Our Wedding Day

Steve and I were married on Monday June 27th, 2011. It was honestly the happiest day of my life! Everything came together so wonderfully and I couldn't have asked for a better day.

I woke up that morning (I actually was able to sleep in a little!) and I immediately started making a list of things that needed to be done. I went upstairs to have breakfast and my amazing sister, Shannon, told me not to worry about anything and that she would make sure everything was done and done right. Such a relief!

While I was eating breakfast my sister Dianna called from Africa! It was so great to talk to her. We were able to talk for a couple of minutes but then the connection went bad. I am so happy we were able to talk.

I then took a shower and left to return some things to Bed Bath and Beyond (we had to return our gifts and then we picked them up in Knoxville). I got on the road and realized there was no time for me to return things and make it to Salt Lake in time. I called my sweet little sister Dana just to vent and tell her I was going to be late (she was giving me a ride to Salt Lake). She insisted on taking everything back for me so that I wouldnt be late to my nail appointment. I honestly have the most amazing sisters! So I went and met up with her and her husband Brandon and we made the drive to Salt Lake.

I first went and got my nails done by my amazingly talented friend Lori. Back in my days of working full time I would go get my nails done from Lori every other week. We became fast friends! I met her right after a really bad break up and she has been lucky enough to know me through most of my horrible relationships. We talked the whole morning about how lucky and happy I finally am. It was great to reminisce. It is funny because Lori's name is Lori Stevens Jones! So she automatically liked Steve just by hearing his name. It was so fun and relaxing and she even gave me free glitter toes for a wedding present!

After I got my nails done my BFF Natalie came and picked me up. She just moved to Sugar House (jealous) so we went back to her apartment and then we went out to lunch. We went to Olive Garden and both just ordered salads and the waiter looked at us like we were crazy! They were like $10 salads so I dont get what the big deal was. We decided after our lunch that he was just weird and a tad on the creepy side. It was so much fun spending time with her on my big day.

After lunch Natalie dropped me off at my dear friend Megan's salon to get my hair and make up done. This is when it finally set in that it really was my wedding day. We cried and laughed the whole time. It was so great having her get me ready.

After I was ready Natalie came to pick me up and take me to the wedding. I was so nervous and excited the whole way back to Utah county. We pulled up to Diane's house (where we were married) and it could not have looked more beautiful. I was able to walk around and look at everything and then I was told to put on my dress and go into hiding until it started.

While I was getting ready Dianna called me again. We just talked for a minute but it was so nice to talk to her again. After she called I finished getting my dress on and everyone went outside. I just sat alone and was so overwhelmed with emotion. I remember feeling so overwhelmed and then my sisters came down and told me Steve was there. Just knowing he was there made me completely calm down and feel so at peace.

The lantern on the table was in honor of my dear friend Syd Riggs

This chair was in honor of Steve's mother who passed when Steve was just over a year old.

Poor baby Caleb was so sick all weekend. He seemed a little better on our wedding day but still felt so bad for the kid.

Uncle Brandon is always so great with the kids!

Handsome little Bubba

Lindsay with my oldest nephew, Will. I can't believe how big he is!

Steve's Aunt Denise

Sarah and Josh. Cute story: we asked Josh to be our ring bearer a couple of weeks before the wedding. Sarah e mailed me one day and said that Josh kept getting mad when she would call him our ring bearer. He finally explained and said "Im not the ring bearer, Im the ring COW!" He is so adorable! I guess on our wedding day he decided he was our ring car and wanted to be called Ring Lighting McQueen. We have the cutest nephews and nieces!

Steve's Grandpa Hale is a beautiful pianist and we were lucky enough to have him play for our wedding.

Our little ring cow. I felt so bad, at the rehearsal he kept telling Sarah he didn't want anyone to look at him. I am so glad he was so brave and did it even though everyone was watching him.

Chad (Steve's oldest brother), Steve, and his dad

Steve with his Aunts Chrissy and Denise. We were so happy they were able to be there!

It was then time to start the show! It is true what they say, right there in that moment of walking down the aisle, Steve was the only person I saw and the only person I cared about.

We each had our oldest siblings stand up with us. Thanks again, Shannon! Isn't she beautiful??

I love this picture. Sweet little Josh got nervous and started running and my ring fell off the pillow. I love everyones faces in the back round.

Adie and Isabelle were wonderful flower girls!

So happy to have my dad walk me down the isle!

Our ceremony was performed by my good friend Bill Rogers. He is Natalie's step dad and has been around the Dixon family for years. He is an amazing person and has been a huge support to me. He is also the voice of Disney! When you go to Disneyland and hear the announcements for the parades... that is Bill! I asked him years ago if he would perform my wedding ceremony and I was so happy to have him actually do it.

The wedding was exactly how I imagined it. I can't thank everyone enough who worked so hard to make it so perfect!

Finally married! Yahoo!!

Absolute love of my life

My sweet little niece Tessa is so adorable!! She was born just a few weeks after I moved to Cedar City and I am so amazed by how big she gets every time I see her. She is growing up so fast!

Like I said before, we have the cutest nieces and nephews. I love Josh's face in this picture.

Our tiny wedding party! Only 40 people. That is what happens when you plan a wedding in a month!

My mom and the fam

My dad and the fam

Sistas and my husband

I have the most beautiful sisters! Love you all!

My mom and me. What a beautiful mother of the bride!

Me with my Aunt Kathy and Uncle Scott, my mom's sister and her husband.

Father of the bride! So handsome.

I was so happy my Grandma Bell was able to come! She is 89 and came all the way to Utah for the wedding. I hope I have that much energy when I am 89!

The Jones and Hale family

With Grandma and Grandpa Hale. We are so happy they were able to come! And they brought me the pearls I am wearing. They belonged to Steve's mother.

The wedding party I guess you could say

Hooray for Bill! He did an amazing job.

I had to have my best friend at my wedding! I mean we have been friends for 17 years.

The nieces and nephews. Minus Caleb and Tessa. (And Katie and Brady who were in TN)

Steve and his dad

Bling bling!

My favorite part of the day was taking pictures with Steve. He kept saying the sweetest things to me and telling me how much he loves me. It was so great to have some time just the two of us... and our photographer.

While Steve and I mingled a little bit, our photographer took some family pictures. This is Shannon with her adorable family.

The Woods! They are such an adorable family.

With the Aaron kiddies.

Love my flower girls!

I had the photographer take some pictures since I didn't have bridals. I was talking with Shannon tonight about Kim Kardashian's wedding and I pointed out that one nice thing about not being incredibly gorgeous is you don't just look like your everyday self on your wedding day! Kim looked like her everyday self for her wedding. I, on the other hand loved being pampered and having my hair and make up done for me and being able to feel gorgeous for the day!

Outside of the restaurant in Riverwoods

Im horrible at serious faces... Steve on the other hand looks super hot!

I love this picture. It is so natural. Im laughing like a freak and Steve is looking at me like I am crazy... our everyday life.

Finally getting to eat! If you have never been to La Jolla Groves... go. It is so delicious!

Mr. and Mrs. Jones

Me with William. Love you, Willis!!

Our little model, Bellie

Our gorgeous cake! It was perfect and so delicious. My friend Keelie made it for us.

I love this picture of Steve and my mom

So happy my Aunt Caroline and Wendy (not pictured) were able to be there with us!

Shannon made my bouquet. I can't thank her enough! It was perfect! I have wanted that exact bouquet since I was a little girl.

Tessa and Andrew kept me so entertained while I ate.

Sweet Caleb.

Sweet little Mikayla

Our dinner was so perfect. Exactly what I had in mind.

I love this picture

And I love this one... not sure what Dana is lecturing me about! She did get married before me so I guess she has the right. :)

Yummy food!!

We had a few people make speeches. My dad started them out.

Then my mother spoke

And then Kevin made us both cry

Then Chad said some lovely words

Then Grandpa Hale

Then my beautiful baby sister... making me cry even more

Then Cami, Natalie's mom and Bill's wife, made me cry more! (surprise, surprise)

Then the kids told us they wrote songs for us. So cute.

Then I started talking to get peoples attention so we could cut the cake... big mistake. I just cried the whole time. I promise I was very happy! It was just hard because I knew I had to say good bye.

Then Steve said some lovely words

Cake time!

No cake smashing for us

Then we signed the marriage license.

Haha what is up with my face?

Signing his life away!

It was a perfect day. Looking back on it I have had my moments where I am so sad it couldn't have been bigger and we weren't able to have everyone there who I would have liked. But when it all comes down to it, Steve was there and that is the only person that matters. I love him so much and love being his wife. He is the most wonderful husband. He is so kind and caring and does a great job at letting me know how much he appreciates me. I am so happy we got married before we moved to TN. It definitely was the right thing to do for us.

I just want to say thanks again for everyone who helped so much. It was a gorgeous day and I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Love you all!

Bridal Shower

My sister Dianna is our family comedian. Every time she would leave to go to Africa or Florida she would always huge us and say "I think Ill miss you most of all!". I finally asked her where she got that from and she reminded me of the awkward scene in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy turns to the Scarecrow and tells him she will miss him most of all in front of everyone else.

When my mom suggested doing a bridal shower I thought it was a wonderful idea. It would give me the chance to be with all the people I will miss most of all. It was especially nice since I wasnt able to celebrate my wedding with some of my very closest friends.

We had a lovely shower hosted by my mother and sisters. Lindsay worked so hard and made adorable invitations. Shannon was gracious enough to let us have the shower at her house. I can't thank my sisters and mother enough! It was such a great day and so nice to spend some time with my family and friends.

Here are some pictures from the day of random things and people I will miss most of all.

My little Isabelle and me. I miss her so much! She is the sweetest little girl and just loves everything and everyone around her. I miss her every single day!

My best friend Natalie and me. We have been best friends for 17 years!! She is like a sister to me. I can't even begin to describe how much I miss her. She has been with me through everything and it is so hard not having her around.

Me with the Dixons! Obviously, after knowing these people for 17 years we have become very close. They are my second family. I have had countless sleepovers, vacations, and even lived with them. I miss going to movies with them and sitting around watching TV and talking all night. I love them all so much and I am so grateful that they have put up with me over the years.

This is my absolute favorite picture! Its hilarious. I have no idea what is going on but Dana,Janet and even Bellie look totally shocked by something and Adie looks beyond annoyed. Haha!

Oh I miss my sweet little Adie and Bellie most of all! They are the cutest girls!

Natalie and me with our African Princess, Jessica! We picked up Jessica in the 7th grade so the three of us have been friends for 12 years! I love and miss this girl so much. She has been so incredible to me with the whole wedding and the move. She texts me all the time to see how things are in TN and I text her all the time because I miss her so much! The three of us have been through so much and I am happy that we have been able to get through everything and be such great friends. I love and miss them both!

Me with my dear friend, Megan. She was one of my only friends in Cedar City and is such an amazing friend! She was always there to talk to me and she helped me through so much when Steve and I were making big decisions. She is amazing and I miss her so much.

Me with my UCCU crew! I miss these girls so much. I made so many wonderful friends working at the Credit Union. I am so glad these ladies were able to make it. I was able to get Jessica a job after getting her fired from a previous job (haha!). Keira is on the left who was my assistant manager in my final days. She is so great! And Rachael is on the right. I absolutely love Rachael. She has become one of my very best friends. She is one of the most selfless people I know and I know I can count on her for anything. I am so happy to have her in my life!

Shannon and Liz. Liz is one of my many, beautiful cousins. I was so happy to have her at the shower! It was so hard not having all my amazing cousins at my wedding so it really meant a lot to have Liz at my shower.

Adie and my mom. She just loves Grandma!

All of my wonderful gifts! I am one lucky girl!

Isabelle and my mom

My sister Shannon (the mother of my adorable nieces and my nephew). I miss Shannon so much! She is the best big sister anyone could ask for. She is so loving and I know I can always call her about anything. It is so hard being so far away from her but I am grateful for our many weekly phone calls.

I tried on my dress at the shower since almost no one there was at the wedding. It was so fun seeing peoples reactions! (Although I still wish they all could have been at the wedding)

Me with some of my best friends Jessica and Megan. I love these girls so much! They are so great to me and so supportive. Megan did my hair and make up for the wedding and did such a fantastic job! I couldn't ask for better friends.

The next two pictures are of the people I really do miss most of all!! I love my sisters so, so much. They are all so supportive and I know that I can always count on them for anything. I also miss my mom and I am so grateful for her constant love and support.

Thanks again to everyone who came! It was such a great day!

Happy birthday, Mom!!

Today is my beautiful mothers birthday. Every time I talk to her she asks me to do blog posts. So here is a new one, just for you, Mom! I am so proud of everything my mom has accomplished in her life and especially in the last year. She has made huge life changes and I hope she knows how much we all love and appreciate her commitment to get healthy. I love you mom! Im sorry I cant be there today. I miss you and hope you have a wonderful day!

A toe up the nose

I have been debating if we should buy Steve an OPP table. For those of you have been to Dr. King, you know what it is. It is a table that patients lay on to be adjusted. They are pretty expensive and they told us at the orientation that it really isn't a necessity the first two years.

This past Sunday I had my mind made up about buying a table...

We had a family dinner on Sunday. Steve was telling Rick that I have been having a ton of pain in my back and hips since I had my cysts earlier this year. Rick said he would be happy to try some adjustments and it would be a great learning experience for Steve. Rick is a third year so he has learned all the adjustments and the stuff that I cant wait for Steve to learn!

Rick didn't bring his table with him (which is understandable, I felt bad having him adjust me on his day off) so I was laying on the floor. He was having Steve feel different muscles in my back. He had Steve push on a muscle that was really really tender. I lifted my head up to say "ouch!" right as Steve was taking a step and BAM! Steve's big toe went right up my nose! It hurt like crazy and took off a good chunk of skin from the inside of my nose. Ouch. To make it all worse, I have a cold right now so I am constantly blowing my nose and it hurts like crazy.

So will we be buying an OPP table?? Yes. Yes we will. Because I dont need anymore toes up my nose.

Sound of Tennessee

The other night my father in law was asking Steve and me if we knew what the state song, bird, etc of TN. He then asked us if we knew the state sound. The answer... the lawnmower! It is so true and it was funny because just that morning I was telling Steve that I can always hear a lawnmower. In Utah I mostly heard them on Saturday mornings. Out here it is an all day EVERYDAY noise.

I realize this is a random, boring post but I figure I might want the memory someday when our TN days are long behind us.