New Years Pics... Finally!

So my dad got a camera for christmas and took the cutest pictures at Christmas. The problem was that he kept forgetting to email them to me. So finally, after 5 months, I got the pictures! We had such a great New Year with our families. We had the chance to go to dinner with Derek's dad and spend some quality time talking and getting great advise. After, we went to my house and celebrated the new year with my family and some friends. It really was a great New Year and it is so fun to look back and remember this fun time!

A Disney Birthday

Taking a break from the sun
Chowing down at lunch
Derek driving... He is so handsome :)
Were finally here!!!

My birthday surprises all began on Thursday... I arrived home from work to a beautiful bouquet of yellow flowers... my favorite color! Another surprised arrived not long after... Dereks basketball was cancelled so we got to spend the evening together! The next day in celebration of my 22nd birthday, Derek took me to Blizzard Beach at Disneyworld! It was a perfect day to be outside and i felt like a princess all day. When we arrived, they gave me a pin that said Happy Birthday so i pinned it on my bag... on our way in two employees wished me a Happy B-day!! It was really cute :) The rides were really fun, the lines short and we dominated the toboggan racing... Derek won 2 out of the 3 times we went on! We lounged in the lazy river and got a good tan for the big day. Luckily we both sneaked by without a sunburn! After the waterpark, Derek took me to pick up my wedding present: a new set of scriptures with my nae engraved on them! It was the sweetest gift ever! I love looking at them with my new name on them! The day continued with some TCBY yogurt and then the drive home, which resulted in a very good nap for me :) We had dinner from my favorite Thai place and went and saw the new Star Trek movie which i LOVED!!! I feel like JJ Abrams may be a little obsessed with time travel, but hopefully by the time Lost ends next year i will be less confused :) Anyway, it was the perfect day!! Derek made me feel like a princess and it never ceases to amaze me how thoughtful he really is! This year definitely marks the best birthday yet!

Uncle Derek

Uncle Derek with little Chloe... Arent they just too cute! And they look so alike... He will be a great dad one day! Thanks Buffy for the pic

Wedding Preview

Just a few of the centerpieces for the reception!!

So i know that everyone in the world is DYING to know what kind of flowers will be at my wedding and all of the other many details that have gone into my dream wedding..... No? Well i will share anyway. My mom has a student who is from Dubai and he is a master florist! So instead of doing real flowers and worrying about the availability of flowers and colors and if they will wilt in 100 degree weather, we decided to have Mustafa do the flowers. He has done a fabulous job! We have tons of centerpieces and bouquets and boutonnieres strewn about the house, but thanks to Mustafa everything is finished ahead of schedule and is beautiful. I think everything else is pretty much finished... cupcake tasting, dress fitting, venue checks, and rentals! Now we just have to wait it out! I am SOOO glad we didn't have the wedding right after school! I think I would have gone insane! We have already had the chance to spend time with family and enjoy the amazing weather we have had here in Florida. I am sure the next two weeks will be crazy, but it will all pay off!

The Temple

This is my mom, me, Derek and his mom

So last Saturday I had the chance to go to the Orlando Florida Temple. It was an amazing experience that i had the chance to share with my parents, Derek and my wonderful future-in-laws. It was a long and somewhat stressful morning, but it ended up being perfect! Afterward we all enjoyed some Panera and Derek slept the whole ride home :) I feel so blessed to have the fullness of the gospel in my life and to have to opportunity to learn and to attend the temple!