Logan Wedding

On Saturday, Nate and I drove to Utah again for a wedding.  Nate's friend, Ben, got married in the Logan temple.  We were already running late/ right on time when I realized 30 minutes into the drive that I forgot my temple recommend.  Thankfully, Nate drives a little fast and we got there in just enough time for them to look up my recommend and I was able to attend.  I'd never been inside the Logan temple so I really wanted to go!  After the sealing, we stuck around for a bit for pictures and then went to their absolutely gorgeous luncheon.  I guess luncheon's are a thing out here.  We just went to Subway for our after wedding meal haha  Everyone else went to Chick-fil-A I think.  Nothing fancy for us Tucker's!  Instead of staying in Logan all day and waiting for the reception, we decided to go home early and attend the drive-in that night.  We watched Cinderella and Furious 7.  Well, Nate watched both, I feel asleep for the second.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This Valentine's Day was the first one we've spent just with each other.  Our first one we were still dating and were on opposite sides of the country.  Last year we spent it in Georgia with Jessica and Chelseanne's families.  This year was just us.  And it was wonderful!

I got Nate his traditional gift...a puzzle of a picture of us with a secret love note written on the back.  This tradition started while we were dating.  I had never had a boyfriend for Valentine's day so I had to do something special.  I don't know how I got the idea, but I purchased a customized puzzle from Walmart of a picture of us and then wrote a message on the back.  To do this, I had to put the puzzle together and then flip it over and write the message.  Last year I did the same thing, just with a picture from our wedding.  This year it was harder to pick a picture because we had so many good ones!  Last year he didn't put the puzzle together until August so we will see how long it takes this time....

Anyways, the Friday before Valentine's Day I had to work in Rexburg until around 3:00.  When I got home I was super tired so I decided to take a nap.  We had originally planned on going to the Idaho Falls temple on Friday after I got home from work but with me being so tired and Nate working on a quiz (and for something in the mail I did not know about) we just decided to go on Saturday.  Nate still wanted to go to Olive Garden for dinner though.  He woke me up from my nap to go out to eat and when I walked into the kitchen there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers and box of chocolates.  Isn't he perfect?  It gets better!

I got ready to go to dinner and was going to touch up my make-up but couldn't find my make-up bag in the drawer where it usually was.  I asked Nate if he knew where it was but he didn't.  I thought it was weird but then just didn't think much of it.  We had a great time at Olive Garden.  I ordered a chicken and shrimp carbonara but they forgot the shrimp so they gave the dish to me for free!  Holla!  Even after ordering dessert our bill was only like $25.

We got in the car to come home and Nate drove across the parking lot and parked right in front of a hotel and announced that's where we would be spending the night!  I didn't believe him until he showed me the reservation on his phone haha  He had packed all my stuff and so that's why I couldn't find my make-up bag.  The only things he forgot were a hairbrush, toothpaste (both of which we got from the hotel) and regular clothes for the next day.  He did bring all of our temple stuff and a dress so the important stuff was covered!

On Saturday, we slept in and then went to Smitty's for breakfast/ lunch.  Nate's family used to go there all the time when they'd visit his dad's family in Idaho.  I, however, had never been there.  It was delicious!  Apparently, it used to be a chain store that became Perkin's restaurants, but this one stayed as Smitty's.

Isn't he so cute?!

After lunch we finally made it to the Idaho Falls temple.  It was a fantastic experience and I'm glad we got to go before it shuts down in March for 18 months for renovations and updates.  By the time we got home on Saturday it was almost 5:00.  It was a great Valentine's Day weekend!!!

Idaho Falls Temple

Today I had a work meeting in Idaho Falls and so Nate met me afterwards so we could go to the temple.  I've been there before for baptisms and Nate doesn't ever remember going there.  Nate's parents were married in this temple so I've wanted to go for a while.  In March they are going to be closing it down for eighteen months to do some renovations and I thought it would be good to go before they make a bunch of changes!  We sure picked a snowy day to go!  We didn't have time to do an entire session so we just did sealings.  I guess we just have an excuse to go back now!

Thanksgiving Shmanksgiving

For our first Thanksgiving together, we made the trip down to Arizona to visit Nate's sister Jennifer and her family.  It was quite the car ride (14 hours) but we split it into two days each way which definitely made it more bearable.  Here are some of the highlights!  (I realized once we got home that there are no pictures of Jennifer's family which makes me kind of sad...)

Crossing the Hoover Dam...

Thanksgiving Dinner

The Christmas lights at the Mesa Temple

Attending the Mesa Temple the next day.

Playing legos with my niece Elise.  She's amazing at them!  But the creation below was all mine.  Elise gave me instructions to build a place for the lego people to play with their pets and this is what I came up with.  I know, I should work for lego I'm so good.

Driving by the St. George Temple on the way home.

I'd say it was a pretty successful trip we made!  The only thing missing was that I couldn't write our wedding thank-you cards.  I had postcards printed (designed them myself!) but didn't open the package until we were in the car and it turns out the printer printed the wrong file....so I couldn't write a single one.  Hopefully they get the right one printed soon so I can thank all the fabulous people who sent us gifts and helped us out!

Date Day, Date Night

As with most Saturday's ours began with sleeping in.

We hadn't gone to the temple in a week so yesterday we decided we needed to go today.  It was really a fantastic experience.  We both were reminded of the covenants we made with each other and with God when we were married.  I am glad for the opportunity to go because in all honesty, I couldn't really remember what was actually said when we were married.  I am thankful there is a temple literally on the same street I live on.  Not many people can say that!

In the afternoon we made a trip to Idaho Falls to run a few errands.  At Target, we found some candy cane oreos and snatched those babies right up.  THEN, at WinCo we walked in and the first isle had my very favorite chocolate chips on a mega sale!  In Rexburg, they cost like$3.89 a bag...here they were $1.88!  Soooooooo I bought like six :)  Oops.  Once we got back home I combined our two purchases and made white chocolate covered candy cane oreos.  Tell me you wish we were friends and lived close to each other.  If you actually fall into this category, hit me up before they're gone.

Dinner was a fancy evening at the Outback Steakhouse.  We had a giftcard so it only made sense.

You can't really tell from the picture but I ordered my steak medium rare and it looked even rarer.  I'm growing up.

This is my husband.  Isn't he handsome?!

Wedding Pictures!

It seems like FOREVER since we got married and yet it's only been a little over two months!  I really cannot wrap my head around that.  We've just finally got our pictures back and I am so EXCITED to share them with everyone.  These pictures were done by the amazing Tessa Berg from Starling Studio located in Columbus.  If anyone is in need of a photographer (for anything, not just weddings) she is your woman!  I have two CDs full of pictures and it took me ages just to narrow it down to my favorites for this post.  I have no idea how I'm supposed to pick ones to hang in my home! (Also, as a bragging moment, I made my own veil so you should take note of how good it looks for a $5 veil.  The cheapest one at the dress store was $45)

I hope you all enjoy these as much as I do :)

These are all of the non-family members that came to support us.  Mostly friends from the ward.

Both of our families.  His side is purely his immediate family and their children.  My side is over half of my aunts, uncles and cousins...

The Smith Clan

The Tucker/ Koch Clan

These are my dad's parents.  My grandpa was the one who sealed us.

My parents and siblings.

We rock.

One of my favorites!

My wonderful bridesmaids.  Brittany and Alexis came from Utah, Whitney came from Washington and Heather (my first best friend!) came from Wisconsin.  And my sister came from the same place I did...

Me, my mom, my mom's mom.

Classic Pose

My lovely mother.

Okay this is one of my absolute favorites and I can't decide whether I like it better black & white or in color!

He's all mine ladies.  Back off.

Another favorite.  Thank you pinterest!

I love our rings so much.  They are classy...and they match!

The rest of these pictures were taken at the Garden of Roses in Columbus.

LOVE

One of my requests was to have a picture by a big tree.  This definitely meets that requirement.

Another of my FAVORITES.  Couldn't decide if it's better b&w or color...

We were trying to get a picture with us skipping and in the air...it sort of worked...sorta.

Did you actually make it through all these pictures?  That's dedication right there.  Dedication to what?  I'm not sure.  You must just be procrastinating something...