5 Months

I'll make this short and sweet, but I just had to quickly mention that Russel and I have been married for five months today. Not long, I know, but long enough for me to recognize that it was the best decision I have ever made. Russ and I had a great adventure today, which I will write about soon, but the best part was just spending the day together.
Thank you for marrying me, sweetheart! I love you!

A Few Days Late and a Couple Dollars Short...But Who Cares, I'm Done!!

I started my final semester of classes for BYU via Indepedent Study when I moved to Virginia in January. I had the lofty goal of completing all my classes in time for April graduation, which gave me a little less than 3 months to finish 6 classes. Was I kidding myself, or what?! I was also recently engaged and planning a wedding. You tell me which is more fun...that's what I thought.

Finally, after 10 months of classes hanging over my head, I am done!!

I flew to Utah last week to take all my finals (it is not required that you take them at BYU, but it ended up being less expensive due to our free round-trip flight on Southwest). In addition to taking my finals, I got to see my wonderful sister, cousin, past roommates and friends. All in all, a great week. The best part is that now I am free of the guilt that comes with doing anything other than Independent Study classes. Oh, and the other best part is that my Mom can finally rest easy, no longer worried that I would never be a college graduate after I decided to go off and get married!

A Girls Day

Today was a perfect girls day out. I met up with my sister-in-law Tiffany and we set out to the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa in Fairfax. Tiffany and I both had gift cards there (I received mine from my wonderful friends Jenny and Shanna for one of my bridal showers) so we decided to splurge on massages. After our wonderfully relaxing massages, we set out to the Cheesecake Factory. Lunch was delicious and, of course, we had cheesecake to top it off! Afterward, seeing as we were already at the mall, we took a little trip to one of our favorite places - Banana Republic.
It was so nice to have a day just for fun and spend time with Tiffany. I am so lucky - I've got the best in-laws around!

Welcome to the World, Baby May!

Russ and I are officially the proud Uncle and Aunt to our first niece!

Mayda Elizabeth Marsh (aka Baby May)


Born September 19, 2008 at 8:18 am.
7 lbs. 12 oz.
21 3/4 inches long
(also, the biggest feet I have ever seen on a newborn :-) )

Russ' brother Jamie and his wife Anne just added baby #3 to their wonderful family. They already have two adorable boys, Jimmy and Dane, and now have a little girl! We're so happy for you, Jamie and Anne!

Me with Baby May

Russ (Uncle Rusty to his nephews) with Baby May

Back to Young Womens!

Last Saturday we got a call from our Bishop asking if he could come over and visit with us. We immediately started speculating about our future callings and went through just about every calling in the church by the time he came over.

He started our conversation by telling us that the ward was going through a complete reorganization of the Primary and Young Womens. That's your first clue. Then he turned to me and said that the new Young Women's president had asked me to be her...

Personal Progress adviser!

I was sustained in church on Sunday and I can't wait to get started. There are 12 young women in our ward and I am looking forward to getting to know all of them.

Oh and in case you were wondering, Russ did not receive a calling. He says its because he’s not good enough for any of the callings they have open. I think they’re just waiting to give him a really good one – like Youth Stake Dance Committee or something. :-) Too bad if he really did get that calling, I’d be equally punished and have to go to the stake dances with him. Go figure.

Home Sweet Home

Primarily for the benefit of my mother, though all are welcome to look and comment, I am posting pictures of our wonderful home. It is a one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo that Russ purchased almost four years ago. Up until about three and a half months ago it was a bachelor pad. Not anymore. :-) Russ has lovingly allowed me to basically do whatever I have wanted with the space. In response to that relaxed attitude, I put pictures on the walls, accent pillows on the sofa, changed the dining room chandelier and completely changed the bedroom. Let's just say he's been a good sport!
So here are the pictures...Tell us what you think!

Our living room

The front entryway

Dining Area

Russ' Office Area

The most organized closet in the world (if I do say so myself)

Kitchen part 1

Kitchen part 2

Our pretty bed (with beautiful accent pillows made by Mom)

The bulletin board I just made for my work area

Happy (5 months belated) Birthday!

This post may sound a little funny, but Wednesday night we got to celebrate Russ' birthday for a second time - exactly five months from his actual birthday. On his birthday (which is March 6) I gave him his presents and we went out to dinner. The last of the presents was finally fulfilled Wednesday when we went to see The Lion King at the Kennedy Center!


I have seen The Lion King performed before, once with my Dad in New York and once with my whole family in San Diego. Russ, however, had never seen it, so when I saw that it was coming to the Kennedy Center, I jumped at the chance! The costumes are phenomenal! I am amazed every time by their creativity and ingenuity. The music is also wonderful - it's all I want to listen to! That will pass, but it happens every time I go to a production. I end up singing all the songs in my head (and out loud, of course) for a week!

Right after the show. The pictures are a little blurry, but I think they still work.

I also have to mention the wonderful dinner we had before the show. Russ and I are slowly (serious emphasis on the slowly - it will probably take us 20 years) working our way through the Washingtonion's list of 100 best restaurants in the D.C. area. Jaleo is ranked #55 (we are going through the list in no particular order) and we loved it!

It is a Spanish tapas restaurant, so I was immediately drawn to it and it didn't disappoint. We had gazpacho, shrimp, caramelized onion with goat cheese and pine nuts, chicken, steak and truly the best flan I have ever had. Quite the spread! Keep in mind though that they are little dishes, so having 7 tapas and 2 desserts is no big deal. :-) I think if we go back we'll be getting five orders of the steak and two of the flan. Yum!