Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today would have been my Daddy's 74th birthday! :)

I miss my Daddy like crazy but could not be more thankful for the years we did have together.  He was always full of energy, life, laughter and good times.  Of course, during my younger years we might not have gotten along the best, but he was always there for me and always made sure that I was taken care of.  I have so many wonderful memories of us together and how he would let me eat chocolate chip cookies for breakfast sometimes. :)  There is not a single day that goes by that I don't think about him or miss him but I know that he is in a better place.  And so today, his birthday, I just hope that he is up there in Heaven having a great birthday party with his parents and siblings and knows that I love him and wish him the very best day!

I love you Daddy, Happy Birthday!

S'Mores Cookies...

These are heavenly and I made them this morning for the hubbers! They look fantastic and were super easy to make!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Jenni for this recipe! 

 

 

S'Mores Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

11 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup mini marshmallows

5 regular sized Hershey's bars, broken into pieces

1 box graham crackers, broken into squares

 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Line baking pans with parchment paper.

 

Lay out graham crackers on the pan, an inch or two apart if you want cookies or side by side if you want bars.  You may have to add or remove graham crackers according to how much dough you have.

 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, sea salt and cinnamon to combine.  Set aside.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter with white and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixer and combine on low speed. 

Fold in the chocolate chips and marshmallows.

 

Place tablespoons of dough on graham crackers and press down slightly with spoon or fingertips.  Bake for 5 minutes then remove from oven to press Hershey's bar pieces onto the top (break the Hershey's pieces in half if you want two pieces of chocolate per cookie).  Bake for 5-7 more minutes or until dough is beginning to turn golden brown at the edges.  Remove to a wire rack to cool immediately.  If you chose to make the bars, make sure cookies are completely cool and cut with a sharp knife.

 

 

It made me 36 cookies.  Enjoy!

The day I became Mrs. Hughes

July 14, 2012 started just like any other day in our house. A beautiful summer Saturday that was going to be full of family and good times. My family, uncle and cousin, were here from out of town. Any time our relatives from other states come to town we all usually try to get together. This time we, well not me because I was obviously not to know anything, chose Black Angus. Dinner was set and I was ready for the day.

I spent the whole day over at my mom's house hanging out with my cousin and Ryan stayed at home. I thought Ryan had been upset with me or something because he didn't want to hang out with us during the day. When I had asked him to come over he said that he was fine staying at home and he would see me for dinner. Little did I know he was being sneaky and planning the big question.

We went to dinner just like any other time and I still thought nothing of it. We were all having fun joking and laughing and enjoying being together. I remember in between dinner and dessert Ryan and my cousin went off to the bar. I didn't think anything of it but then when they returned everyone looked like they were in on some big joke. Me, being the paranoid baby that I am, swore that they were planning a trick on me. I went over and my cousin swooped in to take me to get a drink. I did and when we returned it happened. The moment a girl waits her whole life for.

I returned from the bar with a VodkaCran in hand and Ryan said, "Can I try that?" Odd because he obviously knows what it tastes like and doesn't necessarily care for them but I said, "Okay" then without hesitation he set my drink down behind him, dropped to one knee and made me the happiest girl in the world! He asked ME to marry HIM!!!! I was in shock! All I kept saying was, "Are you serious?!? Are you serious?!?" I was so excited and surprised. Best moment ever.

I love that Ryan chose to propose in front of my family. We are very close and I couldn't have imagined it going a better way. My mom was completely shocked! She had been praying for this day because she hated that Ryan was deploying again and we wouldn't be married or engaged. She knew how much I wanted it. Ryan ended up not telling my mom because he thought she would spill the beans to me since we are so close. I know she could have kept it a surprise for me but its kind of fun that she didn't know either

Now you might be asking how we get from a proposal to marriage since this dinner happened around 6:00 and the proposal close to 7:00?  Well as I mentioned before my mom was really hoping that we would be married before deployment and with all the excitement and liquid encouragement my family had no problem throwing out the idea of a Reno wedding. Lol. I never thought Ryan would go for it. It shows that even after 3 years together you are still always learning more about each other. Ryan said "let's go!" I was now in double shock! I was just proposed to and now we were scrambling home to get back on the road to Reno to go tie the knot!

Ryan and I went home and changed outfits, nothing fancy, just more comfortable and we were on the road. We had us, my mom, mike, Emmett, and my 5 cousins. We hauled but up to Reno leaving the house at 9:00. (Fun little side note that most probably don't know, Nevada had passed a new law that had courthouses and chapels closing at midnight now and not reopening until 6:00am to prevent as many drunken marriages). With this new information, that we found out on our way up, we were racing to get there in time. I remember sitting in the back seat of the car panicking that we wouldn't make it in time and it was all going to be for nothing.

We arrived in Reno at the courthouse at 11:35, got our marriage license, ran a couple of blocks to the chapel that we had an 11:45 appointment at and got hitched! It was literally so fast and somewhat of a blur. I just remember looking at Ryan and thinking, "OMG! I am marrying the man of my dreams and best friend right now!"

Our first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Hughes

We got a celebratory drink afterwards and drove back home. I was now Mrs. Ryan Hughes! Completely happy and so in love!


P.s. If you're wondering why we didn't shout it from he rooftops, our answer is simple...we didn't want drama or rumors to spread (I.e. She's pregnant, they're only doing it for the money) we are completely in love and still happy with our decision. Our closest friends and family knew and it was something that kept us stronger thru the deployment. I will forever be grateful for Black Angus, my family, and Ryan for planning the most perfect engagement and wedding day!

Life in between Miss and Mrs..

The dating years of Ryan and myself were wonderful.  Of course, we had rocks hills to climb over and work our way through, but in the end we did what it took to make it together.  Ryan found work in the construction industry after he returned home and I continued to get my degree and work as a server and bartender.  We bobbed and weaved thru life and made time for each other whenever possible.  Learning how to be together and learn more about each other was the fun and exciting part. 

Ryan, an avid outdoorsman, taught me how to hunt and fish so that it was one more thing that we could enjoy together.  Although it is cold most of the time, considering that duck hunting is best in the wind and rain, I power thru it because I love being able to share in Ryan's passion.  I love being outdoors with him and he always pushes me to new heights places that I never thought in my wildest dreams I would ever go or do.

Ryan has taught me how to be braver and stronger - how to not be afraid of trying new things (especially food...and if any of you know me, you know that me and food have a very strange relationship...more on that later i guess).  I love that with him I can be as goofy, silly, loving, scared or brave as I want to be.  He pushes me to be the very best part of me. 

As our love continued to blossom I graduated from college (in 4 years! major excitement for me and my family!) and got a full-time job the week my internship ended.  I could not be more excited.  I was not going to be one of those graduates that couldn't find work..although not in my field...it is still a job and has benefits and allows us to have the life we live.  Ryan and I decided that it was time to move in together.  Ryan and I got the tiniest little apartment ever on December 8, 2011.  It was our own little home.  It was only 620 square feet and just big enough for the two of us.  It wasn't ideal but it was all ours and it was perfect.  We had our very own little Christmas tree shortly after and it felt just like home.

Winter 2011 came and went and it was getting closer to the summer, which meant closer to Ryan deploying again.  Ryan was still in the Army National Guard and had volunteered to go on another deployment.  Part of me was upset, how could he want to leave me?  How could he not want to stay here where it is safe and comfortable?  But the bigger part of me could not be more proud.  I love a man who is not scared to defend our country so that others may live in freedom.  I love a man who puts everyone else before him.  I love a man who would do anything to provide for me and protect me.  I love a hero.  I knew what I was signing up for when I hit the "Accept friend request" in August 2009. 

This is now who I am, a woman in love with a soldier. 

Ryan and I were living Spring and Summer to the fullest.  We went on trips and spent many weekends outdoors with family and friends.  I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend those months together before being apart for almost a year.

July 14, 2012.  This is the day my whole life changed again and I didn't even know it yet...stay tuned for that story later....

Now a photo drop of my 3 year journey from Miss to Mrs.

Our Friday and Saturday nights...

Friday night was very exciting for me... 1. It was Friday! 2. JASON ALDEAN!!!

I love Jason Aldean and seeing him in concert is one of my favorite things!  I've seen him 4 times and get so excited every time.

Rewind to January when I found the Country Mega Tickets. I love country music and concerts and 4 out of the 5 headliners.  I was sold!  Now to convince the hubby of it.  Ryan was deployed and we were looking at $700 for 2 Mega tickets which included 5 concerts over the summer. Needless to say, I won but also I justified it. Ryan would only miss 1 concert due to deployment and we would sell the tickets for the show we didn't want to see. I was so excited!

So I got to see Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Randy Houser, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Thompson Square, Brad Paisley, Lee Brice, Chris Young, Jason Aldean, Thomas
Rhett, and Jake Owen!  It was a great summer of concerts and I had such a great time!

Macee Lou!

Kisses while tailgating

HEAVEN!

I love these two!

My Hubby

Our Pose...Tradition



After a minimal sleep Friday night we got up and ready to go for our Saturday.  As you may remember me saying we are constantly busy on the weekends and this one was no different.  Saturday was full of Ryan and Sara time in the morning and then we had a wedding to go to.

So we started at Waffle Farm for some lovely breakfast (Ryan's favorite weekend morning routine).  After we finished we headed over to Bishop's Pumpkin Farm for one of my favorite things to do.  I LOVE searching for the perfect pumpkins and I have been going to Bishop's my whole life.  My parents used to take me and my brother there every year when I was younger and I have continued to go each and every year now that I am an adult.  I get so excited while searching for the perfect pumpkin.  Ryan just follows me with the wheel barrel picking up whatever I want.  He got into it this year though and picked out one of our big ones and named it "Steve" (we have this thing where we name inatimate objects).  We chose two ginormous pumpkins and then found 2 boxes full of littler ones and gourds.  Overall, a very successful trip to the pumpkin patch.

 

 

 

After the pumpkin patch we ran some errands and then it was time to go get ready for Johnny and Kirsten's wedding.  Johnny and Ryan have known each other for almost 20 years and we were so excited to be there on their special day.  Johnny and Kirsten had a gorgeous outdoor ceremony at Morgan Creek in Roseville that was followed by an indoor reception.  I, obviously, love weddings and love seeing what other people choose.  We had a great time and wish them nothing but the best in life and marriage.

 

My handsome and I

Ryan was holding the bride's bouquet - perfect photo op!


 

 

How it all began

So here is the story of our love - from the beginning.

As some of you probably already know Ryan and I have actually known each other since we were 14.  We went to the same junior high and high school.  The part that most people might not know though is that I hated highly disliked this boy.  He was rude to me in 7th grade at a swim party and ever since then we were never friends.  Of course, Ryan likes to say that this never happened, but as a woman (and a know-it-all) I swear it did.

All throughout high school I don't remember ever seeing Ryan around or hanging out with mutual groups at all.  Ryan, once again, has a different side of the story stating that he was always around at the same parties and football games and I just never gave him the time of day.  It does make me smile because he noticed me but makes me sad because I never noticed him.

After high school we obviously went our separate ways - Ryan joined the Army in October 2007 and I went to college in September 2007.  Fast forward 2 years and this is where it all begins for real...

August 2009 Ryan had requested to be my friend on Facebook (yes, that is how all modern couples connect, right?)  I knew that we went to school together but didn't know what he had been up to since then and thought, "Why not?"  Ryan and I began private messaging one another and it quickly became more than a "friends" thing.  I realized quite quickly that he wanted more than just a friend out of this relationship and although I was reluctant at first, I eventually fell for him as well.  All of this is cute and everything, right?  Well it gets difficult in that while we are carrying on this elaborate online lust connection Ryan is deployed in Afghanistan defending our wonderful country.  There was no way for us to ever really see each other besides pictures that we could email one another. 

Eventually I gave Ryan my phone number and the Facebook messages changed to PHONE CALLS and TEXT MESSAGES!  There is nothing that beats that feeling of looking at your phone and seeing that the one person you want to talk to is finally available (The time differences between California and Afghanistan vary from 11.5-12.5 hours depending on our time change.)  During this time I was going to school full-time and working as a server at night.  I could not wait to get off work so that I could hopefully talk to Ryan before he headed into work.  The next month or so our time was spent exchanging phone calls (well Ryan would call me) and text messages and being in this relationship that magically blossomed overnight.

I remember exactly the day that Ryan and I decided to be together. 
SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2009.

From that day on it became a waiting game of when Ryan would return back home from Afghanistan and we could actually be together.  I felt like that day would never come...we had never held hands, hugged, kissed, or just sat there and had a face-to-face conversation.  

Those next two months felt like an eternity but eventually the day came.  The day that I would see Ryan.  The day that I would be able to feel him breathe while hugging me and kiss whenever we wanted. 

 NOVEMBER 15TH, 2009.

The moment when he stepped off that bus it was a whirlwind of emotions.  I didn't cry (which yes, I know I cry at everything but not that) I just waited for my turn to hold him.  He gave me the biggest hug and my natural instinct was to wrap myself on him as tight as possible and not let him go.  I had waited 3 months for this.. 8.71 Weeks, 61 Days, 1464 Hours, 87840 Minutes, 5270400 Seconds..and it was all worth it.  Our first hug, kiss, smiles, hand-holding, and the moment I knew I would be his forever.

Start of a new chapter...

Here it goes world.... First post on a blog EVER.  Little intimidating but nevertheless I will attempt this. 

Hello!  My name is Sara and I am a 24-year-old little lady who is married to a wonderful man.  My husband's name is Ryan and is in the Army National Guard.  Ryan and I have been together since 2009 and were married on July 14, 2012.  I love our story and love telling it so I thought a blog would be a fun place to get it all written out so that I can always look back on it and remember just how wonderful our love is.  I will do posts later on our metting, falling in love, courtship, marriage, honeymoon, and life together. 

But now some more about me...  I am a college graduate, a ballerina for 14 years, a full-time employee, a daughter, an aunt, a sister and friend.  I love my family and friends and would do anything for any of them. 

I went to college straight out of high school and graduated with my Bachelors in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration with a concentrate in Hospitality Management.  I am now doing nothing related to my degree for work but I am paying the bills and for now that is all that matters.  My dream one day is to own land and have a wedding venue that I take care of and plan for my brides.  Planning our wedding was one of the most exciting things I've done (and yes, I realize that others find it the most terrifying thing that they have done) which is why I would love to do it full-time for other people.

My husband and I live a pretty simple, but BUSY, life.  We both work full-time jobs and are often busy with friends, family, hobbies and life on the weekends.  We are hoping to expand our little family one day soon and continue living the life that we love.

I hope that you all enjoyed getting a glimpse into my world and hope that you continue to enjoy this journey of my life that I will be sharing.  We have big hopes and dreams for our future and can't wait to see when each and every one of them will come true. 

Until next time, thank you so much for reading and I will share again soon!