December Week 5: Lo's Wedding

The Sunday after Christmas I headed to DC for the wedding of one of my best friends, Lo Mallon. I have known her since our Freshman year, and it was love at first sight. She met her boy Mckay freshman year, dated, then wrote him every single week of his mission. They were married in the DC temple Tuesday December 30th, 2008.

Alex had to work holiday shifts at the hospital, so it was unlikely that he would be able to go out to Virginia with me. So my mom, who has known Lo as long as I have, was more than happy to make the trip with me. Here is a recap of our trip we refer to as our "Lucy and Ethel" trip.

Sunday night we both arrived and got lost on the way to the hotel. Monday we spent the day touring "The Mall" in DC. We didn't have time to wander and learn things, so we saw important sights, took pictures, and kept moving. Monday night we had dinner at the Mallons with all the friends and family. Tuesday we went to the DC temple for the wedding, got lost again on the way to the reception. For those familiar with the area, we were at the temple in Maryland, couldn't find the 495, and accidentally went down THROUGH DC back to Virginia. We were in DC during rush hour, and when we were passing the Washington Monument there was a strike and picket going on. The people kept walking in front of cars and traffic was so slow! We had to call my dad in California who had a map of DC on the computer and was guiding us back to where we needed to be. Thank you technology. We got there an hour late, but hey, we got there! Everything was beautiful and fun. Wednesday my mom and I headed to our homes to give our husbands their New Years kiss.

Here are pictures of our adventures!

First time on the Metro. Riding in style.

Which of these tourists is not like the others?

Memorial for women who served in Vietnam War

Reflection of us in Veitnam War soldier memorial

California Girls

Mallon Family

DC Temple

When we finally gave up and asked for directions on the way to the reception...

Christmas Fun

For Christmas, my funny mom bought everybody spikey things and had everyone take pictures in them. Here they are... Welcome to life as a Carter...

Blowfish

Check out the similarity of me and my mom's pose. I guess we are related...

"Argggg"

Joel and his friend, our other brother, Charlie

I couldn't rotate it, but I also couldn't leave it out. Classic scene starring Joel and my dad

December: Week 4 Christmas

The next week was Christmas!!! We went to Alex's grandparents for Christmas Eve. Then we stayed over at the Drakes so we would be there for Christmas morning and brunch with the family. I'm not going to lie...it was weird being away from home for Christmas with different people, different food, different traditions. Surprisingly, I did ok. It was fun.

The one thing I will never get used to, or embrace, is the weather. The only "white Christmas" I will EVER enjoy is the movie starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Christmas day there was a huge snow storm. I still don't know how Utah kids do it. I remember getting a bike, or rollerblades, or a swing set, etc for a present then going outside and playing with neighbor kids and our new toys. But not in Utah. Alex said they either get those things for their birthdays or wait until summer to use their new outside things. Wow. I guess I understand Utah kids get sledding and what-not.... But I am, and will always be, very partial to a green California Christmas.

December: week 3

Weeks 3 & 4 went very fast. Alex finished finals, I started mine, and most importantly...ALEX TURNED 24. Crazy. For Alex's birthday we hung out with our friends Cory, Chelsea, Duncan, and Kallee. We watched the Jazz game, had holiday cookies, and played games.... Alex's definition of a perfect night. Then the next night we went to the Drakes for his birthday breakfast-for-dinner. Lori made Alex's favorite...nut-roll (known to some as monkey bread). I LOVE YOU ALEX!!!!!!!!

December: Week 2

December has enough events that I can break it down! So the first week we had our first Christmas party with the Furch family: Pre-Sun Valley. Derrick, Alex's uncle, and his family go to Sun Valley for Christmas where Derrick produces the musical show for the resort. So we have a party with them before they go. We did dinner and white elephant exchange. Alex insisted he take some old cologne he had gotten a while ago. He thought it would be hilarious. I warned him that someone, like one of his younger cousins Marci, would get it and not understand or appreciate the humor. But, he took it anyways. I took a cheap beach calendar, but cut out a picture of grandpa Furch (at the wedding where he is holding a camera) and put one in each beach picture. So we draw numbers and you can take one from the pile or steal. Soon, it was Marci's turn and she went to the pile and picked a present, which ended up being Alex's smelly cologne. Her face was a mix of confused, disappointed, and unsurity. I felt bad. But Alex's dad stole it from her when it was his turn, and she ended up with a Crush (turtle from Nemo) stuffed animal. And they lived happily ever after.

Later that week, on Saturday, we had a crazy day. We helped with our ward Christmas Breakfast and had to be there at 7:45am to set up. Then, because of a snow storm, I headed down to Provo, (with alex as my driver because of the snow) for Lo's bridal shower at CPK. I did a black pink and white theme, the favors were mini dove chocolate bars wrapped in matching scrapbook paper where the labels would be, and the "game" was that we filled out "coupons" for Lo and McKay to use with each other. It was great. Then I headed back up to Bountiful and went straight to work from 3-7, and headed straight for Salt Lake for the Tab Choir Christmas Concert. Because of Jazz game traffic, we were 2 minutes late and were not able to get in! Bummer. So we went home and watched the game.

November

Again, we lived in routine with school and work...Until we ended the month with Thanksgiving! We went to California. we flew in Tuesday night and left Sunday night. It was a little rainy in the beginning but was beautiful the majority of the time. We spent Thanksgiving day at our house with the Carters. My mom made a wonderful turkey with bacon. That night we saw Bolt!!! I loved it! I'm so excited for it to come out on DVD. I also saw Twilight with my mom. I am pretty neutral in my feelings towards the movie. I enjoyed seeing it, but I wouldn't go see it in theater again. It is funny when Alex and I go home to California because it seems like we are separate most of the time; me with my mom and Alex with Joel. I wonder what it will be like when Michael comes home???

Also, when we were in California, we gave Christmas presents to the family. Dad was orange sticks, mom was pretty gold deer decorations, Rae was fuzzy slipper socks adn BYU mint truffles (a family joke), and Joel a T-shirt. Since their October conference trip, we haven't stopped hearing about "money-pit" (Joel's name for Sophie) sleeping on Joel's chest. So we had a shirt made for him that says "Money pit was here" on the chest... :)

October

October was filled with mainly school and work. After a month of school, we have gotten into our semester routines. My drives to Provo seem to get longer and longer, especially since it is starting to stay darker for longer in the mornings. Alex is taking Organic chemistry which sucks up a lot of his time.

The first weekend, my family came up for Conference. It was so fun, and went too fast!!! For the second year in a row, we got to spent time with our friend Karin Rowan. Friday I went down and met the fam in Provo and we did the BYU thing. Then mom and I did some shopping at University mall then headed up to Salt Lake where I met Alex for his mission reunion. I left that early and mom and I went to Trolley Square. When Alex was done, the three of us ate at Cafe Trio in Salt Lake! SO YUMMY! We even got to share a Creme Brulee. Saturday we went to conference and the boys went to priesthood while the girls waited at Gateway. After, we went to S. Salt lake to Texas Roadhouse for dinner (dad's favorite) with the Francis family, but the wait was soooo long. So we ended up at TGIFriday's which was almost as good. Saturday night, Even though there was enough sleeping space for Joel and Rae in the hotel room, they decided to join Alex, Karin, and I at my apartment. Karin got the couch, Rachel was on the floor, and Joel made a bed under the table. Sophie ditched our bed that night and got comfy on Joel's chest under the table. Sunday we did the Little America Brunch where we saw the Masters, Cowdells, and Francis fam. Then we said goodbye and we were back to real life.

Thankfully, we got to end October with Halloween. Alex and I helped out with the Halloween party where we had soup with bread bowls and did a trunk or treat, which was cut a little short by a little rain. Afterwards we went up the the Drakes and ate doughnuts with the family. For both events we were dressed as a couple from the 20's. We had our own clothes already so all we had to do was find a hat and a wig :) Easy cheesy