Hawaiann Christmas

Christmas was a blast, our first major holiday with both sides of the family. It turned out to be twice the fun! We spent Christmas Eve and morning on the farm with the Sainsburys, then went to the Englands for lunch, where I got to speak with Connor for the first time! We then made the trek back to the Sainsburys to speak with Seth. By then, I had really come down with the flu, so the last part of my holiday was spent shivering in a blanket. . . but I got to speak with Seth, so it was great.

We left early next morning in a huge blizzard for the airport. By the time we got there, I think every single one of the Englands was ready for a warm, tropical climate, making our trip to Hawaii even more exciting, if possible:) We vacationed on the island of Kuwaii for a week. I will let the pictures do most of the talking, but it was a week of relaxation, hiking, swimming, going to the beach, shopping, exploring, eating, visiting Pearl Harbor and spending time together. One of my favorite memories is going on a zipline adventure, which literally gave Chase and I a whole new perspective on the beauties of Kuwaii. It was the perfect vacation for relaxation, and by the time we flew home, we were up to facing another semester of school.

Catching Up

Ok, ok, so my best resolutions to keep this blog current and filled with news and pictures kind of crumbled these last few months. I chalk it up to the fact that I have been student teaching, in newlywed bliss (or la-la-land), and a busy, hectic schedule. . . . not to mention the fact that until last week, I wasn't able to find my camera! So this blog is officially titled "Catching Up", because what I am going to post will come from as far back as November, but with the pictures here, it's nice to show you what I was up to in the recent past.

Chase and I went on our honeymoon to Park City, where we stayed at the Stein Erikson Lodge. For me, it was the most luxurious place I have ever stayed, and helped contribute to the glamour of the honeymoon. We spent a lot of time in Park City's Historic Main Street, looking at the art galleries, eating out, and window shopping. It was a slow-paced, relaxing couple of days, just what we needed to gear us up for 3 weeks of finals! The only small break in our relaxing 4 days was when Chase insisted that he wash his car off. My brothers had put the words (in butter), "My Husband is the #1 BYU Fan!" I thought it was funny and Chase . . . well, Chase thought it was something else:)

The First Week

Starting a blog is something I've wanted to do for a long time, but there's nothing like getting married to motivate you to get started! For those of you who missed the big event, Chase and I were married November 26th, 2008 in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a great day, and pretty smooth sailing for the most part. The only hiccup I can remember is that our sealer forgot to show up, so the poor temple workers had to scramble to find another one. Chase and I didn't mind so much (we were in stereotypical la-la land), but I'm told that some of the family members who were waiting wondered if it was the case of the Runaway Bride or Runaway Groom. But it all turned out fine, and Chase and I were married for time and all eternity. It was a great moment for us.

After two fun receptions, a luncheon at Joseph Smith Memorial, and lots and lots of "sparkling" for the camera, the exhausted and happy Chase and Amanda spent Thanksgiving break in Park City at the Stein Erikson Lodge. It was beautiful in Park City, and we enjoyed the chance to rest and relax. We walked up and down Historic Main Street in Park City, looking at the different art galleries, going out to eat, and seeing a few movies. I found out that Chase really loved me, because he even went to the outlet malls with me for a few hours while I took advantage of the Black Friday sales!

We returned to our little apartment in Provo to find that 3/4 of our floor had been swallowed by presents, and for the next several days, we worked on the happy task of sorting, discovering, and organizing everyone's generosity. Thanks everybody for your gifts and support!

I still am getting used to being married, having a husband, and answering when someone says "Mrs. England", but I have loved the new adventure. The next big step is to survive finals, and if Chase and I can do that, then I know we can do just about anything :)