A few updates from this year....

Where to start? Here are a few updates from the happenings in the past 6 months...

March:

My senior recital was a success! It was such a great day. I felt so accomplished afterwards, but during was my favorite part. Honestly, before the recital started, I felt the urge to just run away. But then I just told myself, let's do this! And then I did. And it was so fun. So fulfilling. The room was filled with people I love and people that love me (shout-out to my sweet mom and sister who travelled so far to come see me). And I shared my favorite music with them. Not to get overly dramatic, but I've literally worked my whole life for this experience (violin started at 4). My program was as follows:

Mozart K. 305 violin and piano sonata
Bach sonata in G minor,
Adagio
Fuga
It Ain't Necessarily So (transcribed by Heifetz for violin)
Franck Violin Sonata

I'll have to ask my wonderful husband how to upload sound files.

PS: Isn't this the cutest picture? We really are quite protective of our instruments, aren't we?


We celebrated Steven's 23rd Birthday!!! It was so much fun, and everyone that came to his little party had a great time. We were glad to have some good friends of Steven's come over and party with us a bit to celebrate Steven!

April:

We went to Jackson Hole for the first time! It was SO fun. We got a sweet deal on a hotel room and we went to the fun little town.

May:

Steven and Heather have been married a year! What a great it has been. We've learned so much and Steven continues to amaze me!

June:

We celebrated my birthday! Steven surprised me AGAIN. Thanks, friends, for making it so much fun for me!

July

This is the funnest quartet in the world!!! I really enjoyed collaborating with these great people! We set a goal to tackle a whole quartet in the summer semester and this picture is taken right after we did it! It was so amazing to do it. We learned so much! Thanks, David, Emily, and Tessa!

I took a pottery class. These are some of my wares!


We went to a nice little cabin for the fourth of July with Steven's family. We had such a great time. This is Annie's little guy, Jason! Isn't he a cutie??

Here's to a great rest of the year! I hope you liked our "little" update!

Hello blogging world!

It's been a while. I've made a resolve to try and write more often. So, this will be a bit of an update. If you get bored, skip to the pictures and call it good!!! :) I'd like to get in a little bit every week, just telling a bit about the happy goings on in Rexburg. You know, the fun little things that make for bright days...

Steven and I have been married for almost 8 months!! Isn't that crazy? We feel like it's been forever, but sometimes it just feels like a day. It's amazing to know that there are so many things to learn about each other. Still. Steven has the funniest sense of humor and takes me by surprise all the time. And I think I scare him a bit when I start spouting off in my mexican, british, or whatever-I-feel-like accent!! In any case, we're having a blast!

We're learning about how to have fun when the only thing you want to do is snuggle on the couch in a blanket and not think about how freezing cold it is outside. We played with play-dough on Friday night after we went out to eat. We tried to make little interpretive things. Apparently, play dough isn't very cooperative. Our creations look worse than when we were in Kindergarten. But it was fun. Here are some of the pictures:

We were listening to Taylor Swift's "December" and this is what we came up with.
No idea what Steven's doing with his face.

This is the one we made that is supposed to look like a gravestone on a blue hill or something.

Many have requested pictures of our little place. It's great. It's our third apartment as a little married couple. Yes. We've had quite a journey. We love the Spiels SO MUCH for being there and helping us for EVERY MOVE!!!! They never complained or called us crazy, although we were. They are gems. The first apartment was, in all senses of the word a midget house. Therefore, the rent, the stove, the toilet, the shower, the rooms, the living room, were all mini. And anyone who knows Steven knows that he isn't a short guy. He's super tall! So, he was a little sad in this apartment. Although the apartment was cute and felt a little bit like an English flat on some days, it was much too small.

We moved from there to the best story ever. I don't think I was quite conscious when I thought,this is the perfect place for us!!! I just thought that bigger was better! The funnest thing about this apartment was that it had carpet on the walls of the room. We thought it was hilarious until, when we inquired about it, found it was 30 years old. Hmmm. Steven has allergies and didn't sleep so well that night. Or the next night. And sadly we have no record of the carpet on the walls. After permission from our landlady, we tore the dirty orange, green and yellow carpet down so fast. We moved from that apartment after we remodeled the carpet room. Steven was a gem and must have pulled out millions of staples. He painted the room white and applied tile to the countertop that had also been covered in disgusting carpet. When we gladly moved out, we were rather proud of ourselves. We definitely left that place better than we found it.

We're now living in a quaint apartment overlooking the grand metropolis of Rexburg. We are loving living above the Cocoa Bean. It's a lovely little cupcake cafe. We are also situated across the street from Porters, the craft store. I can get lost in the store and not resurface for a while. Oh, and we live super close to campus. The 5 minute walk is perfect for our busy schedule. Our apartment is so fun to make our own. I've got my little pottery pieces decorating the apartment and wedding pictures of us dot the walls. We took pictures, but Blogger is being silly and not letting us upload any right now. So, here's a teaser:

Steather... est. May 22, 2010

Hello friends and family! Steven and Heather here!


We got married on May 22 and we couldn't be happier! We're living our little Happily Ever After in Rexburg... for now.

The wedding day was absolutely lovely. All of our family and friends made the day such a blissful, exciting, and thrilling day. We love and thank you all. My day started with my dear hair stylist, Erin Ligget coming to do my hair. My dearest friend, Molly Davis, came and gave me beautiful wedding gifts (an apron, bowls, and a beautiful butter dish-- all of which I absolutely adore) and she gave me a manicure and a pedicure. What a great friend!!! And one of my dear friends, Elle Jensen came and did the finishing touches by doing my makeup. Thanks to them, I felt like a pampered princess. Steven, I think, styled his hair and put on a tie whilst all of this was occuring. My adorable mom and dear sister, cousin Amber, Aunt Marianne and Marrianna all joined me and took pictures of the process. They were all a great support to me that morning! Thanks fam! When I was all put together, I was rushed out the door of my hotel room. Apparently they thought I shouldn't be late to my wedding day!

When I got to the temple, Steven was waiting inside. It made me so happy to see him there. The strangest thing is that I wasn't a bit nervous. Not about him or any part of our future together. All I could see was happiness and light in the distance. That, I'm so glad about. My mom was my angel and helped me getting dressed and getting ready. We shared some tender moments before the wedding. I am so grateful for her and her support. It's so important to me that you were there, mom. Love you! Here's one of my favorite shots from the wedding day:

Then Steven and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Rexburg Temple. It was so wonderful. Those of you who were there, we're glad for the spirit and sacredness you brought.

The rest of the day was so filled with the spirit and with love. We can't express how wonderful it felt. Our two families were together and we felt a part of both of them; connected. The luncheon with family and friends was so delicious and fun! We had this lovely pineapple pork and potatoes along with amazing salads and desserts (cute cupcakes from the Cocoa Bean, thanks to mommy)! We enjoyed the Spiel tradition of answering questions about our love story. It was so fun to start this adventure with everyone who loved us. We love and appreciate everyone who came!

The reception was so beautiful. Steven and I weren't there for the decorating, so when we entered the room we were stunned. It looked so beautiful. It was perfect. So vintage, Judene!!! There were loads of fruit spread out in the most appealing fashion that looked so luscious I could barely stand it! The cute cakes my mom got for me were adorable. I custom-made our little cake toppers to go on top to give it our own little touch. The reception was a blast-- from standing in line and seeing our friends and meeting new ones, to hearing our live band in the background, everything was so beautiful. One of my favorite parts was when Steven sang his proposal song with the band. Love him.

We ran away to our Honeymoon and our new life together through bubbles and cheers. What could be a better start to a grand life together?