Alright, before I continue blogging, let me inform you that I've been on my blog for the past hour messing around with the title. I'm so frustrated that it doesn't blend in with the background. So if there is anyone out there that can help a girl out, pleeease let me know!

So, I got my wedding day pictures back and absolutely love them. My photographer did a great job. It was so fun looking at them with Shawn. but it kind of made me-sad. I never thought I would say this but..

I miss planning my wedding.

I'm crazy! That was so stressful! But when I think back, it was so much fun and went by so fast. All the crafts, the countdown, engagement pictures, showers, ya know-all the fun things that come with planning a wedding. Two of my very best friends are getting married. One next week, and the other middle of August and I'm attending both of their bridal showers this week. I wish I could do it all over again. I wouldn't change a THING but I just want all the excitement of counting down again. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love being married, but you get my point. I'm so excited for my friends. I'm now standing in my married friends shoes when they were helping me plan a wedding. It's exciting watching your friends prepare for the best day of their life!

Jess & Kelsey,
I'm so proud of you. I'm so excited for you. Being married is the biggest blessing and it's so much fun. Waking up to your best friend every day, having a sleepover every night, making dinner together, decorating, all of it, is great. Even the sucky stuff, like saying goodbye in the morning or little arguments, in a weird way it's still the best. Because saying goodbye, but counting down the hours til you see him again is exciting. fighting and then watching him try to make you laugh is hilarious (even though you just want to stay mad so bad). I'm beyond excited for you two and I'm so happy that I get to be by your side through it all. My best advice to you while you're coming to the end of planning:

Have fun. Laugh. Make crafts together. Walk away from the stress because this is the moment you've been waiting for your entire life. and you only get to plan a wedding once! (hopefully) but you two have great guys and you are amazing girls so I know that this is for eternity. I love you both and just have so much fun because it does go by so fast. You'll be married before you know it!

Love, Em.


Here are some pictures from the best day of my life.

Jess                                                    Kels  

Lonely Wife-

So, it's currently 12:09 am while I'm sitting here staring at my screen thinking about what to write. Maybe you other bloggers would understand, when there are so many things on your mind that you want to write but you don't know where, or even how, to begin. Well that's right now, and maybe it's just because it's late or maybe it's the fact that I am not up to date on my blogging-sorry!

I'm laying down on my parents couch, trying to go to sleep. Parents house-that's weird to say. Shawn left this morning at 9 to go on a two day fishing trip with my dad and brothers. And it's super sucky! This is the first time apart since we've been married and pre marriage, the only time we went a day without seeing eachother was ONE TIME. So yes, this is a big deal! So just let me be sad ok?? Last night when we were laying in bed, he got up to get a drink and came back into the room and I was just crying "Doooon't goooooo!" (all dramatic) and then we just laughed because we both knew I was being dramatic. This morning- same thing! I'm ridiculous. But ya know what? I tear up when he leaves for work in the morning, so just bare with me folks. I'll get the hang of this whole married-and-hardly-see-each-other-thing..... eh not.

So wanna know about my day today as a lonely wife?

Got up at 8 with the hubs and ate breakfast.
Dropped him off at my house.
Watched him load up the car.
Became even more sad.
Kissed him goodbye.
Went home and got cleaned up.
Went to school all day.
Went home and watched Laguna Beach and ate junk food feeling sorry for myself.
My mom and sister came over.
Went to Hobby Lobby (therapy, seriously)
Bought stuff to decorate the apartment.
Decorated the apartment.
Ate diner.
Put on my sweats and Shawns Tshirt (and his cologne)
Went to my family's house.
Watched Safe Haven.
Uploaded my wedding pictures.
Laying on the couch.

My day has actually been a pretty good day, besides the fact that Shawn is completely out of service so I can't speak to him. ahhhh another day of this. boooo.

But I'm SO excited for him to see the apartment. It's not quite done, but I'll post pictures once it's all finished. But seriously, I love decorating it. I go to Hobby Lobby and spend hours just day dreaming about all the things I wish I could use to decorate.

Wanna know how cute of a wife I am? Because I do want to brag about it for a second. So yesterday Shawn came home from work and was getting ready for the gym. We've started going together but tonight I wanted to surprise him with dinner instead when he came home from the gym. So I made up some laaaame excuse on why I couldn't go to the gym and as soon as he left, I went to the store. I bought garlic bread, salad, salt, pepper, cheese, and we had spaghetti stuff at home. So once I got back, I started cooking. It took a lot longer than I thought. I really want to get good at cooking.

I set the dinner table all cute and fancy. Nice plates, salad in a bowl, bread on a plate, and then drinks. On our honeymoon, my aunt got us Cider and wine glasses that say Bride and Groom on it. Well, we never drank it. It just always slipped our mind. So I put that on the table.

And let me tell ya, his reaction was priceless. He was SO happy! Happy Husband makes a Happy Wife. And then for dessert I got his favorite Ice Cream, Mint chocolate chip!

I seriously love being married. It's the best thing in the world. Especially to my best friend. All we do is laugh. Even when I'm mad, we just laugh. He's my soul mate and everything to me. But you wanna know what I love more than being married? Having my husband actually WITH me. Grrr. Come home :(

I miss you!!

Honeymooners-

We seriously had the best honeymoon-ever. We drove to California and stayed in Vegas on the way.

ROAD TRIP!

Driving sucks. I'm the worst in the car. It was only an hour, maybe 2, and I would say, Shawn I'm bored. He'd laugh and tell me to go to sleep. HA! I never sleep in cars. But surprisingly I did, a lot. But when I wasn't sleeping, we were having tons of fun just talking and laughing and singing. and eating. 

We stayed at Caesars palace in Vegas and it was SO nice! Once we got settled there, we went to eat at MGM hotel at the Rainforest Cafe and then road The Roller Coaster. I'm not a huge fan of Vegas. The people there are gross, it's hot, and there isn't much to do for newlyweds that got married in the temple. But it was still fun with Shawn.

The next morning we were on the road to California! We got stuck in traffic and it was HORRIBLE! By this time we were so sick of driving and this only made it worse. We left at 11 and didnt get to California til 7. Arrrrg. When we got to the hotel we just laughed way hard. Our first night together we stayed in Park City at an incredible hotel, then Caesars, and the one hotel we stayed in for the majority of our honeymoon was a dump. And Shawn, I know you'll read this and say "It wasn't THAT bad" and you're right, it wasn't- once we got it cleaned and sprayed it with room spray- hahaha. But it was do-able. This is so not racist but the whole hotel was filled with Mexicans. hahaha. But we loved it-kind of. Once we got settled there we went to Downtown Disney for dinner. and that got us SO excited for Disneyland.

Tuesday and Wednesday we spent the whole day at Disneyland and California Adventure. It was a blast! Especially because Shawn hasn't been there since he was 11. It was cute to see him all giddy about Disneyland. And Cars Land is unbelievable. Disney NEVER fails. 

Garments are going to take a while to get used to. 90 degrees in the humidity and 100 layers of clothes was not okay. That was rough. But  we  I wasn't going to let that get in the way of us having fun.

Thursday we went to Knotts Berry Farm. I've never been there and those roller coasters are fun! 

Friday and Saturday- MORE DISNEY! 

And yes, we ate everything in the park. We don't dare weigh ourselves but I wouldn't doubt if I gained atleast 100 pounds. Just kidding. But maybe a couple. We just justified it with walking around all day and sweating. hahaha! We're pathetic.

Then Sunday we drove back to Vegas and stayed at Treasure Island. Vegas was 117 degrees, so there was no way we were going to walk to the Strip. So we found a place to eat inside our hotel and little did we know it was a party place. Once we got seated the DJ was like,, FREE SHOTS FOR EVERYONE! and people in the hotel ran into the place to get drinks. there was loud music, and way cool bar tenders from Uraguay and MTV. So sick. 

I turned to Shawn and I said, "I'm so glad we're Mormon". and he laughed. but it's true, I knew alcohol was bad for your body, but I now know there are more reasons than that why it's part of the Word of Wisdom. if you get what I mean..

Then Monday we came home and we are back into reality. I'll write another post about that soon :)

Being married is the best.

A little about the big day-

It's about time to update my blog as Emily L A R K I N. That's right, I'm married now. and it's the BEST. I knew it would be great, but not this great. I've been so back and forth about blogging lately. I've wanted to blog and once I open it up, I just stare at it for a while and turn it off. So bare with me during this post because it'll probably be really random. So I still don't have my pictures from the wedding day but I do have a couple that my friends took.

Those are some of my beautiful bridesmaids. Jessica, Kelsey, and Holly. But I have others, you'll just have to wait til I get more of my pictures from the photographer!

K enough of my just babbling. The day was perfect. I know that I had angels with me that day making everything perfect. The day before the wedding it was low 60's. and the day after was high 80's. my wedding was 74 degrees all day. I was so worried that I would be sweating during pictures and just miserable but it was so opposite of that. I did not sweat once.

The temple is amazing. I am so grateful that Shawn and I could be sealed for eternity. When I walked into the sealing room and saw all my friends and family, it was incredible. And so special that I could have my brother Austin and cousin Zach there to see their first sealing right before they go on missions. I knew angels were in that room, but the ones that I could feel right next to me were my Grandpa and Grandma that passed on. Everyone in that room had tears streaming down their face. and I was surprised I wasn't a complete mess... until the sealer said "You are now husband and wife''. I completely lost it. It was easily the happiest moment of my entire life. And so so special. I looked over at Shawn as he started to cry and then he kissed me. The temple is such a sacred place and so special to me and Shawn.

The first place we went to eat as husband and wife was The Cheesecake Factory-YUM! We were both so giddy everytime we looked at each other.

Then it was time for the reception and-oh my gosh-it was PERFECT. I am so grateful for everyone that could be there and for all those that put so much time and effort into making it a dream come true. We did everything that you do at a wedding,

wait in line for hours saying the same thing over and over again, "Thanks for coming!"
cut the cake
throw the bouquet
throw the garter
and dancing!

But the best part of the whole night (besides being married to shawn) was the daddy daughter dance.
My dad is the cutest. During the dance he said, "I have a surprise for you". And right then, there were fireworks. Real, huge fireworks! I bawled. shocker. They lasted quite a while. I looked at Shawn and all my friends with their jaws dropped. No one had any idea my dad had that all planned.

Then the night ended with Shawn and I dancing to our song, and then walking out under a line of sparklers. 

Then we were off to the honeymoon. ;) 

Getting Close-

I can't believe I am marrying my high school sweetheart in 3 days. Someone pinch me, I must be dreaming. This past week has been so much fun getting ready for the big day! Let me rewind.

Saturday, June 15 I received my endowments! My brother and I did it together in the Salt Lake Temple. What an amazing experience. It was so neat. I loved it. My family was there and Shawn. I loved looking at him in the temple all in white. It made me think about all the times we'd talk about how excited we were for that. We wrote about it all the time in letters. My favorite part was at the end, when we all gathered in a very special room and hugged. And Shawn took my hand and walked me to this couch. This couch is very special to us, because that's the couch Shawn sat on while he prayed about me being his wife and waiting for him on his mission 2 years ago.

After the temple, I had a bachelorette party. My cute bridesmaids threw it for me. Thanks Holly and Miranda. And everyone who came. It was a blast. Lets just say..... my girls know how to take care of me ;) 

This past week has been crazy! Monday I went to school literally all day, doing everyone's hair for the wedding. And then finishing up some crafts. Those of you who are coming to my reception, you'll walk in and say "This is definitely a pinterest wedding!" 

No joke.

Then Yesterday, I cleaned out my whole room, packed, and moved in to my new apartment. I'm not living there right now, but all my stuff is there. THAT was weird. But a good weird of course. We had the help of our parents, and Shawn's best friend Nick. While Shawn and Nick were moving everything in, I was looking at everything and putting it in places. Hanging up my clothes in the closet was so fun to me. We have two closets in our bedroom and I kept thinking, "Here's my closet, and here's his" hahaha. And after we finished, Shawn, Nick, and I sat on the couches and just kind of took it all in. Even though Shawn and Nick were talking about who knows what, I kept looking over at Shawn while he was looking around the Living Room and just smiling at me.

This is real guys, I'm gonna be Mrs Larkin in 3 days. :) 

We're practically done with wedding stuff. So now its time for my mom and I to go get pedi's mani's and eyelashes. :) 

Tandem bike & a picnic-

Yesterday was hilarious! I can't wait to show you the video. Last night, we met up with the videographer to do a little "couples story/date video''. We felt like celebrities having cameras and microphones in our face. I don't want to tell you too much because I want you to wait and see the video but it was SO fun! Shawn had such a great attitude about it ;) As we were walking out of my house to get in the car he says, "Alright. Here we go. My favorite thing in the world". That little smart A. I love it. But really, he did have a good time. We did the video out in Daybreak, (one of my favorite places in Utah). It is so beautiful out there! We had a picnic, rode a tandem bike, and hung out by the lake.

When we did our couples story, we did it separated so we could get two stories from different point of views :) And yes, when I talked about "Why I love Shawn" I cried. SO WHAT. I am SO excited to see the video and what he said about how we met and fell in love and stuuuuffff.

OH YA. and did I tell you one of my very favorite couple lives too far away from us? She lives in Idaho and he lives in North Dakota. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. They are getting married in July and then moving to North Dakota for his job. STUPID STUPID STUPID. His name is Jake. Her name is Amber. Jake was one of Shawn's mission companions. And Amber and I are the same person. I adore that girl.

Oh and I never posted pictures of the two family bridal showers.
Look how cute my aunts are! I'm so lucky, I have the best family in the world.


Elkins Shower: 

Covington&Larkin Shower: 

How did I get so lucky?

So, as most of you may know, Shawn saw me in my dress for the first time. It was easily one of the best days of my life. I kept thinking, 'how could I possibly be happier?' and then I realized it wasn't even my wedding day yet. It's hard to imagine I could be happier but I know that day will be incredible.

So want to know what happened when Shawn saw me in my dress? I guess you'll have to wait and find out when you watch the video :) But I'll tell you as much as I can.

There I was, standing in my dress behind a bush so he wouldn't see me. I watched him walk into place and he wouldn't even look back. What a good guy ;) He stood in position and the videographer blind folded him. I stood there holding back tears, looking at my future husband. Every girl dreams of the day she marries her best friend. But what's also been exciting and special for me, is my husband seeing me in my wedding dress. Even in High School, I wouldn't show Shawn my Prom dresses!

So as I started walking towards him, I really wasn't in a hurry. I wanted to take it all in and remember the moment. When I got closer to him, I held his hand. He squeezed it tighter. And I kissed him. Yes, he was still blind folded. Then I took off his blind fold, and he slowly started to turn around. As I type this, tears fill my eyes because that moment was everything I dream't of and more. It took his breath away as he finally saw me. He then said, "wow, Look at you!" and I started to laugh. Tears filled his eyes as he pulled me in closer to kiss me. He then whispered, "You look beautiful Em".

It then became real. I'm going to be his wife. Forever. I've wanted this since I knew I loved him at age 16. For the rest of the day he kept telling me how beautiful I am and I could just tell his heart was so full of love and excitement.

The wedding is getting so close! I am marrying Shawn in 16 days. 16!! Yesterday, while Shawn was skyping a kid from Chile, I found a letter that Shawn wrote me while he was on his mission. I opened it up and started to read it.

It was written February 2012.

I started to read and I lost it. I started to cry. This is why:

"Em, I miss you every day. But I know you are the one. I am so happy that you are waiting for me. I am so grateful for Heavenly Father. He is helping us every day,cheering us on. I am so excited for the day that I propose to you. I am so excited to go look for a place with you and picture us in that house. I can't wait to call you my fiance. I promise when we are married that I will cherish our love every day because what we have is so special to me. I love you so much and when we get married it will be the best day of my life. Knowing that everything we went through was so worth it when I look at you and you're my wife."

I cried because it brought back emotions of waiting for Shawn and how HARD it was. It took me back to when I read that last year and all I wanted was for that to come true. Everything he said. And now we're here. We made it. We've looked at places, we found a place. I'm his fiance. and in 16 days I'll be able to kiss him as my husband. Waiting for him was hard, but so worth it. I'd do it all over again.

I am so grateful for him and his love.

This and That-

THIS:

I gotta say, May 24 is one of the best days of the whole year. Why? It's the day Shawn was born. I love his birthday so much! I don't know why I get so into it, but this year I feel like I failed as a fiance. His first birthday back, and I'm poor as ever so I couldn't do anything over the top. But I still wanted to make him feel special. I can't help but to text him exactly as the clock strikes midnight and wish him a Happy Birthday. I've done it ever year since we've been together, and I always just want to be the first person to tell him. and then I'll tell him a million + 1 times during the day, and then I'm always the last person at 11:59 to tell him Happy Birthday. Stupid and silly, I know! I'm really grateful for this day also because Shawn wasn't even supposed to live.

   When he was born, he was so sick that his mom even had to write his obituary. Could you imagine writing that as a mom? I can't even think about it. But I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father helped him live so that one day I could be sealed to him forever. 

So this birthday all he kept asking for was a snickers. A freakin' candy bar? Are you kidding babe? So of course, that's not all I got him. He loves surprises. I remember one year, I surprised him by taking him up to PC to do the Alpine Slide and stuff and he absolutely loved that. He loved driving, but not knowing where we were going. So this year, he came over after work, and I gave him the biggest hug and smooch and I said "Okay want your present?" And I handed him a Snickers. He laughed. I told him to turn it around. and on the back, I taped a piece of paper on it. Written on that paper it said "Get in my car and do not ask any questions. I love you". BABE WHAT??? I said don't ask questions.

So we got in my car and started driving. Little did I know this 20 minute drive kept getting longer and longer. Obviously I'm not good at finding out driving time before hand. I just figured ahhh Kaysville to Midvale, No big deal. Well, my GPS took me on 215 and of course, OF COURSE, with my luck, we were stuck in traffic. And on the radio the guy said, a huge roll over car accident southbound on 215. Of all car accidents, of course its on the same road we are on. so that 20 minute drive turned into about 45-50 minutes. Grrrrrr.

But it was still fun.

Then we got to the place and he said "Where are we?" and I said "We're going to get you an under armor hoodie!!" (He's been wanting one since he got home) That smile on his face was priceless as he jumped out of my car. He was so excited. Well, they didnt have any hoodies. :/ more luck. But that smile, was so worth the drive. We then went to Dicks because my parents got him a gift card there so we got him all new clothes. Underarmor shorts and tshirts. He is so cute in that stuff. Before the mish he was all into FOX and VOLCOM and stupid cute stuff like that and now I'm lovin my man in sports stuff!! Then we went to sports authority, nothing. So last resort, Scheels. Amazing by the way. And we found one!! SO cute on him.

Then I took him to eat at Hires-so yummy-and then went home! I love his birthday. It was a fun day together.

THAT:

Today Shawn and I went to his buddy from the mission, Elder Haacke's, homecoming! K, can I just say that I loved that I waited for him?? Let me back track a little:

Thursday night we went to his mission trainers wedding reception. That was a BLAST! Elder Roman Huerta. What a stud! And after he gave Shawn a hug, he grabbed me and gave me a hug and said, "You freakin' waited for my boy! I love you!" haha. I just loved that I was well known in the mission. But I'm glad he put the Lord first of course ;) Then he ran into another buddy from the mission there and he told me "you were like a freakin' celebrity in the mission. Shawn talked you up so much. He's a lucky guy." Isn't that cute or what? I couldn't help but smile at him the whole rest of the night. (I always do anyway).

ANYWAY! Back to the homecoming, that was so fun. That kid is such a stud. I love hearing Shawn and Haacke talk to eachother. They really are like brothers. Its cute to hear them talk about the mission and all their stories. Shawn really did love his mission so much. I can tell he misses the people a bunch. I love that when they talk about it, I know exactly what they are talking about from emails, and letters! It's fun to kind of 'been in the mission' with him.

After the homecoming, we went to my ward for temple prep!! Just me, Shawn, and the bishop. But let me just tell you, I adore my bishop. What an awesome guy! And he challenged us two things.

1. To read this temple book he gave us together before we get married.
2. To pray together. Take turns. Whenever he prays, he has to pray about all the good things about me. and whenever I pray, I pray about all the good things about Shawn. What we love about eachother and grateful for.

When my bishop said that, it brought tears to my eyes. Not only because I now get to hear how much Shawn loves me when he speaks to our Heavenly Father, but I started to tear up because I know that I have the best man in the world. I know that he loves me more than words can describe. The spirit was so strong in that room as a confirmation that we were always meant for eachother and that we are going to be together forever. It started to sink in a little that I finally get to marry the man of my dreams. I've waited so long for this and I truly know that my Heavenly Father blessed me immensely with Shawn.

-27 days-

So, I'm getting married.

In case you all were wondering, I get to marry the man of my dreams in 30 days. DAYS. Is this real life? I get chills just thinking about it.

The wedding plans are coming along great. We've done so many fun things to get ready. Those who are coming to my reception will walk in and say to themselves, "this is a pinterest wedding". And we'll take all the credit. My mom and I (with the help of many others) have gone craft crazy.

I feel like I've been engaged for 12943827 years. But really like, 3 years. Because we have. We knew we were getting married when we were 16. People laughed, people doubted. And we just brushed it off. Now look at us. HA! I love that I can say that I'm marrying my highschool sweetheart.

Now I'm sitting here, listening to music, and looking at my photographers website trying to decide on a location for our Bridal/Groomals. Groomals, what a weird word. This Wednesday are my Bridals. and why they are called Groomals is because Shawn WILL be there. AH! Why is he seeing you in your dress before the wedding???!

Well I'll tell you.

I was once super against the idea of that. I'm so old fashioned in the idea of 'bad luck'. I wouldn't even let Shawn see my prom dresses. But when I was at a Bridal Showcase (before I was even engaged) we found our amazing photographer/videographers and Barlow (the videographer) convinced me of this amazing beautiful idea.

When the groom sees his Bride for the first time in her wedding dress, it's in the temple. Where the memory is all they have. No videos, no pictures. And as special as that would be, how special would it be to have pictures and videos of the first look- to look at for the rest of my life, to show our kids. So Wednesday, May 29th, Shawn will see me in my dress for the first time. and it'll be on camera for us to remember forever.

Butterflies.

I'm getting married to the man of my dreams. The man I'm crazy about and fall more in love with every single day. I love him and not only because of how perfect he is, (and I can say perfect because he is. He's the only perfect person on this planet) but because of how perfect he treats me. I couldn't ask for anyone better. And for that, I can't wait to be his Mrs.

Emily Larkin.

6 more weeks-

I am officially the worst blogger ever! But can you blame me? I've been busy planning a wedding and going to school! I've had so many things on my mind that I completely forgot how close the big day is. My beautiful maid-of-honor texted me yesterday and said:

"Dog. You're wedding is in 6 weeks."

Right when I read that, my heart felt like it was about to pop out of my chest! I got the text on my way to Shawns house, and as soon as I saw him I couldn't help but be super giddy! Peeps, I get to marry my missionary in 6 WEEKS! Is this real life?!

Oh. We got our engagement pictures back. Here's a few. I'm obsessed.

Alright. Can I be his MRS already?!

He's so dang cute I can't stand it. I'm so lucky to have him forever. I met him when I was 16. That was one of the best days of my life. 

I love him.

I love his green eyes.

His buff arms.

His laugh, his feet.

I love his hands, his little ears.

I love when he calls me Emmie.

when he kisses my forehead.

I love when he looks down at me and says,

"You shrink".

I love that he's so tall.

I love when he holds me.

when he tells me he loves me.

The list goes on and on. and I'm just rambling. K goodnight. 

xox.