Happy Thanksgiving!

just a few thoughts on this day of gratitude (in a bulleted list, like i like)

• as cliche as it is, i'm the most grateful for my incredible husband. He takes such great care of me and cooks and takes out the trash and listens to my ridiculous dreams and makes me laugh. he's so great and I'm so blessed to have found such a handsome fella to spend forever with.
• I'm also grateful for my wonderful family who i can't wait to chow down with in a few short hours! I love them!

• and, as stupid and annoying she is a lot of the time, i'm grateful for my kitty who makes me laugh and (occasionally) cuddles with me. 

I hope everyone has a most excellent Thanksgiving and stuffs their faces with tons of super delicious grub and then takes a big ole' nap. at least that's how i'm going to spend my holiday. 

love, ellen

Utah Reception

okay, i know it's super late, but i'm gonna do a watered down version of the Utah reception. It really was amazing and i appreciate all the beautiful decor and donations of cookies and chairs and time.
My cousin, Malea, was our Utah reception photographer. These are all her pics and her daughter, Emma's (she was our super cute paparazzo).

like i did with the Minnesota reception, here's a bunch of pictures in (mostly) chronological order with captions. These first few are just couples shots of me and Sean before the party.

 cute. 

 Love!

 Just LOOK at his eyes! my mr. handsome.

 haha marti hands. we have fun. 

 My guys!

 Our cussin' awesome cake topper!

 Sean's groom's cake! Handmade by my dad. (impressive,right?!?!)

 the guest gift table! cute!

 refreshments, anyone? cookies and milk and water and cream cheese mints!

 This is an advice box. we got a lot of good help and tips and stuff!

 one side of the stage in the room 

 middle of the stage

 the other side with super cute shutters and picket fence!

 guest book and the big D from the MN reception and a handmade paper 'D' made by my cousin (super awesome!)

 The entrance to the party! (and a funny play on our name)

 Bench outside the reception room

 My mom and brothers-in-law!

 Brothers!

 the wall behind the line. we have 2 banners that Sean and I wrote You're the ___ to my ____.

 A cute frame we got from the Penny's at our MN reception. SUPER cute!

 Gift table and envelope birdcage. See! AMAZING decorations!

 cutting the cake

 cute. we're the clean kind.

 toasts!

 Scandinavian cup drinking 

 bouquet toss! 

Second first dance

Then we went to the hotel our best friend Jayme got for us and relaxed. The next day we went to my parents' house to have brunch and open gifts. It was really a beautiful reception and lots of fun. 

Let's just say, though, that' i'm glad we're done getting married. It was a lot of work (for everyone, probably more than me), a lot of stress and headaches, and i was just ready to be married to this super handsome, incredible guy. Now we can start up all our holiday fun! 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

love, Ellen

le jour de l'action de grâce

which means thanksgiving in French. lots'o words for one thing. and yeah, this really is just another Thanksgiving-themed post.

This i am thankful for:

1. My family because they're always there for me, they're hilarious, and they always make really yum-tastic foods. 
2. My ward because they definitely give me something better to do than sit around in my lonely apartment all day. this comes with being thankful for Del Taco for after FHE.
3. My friends for supporting me and not hating me even though i can definitely be super annoying and a pain sometimes. and sometimes going out to sushi with me and walmart and just chill and let me riffle through their foods. 
4. My laptop to keep me company when i can't have anyone else as company. and helping me with all my homework. and containing all my fave music. 
5. clothes. for doing the job of clothes. and looking awesome. same with shoes. 
6. food. for being food. Delicious, nutritious, tasty, happy, filling... the best. There's so many kinds and flavors and brands and recipes and temperatures.. just the best. especially holiday food. nothing like it.
7. college. as much as i am in love-hate with it, i'm glad i'm there and that i have classes and professors and am learning and whatever. i mean "yayy!" hah.
8. My job. I actually really like my job. as much as i don't want to spend 4 hours on my feet making people i don't even know happy with food and then taking their money and all that, i really like making people happy and getting money and getting to know regulars and just chatting and hanging out with my hilarious co-workers. It's really great, especially for a first/food-industry job. 
9. bathrooms. for obvs reasons. (and i kinda hafta pee right now. lol.) 
10. my silly kitty. that makes me want to squish the bajeebers out of it regularly. and making me laugh cuz it's funny. 
11. movies. that pass the time and make me happy and entertained. and also for their ability to connect people of all kinds. "Oh, i don't really like this movie because blah blah." "duude! me neither!" like that.
12. my car. that works. and even though i'm certainly beginning to save up for a new one eventually, i'm glad i have this one and that it takes me places and makes me feel safe and happy and all that. 

yes. all these things. and I just wanted to finish with a picture of a happy thanksgiving turkey deal. so that's what that was.

Happy Thanksgiving, All! hope your turkey is as good as mine. because mine is cussin' delish. 

amen. 

Love, Ellen