6 Months and a Wedding...

I cannot believe it has been 6 months since I walked down the aisle to the man of my dreams... he is so much more today than I could have imagined just 6 months ago! He is my best friend, protector, pillar of strength, he loves me when I am a mess, he pursues me when I want to run away and be alone, he holds me when I cry, he laughs at me when I am grumpy in the morning, he teases me about singing all the time, he hugs me when I get home from work, he makes me food, he dances with me at weddings, he holds my hand in hard situations where I feel uncertain and fearful, he reminds me that I am strong and capable and doing life well, he is proof of God's immense love for me! I am more in love with my husband now than I was 6 months ago and can't imagine how much more in love with him I will be in another 6 months.

I feel like Mr. Mertz and I have been through more than we bargained for in our first six months. I feel like we have been forced to have conversations about our marriage and future family that most people don't breach until a decade into their marriage. That's us, I guess... we talk and are not afraid to wrestle through the difficult topics. However, because of this, 6 months feels both longer and shorter than I expected! in many ways I feel like we have been married for forever and in other ways I feel like we just got married a couple weeks ago and everything is still a novelty!

I actually have thought about my wedding a lot lately! Friends of ours just got married this last weekend (the day after our 6 month anniversary) and we got to be front and center for all the excitement!! Aaron was a groomsmen, so he had his fair share of wedding activities to participate in. I was in charge of the bride and her sister's hair on the big day! I love doing my friends hair for their wedding! I get the bride all to myself for an hour of her wedding day. She is just sitting and relaxing and is surrounded by her friends... it is my favorite time of the wedding - the excitement and preparation of getting ready! Love it! I kept remembering my wedding day and how my bridesmaids were machines! They anticipated my every need and before the thought "I'm thirsty" or "I'm hungry" was even fully formed in my brain their was a drink and a snack in my hand. I couldn't get over how well they loved and cared for and protected me!
Josh and Kate's wedding was in a beautiful church and their reception was in the same location as our wedding! It was so fun to be back where I said "I do" just 6 months before. Many of the same people were there and we got the question "how's marriage?" and I loved being able to honestly answer - AMAZINGLY FUN!

Alright, a little about Josh & Kate - I have known Josh my whole life! We grew up at the same church and were in the same Sunday school class and even went to prom together as friends for my Jr year of High School! He is such a good man!! His friendship with Aaron is beyond valuable and I am so thankful for Josh's presence and wisdom in my husband's life and vice versa. Kate is one of the most bright, fun, beautiful, playful, and strong women I have ever met. When she and Josh began dating, it was pretty evident right away that they were amazing together! They were so fun and playful and comfortable together. I love this couple so much and am so thankful they are in our tiny club of married w/o kids group right now! So excited to hang out with them!

Mr. Mertz and I with the happy couple at their rehearsal dinner!

this picture does not do the stain glass window in the background justice... such a beautiful wedding!

The beautiful canopy of lights of The Hearn House

We are lookin' good!

First dance

Send off!! (my phone doesn't take great night pics)

LOVE this picture of Aaron and I with sparklers sending off the happy couple! (Thanks Erica!)

It was such a fun reception! Good food, dancing, good friends, being a married couple, all of it was awesome!

This was our first wedding as a married couple and I will be honest and say that weddings are WAY FUN with my husband! We kept laughing about how little stress we felt and how much more present we were in all the festivities cause we didn't have to talk to everyone and smile if we didn't want to... haha. We can't wait for our next wedding!! Gotta find some friends to marry off pronto!



So in honor of our 6 months we got a hotel room in Phoenix at one of the resorts and went their after the wedding! We told them it was our 6 month anniversary and they had strawberries and champagne waiting for us in the room! So nice :)

Good job Point Tapatio Cliffs!

The next day we ordered room service for breakfast and spent the whole  day just laying by the pool and relaxing!!! Oh glorious sun! I need a beach vacation ASAP!

Australian Invasion: Phoebe & Liam's Visit Part 4...

Phoebe and Liam were on their own for a day while Aaron and I both had to work... so they kept themselves occupied walking to the vintage shops a few miles away from our house. Then that night Elisabeth joined us for dinner at LoLo's Chicken and Waffles! Another true American dining experience of pure southern cooking. Phoebe and Liam couldn't get over Koolaid in a mason jar and having chicken with waffles and syrup. It would seem their trip to the States was all about food and dining out at delicious restaurants that you won't find in Australia!

... again, no pictures :(

BUT the next day I went to work for a half day, came home and we loaded up the car for DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!! This was the best of the best part of their trip and what everything was leading to in my mind! Phoebe had been with me to Paris Disneyland and even when we were there I was trying to explain to her the magic of the original Disneyland. Now that both of us have been to two Disneyland parks together (and I have been to Disney World) the only next step would be to meet around the world at all the Disney parks! YAY! hahaha! I told her that if she and Liam ever got married, I would meet her for a bachelorette party in Japan or China at one of those Disneylands.

Let me back up however... during the time that I was at work Phoebe and Liam were able to participate in another awesome Arizona/American pastime... shooting random stuff in the middle of the desert! Tyler and Jess took them out with a bunch of Tyler's guns, some old TVs and other random stuff they found laying around the desert and had them go to town on shooting! Phoebe and Liam took tons of videos and these pictures! They couldn't get over how awesome it was!

pics

Our journey started right on time when Aaron walked through the door, we loaded up and hit the road! Oh wait, first I'll give a shout out to my mom who got Phoebe and Liam an adorable sign for their home... "Welcome to our watering hole". They opened the gift right as we were leaving.

Thanks mom!!

Along the way to Disneyland we of course took advantage of the desolate desert and did a bit of Dance Video filming! Below is a picture of Phoebe and I between takes waiting for the sun to come out.

 It was so fun for us to have Liam and Aaron there to get to see the process of film making! A lot of standing around waiting for people to clear out of the sun to come out or a whole multitude of other things.

Of course along the way we had to stop at the famous In & Out Burger in Indio, California. Until In & Out came to Arizona year ago, we would always have to stop at this place on the way to Disneyland to eat their awesome burgers! Phoebe and Liam had heard about In & Out from another friend and so they were excited to try it!

Of course we got Phoebe a hat :)

We got to the hotel late and quickly fell asleep to prepare for the big day at the park!


We woke up bright and early and ready for the day the next morning... in fact we were a little too ready, because we were early to the park! We walked up and down Downtown Disney to pass time and get Aaron from coffee... Phoebe and Liam were going to die of excitement being so close and yet so far from being inside the park

Finally we got them their tickets and headed into the land of "Yesterday, Today and Fantasy!"

Liam is more excited than he looked

It was a gorgeous day... colder than this picture lets on, but we took our coats off for the photo

looking cool

It was such a magical day! The lines were awesome, we mastered the park in great time and of course enjoyed the general splendor and magic of Disney

Morning Churro... and popcorn

Mad Hatters Hat shop

Tarzan's Tree House

Alice's House

Winnie the Pooh!

Haunted Mansion

Meeting the big man himself!

Spinning in a stationary tea cup

Storybook Boat ride just Aaron and I

The seedy underbelly and back allies of Roger Rabbit

Toon Town jail

Liam looks so prim and proper as Phoebe drives around the streets of Toon Town

Happy Disney Birthday Liam!

Happy to be in Disneyland!

It was a full first day and we finished it off with the hot tub at our hotel... well sort of. Our hot tub was full of high school and Jr high kids... so we snuck into the neighboring hotel to use their hot tub. Awesome!

The next day was rainy! :( I was so glad the morning of the second day that we were there for 3 days, because rides were clothing left and right because of rain and hail!

We tried to find rest in the Bugs Life 3D show, but it had technical difficulties and they kicked us out into the rain again... needless to say there were little pictures from the second day. We did get some awesome ride pictures though!

Zombie attack on Space Mountain... I have no idea what the lady in the front is doing....

Radiator Springs Racers on a rare sunny moment

Zombie attack on Radiator Springs Racers

Ninja Phoebe

Toy Story!

... and they lived happily ever after, indeed.

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree!

Luigi's Flying Tires

The day was frigidly cold but we stuck it out to see World of Color and then the fire works on Main Street in Disneyland. Because of the rain, a ton of people went home and so the park was nearly empty by night time! Of course I cried at the fireworks :)


Last day in the park and last full day together...

Phoebe and Liam left earlier than Aaron and I to get into the park and ride all the rides they wanted to over again! Mainly Star Tours, which Aaron and I won't ride because it makes us nauseous... We checked out of the hotel, and then had over 2 hours in the park with just the two of us... we did one of our favorite things, which was to walk around and sit on main street and just hang out and people watch. We also got in a few of the lesser Fantasyland rides Aaron had not ridden yet at all... like the Carousel and Casey Jr.'s train.

YAY Carousel!

As soon as we got on the Carousel, Wendy from Peter Pan walked out and stood near the sword in the stone for people to get pictures with her... I couldn't enjoy the ride on the carousel cause I was so worried I would miss Wendy! (I'm a huge Peter Pan fan if you didn't know).

Luckily I caught her right before she left. She asked if I was a Mermaid because of my red hair and if I was a nice Mermaid like Ariel or a mean Mermaid like the ones in Neverland... gosh I love her!

Aaron also of course got to spend time at one of his favorite Disneyland spots - the Shooting Exposition

We met up with Phoebe and Liam and headed over to California Adventure for a few last rides, but the parks had become so incredibly busy (probably making up for the people that left early cause of the rain the day before), so we were pretty done after lunch time.

We left the park, bought a few last souvenirs in Downtown Disney and then headed to Newport Beach to see the Pacific Ocean! Phoebe and Liam had never seen the sun set over the Pacific Ocean, and so that was a treat to watch it with them and honor our last night together in America!

Newport Beach Pier

So sad our friends are leaving!

Just doing what I do... chasing birds.

Sun setting over the water

We grabbed dinner at Bear Flag, one of Aaron and my favorite seafood restaurants! Great food and great conversation! Then we headed for our hotel near LAX. Phoebe and Liam were flying out the next morning for San Francisco and Aaron and I would drive home to Phoenix.
We got to our hotel and discovered that the power had gone out and may not be fully functioning for another 4 hours... this resulted in us cancelling our booking and cold calling near by hotels until we found one! haha... quite an adventure. We got a room at a Marriott Courtyard and slept easy that night.

The next morning was so painful :( Saying goodbye to Phoebe and Liam was so hard! We had talked throughout their visit about all the places we could meet up in the future... but who knows when that will happen so it is always hard to say goodbye. We did the whole hugging and crying by the car... alright that was mainly Phoebe and I... and then we did the whole waiving as Aaron and I drove away until we were truly out of sight... I miss them so much and my house feels so empty without them! I can't believe what a fun fill time we had with them! I can't believe Phoebe was in my house, in my state, in my country! I can't WAIT till we meet again somewhere around the world!!!

Options are:
Thailand
Japan
New Zealand
or somewhere in Europe again

Either way, it was an ABSOLUTE BLAST and we have memories to spare from their time here!

Australian Invasion: Phoebe & Liam's Visit Part 2...

The day after our Australia Party, we took Phoebe and Liam to church and they were met with more introductions and people coming up to us requesting a new dance video (which is still in editing and will be done soon I hope!)... Phoebe had so much fun meeting people and feeling like a celebrity! She finally got to experience the church and community I have raved about for ages to her.

After church we went shopping at Scottsdale Fashion Square and then had family dinner with Aaron's family.

Then the next morning Phoebe and Liam left us for a few days to have adventures just the two of them in Las Vegas. I wish I could have gone, but I didn't have the PTO nor the money for a big Vegas trip. They came back that Thursday night and had family dinner with my family. We had actual dinner with my parents and Tyler. Phoebe and Liam got to try traditional American Chili and cornbread, which they loved! Then we went over to Shawn and Nicole's house to see the kiddos and spent the whole night playing Apples to Apples!

I will say I felt like a huge loser the first week because of the rain and them being gone in Las Vegas, we had so very little planned other than movies, sitting around the house and catching up, shopping and of course the Australia party. When they got back from Vegas however, we were going going going all the way up until they left!

Friday morning saw us waking up and heading out of town for the GRAND CANYON! Aaron sadly had to work, so it was just the three of us on this adventure. It was very reminiscent of our trip to Cape Tribulation in Australia... complete with Liam driving! He was keen to try his hand at driving on the other side of the road and other side of the car... so the open roads of the I-17 up to Flagstaff was the perfect time. I drove us out of town to Sunset Point, we took some pictures and then switched spots and I gave Liam a couple hours of driving on the open road!

Sunset Point

Teaching Liam to drive on the RIGHT ride of the road!

We got to Flagstaff and were ready for lunch! Their one request was to eat at a real all-American diner... so of course we picked Galaxy Diner right on historic Route 66!

Burgers, milkshakes, Americana paraphernalia all over the walls... perfection!

After lunch we set off for the Grand Canyon!

We got there just in time to a hike a couple miles down into the Canyon and then back to the rim to watch the sun set from several different look out points!

Majestic!

There was snow everywhere at the top of the Canyon! What a treat that Phoebe and Liam saw so many different Climates in our state.

Along the Bright Angel trail we met a Mule and his rider! We of course took a bunch of pictures and the ride (who worked for the National Park) told us all about the history of the Mule rides down the canyon and what exactly a mule was... education!

Liam was so bummed he hadn't planned enough time to hike all the way down to the bottom of the Canyon! He is determined to come back and conquer the Grand Canyon! Yay an excuse for another trip!

Phoebe wanted to be a real park ranger!

We literally took a million pictures of the run setting over the canyon. We drove to about 3 different look out points and waited until the sun was all the way down before we left the park. Such a beautiful sight! And now Phoebe and Liam can say they have seen a wonder of the world!

We drove back to Flagstaff for the night staying at the Little America Hotel! Love that place :) We sadly got there after the hot tub had closed, which was what we had been looking forward to! We were late because of course we grabbed dinner and had to also stop for a Dairy Queen Blizzard.

Love that they serve them to you upside down!

The next morning we woke up, had breakfast at the hotel and left to drive out to the Meteor Crater a few miles outside of Flagstaff! This was Liam's request and I was excited to see it again cause I hadn't been there in over 15 years!

One of the best preserved Meteor Craters in the world! Believe me, I know. The video we watched in their museum repeated it probably 15 times.

We had a lot of fun wandering around the museum and gift shop on site

American Astronaut Wall of Fame is blank... odd... "To Infinity and Beyond!"

Actual moon rock that weight several ton!

nope... can't lift it.

Quick! Call everyone!! A Meteor is headed toward earth!!!

 As you can see we had a little too much fun.

Where's Miranda? Can you see her?

Jumping shot...

Liam and the crater

This view was looking away from the Meteor Crater... so pretty!

We got our fill of the Crater and so we left and headed home through Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona... literally one of the most beautiful drives in the US in my opinion. Phoebe and Liam couldn't stop "oo"-ing and "ah"-ing.

Oak Creek Canyon drive

Red Rocks in Sedona

We stopped in Sedona for a walk around the shops and Phoebe and Liam got a traditional Old Time Photo! I think this was literally the highlight of Phoebe's whole trip!

Are they not PERFECT!

It was so hard to leave Sedona! We had so much fun! But back to Phoenix we went for more Arizona/American Adventures!