Love and Marriage

Church was especially wonderful today. A lot of it focused on marriage and strengthening the relationship between husbands and wives. I really loved a talk given by the wife of our high councilman. She told several different stories about how hard it was during the first part of their marriage when he was in med school and they didn't have a lot of money. Morgan and I kept looking at each other and busting up laughing as she told each story, because almost all of them had happened to us! Here are the three that made us laugh the most:

1. Living without a kitchen table.
2. Living without a couch or chairs.
3. Giving wrapped 6-packs of soda and boxes of Whoppers as Christmas gifts.

The point of her talk was that even though there are hard days, there are good days too. Sometimes you have to fight hard to see through all the bad stuff, but if you change your perspective, you can usually find something to be happy about.

As hard as it has been to be poor college students, we have had so many funny and wonderful experiences. Looking back, I cherish those memories of eating spaghetti (with no meat in the sauce...beef is too expensive!) on the floor of our living room in a completely empty apartment. Christmas 2011 was particularly stressful financially because Morgan had to have surgery, so we literally did our shopping at the Dollar Tree. 

(The three movies were free from RC Willey)

I love Morgan and that we have been able to grow closer instead of apart during the hard times. We have our fair share of trials, but thankfully our relationship hasn't been one of them!

Okay, enough cheesiness for one post.

Much love. xoxo

That's what friends are for...

World's creepiest teddy bear award goes to....

We went window shopping on Saturday at a local shopping center and stopped by Steinmart to look at sheets. This is what we found. We could NOT stop laughing. Do people really buy these?

Living fully

I have been going on walks every weekday morning with my awesome friend Rachel, and I have definitely noticed the positive impact it is having on my health. I feel so much better, I wake up early, get things done in the morning, drink more water, etc. Yesterday we got a bit ambitious and did a big 4 mile loop around the zoo and golf course. These iPhone pics are from that adventure. Please excuse my lovely appearance...I pretty much roll out of bed before I leave. Isn't that a gorgeous view? I have really come to love living in Utah. Who would've believed that. :)

A few of my favorite things *recent edition*

I love to make lists, so today I thought I would share some of favorite things as of late.

1. Feeling healthy (yay!)

2. Eating smaller portions (who would've guessed that one?)

3. Italian Sodas

4. Instagram

5. My morning walk with a friend

6. Going to bed at the same time as Morgan (we didn't for awhile b/c I had trouble sleeping)

7. Pinterest on my iPhone in bed before I fall asleep

8. Reading the Book of Mormon at lunchtime

9. Etsy

10. Checking things off our summer bucket list

Not being naked.

Today I was looking through a friend's honeymoon pictures and felt a little sad. We only have a handful of pictures from ours, and even those aren't very good. So I asked Morgan:

"Morgan, why didn't we take more pictures on our honeymoon?"

*long pause*

"Because, Cate, we were naked most of the time."

{Awkward!}

Here are the few pictures that I do have. Don't worry, we are fully clothed.

Here we are, leaving Utah County! So in love.

Approaching Las Vegas! This was my first time visiting the city.

We stayed at the Venetian and it was amazing.

Approaching San Diego

Getting eaten by a shark at Scripps Aquarium

It looked like this for the entire trip. Chilly and cloudy!

Freezing cold water

Morgan trying to convince me to swim in the freezing cold water

Hey Stephanie Andreasen...proof that we used your awesome gift on our honeymoon!

My first time having In-n-out! We spent 45 minutes trying to find one. Personally I think they are overrated, but it was delicious nonetheless.

Balboa Park - Morgan

Balboa Park - Caitlin with awkwardly placed arm

Balboa Park - Caitlin and Morgan with another awkwardly placed arm

Oh Gird Road. If you don't know the story, you need to read it HERE.

On our way home from San Diego we stopped for a night in Vegas again and saw The Lion King on opening night. We were so tired from the drive...Morgan still hasn't forgiven me for falling asleep during his favorite show. 

Losing weight: update

Well it has been a year since I started my weight loss journey, and I am happy to report that I have lost 20 pounds! I still have a few more to go to get to the normal weight for my height, but I'm so close...I can feel it! :) I haven't fit into this shirt since before getting married.

our adventures.

Here are a few iPhone pictures of our adventures lately. We both love summer because there is so much to do! We made a summer bucket list and it has been a blast trying to get them all done. I'll be sure to keep you posted on what we do!

Clark Planetarium Date Night...it was electric.

Temple Square...I love shooting weddings there!

We had to buy some goodies for a court activity and things got a little out of hand...

I flew out to San Ramon, CA for a beautiful wedding. Those cuties are the brides' nieces and nephew...they were good sports and hit up the photo booth with me. :)

We babysat for Jordan and Becky for a few days. Morgan was so cute holding Max!

Oh, and that is a random picture of Morgan next to a pair of size 22 shoes.

Visiting family (and dogs).

A pretty sunset on a drive home from one of my weddings.

Macaroni Grill. We always get penne rustica. Yum.

Summer BBQ and S'mores with the family!

The Sugarhouse Art Festival. I felt great supporting local artists!

At the art festival they had a few people doing demonstrations. I loved watching the guy on the pottery wheel, and the didgeridoo player. If you don't know what a didgeridoo sounds like, Google it. So cool.

We bought one of those pretty ceramic magnets you can see in the back. It is so pretty!