tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14584593020344673672024-03-05T02:00:13.767-08:00Matt and Amanda EkmanMatt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-12116623699843962532012-05-26T14:42:00.002-07:002012-05-26T14:43:50.603-07:00Summer 2011 Part 2Now on to part 2 of our summer adventures from last year. First up we have the trip to Fish Lake with my family. Let me start with a little history. We used to do a trip here with my Haymond cousins every other summer or so when I was little. I remember having so much fun catching fish, running around like a little ragamuffin, being so excited to sit on daddy's lap and "drive" the boat, and I will never forget going down to the tiny little lodge store with all my siblings and cousins to buy 1 candy each (someone would give us money and we usually went each day we were there it was so fun!)I wish I had access to some of those pictures right now bc they are pure hilarity(next time I'm home I will scan a bunch of my little kid pictures and give everyone a real treat.)
Back to Fish Lake, I was so excited to share this part of my childhood with my husband and my sister brought her husband as well (our cousins weren't there this time so that ruined the magic a little bit). We stayed in a lovely little cabin and had our fishing boat and we were set to go. Let's just say it wasn't as amazing as it had been when I was little, I am realizing now how different things are through a child's eyes vs. an adults. We still had a blast spending time with family, eating amazing food, and of course fishing. I am so sensitive to this, i love catching a fish but then I feel bad. (like when I was bawling(literally and Matt laughs at me) on our honeymoon in Costa Rica as we were driving and running over soo many frogs(you couldn't avoid them).Anyways here are some pictures of that trip it was actually pretty cold.
Getting ready to head out.
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Here's Matt's fish haha
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Yay I finally caught one!
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We stayed with B and Q in the Beaver cabin, the rest were in a way bigger one.
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Here's the whole crew
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Had to rock our Fish Lake shirts!
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We had lots of fun with my family and I am glad we had all of that time to spend with them over the summer and after this trip the adventures continue as we headed to Oregon to spend the second half of summer with Matt's parents. To be continued in part 3. (and yes there are going to be lots of parts, we were very busy this summer). :)Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-43814704365942085302012-05-19T21:44:00.001-07:002012-05-19T22:55:25.161-07:00Summer 2011 (part 1)Wow it has been almost a year since I posted anything but I wanted to have everything to remember so I am going to briefly catch up to the present. (I am going to right some stuff that yes we already know ie decisions but that we were going through a year ago if that makes sense) Well to start after graduation Matt and I went to the east coast to look at some law schools.
We visited Villanova in Philadelphia, PA.
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University of Maryland
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William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA
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We had also already vistited Pepperdine, UNLV, and Willamette. Matt did a wonderful job planning all our flights, trains, hotels, taxis, and rental car on our trip. We really liked Villanova University it was beautiful there!. Didn't like Maryland, and loved William and Mary. Matt was on the waiting list and we (ME) were really hoping that he would get in. I loved Williamsburg it was so pretty and such a wonderful area. We were grateful to stay at Matt's cousin Rebecca's house while we there. Well we didn't just visit law schools on this trip we also did the touristy stuff and I loved it. Here is a few things we did....
The Liberty Bell)
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Rode trains
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Colonial Williamsburg (It was so cool!) Here we are with Rebecca's family(her husband took the picture)
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We went to Busch Gardens.
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And we had a few days to spend in D.C.
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We had such a wonderful trip and were closer to making a decision about law school. After we got back we were staying with my parents in Vegas for a bit, it was fun to be home and spend time with my family. One of the days Matt had been all secretive and I was getting so mad at him when all he was doing was planning a wonderful night for us! He got us amazing seats to see Phantom of the Opera at The Venetian, and he also got us an awesome suite at The Bellagio with a view that overlooked the fountains. :) It was a lot of fun and very romantic ;). I just love him!
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Our view of the fountains with the music playing in the room :)
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We also got to try out my new bow, which was so much fun (I should have played Katniss).
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Went to the temple.
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Made a music video with my sister Morgan
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And of course we went to Disneyland! Seriously that place just makes me so happy :)
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Waited a ridiculous amount of time for Space Mountain
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I am obsessed with Tron!
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Finally went on the Storybook ride.
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Ok well this is long enough for now, I will finish up the events of the summer in my next post. (Which will hopefully be soon and not a year from now haha).Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-63676794693376505602011-07-03T19:00:00.001-07:002011-07-03T19:28:01.636-07:00GraduationWell it has been an awfully long time since I have posted anything. We have just had so many things going on lately, so its been very busy. I will have a few catch up posts shortly. First of all was graduating from BYU. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpunQ6jvF4XVJ0h-SjG33uTN_52HG0Gc13sZX5TagyqIWqnyIp64SytPpd8nmCeG3Ig7kFvsYqTho9xqYJu9roiaJIfx8y7kGnMJZNEmeGuDH4j3X8ZJGkNA-2C_oodZits4TbOEIDEHHa/s1600/IMG_0304.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpunQ6jvF4XVJ0h-SjG33uTN_52HG0Gc13sZX5TagyqIWqnyIp64SytPpd8nmCeG3Ig7kFvsYqTho9xqYJu9roiaJIfx8y7kGnMJZNEmeGuDH4j3X8ZJGkNA-2C_oodZits4TbOEIDEHHa/s320/IMG_0304.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625311654993805682" /></a><br />Matt and I both graduated and it was so fun to be able to walk together. Matt received his degree in Geospatial Intelligence and I received a degree in Exercise Science. It feels so weird to be done, it will be weird when Matt starts law school in the fall and I won't be starting school :( Hopefully I can get into a dental hygiene program wherever we end up and then I will back to school. It is so amazing to achieve this lifelong goal. Both my family and Matt's parents came for graduation and it was so much fun. We got to eat lots of good food and we all went to Texas Roadhouse after the actual graduation...soo yummy! And after that we had to pack up our house and move it into storage. We were lucky to have Matt's parents help us to pack everything and even help clean, we were so grateful for that. <br /><br />We are both just so priviledged to have such wonderful and and supportive families who are always there for us and who have helped us to get to this point in our lives and we are so grateful for them. :)<br /><br />Now here are some pictures from graduation.<br />Walking across the stage to get our diplomas.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4m6H3xrnDc5nzPC2tcvUeRKwElmIQQwt8DrbnjDc3L8v51qfwFjrmiOv_9gPEE-YasJlk9VWuvUfKqJn_ZlKtgV9ibQEJN7OHu_N_kWYF6zgVHUc_17Ny2Nr5YSQT7Dr9OO54VPRcTF_/s1600/grad+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4m6H3xrnDc5nzPC2tcvUeRKwElmIQQwt8DrbnjDc3L8v51qfwFjrmiOv_9gPEE-YasJlk9VWuvUfKqJn_ZlKtgV9ibQEJN7OHu_N_kWYF6zgVHUc_17Ny2Nr5YSQT7Dr9OO54VPRcTF_/s320/grad+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625315386756738466" /></a><br />Here we are with my family minus Blake who had a Basketball tournament that weekend.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdTLj5JjIdLtJ-AIkS4nZtlE0YP2UhIk7cc-tjzp36smNHDmVm3XPha6p9vXZBdcRd52NX2PLlkbluWqOZ0khEQiZGq6RHuU-MaNmDk_h0N0vVocH2qvvDcyfWhN5Utuis7yNgGtygNHw/s1600/grad+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdTLj5JjIdLtJ-AIkS4nZtlE0YP2UhIk7cc-tjzp36smNHDmVm3XPha6p9vXZBdcRd52NX2PLlkbluWqOZ0khEQiZGq6RHuU-MaNmDk_h0N0vVocH2qvvDcyfWhN5Utuis7yNgGtygNHw/s320/grad+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625316111301309586" /></a><br />And here we are with Matt's parents.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjqTlkXdWNGbsJxmSbmxT9aULj9rignHKHCamiv7DAbmnKdG4Xe-GhqwsQR-oZGLaKmoJIdJRB1Y1Idxv-8kcVXEGagR2nPb7bdXDVX015-rup1wwtP7WNH00dQCMbDkzMcHdX4GT03TL/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjqTlkXdWNGbsJxmSbmxT9aULj9rignHKHCamiv7DAbmnKdG4Xe-GhqwsQR-oZGLaKmoJIdJRB1Y1Idxv-8kcVXEGagR2nPb7bdXDVX015-rup1wwtP7WNH00dQCMbDkzMcHdX4GT03TL/s320/008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625316571098723570" /></a><br />Of course we had to take pictures by these big signs on the way up to campus.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e7DOdFFOKfLZpL1BKV8QhYSa5P2PwOA8EuqqYozuMBRUKoVITRfpKtZcIy1UdmCarfF8200WdDmyaOLpOpbxwu4BC4HVIJ298lS6uy11ZVaD7f4pNNFLghLc4R7sjCtXiRe6IofzEuZl/s1600/IMG_0310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e7DOdFFOKfLZpL1BKV8QhYSa5P2PwOA8EuqqYozuMBRUKoVITRfpKtZcIy1UdmCarfF8200WdDmyaOLpOpbxwu4BC4HVIJ298lS6uy11ZVaD7f4pNNFLghLc4R7sjCtXiRe6IofzEuZl/s320/IMG_0310.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625317682871356898" /></a><br />Posing with the cougar<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWTPvV_sWWiI_AO5x55f_9z9743FqgJG4fFwUbyuNuRJ2rHcYtQS78VYJWBLVF6wVccJmvqp4xaKLmkrTfci9kzZRmhJBQrimdmAA7knP60tJe_ap3mBkYPybTKyGIGeVLvcCrxsSfqhy/s1600/grad+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWTPvV_sWWiI_AO5x55f_9z9743FqgJG4fFwUbyuNuRJ2rHcYtQS78VYJWBLVF6wVccJmvqp4xaKLmkrTfci9kzZRmhJBQrimdmAA7knP60tJe_ap3mBkYPybTKyGIGeVLvcCrxsSfqhy/s320/grad+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625318007381750290" /></a><br /><br />More updates coming soon.....Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-82488627163123916142011-04-27T12:55:00.000-07:002011-11-13T18:22:52.034-08:00Where in the world will Matt go for law school?!So this post will be long just a warning. To start I want to talk about our last minute trip to Vegas that we took the week before graduation. We had no school on Thursday and Friday so we decided to drive down to Vegas and then California to go and look at Pepperdine's Law School and UNLV's Law school. I am so glad we took this trip because it has helped to narrow at least 1 decision down. So we packed up and left Utah at like 7:30 pm Wednesday to get to Vegas. We got there at like 12:30 and then we left Vegas at 3:40 AM! to drive to Malibu, CA. Luckily my husband is awesome and I had a little bed in the back seat while he drove that first stretch. We had a meeting at 10:30 with the admissions lady at Pepperdine to take a tour and sit in on a class. Let's just say we were less than enthused with Pepperdine. It has a beautiful location and is a very good school but we just didn't click with it. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gKLOHr7b0y-0fNOsTpAyWT0I5k0_aOrvUkZkwt3yTid8rR9jJ30_hQxKpnYty8NTEAAOFZq3g1oNb7fkv-_hvG9yiWeQL7RetzG11q92YCuCoLWa9Tcv9IpGueoSqfDIGWPo4lXLOaEi/s1600/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gKLOHr7b0y-0fNOsTpAyWT0I5k0_aOrvUkZkwt3yTid8rR9jJ30_hQxKpnYty8NTEAAOFZq3g1oNb7fkv-_hvG9yiWeQL7RetzG11q92YCuCoLWa9Tcv9IpGueoSqfDIGWPo4lXLOaEi/s200/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600357121139254386" /></a><br />So we went into this thinking it was definitely where we would want to go and came out of it knowing it is not where we should go. We just did not get a good vibe here, the school felt like a high school and people were so inappropriately dressed. We just expected that people in law school would try to be a little more professional and take their schooling seriously. Anyways we have decided that we will be turning down Pepperdine it just was not the right fit for us and we really do not feel like that is where we are supposed to be, plus I don't care to deal with the traffic, crazy drivers, and ridiculous living costs. So yay we have made at least one decision! So after our visit we drove to Beverly Hills to see my sissy in law Rachel and go to lunch. It was a quick visit but it was fun and we were glad we got to say hi :) then we drove back to Vegas and of course hit the awful 5 o'clock LA traffic :(. We got home at like 10:30 exhausted. <br /> Ok ya still with me?.... So on Friday morning we went to take a tour of UNLV's law school. I was almost like let's not even go but I am so glad that we did. We met with the admissions director and he was soo nice. He knew Matt's file and commented on his essay, it was so nice to have him be personable with us. We loved it! I have actually never been to the campus before and I really liked it. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blurblawg.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54f871a9c883301156f3f406e970c-320wi"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 266px;" src="http://blurblawg.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54f871a9c883301156f3f406e970c-320wi" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We had such a better feeling about this school and the students we saw acted so much more mature and were dressed nicely. The school is very young and isn't as well known as some of the other schools we have looked at but there are soo many more perks to going to UNLV. <br /> 1. Matt has a bomb scholarship offer to UNLV<br /> 2. We would be close to both our families (mine in Vegas and Matt's in Oregon)<br /> 3. We could buy a HOUSE, and finally get a dog :)!<br /> 4. I can get back into horse back riding :)<br /> 5. I can apply for dental hygiene school and hopefully get in :)<br /> 6. We have lots of friends in Vegas instead of moving back east and knowing no one :(<br /><br />I think I'm sold but we still want to take a trip back east to see our other school options there. So we are working our last 2 weeks at our jobs in Provo and then we are moving to Vegas for the rest of the month to my house until we can figure out where we are going. We are planning a trip during that time. We are going to look at Villanova in PA (where we have another scholarship offer also they have a sweet study abroad program in Rome!:) ), University of Maryland, American University in DC (pretty sure we are turning this down, it is a very liberal school and just doesn't sound like what we want), and William and Mary in VA. I forgot to add that we may take a trip to Texas to see University of Houston, and we will most likely drive to Arizona to look at ASU. We were also accepted to Willamette in OR with a scholarship but we have turned that one down. It is going to be a busy trip and we have a huge decision to make very soon. So that is plan for right now, I am very excited to finalize our decision and get started on this next step of our lives. Anyone who has gone to any of the schools or visited them etc. let me know what your impressions were/are. <br /><br />Ok lastly I am gonna finish up on the rest of our time in Vegas. Friday I was able to get my hair done yay! Seriously I don't know what I am going to do if we move far away I just don't trust anyone else with my hair (Leslie has been doing my hair since I was like 10 or so and has known me since I was a baby). We ate Raising Canes, their chicken fingers are soo good! Also Friday night we got to go and see Le Reve at The Wynn. My dad got us tickets and it was a sweet show. All of the acrobatics and effects of the show were really fun to watch, we were both lost on the story line though. But I am glad we got to go see it, I had no idea that the whole stage is a big pool! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxlgBEtSOt5npxY9RHYbNhKrFA3UkrmaeRguWcpLkd0ymLW8docFD8nCF7N5bECQsAVhgPCKZqROsh676kfTjThnIWWjXNm1i9Lw1Vu4sKrS3trEHmlDnyhq9p3T6WuIbCeToRrs86FXs/s1600/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxlgBEtSOt5npxY9RHYbNhKrFA3UkrmaeRguWcpLkd0ymLW8docFD8nCF7N5bECQsAVhgPCKZqROsh676kfTjThnIWWjXNm1i9Lw1Vu4sKrS3trEHmlDnyhq9p3T6WuIbCeToRrs86FXs/s320/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600380264208014738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq6SYUCBMob1JERe1-0XXcDCVu5peIsIB4uHbJY__XvcIZ6igWWLpLALl8tBkJ8PW8Ka0kxT-21wccBErWF80K8kydCx7Ci-AEKQwZpNCBaootf6GrDIXykYwZYcfyXgQo6pjZTszPpNC/s1600/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq6SYUCBMob1JERe1-0XXcDCVu5peIsIB4uHbJY__XvcIZ6igWWLpLALl8tBkJ8PW8Ka0kxT-21wccBErWF80K8kydCx7Ci-AEKQwZpNCBaootf6GrDIXykYwZYcfyXgQo6pjZTszPpNC/s320/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600380485009725810" /></a><br />After the show Matt wanted to walk around a bit (great idea since i was in heels...not. Here is the Wynn fountain. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zR1UE3b4S_t28G5BAmMI3wAB_X-d-tVOJEPli3zA1yFgXsqGwP9ZjAcs8952_O3SVAEurjXqu_ZbkKz1T9A_sfUrMPjRs7bRjmrCyyCLyWM7IWgYZBjDdv2s21dXfdNmIo2axP1_S8es/s1600/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zR1UE3b4S_t28G5BAmMI3wAB_X-d-tVOJEPli3zA1yFgXsqGwP9ZjAcs8952_O3SVAEurjXqu_ZbkKz1T9A_sfUrMPjRs7bRjmrCyyCLyWM7IWgYZBjDdv2s21dXfdNmIo2axP1_S8es/s320/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600381129471998674" /></a><br />We went as far as Caesars Palace and then came back. I was trying to take Matt to the Nike Store in the forum shops but it is closed until summer they are like renovating it. So we walked all the way over there for nothing :( Well not for nothing it was still fun just walking around with Matt. <br /> <br /> (Ok im getting on my soap box here but I just have to defend my hometown for a minute. I am sick of people always bagging on Vegas and saying its soo sinful and gross. Um hello ya if you spend all your time on the strip that is what you will find but your asking for it there because you know what to expect before you go so its no big surprise. Also can I please point out to these Vegas haters that what you see on the strip is not Vegas those are all the tourists! The tourists bring the trash to the strip, get drunk, act slutty etc. You can ask just about any person from Las Vegas and the majority of them will say they never really go to the strip except to see a show, try a nice restaurant, spend a night in a fancy hotel for a special occasion, to show visitors around because they want to go, or to go shopping. Also there is a HUGE LDS population in Vegas so its not all bad. Once you realize that Vegas is not the strip you see that it is a nice place with nice homes, people, and things to do. Im sure all of my fellow Las Vegans have been irritated by this too at some point or another so you know what I'm saying.) We love it there that's why so many of us have gone back! <br /><br /> Ok back to the trip...On Saturday it was so nice to sleep in a little although my body clock is still set to wake up at 7 am :(. We went around with my dad to look at storage units, and then we all went to dinner with my grandma and Aunt Edyth to Lindo Michoacan for my dad's birthday. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0s41zJCUAJHRduhkn8Pc1VUBEbsWIVpI4GS3YhfSTihz9peMxv34S_GCXv8B6vHXADIL3fQBfQB_Rv1le5Xby0GTOAthdT1bNF0Tkf2bUlYF2SG6K6d9c0R_BZEbfd888zNivFVpEUoN/s1600/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0s41zJCUAJHRduhkn8Pc1VUBEbsWIVpI4GS3YhfSTihz9peMxv34S_GCXv8B6vHXADIL3fQBfQB_Rv1le5Xby0GTOAthdT1bNF0Tkf2bUlYF2SG6K6d9c0R_BZEbfd888zNivFVpEUoN/s320/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+015.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600382125431674434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABDrKC3BtN9QiKJiYGcjMhUX95QYnPTDohT1UDFaK34-2urrsyMFvSc0ITOfJeN49NfnOxduClrF65FTrPRX1qXU2J_oPS6460_Jzj2w8sFKoj9cVF1W6DoKdmJtk1WfM5jNNPxbPaHjv/s1600/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABDrKC3BtN9QiKJiYGcjMhUX95QYnPTDohT1UDFaK34-2urrsyMFvSc0ITOfJeN49NfnOxduClrF65FTrPRX1qXU2J_oPS6460_Jzj2w8sFKoj9cVF1W6DoKdmJtk1WfM5jNNPxbPaHjv/s320/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+027.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600382761902961794" /></a><br />Afterwards Morgan, Matt, and I went to grab Yogurtland for everyone :) We watched the new Narnia movie which was lame. On Sunday we had to leave pretty early to get back by 7 to show our house to some potential new tenants. It ended up being too expensive for them but we fulfilled our contract so we don't have to stress about finding a renter just show the house to interested couples :) <br /><br />Well that wraps up our trip, we have a lot of big decisions to make in the next month wish us luck!! Oh ya and I have graduation to blog about next :)Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-80307998155276108502011-04-21T11:21:00.000-07:002011-04-21T11:24:53.116-07:00Dilemma solvedI finally got my hair done and I love it, I'm back to my more natural dark hair. Oh and I didn't cut my bangs I'm gonna try growing them out for a little while longer. :) What do ya think?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYSSuCALxW4JTAOtrMK9f8yLm4vOrq_Xgx9SEzE6eZbyscJ9YOZgJAnihxx8BK5SurmTjzMYTEVQURm54hZ5uFFB_NH9Yj6GFgCZ7QDAZog8rr-8Vf_bdnmW5Fl5Z2yptF24sSBne0ULL/s1600/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYSSuCALxW4JTAOtrMK9f8yLm4vOrq_Xgx9SEzE6eZbyscJ9YOZgJAnihxx8BK5SurmTjzMYTEVQURm54hZ5uFFB_NH9Yj6GFgCZ7QDAZog8rr-8Vf_bdnmW5Fl5Z2yptF24sSBne0ULL/s320/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598103984261770978" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDTvPOd0YSitiz_3LJrj7S7CCxjT5KDV4hrI9OzqkycTbo70m0Q_meG53pgNPdIZRPcFJ7th-Crei38hrzBtwVsXz7Ji7asRqEk0xZWNDAqRZxdwH-bsRA7StQ1__i4r0nSRT8hsjodjl/s1600/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDTvPOd0YSitiz_3LJrj7S7CCxjT5KDV4hrI9OzqkycTbo70m0Q_meG53pgNPdIZRPcFJ7th-Crei38hrzBtwVsXz7Ji7asRqEk0xZWNDAqRZxdwH-bsRA7StQ1__i4r0nSRT8hsjodjl/s320/Vegas+and+Cali+4-11+012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598104487491261826" /></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-48678037955645207042011-04-18T09:40:00.000-07:002011-04-20T08:54:43.666-07:00Palm Springs (unofficial Spring Break)Well we have been doing a lot lately and I just have been too lazy/busy to try to blog. So I will just update quickly and with lots of pictures. So since BYU doesn't give us a spring break we created our own. Matt's parents rented a beautiful house in Palm Springs for everyone to come and stay at. This year we were very happy to have a bed we could sleep together in :), last year our room was 2 twin beds and you bet we still slept together but not very comfortably haha.It was a little cooler and overcast the first couple of days that we were there but the last 2 days were perfect! Also side-note: Any vacation where all the kids are present is amazing birth control for us haha. It is wonderful to have these kinds of trips every year to keep us on track ;). We have been the couple in the family to wait the longest before having a baby, so we feel very accomplished. Awwww its so nice to go to sleep at night and not have to worry about anything but me and the hubby, we always get to eat first because we don't have to fix kids plates , and we can do whatever we want and not have to worry about where the kids are or who can watch them. I realize that this sounds a little selfish but I don't really care, we deserve to have a few selfish years to ourselves to complete the things we want to do and just be together.(sorry for that little tangent):) Anyways, these pictures are not necessarily in the order that they occurred but here they are. <br /><br />Here we are in the backyard, which had an open view to the golf course.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYlMqR61KGWrlBCLPqHCSIrRXkR2jvjqFMGc9xZyhr5-IN3pzJDLDmZaFuUNNTCkq9aW6javdFboM6NaLPgWJelob2UfT4TN5RtpQhHM-xAtEoY74mw-t7NTMHpBTVuKYxluC1wsBKAhk/s1600/Palm+Springs+2011+026.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYlMqR61KGWrlBCLPqHCSIrRXkR2jvjqFMGc9xZyhr5-IN3pzJDLDmZaFuUNNTCkq9aW6javdFboM6NaLPgWJelob2UfT4TN5RtpQhHM-xAtEoY74mw-t7NTMHpBTVuKYxluC1wsBKAhk/s320/Palm+Springs+2011+026.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597416606615302402" /></a><br /><br />We rode bikes. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN5I88sziT30BwrxT-r0zL0KYrXZlxzDnEKBlepoKggpwfeoneqHoAZvKcBccIsCBHEp4ywiaUx4hklUB2CNgLoQuB_luyEY5fG_KZJRetkYNaJAoCYjHkEULYtp_FtWCAPe25aPkDipf/s1600/Palm+Springs+2011+018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN5I88sziT30BwrxT-r0zL0KYrXZlxzDnEKBlepoKggpwfeoneqHoAZvKcBccIsCBHEp4ywiaUx4hklUB2CNgLoQuB_luyEY5fG_KZJRetkYNaJAoCYjHkEULYtp_FtWCAPe25aPkDipf/s320/Palm+Springs+2011+018.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597417017882122898" /></a><br /><br />We played the game "Headbanz" with the kids.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTIM_FVILLB00Qg0dTRiiBVfsZPApVRBqvvkEp98ROvp7Bn9O88-4f01DGV1C3uzE7NfsWJMgHJVOQ_lIoKurbdUuO6lckPONol5jSEGa-F6LAvj1IvWPi0ZK0jaK_3qq4tSbIayjOVVd/s1600/Palm+Springs+2011+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTIM_FVILLB00Qg0dTRiiBVfsZPApVRBqvvkEp98ROvp7Bn9O88-4f01DGV1C3uzE7NfsWJMgHJVOQ_lIoKurbdUuO6lckPONol5jSEGa-F6LAvj1IvWPi0ZK0jaK_3qq4tSbIayjOVVd/s320/Palm+Springs+2011+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597417294481633986" /></a><br /><br />We sang and ate Birthday cake for Akoni-32, Matt-25, and Amanda-23(gosh im so old now!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZrQQ_zzzTKa7rD96B5k6aDrTrVgC7CALvDNKGAegkF3ORPlmhV4ClosG0EC7yBsSA34_lwNAgSyr085Xm5jCIWGYFapvahzjExrh1J9xQ95c7BCycK4oCjmNhZPP0TVEG42h3lE7Zr3O/s1600/PS_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZrQQ_zzzTKa7rD96B5k6aDrTrVgC7CALvDNKGAegkF3ORPlmhV4ClosG0EC7yBsSA34_lwNAgSyr085Xm5jCIWGYFapvahzjExrh1J9xQ95c7BCycK4oCjmNhZPP0TVEG42h3lE7Zr3O/s320/PS_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597425700669225202" /></a><br /><br />We golfed. (On alittle putting green in the backyard and at an actual golf course, I drove the cart and I actually hit a ball over the water and not into it! Major life accomplishment).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiNdlINuv1Q4z_HtJjMHwZSmXSF_cFxXQX-MZnv-y8zEvAIgWyayv0oqyzqLrz-063de0s7VBr1VRfDSib9oJ7iRzPqAasxHaAJQtJ1QOYGWPj2jVCpJ0FeC82Brbsc_CMuTzbRI87yOh/s1600/Palm+Springs+2011+014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiNdlINuv1Q4z_HtJjMHwZSmXSF_cFxXQX-MZnv-y8zEvAIgWyayv0oqyzqLrz-063de0s7VBr1VRfDSib9oJ7iRzPqAasxHaAJQtJ1QOYGWPj2jVCpJ0FeC82Brbsc_CMuTzbRI87yOh/s320/Palm+Springs+2011+014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597426028997638450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yhevVh22x9_5Fp8cLM_BU98PDLbdT_AklDaoIZ-CyaIG35s6DjONjj2gJvdjTHBT0T9i7iL237oXAUtf9WQEzIv9NdSAk1iw0wVlD5jvW10fGMl_vtnBG5xG8Tk-eWYEGtk_wOEHQNxZ/s1600/Palm+Springs+2011+011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yhevVh22x9_5Fp8cLM_BU98PDLbdT_AklDaoIZ-CyaIG35s6DjONjj2gJvdjTHBT0T9i7iL237oXAUtf9WQEzIv9NdSAk1iw0wVlD5jvW10fGMl_vtnBG5xG8Tk-eWYEGtk_wOEHQNxZ/s320/Palm+Springs+2011+011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597426356113061810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AOe0KFUOFwfvPL5lbKsH8OMGwykWSiZvnzA0EjPsdJcg80ljuV38S7FhCO1qcjpq0PyKgwGbwaLAHHxC6_eSD8sBKqvC4VMRNFWn4bv5Qrw2UWEqvwM1k-5WE1XO23hiwLFv1YJp06YV/s1600/Palm+Springs+2011+029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AOe0KFUOFwfvPL5lbKsH8OMGwykWSiZvnzA0EjPsdJcg80ljuV38S7FhCO1qcjpq0PyKgwGbwaLAHHxC6_eSD8sBKqvC4VMRNFWn4bv5Qrw2UWEqvwM1k-5WE1XO23hiwLFv1YJp06YV/s320/Palm+Springs+2011+029.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597426516997876930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlLZbLux3N8qjQW21yn9bl3Pt793jy3dIr8JRPyl2gbsYw-1StZlsBQU2yly5Ryr4CBGRVnH8aweQw5KZQOZIAZQWaf5flMolO85AenfEZdRuVBbC-7mIQwrCZ0_JgeVW92mkUQjzxPgb/s1600/Palm+Springs+2011+043.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlLZbLux3N8qjQW21yn9bl3Pt793jy3dIr8JRPyl2gbsYw-1StZlsBQU2yly5Ryr4CBGRVnH8aweQw5KZQOZIAZQWaf5flMolO85AenfEZdRuVBbC-7mIQwrCZ0_JgeVW92mkUQjzxPgb/s320/Palm+Springs+2011+043.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597426696299368898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmzioWZD7k2KnI3nrZmd0-ix6xwzLZKm6IVe9lrYf1fpYFMFYL8FcuQcMu1cNSvaB0uQ8PQjK2GbkdaSIOTbDmS7eqoy_jZ0d6FtxapV4VVuiA4i2SQ4j9R8o49n5491RjJh98PBdbh9m/s1600/Palm+Springs+2011+036.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmzioWZD7k2KnI3nrZmd0-ix6xwzLZKm6IVe9lrYf1fpYFMFYL8FcuQcMu1cNSvaB0uQ8PQjK2GbkdaSIOTbDmS7eqoy_jZ0d6FtxapV4VVuiA4i2SQ4j9R8o49n5491RjJh98PBdbh9m/s320/Palm+Springs+2011+036.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597427101715000658" /></a><br /> <br />We got to eat at Cheesecake Factory on Matt's birthday and to celebrate the other birthdays (Kid free!) And mom and dad E treated all of us, it was soo good. thanks so much!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOSxXwF-Iy3q-6h79nlvUlT554bBiv6XVlWXYjGgtN6X9pV4Fu_snppVUlYTEEi0XUZHkXEuVOCZh71R7P2Uc6H1ABrKr8jEYzxsY5-Cu7GgpyAzxVSJJFLRfwkFkqE3itMN7f6dmhbvZ/s1600/Palm+Springs+2011+049.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOSxXwF-Iy3q-6h79nlvUlT554bBiv6XVlWXYjGgtN6X9pV4Fu_snppVUlYTEEi0XUZHkXEuVOCZh71R7P2Uc6H1ABrKr8jEYzxsY5-Cu7GgpyAzxVSJJFLRfwkFkqE3itMN7f6dmhbvZ/s320/Palm+Springs+2011+049.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597427269849291698" /></a><br /><br />We hung out by the pool (attempting to get some sun and wearing my new swimsuit and awesome hat!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87FbbHumuosSYTrNwVn_cD7vJD6nv62bSGvpMFAALkXGRgemqx9YyIoP5lU_70Baojvjgd-pNapaH97ioydjLE3YXI83hZwTvhyyX4HayaL_3wuGjpBJU7b-GLJYe1kMmmHhzf83aQoaG/s1600/Palm+Springs+2011+055.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87FbbHumuosSYTrNwVn_cD7vJD6nv62bSGvpMFAALkXGRgemqx9YyIoP5lU_70Baojvjgd-pNapaH97ioydjLE3YXI83hZwTvhyyX4HayaL_3wuGjpBJU7b-GLJYe1kMmmHhzf83aQoaG/s320/Palm+Springs+2011+055.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597427760542925058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0LXAwdWZHULucvSDmYiqDDc50u_lAfnWOzTgpF3_xb7yJuDpVwS4FgXQ9yLvHADucxnWKEuTQpimBBwNq6oUY5B9C2aDdNLN8hBJN1QfeYxUXq4cVZVR7cSJ1rrhCJbq60Xu8JR19Z9C/s1600/Palm+Springs+2011+060.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0LXAwdWZHULucvSDmYiqDDc50u_lAfnWOzTgpF3_xb7yJuDpVwS4FgXQ9yLvHADucxnWKEuTQpimBBwNq6oUY5B9C2aDdNLN8hBJN1QfeYxUXq4cVZVR7cSJ1rrhCJbq60Xu8JR19Z9C/s320/Palm+Springs+2011+060.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597428166717954098" /></a><br /><br />And Matt was busy being his usual silly self :) I sure do love that boy!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr23dcJ_8EpVthSpw7y-4Rx3hBNgk-6XdElU6qGr4CRZJ1CaIwqJgD1ksbbCn0gy1KXF1TS0ebei384xHWSCuTm2KUQZz-87c1Lxw16iVUtjKCk2R2nj4dH-xS6iTMb6AxiQcaX4KGDsD/s1600/Palm+Springs+2011+058.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr23dcJ_8EpVthSpw7y-4Rx3hBNgk-6XdElU6qGr4CRZJ1CaIwqJgD1ksbbCn0gy1KXF1TS0ebei384xHWSCuTm2KUQZz-87c1Lxw16iVUtjKCk2R2nj4dH-xS6iTMb6AxiQcaX4KGDsD/s320/Palm+Springs+2011+058.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597428357543766434" /></a><br /><br />Well there is a quick recap of our fun little break. We are glad we were able to go down and enjoy the nice weather to get a break from this nasty overcast/rainy/snowy Utah weather.<br /><br />Well many more post updates to come....Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-47865481963294064782011-03-24T11:51:00.000-07:002011-03-24T12:02:44.395-07:00Dilemma!Ok so I have a dilemma that is very very serious. I will be getting my hair done soon, (which is way overdue) and I don't know what to do! I have been growing my bangs out for the last little while but now I think I want to cut them for summer. What should I do!? And my husband is of no help on the matter he thinks I look good either way so I have to decide myself :( Seriously though, give me your opinions friends bangs or no bangs? Here is a sample...<br /><br />NO bangs...?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/162833_817038142029_17801873_42141075_2462840_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 404px;" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/162833_817038142029_17801873_42141075_2462840_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />or bangs...?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ga1PzCIwYdEEClmJyR-zFR5WhaMgpD1F4bwMVxny36fQbGxojUZ-5TCFc1HMBAVLSHpwPVV3A-INDlAMBA2fDRoLW2kKrbLLMPfUagiuyf0E4iUabkm2JuZKSMtXUdwpESjbvcjCaHoJ/s1600/bangs.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ga1PzCIwYdEEClmJyR-zFR5WhaMgpD1F4bwMVxny36fQbGxojUZ-5TCFc1HMBAVLSHpwPVV3A-INDlAMBA2fDRoLW2kKrbLLMPfUagiuyf0E4iUabkm2JuZKSMtXUdwpESjbvcjCaHoJ/s320/bangs.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587723462974350834" /></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-10862902333656923052011-03-08T10:32:00.000-08:002011-03-08T10:45:53.790-08:00Accepted!!!So I just have to announce that Matt received his first law school acceptance yesterday and I am so proud of him! He was so excited yesterday this is the first school we have heard back from so far so hopefully we have many more acceptances headed our way :) I'm so grateful for this bit of news because now we can relax a little since we at least have one option and a pretty good option at that so no matter what we will be going to law school this fall! :) There are still a ton of schools that have Matt's file "in review" right now so hopefully we will be getting some more responses soon. I will have a another post with all of our options soon :) As for now I am just so excited that everything is finally becoming real for us, I just cant wait until we can high tail it outta Provo (yay finally!) and move somewhere new and exciting :) Law School here we come!!! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://calrotaract.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/law.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://calrotaract.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/law.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I think I should get this book for myself so I have some clue as to what it is that my hubby will be doing everyday. Haha. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bangitout.com/uploads/99lawschool.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 355px;" src="http://www.bangitout.com/uploads/99lawschool.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-80603063240567338182011-02-23T09:34:00.000-08:002011-02-23T09:44:05.090-08:00I can't wait for this!! :)So Matt and I went looking at lab puppies yesterday! We wanted to see if we like black labs or yellow labs better and I think it will be a yellow lab. It was so fun and I just love those cute little puppies. I can't wait until we can get one! Seriously I can't stand waiting for anything I just want to take one of those cute little guys home now but we cant :( Well in the meantime I will be looking at lots of cute puppy pictures like this...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://dogsyoulove.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/lab.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://dogsyoulove.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/lab.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-8388175253210392592011-02-17T10:00:00.000-08:002011-02-17T11:13:13.908-08:00Valentine's Day FestivitiesSo Valentine's Day was awesome this year! (Well all of our Valentine's Days have been awesome together.) First of all here are some pictures of a few of the Valentine's Day decorations that I made. First is some letters that say "Kiss" and I put a kissing picture of us next to them, and second is a yarn wreath I made with sparkly white felt rosettes :). I love how they both turned out! It was just enough decor without being too much.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6a6hJW7059x2Vtmd-9WLYR2FuKWGLaJ81PDre5H6LsFizRbXT5P5m_-1RbOPVPx49oLZkmPEsXPXwwl_nRSuEzDWuewLpovJJDSQ_bKKOC8X9kafOz7z6S0R99wkvp0-kY37v6P3zzRC/s1600/Valentine%2527s+Day+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6a6hJW7059x2Vtmd-9WLYR2FuKWGLaJ81PDre5H6LsFizRbXT5P5m_-1RbOPVPx49oLZkmPEsXPXwwl_nRSuEzDWuewLpovJJDSQ_bKKOC8X9kafOz7z6S0R99wkvp0-kY37v6P3zzRC/s320/Valentine%2527s+Day+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574723180789348994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbjoHU96eHfL2pHF0ks2kcdecenpvhAm1vzsgym1qsqssUxU49FPuvcyO0qhAzW8WzH1WjyThb6nr6vj9YrgX1NUxCdQM3xLC1naB4QlOG0wa4kf4aGKkRobwBIX4QbDcUeyZot06Nowm/s1600/183226_830828940159_17826342_42371087_4492349_n.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbjoHU96eHfL2pHF0ks2kcdecenpvhAm1vzsgym1qsqssUxU49FPuvcyO0qhAzW8WzH1WjyThb6nr6vj9YrgX1NUxCdQM3xLC1naB4QlOG0wa4kf4aGKkRobwBIX4QbDcUeyZot06Nowm/s200/183226_830828940159_17826342_42371087_4492349_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574722501028059698" /></a><br /><br />Ok so to start off when I woke up I found surprise #1. There was a pink mug sitting there with a little note. It also was full of milk chocolate dove hearts with the little messages, i love those. I have been wanting a pink tumbler mug for so long so this was perfect! It was cute Matt wrote a cute little poem to go with it, he is so creative and good at getting things to rhyme. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLnbeSNoAlcd_i_wQqBLEi1MuFqx1DKdPeDclHvlt-JDYXllNsrV6kABkn4mPy-Mxgnkht8DOpIJkRrZMQHiuDku64RcOqqV-y8qlbuHceRxJS3TCs0JTRsHPMcJP9SJWmnkATLOcLuK6/s1600/184795_830829449139_17826342_42371094_2626387_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLnbeSNoAlcd_i_wQqBLEi1MuFqx1DKdPeDclHvlt-JDYXllNsrV6kABkn4mPy-Mxgnkht8DOpIJkRrZMQHiuDku64RcOqqV-y8qlbuHceRxJS3TCs0JTRsHPMcJP9SJWmnkATLOcLuK6/s320/184795_830829449139_17826342_42371094_2626387_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574724254744338290" /></a><br />(The flash makes it look like the little card is blank but its not)<br />Before Matt came back to pick me up for work I hurried and set out his surprise. I had made his card using the little candy sweethearts with the messages on them. It turned out perfect, I was so proud. Underneath his card was a "love coupon" to go to that new indoor surfing place at The Riverwoods. He was very excited when he saw both his surprises and I can't wait to watch him try the surfing thing. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtug3G72wa2DwaVSTVpQl3bziLRF3rx0mo1Gj7mdbEP3jobMmu4QRsxWbhFTISCDix7u6yNzcK7qKzcsr0_D5m3Hq9l8Q4pCgm2j3G1N5rb9X4gVXZqoMSB19PFLFzR7zBt8911c_hsl-/s1600/182702_830829573889_17826342_42371097_2371521_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtug3G72wa2DwaVSTVpQl3bziLRF3rx0mo1Gj7mdbEP3jobMmu4QRsxWbhFTISCDix7u6yNzcK7qKzcsr0_D5m3Hq9l8Q4pCgm2j3G1N5rb9X4gVXZqoMSB19PFLFzR7zBt8911c_hsl-/s320/182702_830829573889_17826342_42371097_2371521_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574725582191131202" /></a><br />So at around 9 am came surprise #2. A pomegranate pick me up Jamba for breakfast, my favorite! It's actually a little joke we have to always get a Jamba on Valentine's Day. This also came with another clever little poem. I wanted to type up what the poems said but Matt made me promise not too, he is embarrassed but I think they are awesome! :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-PihXPEqo77lFo2Oe3wLy6s_-P6BgXYmJrxcjmSZcIdtdvJfiGs9cptcn7Q_8hTTc5bUaGA8CHVduoc4OlSZWeikEL4jeRl_UuVRHE_x91dOXwGpjMSWnCLBOf08-OAsgkXxWCdgV8Yr/s1600/184302_830829798439_17826342_42371101_3749285_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-PihXPEqo77lFo2Oe3wLy6s_-P6BgXYmJrxcjmSZcIdtdvJfiGs9cptcn7Q_8hTTc5bUaGA8CHVduoc4OlSZWeikEL4jeRl_UuVRHE_x91dOXwGpjMSWnCLBOf08-OAsgkXxWCdgV8Yr/s320/184302_830829798439_17826342_42371101_3749285_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574728182585922626" /></a><br />After work Matt took me to get lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. It was perfect! We had the Chipotle Chicken Pizza and a Sicilian Pizza. They were both soo yummy :) Seriously you have to try the Chipotle one its amazing! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGdmIFqhdxnwFnqY02aI73jzDG6d3CM-QmDQYRGQx832SgCqger-TXIbVZanXFeecNd1NkUxZwTg-wcOBtSPJh68I-sArYQlf-VXFG9StN4wGTXWwqgkBwqnSGZnOmbJuqP3bFvKxgLED/s1600/Valentine%2527s+Day+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGdmIFqhdxnwFnqY02aI73jzDG6d3CM-QmDQYRGQx832SgCqger-TXIbVZanXFeecNd1NkUxZwTg-wcOBtSPJh68I-sArYQlf-VXFG9StN4wGTXWwqgkBwqnSGZnOmbJuqP3bFvKxgLED/s320/Valentine%2527s+Day+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574729989175990322" /></a><br />I don't have any pictures of Matt, he didn't want to be in any of them :(. <br />After our lunch we headed home to take a nap. When I walked in the door I found surprise #3 waiting for me. A beautiful arrangement of 1/2 dozen red ecuadorian roses :)They are so pretty and they are continuing to grace our kitchen table :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisj_W3zrj70FGyjhNbCJW3mk1XwPmogi2kkuyMU5Cy3pc_JbFqeXdYKzA9nxrLlYYMJMPKbTa3W20BI10G5cVOab8vJQGeiMQoS_xeonFT6XL8z45FziACAXvfu_lHhDCJsQvVZ4bZ6y2/s1600/Valentine%2527s+Day+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisj_W3zrj70FGyjhNbCJW3mk1XwPmogi2kkuyMU5Cy3pc_JbFqeXdYKzA9nxrLlYYMJMPKbTa3W20BI10G5cVOab8vJQGeiMQoS_xeonFT6XL8z45FziACAXvfu_lHhDCJsQvVZ4bZ6y2/s320/Valentine%2527s+Day+007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574730775903912578" /></a><br />There were a few more things on the table as well. Surprise #4 was a note that said to "Meet here at 6 for a dinner by Chef Matt". And Envelope 2 had surprise #5 in it. Tickets to go see "Just Go With It at Thanksgiving Point. I had really been wanting to see this movie and it was soo funny. We were laughing the whole time, seriously if you have seen this the coconut part I was dying at hahaha. Also surprise #6 was some yummy caramel and white chocolate with cinnammon sugar covered pretzel sticks. This plus my dove chocolates were perfect movie snacks!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdkQwgdEVXjD9AY6w8KKVFOZ_PVm0b6eUVuuwE33gKMDnFanSyGXs5URb9LI2jAkfLvtxeTPQ09-LqerUdAa2ZOGpfOVui90iLgUxj5o0Hffnc0HJdigerGTXazgEzrQDjCWFQW9tW7Wa/s1600/Valentine%2527s+Day+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdkQwgdEVXjD9AY6w8KKVFOZ_PVm0b6eUVuuwE33gKMDnFanSyGXs5URb9LI2jAkfLvtxeTPQ09-LqerUdAa2ZOGpfOVui90iLgUxj5o0Hffnc0HJdigerGTXazgEzrQDjCWFQW9tW7Wa/s320/Valentine%2527s+Day+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574732262888828498" /></a><br />(I wore my hot pink peacoat to be extra festive :)<br />So while I got ready Chef Matt prepared a delicious Valentine's Day feast for us. He made filet mignon with a tasty rub on it, grilled veggies(bell peppers, onions and zucchini) that was seriously soo tasty, caesar salad, and asparagus in a butter and white wine sauce. He kept saying he messed up on everything, but seriously it was flawless! I loved every single bite, it was the perfect dinner. I had said I wanted a home dinner instead of trying to battle the crowds at a restaurant and Chef Matt far surpassed any restaurant :)Plus he served it on our pretty wedding china and we had sparkling cider :) Side note: This boy cooks the BEST steaks! he seriously is a grilling master. I am sad I didnt take a picture of our dinner set up, I was too anxious to eat it :) After dinner we changed into comfy sweats and went to the movie. It was a perfect day. I love how Matt was able to make the day feel special for me. I love you Matthew Alder Ekman so so much and I am so grateful and happy that you are MINE forever! I feel totally overdone though, but Matt says Valentine's Day is a day for husbands to spoil their wives and that what I did was perfect, so that made me feel better :). Anyways I can't wait for all of our future Valentine's Days together. Up next we have birthdays, graduation, waiting to hear back from law schools and then deciding where to go,our 2 year anniversary, and moving to a new state in hopefully May or June. We are going to be busy busy busy these next 2 months just the way I like it :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/348/0BB79B0522C2B6107B81AF7A715A62F6.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-58953292584763505332011-02-14T10:42:00.000-08:002011-02-14T11:08:30.194-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.365lessthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/happy_valentines_day.gif"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 389px; height: 274px;" src="http://www.365lessthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/happy_valentines_day.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Being married really makes Valentine's Day so much more fun!! There is no stress attached to it so it really can just be a fun day to surprise and love each other. It is fun to do little special things for each other. I love sneaking around to set stuff up and surprise him. I was actually telling Matt yesterday that everyday with him is like Valentine's Day because everyday we celebrate our love and do special things for each other! I know that sounds cheesy but all you other married folk will agree. :)I hope Matt will enjoy his little surprises and I know that I will! I can't wait to get off work today and spend the rest of today with my Valentine! I mean who wouldn't want to spend the day with this hottie!? Happy Valentine's Day babe! I love you forever!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v81/174/38/17801873/n17801873_33120180_8363.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 475px;" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v81/174/38/17801873/n17801873_33120180_8363.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Also I plan on doing lots of this today. But lets be honest we do lots of this everyday! :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/5368_682489952679_17801873_38435203_7633312_n.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 253px;" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/5368_682489952679_17801873_38435203_7633312_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />(Oh how I wish we were back in a tropical land on the beach right now, but thats ok fun vacation coming after graduation! Yay cant wait :)<br /> <br />New post with pictures of actual Valentine's Day festivities coming tomorrow!<br />Loves!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/348/0BB79B0522C2B6107B81AF7A715A62F6.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-70523771461041042002011-02-10T11:15:00.000-08:002011-02-14T11:08:57.998-08:00Aww Color Me Mine :)Here are some pictures from one of our most recent date nights at color me mine. I forgot to take any pictures during the painting process but here is the final result. I painted a goblet and Matt painted a cereal bowl. We love all of our fun creations from color me mine. It is one of our favorite date activities!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/168303_829018074149_17826342_42340370_3974130_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 330px;" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/168303_829018074149_17826342_42340370_3974130_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180164_829018273749_17826342_42340371_4570785_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 170px; height: 225px;" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180164_829018273749_17826342_42340371_4570785_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/181653_829018493309_17826342_42340372_6674628_n.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 0px 0px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 170px; height: 225px;" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/181653_829018493309_17826342_42340372_6674628_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/348/0BB79B0522C2B6107B81AF7A715A62F6.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-2901501830561943392011-02-04T10:54:00.000-08:002011-02-14T11:09:07.743-08:00The newest member of our family!And now presenting...Humphrey!! Haha I bet you all thought this was a baby announcement nope its my new stuffed animal friend. Matt and I went on a date to build a bear and came home with this little guy. You can now find him sitting on our bed or being held by me :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs242.snc6/179056_822140980899_17826342_42235246_6190517_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 240px;" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs242.snc6/179056_822140980899_17826342_42235246_6190517_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/348/0BB79B0522C2B6107B81AF7A715A62F6.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-44256814099872208372011-02-03T10:45:00.001-08:002011-02-03T10:47:00.188-08:00haha<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://mail.aol.com/33189-111/aol-1/en-us/mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.30715098&folder=Inbox&partId=8"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 361px;" src="http://mail.aol.com/33189-111/aol-1/en-us/mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.30715098&folder=Inbox&partId=8" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />This picture made my day. haha, the little chick is soo cute!Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-15502384992272559172011-01-12T10:10:00.001-08:002011-02-14T11:09:26.597-08:00Brittany's WeddingOk so I have just had no desire to blog lately, call me lazy. So sorry this post is rambly and unorganized :(. Anyways so Matt and I finished all of our finals on Thursday night (December 16) and at about 8pm we left to drive down to Vegas for my sister's wedding. On Friday we did last minute wedding stuff, I got my nails done and Matt ran errands with my mom. That night there was a wedding dinner at Olive Garden hosted by the Baker family. It was really good and lots of fun! I don't have any pictures from that because I was taking pictures on my dad's camera for the night. Later that night Britt didn't really want a bachelorette party so all of her bridesmaids just came to our house to paint their nails and toes all matching bright pink, and then we played Dance Central on the Kinnect which was hilarious and way fun! <br /><br />The next day was the wedding and boy was it hectic. Well it started out with a very calm and relaxed morning, all the girls getting ready but then we started running out of time. My mom and Brittany had already left so i was left at home to make sure that Morgan and Blake had everything together and ok. I was very proud of myself I thought of all the little things we could possibly need like scissors and safety pins, etc so when my mom was freaking out I was just like oh hey ya I brought those :) haha Oh ya and Matt and I were the last ones to make it to the temple, we got there like 1 minute after the sealing was supposed to start. But we made it yay! It was the same guy who sealed Matt and I a year and a half ago so that was really cool that he sealed Brittany and Quinn as well. Next was getting everything ready to go outside and take pictures and let me tell you it was sooo cold and it was really windy so all the girls hair was flying around like mad. But we survived. Here are a few pics from the temple. <br /><br />The happy couple <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1384.snc4/163661_485960253958_506378958_5739114_6204902_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 325px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1384.snc4/163661_485960253958_506378958_5739114_6204902_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />freezing our tail-feathers off!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs079.snc6/168959_817019209969_17826342_42140693_1181916_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 325px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs079.snc6/168959_817019209969_17826342_42140693_1181916_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I found myself a dead sexy groomsman ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs002.snc6/165210_817019589209_17826342_42140701_8229559_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 340px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs002.snc6/165210_817019589209_17826342_42140701_8229559_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />So after all of the picture snapping we finally were able to escape the cold. Matt and I went off the the Encore to decorate the hotel room for the newlyweds. It was fun we put rose petals and candles everywhere. Then we went back to the house for a 20 minute lunch break, then to the Red Rock Country club for the reception. We had our hair and makeup fixed and then it was back outside for more pictures. <br /><br />All the bridesmaids in the dressing rooms, well except Amanda P. and Mackenzie.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://l20.sphotos.l3.fbcdn.net/hphotos-l3-ash1/hs798.ash1/168870_817019723939_17826342_42140707_7964326_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://l20.sphotos.l3.fbcdn.net/hphotos-l3-ash1/hs798.ash1/168870_817019723939_17826342_42140707_7964326_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I got to hang out with my handsome man. He was seriously the best all day! I was a frantic mess running around doing things, getting frustrated when things went wrong and he was just so patient and well, the perfect husband. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs766.ash1/165757_817019793799_17826342_42140709_6463865_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 253px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs766.ash1/165757_817019793799_17826342_42140709_6463865_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The Bridal party<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs776.ash1/166641_817019953479_17826342_42140714_2733588_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 253px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs776.ash1/166641_817019953479_17826342_42140714_2733588_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />So the reception was great, they had the same food as at our reception and this time Matt and I were able to eat and enjoy everything :). My mom even ordered a sheet cake of Matt and I's cake that we were able to eat and it was delicious! Hey we even got a few presents from people who didn't give them to us at our wedding haha. It was fun to dance again with my hubby and to talk to friends and lots of family. We are so happy for Brittany and Quinn and wish them the best! <br /><br />I loved being a part of this wedding because it helped me to realize how much everyone in my family did for me at my wedding. Its a lot of hard work to get everything just right. When your the bride you don't really see all the hard work and I was able to see how much my family did to make my day perfect and I am so grateful for that. My parents never read this but thanks so much mom and dad for everything you did to make everything about my wedding perfect!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlwkhiSZMYNmTaq8X3I7BLWozaAlkTJEQRWQEQqsEqQAII6bVBAHDL-OnPLXAGhwsRmS0uY4_0gDLeGAlxp6hRmfIsmKYgi-PCjfdWteRGpXg0wUX352orN1t_Bhpyie9EM-5oviUr-GE/s1600/0536.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlwkhiSZMYNmTaq8X3I7BLWozaAlkTJEQRWQEQqsEqQAII6bVBAHDL-OnPLXAGhwsRmS0uY4_0gDLeGAlxp6hRmfIsmKYgi-PCjfdWteRGpXg0wUX352orN1t_Bhpyie9EM-5oviUr-GE/s320/0536.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561378665714676946" /></a><br /> I also hope that I was able to help make Brittany's day perfect. Its great to look and see how lucky me and my sister have been. We both found awesome guys who just love us to death and were worthy to take us to be married in the temple forever :) I am so grateful for that! Morgan's future husband has a lot to live up to! <br /><br />Coming soon will be my post about the rest of our break in Oregon!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/348/0BB79B0522C2B6107B81AF7A715A62F6.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-85894435784479686932010-12-09T08:03:00.000-08:002010-12-09T08:21:59.432-08:00Update!Well I know it has been literally forever since I have posted anything but Matt and I have been so stinkin busy this last little while. This post is just gonna be me randomly blabbing about what we've been up to so sorry if its all over the place, and I have no pictures either :(. <br /><br />We had a great time at Thanksgiving with my family in Las Vegas. Matt and I got up at 4am on Black Friday with my dad to go shopping it was hilarious to see all these people lined up! We shopped for a really long time but it was lots of fun. <br /><br />Also my sister Brittany's wedding is coming up so things with that have been hectic. I threw a bridal shower for my house last Saturday and it turned out soo cute! It was so much work though and I felt like crap still from my surgery. I am flying home on Friday to be there when she goes through the temple, yes the week before finals! Seriously such a stressful time to have a wedding, anyways I am excited to go home for a few days but sad because Matt will not be joining me. He is taking the blasted LSAT again so he will be in Provo studying and taking the test and of course missing his wife :( Then next weekend we have to drive to Vegas late late Thursday night after my microbiology final to get there for all the wedding festivities. Then we will be flying to Oregon to spend Christmas with Matt's parents. <br /><br />So for anyone that knew I was having surgery here is an update on that. First of all I had been having pain for over a year now in my low back and front pelvic area that no one knew what was causing it, finally a doc decided they needed to check for something called endometriosis which grows all around the reproductive organs and can cause a lot of pain and infertility so the y wanted to do a laparoscopy. I had my laparoscopy and some other thing where they flush out by tubes done last Wednesday Dec. 1. I really thought it wouldn't be that bad/painful afterwards but I was in for a surprise. I was feeling awful up until about yesterday. But I am glad that it is over with although right at the end of the semester/ finals was probably not the best time to have surgery. I was really sore and nauseaus :(. So anyways the doc did find endometriosis and got it all removed and my tubes are clear. I go in next Tuesday for an apt so I can find out more about how everything went. But yay! I am so glad they finally figured out what was causing the pain and that now it is gone, on the other hand it sucks that I have endo because it will never really go away it will continue to grow back ugh! Anyways thats the update on that hopefully everything continues to go well. (Anyone else have endo? let me know what you've had to do to manage it/its effects on you, I am curious to know what I am really dealing with)<br /><br />One last thing, Matt finally took me to see the new Harry Potter movie and I absolutely loved it!! It was so good and I can't wait for part 2. All I pretty much watch anymore is Harry Potter when Im at home haha I am obsessed and I like it! Also we went to Smashburger for a late lunch/dinner and it is soo good. They have really really good burgers and Im not ususally a burger person. We had never gone because a friend told us it was nasty but my dad took us when we were in Vegas and Im so glad he did because we were missing out. Seriously go eat there and get their sweet potato fries :)<br /><br />Alrighty well I should probably start studying for my test today and no one is prob even reading this really long post with no pics anyways. I can't wait to finish this semester because next semester I only have 2 classes woohoo!!Well I can't say when I will post again but hopefully I will take some pics! Adios!Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-80056085353454946032010-11-04T10:24:00.001-07:002010-11-04T10:32:10.282-07:00Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsWoo hoo I cant wait for HP 7 part 1 to come out! I won't be going at midnight however because #1 I need my sleep and I work at 8am the next morning, and #2 I hate worrying about getting a good seat at a theater especially with a movie as good as this, I will not settle for less than perfect seating! Oh and #3 I don't want to listen to obnoxious teenagers who cheer at every part haha I am serious about my Harry Potter. Hopefully the husband will be smart and take me on a date to see the movie :)Oh and don't worry I will totally have my wand on me :)<br />Love my wand! And no Im not one of those weirdos but I really love HP!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.prezzybox.com/data/media/12360.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 410px; height: 238px;" src="http://www.prezzybox.com/data/media/12360.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-12188705338616413172010-10-19T08:52:00.000-07:002010-10-19T09:01:20.080-07:00Caramel Apples!SO last night we decided to make our own caramel apples instead of paying the $6 for one from Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory and voila! We created a masterpiece :)We invited Britt and Quinn over to make them too and it was a lot of fun. Matt did burn the first bag of white chocolate(I have already learned by now to always have a back-up ready so naturally we had a second bag!)but the second one was perfect! Yum I can't wait to eat mine when I get home from school today. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs027.snc4/33730_791274941689_17826342_41629256_5532720_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 330px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs027.snc4/33730_791274941689_17826342_41629256_5532720_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Also on a side note Matt and I are obsessed with the TV show Modern Family so we bought the first season on blu-ray and we have been watching them non stop. Seriously if you have not seen this show you must watch it, it's our favorite and is so hilarious! Can't wait for a new episode on Wednesday!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tvovermind.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/modern-family-season-2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 202px; height: 219px;" src="http://www.tvovermind.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/modern-family-season-2.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-69740384492637609762010-10-12T09:07:00.000-07:002010-10-12T09:30:15.877-07:00Halloween Time!Well I just love October. I love that the weather is cooling down and I just love the fall atmosphere. I love Halloween but I hate the dressing up part, I like all of the candy and fun decorations but costumes are just too stressful. I can't wait to have kids to take trick or treating and I hope that we have some trick-or-treaters come to our house this year since we are in a house and not a hard to reach apt! I also love watching Halloween type movies, Im not talking about the gory rediculous ones but the classics. I want to/need to watch Hocus Pocus, and Practical Magic, and Halloweentown, hopefully I can find all those movies or they come on TV :). Also this year I finally got some decorations for my house. There are just a few but i like them and they make the days much more enjoyable. I also made a little Halloween craft. Christina and I made these little lantern lights to hang up and they turned out soo cute!(see pictures below). I also have some stuff outside but I haven't taken a picture yet because it isn't done plus we still need to go pick out pumpkins. Oh and speaking of pumpkins I made my awesome Chocolate chip pumpkin cookies the other day and they were delicious, i can't wait to make more as Halloween gets closer :) Anyway here are some pictures of my, very small, amount of decorations. <br />Here is my table centerpiece (I just loved the witches hat!!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsrXrDLGwiwOiwGCAOg3mM5n1y4KUgyQA0UqoefrDfY1FtjHJhDXUwE21Ccic3wwi-4WINAiWyrj13QenKb6rTLqxBzzY7OTGQ6qWTy1nGLBdzyKl4yhNIjYPGa67bbBcc3hyhTWIOsr5/s1600/IMG_5565.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsrXrDLGwiwOiwGCAOg3mM5n1y4KUgyQA0UqoefrDfY1FtjHJhDXUwE21Ccic3wwi-4WINAiWyrj13QenKb6rTLqxBzzY7OTGQ6qWTy1nGLBdzyKl4yhNIjYPGa67bbBcc3hyhTWIOsr5/s320/IMG_5565.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527194849628205394" /></a><br />And this is my candy bowl that scares me to death every time I walk by it and don't know its on haha<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74_asNi7dnu6nlGKMhNaRGvJFY-qUNCb9ntu5MYxOh5Okmuef45aY7Wu_YiYUd9e7KpOedJQsDy2i5mNRlKRU13ewkprAywmr0T_vcJHAmlh9QicCVuA5BH1nm_-3PhyL-mVCoLQVfDNi/s1600/IMG_5569.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74_asNi7dnu6nlGKMhNaRGvJFY-qUNCb9ntu5MYxOh5Okmuef45aY7Wu_YiYUd9e7KpOedJQsDy2i5mNRlKRU13ewkprAywmr0T_vcJHAmlh9QicCVuA5BH1nm_-3PhyL-mVCoLQVfDNi/s320/IMG_5569.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527195184961621634" /></a><br />Decorations on the bar. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3jkB6paquRLbNdQw3xQJGydfNd8vKImTMnlZ3D3rKqa2KZK0AADIYYvqaqQKWB3hTb0Hsp4LNbGgy9iLO0m1UsCGuY6P1zebE8LPgigmWRQWiDH6HToVHxhq9AaO3O8nGdprYNIYpVoU/<br />/IMG_5570.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3jkB6paquRLbNdQw3xQJGydfNd8vKImTMnlZ3D3rKqa2KZK0AADIYYvqaqQKWB3hTb0Hsp4LNbGgy9iLO0m1UsCGuY6P1zebE8LPgigmWRQWiDH6HToVHxhq9AaO3O8nGdprYNIYpVoU/s320/IMG_5570.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527195456953279234" /></a><br />And here is a picture with the light thing I made (I made the little Halloween lanterns hanging from the lights)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyATQBmI5y63VG4mkjX-9EkRs6IMLC9zFAkmuLXOhppxPYoptOOInFw-VfEq-km2Fa8-MYiU8f4XPmRWYh_9_PrzVNmNjnTQINvzDXeO8xzFnwW_BlRBUTCNIR5hY2DOaU3jAQqnhGI9hc/s1600/IMG_5572.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyATQBmI5y63VG4mkjX-9EkRs6IMLC9zFAkmuLXOhppxPYoptOOInFw-VfEq-km2Fa8-MYiU8f4XPmRWYh_9_PrzVNmNjnTQINvzDXeO8xzFnwW_BlRBUTCNIR5hY2DOaU3jAQqnhGI9hc/s320/IMG_5572.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527195814153570802" /></a><br />I know its really not much of anything exciting at all but I like it and it makes me feel a little bit festive. Also here is a picture of the Family letters that I made a few weeks ago, unrelated to Halloween but it was a really fun craft and they turned out soo cute! Christina and I have developed craft Saturdays and we are finding all sorts of fun things to make, we are bringing out our craftier sides and it is so much fun!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkAoR90AOlbEVI1RzsPBFRdCnjmoEhsWRH9LWWfodNhnHJ6hdskEAk3QMxKQEiM9ZmbS7NtqEOZTTMhZwBRoYFn8qr4vt7unHicCucyT-ev_SrZlFPgq1vI6OrLlMGmX4HSZb1BJYrWtC/s1600/Kittens+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkAoR90AOlbEVI1RzsPBFRdCnjmoEhsWRH9LWWfodNhnHJ6hdskEAk3QMxKQEiM9ZmbS7NtqEOZTTMhZwBRoYFn8qr4vt7unHicCucyT-ev_SrZlFPgq1vI6OrLlMGmX4HSZb1BJYrWtC/s320/Kittens+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527196342064330194" /></a><br />And last but not least Matt got a new gun! Its a shotgun and he loves it! It is really fun. This was supposed to be his birthday present but then he couldnt make up his mind so now he has it and he is in love haha. I have more pictures and really funny videos from when we first took it out but I have to put those up a different time :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJp7Tjlega1QzbWgCjwaKC1D98mUgZkr5Hp1buGzOk-QOWpJcATZW30Q4sVuGq1Q6yUf9PTNBK8vik3qnyvQ5k_k1ULDf5KbanIvde5s77IWbBndgUQepTlGBmdjWevbbrE5ox_ARSS6_M/s1600/Kittens+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJp7Tjlega1QzbWgCjwaKC1D98mUgZkr5Hp1buGzOk-QOWpJcATZW30Q4sVuGq1Q6yUf9PTNBK8vik3qnyvQ5k_k1ULDf5KbanIvde5s77IWbBndgUQepTlGBmdjWevbbrE5ox_ARSS6_M/s320/Kittens+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527196964606128130" /></a><br />Anyways thats a little update for now, I will have more pictures of our activities coming soon!!Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-36836203254028792942010-10-11T11:01:00.000-07:002010-10-11T11:04:07.767-07:00LSATWoohoo Matt is all done with the LSAT and the stress of that blasted test :) I am so proud of him for studying so hard and practicing and I know it will pay off. He is so smart! Now we have to wait 3 weeks to get the score back and I think it will be worse on me than on him haha. Until then we will start working on law school applications and everything yay, I am just so excited to get this ball rolling so we can hopefully figure out where we will be going next year! Anyways I will have a new post soon with some pictures but I just wanted to proclaim the awesome news of Matt getting done with the LSAT. Now we just have to patiently wait....Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-55608758415712742842010-09-14T09:37:00.000-07:002010-09-14T10:00:49.932-07:00My last year of school!!So on August 31, 2010 I officially started my last year at BYU! Wahoo. Matt and I will both be graduating in April 2011. I cant believe we will have been married for 2 years when we graduate! We are so very excited to pass this stage of life and move on to the next, law school for him and dental hygiene for me :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://fultonchair.byu.edu/Assets/byu_youth_white.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 229px;" src="http://fultonchair.byu.edu/Assets/byu_youth_white.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />(The baby cougar is much cuter than the real one haha)<br /><br />And not to mention we are just dying to get out of Provo! Don't get me wrong I have enjoyed my time here and learned to appreciate the good things Utah has to offer but its just not where I want to be permanently and I am sick of living in a college town, it definitely changes in Provo when your married instead of single. I am really hoping to go somewhere on the east coast so we will see where Matt gets accepted and then I can't wait to start planning! This semester so far scares me. I am just at that lazy point where I am so sick of school and homework and I just wish I was already done but I know I will get through it it just takes frequent pep talks from Matt haha. I don't understand how he never really stresses out. And the rare times he does he hardly shows it, that boy seriously has so many amazing qualities that I need to pick up on. So this semester I am taking Worksite Health Promotion, Personal Training Strategies(where my teacher scares me and literally locks us out if we are not there right when class starts...lame!), Food prep (which I am taking with Matt and it is way fun), and then Microbiology with Micro lab (ahh shoot me now this class is hard! but the stuff is interesting). So that is how it goes. All I have left to do for next semester is take Public Speaking (ahhh! there is a reason I waited until my last semester to take this), and take Problems in Exercise Prescription, and then there is this stinkin internship that I have to do 200 hours for! I mean seriously I don't want to do this internship its lame and what am I supposed to do for 200 hours, if you have any ideas let me know! So that is the forecast for the semester...stress+stress+stress+really relaxed husband=wife still stressed even about things that don't matter. Well on another note I am doing some things to keep me sane: Working out at Golds with Matt, reading a few good books, sewing some projects, and doing some fun home decorating and crafts. Some pictures to come of my latest craft that I am super proud of! :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/348/0BB79B0522C2B6107B81AF7A715A62F6.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-58793026256695187772010-09-09T09:42:00.000-07:002010-09-09T10:40:32.937-07:00Disneyland!!So 2 weeks before school started we decided to do a spontaneous trip to Disneyland and the Baird family came with us. This is gonna be a long post but sorry I took lots of pictures! We left super early on Wednesday at 5:30 am!! It was so hard to wake up that early. Matt was awesome and drove the whole way and we arrived in Anaheim at 3:30 pm. On the way up we stopped in vegas to see my mom which was fun and we got to strecth our legs a nit. I'd say we made pretty good time :). We got all checked in to our hotel and relaxed a bit. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs385.snc4/44862_774114127099_17826342_41244196_403947_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs385.snc4/44862_774114127099_17826342_41244196_403947_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We all napped, showered and got actually got ready. Our first adventure was a trip to Downtown Disney. We went to eat dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. Mmmm Matt got the coconut shrimp and I got a caesar salad and we shared. Dinner was super yummy!. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs365.snc4/44862_774114137079_17826342_41244198_2662534_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs365.snc4/44862_774114137079_17826342_41244198_2662534_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs365.snc4/44862_774114157039_17826342_41244202_3215365_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs365.snc4/44862_774114157039_17826342_41244202_3215365_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We walked around downtown disney for a bit and I got some yummy new perfume at Sephora. Then we sat down in the area between the 2 parks to watch the fireworks, which are awesome! We went back to the hotel and crashed. <br />The next morning was our first day at Disneyland!!! I was happier than a kid on Christmas and Matt tells me he has never seen anyone walk as fast as I do at Disneyland haha. <br />Here we are at the entrance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs304.snc4/40525_773820864799_17826342_41233957_5484194_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs304.snc4/40525_773820864799_17826342_41233957_5484194_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Our first ride of the day was Space Mountain. Here are the 4 of us waiting in line. Me, Matt, Chris, and Ally. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773820874779_17826342_41233959_3507054_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773820874779_17826342_41233959_3507054_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Here is the place we ate lunch Cafe Orleans. Matt got the gumbo and I got a caesar salad, they were both way good. I think caesar salad is the best food at disneyland, well besides the churros! We even got to see Princess Tiana and her band walk by. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773820879769_17826342_41233960_6022699_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 330px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773820879769_17826342_41233960_6022699_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Ally was getting blisters from her shoes so her and Chris ran back to the hotel and Matt and I waited in line for Indiana Jones, when they got back we used our fast passes and rode it again!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773820884759_17826342_41233961_2535328_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773820884759_17826342_41233961_2535328_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I got a churro!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773820899729_17826342_41233964_268741_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773820899729_17826342_41233964_268741_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Going on It's a Small World, Matt had never been because his sisters all hated this ride. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773820909709_17826342_41233966_2133187_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773820909709_17826342_41233966_2133187_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Matterhorn=rode it 3 times=our favorite ride!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773820919689_17826342_41233968_3809964_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 330px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773820919689_17826342_41233968_3809964_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The California A!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs304.snc4/40525_773820924679_17826342_41233969_1456495_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 330px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs304.snc4/40525_773820924679_17826342_41233969_1456495_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Hollywood Tower of Terror my favorite ride at California Adventures <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs195.ash2/45801_773831408669_17826342_41234592_2295258_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 325px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs195.ash2/45801_773831408669_17826342_41234592_2295258_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We went and ate dinner at Bubba Gumps one of my favorite places! And then we rushed back to watch World of Color a new water show at California ADventure<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773820959609_17826342_41233975_2058507_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 330px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773820959609_17826342_41233975_2058507_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />World of Color! It was really cool.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs188.ash2/45137_773830879729_17826342_41234585_1115063_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 325px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs188.ash2/45137_773830879729_17826342_41234585_1115063_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />After the show we rushed to the Toy Story 3D ride, so fun!! and I totally dominated Matt :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773820969589_17826342_41233977_911359_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773820969589_17826342_41233977_911359_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It was a successful day...now on to day 2 of Disneyland!<br />First of all I got a jamba and a pretzel for breakfast yummy!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs304.snc4/40525_773820989549_17826342_41233981_8045161_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 325px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs304.snc4/40525_773820989549_17826342_41233981_8045161_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Main Street!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773820999529_17826342_41233983_173054_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 325px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773820999529_17826342_41233983_173054_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The Jungle Cruise! The piranha part scared me so bad<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773821034459_17826342_41233989_1809081_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773821034459_17826342_41233989_1809081_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We ate lunch at the Pizza Port and shared another caesar salad and a tasty rootbeer :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs304.snc4/40525_773821104319_17826342_41234003_2860525_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs304.snc4/40525_773821104319_17826342_41234003_2860525_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Captain Matt Sparrow<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs304.snc4/40525_773821039449_17826342_41233990_4430661_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs304.snc4/40525_773821039449_17826342_41233990_4430661_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Splash Mountain where Matt got soaked and Chris' face is hilarious<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773821064399_17826342_41233995_1234981_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 330px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773821064399_17826342_41233995_1234981_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Mad hatter<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773821089349_17826342_41234000_6475212_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773821089349_17826342_41234000_6475212_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We got to see Mickey!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773821114299_17826342_41234005_2521158_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 330px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773821114299_17826342_41234005_2521158_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />And we got a yummy Mickey Premium bar, it was dark chocolate and soo yummy!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773821119289_17826342_41234006_3466298_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773821119289_17826342_41234006_3466298_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />California Screamin'<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773821144239_17826342_41234011_6442095_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 326px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773821144239_17826342_41234011_6442095_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Sleeping Beauty's Castle<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773821149229_17826342_41234012_3975342_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40525_773821149229_17826342_41234012_3975342_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Splash Mountain again<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773821169189_17826342_41234016_8048160_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 330px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773821169189_17826342_41234016_8048160_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Kissing in front of the castle with practically no one around. aww love my husband :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773821189149_17826342_41234020_3958390_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773821189149_17826342_41234020_3958390_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Well that concludes our disneyland part of the trip. We had soo much fun and all together we rode: Space Mountain, Indiana Jones(x3), Splash Mountain (x2), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Pirates(x2), Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Astro Blasters, Peter Pan, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Alice in Wonderland, Matterhorn (x3), Tower of Terror (x2), Mulholland Madness, Toy Story, California Screamin, and Im sure a few others that I can't think of right now but we sure accomplished a lot! We are thinking another trip will have to occur soon possibly in february again :)<br />So on Saturday we slept in, packed up, and checked out and drove to long Beach. We had lunch at BJ's and then went to the beach. It was so breezy and cold so I just lay there covered in a blanket and we fell asleep for like an hour and a half! But it was soo nice. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773821199129_17826342_41234021_6646728_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40525_773821199129_17826342_41234021_6646728_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We then headed back to the hotel to relax, we went to the hot tub and met a crazy guy and then we chilled in our room. Ally and I watched Enchanted while the boys went and got Bubba Gumps to go for dinner. It was the perfect end to a great vacation! Ally and Chris flew out early Sunday Morning and Matt and I slept in and then got everything ready to go. We went to visit Rachel for a bit before we headed back to Provo and then we made the long journey home :( I want to go back to Disneyland soo bad already. We had a lot of fun and we are so glad the bairds came with us! thanks guys! And Disneyland don't woory we'll be back soon. Oh no I didnt get any pictures of my cute new sweatshirt and stuffed animal Pluto :( Oh well you'll just have to take my word for it :).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/348/0BB79B0522C2B6107B81AF7A715A62F6.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-70192885671092710152010-09-03T09:56:00.000-07:002010-09-09T10:29:07.094-07:00Boating Trip!!So Matt and I have been dying all summer to get out on the lake and do some wakeboarding and other lake like activities but lo and behold we have no boat :( Well our friends Jon and Jordan recently bought a boat and we got to go out with them one afternoon yay!!! We had lots of fun and it was only Matt's 2nd time! When we were getting back to the dock however it was already dark...bad bad idea. We gotten eaten alive by mosquitoes they were everywhere!! It was disgusting. Well the next day I woke up and discovered so many bug bites all over my body. No joke over 100 bites all over. It was pure torture for the rest of the week. I just took a ton of benadryl rubbed my entire body down with calamine lotion and cortizone and tried to sleep as much as possible. It was miserable!! So while we had fun boating it was definitely not worth it bc of the bites. Oh ya and just about every single one scarred too so the backs of my legs are soo ugly now :( Seriuosly I am embarrassed now. Anyways never ever go near Utah Lake at night or you will die. Oh ya and the Mr. not one single bite not one! Same thing happened on our honeymoon in costa rica i got bit all over when he told me "oh no we don't need bug spray we'll be fine" little did I know he is immune to them! ugh I am so jealous of his perfect condition and scarless (is that a word?) body :(. Now I have to apply mederma multiple times a day to try to help the scars at least fade. Well here are some pictures of the fun part of our lake experience and thanks Jordan for taking us out on your boat!!<br /><br />Here is my sister Brittany. She had that huge smile on her face the whole time!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs139.ash2/40275_770624295749_17826342_41127848_957432_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 325px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs139.ash2/40275_770624295749_17826342_41127848_957432_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Matt getting ready.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs259.snc4/40275_770624310719_17826342_41127851_3939717_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs259.snc4/40275_770624310719_17826342_41127851_3939717_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs139.ash2/40275_770624325689_17826342_41127854_7469221_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs139.ash2/40275_770624325689_17826342_41127854_7469221_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Flag duty<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs279.snc4/40275_770624335669_17826342_41127856_4797778_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 324px; height: 325px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs279.snc4/40275_770624335669_17826342_41127856_4797778_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Me!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs259.snc4/40275_770624350639_17826342_41127859_4135379_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs259.snc4/40275_770624350639_17826342_41127859_4135379_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Me and Britt<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs279.snc4/40275_770624390559_17826342_41127867_2430950_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs279.snc4/40275_770624390559_17826342_41127867_2430950_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Stud muffin<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs259.snc4/40275_770624380579_17826342_41127865_1967683_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 330px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs259.snc4/40275_770624380579_17826342_41127865_1967683_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Well that was our adventure I cant say ill be going back to Utah Lake anytime soon tho. One of these days I will get Mr. Ekman to write something, he would have the insider details on my bug bites haha he had to put up with me the whole time I was miserable, he was of course the perfect care taker. Love you babe!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/348/0BB79B0522C2B6107B81AF7A715A62F6.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-67810018209684554572010-09-02T10:07:00.000-07:002010-09-09T10:28:56.135-07:00Shooting and Hobo Dinners DateSo I think this activity was sometime in August. It was on a Saturday we met up with one of Matt's mission companions Dave and his wife Christina (we do lots of fun stuff with them). First we went to Gunnies (Matt's favorite store)so that Christina could get some ear protection and then we headed off to the other side of Utah Lake to our favorite shooting spot, also where Matt and I went on our first date, and where Matt proposed to me :). See its a good place. We set up all our water bottles to shoot at and off we went. After shooting we went to get shakes at Arctic Circle (Christina had a coupon woohoo!) and they were yummy. We headed back to our house to put together our hobo tin foil dinners. Then we went and got some drinks and snacks and headed up to one of the campgrounds at Squaw Peak to make our dinner.The boys made a good fire and we had a good dinner. It was really fun to just chill around the campfire. Here are some pics of the event :)<br />Matt and Dave loading up<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs289.snc4/40773_769410578049_17826342_41091329_1928916_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs289.snc4/40773_769410578049_17826342_41091329_1928916_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Waiting for the boys to be done. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs149.ash2/40773_769410583039_17826342_41091330_4449654_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs149.ash2/40773_769410583039_17826342_41091330_4449654_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Making a fire. We have such good Eagle Scouts<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs149.ash2/40773_769410588029_17826342_41091331_8120820_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs149.ash2/40773_769410588029_17826342_41091331_8120820_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Our dinner. yum!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs149.ash2/40773_769410602999_17826342_41091334_7272765_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs149.ash2/40773_769410602999_17826342_41091334_7272765_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs309.snc4/40773_769410612979_17826342_41091336_6863461_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs309.snc4/40773_769410612979_17826342_41091336_6863461_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Tasting their "special creations"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs309.snc4/40773_769410617969_17826342_41091337_375967_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs309.snc4/40773_769410617969_17826342_41091337_375967_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It was a very successful and fun Saturday. Thanks Dave and Christina for coming with us!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/348/0BB79B0522C2B6107B81AF7A715A62F6.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458459302034467367.post-73572332724268250172010-09-01T09:58:00.000-07:002010-09-01T10:18:06.504-07:00Lagoon with the FamSo here is my part 2 post of when my family was in town in July. We all went to Lagoon and it was so much fun. I haven't been in so long and Matt had never been so we had a good time. <br />Here we are at the entrance to the spider ride which was really fun it was a fast roller coaster and the whole time the car which seats 4 is spinning different directions it was awesome!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38231_766103370719_17826342_40979604_1291012_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 330px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38231_766103370719_17826342_40979604_1291012_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Blake, Morgan, Britt, and Quinn all went on the log flume ride, but Matt waited with me I didnt want to get wet :(<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs178.snc4/38231_766103415629_17826342_40979612_8129819_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs178.snc4/38231_766103415629_17826342_40979612_8129819_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Matt would just love to have a gun collection one day...in the very distant future haha<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38231_766103425609_17826342_40979614_2077908_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38231_766103425609_17826342_40979614_2077908_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The family except my mom is taking the picture.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs178.snc4/38231_766103435589_17826342_40979616_407654_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs178.snc4/38231_766103435589_17826342_40979616_407654_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Fun rocket one<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38231_766103440579_17826342_40979617_5665561_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38231_766103440579_17826342_40979617_5665561_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I loved the bumper cars! I just laughed the whole time and Matt would laugh at me laughing. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs198.snc4/38231_766103450559_17826342_40979619_2073396_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs198.snc4/38231_766103450559_17826342_40979619_2073396_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />This was supposed to be a little kid ride but it was fast and scary it felt like we would flip around. This made us all sick afterwards. \<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs198.snc4/38231_766103470519_17826342_40979623_6021458_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs198.snc4/38231_766103470519_17826342_40979623_6021458_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Me being scared and Matt laughing because I was screaming so much. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38231_766103460539_17826342_40979621_3669245_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38231_766103460539_17826342_40979621_3669245_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Yummy dippin dots!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38231_766103480499_17826342_40979625_3060607_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38231_766103480499_17826342_40979625_3060607_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Wild Mouse Ride! So fun! the best is my dad laughing hysterically behind us. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs198.snc4/38231_766103490479_17826342_40979627_2354527_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs198.snc4/38231_766103490479_17826342_40979627_2354527_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Here are our old western photos. The girls were saloon ladies and the boys were outlaws. It was fun and Matt was such a sexy outlaw!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs088.ash2/37737_766109448539_17826342_40980033_6854118_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs088.ash2/37737_766109448539_17826342_40980033_6854118_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs088.ash2/37737_766109453529_17826342_40980034_5215409_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 275px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs088.ash2/37737_766109453529_17826342_40980034_5215409_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Leaving Lagoon :(<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38231_766103525409_17826342_40979633_773758_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 250px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38231_766103525409_17826342_40979633_773758_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We had so much fun and later we went to the hotel room when and picked up pizzas from The Pie and sodas and then we ate pizza and watched The Prince of Persia. We even got to see some 24th of July fireworks from the hotel balcony. Thanks so much mom and dad for such a fun weekend!! We love you!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/348/0BB79B0522C2B6107B81AF7A715A62F6.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Matt and Amanda Ekmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692633625992099247noreply@blogger.com0