Ben Folds

On Saturday after we finished the necessary yard work and envelope stuffing required for the wedding, Steve and I got to go up to Deer Valley to the Ben Folds Concert. We grabbed some Café Rio in Park City, hiked the hill from the parking lot, staked out a good spot and ate our “picnic” on the lawn. I’d never been to Deer Valley before, and I was not disappointed. It was beautiful! We watched the sunset as the concert started, the temperature could not have been better and everything around us was green.

Ben Folds was playing with the Utah Symphony. He created orchestrations to some of his most popular songs, and the Symphony accompanied him on his piano. I’ve liked Ben Folds for awhile, but it was Steve who introduced me to him back when we dated in High School. So he was far more excited than I was for the concert. It was fun to be able to watch him, watching Ben Folds. Steve’s learned a few of his songs on the piano, so he knows when the hard parts are coming up, and what keys the songs are written in so he’d point those things out to me, and it totally made me realize how talented Ben Folds is. To watch him play the piano was hilarious, incredible and exhausting. His fingers move so fast it’s ridiculous, and he not only plays his songs, but writes them as well! His language left a lot to be desired, (he doesn’t hold back the swearing, even in front of a Utah audience.) but we got to hear some awesome arrangements with the symphony. My favorites were Gracie, Lullabye and Landed, which sound amazing the string section behind them. Another one that I didn’t know very well before but that I loved was Narcolepsy. (It was nice to have Steve there to point out the songs I didn’t know well.)

The best part of the evening however happened after the concert. Some people sitting next to us, who were sort of smashed, turned to us and asked if we wanted 311 tickets. We were strangers, and it seemed weird to me they’d even ask, but we just smiled and said “we’re good.” They asked why not and I said “because we’ll be on our honeymoon…” because I think that’s when the 311 concert is. However, our slightly drunken friends thought I said, “we’re on our honeymoon.” They laughed and “oohed and ahhed” and started the whole section cheering for us. We just decided to play along, because it seemed like it would be a futile attempt trying to explain their mistake. We just smiled and gave them a thumbs-up as we left the concert, and they had a grand old time teasing us as we walked away. Good times.

All in all it was a fun night out for us. Steve and I have been so stressed about the wedding, it was nice to just get away from the planning and be together with no worries attached.

Only 1 month to go!

Crunch Time

50 Days! Steve and I have 50 days until our wedding. Now to most of you, that seems like an incredibly long time and nothing to get very excited about. I have had friends who’ve been engaged around that long and have felt it was the longest time of their life (i.e. Jessie, Mandy Abbie). However, when your engagement is a total length of 181 days, 50 days is not long at all.

So, we’re getting down to crunch time on the wedding planning. EVERYONE is feeling the strain, no one as much as Steve and I, with maybe the exception of my Mother. We’re slowly getting everything done, the guest lists, the caterers (and by caterers I mean shaved ice people), the flowers, the apparel of everyone involved. We’re meeting with the woman who’s doing our cake, putting the finishing touches on my dress, taking my bridals, and beginning the long list of Bridal Showers in the next two weeks. We’re also working with Steve’s parents being gone the 8th through the 17th, mine gone from the 23rd to the 31st and a Lake Powell trip with the English and Redd Families the first week in August. So as you can see, we’ve got lots of things to do, and less time to do them in.

The good news? Lindsay and I are going through the temple together Friday, and I don’t know that I’ve ever looked forward to anything more…except of course marrying Steve. Lindsay and I had a special day with Grandma yesterday so we could get our temple clothes and I think it’s safe to say we’re all set. It’s nice to know that I’ll have some way to relieve the stress that will probably plague me until my wedding day.

We have a lot to be excited for in the next month or so… 4th and 24th of July fun, Ben Folds Concert, family vacations and parties, weddings of friends and visiting family. We’re lucky to be having lots of family come out for the wedding. My Grandparents Boucher will be here with my Uncle Jeff and Aunt Beth from Arkansas for the first time since my brother Ryan left for his mission. Steve’s brother and sister-in-law Paul and Tenille and their adorable sons are coming from Syracuse. Steve’s having other family from California come as well, and we’re still waiting on some other family to make their plans, but we are SO excited and blessed to be able to have our loved ones come to our wedding.

It's been a long process, but it's been an incredible learning experience for Steve and I. We've become closer than ever, and we are so excited to see what the next 50 days has in store for us!

There is a switch

There is a switch

underneath my desk.

It's connected to a power strip

into which my computer and phone are plugged.

In the middle of the day,

when I'm finishing up a project

my body starts to slump in my chair

and my legs stretch out under my desk.

And then, BLINK!

The moniter goes dark,

the phone screen goes blank,

and my heart just drops.

Time to reboot......CRAP

This is the conversation I had with my soon to be nephew last night as I was trying to put him to bed... He's 2.

(said nephew is whining/crying)
Nephew: I can not sleep on this mattress, it's not safe for me.
Me: Yes you can sleep on this mattress, and your brother is going to sleep right next to you, he won't let you fall off.
Nephew: I do not want to go to sleep, because I'm not tired.
Me: Oh I think you are tired, listen to how sad your voice is.
Nephew: I am not sad, I am scared because what if there's a monster (points to the closet) in there. Or what if they sneak in through the windows.
Me: You don't have to worry, Uncle Steven scared all the monsters out of the closet so and I blocked the windows so they won't come in.
Nephew: Where's my mom?
Me: She's at camp, but she'll be here tomorrow.
Nephew: Tomorrow? What time is today?
Me: Today is Thursday and tomorrow when your mom comes home it is friday.
Nephew: But what about Grams and Mom? Who will make sure the monster's don't get them.
Me: (this part's a little cheesy, but I couldn't think of anything else.) The monster's won't get them because Heavenly Father will protect them.
Nephew: But where's Heavenly Father and Jesus?
Me: They're in heaven
Nephew: No way! Will you read me a good night book?
Me: We don't have any good night books in here, how about I tell you a story?
(enter other nephews)
Nephew: okay but no monsters.

I'm going to enjoy being an aunt.

I would just like to say

I NEVER HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER MATH CLASS AGAIN!!!

That's right UTAH STATE, I passed your two ridiculously awful math classes.

With better grades than expected, thank you very much.

Yes, that's right I'm gloating.

and as you can see

~I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED~