for scrapbooking. My mom did a great job with our scrapbooks, and I have done quite a bit of it, but I have not done any in years. I have not scrapbooked my time in England, or Italy, any of my college years, any of the time we dated, our engagement, or really anything else. So....I embraced Shutterfly! I did my wedding, and I looooove it!!! I got 50% off and free shipping, and got a 26 page 12x12 book for $36. I am so excited and now I want to make a million of them. And I will now be making a yearbook each year, and I am so excited to see them stack up and look at all the preserved memories. There are so many styles to chose from, and is so customizable that you literally can create whatever you want.

So if you need to preserve some pretty fantabulous memories, head over to Shutterfly and get busy.

Little Brother gets engaged to awesomest girl ever

              

                 

This is the year of weddings in my family. For two years, it was just me and Kelly, the lone married couple within my family. Then last December rolled around and little sister Whitney married Austin. Then in March, Kaloni got engaged to Kyle, getting married August 10th. And then, almost two weeks ago now (I've been a failure on the blog, what with finishing student teaching, moving, going to women's conference with my madre, and then thoroughly enjoying the life of no work, no school, and catching up on my reading list-reading Anna Karenina currently) little brother Layton finally popped the question to Meredith, and they're getting married August 23rd. Our family could not be happier!!

This story is quite hilarious if I do say so myself. Layton doesn't live here, as he is done with school for the summer. He is working back at home, but came up for a visit during the end of April, first part of May. He called me to divulge his plan of where he was going ask her and how, but needed help in the setup as he was supposed to be on a date with her, and at the end we would invite them to come have a fire with us. We needed to leave our cars parked there so that she would not think he was going pop the question since she would naturally assume that we were all there as well. That meant that Kelly and Whitney were hiding in the cars. Austin and I had our cameras and were hiding behind what we called a bush but was really a couple dead sticks sticking up out of the ground (we also realized later that we were mere feet away from them). Before they got there we realized that our cameras wouldn't work because they would either flash or have a red light click and that we needed to just leave before the happy couple arrived. Right at that moment, they walked up and we dove again for cover. After an hour of being afraid we were going to be eaten my poisonous snakes, feeling like we were stuck in the forbidden forest, and whitney texting me telling to "abort!" meaning the light from phone kept going off and plenty of times I was sure Mer was looking right me, Layton called. He said to come out and take real pictures. Which meant we were not so sneaky, Mer knew we were there the whole time. I came out. Then Whit saw me so she and Kelly got out of the car and walked up, too. So then I told Austin he might as well come out, too.

Well that's what you get Mer, marrying the only boy in the Bird fam. Everything is a family affair. Even your engagement! Don't let that you scare you away though, we are so excited to have another sister!!!

Little Sister's Big Day

Austin and Whitney and the crew right after the wedding, love all that sunshine in December! It was cold and windy, but really a beautiful day. They sealed the deal on the morning of the 20th, then headed to a luncheon at the courtyard marriot on the river. That night we were off to the reception at the event center.  

Above, the luncheon at the hotel. Love the root beer for Austin and Whitney, cuteness!

Sorry for the overload of candids, but who's the blogger here anyways?
Everything was perfect, she was beautiful and happy. My mother made her dress, and Whitney designed it. What the rediculousness?! Also, Nikelle, big sis, who did floral design did her flowers and Kaloni, who went to a culinary program, made her cake. I have seriously talented sisters. All I did was show up. How nice of me.

Happy life together Whit and Austin!

Little Sister's Big News!

 Little Sister Whitney is engaged!
She is in Cali on vacay with the boyfriend-turned-fiance and texted me with the news and the picture.

Not that any of us were surprised. I am pretty sure I have texted her every day to see if it was official yet. Thanks for relieving my anticipation.

Welcome to the family Austin, and thanks for welcoming her into yours!

 I am glad you chose each other. I think you're awesome, and I plan on being very involved in your guys' lives so don't go toooo far away for grad school, or if you do, at least go on fun trips with Kel and I every once in while. I mean, for now, she's the only *almost married sibling I got.

Congrats to you both.

Love, me

purposeless wedding nonsense

This post has no purpose. Just so you know. I am sitting here eating dry cheerios and shopping online for shoes to wear to my brother in laws wedding. And trying to decide where to stay when we go to Portland for my friend's wedding. And thinking about how I finished making a skirt for my sister just in time, (yesterday) as she flies out today to Cali to see her bf and I'm sure she'll come back with a rock somewhere on her left hand. Maybe her pointer finger? Which is why she made me make this skirt for her, because she wants to wear it there and look smokin' hot for her man...or something. It's super cute. A cream stretchy knit pencil skirt, worn with a cream lace peplum top. Adorbs. It looks something like this but with short little sleeves and a longer skirt and the skirt isn't lace...so maybe it doesn't actually look like that...whatevs.

So I decided this post does have a point after writing all that. Weddings. I would just like to know if there is anyone not getting married...? Because I am pretty sure everyone and their pet kangaroo is. And that's all I have to say about that, except that since it's all about weddings over here, here is a pic of me at mine.

The End.

An Atypical Love Story

Our apartment complex is having a competition for a Valentines Day Date gift card. So we entered with this story. We probably wont win. But here it is.

His and Hers: An Atypical Love Story

Fall into Like

 Mr: I was sitting at the table outside the cafeteria when she walked by. I had seen her at church, but hadn’t gotten up the guts to have a real conversation with her. I knew right then I wanted to date her. And marry her. But I couldn’t even talk to her! I was like a kid in a candy store. But the shop was locked up and I didn’t know where the owner was.

Mrs: My first recollection of Kelly was when my parents invited them over for FHE because they were new to the ward. I had supposedly met him earlier but I never noticed him.

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Grandiose Plans

Mr: Over the years, I tried, tried, tried. All my sure fire plans seemed to be shot down by a seasoned hunter from a duck blind. After my thousands of failed attempts, a friend told me about a fail proof romantic hike. We would climb a mountain and I’d make breakfast for her and watch the sun rise while we cuddled in a blanket to keep warm. Well, that’s how it went in my head.  I thought, “Perfect! This is going to win her over. She’ll think I’m thoughtful, romantic and a good cook.” I picked her up early in the morning but when we got to the base of the mountain, I realized it was too cold and windy to hike. So I changed plans and drove to the river. There we had a great time over omelets and apple cider and great conversation. I thought it was a great success and that I was finally going to get my chance.

Mrs: Right as I was about to head off to school for the year, Kelly asked me on yet another date. I figured I would give him one last shot since after this he would be out of my hair for good. But the date was at 6:30 in the morning - in December! I had as much interest in this Chinese Death March as a girl going to climb Mount Everest in shorts at O-Dark hundred. It was still dark when he arrived.  It was windy. Freezing. And Miserable. I was praying that he would change his mind about the hike. Thank the Heavens, he did. We went to the river instead. He made me an omelet and cider. I wrote in my journal that night “It was absolutely freezing! The food was fine, but I’ve had better. The conversation was awkward and lame. I’m so excited I am leaving for school so this wont be so awkward anymore. I know he’s liked me for years, but he’s never going to get reciprocation from me and it just makes me really uncomfortable.”

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The First Letter

Mr: After a year’s worth of mission experiences and five weeks of no mail, the mail gods blessed me a gift that would forever alter the course of my life.  It was a simple friendly letter, but I knew that despite my pathetic beginnings, she was going to be my wife.

Mrs:  Was it the time? Was it the distance? Or was it the Spirit finally getting through to me? I may never know but after four semesters of school, 52 weekly mission emails from Elder Conrad, and seeing that I may have been a wee bit hasty to cast aside this young man, I decided I should write to Kelly. I did.  I wrote a letter. Then two days later I wrote another. Then two days later I wrote another. Of course it was just my luck when I was finally ready to fight for his attention, he had higher priorities than me and was utterly unavailable. Three weeks later I finally received a response. I knew from then on things were different. I was going to marry him someday. It was when, not if, in my mind.

Busy busy busy!

What a busy week! We spent Christmas Eve with both our families, and Christmas we hopped from his first, and then to mine. What a fun beautiful day focused on the birth of my Lord and Savior, surrounded by family, friends, and of course food. My diet starts tomorrow. Or something.

Tuesday the 27th was my bestie Alyson's wedding to her high school sweetheart and another friend of mine, Nathan. She is an artist and created the most beautiful reception. She was gorgeous and so happy and we have been dreaming of this day forever. She was sealed in the Columbia River Washington Temple. What another wonderful day.

The 28th was our one year anniversary! We were on our way to Rexburg to go back to school, so we planned our anniversary getaway at Boise as it's a half way point. We went to the Anniversary Inn and stayed in the Marble Room. Good heavens my mister spoils me! We went to Red Lobster for dinner and had a wonderful night.

Tonight we are staying with the Mister's sister and her husband and kids. Its fun to talk and relax and catch up. I love family. Nothing better.