Natural Sceptre

Yes. We are home again. The title refers to a conversation Jon, John and I had on the way home from the airport Wednesday night. John and I got home late Monday, and Jonathan flew back on Wednesday after midnight. He’s decided to stay in Provo after all- he’s continuing his job, got an apartment down the road, and is currently driving my car. I’m not sure how pot came up on the way home…but somehow it did. Probably during a conversation about hand-me-down kitchen items available now that John and I are rolling in the Bed, Bath and Beyond gift certificates.

We are currently in the process of home reorganization. Also called: give all John’s stuff a home. We’ve already got plastic bins with drawers and shelves…now John has the tedious task of going through bins and boxes and getting rid of trash and sifting all his belongings into categories. I have no idea if he knew what he got into marrying me. I wonder if I should have said something like, “Just so you know, before you commit, I have a special home categorization technique that requires everything to have a home with like objects. How do you feel about this?” I think it was all the Sesame Street as a child. As I look into John’s boxes all I can think is “one of these things is not like the other.” It has been really fun this week going and getting LOADS of stuff at BB&B (thanks to everyone for the gift certificates!) and putting all our presents away. Not gonna lie. LOVE presents. And although we’ve heard a lot of horror stories about getting duplicates of everything and having to go through major return-hassles, we’ve had no such luck. Everything everyone gave us was useful, one of a kind, and thoughtful. So, official thanks to follow, but THANK YOU to everyone for helping us get started and get our house full of sheets and towels and handy kitchen implements.

We went to IKEA yesterday and I got a desk, we got a bookshelf, and a few other odds and ends. I also got an AWESOME apron. And I totally think this is going to improve my desire and skill set when it comes to cooking. Whenever I mention this, John laughs. We did buy some chicken today, though, so I’m totally going to give it a try later. As we’ve been putting everything together and outfitting our home with all life’s little necessities, I had deja vu. I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. I felt like this feeling of nesty, contented satisfaction was somehow not new. Then I realized: what I’m feeling is comparable to how I felt when outfitting Barbie’s dream house as a little girl. And if you knew anything about how much I used to LOVE Barbie, you’d know my level of joyousness going through this process. As for John, I’d ask him how he feels AFTER he’s done putting the stuff in his bins away.

So yes. We’re back to work on Monday. I can’t believe how quickly everything has gone. Looking back at my entries before the wedding- I was PRETTY nervous. I prayed incessantly for a thousand things: clear skin, that my dress would fit (and I could breathe), a light breeze outside of the temple so I wouldn’t die taking pictures, that I wouldn’t get sick to my stomach, that people would come, that our parent’s planning would all go well and they wouldn’t be stressed, that we wouldn’t miss our flights, that John’s friends and family would like me, that John and I’d still love each other after it all….I’m happy to report that God must REALLY love me, and understand his daughters, or maybe knew that I couldn’t handle too many stressful happenings, because I couldn’t ask for a more perfect wedding. We stayed in Manti- I woke up early (REALLY early) but I slept well the night before. We stayed at the Rose Cottage- which was so beautiful and comfortable. It’s a woman’s home, but she rents out the upstairs (three bedrooms, three baths, whirlpool tubs) and a reception/luncheon room. I got my hair done at about 7:30, met John and the temple at 9, and didn’t feel stressed or rushed one bit. Everything was within 2-5 minutes from where we were staying, and Manti = no traffic, no hassle, no stress. The temple ceremony was beautiful. I just felt special. I got a lot of attention from the ladies in the temple, who helped me get dressed and find where I needed to go. It was all just perfectly simple- and as I looked around I saw family and friends and knew I was in the exactly right place. Before I knew it, I was marrying John! And never even once did I have cold feet. It was perfect. Afterwards, we went outside to greet everyone that came (Lindsey Gage came and was one of the first people I saw when I exited the temple!) and sure enough- and cool breeze continued throughout the day in Manti, making picture taking pleasant and the afternoon traveling bearable. We had a great luncheon down at the Rose Cottage, and then headed back to Provo for the reception/open house. It all went as planned! Amazing! More pictures, receiving line, dancing, cutting the cake- the night just flew. John and I both said that it all seemed just perfect- even though we hardly got to see all the nuances that the family put into it. As we look at the pictures and talk to people, we realise how amazing the food was, how beautiful the decorations were, and all the little details that were brought together to make it just right. Even an Armadillo cake! I’ll have to get some pictures up in my gallery soon. I loved talking with all the people that came, met people that had “met” me through this site, (hello Jenn and Kelly ) and yes, even being the center of attention for a bit. On my day, I REALLY felt like a princess.

So fast forward, spent the night in Salt Lake, flew out to Massachusetts and drove to Maine, and commenced honeymoon vacation. Maine was amazing. We stayed at the Morrill Mansion- charming. Very charming. It rained most of the time, and I can’t even tell you how happy that made me. We ate good food, walked around and went to fun shops- and looked at some of the schools in the area. It was quite relaxing. After Maine, we made our way back to Massachusetts to prepare for wedding celebrations, cont. We had a beautiful ring ceremony in Washington, Mass. in a little chapel my parents found. The day was started with hairdo’s for me + 5 bridesmaids, my maid of honor Auntie Paulette, and of course, Kayla, my cousin’s baby girl who looked too sad to be left out. After we got our hair done up, it was back to the house for honest-to-goodness My Big Fat Greek Wedding type chaos- complete with tuxes and shoes being strewn everywhere, and makeup done by my Mom, a la Bare Minerals (our new favorite)! Once we were all beautified, we drove to Washington. Once there, the ring ceremony started. It was a small crowd, but full of important people. Some of John’s friends from New Hampshire, my family from Connecticut, and my Scranton girls. Christine sang Push, by Sarah McLachlan. Hmmm…I can never spell her name right. John’s Dad spoke a bit about the temple, and the reason why it was so important for us to get married there. Andy (best man) ended up the flower boy, as his daughters who were the flower girls could barely manage to walk down the aisle with their bowling ball- flower arrangements. What was that florist thinking? Crazy woman! Sarah (Andy’s daughter) fell off a step after doing a little joyous dance (something to do with a pretty dress and tiara makes a girl want to dance) and Craig and Wesley were wiggly and had fun holding the rings. All in all- I say it was a SMASHING success. Perfect mixture of fun and meaningful. Then there was the party, where we danced our tushies off. We had the reception at the same Country Club that we had school dances at in high school. It’s across the road from my house. And as that ended- so did the wedding festivities. I truly feel like a girl who got it all. I am SO grateful to my Mom, and new Mom, and my new sisters for doing SO SO SO much work to get it all together.  I think the Dad’s helped a bit, too.  :)  I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Not one thing.

After that, we had a couple more days in MA, then flew back here to commence real life again. Now, as I’ve said, it’s time to set up our house, and enjoy our few more days of leisure before work starts, and then school starts, and the rest of our life starts. I’ve been a wee bratty for a couple of days, due to the heat, the mess in our house, and my CONSTANT hunger…whatever is up with THAT, but as we settle in, I’m starting to realise that I got a good one. A very good one. And I’m excited to be Mrs. Erin Hattaway.

We’ve got a few more days of hiding left…but we’ll be in the mix again soon. And for those of you that attended the wedding and I said we should do dinner sometime, I mean it! And if I didn’t suggest that to you- that must mean I didn’t like you very much. JUST KIDDING.