The First Thanksgiving

This weekend was a huge success, partly because we saw Mockingjay Part 1 which was AMAZING, but mostly because we got to decorate for Christmas and celebrate Thanksgiving! 

Since we are heading up to NYC this week, we decided to do a Thanksgiving dinner tonight just for the two of us. This is our third Thanksgiving married, but since we have always celebrated with our family, we have never had to fend for ourselves. Honestly, it was so much fun!

I found a mini ham and turkey at Walmart which were both oven ready, so I got to skip bathing and basting. 

The supplies. As you can see, I cheated on my rolls. I'm proud it only took three hours with one oven and knocking out a few loads of laundry for our trip.

YUM, My favorite part of Thanksgiving, pecan pie!

Todd cutting out first turkey.

Dinner next to our Christmas tree. This time of year just makes me so happy and now it's socially acceptable to bust out the Christmas music.

We have a lot to be thankful for this year. One of my family's Thanksgiving traditions is to go around the table and have each person say what they are thankful for. This is one of my favorite traditions that has continued on to our family.

We're coming for ya NYC, watch for us at the Thanksgiving Day Parade!

-Makenzie

Four Years Later

This month (this weekend actually) marks four years since the day that Todd and I met. It's weird for me to think back to the people we were when we first met because we were so different then. Todd was fresh off of his mission and a summer of selling, wanting to study business "or something". I was on a kick of moving to DC, maybe going to grad school, saving the whales, counting down the days until the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1... normal stuff.

Six months later we went on our first date (that lasted an entire weekend) and I remember thinking, I actually like being around this guy. We did long distance for the first eight months of our relationship from DC to Virginia, then from Provo to Logan while I finished my last semester of school. What was most impressive was we never ran out of things to talk about.

Dating was so fun because we were constantly doing fun things. From exploring DC to going to see my favorite band in concert, we never ran out of things to do. We would go running and snowboarding, visit Park City, go shopping, go hiking, watch sports and cheer for opposing teams. It was the first time that I actually didn't get sick of being around someone all the time. 

I'm incredibly grateful for the person I was before I met Todd, but I am even more grateful for the person I am now. Being married, I have been able to accomplish so many of my dreams like going to Europe, living on the east coast, getting a dog, etc. I know I could have done all of these things on my own, but it's so much better to go through it with someone you love. Truly, I mean that. Every time I broke down and cried when something was hard, or got a raise at work, or celebrated my birthday, it was so much better going through it together.

Forever grateful for that day that I met Todd outside the Costa Vida at the Gateway Mall in Salt Lake City (which is no longer there by the way) four years ago. Here's to years and years of adventures to come!

-Makenzie

S'mores and Anniversary Weekend

Happy anniversary to my sweet husband tomorrow! I can't believe it has been two years! Time seriously flies, it feels like our wedding was yesterday. We've had an eventful two years and I am grateful for everything we have been able to do. We've been lucky enough to travel to Europe, California, Colorado, North Carolina, and all over Utah, we got a dog and a cat, we've moved, run two Ragnar Relays, graduated from college, and now we are preparing for our second move across the country for Todd to get his Masters at UNC! So many adventures and firsts and we've been so incredibly lucky to do it all together.

Since our actual anniversary is on Monday (lame) we decided to celebrate on Saturday. Since Todd couldn't wait to give me my gift, so we exchanged gifts on Friday after work. He got me a Kindle! I was so excited, I can't wait to load it up with books. Any suggestions are welcome!

On Friday night we hung out with some of our best friends, we have to get our fill before we move. We went up Big Cottonwood Canyon and roasted hot dogs and s'mores. It's nice that summer is finally here to stay.

The perfect s'more thanks to Chase.

On Saturday we celebrated with a family hike up Millcreek Canyon to the lookout over Salt Lake. Then we starved ourselves all day so we could stuff our faces with sushi at Tsunami in South Jordan (it's delicious by the way, if you love sushi go try it). 

Best sushi I've tried in Utah. YUM!

Happy official two year anniversary tomorrow my love! So happy and blessed to have this guy.

-Makenzie

Living With a Boy

Now we are finally settled into our new apartment and lives as a married couple. I've changed my name and am now legally Makenzie Joanne Hardy. Adjusting to life after the wedding and honeymoon has been surprisingly easy- except for the fact that we would both way rather lay around at our resort outside of Vail than go to work.

Adjusting to living with a boy has been even easier. No more room mates leaving dishes in the sink or hair in the drain. I love married life and all the fun and excitement that it brings! I can't believe that we have already been married for a month on Tuesday, time flies. We are spending our summer using our pass of all passes at 7 Peaks water park, cooking, playing tennis and watching movies in our little home. Here are two awesome pictures from Gina Marie Photography from our wedding (more to follow).