i love my husband because...

He does everything he can to keep me warm including building fires in our little fire place, covering me with layers of blankets, fixing me hot drinks and taking me to the store to buy me a pair of warm mittens.

I came home on Wednesday night starving, to this:


He made kabobs in the fireplace! He also made me a s’more the other night!

He was a hero today! He came to the rescue of my school nurse who had a flat tire.

Then, a few hours later, came back to the school to change a fellow teacher’s tire.

What a man.

2011

I have just one New Year’s Resolution for this upcoming year- well really for the next five months until the school year comes to an end. My resolution is to take care of my needs. My health, sanity, family and most importantly, faith come before all else.

Happy New Year!

dear santa...i know Christmas is over, but....

I want this!!! It’s called the Gaim Balance Ball Chair. Patrick looked it up for me on ebay and amazon.com. I don’t think we can afford it right now, but it’s definitely on my list of future wants.

and before we knew it, t'was the night before Christmas

I’ve been meaning to write of all of our happenings since we were married. Life has gotten the best of me and before I knew it, five months passed. It is now the day after Christmas. Patrick and I have been married for five and a half months, and have spent two major holidays together- Thanksgiving and Christmas. Life is busy, but life is good.

On Christmas Eve I decided I wanted to make sugar cookies. It was pouring rain, and we didn’t have any of the ingredients, but Patrick had purchased me a box of cookie cutters that I was dying to use. So while Patrick was cooking dinner, I went to the store and bought the things we would need.

Patrick helped me roll out the dough and was just as excited to use the cookie cutters as I was.



They came out perfect! Soft, and just golden brown along the edges.



When I went to the store, I decided to try and give Santa a healthier option, so I bought sugar-free frosting. This was, in the words of my students, “a sad choice.” The frosting was horrific. Some things just aren’t meant to be sugar-free.



Luckily I had some frosting in the pantry, so Patrick and I went a-decorating! Patrick was really proud of his gingerbread man, and he added some extra color the star and snowflake.




We set out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk in hopes that Santa would pay us a visit.



The next morning, we came out, and to our surprise, the milk glass was empty, and there were some big bites taken out of several cookies.Looks like Santa visited the Garza’s this Christmas.

one week and one day

My days as a single woman are limited…8 days and counting. Patrick and I have been doing a lot to prepare for the big day and are in disbelief that in literally one week and one day, we will be sealed for time and all eternity. Cool stuff!

We are doing better at not stressing out as much. We have our little apartment where Patrick has been staying for the past few weeks, and are doing our best to make it look like a little home. We purchased couches, a dresser, desk, bookshelf, tv stand and a dining room set. IKEA furniture is awesome because it’s so inexpensive, but it’s sort of a drag to put together- especially when there are no directions in the box! My Patrick eventually figured out the tv stand while Kate and I tackled some of the other furniture. Patrick and I also spent the past few days applying coats of paint to our little kitchen set so that it better matches our color scheme. I can’t wait until I can finally move in and start our adventure together in our first
little home.









Today was really fun! We took a field trip to the County Clerk’s office, took an oath that we are not kin in any way, shape or form, forked out $71 and left with a marriage license! A really nice man outside took our picture. We were feeling kinda ghetto afterward (given the type of people that you might encounter in front of the court house) so we went to Denny’s after to celebrate. Cute.



Afterward, Patrick had to go to work and I went to pick up my wedding dress! It was so fun modeling it, looking at myself in the mirrors, twirling about and trying on veils. I can’t post any pictures of the dress yet because Patrick wants to be surprised. He is cute and traditional like that. I love him. :0)

Anyway, now I am home with Kate. She is attempting to make a beaded headband for me to wear for the wedding. I love her, too!

Woo hoo! I am getting married in one week and one day!

Oh, ps. technically we can elope to the temple any time we want. We won’t do it, but still…we could if we really wanted to!

when we get old

I’ve been thinking lately about what life will be like with Patrick when we are old. I recently spent time with my grandparents and I admire my grandfather’s patience and unconditional love toward my grandmother. He loves her, serves her and has always been faithful to her, in a literal sense and in the role of a husband and provider.

So this got me to thinking- what will I be like when I am old? What will Patrick be like? Here are just a few thoughts...

1. I really like birds. I have a feeling that I am going to become a bird lady when I get old. I am going to sit at my kitchen table as an old lady, looking out the bay window, and watch all of the different birds come to feed on my many different birdfeeders, all while drinking a diet coke. Patrick will be sure to open my can of diet coke, as my hands will be too shaky, and he won’t forget to give me a glass of ice. Each year for Christmas he will give me a different birdfeeder and will help me keep the feeders full. We will look up what types of birds feed during the different seasons, and I will watch with fascination as new birds come to visit.

2. I will enjoy hard candy, but will insist that Patrick only buy the sugar free variety.

3. This next one made me laugh when I thought of it- so much that I made Patrick try it out with me tonight, just for practice. I really like my nails polished. I love to find bright new colors, especially ones with interesting names. My most recent purchase is by OPI called Ogre the top Blue, from the Shrek series. Anyway, when we are old, Patrick is going to have to help me paint my nails.






He painted my right hand. I think we need a bit more practice. Fortunately, we will have eternity to perfect his nail painting skills.

4. But most of all, I think I will always love when he plays the guitar. I realized this last night on my way home from his house. I called him and asked him to play while I drive. He did, and I smiled all the way home.

I love this man.

Photos of the Engagement Variety!

Here are a few of our favorites!

Note** Completely unedited, but cute nonetheless.