Two Blissful Years

Then

Now

One of my darling blog friends recently did a 2-year anniversary interview of her cute hubby to mark their thoughts after two years on the lock-down ;-) I know you want to know how Michael would respond to my curious questions:

Michael, what advice would you give to a new groom on how to stay married for two whole years?
1. Get a couples gym membership with a three-year contract.
2. Make the bed once a week
3. Don't forget your two-year anniversary

What benefits from marriage did you get that you weren't expecting?
1. More sleep
2. Greater appreciation for fashion (I don't know much about fashion so I think he is referring to the fact that he now notices how non-flattering football pants are and things like that...)
3. Patience

With the good, comes the bad. What surprises did you get with marriage that you weren't expecting?
1. Having to wash my hands after touching anything that is not sterile
2. Certain words are off limits (we like to say 'little potty')
3. A great realization of how illogical my own thought process can be at times (those were his words, not mine)

What spiritual insights have you gained since being married?
1. Patience
2. Humility
3. Greater recognition of other people's gifts

What do you hope to gain from the next year of marriage?
1. A college degree
2. A deeper relationship with my wife
3. Be able to say that I've cooked at least 5 meals for my wife (total... one down, four to go)

Which characteristics of mine have rubbed off on you?
1. 'Taufer Talk' (I guess it's a tone of voice... weird.)
2. Appreciation for happy endings
3. An understanding of the importance of planning ahead

What would you like your wife to know that you don't think she already knows?
I love her a lot more than I even did when we got married and I love her smokin' hot new hair feathers.

What would you NOT like your wife to know that you don't think she already knows?
1/3 of the time that I say I've washed my hands I only turn on the faucet... actually possibly more than 1/2.

Brit's Interview:

What have you learned about yourself in these two years of marriage?
1. It's harder to camouflage your moody moments when you're the only one pumping estrogen
2. I like dogs and grapefruit, who knew!
3. I must have goals or the world begins to end
4. Stubborn is my middle name

What have you learned about Michael that you didn't know before you got married?
1. He always smells wonderful... even his dirty gym socks are completely scentless. As a result he only wears deodorant every 4 or 5 days for good measure.
2. He is a SUPER athlete. We started dating at the beginning of the winter and I moved away as soon as the snow melted so I had NO IDEA he was such an incredible athlete until after the deal was sealed... It's SO HOT
3. He plays the piano. I learned that about 6 months after we were hitched
4. He is the most love-centered man I know. He always puts his wife and future family before anything he does. It is incredible. Such humility.

What are the best three vacations you have taken with Michael since getting married?
1. Our one-year anniversary cruise to Mexico and Catalina. We just could not get enough stress-free laughing, tanning, bike riding on that trip! It was so care-free and fun!!
2. Disneyland Day in March of this year. You did SUCH a great job getting everyone excited for the trip and it just made the whole event unforgettable!
3. Our camping trip up past Payson at the end of last summer. I loved just deciding to go, throwing the sleeping bags in the car, stopping for Starbursts to roast and going! You are SO FUN!!

What benefits from marriage did you get that you weren't expecting?
1. I never expected to be treated as well as I am. You always take such good care of me, whether that means carrying me to bed or smiling through endless numbers of Lentil casseroles. You are the best
2. I didn't realize how much of a difference it makes to have a priesthood holder as a roommate.
3. Someone else to take out the garbage on garbage day! Love that.

What do you hope to gain from the next year of marriage?
1. A moving truck with 'California or Bust' spray painted across the back
2. A baby bump... no announcements friends - just sayin! Wouldn't that be a wonderful idea?
3. Freedom from debt

What is something that you liked better in the second year of marriage than you did in the first?
1. Nature. My mom's Marriott campouts will never be topped but I actually really enjoy nature sandals and sleeping in a tent!!
2. I feel like we're in a great groove with the understanding of our respective roles in our relationship... except for the car thing. I don't want to take care of cars. I think the 80% of the mechanics that have helped me out have taken advantage of my lack of knowledge in the car department.

Spring Travel Trilogy Part 2: Moab

After touching down after my wonderful trip to the south I spent about 8 hours at home before the love of my life threw me over his shoulder and whisked me away for a romantic camping trip in Moab, UT to celebrate our two year anniversary. Seriously? Two years?? Where has the time gone!? I feel like our wedding was yesterday but that we have been married forever. I can't even imagine life without this honey bear. He was so cute making sure everything was just perfect. We went to Arches National Park and did almost every hike the park had to offer. It was such a blast. We also ate at a fun little steak house on Moab's main drive. I got a salad... they put bacon bits on it and I cried so Michael bought us a dulce de leche ice cream cone to share... and only took 2 licks before leaving the rest to me. Tears revoked. The next day we did some more hiking hiking hiking and some good quality tanning by the pool (campgrounds are pretty awesome nowadays... they have full-service bathrooms and POOLS!). We both finished the weekend happily sunburned and covered in sand. Such a fun anniversary


We saw two snakes on this trip. Michael definitely took this picture. I locked myself in the car when I smelled snake.


Balanced Rock


Michael doing a pull-up on Landscape Arch. Good form Honey!!


Arches National Park!


Michael and I at my favorite, Navajo Arch


Cute hiking honey!!


Double O at sunset. Beautiful.


Michael and I at the top of our hike to Delicate Arch


Delicate Arch from a distance


Michael's favorite pose...

The Spring Travel Trilogy Part 1: South Carolina

A couple of weeks ago my cute parentals and I met up in the Dallas airport to catch our connecting flights to the LUSH Charlotte, North Carolina for my brother's graduation from basic training (it really is healthy to get out of the Beehive state every so often... and South Carolina definitely qualifies as OUT of the Beehive state...). He is such a hard worker with such high and clear-cut goals that he is heading towards with fire on his heels. He did awesome things at boot camp earning a perfect score on his physical tests, being elected to be the leader of his platoon, sharing his beliefs by bringing some of his soldier-friends to church with him, and... his proudest... hitting on his drill sargent. Who does that?? Oh Nicky...

I was so proud to be his sister. The cutest part?? He didn't know that I was going to be there. He first saw his little surprise sister when he ran onto the field and lined up in his formation and looked into the bleachers to see his mama and papa. His smile was so big I think the corners of his mouth were poking the soldiers on either side of him. I was such a bawl baby!! All I wanted to do was hug, hug, hug him and never let go. It was DARLING. His friends called him the 'laughing lion' because he never stopped smiling. I was so happy to know that all of those mean drill sergeants weren't able to put a damper on his shine. I love that boy. He is my favorite brother ever.

Dad, Mom, and I waiting for Nick to come out onto the field!


The Famous Waffle House. I was SO excited to give this place a try!!


Our waiter Tyrone (or something like that). They were so excited to see white people that they SANG TO US!! Haha!!



I wish it wasn't super cliche to say "Best ___ EVER!!" because this was the BEST WAFFLE EVER!!! My mom got her own but every time I took a bite she gave me that 'are you going to finish that?' stare as she watched my bite raise from the plate to my mouth. I... finished it... :-) Strawberries cooked into it with pecans on top. Maybe we should try this one at home... before my diet starts!!


Mom and Dad forcing us to pose in front of the South Carolina temple... I went for the engagement shot, Nick went for hanging his head in shame.


Nick took the three of us out to lunch after his graduation! He eats really fast now so that nobody takes his food away. We kept having to remind him to breathe.


All of us at graduation... Mom's special face!


Nick with his new label


Luxurious sleeping quarters. Nick is bald now.


Laughing Lion with Milking Cow, Sleeping Bear, Yelling Yak... jk.


Can you pick him out?? Look for the ear to ear smile! So cute!!!

A Thousand Splendid Suns

I don't know what has come over me in the past couple of months but I have been reading like a mad woman and enjoying every second of it!! Well... most seconds of it. I just finished listening to A Thousand Splendid Suns on CD during my commute and I don't think my heart has ever been so broken as it was for the characters I got to know in this book.

The majority story takes place in Afghanistan and is told through the eyes of two Afghan women that meet halfway through the story when they become sister wives during a time of tumultuous warfare. Leading you down a path of severe domestic abuse, corrupt governmental rule, death, and sorrow there comes a great appreciation for the liberty that we are awarded here in the US. Though it ends positively, most of the book left me feeling battered by the heavy story. I would hesitate to recommend this book because of how the violence and heartbreak effected me personally but I have never learned so much from a novel as I did from this one. The New York Times wrote a formal review on the book that you can view here.

Other books I have read in the past couple of weeks:
Letters for Emily
Numbering all the Bones
The Last Lecture
The Courage To Start: A Guide To Running for Your Life

Michael and I are going to the library to return what we've got and get something new... I am hoping to pick up a copy of East of Eden by John Steinbeck as recommended by Whitney from Eat Sleep Cuddle. and two new books on CD. I'll update you on the success of the trip soon!

Merrick's Art Show

Hello friends!! I know I've been MIA for like two weeks now but there is a very good reason... probably...

I am planning on letting you all in on my amazing trips to South Carolina and Moab, UT soon but for now - MERRICK!! Merrick is a dear friend of mine and absolutely fabulous artist. Her work will be featured tomorrow night at the art show detailed below. If you are in the Utah County area I would definitely urge you to go. She is talented beyond belief. Check out more of her work here. Hope to see you all there!!

Like a Kid in a Candy Store...

SUBWAY SUBWAY

I FINALLY GOT HIM TO CONFESS!!!!!!!

At around noon my sweet Michael showed up to my office with an arm full of SUBWAY!! Haha - he HAD stolen my pizza but only so that I would not eat before he arrived with delicious sandwiches!! And he laughed for like 20 minutes at the fact that I thought he stole my pizza for himself.

Anyway, like a true man he came in with his game face on and an agenda (my agenda, his agenda... same same same). I work by myself all day so a lot of the time the essentials take a back burner if I decide they aren't really essential. He is so wonderful.

We ate delicious sandwiches:



He fixed my computer:



He plunged the toilet:



And he tried all of the office gadgets that he wasn't familiar with. (finger squeegee pictured):



And he is going to be gone for 2 whole months!! Don't be surprised if you get a prank, "toilet emergency" call requesting an immediate report to an address in American Fork, UT. I don't do toilets.