My Birthday WEEK! :)

My Birthday was May 20th but I was privileged to celebrate the whole WEEK! :) My birthday morning I woke up and Kory sang happy birthday to me. Then I called my brother Stephen. He came over and sang happy birthday to me. Then we had a bowl of cereal and hung out while Kory went to class. It was fun to spend some time with him that morning.


When Kory was done with class we left the apartment and he took me to the destination where my birthday surprise from my amazing sister-in-laws was. They are so sweet! They arranged for me to get my nails done at a nice salon. I was totally surprised and very excited! My nails look beautiful, thanks girls! Kory left me while I got my nails done (which I didn't like, but I forgave him later haha).

When I was done he picked me up and we went to PF Changs for my birthday lunch. I really enjoyed lunch, but we were in a hurry because we needed to get to work by 1PM. Of course we still had enough time to take a picture.


Then we were on our way to work...until all of the sudden Kory asked if I trusted him. I said no, I was kind of joking (I typically DO NOT like surprises). He told me that was the wrong answer then headed south on I-15 instead of north to work. He said we had a dinner reservation we had to catch. I asked if we were going to Vegas, very excited. Then we were on our way to my surprise birthday celebration! Kory planned such a great surprise! It was totally unexpected and very exciting.

The road trip was a lot of fun. We just listened to music and talked. When we finally got to Vegas we were both tired. Luckily we had enough time to check into the MGM Grand and then get ready for our dinner reservation at the Wolfgang Puck Restaurant. Dinner was SO good! Plus they made a really cute birthday desert for me.





After dinner we went to KA the Cirque de Solei show. It was really cool. Part of it were really slow and weird. But for the most part, the stunts that those athletes can pull off are very impressive and entertaining. It was fun to do something out of the norm to celebrate my birthday! When the show was over we went dancing at the club Studio 54, which was also very fun. I love dancing with my husband.

The next day we got up and enjoyed a free buffet breakfast which was delicious. Then we went to see some of the MGM Lions. We watched them for quite a while, it was really neat.


We took some extra pictures that we didn't take the night before. We hadn't gotten ready for the day yet because we were just going to eat breakfast.


Later we left the hotel to explore the strip a little, but mostly to do some shopping. I went to Sephora and got my free birthday gift from them. Then I got a cute shirt from H&M. After some shopping we checked out and headed to our next destination, California!




I figured out that we were going to California the night before. It was going to be my surprise on Friday, but I had this feeling we were going. The story was that we were going to Vegas for the night and then going back to Utah so that we could fly to Washington for Memorial Day weekend. But that was all a cover for the real plan, which was going to see Jeni and Hugh in Palm Springs area. The first day was really chill, we just hung out and visited. I was SO excited to go visit them! One night we went to see a couple of art shows on opening night.









After seeing the art shows we went to Red Robin for dinner. I redeemed my second free birthday burger from them, haha.


The rest of the trip was spent shopping, playing nintendo, and hanging out by the pool! I also got to spend time with their new handsome baby boy!









The last night we were there Hugh put dish soap in their pool to make really big bubbles, haha. It looked really fun! We were too tired to participate though.








Overall, I had the BEST BIRTHDAY WEEK ever! It was a blast. Kory is such a wonderful and thoughtful husband. My parents are the best! All of my in-laws are so great! I could not ask for more. Thank you everyone who made my week special! I love you!

Overview in Depth- Week 1 (June 25-July 1)

WARNING: This blog ended up being extremely long.

Alright! So I've decided that each day I will try to go more in depth about one of the weeks from my "two month overview." Here is the overview list again for the week I'll be talking about.

June
25: Flew to Virginia to be with Kory!
26: I went to the Matt Nathanson concert Oceanside at Virginia Beach while Kory worked.
29: We made Sunday dinner and played games with friends then went to the beach!
30: Kory and I went on a very nice date to PF Changs (one of our favorites).

July
1: I hated saying goodbye to Kory then had to catch my international flight.


June 25th was such a long travel day! Kory and I chose the cheapest flight available, which was also the worst itinerary of course. My flight was at 7am mountain standard time and then I didn't get to Norfolk, VA until 7pm eastern time! I had like a four hour layover in Newark, NJ or something like that. Plus, in addition to having a long travel day I had to wait at the airport while Kory finished working and could pick me up at 9pm. So I spent a lot of time in airports that day! I didn't sleep much the night before because I was packing. Packing was unusually challenging because I had to pack for both a week with Kory (where I cared what I wore etc.) and 5 weeks in Europe (where it just needed to be a light load).

Here is a picture of me waiting in the Norfolk airport for Kory to finish working. I made myself a little bed in the baggage claim, I put my two bags in an L shape, then place my backpack inside the L for a pillow. It was my own little sleeping corner where I slept for like an hour or so, haha.


Eventually I moved to the benches and sat and waited. Kory called to tell me that he had just finished work and would call me when he was on his way to the airport. Maybe 10 minutes later I saw someone creeping up behind the payphones and I thought to myself "I bet that's Kory." Sure enough it was. Kory was already on his way to the airport when he called, he wanted to surprise me by getting there sooner than I expected. Anyone that knows Kory, knows that he LOVES to surprise! haha. The reunion was absolutely wonderful of course. After being apart for several weeks, it was so nice embrace.

We walked out to the car hand in hand, Kory pulling my bags behind him. His roommate Spencer was in the car waiting for us. The three of us went to an Italian restaurant at town center Virginia Beach. It was a great place with very cute decor and authentic feeling ambiance. After that we headed home and watched a movie at Kory's. I can't remember what movie, I'll have to ask him hehe.

Then we went over to Scott and Becky's! They were the wonderful, fun couple that I was so lucky to stay with when I visited Virginia Beach. I am so glad I did because they are great, I enjoy their friendship. Scott worked with Kory.

The next morning, even though we went to bed really late, I woke up early and got ready so that I could go hang out with Kory before he left for work at noon. We had cereal for breakfast then just hung out and talked until he had to leave. Then I went back to Scott and Becky's where Becky and I shared our cute little relationship stories. That afternoon we went to oceanside Virginia Beach for an outdoor concert of some really great musicians. The atmosphere was so fun! It really made me feel like I was on vacation. Too bad the boys couldn't enjoy it too! This is the picture message I sent Kory while he was working and I was enjoying the live music on the beach.


This is a picture of the crowd at the concert.


The next day, Friday, I woke up in the morning to hang out with Kory again before work again. Then that afternoon Becky and I went to The Pie for lunch with another friend. The Pie is a great pizza place close to the beach that has very gourmet combinations. It was so good! We really enjoyed going out to lunch with the girls. This is a picture that I sent to Kory while he was at work that day.


That night Kory and I just relaxed at home and enjoyed each other's company. Here is a picture Kory secretly took of me just laying around on the floor, haha.


A self portrait of Kory being silly :)


Saturday Kory had a long day of work. Becky and I went grocery shopping to get stuff for Sunday dinner and ran some other errands. We were going to go to the pool, but Virginia Beach was really really smoky that day because of wildfires in another state (I don't remember which). It was hot, and very gross outside. I felt bad for Kory having to knock door to door in that! I went and met Kory for lunch, he had already gotten a sale before lunch that day! I was so proud of him. I picked him up from work that night, too. So that he would get home faster.

Sunday we slept in, yay! I love sleeping in :) Then we went to church at the Virginia Beach single's branch in the afternoon. After church we came home and started making Sunday dinner. Kory was making BBQ ribs and veggies, I made the fruit salad, and Becky made banana cream pie! Yummy dinner! Here is a picture of Kory, the chef.


After dinner Scott, Becky, Kory and I played Phase 10 dice while we watched the movie Waterboy. Phase 10 dice was such a fun game! I'm pretty sure I won, but I can't remember. Kory is very competitive. In the beginning Scott was saying that Kory so far had the best score he had ever seen in a game. I was totally losing. Then in a twist of fate I pulled ahead! Go me! I think Kory was ok not winning as long as I was the one that won. He's so good to me :)

When the games were over Kory and I headed to the beach since the sky had finally cleared up. An evening stroll on the beach is one of my favorite things to do. It was so peaceful and romantic. It reminded me of when Kory and I first got to Virginia Beach in May (I helped him drive from Utah to Virginia). It was the first time that either of us had walked the Atlantic coast. I remember we were standing in the sand and I started singing to Kory "I dig my toes into the sand, the ocean looks like a thousand diamonds strewn across a blue blanket. I lean against the wind, pretend that I am weightless. And in this moment I am happy, happy." It's an Incubus song called "Wish You Were Here" that we both know. In fact it might be on my play list at the top of my blog? I'm not sure. Anyway, it was a great moment. One of the ones that stands out the most in my mind when I look back at the last several months. Well, back to the Sunday I was originally talking about. Here are some pics from that night. We were sitting on the lifegaurd tower overlooking the ocean and listening to the waves. The wind was blowing my hair everywhere.






Monday I spent my day repacking for Europe. Then I picked Kory up from work. We were on our way home and took a detour to the mall "really quick." We were walking through when Kory suddenly pulled me into a jewelry store! My heart started beating really fast as he walked me through the store and sat me down in front of the diamond rings. We had been talking about marriage quite a bit over the last several weeks. But this week when we were together we both knew without a doubt that we wanted to be married for eternity! That was the moment that it suddenly became very very real.

After our little detour, Kory and I headed home so we could change clothes before going out to dinner. We wanted to go out on a date our last night together before I left for Europe the next day. We went to PF Changs. We both love PF Changs. The first time Kory had ever been there was when I took him there on a date back in March. We went there again on a date when we were in Virginia Beach together in May. And now again in June because I got Kory a gift card there as a special surprise I sent him in the mail. So it has kind of become "our restaurant." It was a wonderful night. After our date we came home and I changed into comfy clothes. We just hung out and enjoyed each other's company. Here are some pics from after the date. Kory took another secret picture of me laying on the ground, haha.



The next day was the sad day that we had to say goodbye. I hate goodbyes! Kory drove me to the airport and helped me check in. While we were waiting in line I had one of my favorite songs playing over and over in my head so I pulled out my iPhone and shared it with Kory. "Bruised" by Jack's Mannequin. The lyrics go, "I packed my bags I'm good to go. You met me at the terminal. Just one more plane ride and it's done. We stood like statues at the gate. Vacation's come and gone too late... Hours pass and she still counts the minutes that I am not there. I swear I didn't mean for it to feel like this, like every inch of me is bruised." Kory told me he really felt like his "other half" was leaving him, and I couldn't agree more. I'm glad that my plane was delayed and he was able to stay and have lunch with me. Here are some pictures from the airport.




Well, there you have it! Week 1 of my two month overview. I hope you enjoyed the in-depth version. I'm sorry it ended up being so long!