Sprinkles & Snapshots Photo Challenge - Your Choice

I was going to try to take a professional-looking photo, one where I'd try to use my nice camera in a serious manner. But then this happened tonight.

Sprinkles & Snapshots Photo Challenge - I Love...

Various shots of my super adorable daughter playing tonight.

Sprinkles & Snapshots Photo Challenge - Sweet

Tonight after we gave Emily her bath, we were getting her ready for bed, and Kent pretended to eat her tummy. She was delighted, and when he stopped, she said "peese" and did the sign for "please" - which is how she says "more please." So he did it again and again, and she laughed and smiled. This was not planned, but as soon as I saw how happy she was, I ran and grabbed my camera. Then I realized this was "The Sweetest Thing!"

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A couple of other cool photos in Munich, the first is Schloss Nymphenburg and the second is a dragon on a building.

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The main town square in Munich. Periodically throughout the day the clock tower chimes, music plays, and characters dance around on the balcony.

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The first photo is in Lindau, one of my favorite spots on the trip. Charming cobblestone streets, just how I imagine Europe. The last two photos are in a town along the Romantisch Strasse.

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Neuschwanstein (aka Sleeping Beauty Castle.) And yes, it is as beautiful in person as you think.

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Hiking in the Alps, above Bad Reichenhall.

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Kent and I went to Bavaria (southern Germany) for our honeymoon. We were married in July of 2008, but waited until September of 2008 to honeymoon, so we could visit Oktoberfest in Munich. These first photos are in Bad Reichenhall, Kent's favorite spot we visited. If/when we visit again, we'll stay here longer.

The Ceremony

Kent and I got married on July 25, 2008 at Stein Eriksen Lodge in Deer Valley with just our immediate family attending the ceremony. It was perfect. A guitarist played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" while I walked down the aisle and "Here Comes the Sun" when we kissed and the ceremony was finished.

The Engagement

Our engagement lasted almost exactly 7 months. Kent and I learned a lot about each other during that time - which is a very good thing. Planning a wedding and making life decisions tends to involve many serious discussions and strengthened our relationship.

The Proposal

Kent proposed to me on Christmas Eve 2007. It was unexpected, which made it all the more delicious. I knew we were going to his house to sit by the fireplace and have a nice bottle of wine, but I thought that was all. He knew I loved shiraz, so managed to find a bottle of the shiraz that had been ranked #1 that year. He had both empty wine glasses in his hands and asked me to stand up with him while he poured the wine. But then he moved his hand so it wasn't blocking my view and I saw the diamond ring in the bottom of my glass. Then he got down on one knee. Still the best day of my life.

Ch ch ch ch changes

I started this blog in September 2006, shortly after I returned from a month-long study abroad in Berlin. (I have two other blogs that document that trip: http://www.andreainberlin2006.blogspot.com/ and http://www.andreaineurope2006.blogspot.com/.) I met friends from all over the world and wanted to share with them what life in Utah is like. When I started this blog I lived in my house in Bountiful, I had 3 cats, I was not dating anyone, and I had a good job. Shortly after that, in December of 2006, I met Kent. (I think I've posted about all of that pretty well earlier on this blog.)

Then life started moving really fast - Kent proposed to me in December of 2007, we married in July of 2008, we went to Germany in September 2008, I got a promotion in July 2009, we had Emily in September 2009, and I got yet another new job in January 2010. Whew! So, following will be posts and photos to document the changes in my life.

Sprinkles & Snapshots Photo Challenge - New

I haven't put anything on this blog in over 3 years. I was motivated by a friend yesterday. She and a friend created a website together http://lifebesprinkled.com/. It includes a weekly photo challenge which motivated me to pull out my camera (my camera, not the little point & shoot we use to photograph my baby). So, to answer this week's question, "What does NEW mean to you?" here goes:

1. I've been making salads to take to work for lunch, instead of buying them or getting take out. Healthy and inexpensive.

2. I've had renewed energy. (See attached photo.) After the holidays I felt blah, and especially last week I had no motivation to exercise. But since Saturday, I've exercised every day, 4 days in a row. That's very rare for me. (Okay, I admit I haven't used all of the equipment you see above, but I have used the step and the yoga mat.)

3. My new Michael Buble CD arrived yesterday. New and cool. He's my new favorite musical artist, ever since I bought his most recent CD a couple of months ago.

4. I also have renewed energy at work. I'm catching up on some tasks and projects that had fallen behind. I feel good about my job and am looking forward to some upcoming projects.