So, the wedding went successfully. Me and my husband for time and all eternity were married on December 18th, 2009 in the Draper Utah temple at 10:24 AM.

It's funny but in a way you don't really get to take in all that happens that day. It's full of running from one place to the next with hardly any time to just breath. The second we got out of the temple it was picture time then straight to the luncheon at 1:00 and then off to pleasant view for the reception that night. (which we

spent from the time we arrived getting ready for) Although it was busy it really was the most wonderful day I could have asked for. Everything went perfectly and if not perfectly then it was pretty dang close because it felt wonderful! It wasn't snowing, everyone managed to be where they needed to be and most of all I was finally married! After hours of shaking hands and welcoming people for being at our reception we danced, cut the cake, threw the flowers and the garter and then we were off in our chocolate syrup and Oreo car.

For our honey moon we went to Las Vegas. I learned fast we weren't in Utah anymore. While in vegas you can't look down or up. You basically have to keep your eyes straight forward so you don't see any type of pornography. Everything was so expensive on the strip!!!! Thank goodness for the Walgreens across from our hotel and the Denny's and McDonalds a block away. It was so nice being able to relax and just be the two of us. We saw a wax museum, cirque de soliel mystere put on by treasure island, a shark reef aquarium, the Bellagio fountains (to christmas music), and a lot of lions and tigers and dolphins (oh my!), along with a lot of other things.

On our honeymoon my new husband got sick. It was either a bug or food poisoning but either way not what I was expecting to happen. We also got the news that beita (spencers grandma) had passed away. Even with all this we had a fantastic honeymoon and enjoyed the rest of our trip.

We flew back into Salt Lake the night of the 23rd. The next day we went to visit my family. We did all of our christmas traditions that day because we were gonna be with Spencer's family for Christmas eve and then we were leaving that morning for LA to go to beitas funeral.

It was a little different not being able to spend christmas with my family. It was my first time ever not being with them and it was kind of hard. Don't get me wrong I LOVE all of the new additions to my family, it was hard to be away from my mom, dad and brother. I did have a GREAT christmas eve and felt very welcome. ( as always :D )

The next morning after the nieces and nephews opened their gifts from Santa we headed off for LA. We arrived at 7:30 that night. The funeral was the next morning. Even though it was all in Spanish there was still such a great spirit. I am so thankful for the gospel and for the knowledge it gives that we will be an eternal family for time and all eternity. I am so very thankful for the temple and for the blessings the we receive when we go. I am grateful for the opportunity that I had to be married in the temple to my dear husband.

Even though it's been over a week, it still hasn't sunk in all the way that I'm married.

nearly one day before the wedding

It sure is amazing the amount of last minute details you overlook. The last few days have been jam-packed from 10-10 with them. It's amazing, i'm actually exhausted and ready for bed before 11. I spent 3 hours in the walmart photo line today. All I needed was 30 4x6's and 2 8x10's but since they were on 4 different disks (which each had 600 or so pictures on it) it took FOREVER!!!!

We picked up the tuxes, the wedding dress and some christmas gifts while we were at it. By the time we were done, we all were ready for bed.

6 days to go!!!

Having your friend get married a week before you can do many different things. 1. put a lot of stress on you. 2. be a major party or 3. become a complete competition. I have found it to be a little bit of each. The first thing to hit you is competition. Who gets what done first, how they did it and how fast they did it. Next is the stress that hits you because the other person has either gotten what you had plan to do this week done two weeks ago, or you're having to change your plans because you jumped at the first thing that seemed to be good because you wanted to get it done before the other person. The next and greatest thing to hit you is the amazing party that it is. Having a friend that understand how you feel and the stress your feeling is a great help. Not to mention the bachelorette party. It's so much fun to be able to tease someone and then get teased right back. It also adds to the experience being happy for not only yourself but being so happy for someone else at the same time.

Being LDS and endowed the night before it was such an amazing and wonderful experience to be able to go to her temple wedding and to be there to support her and her husband felt so wonderful. It was also very nice to be able to see one before your own just so you know what to expect.

One thing me and me and my fiance noticed is how big of a day it really is. We didn't even do anything but show up for the temple, find the luncheon (in a white out snow storm might I add) and show up to the reception when we so wished.

Our day is going to be a long day but I know, not just from viewing this wedding, that it's the right thing that is taking place in the right place and that no matter what happens it's all going to be worth it to spend the rest of eternity with my future husband.

the week before the wedding

So I've decided that this blog is now going to be all about the things that I'm going to be going through being a newlywed next friday. Although I'm not married yet I thought that it would be nice to have this all set up and ready for that very instant I become Mrs. Banks. I look forward to the funny times, the sad times and the just insane outrageous times that are sure to come. I look forward to sharing this time with all of you.