March Madness (hahaha)

March 2nd was the first time we actually did proxy work for temple sealings together. We had been sitting next to each other throughout, and other married couples in attendance were sitting next to each other. I had actually been trying to focus on the sealer so we wouldn't be the oogly couple of the bunch, but near the last names Garrett and I looked at each other and smiled. It was only a short time later that the sealer paused, and, saying he rarely said this, informed us that there was quite a magnetism between us. I'm sure Garrett and I looked at him in what only could have been surprise. We gently  let him know that we were dating.... =)

March 5th was a day of study and branching out into crafts. I was glad to contribute  a craft idea that Garrett hadn't yet done. I brought forth my copper foil, dowl, and patterns with which to make a copper foil picture. It's a fairly simple process of pressing a pattern into copper foil with the dowl, and retracing that pattern until it becomes 3 dimensional. Garrett settled down for a few hours and churned out a couple pulling a handcart. I proceeded to press tree branches into my piece of foil, and we used liver of sulfur to oxidize the copper. We then used polyurethane to seal off the copper. Garrett supplied frames.

March 7th was the day you introduced me to mac and cheese from a box. I should say, good quality mac and cheese. I remember you explaining how it was important to get spongebob shaped noodles to better retain the cheese. I had planned on dropping by the store after United Way to pick up a few things, and you ran over to meet me. We decided upon Aunt Annie's white cheddar mac and cheese, and kraft spongebob. I watched avidly as you showed me the proper order of cooking the pasta, adding the butter, then milk, and lastly the cheese. Finally, let it sit for a few minutes to congeal (sorry, I couldn't think of a more appetizing word to describe that process!). We used a free redbox code to grab Hunger Games and made the executive decision to skip Institute. Which we would probably feel more guilty about if we weren't so frequently doing other spiritual activities, made the minimum attendance requirement, and had a choice of institute classes to attend....

The next day Garrett showed me how to play racquetball. He is good. And he is a good teacher. I'm persistent in my efforts to do the same thing over with the same results; I vividly remember swinging at the ball, certain I'd make connection. I usually missed, and would look down at my racket to assure myself a hole hadn't appeared, and then down at my arm to reason out how I'd gauged the distance wrongly (yet again). At one point Garrett slide across the floor in his slippy pants. I just watched (probably with an open mouth) and let the ball go flying past my head. At another point Garrett jumped off the wall to hit the ball. Yes, he is a sexy man.

The next Sunday, March 10, Garrett and I went to a small dinner gathering with two of his brothers and their wives and children. One of the nieces exclaimed that I had curly hair, just like her and Ariel! They were all adorable. We had kebabs and great conversation. An hour or two later Garrett and I headed toward home to do our weekly planning. We decided to head to the parking lot at the foot of the Y-hike to watch the sunset (yes, we are aware of the stigma associated with that lot). We planned out the week, and then did an assessment of things that were going on in each of our lives. It was about this point that, due to the discrepancy between the internal and external temperatures of the car, that the windows began to fog up. As the conversation meandered and we discussed and resolved, we moved on to the topic of our relationship,where we were and where we wanted to go. As the conversation progressed, I eventually took Garrett's face in my hands, squished his cheeks, looked into his eyes, and proclaimed "Garrett, I love you". He too proclaimed his love for me, we had a brief and chaste kiss in the already steamy car, and finished our conversation.

On March 11th Garrett tried to show me the full body relax. We laid ourselves on the floor, and he explained how you relax each part of your body, head down. He closed his eyes and began. I was only able to watch him quietly for about 10 seconds before I started laughing. Let's just say we didn't get much farther than that. We also decided to be wicked and skip FHE to do our own. We climbed up onto the roof and made smore's with a small burner. We also had a great lesson and discussion. On the way down I realized that due to my weak upper body strength, I wouldn't be able to maneuver my body down the hole we had climbed up without some assistance. I only needed help going from straight arms, to dropping my body below my arms (totally doesn't make sense in writing...), but I wasn't able to convey this to Garrett. So, he was there ready to support me on my way down. Awkward story even shorter than it already is, I ended up sitting on his face. Fortunately he's a good sport =)

Garrett taught two classes on March 12th. I was able to attend the first one (he's a darn good teacher!), and then I went off to do a few errands while he taught the other. A little later that day we went to Subzero for the first time together. Later that evening we ushered Cyrano DeBergerac on campus and watched the play.

 We went to my good friend Mikelle's mission farewell on March 17th. At one point, after having met our other coworker and friend, Garrett asked if having curly hair was requisite for working in our department. We all laughed but then realized that all four of us had curly hair. I have no explanation. We then drove to Garrett's Aunt Robin's house, and did a little bit of wedding planning in the car.

On March 29th we went out with Josh and Cec again, to a little place called Black Sheep Cafe. The food and conversation were great. We next drove to Target to gather supplies for our Easter Celebration. Upon arriving home, we dyed easter eggs, and drained the yolk and watercolored some other eggs. It was a lot of fun, the the yolk being blown out of the egg looked unappealing to say the least.

On Easter day we took the eggs (as well as some other goodies we'd accumulated) to Aunt Robin's for a family Easter dinner. Garrett and I took a few minutes before dinner to hide our eggs and candy around the yard. It was a lot of fun, and the candy was cavity-inducing yummy.

Garrett's family has a tradition of filling out March Madness brackets. We both lost. Realllly lost. So I suggested that whichever of us got a lower score treat the other to a milkshake. I provided chocolate milkshakes from Arby's =)

February fun

February 10 We are awesome and decided to do a themed movie night...we decided on the movie Chocolat and with the French them in mind made delicious dessert Crepes. We both really enjoyed the movie and soundtrack and for valentines day I gave Michelle a little "Chocolat" gift of Dark Chocolate and the soundtrack.

February 11 We decided to our own FHE and assembled 72 Hour kits. This is one of those things I've always wanted to do but put off and it felt good to finally get 'er done. It was fun having all of our emergency goodies strewn about the table and coordinating together.

February 14 V-day! No longer single awareness day (SAD). We went out to Macaroni Grill for some fine Italian dining...flat bread pizza and butternut squash pasta goodness. Prego. Afterwards we came back and watched the perks of being a wall flower, a heavy, but worthwhile movie to watch. To finish the night off we volunteered for and watched a ballet version of sleeping beauty...it was SOOOO boring and long! It only got interesting when we made fun of the stallion legs of the head dude and the cats came out. I was wearing Eric's tight hipster pants to make my butt look real good for Michelle. We exchanged gifts...I had got some frames and materials for staining frames for Michelle and she made me the coolest tie I've ever seen. She also littered me with treats.

February 16-19 Orangeville...where the magic happens. We went down to O-ville to visit the grams and had a blast.  I kissed Michelle in a giant tree (highlight) and then we told each other poop stories (second highlight). Initially we had gone down to help lay stone for Janice and Gerri's fireplace, which we did, but most of our time was spent gorging ourselves, relaxing, and cleaning up around the house. It was very peaceful. We went on a walk and pet every dog on the street...it was funny because we both thought the other person had a destination in mind when in reality we were just walking aimlessly. Another thing I really enjoyed was bearing testimony with Michelle in here grandparent's primary class. Lowlight-that stinky show "Keeping up Appearances." Luckily we watched "Amazing Grace" to make up for it.

February 21 Utah Lake; Tasty Thursday is born: Quiche (photos)

February 22 Red Robin and White Collar; Michelle killed by stealthy assassins (dang spencer—you are
dead to me)

February 23 Frames; Walk and Pumpkin Muffins; Personal Docs (we’re so adult)—established we were
on track for marriage today.

February 24 Stake Conference makeout sesh (puke on my face; poop stain)

February 27 Springville Museum of Art and Morrocan Stew; Race to Costco to beat the clock (Garrett
was especially hormonal)

Other fun datee things:  Windshield repair and perusing Center street; Faith and Scholarship Symposium; Timpanogos Temple (more hacking cough); Walmart picture fail and eric’s birthday gift; Heavy weights; replaced m and m’s