And...My 26th year has begun!!

August 24th was MY day. And to be honest, it started out rough. I got up and Nick asks, "Happy Birthday!!-Do you feel any older?" To which I stated, "I have felt old for the past month!" (See below post on back pain for details on that) I had a moment of tears after that-mostly from frustration of feeling old! I immediately hummed in my head, "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to"--it gave me a laugh and made me feel a little better.

I went off to work, then the chiropractor, a pedicure to make me feel special, and then home. Nick had night class, so I figured we might go to a later dinner, but I was wrong. Before I could change my clothes people were knocking at our front door saying they heard there was a party at our place. I could have killed Nick!! I was tired, my back hurt, and so not in the mood for a 'social gathering' but after a 20 minute vent to my friend Kristie--I was ready to have fun. It is always great getting friends together, and I hate that it seems like it has to be someone's birthday or an event to get a larger group together. Either way, we ate a delicious carrot cake and icecream, played spoons (I hadn't played that in years), and had some great laughs. Let's hope 26 is good to me!


The group of friends (minues Laura, Jeff and Heather) who came to celebrate.

Thank you Nick for putting the evening together. It was a lot of fun and ended my night way better than the day started. :)

Powell Preview--Spoiler Alert!

Sorry, I just couldn't resist posting these ASAP. Such a great week with some gut-wrenching laughs! More to come...aboard the Powell Pleasure!!

Our First Anniversary

I can't believe that on August 16th of last year we were getting married. In some ways it seems like that was forever ago and in other ways it seems like yesterday that we were sealed for time and all eternity in the Louisville Kentucky Temple. This year we were driving most of the day for our anniversary (headed to Lake Powell--more on that in a future blog post). We had planned to celebrate the night before, but my back just wasn't allowing for that. So we didn't really do anything!! No worries though--we have forever to celebrate right?!?!

I had expressed to Nick that I wanted a thicker wedding band to wear to work. I don't wear my engagement ring much since it is a pear shaped diamond and it tears through the gloves, and my wedding band is so thin. So we did some looking earlier in the summer when I said I thought that is what I wanted, and sure enough I got it!! I feel so lucky to have it. It is gorgeous!!! I love it. Seven rows of pauve diamonds that light up the sky! I will post pictures when I take them. Needless to say, this will be my present for everything in the next year!

I decided to get Nick a new pair of cowboy boots. He LOVES him a good pair of boots. Since they are for an anniversary present I went with a nice dress pair with a leather sole and bull head leather on the heal. He was totally surprised and so excited.

Now for the most important part of this post: WHY I LOVE MY DOMENIC:

-I love his curly hair (even though it is currently gone)

-I love his southern accent and how when he is really tired it comes out stronger then ever

-I love that he is Mr. Sensitive

-I love that he does all the laundry and irons my work clothes everyday.

-I love that he will eat everything I eat--even when I won't even eat it bc it is bad! hah

-I love that he takes such good care of me

-I love that he writes the most amazing cards you have ever read (I don't think there has been one that hasn't left me in tears)

-I love that he lets me have my sweet tooth

-I love that he rubs my feet after work and he actually LIKES doing it

-I love that he always tells me how beautiful I am

-I love that he makes me feel confident and important

-I love that all my friends love him

-I love that he is so focused in school

-I love that he loves to cuddle

-I love that he loves to travel

-I love that he lets me have as many nick names for him and that I call him them in public and he doesn't get mad!

-I love that he makes me takes vitamins and drink water

-I love that he has taken such good care of me with my pathetic back

AND most importantly I love that HE LOVES ME!

Happy First Anniversary!!

A Preview of My Life at 80--PAIN

Back Pain I am pretty sure will be in my life when I am old--especially since it is present now!! I have been miserable--not even able to fake it really well. And I thought I had a high tolerance for pain (that has sure come back to bite me in the butt--literally).

So two weeks ago I had the day off -it was a Friday, got up bright and early, off to the gym for some step aerobics, and WHAM...a knife stabbed me in the back (not literally, but it sure felt like it). All I did was step up on the step. I didn't fall, didn't trip--nothing traumatic!! Being, stubborn Jen, I continued working out until the end of the class thinking I might have just tweaked it, but as I was walking out of the gym bent over I knew this was not good. After 5 visits to the chiropractor, a Sunday emergency (expensive) chiropractic visit, a muscle relaxer Rx, ice packs, and rest----I still feel horrible. Some mornings Nick has had to carry me out of bed because I can't even roll out of bed the pain is so bad. I have learned that crawling on my hands and knees while my back muscles are spasming really does give some relief--I look like an idiot--but it works! And, yes--I have somehow still been working. Actually working keeps my muscles pretty loose, but then at the end of the work day my back spasms constantly. My best friends are Ibuprofen (a lot of it), Flexeril (muscle relaxer that if anything just lets me sleep), and my Nick.

Nick takes such good care of me. I am so blessed to have him here. Of course, this is his week of no school (since summer session just ended and fall starts in two weeks) and he waits on me hand and foot. Literally, I can't even bend my back to pull my pants up or lean over the sink to wash my face. Nick always does these jobs with a huge smile on his face. He is so patient, loving, and always says he genuinely appreciates this chance to serve me. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have him to help me through his. I know that when I am 80, he will still be loving me--because he loves me all crippled right now.

On a final note, I had a consult with an acupuncturist today. I am going to do IT. The lady Nick and I met with today thinks that it had to do with my left sciatic nerve stemming from my lower back. She will put needles straight in to the muscle spasms and then from head to down in different pain trigger points. Honestly the length of the needle doesn't scare me...it is more-this lady better know what she is doing!! HAH. So this Saturday is the day. Can you tell I that I am very desperate for some relief?? I will post a report on how it goes. Until them pray that I get some relief from this 80 year old body I am living in.

Happy Birthday Garrett

HAPPY 27TH BIRTHDAY GARRETT! August 1st was Garrett's birthday and we knew we wanted to celebrate with him. Nick and Garrett have been best friends since they were 15 and met in Virgina where they grew up. Garrett was Nick's best man at our wedding last year and gave the most eye-watering toast. I am so glad that Nick has such a great friend that lives near by. He and his wife Tara, moved to AZ in January of this year--and we are doing as much fun stuff with them as we can before their baby girl arrives in December.

For the birthday celebration we had them over, went to Joe's BBQ where Garrett ate for free and then went by Krispie Kreme so he could get his free dozen birthday donuts! Back at our place we played Sequence (Nick and I won both games) and then Phase 10 where Garrett won twice. We finished off the night with the most delicious cheesecake I have ever eaten. Tara totally out-did herself on this treat! So good! Happy Birthday Garrett!

Nick and Garrett goofing off
Sequence

The four of us

Garrett making a birthday wish

Phase 10 Fun

Why are we so addicted to this game lately?? Nick can't even sleep at night because he won't stop talking about Phase 10. Garrett (who is Nick's best friend from Virgina that lives in AZ now) and his wife Tara, introduced us to this game last week, and we have been playing non-stop! Nick is so excited because he finally won a game last night! I haven't had any such luck yet. Somehow Nick always ends up with all the Wild cards, and I just get the Skips. Anyways, this game has become a favorite for sure even though it is keeping us up until 2am!

KEITH URBAN CONCERT

CONCERT OF A LIFETIME! Keith Urban has been on the top of my must-see concert list for quite some time now. I just love his music!! We weren't going to go because the tickets were too expensive--but I justified it by saying, 'well, they are only going to keep going up in the future!' We bought floor tickets on row 37, but had some friends who won tickets on the radio that were front row! So, Alison and Heather (our friends in the front) made nice with the security man, Phil, and next thing you know we were in the front!!! It was so awesome. Not only was this THE concert that I wanted to go to, but we had THE best place to watch him from. A few of my favorite songs are: "I'm Going To Love You Like Nobody Loves You", "Days Go By", "You're My Better Half", "Making Memories Of Us", "Raining On Sunday", "Better Life", "Somebody Like You", "Kiss A Girl", "You Look Good In My Shirt", and "Sweet Thing".

I couldn't believe what a great show he puts on. He was running all through the crowd, had a different guitar for every song, and had some amazing lights (Nick of course thought that was the best part). Keith played for over 2 hours!!!! I think I sang along to every song, and I will spare posting the videos of you having to hear me sing. We both caught guitar picks from the band members, and Nick caught THE pick of the night which belonged to Keith himself--it had his named engraved in it. Pretty cool. Such a great night, and I would recommend everyone see him live---so worth the money. So many pictures and videos from the night--here are just a few.

Us with Keith
Yep-that's us on the big screen. Our friend took this picture. Keith was playing "Making Memories of Us" which we two-stepped to at our wedding as our last dance.

The video screens he had were HUGE!

Keith rockin' it out

Heather, me, and Alison--thank you to these girls for getting us up in the front with them

Me with Keith and his band on stage at the end of the show