On the road to recovery...

Matt has a condition called Diabetic Retinopathy that affects his vision. Blood vessels in his eyes become damaged and it blurs his vision (blood actually leaks into his eyes which causes the blurred vision). He gets laser treatments every so often to help the poor vision. Well about 2 weeks ago the blood vessels caused his vision to become even worse in his left eye and his doctor told him he would need surgery. On Friday we took him to a clinic here in Provo to get his surgery done. He was a little nervous as they were getting ready for the surgery but was a trooper! After changing into a hospital gown and getting an IV he was ready to go. I kissed him goodbye and anxiously waited for the surgery to get over. I waited about an hour (in which I fell asleep a couple of times) until the nurse came in and told me he was done. When I went back into the post-op room he was sitting there in bed like nothing happened. He wasn't put completely under which was nice because he wasn't groggy or anything. He did have to wear a nice eye patch for the rest of the day but all and all it went very well. His vision is still really bad in that eye but after a visit to the doctor today it looks like the surgery did what it was suppose to do. It will just take time now to heal his eye but we are very grateful everything went so well. Here are some photos...

(This is right before the surgery...Matt was anxiously awaiting for them to get started)

(Right after the surgery with his eye patch on...I think he looks pretty good for just having a needle in his eye...ouch!)

(His extremely red eye)

(Checking out his lovely eye patch he wears at night so he doesn't accidentally rub his eye when he is sleeping)

It's finally done!

This semester I took an Astronomy class and it's been really fun! Besides learning a lot of really neat facts (like did you know that...The planet Venus does not tilt as it goes around the Sun, so consequently, it has no seasons or The Sun contains over 99.8 percent of the total material (mass) in our solar system, while Jupiter contains most of the rest) I was able to get out my old painting supplies and whip up a new painting for our final project. We were given the assignment to take one of our talents and create something to display either a concept we learned in class or something we will take from class. I was planning on making some sugar cookies shaped like the planets and stars since baking sugar cookies has become a hobby for me. When I told Matt my idea he thought it would be really cool if I painted something instead and showed off the little artistic talent I claim to have. I haven't picked up a paint brush in way too long so I was a little apprehensive with jumping right into a full out painting for my final project. With encouragement from my amazing husband I was able to dive right into it and spark an old flame with my love for painting. Here is my finished product (it's about the size of a small table top), the photo quality is not the best but I think it turned out pretty good...

'Tis the Season!

So this weekend found Matt and myself decorating our apartment for Christmas. It's always interesting going from a small apartment to a slightly larger apartment and finding out that you don't have as many decorations as you thought you had (or you just have more space then you use to have). All and all it was fun finally getting our decorations up! We even bought our first large Christmas tree (yes it's artificial but we love it!) here are some photos...

(This is a little video I made of our lights. Last year Matt and I found these really cool lights that fade from white to multi-colored. Usually I don't like lights that fade because either someone has them on a really fast setting and it gives me a migraine or it just looks tacky but these ones actually were really cool and Matt and I love them! Funny story is after we decorated our tree with lights (just plain old boring ones) we found these ones but decided we didn't want to redecorate the tree (since we went over every branch) so next year these little puppies will be on our tree and I think it will look pretty cool!)

(Without the flash and during the white phase of the lights)

(Also without the flash and during the multi-colored phase of the lights)

(The wreath on our door. I got this wreath at my bridal shower almost three years ago!)

(Our Christmas tree!)

(And now with lights!)

(Our little village under our tree...small now but give it a couple years and I can see a whole little country being formed!)

(Our 'Willow Tree' nativity scene Matt's parents got us for Christmas last year)

(Our little welcome tree)

(The cute story behind this was it was our first nativity scene when we got married. It was Matt's and he's probably had it for some time now, though I am not sure how he acquired it. We will probably get many more nativity scenes throughout our life but this one holds a special place in our hearts. Sidenote: I just recently found out from Matt's dad that this nativity scene was made by him and Matt's mom in the early years of their marriage when they didn't have a whole lot of money to get a big elaborate nativity scene. I have to say I think it means even more to me now!)

(Our little Santa pillow)

(Our little decoration on our end table)

So besides decorating our home Matt and I had a pretty busy weekend! On Thursday Matt and I attended the Mount Timpanogas Temple (the one we got married in!) with our Ward which was really cool! It's always nice to go to the temple and enjoy the beauty of it but going to the one you were married in just seems to be that much more amazing!

On Friday my mom bought us tickets to see 'A Christmas Carol' at the Hale Center Theater in Orem. The play was pretty dang good! I recommend everyone in the area to go out and see it! I admit I wasn't really thrilled to see a play (past experiences of being in the nose bleed section altered my views) but after going that has completely changed! The wonderful thing about this theater is that it's so different from anyone I've ever been to. For starters it's a lot smaller which means you get a more close, intimate experience. Matt and I were on the front row and the way the stage was positioned (basically the audience was doing a 360 around the stage which was really cool) the characters would get so close to us if we stuck our foot out we would trip them (no we didn't stick out our foot though tempting). It was a pretty amazing experience and something Matt and I are going to try to do again and again.

On Saturday Matt had the day off which was pretty stinkin wonderful! We ran some errands, did some shopping, and just enjoyed the day together! We were able to pick up some Christmas essentials (wrapping paper, gift bags and boxes, ribbon, and gift tags). Later that night we finished wrapping all our families presents and one of these days (while Matt is at work) I will finish wrapping his presents and then we will be done! YEA! Later that day I was able to work a little more on my Astronomy final project (a painting I am doing of the solar system) and hopefully I will be done with it tonight, it is due Wednesday so I better get it done!

On Sunday it was nice because Matt had the day off and was able to attend church with me and help in the library (for the first time in way too long). After church I decided to make a pie...

The pie is cherry and it was delicious! Healthy? No! Yummy? Of course! I have of huge love of baking so this just sufficed my need for the day! That was my weekend, it was pretty perfect! The best was Matt had Saturday and Sunday off, what could be better?!

This week I am wrapping things up in my Astronomy class and next Monday (the 15th) I have my final. It will be nice to have a little break from school. Also this week Matt goes in to have his eye surgery Friday on the 12th. We haven't gotten the details on the surgery yet but it looks like he will be staying in the hospital Friday night. He will be getting a week off of work which will really help his recovery. Until the time comes we really don't know what to expect but any prayers would be greatly appreciated!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Every year around this time (or maybe even earlier) I can vividly remember my mom singing "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas". This was usually something that made us kids uneasy because it meant that it was time to start decorating the house which would take hours not to mention probably a couple of temper tantrums, whining, and an all together need for a part-time job just to get out of the house (and they say holidays are about spending time with the family). It has only been since I've moved out that I have really enjoyed decorating the house for Christmas.

Well as it goes Matt and I have not yet even started decorating (well that's not technically true, I did get our holiday wreath out and stick it on the door but I mean how hard can that be?). The biggest thing stopping us is that we don't have a tree. For the past two Christmas's we've had a pretty small little tree that matched perfectly with our small little apartment. With all our ornaments, lights, and tinsel the tree has been overloaded to the point where we have decided to go with a larger (artificial) tree that will serve to better fit our larger apartment as well. Well I think tonight we are going to purchase the new addition to our home and I couldn't be more excited! It will be nice to finally get the tree up as well as the rest of our Christmas decorations. Wish us luck!

On a side note this week should be a pretty good one. For starters Matt has Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off and I couldn't be more excited! We have a very eventful week planned with going to Ward Temple Night on Thursday, our Ward Christmas Party on Friday, "A Christmas Carol" with the family later Friday night, sleeping in on Saturday and just taking the day to relax, and Matt having Sunday off for the first time in about a month which pretty much is the highlight of the week for me! Not to mention that today I am getting an eye exam which means I will be getting some new glasses which is much needed! Now to figure out what I wanna get...hmmm.

Yea for Family & Food!

Yesterday Matt and I enjoyed our second Thanksgiving of the season at my Mom's house. We enjoyed mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, yams, green beans and bacon (that was Matt and my idea), corn, rolls, and yummy pumpkin pie and peach pie a la mode! After dinner we looked at some Christmas photos from through out the years and it definitely got us in the Christmas mood (only a month away)!

(Me and Matt...poor guy had to work graveyards this week so he is very tired in these pictures)

(Me and the siblings...plus a very cute little puppy!)


(Ryan and Resley)

(Austin, my Mom, me, and Matt...yeah he is giving me bunny ears the little stinker!)

(Yea for the cheesy pictures!)

(Pre-Thanksgiving)

(The turkey!)

(Ryan and Wes carving up our turkey!)

(Matt and I making his famous green beans and bacon...all I can say is thanks Mommy D.!)

(Austin getting his grub on!)

(Matt getting ready to eat!)

(Austin, Chelsie, and Wes ready to chow down!)

(Ryan, my Mom, and Austin after a very yummy Thanksgiving!)