Um... so having Family Home Evening with real family is SO much better than the organized groups of random college kids that the school does.
Though our family its just Garrett and I, we have had some (two) of the best FHE's i have ever been apart of.
Luckily, Garrett is really good at just going along with things.
Last week we made paper snow flakes.
This week for FHE we went and got our first Christmas tree and decorations and hung last weeks snow flakes.
(and got some of those cinnamon smelling pine cones. hello wonderful smells all of the time.)

We decorated, drank cider, listened to John Denver & the Muppets Christmas
 and toped the night off with a viewing of Christmas Vacation while gorging on one of those popcorn tins that has the three flavors.
(and Garrett even let me get the tin with puppies on it! I'm telling you, I am a lucky girl.)
I am so thankful for my little family.
(and the fact that its December 6th and there is no snow on the ground. what the what?)

This is going viral
but i love it so much.

This year for Thanksgiving we had it with our friends.
Friendsgiving if you will.
Since we were just home for the wedding, we found it made more sense to stay here than to go home.
And though I sure did miss my family this year, having it with our friends was really great.
We are blessed with really great friends.
Really great.

I also had my very first (that i know of) black friday experience!
Except, we went on thursday... but same thing right?
and though we got a really good deal on a tv, after waiting in multiple lines (even the wrong line once), the big crowds, and the nasty feelings i had going on, i do not plan on experiencing this again.

I know its early in this winter season, but i am already so sick of being inside!
On Saturday i asked Garrett if we could go on a hike to our secret spot.
I knew it would be cold because, duh its late November.
But it didnt even phase me that it would be muddy!
REALLY muddy.
We hiked/slid down the mountain and made it to the water falls.
and though i complained and laughed (because of how ridiculous it really was) and might of gotten uncomfortably close to wetting my pants the whole way down,
the fresh air and seeing the water falls partially frozen but still flowing was worth it.
On the way back we got stuck in the mud trying to go up a wet, slippery hill.
(Maybe even damaged the car...? ugh)
no more hikes until spring.

And we have started watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy in preparation for the Hobbit.
I have never really seen any of these movies so we figured what better time than Thanksgiving break to start them!
Luckily i had lots of popcorn, pie, apple cider, funny friends, and snuggles to get me though the first two movies.
heres to two down and one more to go!

I know, I know.
Before the wedding I couldn't stop talking about how many more days and what not.
And now post wedding, I cant stop looking at all of the photos and thinking about how much fun it all was.
I am so blessed to have such a great family who with out them and all of their help with wedding things, Im pretty sure we would have just eloped to the temple and called it good.
But I am so glad we didn't.
and i am thankful for each and every one of them and all of their work, time, money, and skill that went into making this dinner happen.
it was magical.

not to photo overload you, but here are some of my favorites right now. (i love all of them so my favorites change every time i look at them)
Melanie Meik Photography (soon Smelcer) did such an amazing job!

Doing things the way we wanted to do them was so nice.
small and intimate.
no cutting the cake.
no inviting people we didnt really want there.
no first dance.
no awkward, every one starting at me moments.
it was fantastic.

But I will say that I am still not used to all of this.
and im not talking about the marriage thing.
that part is so so so great.
its the titles.
when i am referring to Garrett i dont know what to call him.
when i say "my husband" for some reason i feel like im bragging.
(because i did get the best one, duh.)
and now when my boss and coworkers call my work phone i get "Mrs. Sherwood please" every time.

i am so blessed.
(see more at http://melaniemeikphotography.blogspot.com/)