It's a New Year! What are your plans? :)

Happy New Years!! 

It's a new year and while we can't say anymore that we are getting married this year, we still have many many blessings to look forward to! I've seen and read so many negative comments of 2011, but instead of looking at all the bad, why not count all the positive moments? I'll start with our 2011 re-cap :)

We spent the majority of the year planning our September wedding, and while most can argue if you can make it through planning a wedding together, you can make it through a marriage. Yes, I am sure this is partially true, but I think if you can make it through a complete DIY wedding while paying off debt and paying over half of the wedding (not to mention taking the full bill for the honeymoon too), then you can make it through a marriage! Of course wedding planning is stressful--you add "wedding" to anything and the price doubles, but I wouldn't change a thing. We really learned to work together and how to plan financially.

This doesn't look like much now, but we had such an awesome wedding in this barn in the midst of a vineyard.

Our friends. are. the best. Period! We are so thankful for our friends, near and far. I have become so close with a core group of girlfriends--it makes me feel like a girly sitcom, minus the cameras and professional hair and makeup team. 

Of course we are thankful to still have our jobs especially in this economy. Oh right! You might think that we do this full time--I wish! But that is the goal for me:) But until then, Donny is a Project Manager for Aerospace and I am an Assistant Director for a marketing research company. Corporate workers by day, photographers and graphic designers by night!

Family. I'm am thankful for having our 2 families join together.

Lastly, we are so blessed to be able to work together and start this new adventure together! I can't wait to see what 2012 holds!

 xoxo,
Donny & Laura

Happy Christmas Day!

So when you are a photographer, it can get a bit tricky getting a photo together especially since the cameras can be so heavy. Thankfully we have a full length mirror to practice on at home, even if it takes several tries :) Here's to our first married Christmas together!

"Yea mum..I'm not interested in my stocking-o-treats. I'm not leaving this chair." We love the dingo, but he knows how to rock a 'tude. Anyways, HAPPY CHRISTMAS DAY! I hope everyone enjoys this day with their family and loved ones--and it's okay to eat that candy in your stocking :) Donny and I spent our morning sleeping in our new PJs that we exchanged last night (I know! We are one of the few that didn't spring up at 7am), made tempeh & egg breakfast sandwiches, and drank warm coffee and chicken broth--not together. It just made my throat feel so much more tolerable.

Jake, of course, can't miss any of the action and finally comes out to find a stocking full of toys, bones, treats, and a new collar.

My stepmom, Marilyn, bought me Reese Witherspoon's perfume. I didn't even know that she had a perfume line?! I just love her and her perfume smells so simple and classy.

My Dad and Marilyn also surprised us with Disneyland passes! We haven't been yet together and I am so excited!!

OoOoOo a Wine book for us to note and rate our favorite wines :)

Oh yes. I got some T-Swifty perfume too!

Take note of his new PJs. Next year I am totally getting him a onesie. :)

My husband looks so happy with his new Blu-Ray player and the last of the HP DVDs. Ok I'm an HP fan too :)

And here comes the best ones..the Kindle Fire and Calvin Klein jacket!

Oh Jake...always trying to punch Donny and other males when they least expect it! haha!

After a day of lounging around and enjoying each other and our new gifts, we went over to the Loye's for the annual Christmas Day dinner we do each year and this year Sean was home for it! He's in the Coast Guard and was able to be home this year. I know Marie, Peter, and Annie have missed him.

Notice the paper crowns. Every year we have a contest on who can keep it on the longest. Last year I fell asleep in mine and this year it was down to Sean and I--I'm not really sure who won since we left and we were both still wearing the crown.

Oh yea..we played Apples to Apples again :)

Sizing up my competition--even though we would try and pick each others cards when our turns came around. :)

Trying to be a good sport with my throbbing sore throat and cough attacks. Someone just take out my tonsils, please!

Merry Christmas everyone :) <3

Merry Christmas Eve

 Good Morning! Merry Christmas Eve to you, and you, and you, and you, and YOU! Did I leave anyone out? While I should be taking it easy, this was my busiest morning yet with crocheting and baking and cooking. It's no wonder I was exhausted come dinner time.

 He says "RAWR" a lot, and then proceeds to act completely annoyed. You see how his ears are still pointed back? Those are irritated ears.

 We went to the El Segundo Foursquare Christmas Eve service again this year. This years service was a tad different from last years, but still a great service full of talented people.

  I'm such a creeper on the Giglio's apparently. Oh, and I cut Mackenzie's bangs just yesterday in the Rock N' Brews parking lot. It happened, and I'm that good with cutting shears. :)

Kendall sang this year during the service, and as usual she destroys it with her amazing voice! Girl. Has. Pipes. :)

 This photo was at the entrance of the El Segundo High School--breathtaking. I've never been inside the school until now, but I can see why several shows are filmed there.

 After church, we came to the in-laws and had a Christmas dinner with family and friends. As usual, too much food is eaten and we all are victims to the evil food coma. Food coma..you are evil!

 Here's Mike and Cindy with their kids Rachael and Aaron. While they are cute, we've been reminded that it's still a good idea to wait on having little ones. This was proven when Donny accidentally slammed Rachael into a lit candle (there's our candlelight vigil. Boom!). Ok, that sounded worse than it actually was--He tried shielding her as they were both walking into the dining room and 1 small move sent her hand into the candle, but she was fine. Just more in shock than anything. And Aaron has been sick for a few weeks and wasn't happy or comfortable. Poor kiddo.

  I'm a "P" now. Best part of my 2011 :)

We ended the night with a game of Apples to Apples. Who doesn't love that game?

 Such serious game faces from the Hoffman's...I particularly like Daniel's face! haha! :)

 I feel like Jimmy is fancy in his hat and scarf. Maybe he is on his way to the theater with that swag.

 Ray Ray and Jake the Snake :)

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!! <3

xo
Laura & Donny

PS..I really think a goal in 2012 should be to have more photo's of the two of us ;)

There's nothing wrong with the boxed baked goods!

 It's 2 days before Christmas...and I still. haven't. really. shopped. yet. (I'm planning on it tonight though) Actually not much has happened since I'm sickly and it's getting old. I'm finding it hard to rest and stay put. I think someone needs to shoot me with a tranquilizer dart. You can find me roaming around my house and possibly the grocery store looking for baking supplies. I keep having this vision that I'll Betty Crocker up the kitchen with some amazing recipes from Pinterest or something.  You might also find me still trying to find a parking spot at the mall. I mean seriously! I sat in the car while I was being herded along like cattle in the parking lot. California--you need more parking spaces. Period. I need to finish shopping. My husband has gifts for me under the tree, and I need to get a few last things, but I can't do that without a parking spot. This is procrastination at its best! I'm giving you permission to tranquilize me. Seriously. Tis the season, right? :)

BTW, I am so thankful for all the Christmas Card love that we have been blessed with this year. I still have this vision that we will write up a witty letter, take a cute family photo, and ship it out to everyone we love. There's still time. Don't write it off just yet. I clearly am in the mindset that I'm Wonder Woman.

Does he not look super annoyed? He gets annoyed if cuddling is not on his own terms. What a prima donna.

There is nothing wrong with the boxed goodies! But we bought 4 Brownie boxes, 3 Chocolate Chunk boxes, 2 Peanut Butter Cookies, and 1 Oatmeal Raisin packets. I'm pretty sure I have overestimated what I can do at this point in the game. Also, my cold just became friends with a cough. I am really hitting the jackpot here.

The "vision" I had of baking from scratch is definitely not happening this year. Way too much work. Not to mention there are 10 grown men in the garage playing poker and smoking cigars. That's just asking for treats to go missing. Andddd I was able to sneak out and go to Target for the last of the gifts..and I'm finally le tired. Must. Bake. NOW!

2 days! <3 Are any of you feeling the way I am right about now? ;)