WILD THANG!! You make my heart sang! You make everythang.... grooovay!

Dima and I got "Where the Wild Things Are" on netflix and decided to make a datenight out of it.

I was SO excited all week, and finally Friday came, and our date began.

First we grabbed some dinner at Burger Supreme (Dima and I were addicted to this place when we were dating, but we are trying to cut back on eating out, esp fast food, so its been ages since we ate here. Try the chocolate shake, its delicious!!!)

Next we went here:

To read this:

Dima had never read or heard of this story seeing as he grew up in Ukraine, and it had been years since I'd read it, so we thought it would be fun to read the story before we saw the movie. We loved it!

Next we went home to simulate the story by building a truly awesome fort! That looked something like this:

It was hard to get a good one because the fort took up nearly our whole living room, and I couldn't stand back far enough to capture it all at once. (this is when it comes in handy to have 3 sets of sheets and several blankets :)

We even had a broom that had pillow cases hanging over it that you could slide open or closed as a door into the fort :)

we also had some side windows, which worked out perfectly because it funneled the air conditioning right into the fort.

Inside we layered our sleeping bags, every blanket we could find, our comforter from our bed and some pillows to make it nice and cozy.

Then we made some crowns out of tin foil, cut up some watermelon, and snuggled in to enjoy the movie.

It was lots different than I was expecting, and pretty slow, but it had some deep messages. Overall the date was a hit!

What Can You Do?

This is crazy!!!

Thought process during this video:

1) Is this even real?!

2) That's amazing!

3) People have too much time on their hands

4) Or is that the point? - Are you supposed to find something you love and do it, and become an expert in it? That's what we are told to do with our jobs/skills.

That lead me to think of all the things I loved and was so good at and have let go for one reason or another. It made me want to get back into my hobbies and practice and apply myself to bring more happiness and fullfillment to my life. I want to get back into soccer, into photography, start sewing, learn Russian, and get even better at cooking!

What are your hobbies? or what do you want to pick up?

My Precious

So, here is our engagement story:

February 27, 2010

We had been talking about marriage for a few months at this point, and it was taking wayyyy too long in my opinion :) We had gone ring shopping and I picked out my favorite 5 (which were nothing alike by the way... but all simple, timeless, and perfect) and was just waiting for Dima to pick the one. Poor guy, he was so busy, and trying to make it a surprise, and I kept asking him if he'd chosen yet, or how far along he was. -- I may or may not have been a little antsy.

So this particular weekend Dima told me that our good friends Ryan and Kathy had extra tickets to a symphony and asked if we wanted to go. I was super excited, not only had it been forever since we'd seen them, but I had never seen a symphony before and LOVE string instruments!! So that morning he tells me that we will be leaving at 5, and we have to leave at 5 because it was going to be busy and we still had to pick up the tickets and yada yada ya. Which made sense. So I'm getting ready and putting on my make-up I looked at myself in the mirror all dressed up and I'm like "He's totally going to propose!!!" But then I was pushed it out of my mind thinking, "No, he's not going to until next month" (during a conversation earlier that month he asked me if I had to work a particular Saturday in March, and when I asked why he suspiciously said, "don't worry about it"... so I concluded that that was the day he was planning to propose.) I also didn't want to get my hopes up and then be disappointed because it was going to be a lovely evening anyway. But I decided to take my camera "Just in case" :) So Dima came right at 5, as promised, and once we were on our way I completely forgot about that idea in the bathroom. We had a great drive up with lots of laughing and joking, and Dima was playing up the symphony asking me if I'd ever been to one, and what I thought it would be like... so needless to say at this point I was thoroughly convinced that's where we were going. So the plan was to park up by the Capitol Building to meet our friends and then walk down to where the symphony what playing. We were running a few minutes late so Dima called Ryan only to find out that Ryan and Kathy were going to be another 20 minutes. I thought this was weird because a) they aren't usually late, and b) Dima made such a big deal about being on time and how close we'd be cutting it anyway. But, they did have 4 kids and I'm sure that can cause delays from time to time. So while we waited we went on a walk at Memory Grove park. It was the most beautiful park! absolutely picturesque, and I love walks so I was enjoying it. There were people jogging, kids playing soccer, and a girl taking Bridal pictures by a big sculpture. On our walk Dima was like, "let's see what's this way" and it was a path that went behind the girl taking her bridals, and since I used to work for a photographer and remember how annoying it was to wait for people while they walked behind your picture, or to photoshop them out, I was pretty against going that way. But he kept pushing saying that they wouldn't be able to see us behind the big statue, and to just come on. So I did. And there was a cute little bench there with a dozen red roses on them. My first thought though, was "See, those are the brides flowers, all her stuff's here, we aren't supposed to be back here"... but then Dima was kind of shaking and he said, "I think those might be for you". And that's when I knew. I knew that any second now he was going to ask me to be his. I gave him a huge hug and just kept saying "thank you thank you thank you!!" and then he laughed and said, "you haven't even looked at them yet" and all I could say was "I see them!!!" because I was so excited and anxious. But then in my head, I replayed what he just said (you haven't even looked at them yet) and thought, ohhh, I probably should, maybe something's in them... So I break away and wander over, and pick them up. There was just a note that said "for monique" though. So we sit down on the bench and talk a little bit, and then he got down on one knee, pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him. I was so excited all I could get out was a high-pitched, "uh-huh" as I was nodding my head, smiling so big it took up 2/3 of my face, and pulling him off his knee and into a hug. I didn't even look at the ring, I was just so excited that he asked me. So he put the ring on (he was still shaking and thought for a second it was too small, but he just didn't want to push too hard. :) It fit perfectly.) We sat there for a few minutes enjoying the experience that had just happened and then we took a few pictures because I just happened to have my camera with me :)

Well we were taking some pictures and the mom of the girl taking her bridals was standing on the side and so she could see us behind the statue and asked if we wanted her to take some pictures. She was so excited for us and it was nice to have her snap a few.

Well at this point I thought we were still meeting Ryan and Kathy for the symphony (Dima's a very good actor, and had me convinced). So I asked, "Oh, are they here? Do we need to go? Are we going to be late?" and he just smiled and said, no they'll call when they're here. So we just continued to sit on the bench and talk. Then he got a call said "5 minutes? sounds good" then asked if we should go. And so me, thinking we were now way behind schedule and still needed to pick up the tickets, started b-lining it out of there while Dima was dilly-dallying like we had no where to be. He was stopping at every tree to see in who's name it was dedicated. I was so confused, but they did say 5 mins, and we were just right there, so I slowed down and walked with him.

Then I see a horse-drawn carriage pull up, and my thought were "I'm pretty sure that's for me, but I don't want to make a big deal out of it and then have him be like, 'ya, that's really cool, well, here's ryan and kathy, should we go?'" so I didn't really say anything, but then it was for us. So we snuggled in and it took us for a turn around the park and then to downtown.

While we were on our ride Ryan called (he had helped with all the behind-the-scenes like putting the flowers on the bench, and then when Dima called to say that we were running late he told him where they were, etc.) and Dima jokingly said "ya, thanks for ditching out on us jerks" so that's when I knew there would be no symphony. But I perfectly ok with that. We got dropped off at temple square and he asked what I thought we were going to do now, and I guessed dinner. I was right. We went to The Roof, which is the restaurant right across the street from the temple, and you can see it right out the window.

We got there at the perfect time, we got to see the sun set, and all the lights slowly come on and by the time we left it was dark and the temple was completely lit up. It was gorgeous! and the atmosphere was so cool there. They had a pianist playing and a fancy buffet.. it was great.

Then we rushed back to my car (parked in a two hour parking spot.. oops. luckily no ticket) and drove back to Provo. I slept very well that night. :)

It Is Finished

I GRADUATED!!!!! and it felt good! I went to the commencement and ceremony because that's what you do, and I figured, why not? I'll be here anyway. And I am so glad I did, because this really is a huge accomplishment. This is what I have been doing for the last 4 years of my life, and it has occupied most of my time, stress, and brain space. I graduated with a B.S. in Public Health, with an emphasis in health promotion. The commencement programs were just perfect, the speakers were all just the right length and very appropriate, and it gave me closure and a chance to reflect on my overall experience, and how I've changed and grown since I came here as a little freshman, and what my goals and dreams are from here. The only disappointment was that they had you turn your tassel to the other side when you are in the tunnel lined up to walk across the stage... talk about anti-climatic.. there you are, by yourself, with no one watching, no synchronization... just a woman running up and down the line shouting in forceful whispers to turn your tassel. Lame.

My family was great, I had so much support and people traveled so far to come watch me march across the stage (and yes, it was very hard not to bust a dance move up there). So thanks everyone! Here are some pictures from the big day!

Meet Kristen. She is one of my favorite people in the major, actually, world. She is awesome, one of my favorite people to work with because she is fun and laid back, but totally reliable and gets things done and done well!!! So here we are waiting in line to go into the Marriot and enjoying being done.

Oh happy day! This is us after the first day where the main speaker congratulates all BYU grads together. The next day we split up into our specific colleges and they had speakers from our majors, and that's when we got our diplomas.

This is Audrey, she is another of my favorites from the major, but more than that we have been very good friends since elementary school and were roommates for a semester. We are pretty much the same person.... same major, same hobbies and interests, and got engaged and married pretty much at the same time too. Love you girl! (Also, our commencement was at 7 in the morning... so thus the "I just rolled out of bed and landed in this big poncho and ran across campus to be here" look).

Here is my sweet family that came in from all over to support me: Nicole and little Vienna (Alma's taking the picture and jagger's somewhere...) up from Vegas, my grandparents from Salt Lake, my fiance, and mom and dad from Texas.

Here it is: THE MOMENT!!!! The few seconds that equal the entire reason for coming. Walking across the stage to be recognized and receive my diploma (well the diploma case actually... the actual diploma doesn't come until a month later in the mail).

There I am, first row of the bleachers, second person in just after my big debut.

Meeting up with the family trying to get out of the Marriott Center.

Check out how crazy this place is! "Everybody, up and rush the door. Push and shove, this is the last plane out of 'Nam"

My supporters:

Hahaha, I love this picture, my dad is almost more excited than I am!!!

YAY!!!! I DID IT!!!!

My Man

So, I have been very negligent in blogging lately, and a lot of that has to do with my new distraction in life: Dimitriy. He came along and swept me off my feet and we've been spending pretty much all our time together since our first date. We dated for nearly a year and liked it so much we thought we'd seal the deal. We got married May 22, 2010 (posting upcoming) in Salt Lake City. And because he's pretty much a permanent part of my life at this point, I'd like to introduce you to my love and fill you in on some of what we've been up to this last year: (sorry they are in reverse order...)

We saw Avatar in 3-D, and we loved it!

Christmas with my Family in Texas: Gingerbread house/castle - I think I won that competition :)

Sledding!!!! and maybe some tackling ...

Bicycle built for two? Yes please! -- So I have always wanted to do this, so when we were in Idaho visiting Lici we rented one and took this baby for a spin... check out the pure joy on my face.

Floating the Provo River!! I have also always wanted to do this, and Dima made my dream come true! It was cold and rocky, but the view was beautiful, and we were the only ones out there! -- well minus the clepto that stole Dima's shoes...

A little Vegas Vacation. It wouldn't be complete without an In n Out stop

Shooting in Vegas with Dad and Lici. This was Dima's target... It may look like mine the way I'm pointing at it all excitedly... but alas, it is not.

Hike in Mt. Charleston that morning. I love this picture.

Dima took me to the All-Star game in Salt Lake. It was so fun! and we got these sweet public health sweat bands that say "Real Fans Buckle Up" -- for the Real soccer team. Public health workers are just so witty and clever.

We painted cereal bowls for each other. I painted a robot in his because he calls me robot sometimes, and I like them... a lot. :) (for a case and point check out our halloween costumes)

Salt Lake Bees game! This is one of our first pictures together, and its still one of my favorites.