First Christmas

The past few Christmas' Ryan and I have spent together and with both our families, but this will be the first together as our own little family. Being that this is a wonderful time of the year I am looking forward to focusing much on Christ. We had the opportunity to go to the Recife, Brazil Temple today. My great uncle and wife are serving there as temple president and matron. It was a beautiful experience being able to go there and have a surprise visit with them. They welcomed us with open arms and lots of love. We are very grateful for their christ-like actions towards us and for our experience of seeing them.

Though it is beautiful to be walking the beaches of Brazil where the water is the perfect aqua color and warm like the bahamas, I do miss some details that remind me that it is Christmas time.

Christmas tree

Stockings by the fire

Hot chocolate

Homemade cookies + glass of ice cold milk

I won't let those missing details let me down. There will be plenty years to have these things when we are not bouncing around the globe where it is odd to drink a glass of fresh milk with your cookie. (My only complaint about South America). I was very happy to see the beautiful nativity scene on the temple grounds this evening. It put a smile on my face.

P.S. My sisters have birthdays right next to each other. Yesterday(15th) was Ellie's and today(16th) is Hanna's. Wish I could have been home to sing happy birthday to you and watch you blow out your candles. I love you both.

Happy Birthday Ellie and Hanna!!

New Chapter

It's official... I am now Mrs. Nancy Corraine Waldron! Ryan and I just got back from our "mini" honeymoon Wednesday afternoon from Carlsbad. It was a much needed catch up on rest and time for just the two of us. We loved every second of it. Now we are back home and staying at his parent's till we take off on our grand adventure! For those who don't already know, Ryan and I have taken this time in our life to go explore the world together. I'd like to think it's the perfect way to start off our marriage together. October 17th we will be heading to Lima, Peru. One way ticket is all we have got and I couldn't be more thrilled of the thought of that! Our goal is to reach certain destinations like New Zealand, Africa, Vietnam, Thailand, and more. To go with our travels and new life together as Mr and Mrs, we will have a blog that we would love for you to check out. A way that we can share stories and pictures as well as keeping in touch with close family and friends back home. A little sneak peek from our wedding day. Thank you Claire for the picture :) Check back for more to come!

Nancy & Ryan

Now that I have a little bit more free time, I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from a photo shoot Ryan and I did for our engagement pictures. We had a fun time with our friend and photographer Sara C Walk. I believe the only people who actually come and read my blog posts are those that I am close to and know that I am married now. So I do apologize for the delay on keeping up with what has been going on in my life. Let me explain that Ryan and I decided that we wanted to have an "adventure day" for our pictures. My favorite thing to do with Ryan is to go on this fun little activities together and enjoy each others' company. So I think our theme fit perfectly for us.

Check out the pictures here on our new blog.

Oh Dear...

Where has the time gone?! My apologies for the lack of blogging and keeping anyone (if anyone) updated on what has been going on. So my attention has gone towards anything having to do with WEDDING. I just had my bridal shower this past Saturday and I couldn't be anymore happy with the turn out! I have a wonderful family that does so much for me. I will be posting some fun pictures from the shower very very soon!

Summer Rays

The past few days has finally been feeling like summer. We kicked off summer solstice with a BBQ and pool party with family and friends. So far summer has been enjoyed with swimming in the Waldron's fancy salt water pool and going to the beach..and of course working. I'm lucky to have a job that let's me take kids to the pool and beach to keep cool in this summer heat. The other weekend Ryan and I got to go to the beach with Chris, Sara, and their adorable kids Christopher and Brooklyn. It was nice to spend time with family. Here are some pictures of Christopher and Brooklyn.

I am grateful

Last night I was laying down reading my scriptures when I heard my grandpa come down the hall to tell my uncle that my grandma needed a priesthood blessing. I got up right away and quickly went down the hall to see if she was okay. Luckily grandma assured me nothing was the matter.. that she just was very nervous about her and grandpa's long drive to Idaho this morning. So she needed a blessing to help her not be nervous and worry. Of course I was relieved to hear the reason for it. After staying in the room to listen to the words given by my grandpa and uncle, I went back to my room to continue reading.

All I thought about was how grateful I am for the gospel in my life and how wonderful it is to see my grandparent's example. Their faith and testimony help mine grow and see what I can look forward to when I am married to Ryan and have the Melchizedek Priesthood in our home.

These next couple months will be busy with wedding planning.. and of course it will be worth it! Soon I will be Mrs. Nancy Corraine Waldron. Man that sounds good! ha.

Monday

Mondays I am with two fun loving kids, Sydney[2] and Luke[1]. We headed down to the park this afternoon and got very unlucky with the weather. Once we got there it was sprinkling and the playground was all wet and slippery! Sydney and Luke noticed a baby bird struggling on the grass as we were walking and so I decided to attempt to help it out. I figured it was best to not touch the baby bird. So I used a shirt that was in the diaper bag. I called my grandpa [the bird expert] and he said it most likely fell out of it's nest and it would most likely die if I didn't put it back in the nest. So I knew once he told me that information I had no choice but to try my best to find the nest! I listened any birds that sounded like the baby's chirp. Luckily I did! So I walked closer to the bird that looked like it could be it's mother. I left knowing that the mother came down to her baby and they seemed really happy. I hope I saved a bird's life today.

Here is the little guy.

And here is Sydney during lunch time after we got back from the park. She made a ball out of her playdoh and stuck a feather in it. We play with playdoh tons. I'm getting pretty good at sculpting dolphins and whales [her favorite] ! She loves putting me to the test of my drawing/creative skills.

Can you tell what it is?

Well I hope you can tell... if not, it's a dolphin... and I'm proud of it.

the knot

The other day I was flipping through a wedding magazine called The Knot Southern California spring/summer 2011. For obvious reasons I have been going through wedding magazines lately, and to my surprise I was casually looking through this magazine and noticed a picture/ad that looked familiar. I honestly felt like I had a moment of not thinking and just looking. Just as I was about to turn the page I realized that it was a picture of me!!! So in December 2009 I did a bridal photo-shoot for a photographer Huey Bui. Long story short, the pictures were taken at The Waterfront Hilton Resort (where I work) and the Hilton decided they wanted to use the pictures of me to advertise for their wedding events at their resort.

I am actually in a wedding magazine, so crazy!! Interestingly enough I happen to come across this as I am getting ready to get married myself. Funny how things happen. Here is ME in a magazine!

Here are some shots from the photoshoot that are more clear to see.

shoes

i found my wedding dress and couldn't be more happier about my decision! i know what shoes i want to go with my dress.. but getting a bit frustrated because the exact ones i have my heart set on this very moment are joan and david pumps from 2009 and i can't find them sold anywhere. i told my sister ellie this morning that i have to find them and she said she will help me. i guess i have a few more months to keep looking, so not stressed.

but i really really do hope i can find them.. in my color and size.

Laguna

My friend Elle and I had a fun little photo shoot with two lovely ladies Courtney & Chantel in Laguna Beach. These photographers are so adorable and great at their talent! I had a wonderful time hanging out with all the girls on a Saturday morning.

[These pictures were taken by Courtney Brooke]

Love Day

Valentine's Day landed on a Monday, which is the most busy day of my week. Work from 7:45am-5:00pm then class 6:00pm-10:15pm. So Ryan and I got together the next day..

He made me a vase from his pottery wheel, added some picked flowers, also gave me some chocolate (I always bug him about having a twix bar from his candy jar). I love how artistic he is.

We went out to dinner with our friends Tamra and Spencer at an Indian restaurant. It was tasty!

I was glad to have had a mellow Valentine's.

Exactly what I needed.

Past Three Months...

Oh dear...

Time for playing catch up!!
The holiday season was wonderful and I am so grateful to my family (+ Waldron Family) and close friends. No complaining here. I do feel that my life has been full of love, laughter, and hard work. I accomplished my first class of Interior Design this past fall semester, and I enjoyed it as well as passing the class with an exceptional grade. I am crossing my fingers that the rest of my classes will follow with a good grade like that! It's nice to start off a new major doing well.

i made christmas cards with these supplies

the outcome

So I know in the previous post I mentioned that Ryan and I are engaged, VERY VERY EXCITING!! I still feel like a little girl when I think back to right when he got down on one knee and asked me. I am a very lucky lady. Might I add that he did a real fine job picking out the ring. We are planning on having a wedding in the early fall of this year. Shooting for having a rustic fall wedding.

After the Christmas Holiday Ryan and I flew with family to Florida to attend my cousin Johnny's wedding. It was nice to get away and enjoy the warmer weather. We had 3 full on busy days in a row there. Wedding, Universal Studios, and Disney World. A time well spent!

DisneyWorld

[i stopped and watched this 5 month old gorilla for about 30 min]

Universal Studios

[brother drinking butter beer in Hogwarts]

the wedding

I have recently moved out of my apartment in Costa Mesa and now living in Garden Grove with my wonderful grandparents. A change, but change is good. So far I have been really enjoying living with them.

I got the broad picture of what has been going on (at least I hope so). Hope you enjoyed!!

Update

I have been meaning to update my blog of exciting news..

but since I haven't had time to get a chance to sit down and put some posts together, I thought I would make an announcement before more time flies by.....

Ryan and I are engaged!!!