I am way behind on this but life has been incredibly busy for us over the past few months.. and for one of those months we were without internet. But now we are back up and running so I thought a catch up was in order. So here's a very quick run down of some of the things that have filled our last months of 2011/first few weeks of 2012 with:
::: We have moved
We have a gorgeous little one bed apartment on the outskirts of Billericay, Essex. So far, we are loving it. We have all of our new furniture fitted and it really does feel like home (Ryan is a hero when putting furniture together and I just love adding those finishing touches).
We love being able to cook together & eat together every evening. We were so blessed to have my mum cook for us whilst we stayed with them over the summer but there is something very satisfying about preparing and eating a meal that you cooked yourself. Our evenings are so precious and we love just doing the simple things together.
We have a gorgeous little one bed apartment on the outskirts of Billericay, Essex. So far, we are loving it. We have all of our new furniture fitted and it really does feel like home (Ryan is a hero when putting furniture together and I just love adding those finishing touches).
We love being able to cook together & eat together every evening. We were so blessed to have my mum cook for us whilst we stayed with them over the summer but there is something very satisfying about preparing and eating a meal that you cooked yourself. Our evenings are so precious and we love just doing the simple things together.
We are loving doing all of our ‘firsts’ in our new home and we love that we just have a small and simple apartment to start off our life. We have everything we could possibly need.
::: We celebrated our 1 year engagement anniversary
Ryan & I got engaged on the 12th November last year. I got a little nostalgic just thinking about it and so decided that we should have a little celebration to remember how excited we were on that day last year. We decided to spend the evening in London together. We ate at an amazing all-american restaurant called Bodean's BBQ where we enjoyed pulled pork, ribs, chicken, fries, and lots of BBQ sauce as well as some Root Beer on the side. We then took a walk to Cinnabon to finish off with an all-american deliciously cinnamon dessert. It was the perfect way to celebrate our NYC engagement anniversary.
::: We got a new nephew
Steve & Liane blessed us all with another bundle of JOY. Jensen Carter Mateer was born on Sunday 13th November. We got to go round and have lots of cuddles the day he was born. He is gorgeous and we love him. Tayla will not be overshadowed though and is still wrapping everyone around her little finger with her cute little personality and attitude.
Steve & Liane blessed us all with another bundle of JOY. Jensen Carter Mateer was born on Sunday 13th November. We got to go round and have lots of cuddles the day he was born. He is gorgeous and we love him. Tayla will not be overshadowed though and is still wrapping everyone around her little finger with her cute little personality and attitude.
::: Ryan & I got new callings
I have been called into Primary as the 6-7 year old teacher. I haven't taught too much due to the events above and below but I am so excited to get stuck into it this year. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Ryan was called into primary too but then shortly after he was released and called into the Stake YM presidency which he couldn't be happier about. Ryan loves serving in Young Mens and can't wait to start organising all of those fun activities and getting to know the YM in our new stake.
I have been called into Primary as the 6-7 year old teacher. I haven't taught too much due to the events above and below but I am so excited to get stuck into it this year. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Ryan was called into primary too but then shortly after he was released and called into the Stake YM presidency which he couldn't be happier about. Ryan loves serving in Young Mens and can't wait to start organising all of those fun activities and getting to know the YM in our new stake.
::: We joined the gym
We aren't exactly gym addicts but we enjoy going together and have had fun working out together. The gym has a swimming pool, sauna, steam rooms and lots of fun fitness classes, including Zumba.. so hopefully it will help us combat those extra marital pounds that we've been told happens to newlyweds ;)
We aren't exactly gym addicts but we enjoy going together and have had fun working out together. The gym has a swimming pool, sauna, steam rooms and lots of fun fitness classes, including Zumba.. so hopefully it will help us combat those extra marital pounds that we've been told happens to newlyweds ;)
::: Ryan had a birthday
Ryan turned 24 on November 23rd. He opened his presents that morning from me and then had uni the rest of the day... probably working on an assignment too. Not the best way to spend your birthday, however, we went out to dinner with family and friends that evening to one of Ryan's favourite restaurants - Wagamama's. We love Japanese food! It was the best way to spend his birthday evening. Ryan got even more spoilt, with even more presents from everyone in attendance. We went home to enjoy the chocolate and strawberry pavlova I had made him earlier that day - I think it needed a little longer in the oven as the insides were so gooey. It was delicious all the same and I was proud - it was my first ever attempt after all!!!
Ryan turned 24 on November 23rd. He opened his presents that morning from me and then had uni the rest of the day... probably working on an assignment too. Not the best way to spend your birthday, however, we went out to dinner with family and friends that evening to one of Ryan's favourite restaurants - Wagamama's. We love Japanese food! It was the best way to spend his birthday evening. Ryan got even more spoilt, with even more presents from everyone in attendance. We went home to enjoy the chocolate and strawberry pavlova I had made him earlier that day - I think it needed a little longer in the oven as the insides were so gooey. It was delicious all the same and I was proud - it was my first ever attempt after all!!!
::: We visited Paris
One of Ryan's gifts from me for his birthday was a weekend trip to Paris. I organised the trip without him knowing and invited both my sister and her boyfriend as well as Ryan's sister and her boyfriend. I thought it would be even more fun to go with a group. It was amazing!!! The hotel was about a mile away from the Eiffel Tower so we were in a pretty good & central location to enjoy Paris in all it's historical beauty. The weather was perfect, cold enough for us to need coats but warm enough for us to be outside all day and not freeze to death. Paris was beautiful, particularly at night when the christmas lights came on and all of the monuments were lit up for all to see. The Eiffel Tower had sparkley fairy lights all the way up - it was gorgeous. We even got to walk around one of the biggest Christmas Markets I've ever seen. It really helped us get into Christmas mode.
One of Ryan's gifts from me for his birthday was a weekend trip to Paris. I organised the trip without him knowing and invited both my sister and her boyfriend as well as Ryan's sister and her boyfriend. I thought it would be even more fun to go with a group. It was amazing!!! The hotel was about a mile away from the Eiffel Tower so we were in a pretty good & central location to enjoy Paris in all it's historical beauty. The weather was perfect, cold enough for us to need coats but warm enough for us to be outside all day and not freeze to death. Paris was beautiful, particularly at night when the christmas lights came on and all of the monuments were lit up for all to see. The Eiffel Tower had sparkley fairy lights all the way up - it was gorgeous. We even got to walk around one of the biggest Christmas Markets I've ever seen. It really helped us get into Christmas mode.
::: Celebrated our 1st Christmas together
Ryan & I were so excited for our 1st Christmas together. It is such an exciting time to start our own family traditions and to decide on some of the things we want to do to help us celebrate the Christmas season in years to come with our own family. We bought and wrapped the majority of our presents for family and friends before December even started. We wanted to be organised so that we could just soak up every bit of Christmas spirit without the stress. We decorated the tree for FHE whilst listening to Christmas music and sipping on hot chocolate. We watched countless Christmas movies, wrapped in fur blankets and sipping on more hot chocolate... this was pretty much our evening activity in December. Christmas eve was a Saturday this year so we got to spend that day together. We started the day off at a pancake party hosted by my brother and his wife. We had every topping you could think of and stuffed ourselves with plenty of yummy pancakes. We then watched a Christmassy movie at the cinema and rushed back to attend a carol service at my sister's ward. This is something that I will always try to do - spend the day with family and end it with a carol service all about the Saviour... because that is what Christmas is all about! Ryan and I spent Christmas morning together at our own place. Read the Christmas story and opened stockings in bed. Cooked breakfast together and then opened our gifts for each other. And then attended my parents ward for church. It was a perfect morning.
Ryan & I were so excited for our 1st Christmas together. It is such an exciting time to start our own family traditions and to decide on some of the things we want to do to help us celebrate the Christmas season in years to come with our own family. We bought and wrapped the majority of our presents for family and friends before December even started. We wanted to be organised so that we could just soak up every bit of Christmas spirit without the stress. We decorated the tree for FHE whilst listening to Christmas music and sipping on hot chocolate. We watched countless Christmas movies, wrapped in fur blankets and sipping on more hot chocolate... this was pretty much our evening activity in December. Christmas eve was a Saturday this year so we got to spend that day together. We started the day off at a pancake party hosted by my brother and his wife. We had every topping you could think of and stuffed ourselves with plenty of yummy pancakes. We then watched a Christmassy movie at the cinema and rushed back to attend a carol service at my sister's ward. This is something that I will always try to do - spend the day with family and end it with a carol service all about the Saviour... because that is what Christmas is all about! Ryan and I spent Christmas morning together at our own place. Read the Christmas story and opened stockings in bed. Cooked breakfast together and then opened our gifts for each other. And then attended my parents ward for church. It was a perfect morning.
The rest of Christmas day was spent at my mums with the rest of our clan and Boxing day was spent with Ryan's family. Too much food, too much laughter, plenty of games, far too many gifts.
Everything was perfect. I love Christmas time. It is by far my favourite time of year.
::: We visited Austria for New Year
Ryan wanted to organise a surprise trip for us during the week I have off between Christmas and New Year. It ended up not being such a secret because he wanted to know my opinion on destinations. We had two choices Vienna, Austria or Berlin, Germany. We have friends in Austria and thought having a German speaking tour guide would be a huge plus so we were sold.
We left for Vienna on Dec 27th and came home January 1st. It was freezing cold!!!! I don't know if it was just because we left England, who was experiencing a very rare 16 degree 'heat wave' on Christmas day, but it was bitter cold.
We absolutely loved the city of Vienna, with it's beautiful architecture and abundant history it was the perfect backdrop to see in the New Year. We spent our days eating typical Austrian food and taking in the sights.. with plenty of hot chocolate breaks in between to warm us up.
We visited the zoo, the emperors palace, a spa (which genuinely had salt pools outside, where you could float and listen to music being played underneath the water!!), we attended the Ballet and we raved from 7pm until midnight on New Years eve and then dodged sooo many fireworks just to stay alive. It was an amazing break and we loved being able to spend New Years eve partying and celebrating together.
::: New Years Day
We spent our first day of 2012 almost missing our flight back to the UK, running through Vienna airport, checking through customs twice looking unnecessarily suspicious, flying across Europe, dinner with my family, playing games with cousins and then a 3 hour game of RISK.
We spent our first day of 2012 almost missing our flight back to the UK, running through Vienna airport, checking through customs twice looking unnecessarily suspicious, flying across Europe, dinner with my family, playing games with cousins and then a 3 hour game of RISK.
::: We can't wait for 2012
2012 feels like such an exciting time for Ryan and I. A fresh new year brings fresh new opportunities and adventures and we are so excited to see what this year has in store for us.
2012 feels like such an exciting time for Ryan and I. A fresh new year brings fresh new opportunities and adventures and we are so excited to see what this year has in store for us.
This year will see us reach our 1st year anniversary and Ryan finishing up his 2nd year of uni, which makes the tunnel ahead seem not so long. We have plenty of holidays planned and lots of fun!
xxx
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