A "Rocky" Start

Friday nights are date night but since the new year we haven’t been able to go on a date yet. But this Friday was going to be our first date in the new year and we were determined to do something. Our original plans had been to go out and see a movie since we got gift cards to go from one of my sweet coworkers. We looked up movies we could see and we couldn’t decide on one. We almost didn’t go out because we couldn’t think of anything else we could do that wouldn’t be a whole lot of money but we wanted to go out. Then I had an idea! Of course! Why didn’t I think of this earlier!

For Christmas Duskin’s sister and her husband had given us both something called a “POGO PASS”. It’s a pass that gives us a ton of different things to do for little to no cost at all for a year. I started looking through the list of choices we got to choose from and rock climbing stood out. We discussed it and FINALLY decided that’s what we were going to do and it was close to our apartment! A win win!! We both got ready and left for the rock gym. We got to the gym and we were super excited to get to go. We got our pogo pass ready and we walked inside to see like 50 people in there all over the walls. It was packed. We didn’t even get to the counter and Duskin had already decided he didn’t want to stay and try. I told him I was okay with leaving but when we walked back to the car I really wasn’t okay with not going. I mean what are we going to do now? My excitement was shot and I was not happy. We started to drive home and he could tell I was not happy he told me that if I wanted to stay then I should have told him that but I thought that if I made him stay then he would not enjoy it because there was too many people. MISCOMMUNICATION from both of us! Mostly me. I shouldn’t have assumed and made up this story in my mind that he wasn’t going to have a good time. We could have had a great time if we would have stayed but we will never know. So now I was not happy with him for making me leave and he wasn’t happy with me because I didn’t tell him what I wanted. This whole marriage thing gets kinda confusing and we are definitely still learning. Lesson learned! We discovered that we need to both just take a moment and instead of making up these stories in our minds we need to tell each other what we really think…mainly me. I always try to please him when really I’m not pleasing him I’m just making stuff harder for myself and him. But all in all we worked it out! WOoHOO for communication!! We ended up going home and watching The Fast and Furious and decided that we would try again tomorrow. Which we did! And it was a success!!

We got there later than planned and only had about an hour and a half to climb but that was well enough time! We got tired! Duskin was a champ though and was really good. I’m more of a scaredy cat and was having trouble at first but thank goodness for an awesome husband who talked me through it and helped me get to the top and conquer my fear! He even got me to try harder walls that at first I was completely terrified of. But I sure loved the whole experience…I mean who doesn’t like staring at their husbands butt for most of the time as he climbs the wall and I hold the rope below. It was definitely a win win the entire time! Yay for the pogo pass and the much needed date and most importantly yay for forgiveness and communication!

He's feelin 22

A happy happy birthday to my amazing husband! He is such a blessing to me! How I got so lucky I will ever know but I’m so glad I got all that luck!

I have had his presents hidden under the bed for a few weeks and I finally got them all wrapped after we put our Christmas tree up so that I could disguise them as Christmas presents. It was so hard for me to keep them a secret from him. I’m not very good with secrets and I was so excited for the things that I got him. It really took all I had not to just let him open them. Since his birthday is close to Christmas I wanted to make sure and get him separate gifts and good gifts for both Christmas and his birthday. He was really good at telling me straight up the things he wanted which made my job a whole lot easier. A nice watch was one of them since he doesn’t have one and he has wanted one since we got married so that he looks nice when we go out. That was easy…check!

 Since he got home from his mission he has wanted to watch Dumb and Dumber and we never have. For one we didn’t have the movie, and for two I have never seen it but I have never wanted to watch it. The movie seems so “dumb” to me. But he has mentioned it several times that he wants to watch it. Soooo for the last couple months when I went to Walmart I would check the 5 dollar movies and all the other movies as well so that I could surprise him with it for his birthday. And after months of searching I had finally found it and not just the first one but it was a double feature for 5 bucks and I couldn’t pass it up! I think he was most excited for my awesome 5 dollar find!

 He also had mentioned that he wanted some nice long sleeve shirts so that he can wear nice shirts when we go out on our dates. For these finds I took his sister Shiloh with me for her expert advice. I also hate shopping by myself, I take too long. So I took her and we were in and out so that was easy!

 And lastly I got him 3 seasons of Duck Dynasty. And let me tell you I got the BEST deal ever for them! ALL three seasons for $9.99. He had only seen a few of the episodes because we don’t have cable and he really liked them. This gift was just an awesome find that I couldn’t pass up and since in was close to his birthday decided it was perfect. I figured it would be something fun that him and I could do together is watch all the seasons which has ended up being lots of fun!!

 My husband got a real treat when I got to sing happy birthday to him all by myself. (Solos are definitely not my favorite but it was worth it.) I made him his favorite cupcakes that I make and couldn’t resist putting sprinkles on them to make them have more of the celebration look. I also took him out to eat at Olive Garden (Our favorite!) and just enjoyed the night together. I loved getting to spoil him so much without him saying anything! It was a day for him and I’m so lucky to have him. 22 years old and sexy as ever!!!

Honeymoonin’ Cruisin’

Our honeymoon was awesome! We didn’t leave for a honeymoon for a week because my Uncle Daniel was getting married the weekend after ours and we didn’t want to miss it. So finally after a week of being married and finally being done with our wedding and my uncles wedding we left for our honeymoon! Our flight was around midnight Saturday night and I was so nervous! It was my first time ever being on a plane before and I was pretty terrified. Duskin was awesome though and helped me through get over it, i mean for heaven sakes we were going on a cruise for a week to Jamaica with just us and no phones or computers! We slept most of the flight to Florida which was nice. We got to Florida and had a few hours before we could check in to the cruise so we just stayed at the airport for a while and Duskin caught up on his sleep since he didn’t get much on the flight over unlike me.

After couple hours of waiting at the airport it was time to take our first cab ride to our ship. That was interesting but it was a fun experience. And after waiting line for about on our trying to check into our ship we FINALLY were on board!!

 Our first day on the cruise we just kinda walked around to see everything. It was  HUGE ship. Neither one of us had ever been on a cruise before so we were pretty excited!

Relaxing our first night watching a movie out on the deck.

 Day Two: Key West, FL

Our day at Key West we rented a scooter and rode around the whole island.

The Southernmost Point in the United States

Our waiters at dinner brought us cake and sang “Happy Honeymoon to you” to us J

 Day 3: Day at Sea

The day you spend the whole day on the ship. We had so much fun going to different activities they had on the ship.

 Day 4: Cayman Islands

We got online before we went on our cruise to find different things to do at the different ports that we were going to be on and we found a tour company that was going to take us snorkeling and swimming with stings rays! While we waited for our tour to start we walked around the island visiting the different shops and places to see.

Swimming with the sting rays was a little scary at first. I was totally freaked out but I eventually got use to it. Yes I let out a few girl screams at first but only a few! Duskin was all into it and had so much fun! He even got to feed them. We both got to hold one and that was way cool. They were so interesting and super slimy. There so many of them swimming around us it was crazy.

Snorkeling was a lot of fun as well. I’m not a fan of swimming by myself in open water so I kept Duskin really close until somehow he disappeared and there I was swimming by myself (there were other people around that I didn’t know) so I the chicken that I am got back on the boat until I could find him again. Once I told him my fear he didn’t leave me again. 

 Day 5: Jamaica

Jamaica was a fast stop but incredible! We also got a tour while we were here and we hiked the Dunns River Falls. That was one of the funnest things! We didn’t take our camera though because we didn’t want to get it wet but I so wish that we would have taken picture. It was so beautiful! It took about an hour to hike but it didn’t seem like that long. It went by so fast and we got completely wet! We went tubing down one of the rivers. We had to drive all the way up this mountain type thing and we floated all the way down and it was so lush and so green!

We wish we would have had more time in Jamaica other than a few hours but it was worth it and so much fun! 

 Day 6: Another day at Sea and Last day on the ship

Our honeymoon was so much fun and such a great start to our marriage! It was the best vacation ever and I’m so glad I get many many more with my wonderful husband! Marriage is the best and I’m so lucky to of gotten the best guy out there for me!! I love him to pieces!! J

Mr. & Mrs. Donaldson

Alright I’m just going to warn you all now that this is going to be a long post so I’m sorry but I’m so happy and so thankful for this special day that Duskin and I had!

Duskin and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Snowflake, Arizona temple on July 13, 2013. Best decision I have ever made! It was seriously the best day of my life. I felt so much love from both sides of our family that day. We had so much support and seriously couldn’t have done it without our parents. My mother was a HUGE part of it! She seriously did everything for our reception. I was so tired of planning I pretty much left it up to her do it and she did an AMAZING job! But she couldn’t have done it without the help of my AWESOME dad he built everything for it. He hung lights, made crates, painted candy machines, and made and painted ALL of the picnic tables. I wanted picnic tables so bad and I’m so glad he was willing to do everything! He NEVER even complained once! He was so happy to do everything that he could! And we ae so thankful for Duskin’s parents for the amazing luncheon they made for us. His mom made most of the food for the luncheon and it was delicious! There were MANY that helped set everything up and helped made everything for our reception and I’m SO thankful for all of them! Here are pictures of the day my life changed forever and I became Mrs. Donaldson!!

Coming out a MARRIED COUPLE!!

Our friends and family. We are so blessed!

¬ My side of the family and Duskin’s side ®

ALL of my sisters! I am SOO lucky!! Love them all SO much!!

Bridal Party J

All my girls!

The MEN!

Isn’t he SOOO handsome!!

And the reception….long post I know!

This is seriously my favorite picture of us dancing because this is exactly how it went! Most first dances are so sweet and romantic and ours was just hilarious! I had NO idea what I was doing and I under estimated Duskin. He knew how to dance and I was totally tripping over my feet! It was quite funny! Everyone watching us was laughing at me because I was so lost! Definitely a moment I will never forget!

Me and my dad! Seriously he is the GREATEST dad EVER!!!

Two of Duskin’s mission companions were able to come for a wedding. It was great to meet them and see an awesome friendship come from a companionship!

Decorations from our reception. Seriously so thankful for all of my family and friends who helped make this day for a so special! We are so blessed! We love you all!!

Here is to eternity!