Vegas...!!

Just wanted to post a few pictures of Jar and I from our 1 year anniversary....we kept our cake, and were brave enough to give it a try. It actually tasted really good. I was impressed. It was kind of fun to see it again. I loved my wedding cake. It was perfect...

Jarom planned a sweet little getaway to Vegas for us, activites and all. I just love him a lot...I think he's pretty fabulous.

Jarom and I ate at The Hard Rock Cafe. Our waitress name was "BIG Deb". I can't believe I didn't get a picture with her (so insert one here), but she was a big, loud, tough looking woman. I'm pretty sure I would be afraid of her if she wouldn't have been so nice, and I'm pretty sure she could have kicked mine, and Jarom's butts for that matter. (Sorry hunny). Anyway, Big Deb made it a point to make sure everyone in the restaurant knew it was our 1 year anniversary and brought us out some candles and everything. It was totally fun. We even managed to get a picture with our friends KISS out front. Ignore our scary eyes in that picture...

A picture of "Jarom and Marisa in the house" - according to Big Deb :)

Jarom took me to V the Ultimate Variety show at Planet Hollywood. We loved it. Saw some crazy stuff...but I'm still stuck on the magician guy. He pulled like 7 birds out of nowhere in less than 2 minutes. 1 was a full grown parrot! I have no idea how or where he was hiding them. I even tried so close to watch his every move. I only lost sleep over it for 2 nights...it's fine. (Sorry again for the scary eyes. One of these days maybe we'll invest in a super nice camera) We also got some free tickets to an Australian version (not what your thinking) of whose line is it anyways comedy show.

We stayed at The Stratosphere. They overbooked our room so we were upgraded which was a nice surprise. We also got to go up in the tower for free, which was awesome. Neither of us had been up there before. It was definitely a different way to see Vegas at night.

This is pretty much how the gambling aspect of the trip went...I really wanted to gamble, because lets be honest who doesn't go to Vegas and slip in a few quarters at least once in their life. I've never done it before, and I just wanted to for fun, but Jarom being the good husband that he is wasn't having it. So then once he found out that I wasn't joking and that I really did want to gamble he felt bad and at least took a picture. (Please ignore the blue out of service screen)...pretty pathetic. I think so, but I'm happy I married me a good man. Thanks for ruining my dreams and sucking the fun out of my first gambling experience making me want to be a better woman, and for literally being my better half. Don't worry, I have since realized he's right and have gotten over it. ;)

I surprised Jar by taking him to the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. We saw a lot of really cool stuff. I had my first encounter with Jelly Fish and an Octopus, we played with Sting Rays, and saw some sweet Sharks (naturally).

We ended our trip by going to the Las Vegas Temple. Neither of us had been there and it was a great way to celebrate and remember the covenants we made with each other and with our Heavenly Father over a year ago. I'm so grateful for the Temple and for the knowledge I have that families can be together forever.

Orchid...

Today, I bought an Orchid, (happy 1 year anniversary to me!) and I'm as pleasant as a peach about it. :) I have been looking for a fake one to put in my front room, because I just love them and think they are totally beautiful, but they all looked so too fake. But today, when I was at costco I found a real one, and it is pretty much perfect. I was reading on the tag that you only have to water it every 25 DAYS! And now I'm even more pleased! It's pretty much the perfect flower. I think I can handle every 25 days. Now if I can just keep it alive.... Also, Jarom and I teach the 12 year old Sunday school class, but really jarom teaches it because I work every other weekend and on the weekends I've been off we've been out of town, so tomorrow is my first time teaching and I'm slightly nervous. Jarom does such a great job. He is so good with the kids, and they all love him. I can't even bring treats because it's fast sunday. I hope it goes,....well. :) I'll keep you posted. Happy Sunday everyone...

We're Home!

Jarom and I just got back from a family vacation with my family in Cabo. I needed a break, especially from this cold wet, snowy weather. The weather in Cabo was perfect. 70's-80's and sunny everyday. We had a great time, but we are excited to be back home. I can't remember the last time I was this excited to sleep in my own bed! Almost a year ago, Jarom and I went to Cabo for our Honeymoon (I mention this partially because well lets be honest our anniversary is on my mind, and I never get sick of this place). I love the people, the culture, the weather, the ocean views, and the food is amazing. This year we decided we wanted to drive up the coast to Costa Azul to try out one of the most popular body boarding and surfing locations for the locals. So we crammed all six of us into our tiny rental car to try it out. Long story short...everyone loved it. Even Jacie and I went out there time after time to hit the waves. My mom even gave it a go. The boys were a little more brave (but ended up with a bunch of salt water up there nose when they got tossed around and taken out by the bigger waves further out). Some of the waves were huge! We also went snorkeling at Santa Maria Beach and around Pelican Rock. Josh was able to barter with the locals to get us a great deal on some waverunners, so we took those out one day. And of coarse we hit up the local market for some shopping. We've been there enough that we either already have it or it's just junk...so we didn't really buy much this year. (sorry family) Just our usual vanilla. (I'm trying this new thing where I'm more frugal. I want to be able to save more and be more financially sound. And lets be honest, I don't know much about investing or retirement. I must say Suzy Orman has inspired me. I haven't read her latest book, but I want it. hint hint to the husband) Anyway, we stopped at Walmart one day and found a plastic bat with some balls and we took them out and played a game of baseball on the beach. It was seriously my favorite part of the trip. Just a couple pictures to share...

Sunday Jarom and I will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary! I can't wait to pull out our wedding cake and be all traditional and whatnot. Jarom surprised me with a trip to Vegas and he has some fun things planned. We leave Wednesday. I'm so excited! Road trip :)

I can't even believe it's been a year. Marriage is so fabulous, but I'm not going to sit here and pretend that it's been perfect...in fact I went into marriage with the famous saying that "The first year of marriage is the hardest" in the forefront of my mind...but it seemed everyone I talked to denied that statement all together saying it had been a breeze which left me feeling like I had failed to some extent...but the reality of it is, which I can look back and understand now, is that we haven't failed at all, but have infact gained much more than we otherwise would have. Jarom and I have had our fair share of challenges, trials, and disappointments, but we've always been by each others side and supported one another, even while we were dating.

I'm apologizing in advance for the tangent I'm about to go on, but let me just explain that I only asked for 8 days off for this vacation...and I got 12. Today was supposed to be my first day back...and I got put on call. So we are going on 13 days here people! I have had way to much time on my hands, and too much time to think. I'm not complaining or anything, and I love PTO, but sometimes it's just nice to come home and get back to life you know? Anyway...

I thought I knew what a perfect marriage was, because I saw a great example of it everday, until one day it was gone...just like that. I have since learned that marriage isn't about being perfect. It's about making mistakes and forgiving one another, because that's how we learn and ultimately how we grow. It requires sacrafice, hard work, effort, and more importantly marriage is a choice and a committment you have to make everyday.

Is it possible to have a "marriage that is too perfect?" I think so. In my mind, perfect marriages are dangerous. In a perfect marriage, there is little room for growth and improvement and it is easy to become comfortable. You are probably thinking who am I to say...I have only been married for a year. Don't get me wrong, I know I still have so much to learn, but I have also learned a lot. And isn't that what trials are for...to help us learn, and grow, and become better people? So, for me, I'll leave a perfect marriage for the next life, avoid taking the things that matter most for granit, and continue striving for a marriage that is even better today than it was yesterday...

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a little hopeless romantic. Occasionally I'll make Jarom sit down and watch a good chick flick with me...and I love quotes. So here's one for you:

"You only have three choices when it comes to love; give up, give in, or give it your all. You decide which one's worth it..."

Happy Honeymoon Anniversary Jar! ;)