it's the most wonderful (and busiest) time of the year

Ben and I celebrated our first christmas as a married couple this year. It was so much fun and I can't believe it is already over. We started lots of traditions that I hope will follow for the many years to come. 

First we picked out a live christmas tree. My family is all about the live trees and so I insisted we buy a live tree. Ben was very supportive and we ended up getting a five foot tree. Perfect for our little apartment. White & gold was the theme.

We became quite the bakers & crafters this holiday season. We decided to make peppermint bark for our neighbors to enjoy, which ended up being many batches of peppermint bark! We made egg nog cupcakes to bring to the Hawker christmas eve dinner. They tasted so good and I plan on keeping the recipe for future holiday parties. We also decided to make homemade gifts for various family members. I think it really added a nice touch. 

Ben was quite the help!

We combined both of our families' tradition of watching the Christmas Carol by going to the play the night before Christmas Eve with the Hawkers and watching The Muppet Christmas Carol, which my family watches every year, couple days before that. The Christmas Carol is the perfect way to remember the true meaning of Christmas. 

Despite being away from my family this Christmas, I would say it was one for the books. The best part was waking up Christmas morning with Ben and opening some of the presents we gave to each other. It was the perfect way to start off the day. 

VD

I get obsessed with tv shows quite easily and really let all my emotions get into the storyline. 

Recently I have become obsessed with the Vampire Diaries. I highly recommend this show. The first two seasons are streaming live on Netflix and the third season is currently on the CW. 

This show is not your typical vampire saga. I was skeptical to start this series because all I could think about was how cheesy Twilight is. But after getting through the first couple episodes I fell in love. 

The story line is so interesting. There is so much history to Vampires. I even have Ben as obsessed as me!

Who wouldn't love this show?

giving thanks

This year Ben and I had the opportunity to go to sunny California for Thanksgiving to be with my family. We flew in early Wednesday morning to Long Beach. My parents and little sister were there to pick us up and whisk us away to one of my favorite breakfast stops called Stacks in Dana Point. 

It was the best way to start off the trip. We then walked around the beach and just enjoyed the sun warming us up. 

That night Ben and I decided to make some pumpkin donut holes for the family. 

They were delicious. And will be a new tradition in the Tate family!

I wish I had taken more photos while we were there but all I can say is I had one of the best Thanksgivings! Ben and I were in charge of the green bean casserole and it turned out perfect. 

But the best part was just being around my family. We played games and cooked all together. I miss them lots. 

This year I have so much to be grateful for so I wanted to make a little list:

-marrying my best friend and getting to be sealed to him for all eternity

-both of my amazing families

-my mom and how she taught me so many good wife skill to prepare for this year

-my sisters. they truly are my best friends

-my nephew

-Ben's opportunity to intern with Ernst & Young in January and then to work full time come 2013

-all the adventures that this year brought

-the gospel

-Jesus Christ

-my little sunbeams. I love them so much already

-my dog kelsey who loves unconditionally

do you know the way to san jose?

Today and tomorrow Ben is in San Jose, California for his second round interview with Ernst & Young. This is the third time in a week and a half that Ben has left me for San Jose. I am lonely here at our little apartment but I know he is being wined and dined and finding a great opportunity to provide for our family. It makes me excited too. We will be moving to San Jose in January for a couple months so he can do an internship at one of these accounting firms. If offered a job at the end of the internship, we could potentially be moving to San Jose for at least five years. I am ready. I want us to have our own adventure. I want us to experience a new city together. I have never been to San Jose but I am loving the fact that it is so close to San Francisco and only 2 hours away from Monterey for a weekend getaway. I am so proud of my husband for even getting second round interviews to 3 different accounting firms. He is quite something.

Hello Again

This semester has been a whirlwind (hence my lack of blogging). Things that have happened these last couple of months:

• I became an aunt! My oldest sister Natalie had a little boy on August 17. His name is Henry and I have completely fallen in love with him. (yes, I am that aunt) We got to go to San Antonio for fall break to hang with Henry, Natalie & Sam. It was so much fun. 

• Ben and I have been married for 5 months and 5 days. Every day it just keeps getting better and better. I love the way he loves me. I love the way he wants to cuddle all the time. I love how he is so thoughtful and thinking of me first. I truly married my soulmate. 

• I am currently doing an event planning internship at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. I love it. There are so many fun events with all the different holidays. I love how much I am learning about event planning. This further shows me that this is what I want to do full time after I finish school.
• Ben and I got a calling in our church. We are the sunbeam teachers! I couldn't be more excited and already love the kids so much. There are 8 of them so I can't wait to get to know them all better. 
• A job, an internship & 5 classes keeps me really busy but I like the feeling. It makes me enjoy the down time I have with Ben. 
• Ben and I have started watching LOST on Netflix. I am still on season one but I am really liking it. I love the character development.
•  We booked our flight to California for the Thanksgiving holiday and I couldn't be more excited. I am ready to be near the beach and play games with my family.

Until next time! Hopefully I will keep the blogging up since I am so good at blog stalking. 

birthday girl

This past week has been a great birthday celebratory week. My parents were in town Saturday so they decided to take Ben & I out to lunch to celebrate my upcoming birthday. We went to rodizio grill. It was amazing and it was so much fun to celebrate with them

Then the next day I went over to the Hawker's house where they had a delicious meal planned and some presents to open. They all even went around the table and told me why they loved me, which is a Hawker tradition. I definitely married into the best family. 

Monday, I woke up to Ben saying we're going to vegas!! What? I thought for sure this a joke. But we packed and drove off to sin city to celebrate my 21st right. He is so thoughtful. I was so excited to spend some time lounging by the pool & just being with Ben. 

My birthday was Wednesday and yes Ben had the whole day planned. I woke up to him singing Happy Birthday. We then headed to a cute breakfast place just a little off the strip. After breakfast was some pool time and then came lunch at the eiffel tower restaurant in the paris hotel. Yes, there were roses awaiting me as we sat down and yes we got the VIP table. Best birthday lunch of my life.

After lunch, we tried our luck at the roulette table & some slot machines  just because I was now of age. It was fun but it went fast. The night ended with sushi, a gondola ride & serendipity.

I could not have asked for a better birthday.

happy two months

Last Thursday was our two month anniversary. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love being married to Ben. I also have learned a lot about my husband. Such as:

-He likes the bed made a certain way and if its not made that way he cannot sleep in it

-He is obsessed with artichokes and fried rice. He could eat them all day errrday, which makes making lunches easy

-He always ask if I need help even if its not something he wants to do

-He drinks lots and lots of soda. It is his form of dessert

-He is my little cuddle monster. He could cuddle all day if I didn't get so antsy.

-He stays in the shower for literally half an hour and could stay in there longer if he didn't have to get to work.

-He takes forever to get out of bed in the morning. He prolongs it. 

-He says he loves me and kisses me every night before bed even if I am halfway asleep & kisses me good morning every morning.

-He greets me with a hug and a kiss everyday after work. 

These two months have been pure wedding bliss. But school is starting in less than a month so can't wait to see what's in store for us this month!

sunshine

Lately, on our days off, you can find Ben and I at either the tennis club pool or jordanelle lake. 

It has been so much fun to bask in the perfect weather, swim, & tube.

Ben used to be on the diving team so he especially enjoys being in the water.

He is a definite fish.

texas forever

I just watched the series finale of one of my favorite shows, Friday Night Lights. All I could do was cry. This show is one of the best shows on television. I can't believe I won't be seeing Eric & Tammy Taylor, Tim Riggins, Jess Merriweather and the rest of the gang on a regular basis anymore. My heart has been in this show since the first episode. I am grateful for Dillon, TX and all the memories. Thanks coach for another great season.

Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose

summer must read

I have started the hunger game serious and honestly cannot put them down. My sisters have been talking about the series for years now so I finally read the first one while on vacation in North Carolina. I can't stop. The story caught my attention from page one. I even have Ben reading them which is quite a shocker. Tonight I finished the second and can't wait to start the third tomorrow. If you have not read the series I strongly recommend it. I cannot wait for the movies!

Soaking Up Some Rays

This weekend I returned form the beautiful Outer Banks in North Carolina. I really enjoyed being with my family and lounging at the beach. I love southern food. The carolina bbq, juicy peaches & fresh fish were delectable.The only downfall was Ben was not able to come with me due to work. Booooo. But he promises from now on every family trip he will be in attendance! Here is a picture of the beach right next to our beach house. The beach out there is so much different than west coast beaches. I love it though. The water is warmer, waves are calmer and the jelly fish don't sting! Now I know why every Nicholas Spark movie is based in these lovely beach towns.

It's good to be home though and back with my other half. 

I had the best day with you today

Today, Ben and I decided to have a day date. I am leaving for Kitty Hawk, NC in the morning for nine days so we wanted to spend some time together before we spent so much time apart.

The weather was good so we decided to take a motorcycle ride up to Park City and have lunch at a little cafe up there. It was the perfect day. I loved spending every moment with Ben. Ben love loves his motorcycle so it was even more fun doing something that he loved. 

It was hard to say goodbye as he dropped me off at the airport tonight. Only nine more days till I am back in his arms. Till then I will be soaking up some rays in the beautiful Outerbanks

happily ever after

We have now been married for three weeks and two days and life just keeps on getting better.

The wedding and both receptions were a dream.

The honeymoon to Cancun was heaven. Ben promised we would return soon. 

Even the real world of both of us working forty hour work weeks is fun. But, only because I know at the end of the day we will cuddle to sleep and Ben will kiss me good morning. 

This man makes me happier and happier with each passing day.