Happy Birthday America

First of all you have to know that I, Adam Bazzelle, have never been to a concert in my life.  Don't be too shocked, according to Shaila there are many, many things that I have never done that are just a part of life.  So shortly after we started dating it was announced that Brad Paisley was coming to Stadium of Fire.  I love his lyrics, he just has the right amount of sarcasm and humor that i can't help but love it.  So she told me without question we were going. 

So while planning a wedding and spending money on that and a ring and everything else we splurged a little and got some tickets for Stadium of Fire.  I have watched the fireworks many times outside the stadium but never from the inside.  We were excited.

The long wait was a little hard to bear but there was so much going on that it wasn't too bad.  We managed to make it without too many problems.   The night finally came and we were ready.  We decided to go early and get a good parking spot, so we went very early, an hour before they started seating.  We stood around and people watched, always a favorite.  

After watching people we got seated and got some stadium food for dinner, I had wanted a hot dog for a long time!  After eating we waited more.  Watching the stadium fill, wondering if we would have some space around us if people didn't show up.

Ten minutes before the start of the show people started piling in and the stadium was filled very quickly.  The program itself was awesome.  From the girls behind us making us deaf from David Archie boy, and the crazy country folk in front of us cheering for Brad it was a great experience.  We felt very proud to call ourselves Americans.  It was worth it.  I would have to say that we had a blast, even if it took us an hour and a half to get back home after.  

Thanks Freedom Festival for helping us celebrate our freedom.  I am so grateful for the wonderful country we live in. 

Cruise Pictures

Our view from the balcony when we first boarded

Leaving the dock

Goodbye Florida

Our Ship in Key West

Arrr

Nights on deck

Cozemel on our way to the beach

The beach!!!!

Shaila told me to look happy...

the water wasn't as warm as I expected it would be

towel animals

back to the boat in mexico

sunset on the water

Confessions of a Housewife

My job as a para-educator ended as the school year ended. I've applied for about ten different jobs now, and I've only been called for one interview so far.. which apparently didn't go that well since I haven't heard back from them. So, for now, I'm a housewife. Here are some confessions...
-I play Mario Galaxy until I lose all my lives and get to Game Over.
-Since seeing a garden snake on our sidewalk, I'm paranoid that one will get into our house.
-I tell myself every night before I go to sleep that I'll exercise for at least 30 minutes the next day. It rarely happens.
-I fix my hair on an average of two days a week now.
-I also tell myself that I'll try learning more Spanish and Chinese.
-Really, I have all kinds of good intentions that don't work out.
-I'm always checking the clock to see how many more hours it is until Adam gets off of work.
-I check Netflix all the time, but usually end up watching the same thing.
-Even though television is clearly meant for only your eyes and ears, I sometimes hold my nose while watching Hoarders.
-I think about how much laundry I already have to do with just the two of us, and it makes me shudder to think about what it will be like when we have kids. Props to all you moms out there.
Anyway, those are some thoughts for now.

Oh and PS- I'll get some wedding pictures up soon.

Another Milestone

Nine months ago I met a boy named Adam. He invited me, my sister, and our roommate over for lunch one Sunday. He mentioned, in passing, that he loved the show Scrubs. I had watched a couple episodes over the years, so in an attempt to make conversation with a new friend I said (probably with too much enthusiasm) "I love that show!" Yeah, yeah, I know. Girls are so weird. But, all you ladies out there can NOT deny having ever taken temporary interest in something for a guy. You know I'm right.
Anyway, a few months went by. Adam and I continued to watch the entire series of Scrubs, but sometimes with a little less enthusiasm. I mean.. we couldn't start a relationship using only a common interest in a television show, right? Well, we clearly found more things in common. So began the wedding madness. That whole time frame has passed, and we're now settling into married life. Which means not having to always go out to have fun. So we continued watching our favorite show. And.... we finished today! (we didn't watch the last season because Adam says it's dumb and he doesn't even consider it to be part of the series).
I know that most people might think this is a stupid thing to call a "milestone." But, many late night conversations happened while watching the show, which led to a great friendship, and then eventually our marriage.
So, thank you to Scrubs. Thank you for the laughter, the tears, the many life lessons, and something that I'll always be able to share with my best friend.

One Year

A year ago today, I was making my return to the United States. It was the end of a wonderful adventure. I left my Chinese home and came back to America.
A year ago, I did not think that I would meet the man of my dreams within four months, and be married to him in another seven.
I didn't think that my sister and I would meet and marry roommates. (She's getting married in two and a half months!)
I didn't know that I would be spending the first six months of this year working in a preschool for children with Autism.
I didn't think that I would have driven across the country almost five times. (With family reunion in Georgia in a few weeks, it will be seven times!)
And, I didn't think that I would enjoy an X-Men movie.

So many other things have happened within this past year, and I still find it hard to believe how quickly time passes.. I miss the experiences I had in China. I miss the children I taught. I miss our coordinators, our handy man, kung fu teachers, and school cooks. I miss the food, the smells, and even the ridiculously sticky humidity.

Although I still miss China on a regular basis, I love where I'm at now. I'm married to my best friend.. for eternity! I couldn't ask for anything better.

Celebrating Adam

A few years ago I bought a super cute cupcake book. My one, and only, attempt at making anything from this book failed miserably. I haven't had enough motivation or inspiration to try again. That is, until I got married. It didn't turn out as wonderfully as I had envisioned in my mind, but it did the job. Adam had a 'Cars' themed cupcake tower for his birthday yesterday.

After he blew out the candles, I began to do that self criticizing thing that us girls like to do. I tried to explain to him how I wanted it to really look and how I could have done things better. But, being the wonderful man that he is, he took my face in his hands and said it was perfect. He whispered that he hadn't even had a birthday cake in almost ten years.
I am so blessed to have such an amazing eternal companion. He truly is my best friend and confidante. I am so thankful that my Heavenly Father decided to bless me with this wonderful man. I am also extremely grateful for Adam's parents, Jim & Deb, for bringing him into this world.
I finally found my missing puzzle piece.
Happy Birthday Adam!

Bridals

These are the pictures we took in Utah with Carolee.  She did a great job on Shaila's bridals.  I love these pictures.  Enjoy.