We Built This City

I love birthdays. I try to think back to why I love birthdays so much and I think it has to do with my Mom making our day just that--OUR DAY! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner was your choice (lunch was usually some fast food that you requested, delivered to the high school. Oh boy, did you look cool with that wendy's bag or what!) And my personal favorite: my birthday in 9th grade where my Mom had flowers delivered to my class and everyone was ooo-ing and ah-ing asking me which boy they were from. *Should have just made up a name, Nicole. Make up a name!*

We always blew out candles. I have so many memories of turning off all the lights so the flames would shine bright. Then your family sings happy birthday (with the added line "and many more..on channel four..your pants will ripppp!" did anybody else experience that?) Then that moment where you blow the candles out and the whole room is completely dark and you just think, "dang. i love birthdays."  

People seem to come out of the woodwork on your birthday. People that you haven't heard from in a quite a while reach out with a birthday salutation and some small talk. That is one of my most favorite things. I am reminded how many amazing people there are in my life. Birthday's are just so fun and should be celebrated. So let me buy you a balloon on your next birthday. Seriously, you'll be doing ME the favor (haha)!

Now that the tangent entitled BIRTHDAY is all finished...moving on. Shaun's birthday is the 8th, our anniversary is the 10th and my birthday is the 20th. March is a craaaazy month. But a month of fun. Shaun took me to Cinderella, which was adorable by the way. And then we threw a little birthday shin-dig for the both of us. We went to dinner with our super cool-fun-awesome-rad friends! Then we made them all do a lip sync battle with us. They were all so amazing and such good sports. I don't know what I would do without these people! They make me laugh constantly, they are always supporting me and in their own little ways pushing me to be a better me. Not to mention the rock-star Mom's they all are! Such great examples. And their husbands are okay too I guess... :) Also a special shoutout to that cute saxophone player in the middle for making the most scrumptious birthday cake ever!

Snow Birthday

My mother in-law's birthday was the 29th. The girls went and got pedicures and then (once our nails were dry and re-dried again with hair dryers just in case) we all bundled up and went outside for a snow day. Audrey had been saying for days that she wanted to go out and build something but it was always too cold. It was still cold mind you, but we decided to brave the cold for one of her birthday activities. Considering that all of our winter clothes got sent to DI when we left for Georgia years ago, we had to round up some layers here and there. Shaun ended up still in his jeans, and I took a bright purple liner of somebody else's jacket. I hadn't played out in the snow in probably at least six years so it was a major blast/hilarious. Not to mention the nephew looked adorable all bundled up. . . 

This was right at the start of the snowball fight that my father in-law started.

The little guy figured out he could eat the snow. Which left for a cold mouth and snow mustaches

It was such a fun day celebrating one of our favorite women.

Love you Audrey!

Beach FHE & Hawaii Birthday

Last week, it was time for a change of scenery for our Family Home Evening. And the beach sounded excellent. We threw our beach chairs in the trunk and picked up two of our favorite YW for a quick little lesson on the sand. Shaun shared his story of being lost in the mountains over night as a scout and how Heavenly Father doesn't eliminate trials from our lives but gives us ways to survive them. I always enjoy hearing that story of faith and prayer that those boys had as 12 year olds.  

In other news, AMY TURNED 30! She wanted to go to Hawaii for her birthday,

so we decided to try to bring a little Hawaii to her. 

With some leis and glasses we rang her doorbell while I played some

ukulele music on my phone. Larissa made some amazing carrot cake

which ended up being an amazing lunch choice. I love these girls and grateful for

their friendship. Such amazing examples to me!

Key West Vid

I finally got around putting some footage together from our amazing Key West weekend! You can read all about that here. Counting down the days until I go back.
Free parasailing on your birthday, come on down!

Thirty in Key West

Shaun turned thirty this past weekend so I knew I had to make it big! It is also our anniversary weekend so I decided to combine the two and have a getaway down in Key West. side note: I used to think priceline 'name your own price' was sketchy but it worked like a dream! I got this amazing suite at a Key West resort for 50% off.

I made yummy chocolate cupcakes with strawberry frosting to bring down with us. I realize baking becomes more fun when you keep having more and more successes (ha).

The resort was so beautiful. It was hard to leave it to go do things (okay, not really). You did feel like you could just lounge around the hotel all day and be perfectly satisfied though. 

We got down there in time to have dinner and watch the sunset. The weather was perfect! There was somebody getting married a little ways down the beach but we could still hear the beautiful music.

Shaun blew out a candle at midnight and I showed him the birthday video I made for him compiling all of his family and friends birthday messages. He was 100% shocked (woohoo). I am SO grateful for all the people that participated and went above and beyond to make it creative and fun for him to watch!

We got up early to watch the sunrise at the Southernmost point. Then we enjoyed delicious crepes at the cutest hole-in-the-wall place. {what would we do without yelp?!} Key West is the most charming city. It was fun to park at one place and explore to the next.

We took advantage of the free birthday parasail deal and it was the best decision. Part of Shaun's birthday present was having me go with him. You see, I am the biggest baby and never do things like that. It was incredible though! I can't believe how peaceful it was up there. Shaun is obsessed with turtles and has been dying to see one since we have moved to Florida. When we were being reeled in, the driver pointed to the water and right below us was the biggest sea turtle we had ever seen. It came up for air and slapped his fins back down. Shaun was freaking out. We brought the GoPro up with us so we have it all on film!

The weekend was perfect. Some of the best parts was just walking around the little shops or finding delicious 'dives' to eat at. I can't believe that we live just hours away! I don't think I will ever get used to living in a vacation town where you are one of the very few locals. I feel very blessed to be here. It was such an amazing birthday/anniversary weekend. Happy thirtieth birthday to my love Shaun Michael Johnson and a happy two year anniversary today. . .

Birthday was PERFECT

Shaun took the day off so we slept in...well Shaun slept in because I was too excited I guess. I woke up at 6:30 and just laid there. It was like the feeling Kristine and I got the night before we were waking up to drive to California when we were little.

Drove to my favorite doughnut place and had some fat for breakfast. Then drove to the DMV for Shaun to get his license renewed. We waited THREE hours and we were 3 numbers away from ours being called but we had to leave to get to our couples massage. It was so frustrating so of course the massage was what we needed. It was amazing.

IMPORTANT side note. So you have all read my amazing story with my maintenance man, Wally. The timing with these run ins with him has been so unbelievable. I have ran into him a few times since our big talk on the way to the mail, and going to get laundry. He just happens to be doing work where I am walking. So this didn't surprise me...But I left the DMV to go get my documents because we figured since we were there forever, I might as well get my name changed on my license. As I am walking up the stairs, I see Wally walking down and his face gets super happy. "I just knocked on your door. Do you have a blue book for me?" I WAS THRILLED. I hadn't seen him in a while so I wasn't able to get the spanish book of mormon to him. I invited him in and gave him the book and talked to him for a little bit. BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER. (considering that I have been surrounded by mormons in Utah all my life, I am basically a first timer on this and was so thrilled)

Then we got home from the massage and grabbed our stuff to head to the temple. We have been trying to go to the temple for a while now but it never works out so this was the PERFECT way to spend the birthday. We rushed to get to the temple clothes shop so SJ could buy a white tie. We buy it and then go back to the car because he forgot his recommend in there. He pops open the trunk to put his tie in the temple bag and then closes the trunk and walks to the front to open the car door. WHOOPS locked his keys in the trunk. I was so bummed because we wanted to get into the 6:00 session and it was currently 5:30! I HATE SATAN. Long story short, I went in to wait for him and I am waiting by the door to go into the room @ 5:59 and I hear the best noise I could hear: Shaun clearing his throat loudly like he usually does. HE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! It was a beautiful small session. And a great birthday event.

We ended the night with dinner and then came home to a surprise. My husband coordinated all of our friends and family in Utah to make me little birthday videos for me to watch. I loved it so much. It was such a great day. So spoiled by my wonderful husband. 

the 'twenty-second' movie

Time is so ridiculous. I remember somebody telling me that same thing when I was in junior high and high school. Back then I would have died to be older. Now that I'm older, I wish I was back in the careless life of high school! (wait I may be taking that back because that is a tall order)

But really I wonder where that came from. Did everybody wish they were older back then? It might have been that I have always had friends that were always at least 2 years older than me so maybe that plays into it. Regardless, I'm a day away from turning 23 and it's crazy times. But FUN crazy times. I'm excited.

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Okay I think the opening statements of this blog post are not necessary but I'm leaving it.

I wish that every year on our birthdays we could watch a movie of our life that past year. I almost would consider making one. But too much work, plus I never take video. I need to take more video in my life! Pictures only get me so far (but very far indeed).

If I had a movie of my 22nd year of life it would probably consist of the following:

My beautiful fantastical wedding. 

Although that did take place ten days before I turned 22, but I would still want it included.

Shaun and I taking my younger siblings to the color festival for their first time. 

I loved that outing for some odd reason.

Impromptu dance parties with Shaun in our basement apartment.

Chopping 9 inches off the hair.

Watching my little sister complete her first half marathon.

The amazing countless hours of watching SJ perform.

Packing up the UHAUL getting ready to MOVE to Georgia.

Summer classes at the empty UVU were so enjoyable.

First nephew Clark was born.

Feeling the most awful Georgia humidity for the first time.

First Georgia monsoon.

Amazing experiences with the strong youth of our ward.

Shaun's work trainings that the wife got to attend poolside.

Going back home for a Utah fall.

Disneyland with the Johnson's.

Grand Canyon with Mom.

Kevin's mission farewell.

A Utah Christmas.

Missionary experiences.

Too many instances to count of me pulling out the tripod and making SJ smile for a picture.

And that wouldn't even be my full movie. 

I am so blessed with an amazing 22nd year full of changes.

I know my 23rd year is going to have even more changes but I'm ready for them!

Ps. I hate posting my blog on my facebook every time I write something.

But that is the only time people really read it, besides the happy few that follow my blog.

But I feel awkward posting it unless it's something realllly good or interesting.

Like the time I was held at gun point for going upstairs to do my laundry. You can read that again HERE if you'd like. (that however, would NOT be in my life film ha)

veinte y nueve

I'm obsessed with birthdays. I don't care if I barely know you, I will make it special for you. Not in a creepy way but a "I have to celebrate you not because I know or like you, but because it is your birthday" kind of way. It makes sense in Nicole's head. SJ hates his birthday. Okay he doesn't HATE his birthday but he doesn't like answering what his favorite things are or making decisions about what he wants to do for the day. Frankly, I think he'd rather just sleep and play computer games the whole day. BUT I wasn't going to let that happen. Yes, you could say I FORCE him to celebrate himself. 

Unfortunately for me, Shaun was getting his stitches out at 7:15 in the AM which threw a wrench in my breakfast plan (threw a wrench? who says that?). So I just pushed it back. I got up at 6 so I knew I had enough time to master this crepe recipe that I have grown up watching my sister and Dad perfect. If you know me, it takes me a while to make something good or if it's cookies than I ruin them every time. EVERY TIME. Good news, I DID IT! I wish I had a picture of the beautiful crepe filled with berries, yogurt, and powdered sugar to brag but I don't. 

For dinner, I was very willing to go to a seafood place because every other day I will refuse. But Shaun was nice and picked CPK. I don't know why we are obsessed with this place. Probably because it's easy to share and we are now obsessed with the strawberry colada.

After we went to the new Oz movie. I was surprised how good it was! I was not planning on laughing as much as I did and it tied in with Judy Garland's original :) We got out and were driving home and I realized that it was 11:52 PM and we hadn't blown out Shaun's candle yet! Considering my OCD-ness this was sad because you HAVE to blow it out on your birthday or it's dumb. So being the accommodating husband that he is, Shaun sped home and we ran as hard as we could up 6 flights of stairs to our apartment (of course I can't even run because I'm laughing so hard). I got the matches, and he grabbed a candle. He blew out a candle that he was holding in his hand at 11:59 PM.

I'm so grateful for the birthday boy TWENTY-NINE year old husband. So glad he humored me doing all of the birthday celebrations that I had planned. I'm so lucky to have somebody that cares about my happiness over his own. 

Another good weekend with the family through Skype!

{i want to hold my nephew}

  

Also the best Dad celebrated his birthday this weekend! Steven brother surprised him and flew in. Shaun & I celebrated on our own terms. . .

birthday in the Philippines

i have had a best friend since the 8th grade.

one of those friends that isn't even a best friend because she's a sister.

you can go months (even sometimes years) and come back and INSTANTLY reconnect.

That's my Chandler Anne. and she is a birthday today on this Friday the 13th.

chan is the person i feel at home with. with the move to Utah County we kept in touch our best expecting to room together for college. well i had a change of heart which made me stay in provo. we were able to become close to a lot of people but always had each other to come back to and talk and play as sisters. 

our friendship requires effort. which sounds bad but ends up not really being bad because if a friendship requires effort for me, i usually drop it (whoops). but never with chandler. we manage to stay connected always and usually saw each other every few months when our busy lives allowed it. 

chan's laugh is outrageous and contagious. she's beautiful and always got the dates in high school while i played the role as the fairy god mother or one of the mice. she always had a new boy and a hilarious story to go along with each one. 

her family is my second family. when i was little i wasn't really allowed to go on trips with friends nor was i a fan, but i always could with the Wellings. countless weeks and memories are held with them. i say this with a lot of people but i know chan to be a life long friend because of our relationship. 

ever since high school i have talked to chan about my desire to serve a mission. she would express her support to me but also her concerns that she could never leave her life and family. school was important to her. soon the trio left high school. leaving, Linds & I thought Chandler would be first to be married off. little did we know life had something else in store for her.

chan & i were able to be bridesmaids at Lindsey's wedding and we dreamed and talked about our own. ironically enough, chandler put her papers in to serve a full time mission for the church. it was the biggest joke of our lives because we totally switched places. Shaun and i were becoming more serious and i was so grateful for chandler to be able to meet and spend time with him. she left about 5 months too early but don't worry we still found a way to be able to have chandler be a bridesmaid with Lindsey at MY wedding.

on that day you absolutely have no time to think about anything but i surprisingly had chandler in my thoughts throughout. i was so disappointed she couldn't be there up until the day before my wedding. she is doing some pretty amazing things out in the Philippines and i was so proud of her that i didn't even feel that need for my second sister to be there. 

SHE'S LOVING IT, despite hand washing your clothes and nothing too grand to eat. She is probably the most beautiful missionary I have seen and touching a lot of hearts with her bubbly/contagious personality. Happy 22nd birthday to my sister Chandler Anne Welling! See you in April