So I have been so bad at not posting for a while... That is the problem with blogs and I, we just seem to forget about each other for very long periods of time...
Anyways, today I am super excited because Abbey Kyhl of AK Studio and Design has finally posted my engagement and bridal pictures to her blog and I know my wedding pictures are coming soon... If you would like to check out those pics and the rest of her amazing work, go here... http://akstudiodesign.com/blog/2011/06/cassity-neil-st-george-utah-temple-wedding-photography/ The link to our engagements is then in the bottom left hand corner of the page... :)
So to the hike part of the post... I have had the last two weeks off work and so Talls and I had time to go on a hike to Kannara Falls... something we have been wanting to do for forever! And it was so pretty! I was complaining towards the beginning cuz I had to hike up a super steep hill and I'm not much of a steep dusty hiker, I go mostly for gorgeous, easy to get to waterfalls and such. Once that hill leveled out though and we started wading through the river, it was just so gorgeous! Half of that hike requires that you wade through water and up through slot canyons where you don't have any option but to get wet. This fact made me feel super bad for a group of missionaries out for a pday activity who were trying to hike the falls as missionaries are not supposed to play in water like that. However, it was comforting to know that if I drowned, I had a priesthood blessing more than covered. We were able to take a couple of pictures up there which I wish I could post, but they were on Talls phone and for some reason I have been unable to send them anywhere! But maybe one day...
During my time off we were also able to go to the Mormon Miracle Pageant which was really special for me because that is where I first realized that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true and the pageant was the event that triggered my conversion. The morning started off with a wonderful trip to the Manti Temple for an endowment session. My step sister came down that day with her husband and their girls so we had a fun afternoon playing cards with them and at the park with the girls. Then that night came and wow! I have never cried so much in my life! From the second the pageant started to the moment it ended I was just in tears! I couldn't help it though as I thought about the last two years, ever since I joined the church, and how much that decision has changed my life. It is an incredible transformation and a testimony to me that the church is true... But I don't want to get all preachy so you should probably just go check out those pictures :)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Receptions, Temple Trips and Banana Pie
So basically a two in one adventure to report and one amazing recipe to share!
Friday night, one of Tall's old mission companions was holding his farewell near St. George. We decided to go and support because we know how good it felt to have people show up at our reception... Priceless. So we go there and it was huge! Tons of people there to support those kids, but they are really sweet people so I guess that would be why. Well we waited in line and chatted it up with the brides grandma. It took us forever to actually get to talk to the happy couple and the whole time the clock is just ticking because we have to make it to the temple in time for the 8 o'clock session... also the last one of the day. But alas, we said our hellos and congrats and booked it to the refreshment table (of course we couldn't pass up the cupcakes). So with about 6 cupcakes and tons of grapes, strawberries, crackers, and not to mention drinks in tow, we headed into St. George. We made it 15 minutes early and rushed to get ready for the session. Luckily we made it....
So this was only my second time going to do an endowment session and my first time without a girl buddy there with me. I was absolutely terrified I would get lost or mess up or something, but I didn't and it was amazing. I shouldn't say much here, but suffice it to say that walking out of that temple hand in hand with Talls felt so good and we both felt closer to each other than we ever had before. We went and sat on our special bench on temple grounds for a few minutes and the peace that was there was just incredible and overwhelming and incredibly overwhelming. I knew so much right then that the gospel is true and has been restored to the Earth in its fullness. But I don't want to be preachy so...
Banana Cream Pies! I made these as our FHE treat Monday night. I think I'm the designated FHE treat maker, but that's okay because as it turns out, I absolutely love to cook! But anyways... Let me get to one of the most amazing recipes so far.
Mini Banana Cream Pies
Ingredients: single serve graham cracker crusts
cook and serve vanilla pudding
banana
whipped cream
whole milk
In order to make these suckers, you need to make the pudding, but instead of using the milk that is called for on the pudding box, use 1 and 1/2 cups whole milk instead. Once the pudding is cooked, let it sit 5 minutes to thicken before pouring in the pie crusts. While the pudding is cooking, slice up a banana and put the slices in the bottom of the pie crusts then like I said, after the pudding has set for 5 minutes, pour it over the banana slices and into the graham cracker crusts. Cover the individual pies and chill them until ready to serve. Top with whipped cream if you so desire :) They are awesome!
Friday night, one of Tall's old mission companions was holding his farewell near St. George. We decided to go and support because we know how good it felt to have people show up at our reception... Priceless. So we go there and it was huge! Tons of people there to support those kids, but they are really sweet people so I guess that would be why. Well we waited in line and chatted it up with the brides grandma. It took us forever to actually get to talk to the happy couple and the whole time the clock is just ticking because we have to make it to the temple in time for the 8 o'clock session... also the last one of the day. But alas, we said our hellos and congrats and booked it to the refreshment table (of course we couldn't pass up the cupcakes). So with about 6 cupcakes and tons of grapes, strawberries, crackers, and not to mention drinks in tow, we headed into St. George. We made it 15 minutes early and rushed to get ready for the session. Luckily we made it....
So this was only my second time going to do an endowment session and my first time without a girl buddy there with me. I was absolutely terrified I would get lost or mess up or something, but I didn't and it was amazing. I shouldn't say much here, but suffice it to say that walking out of that temple hand in hand with Talls felt so good and we both felt closer to each other than we ever had before. We went and sat on our special bench on temple grounds for a few minutes and the peace that was there was just incredible and overwhelming and incredibly overwhelming. I knew so much right then that the gospel is true and has been restored to the Earth in its fullness. But I don't want to be preachy so...
Banana Cream Pies! I made these as our FHE treat Monday night. I think I'm the designated FHE treat maker, but that's okay because as it turns out, I absolutely love to cook! But anyways... Let me get to one of the most amazing recipes so far.
Mini Banana Cream Pies
Ingredients: single serve graham cracker crusts
cook and serve vanilla pudding
banana
whipped cream
whole milk
In order to make these suckers, you need to make the pudding, but instead of using the milk that is called for on the pudding box, use 1 and 1/2 cups whole milk instead. Once the pudding is cooked, let it sit 5 minutes to thicken before pouring in the pie crusts. While the pudding is cooking, slice up a banana and put the slices in the bottom of the pie crusts then like I said, after the pudding has set for 5 minutes, pour it over the banana slices and into the graham cracker crusts. Cover the individual pies and chill them until ready to serve. Top with whipped cream if you so desire :) They are awesome!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Dates & Spiders... But Not Dates With Spiders
So two adventures to report... First, buddy got his date for winning the idol contest. We don't have much time to do things together anymore due to his insane work schedule so it was quite a short and simple date. We had dinner... I can't remember what that was anymore, but then after dinner we were able to go on a nice walk like we love to do but haven't had the chance to do in forever. We live half a block away from campus so we were able to take a nice walk all the way down to the football stadium and up to the Shakespeare theaters... as if campus is so big. It was awesome though. We went at sunset and it was gorgeous as well as perfect weather for once. There was a high school graduation taking place in the Centrum which brought up a nice talk of our old graduation days and how I refused to throw my cap... Instead I just kind of dropped it because I didn't want to have to search for it again. Once we reached the library, Talls had this brilliant (or maybe not so brilliant) idea to give me a shoulder ride. It lasted about a minute as I was freaking out too bad to even hold still! But seriously... he is six feet tall and so my head was probably seven feet off the ground and I am scared of heights when they are not secure heights so he just had to settle for giving me a piggy back ride instead cuz then if I fall its only a two foot drop and serious injury is less likely to occur. We also made a stop by our favorite fountain on campus which is where we took our favorite engagement picture and I had the opportunity to practice my terrible James Bond skills while he illegally watched a rehearsal of a Shakespeare play... This led into the argument of how if you want to be perpendicular to a tree, you must lie next to it. Its not possible to obtain perpendicularness while still standing. And that pretty much sums up our date...
Now on to the spider section of this post. Sunday night as we were getting ready for bed, I went to turn off the lights in our study room only to find a huge spider staring me down a couple of inches away from the light switch. I have this huge fear of spiders so I yelled for buddy who was already in bed and told him there was a huge spider staring at me and that it probably wanted to eat me. Talls laughed at me for a while before he got the hint that I needed him to come save me. He had fun teasing me with horror stories of how he was going to put it in our bed and everything, and I actually have no idea where the spider corpse went so he very well could have. I was so afraid I even made him sleep closest to the wall that night just in case any more spiders were crawling around. Then when I woke up the next morning and went out to make breakfast, I noticed a black spot on the back of our couch that I thought was the spiders ghost or maybe his twin brother. I went back and told Talls this and he came out prepared with his shoe only to investigate and find that it was merely a stain. I didn't believe him though and I was so delirious that I thought this 'spider' was moving. I think Talls was scared by my paranoia and it took five minutes of debate for me to believe that it was indeed just a stain.
So yes... dates and spiders made for one fabulous memorial day weekend. Forget the hamburgers and cemeteries... We have awesome walks and spider corpses to celebrate instead.
Now on to the spider section of this post. Sunday night as we were getting ready for bed, I went to turn off the lights in our study room only to find a huge spider staring me down a couple of inches away from the light switch. I have this huge fear of spiders so I yelled for buddy who was already in bed and told him there was a huge spider staring at me and that it probably wanted to eat me. Talls laughed at me for a while before he got the hint that I needed him to come save me. He had fun teasing me with horror stories of how he was going to put it in our bed and everything, and I actually have no idea where the spider corpse went so he very well could have. I was so afraid I even made him sleep closest to the wall that night just in case any more spiders were crawling around. Then when I woke up the next morning and went out to make breakfast, I noticed a black spot on the back of our couch that I thought was the spiders ghost or maybe his twin brother. I went back and told Talls this and he came out prepared with his shoe only to investigate and find that it was merely a stain. I didn't believe him though and I was so delirious that I thought this 'spider' was moving. I think Talls was scared by my paranoia and it took five minutes of debate for me to believe that it was indeed just a stain.
So yes... dates and spiders made for one fabulous memorial day weekend. Forget the hamburgers and cemeteries... We have awesome walks and spider corpses to celebrate instead.
Friday, May 27, 2011
American Idol
So just like every other blog out there in the nation, we had to have a post dedicated to the Season 10 American Idol finale. Talls and I have been following the show all season long. His favorite was Casey Abrams and mine was Scotty McCreery (who won by the way). When they were down to the top 9 contestants, Talls and I both made lists of the order in how we thought contestants were going to get kicked off. We decided that whoever guessed the most right, would have to take the loser out on a date. We both predicted three correctly... I predicted Jacob Lusk, Lauren Alaina, and Scotty McCreery. He predicted Casey Abrams, Scotty McCreery and someone else I can't recall. Thus, it came down to a coin toss. I picked the losing side of tails and therefore am obligated to take him out tonight... details coming later on that.
We also made another little bet concerning the show. Like I said, Scotty has always been my favorite but I was a little weary that he would actually win despite all of the teenage girls in America who are in love with him. When we got down to the top 5, Neil kept on insisting that Scotty was going to win and with my defiant spirit, I kept disagreeing with him saying it was going to be James or Haley instead. So when we got down to Lauren and Scotty as the top 2, we made another bet. He said that Scotty was going to win and just to spite him, I said that Lauren was going to take it all. If he was right, I had to take an institute class with him next semester of his choice no questions asked. If I was right, he was going to have to make me dinner for a week. Well as I mentioned, Scotty won and the institute class is TBD. And now that our Idol adventures are over, we can actually have a life again... until next January at least.
We also made another little bet concerning the show. Like I said, Scotty has always been my favorite but I was a little weary that he would actually win despite all of the teenage girls in America who are in love with him. When we got down to the top 5, Neil kept on insisting that Scotty was going to win and with my defiant spirit, I kept disagreeing with him saying it was going to be James or Haley instead. So when we got down to Lauren and Scotty as the top 2, we made another bet. He said that Scotty was going to win and just to spite him, I said that Lauren was going to take it all. If he was right, I had to take an institute class with him next semester of his choice no questions asked. If I was right, he was going to have to make me dinner for a week. Well as I mentioned, Scotty won and the institute class is TBD. And now that our Idol adventures are over, we can actually have a life again... until next January at least.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Entry 2: House Fights Back
I know I know... Such an epic title right? That's because this is an epic post! So Talls and I are currently living in a rental house half a block from campus. We love it to death because its a top floor... not a basement..., its super colorful, and its location is practically perfect for us. However, it has one flaw. One major flaw. The electricity is haunted by some evil ghost that apparently doesn't want us living there. Seriously... Lights go on and off all the time, our dryer is super tempermental, and our heater likes to shut itself off. This weekend was especially interesting as it took us an hour to cook some fish sticks and heat up leftover alfredo and as for our hot water? Nonexistant! So yes... our house is fighting back. Not sure what we did, but it must have been absolutely dreadful for a punishment like this. We may have to surrender in defeat and move... But that would definitely be a sad day.
The rest of our weekend was interesting as well. A word of advice for you young love sick puppies wanting to jump straight into marriage... tread carefully. Make sure you are 110% in love with the one you marry or else you won't make it very far. It's rough... and its only been a week. I don't regret it one bit though and I love Talls more and more with every passing day. My brother-in-law Casey and I had a great talk yesterday in which he said, "You know you love someone when they make you so mad you just have to walk away and yet they are the only one you want to talk to about it." So completely true.
Our two major adventures of the weekend were a temple trip and celebrating Talls' uncle Mark's birthday. The temple was fabulous even though we argued for about an hour about actually going inside. We eventually did though and we went through to do sealings for the dead. For those who aren't familiar with the LDS church, a sealing is the marriage ceremony for our church. We are married and sealed to our spouses in the temple so that if we remain true to our covenants, we can live with our families forever. We return to the temple often to do those same ordinances for those who have passed on without an opportunity to do them for themselves so that they too can be with their families forever. Anyways... we were in a sealing session with a couple who was probably 20 years older than us and they were just awesome. They gave us advice that we desperately needed to hear and the spirit there was definitely strong, calming, and peaceful.
Our second adventure was going to his Uncle Mark's 50th birthday party yesterday. It was a huge gathering put on by his uncle Evan who is pretty much one of the biggest softies ever. There was more food than you could fit on your plate and all of it was delicious beyond belief! Evan also has an amazing back yard with a nice playground set for the kids to play on and it was fun to push them on the swings. Talls loves kids and so being there playing with them made him so happy he was floating on cloud 20 the entire time. It was fabulous :) Kids are adorable, but we are definitely going to wait a while before we have some of our own...
The rest of our weekend was interesting as well. A word of advice for you young love sick puppies wanting to jump straight into marriage... tread carefully. Make sure you are 110% in love with the one you marry or else you won't make it very far. It's rough... and its only been a week. I don't regret it one bit though and I love Talls more and more with every passing day. My brother-in-law Casey and I had a great talk yesterday in which he said, "You know you love someone when they make you so mad you just have to walk away and yet they are the only one you want to talk to about it." So completely true.
Our two major adventures of the weekend were a temple trip and celebrating Talls' uncle Mark's birthday. The temple was fabulous even though we argued for about an hour about actually going inside. We eventually did though and we went through to do sealings for the dead. For those who aren't familiar with the LDS church, a sealing is the marriage ceremony for our church. We are married and sealed to our spouses in the temple so that if we remain true to our covenants, we can live with our families forever. We return to the temple often to do those same ordinances for those who have passed on without an opportunity to do them for themselves so that they too can be with their families forever. Anyways... we were in a sealing session with a couple who was probably 20 years older than us and they were just awesome. They gave us advice that we desperately needed to hear and the spirit there was definitely strong, calming, and peaceful.
Our second adventure was going to his Uncle Mark's 50th birthday party yesterday. It was a huge gathering put on by his uncle Evan who is pretty much one of the biggest softies ever. There was more food than you could fit on your plate and all of it was delicious beyond belief! Evan also has an amazing back yard with a nice playground set for the kids to play on and it was fun to push them on the swings. Talls loves kids and so being there playing with them made him so happy he was floating on cloud 20 the entire time. It was fabulous :) Kids are adorable, but we are definitely going to wait a while before we have some of our own...
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The Beginning
The beginning. Such a logical place to start right? I thought so too... So, by way of introductions, I am Smalls or Cassity and my husband is Talls or Neil. Don't ask how we got our nicknames because it's still a bit of a mystery... We got married on May 14th, 2011 and I have anxiously been awaiting the opportunity to start a blog to follow the adventures of our married life so here goes nothing...
I met Talls through our institute choir class Fall semester of 2010. At first I thought he was a creepy choir nerd and I didn't really want to have anything to do with him, but one night, the week before finals, he trapped me in the computer lab and lured me in with a granola bar. We spent that night together laughing and just having a great time getting to know each other and from that day on, there has never been anyone else for either of us.
Both my husband and I are currently students. I am majoring in accounting and he is in IS. We both have two years of starving studentdom to go and are sincerely looking forward to all of it. Together we love hiking, music, watching movies, and just plain being together. He also loves tennis and ceramics while I am into the whole artsy reading, dancing, singing stuff.
Anyways... nuff about us. First adventure to get to = the honeymoon. For our honeymoon we took an extended weekend vacation to Salt Lake City. We spent most of our time milling about temple square and eating good meals at The Roof, Olive Garden, and Cracker Barrel. We also went on a hike to Ensign Peak and watched the movie Soul Surfer at the Gateway complex. If you ask Talls what his favorite part of our vacay was, he would be sweet and just say getting to know me better because apparently I'm funny, sweet, and righteous 24/7, not just when I'm at my best. My favorite part was definitely our date Tuesday night which was the Olive Garden, Ensign Peak, and Soul Surfer simply because we rarely go out on dates... we usually just stay in so a change was mighty nice.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and so today is our first day back to real life after our weekend of wedding bliss. However, at least we are back to real married life :) There is nothing better than a built in heater when the one in your house goes out... if you know what I mean ;)
I met Talls through our institute choir class Fall semester of 2010. At first I thought he was a creepy choir nerd and I didn't really want to have anything to do with him, but one night, the week before finals, he trapped me in the computer lab and lured me in with a granola bar. We spent that night together laughing and just having a great time getting to know each other and from that day on, there has never been anyone else for either of us.
Both my husband and I are currently students. I am majoring in accounting and he is in IS. We both have two years of starving studentdom to go and are sincerely looking forward to all of it. Together we love hiking, music, watching movies, and just plain being together. He also loves tennis and ceramics while I am into the whole artsy reading, dancing, singing stuff.
Anyways... nuff about us. First adventure to get to = the honeymoon. For our honeymoon we took an extended weekend vacation to Salt Lake City. We spent most of our time milling about temple square and eating good meals at The Roof, Olive Garden, and Cracker Barrel. We also went on a hike to Ensign Peak and watched the movie Soul Surfer at the Gateway complex. If you ask Talls what his favorite part of our vacay was, he would be sweet and just say getting to know me better because apparently I'm funny, sweet, and righteous 24/7, not just when I'm at my best. My favorite part was definitely our date Tuesday night which was the Olive Garden, Ensign Peak, and Soul Surfer simply because we rarely go out on dates... we usually just stay in so a change was mighty nice.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and so today is our first day back to real life after our weekend of wedding bliss. However, at least we are back to real married life :) There is nothing better than a built in heater when the one in your house goes out... if you know what I mean ;)
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