Update

Sorry it's been so long, we have been busy settling in and planning our reception since we moved here. But now we have more free time. I'm about to go lounge on our patio in the 75 degree weather. I work Tuesdays-Saturdays and have Sunday and Mondays off. Work is going well, for those who don't know I'm working at an Aveda salon/spa in Redlands which is 15 minutes from here. I'm doing massage therapy whenever I get appts, and also working the front desk part time. I don't have as many client as I would like yet, but it's already picking up and I really enjoy working there. Kyle is doing really well selling insurance. The company gives them a goal they'd like to see them reach, and Kyle's been hitting that every week and sometimes doing even better. I love seeing him at the end of every day. Usually I am home before him and have dinner ready, but the other day he got home first and he told me he could have dinner ready. I came home to find the table set and looking all pretty, with fried chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy on the table. I asked how he made the gravy and he said from one of my packets. I've never bought a gravy packet in my life. Then came the biscuits and he said, "I knew this would give it away so I saved it for last." He is always making me laugh.

A few weeks ago we went to Newport Beach, which was my first beach experience in California. I'll be the first to admit it wasn't the perfect beach day. It was only 67ish, and it was windy and a little chilly near the water. But it was BEAUTIFUL nonetheless, and it reminded me of home. It still amazes me how much Lake Michigan is like the ocean. I still prefer it to the ocean, since there is no salt water. If only Michigan had palm trees. I'm excited to go back. The next time will probably be when my mom, dad, and brother come visit in a few weeks!

We've experienced a couple earthquakes so far. The first one was around 3 in the morning and I jolted awake to our apartment shaking like crazy. Apparently it was a 4.3 on the Richter scale, which isn't too tiny. The one in Haiti was a 7. Somehow Kyle slept through that one, but we both felt another one a couple days ago. I was at work giving a massage- definitely a first for me. My client didn't even bat an eye. They don't really phase people around here. They just last a few seconds, as soon as you realize what's going on they're over. Let's hope they stay that way.

Our reception was a lot of fun and went nice and smoothly. I definitely could not have done it without the help of my new family. Kyle's sister-in-law did our table centerpieces and she did a great job, they were fabulous. Kyle's mom did almost everything else, she was so great. She should go into the wedding planning business.We rented an ice cream machine which went over well. So well that most people didn't take cake, we had 5 left! My mother-in-law even had ice cream toppings that matched our colors. The magician was a huge hit. Kyle and I didn't watch him at all because we were in the receiving line the whole time, but everyone told us he was amazing. I will post pictures as soon as I have them.

We are going back to Utah this weekend because Kyle's brother, Wes is coming home from his mission. We are really excited to see him. I have never met him, and have never welcomed a missionary home at the airport so I'm excited for that.

What we have already learned about each other:

I've learned that Kyle doesn't despise ALL chick flicks. I was shocked a few days after our wedding when he found the movie "Miracle on 34th street" and couldn't wait to watch it. And then, a few days later when he was super excited to see that the movie "Overboard" was playing on t.v. And then, the day we were packing to move, he took a break and watched part of THE PARENT TRAP on t.v. And then said he liked it! Even my sister makes fun of me for watching movies like that. Okay, maybe they're not exactly chick flicks, but they definitely have romance. Usually if there is so much as a girl on the cover of a movie, he refuses to watch it. Maybe he is more like his dad than I thought. And that is a great thing. :)

I've also learned that he is the greatest husband ever. He insists on doing the dishes after dinner, brings me flowers for no reason, makes sure we pray together every night and every morning, makes me laugh all the time....I could go on and on.

What Kyle has learned about me:
I'm a little OCD about colors (to be honest, I've just sort of realized this myself). It started with planning our wedding. I wasn't really picky about anything, except that I wanted us to match really well. I wanted my flowers to match my shoes, and Kyle's vest and tie to match my flowers. And then, when we moved into our apartment, I wanted the furniture to match in each room. I teased Kyle about painting his dresser so it would match the bookshelf. He would have let me, but I didn't want to ruin it. Our bedroom and living room are officially brown, while the office is still a mix of brown and black. Someday we will fix it. But Kyle kept teasing me the day we moved in. He would bring ridiculous objects into a room, like a kitchen spatula, and ask, "Are you sure we can have this in here? Does it match?"

For the record, I'm not OCD about other peoples' homes, just my own. :)

When I asked him what he's learned about me so far he said that I'm a good cook, but I'm sure he was just trying to flatter me. I've just been making the basics, like spaghetti. We're both trying to eat more healthy and it's been hard coming up with healthy meals for just two people that aren't really expensive to make. I would love any ideas...

New York City

We drove to New york from Boston three days before our wedding. I had never been before. We spent the ,day with Kyle's BFF, Benny, who flew in for our wedding and was staying with a friend in New York for a couple days. We also took a bus to the Jazz game that night in New Jersey.

The Anniversary Inn - we stayed here Christmas night

Our room was the "Forty-niner". It looked like an old fashioned log cabin. There was sparkling cider and cheesecake in the room, and in the morning they brought us a really nice breakfast.

Pictures of our apartment and the fabulous view

Help!

I didn't think I would become a blogger until we had kids, but since we are in California away from everybody I figured it would be the best way to keep you updated. But first things first....what should we name our blog? I'm coming up with nothing creative, while Kyle's best one so far is "2 white people in a black California". (He's been selling insurance in LA this week) :) Any ideas?

YUCAIPA

So far this week my highlights have been meeting so many friendly people. We LOVE our ward, everyone is so nice. We were bombarded after sacrament meeting with people wanting to meet us and right away we were invited to a dinner party with a few other families, which we gladly accepted. We were surprised to find that Kyle knows a senior couple in our ward. They served in the Independence mission with Kyle a couple years ago, and they were thrilled to see him again. They had us over for dinner last night and we had a good time. We stayed and talked for a long time, and they shared some amazing experiences they've had throughout their lives. I think we will be great friends with them. They gave us about three hugs before we left last night.

We bought memberships to a gym in Yucaipa and went for the first time this morning. They offer several classes, and I decided to try the beginner "sculpting" class which uses weights to work all different muscles in the body. The class was mostly full of women in their 60's and they surrounded me as soon as they heard I was new in town. You'd think it was a tiny town the way everyone reacts when they meet us, but supposedly the population is 100,000! But the ladies were so cute, everyone in the class knew each other and there was one lady in particular, Anna,who made sure I was introduced to every lady that walked in. There's really been no talking in the gym classes that I've been to in the past, unless the instructor is instructing. But this instructor was yelling over the music, talking to all 25 ladies like they were her best friends. After class Anna wanted to meet Kyle, and she wrote down her name and number for us in case we ever need anything. So sweet! It's interesting how different places can be. Provo has definitely been the friendliest place I've lived, but Yucaipa may have it beat. At Gold's Gym I saw the same people every day and none of them so much as asked my name. This morning the ladies wanted my life story!

Did I mention I love it here??

Now I just need to find a job!

WE'RE IN LOVE....

With our new home! Yucaipa is a town close to the mountains, about 20 minutes from Riverside. Every night there has been a gorgeous sunset which we have a great view of from our balcony. The palm trees were what really got me. Our first day here, just before Yucaipa we passed a Walmart lined with palm trees and I could hardly contain my excitement. There's something about going into Walmarts like these (which I have done 5 times since Friday) that is unlike any other. Kyle and I both agree that it feels like we're on vacation. Minus the shopping trips. We really have been to Walmart 5 times, as well as a couple trips to Lowe's, Home Depot, Kohl's, Bed Bath and Beyond, IKEA, and a few other furniture stores. I love to shop, but we moved into a completely unfurnished apartment and we had to get everything, including a refrigerator, so I've had my fill for a while. But the warm weather overpowers any mood I'm in. By Saturday I was already sick of stores, but all it took was a glance outside at the clear, sunny sky and I was out the door. That ended up being a fun trip because we finally registered. I had thought that with a three day weekend we would be able to unpack and be completely settled in by Monday but it has been really tiring and more work than I anticipated. I found out this week that I had mono the week of my wedding and technically still do. Maybe that has something to do with it. Kyle's convinced that he has it also, because we're both ready for bed by 8 or 9. If I see a swollen, white, puss-covered throat I'll be convinced too. :) But really, he has been working really hard since we arrived. After buying a refrigerator, kitchen table and chairs, a couch, end tables, etc. and putting them all together in one day, even the couch (sofa bed), I'd say he has reason to be exhausted! He has been selling in LA this week, which is quite the drive with all the traffic. He is already an amazing husband and I'm so lucky to be able to spend my life with him. We're both sad to have had to leave family and friends, but we know this is where we're supposed to be right now and we're excited for the adventure we're going to experience together. We already love it here!

Pictures are coming!