Tulip Festival

Every year we go to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point, in Lehi.

Every year guys.

2011

2012

2013

Yes, I realize we take the same picture in the same spot.

And, yes, I realize we looked our best in 2011 when we were dating.

I (also) realize the flowers never change, but we still go every year.

And I still take the same gosh darn pictures.

Heaven help me.

This year, we drug along our good friends Shawn & Cari. 

We had so much fun with them! We even rented a golf cart

In our defense, Cari was five months pregnant. Would you wanna walk 52 acres?!?!

I don't think so.

Yes, it's 52 acres of gardens. Golf cart it was! 

This year was actually the warmest year we had ever been. It was so nice though.

Look how cute this little bee is!!!

I absolutely love this time of year, and get so excited to go to the Tulip Festival every spring. This became our tradition, when we first went in 2011. We decided we would go every year after that, and make it our special little *thing*

And we have done just that.

Spring of 2011 we were just starting to seriously date. I had told Jake that I wasn't really interested in pursuing a serious relationship. That obviously changed. I flew home for a wedding, for about five days and that's all it took. Five days I was gone and away from my love, and I had wished (every single day) that I was with him. I enjoyed my time in CA with friends and family, but I was missing Jake more than I ever possibly thought I could. I talked to him every second I could. 

The day after I got back, we spent the whole day together. We went to the Tulip Festival (for the first time), then went engagement ring shopping, and then out for dinner. That was on Saturday, April 30th, 2011 and it was our favorite date ever!

We love the beautiful Tulip Festival and cannot wait to go back next year! It's always fun going back reflecting on the previous year. 

One year... Too late

Well... I told you all (below) I'd update my blog about our anniversary

And here we are. Over three months later

My only excuse? Nothing

We pretty much spent our anniversary in Salt Lake City (where we were married), and Park City.

Photo taken on my iPhone

We had dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and walked around here...

Park City was a beautifully, warm, sunny, fall day and we loved watching the Olympic team practice/compete. 

Jake ordered our wedding cake (from the same shop) for our anniversary. 

A fresh new one tasted amazing. Not freezer burn!

And- can I get a HOLLAH for the hubster doing this?!!

Photo taken on my iPhone

We've always had this tradition (since we were dating), that we wouldn't exchange cards (for those special occasions). We would (instead) exchange love letters. And so the tradition lives on. Except, this time, my love letter from Jake, was a tad bit different. It was in a bottle. It was a message in a bottle. The best part was, my little hubster went to Hobby Lobby (my favorite craft store), and he bought craft paper and a craft bottle ALL ON HIS OWN! He wrote THE sweetest words on parchment paper & he done me proud.

PS- I've always heard you should exchange WOOD on your one year anniversary? I'm not exactly sure why, but my only assumption is, that wood is solid and I think if you've made it to your one year wedding anniversary (happily),that that's saying something pretty solid about your love. That's my philosophy anyhow. 

So we exchanged love letters, and my present for the hubster, was to gather all our love letters (back from when we were dating) and tie them together in a twine bow. It was pretty fun to go back & re-read them, even though it wasn't YEARS ago. It was just fun/interesting to go back & see the highlights from specific time periods. I still remember one of the first love letters he ever wrote me... I got a little teary-eyed. His letters and words are THE sweetest things EVER and I cherish them. 

Photo taken on my iPhone

Happy one year anniversary Papa Bear! Here's to many more!!!! 

Jake's Birthday

We celebrated Jake's birthday last Wednesday 06.20

it was such a special day

It was his first married birthday

and it was also our engagement-versary

Jake wanted to go fishing w/his best friend Kyle 

even though we've been fishing every weekend, for the last three weekends :)

and I knew he wanted to be outta here  by 6am so I had to wake up early to prep

I was up pretty late the night before, finishing this banner

Photo taken on my iPhone

I left work a couple hours early, to spend some time with my hubster

We went up to the Living Aquarium in Sandy

we basically wanted to reinact what happened 365 days ago

For those of you who don't know what happened a year ago- We got engaged

obviously

but it's kinda funny how it happened

Long story short- I left work early last year, for Jake's birthday

just like I did this year

and I get a phone call from Jake's sister, saying she's out of class early

She wanted to hang out w/her big brother on his birthday. Of course

So, without even hesitating, I tell her THE MORE THE MERRIER :)

well Jake wasn't very fond of that

Little did I know, he was trying to propose, and I just invited his sister

What can I say? His sister and I were good friends

Well... This year... Jake's brother was in town

so his birthday wouldn't have been a birthday w/o a sibling 

Photo taken on my iPhone

Photo taken on my iPhone

Well... Here we are 365 days later at the (same) Living Planet Aquarium

Photo taken on iPhone

After the aquarium (which Jake loved more than the kids I think) we had sushi

We had sushi last year, as well, so this was perfect

We (then) dropped Jake's brother (Bryan) off at the airport and headed back home

We went to our special park, where we got engaged in Orem

Photo taken on my iPhone

And here's our bench where Jake got down on one knee

Photo taken on my iPhone

Just like last year- I think it's safe to say that Jake had a good birthday. I mean- He got engaged on his birthday. Who wouldn't be happy?!?! Oh- and the reason why he says he proposed on his birthday, is because he says (and I quote) "I share everything with you. Why wouldn't I just share my birthday with you too?" touché


Not only was this our engagement-versary, so it was a special birthday, but Jake also got to go fishing with his best friend, who he hasn't been able to spend much time with lately, so that was nice. Jake's brother/twin was also here. He was here last year, the weekend before his birthday, but this year he was here on his birthday, so that was really special. Bryan (Jake's brother) got Jake some much needed new Five Fingers (shoes) and this really cool handkerchief thing, that they saw at REI the other day. Jake used it on his fishing trip & wore his Five Fingers that day, as well. He loves his new shoes! Thanx Bry! I got Jake a new xbox game, that he's been wanting for awhile. He also lost his microphone for his xbox, so I got him that as well, so he can play with his buddies now. Why do I support this? Kyle got him another year's subscription (for xbox live), so that'll come in handy, when it runs out. Besides all that and birthday cash- The kid was spoiled. 


I can't wait to go back to our special place next year, and to celebrate another wonderful year w/a wonderful person! Here's to many more years for ya Jake :) I love you hubby and I hope I made your day special 'cuz you are very special to me. 

Tulip Festival (round two)

I know I'm a little late. Better late than never right?

We went to The Tulip Festival April 28th, 2012

We went last year April 30th. So it was almost within 365 days exactly

we planned it this way

We decided to make The Tulip Festival our special anual thing.

When we went last year, it was our special date. We spent all day together

And that was the day we went engagement ring shopping as well. Sigh

here are some of our favorite photos from this year:

Tulip Festival 2012

Tulip Festival 2011

Yes we took a picture by the same tree. This was planned

Jake and I really liked these tulips. They were so cool!

They're like.... Upside down lookin

It's so cool to see all these flowers, part of the Tulip family

there's definitely a lot

Pictures never do justice of this place. Ever

Go check it out for yourself. Thanksgiving Point, in Lehi Utah

After the festival, we went to one of our friend's going away party. He's moving up to Salt Lake for the summer, until he gets married in August. We're so excited for you, Mark and Breanne. Congrats and it was great seeing you once last time, before things get crazy, busy for the summer. Until next time= We'll see you (Tulip Festival) in April 2013

Our year (2011) in Pictures

January 2011

Jake and I started dating again. For the third time

this picture described my life best

Feb. 2011

Jake and I spent our fourth Valentine's Day together

He got me a Journey DVD

(he really knows the way to my heart)

The company I work for, also changed their name

We went from APX Alarm to Vivint

photo taken on my iPhone

March 2011

Sunday adventures came to be. I loved being on outings with Jake

(always taking pictures with his sister too)

Picture below is us at Little Sahara

photo taken on my iPhone

April 2011

I decided I was inseparable with Jake

I flew home for about a week & had fun with my family and Kellie

(We went to Magic Mountain)

I photographed a wedding at the San Diego LDS Temple

Jake and I also went ring shopping

(04.30)

and spent our first Easter together

taken on my iPhone

taken on my iPhone

photo below is the beginning of spring

Magic Mountain with best friend Kellie

Photographed a wedding at the LDS San Diego Temple

(photo taken on my iPhone)

Tulip Festival 

and the day we went ring shopping
best date ever
we were together all day

May 2011

Jake and I celebrated my 25th birthday with friends

(05.19)

We also went home (Oroville) Memorial Day weekend

We had so much fun in Nor. Cal with his parents

Feather Falls in Nor. Cal with Jake's parents

June 2011

Jake and I celebrated his 27th birthday

and got engaged

(06.20)


photo taken on my iPhone

July 2011

Jake Johnannah and I drove home to CA for the 4th of July

we spent time with Jake's family and my family

photo below is right before we left UT for the long car ride

4th of July in Cali

my parent's backyard

photo taken on my iPhone

August 2011

Jake and I move into our first place together

My mom flew up from CA to go wedding dress shopping with me

Jake and I took our engagements on our engagement-versary

(08.20)
I also celebrated my third year working for Vivint

photo below is of our kitchen and flowers that Jake bought me

engagements

Photos by Alicia Jane Photography

September 2011

We took our bridals/wedding photos a month before our wedding

Our good friends (Jon & Ashlee) got married

photo taken on my iPhone

Bridals/wedding photos at Temple Square

(where we'd be married 30 days later)

Photos by Alicia Jane Photography

October 2011

Jake and I got married 

(10.29)

and left for our cruise/honeymoon to the bahamas

November 2011

Jake and I spent our first married Thanksgiving together

photo taken on my iPhone

We went to his best friend (Kyle's) sister's house for Turkey Day

The Johnson clan was all there, including Grandma Johnson

Howard and Suzanna Taggart

and yummy food/fun games

I also picked up on some shooting in November
photo taken on my iPhone

December 2011

Jake and I spent our first married Christmas together

We just stuck around Utah

real laid back & real nice

Next year we might have to visit our families in California

I got home sick for the first time this year. Jake did great tho

I also started making Christmas crafts during the Holiday season

Our house is now filled w/personalized crafts. Not just for Christmas

Even though this is the first year Jake and I have been married

we've still shared many things together and I love that. It's been so nice to look back and reflect on the different things we've done, throughout these years, even though we weren't married to each other the whole time. Journal entries have definitely been fun too! I have a feeling 2012 will be great and that life only gets better from here!