This Christmas was a wonderful one. It was our first Christmas as a married couple and a new little family. It was also the first Christmas I've ever spent away from my parents and brothers and sisters. No matter where I've been in life, I've always made it home for Christmas. It was bittersweet this year realizing that while they weren't with me in person, they are always with me. And I may not have been in Utah but I was definitely "home" for Christmas. It was lovely to be able to spend this holiday with my husband. He is the biggest joy in my life and I wouldn't have chosen any other way. I got so many fun presents for Christmas this year, I was completely spoiled. But more importantly I spent the day happy and laughing with the man that I love. He was the best present of all.

(This was my second best present. It's an upgrade to replace the last necklace I wore every single day. Isn't it beautiful? It came from The Vintage Pearl.)

My sweet husband gets a 4 day weekend for Christmas and we're enjoying every minute of it. We have lots of fun plans and new family traditions to start (since we are a new family, after all) and our holiday will be full of love and joy. I'm especially grateful this year that we can simply spend the holidays together instead of thousands of miles apart. Sometimes it's the little things... Merry Christmas Eve!

Yesterday Aaron and I went shopping together. We went to my favorite Japanese gift shop and then to the mall. I absolutely love going to the mall here, mostly because they have the most unbelievably cute things in just about every store. I found tights for a baby that had a panda face on the bum. Can you imagine the cuteness? At the gift store Aaron bought me a sushi set, pretty plates, sauce bowls & chopsticks for the day I learn to make my own sushi! I know I've said it before; my husband is kind of the ultimate nerd. In a completely entertaining and adorable way. At our favorite store in the mall we found light saber chopsticks and needless to say, they found their way home with us. Every day has something fun when Aaron and I are together!
 

Japan is wonderful. Mostly because it's the place where my husband lives. I've been here less than a week but so far I really love it. Except one little thing... I'm pretty sure it hasn't stopped snowing since I arrived. And apparently it's just beginning? Oh well, I'm learning to enjoy it anyway. They don't plow their roads in Japan so it's always an adventure when we leave the house. We've eaten plenty of delicious Japanese food in the past few days with much more to come, I'm sure. We also purchased a Christmas tree. Since I only got here 10 days before Christmas we didn't want to bother with a big tree... so it ended up tiny instead. It looks so cute sitting in our living room and the presents around it seem a little overwhelming considering the tree's small stature. We finally got my military ID card yesterday, after a whole lot of runaround, and now I'm allowed on base without an escort. Now I need a drivers license and a car and I will be all set. Until then I'm enjoying my days at home while Aaron is at work. One day I built Hogwarts. That's right, Aaron has the Lego version of Hogwarts and I put it together one day while he was at work. I know it's nerdy but I do not care. It was fun.

My friends I am quite excited. Today I'm sponsoring my first ever blog giveaway! A fellow blogger I adore, Erika @ chambanachik is hosting a series of holiday giveaways and today it's my turn. Since I don't have an Etsy store and I've been too busy with wedding/moving/air force things to be any type of creative my giveaway comes to you straight from Japan. So please, jump on over there and check it out!

Today is an exciting day. Today is the day I get on a plane. My bags are packed. My boxes are shipping. My room looks empty. My goodbyes are said. I'm ready to go. And at the end of a very long trip (over a day of traveling!) I get to see my husband! 

I am so excited!

Time for more wedding pics! I have too many to choose from so they're going up in several posts. Prepping for the big day is always so fun... It was made better by my Sexy Little Bride hoodie.

I ran around in this particular outfit for a good hour at least. I call it my stripper outfit. I just wasn't ready to put my wedding dress on yet! Luckily, the end result was worth it.

The husband looked pretty damn good too. 

The blues are just so sexy.

Today was a cupcake kind of day. They were delicious.

Today I went to visit my fabulous cousin, Caitlyn. You may remember from this post that she made my bouquet for my wedding. She is an art major and seriously the most creative/crafty person I know. While I was over visiting she taught me how to make my very own leather flowers. We attached them to hair clips and now I have pretty things to wear in my hair. They were so much fun to make. Aren't they lovely?

"But we need fairytales. Without them, where is the hope for a happy ending?"

I have always been the independent one. The oldest child, I take charge and get things done. I nurture and care, even when it's not reciprocated. I'm the one who makes the effort, who puts together the parties, the girls nights and the get-togethers. I love being this way.

Then along comes this man. He is just a normal man in some ways. He likes to play video games, watch football & eat pizza. He works hard, plays hard & sleeps a LOT. But there's something different about him. 

He cares.

He likes to take care of me too. He likes to surprise me with my favorite treat or a hug from behind when I'm not expecting it. He likes to cook me dinner and rub my neck when I get my headaches. Mostly he just likes to remind me that I am loved. For me it has always been easier to love someone then to let them love me. But I'm learning. And sometimes, when it's real & true & magical, love changes you.

I prefer to think of this as my happy beginning.

In the earliest hours of Thursday morning (as in 2am, I stay awake to talk to Aaron when he gets off work) there was a terrible wind storm that started up outside. I tossed and turned all night because it was so loud. At 6:30am our power went out for good and wouldn't be turned back on for a whole two days. When I woke up the wind was still going crazy- 100 mile an hour crazy! We lost all our big trees in the front yard but luckily everyone was safe. It's been a very chaotic two days.

Aaron had to go back to Japan without me. He left almost a week ago now. I know that we don't have to be apart for too long but wow, it's hard being away from my new husband only 2 weeks after we got married. I don't recommend it ever but unfortunately it couldn't be avoided. I just need to vent for one moment... I miss my husband. Words cannot explain it. I cannot wait to be with him again. 

Aaron and I had a fantastic honeymoon. We went on a 7 day cruise through the Western Caribbean; Grand Caymans, Roatan Island, Belize & Cozumel. It was perfect. We had lots of yummy food, plenty of entertainment & some very beautiful places to visit. Best of all, we spent 7 whole days with just the two of us. No family or friends, no computers or video games, no normal life distractions. Just lots of laughing, talking, kissing, snuggling & enjoying the little things in life. It was wonderful. I loved every minute of my Caribbean Honeymoon with my husband.

• We went snorkeling- Aaron loved it so much he went twice
• We ate shark & it was good
• We went to some fantastic comedy shows
• We went down the water slide like little kids- Aaron went 21 times
• We ate lots of soft serve frozen yogurt
• We found fun art to hang in our house
• We only got sunburned a little bit
• We climbed some beautiful Mayan ruins- I kicked my feet out over the edge while sitting on top & Aaron found out he's afraid of heights

I checked more things off my 101 list.

The number one item on my list is Marry Aaron and I did that on 11-11-11. It was a wonderful, beautiful, magical day that I will always remember and cherish. It was perfect. I know nothing is perfect but even with it's imperfections our wedding day was perfect. 

I checked a second thing off the list that day. #28, slow dance with Aaron. And that's just what we did. We also decided that we have two songs that are "our song." The first is Marry Me by Train. The other is Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO. If you haven't seen that music video take a minute to watch it. Aaron and I both love to shuffle. We did it at our wedding. With a whole big group of people. It was pretty much awesome.

On the 13th we boarded a giant cruise ship together for our honeymoon and checked off #71. It was amazing. More about that later though.

On the 16th we spent the day at the beach on a beautiful island off the coast of Honduras. It was so fun & even though I'm as pale as they come I only burned a tiny bit. I was proud of that fact. And we checked off #77.

On the 17th we got caught in a few freak rain storms and checked off #101, kiss in the rain. It was just as fun as it sounds.

And on the 15th we accomplished #100, Do something wild that must be kept a secret. No, I won't share. 
But it was FUN.

I am thankful for my husband. Aaron is a wonderful man, a caring husband & an all around fun person to be with. He is my favorite.

I am thankful for my parents. They have always been such a great example to me of how to love and be loved.

I am thankful for my brothers and sisters, both by birth and by marriage. I have a wonderful family. They are my best friends and constant support system.

I am thankful for my friends. I have some truly spectacular friends. They are fun, silly, crazy & make me so happy.

I am thankful for Skype. It's the technology that allows me to talk to my husband even when he's 3000 miles away. 

I am thankful for my healthy body and my powerful mind.

I am thankful for my wonderful life. For the good and the bad. The ups and downs. The happy and the sad. Through all the trials of life there is always something to be thankful for. We simply have to remember them.

The wedding was perfect, the honeymoon was fantastic, we had a wonderful holiday with my family & now Aaron is on a plane back to Japan. It will take me some time to add pictures and write updates but I thought I'd do a mini one with the few wedding pictures I have so far. 

Our wedding day was perfect. Truly it was. It was everything I'd imagined and more. Aaron looked so handsome in his dress blues and every time he looked at me with so much love in his eyes I felt like the most beautiful girl in the world. We spent the day surrounded by our closest friends and family. There was so much joy and love from every person there, we felt so blessed. 

So now to share these lovely pictures from the best day of our lives. The last one is my favorite so far. I absolutely love this man.