still here...barely

Hello long lost blog, Como estas? It's not secret to you avid readers of my non-existent blog that I have truly been failing at documenting my life, but that is because any spare time (what is that?) is used to write papers not posts. But here I am and four in the A.M. too stressed to sleep and to out of it to make sense of what I need to do.  When Phill and I decided to get married on the 27th I thought how perfect the semester will be over and we can just go have fun and be back in time for summer semester.  I, however, failed to realize that I am in my senior year in the Nazi history program at Weber State and life would not be peaches and cream.  Needless to say with two jobs, school, and a wedding to plan I've been in way over my head.  SO if I have said anything mean to you or been short with you in the past two months....I apologize from the bottom of my bridezilla heart.

Now that's out of the way let's get caught up shall we? Being engaged has been so much fun! I always imagined what it would be like to be engaged to Phill, and now that I am it's pretty impossible to put into words and even though we are 13 days away from the wedding it hasn't really hit me yet! I don't know. BUT   we have had some lovely stressful dates of planning and re-planning, and me bawling with Phill patiently attempting to calm me down planning. I'm so lucky to have him!

We've had a few bridal showers which have been uber helpful! We have gotten pretty much all the essentials which has been great, and we even have food in our cupboards! hallelujah  Showers are excellent and oh so helpful, but I will be the first to admit I do  not love being the center of attention.  I get all sweaty and hot-flashy it's just a bad situation all around.  But I survived and I am so lucky I have such awesome people who are willing to throw them for me.  The craziest one would have to be the one that Phill's sisters threw for me it was quite the social event.  I unfortunately don't have pictures Alisha or Becca are hiding them somewhere (maybe that's a good thing;) haha. I kid. We did all sorts of games getting "me" ready for the wedding including make-up, nails, dressing, shaving legs etc.  It was extreme bridal showering to be sure!

Phill and I also managed to find enough time to be together to take our engagements and formal pictures.  It was so much fun, and that is saying something because I hate getting pictures taken.  But my sister is the greatest photographer eva so we were lucky!

Our formal pictures were my favorite. I had flip flopped between ideas of whether or not I was going to include Phill in my bridals or not, but then I finally decided I would rather have more fun pictures with us together in places other than the temple and our reception center.  Luckily he was not opposed to seeing me in my dress a couple weeks early! 

The story of the blind fold: The blind fold is no ordinary blind fold.  In 2009 Phill text me one day and it read: "High or Low" I was confused and asked what he meant, he said pick one: high or low?  I picked high and the next day I went over to his house. There on the couch was a backpack that had a sign taped on it that said "phill and meg's adventure pack" we then got in the car and Phill put this blind fold on me.  He drove me around trying to confuse me, but I knew where we were.  We got out of the car and headed up a trail, still blindfolded for about five minutes.  We hiked to the top of Skyline trail and had a picnic that Phill had packed for us.  I kept the blind fold for almost four years now just hoping I could get my revenge.  And as you can see from the mischevious look on my face below revenge was four years sweeter. 

Phill and I also incorporated our letters from his mission into our pictures.  Those letters kept us together when we were so far apart. It was such a hard sacrifice to give up those two years together, but look at us now.  Haters gonna hate. But I love our story so whatevs.

A couple papers and days later came my bachelorette party.  If my sister hadn't already done enough with the pictures and helping with reception decor she threw me the sweetest most Megan specific bachelorette party! (which I appreciated) She did a Breakfast at Tiffany theme if any of you know me 1. I love that movie 2. I love Tiffany & Co. and 3. dressing up!  so it was the perfect combination.

We started the night of at P.F. Changs, I had never been there before, but dang it was divine! There Kaitlin whipped out my bachelorette sash and tiaras for all of us to wear. We looked awesome. 

 Following our lovely dinner we went to City Creek to take pictures outside of Tiffany & CO I was standing in the door way when the security guard came out, he stood there for a while and I thought he was going to ask us to leave.  Instead he said we're closing, but do you guys want to come in  we have places inside to take pictures.  AH! So we walked in and headed towards the cheaper jewelry figuring it wasn't very classy of us to start snapping bachelorette pictures in front of the diamonds. haha. Kait was taking a picture and the security guard comes by and sets this small square dessert in front of me.  It was Tiffany blue and had a white icing bow across the top and of course was sitting on top of a napkin labeled "Tiffany & CO" for the bride he said and walked away. I was e-freaking-lated.

  

Kaitlin then kept taking a picture of the three of us and then the manager came up and said, If I were taking this picture I'd have all four of you in it and you'd be up by the fine jewelry   AHH. She takes the camera from Katilin and starts walking towards the fine jewelry counters.  

They were so sweet and it was so fun we were the only ones in there besides the employees it was such a fun experience considering how much I LOVE all things Tiffany and am wearing my Tiffany ring for my something blue! Amazing! 

Barbie: Kaitlin and Skipper: Me all grown up 

The night ended with opening my fabulous gifts. That's always and awkward delight especially when your friend make you do it in public at City Creek...kidding  by that time we were mostly alone.  I am so lucky to have such amazing friends! 

Smells good! haha

The pure shame and embarrassment on my face in the photo is too priceless not to post. To much too soon TOO MUCH TOO SOON! haha. Thanks Kait;) 

Post party let my hair down and it was so curly and out of control   

Finally on a more wholesome note;) My incredible parents helped Phill and I move in today for the most part we got the kitchen and living area set up it was so much fun to put stuff away in my own kitchen in my own apartment.  I would have been happy to do that all night! I only got 2 not so great picture but it's better than no picture right? Here is our kitchen!

I'm so excited for Phill and I to spend our first year here. It's going to be quite the adjustment, but ya know that's what life is all about.  So for now I am focusing on getting through the semester with a few wedding things when I can squeeze them in, and on Friday I will receive my endowments in the Bountiful temple.  It's a crazy time, but i am loving every stressful minute! 

Valentine's Day Adventure

I have never been big into Valentine's day, and I am so grateful that Phill and I never have overly cheesy Valentine's.  Occasionally we're a little sappy, but you have to let loose sometimes.  Today was a perfectly non-cheesy day! For the first time since he's been  home we got to go out and have a real adventure, so we used good ole Valentine's day as an excuse to get away from it all.
We took a beautiful drive up to Park City listening to our playlist on my phone, thanks to the awesome radio adapter Phill got me! We wandered Main Street, went into all the fun shops, and took some pictures it was just like the good old days.

                                       





We also went up to the Outlets where Phill got some new clothes, hallelujah  It was long over due, he's going to look sharp ;)

Next it was off to Salt Lake for our dinner reservations at The Macaroni Grill. It was so delicious! I love coloring on their tables I think it is such a fun atmosphere!

After we went over to wander City Creek, Phill had never been there it was fun to show him around, and pretend we were classy enough to go into such a place. haha. We got to see a proposal and clapped and just grinned cuz we're all cute and engaged now. We watched the fountain they have there do it's nightly show which I was very excited about I hadn't seen it yet, it was awesome!

Lastly, like always, I got sick from the darn Macaroni Grill...I love it, it doesn't love me. We were at Temple Square, so we sat down and listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir practice for a little while that was an amazing experience! Then we headed home so I could get some rest.

All in all this was the best Valentine's Day of my life, not saying I'm a believer in the day, but I appreciate the idea that love should be celebrated no matter what kind of love you have in  your  life it's worth recognizing and celebrating.   I love you all and I hope you had a lovely day o' love!

Official

After over three years of being unofficially official...Phillip Jesse and I are officially engaged! Officially official! And I could not be happier! Earlier today I was with Phill and we were talking about our wedding, and I jokingly said well, we don't know if we are going to be having a wedding, you haven't bothered to ask me.  Followed by a lot of teasing and pressuring him into telling me if he was ever going to ask me. *face palm* He already had a plan.
Phill had a Primary meeting for his calling so I ran home and he went to the meeting, and I thought to myself this meeting is taking a really long time! Finally he showed up at my house and we were hanging out with my family. Lord of the Rings the Two Towers was on the TV so we started watching. I LOVE Lord of the Rings, so I thought it was really weird when Phill suddenly looks up from his phone and says, "do you want to go for a drive" at first I thought something was wrong, because WHO decides to leave in the middle of Middle Earth, I mean really.
So we start driving, I'm a little suspicious, but I ride it out, act as natural as possible. We drive and Phill pulls off at the park we went on our first date when we were 16 and 17 years old.  He gives me a kiss and quickly pulls out a blind fold and covers my eyes. That's when I knew for sure something was about to happen.
We started driving and he went around the round about at least 6 times getting me all disoriented, and we drove around.  I was completely lost! We laughed and joked about how nothing out of the ordinary was going on, we were just starting a new drive tradition of blind folding the passenger.
The car stops. Phill opens my door and starts leading me up a hill, a very snowy hill, and I was just wearing flats. We reach what must have been the top of the hill and Phill says, "This is the part where you get on my back" so I jump on, and we start heading down hill. It's a miracle we didn't slip and fall! haha He sets me down, and takes the blind fold off. We were at Barker Park.
Funny thing about Barker Park, Phill and I went there all of the time, not sure what the draw was, but there we went.  We went there on the night of our second 1st kiss, we made sidewalk chalk murals of each other on the stage, said good-bye every weekend before he headed up to Logan for the week, and it was there in 2009 that Phill told me he was going to serve a mission.  When he was gone I went back there a lot, I always made it part of my running routes, and sometimes I would just sit in the parking lot and miss him.
When the blind fold came off, there were lights strung over our heads, and one of our favorite songs, Brad Paisley's "Then" started to play, and we danced.  I was in heaven!

 In the song there is a line that goes, "there were people around, but I didn't care, I got down on one knee right there, and once again I thought I loved you then" Phill got down on one knee and asked me to go on an eternal adventure with him.

I said yes,( of course I've been dreaming about this since the day I met him) and I kissed him, he dropped the ring in the snow. haha, luckily it was still in the box, no harm done. He put it on, we kissed.  And then Phill yelled, for everyone to come out and all of his younger siblings, and my family came pouring out around us.

I could not be happier to be marrying my best friend, to be a part of my amazing family and to be joining another.  We've had a long story, but it's really only just beginning.

Sorry blog...

If there is one thing I've learned about time management it is that journal keeping/blogging does not always take the highest priority.  Since Spring semester started I have officially begun my Senior year of college! It's a beautiful thing to see that big ole "Senior" staring at me on the screen. With it has come the preparation to write my senior thesis this summer. I am leaning towards writing it on civil war medics from the Union side. Not positive though it's all up in the air. 
A mid attempting to stay afloat with school, I have been studying/training to become a server at Bella's where I work.  Some people, including myself, seriously take servers for granted. It's a stressful job, I'm predicting quite the blood pressure spike in the near future. (if it hasn't happened already) I am grateful for the extra work/funds that come with serving, but it leaves little time for other important things. Between school, work, and also working for my dad I'm booked. Then comes my church calling in the nursery, my cute family, and my favorite time "waster" Phill:)
Its been awesome having him home, we don't get to spend as much time as we'd like together, but we get what we can as I run from class to work. 
Since he's been home we have:

• met Elder Holland
• gone to dinner a couple times
• went ice skating
• been to several of Sterling's basketball games
• seen a few movies including the Hobbit, Skyfall, Les Miserables, and Jack Reacher
• spent time with family
• started taking institute (which is uaually the most we see each other during the week)
• started planning our wedding set for April 27th another awesome item to add to my to-do list, we're not officially engaged yet...don't worry about it. ha.
• AND we've enjoyed getting to know each other again.

A lot changes over two years, and in a lot of ways I think we took that for granted we've had a few rough spots trying to get readjusted but we are as strong and as happy as ever.
Life is good, busy, stressful, overwhelming, but truly good.