06.09.12

It has taken way too long to get this up. But let me just say, we still don't have internet. I'm writing this from a laundry mat, because our washer still isn't working. (Gives you an idea of what we are going through). Anyways, let me start by asking a question. Does a wedding ever go exactly according to someone's plans? Honestly. I know weddings have bumps and mishaps, but does anyone ever look back at their wedding and think, "That was exactly what I wanted!". Because mine wasn't. Now saying that I know that I sound like an ungrateful, selfish B. And the more I brood over the whole thing the more I realize. I am an ungrateful, selfish B. Sorry family, but if you thought you were offended before, get ready to leave the church known as Whitney's blog. From the hair at my first reception to the flowers at my second one, everything seemed wrong. "That's because you just didn't care". This has been said to me, and yes to a certain point it is true. I didn't care about table cloth colors after 2 phone calls a day about it. When I said "I want navy blue table clothes with a off-white, lace runner", and then we couldn't find blue. White was fine. When I got a new job and my parents didn't ask me about it but rather asked about how we should set up the tables. I didn't care. When I said I didn't want flowers and then was told I had to had them. I said "ONLY white flowers". I told my mom I didn't want to tell her that I wanted hydrangeas because I did not want blue hydrangeas at my wedding. She said "Whitney, I promise you there will not be any blue hydrangeas at your wedding". And then there was blue hydrangeas in every centerpiece. I actually cared on that one. I didn't want a bouquet and was told I had to have one. I said I ONLY want white roses in my bouquet, and gave a picture of exactly what I wanted, and then had peonies and roses handed to me as I exited the temple, I couldn't care. Luckily the day of I was able to hold everything in and didn't really think about it. My brother Tate gave words of comfort. And I kept telling myself "this is what ____ wanted" or "it's making _____ happy". Like I said before, weddings aren't about the bride and groom. There was a lot that did go right though.

We were able to get married in the Temple.

Nate's family was able to come.

99% of my family was able to be there.

Some besties were able to come.

And, I married Nathan Burton Robinson.

No Soliciting

Getting married has made me realize some things. First, a wedding is NOT about you. "It's your day" or "Whatever you want" are completely false statements. The only thing I really have control over, is who I'm marrying (for which I'm totally grateful). Too many people become offended over other people's weddings. Between who to invite to the ceremony and what to have to eat, I'm sticking with my dream wedding idea of eloping, because then everyone would be offended so I wouldn't have to worry about what the diabetics who come to my dessert only reception are feeling. Second, I've learned I'm extremely prideful. I hate receiving advice. Let me clarify. If I ask for your opinion on a matter, than I want to hear what you have to say. I have had so many people give me their opinion on marriage, weddings, and what to do with my life, I find it completely ridiculous. Is your marriage that good? Was your wedding that great? Why should you be such an expert?! The final straw came last night at Nate's stake president interview. The first mistake was that the he didn't know if I was in the stake or not. After that loss of faith, he proceeded to give Nate and I advice and challenged us to do things we ALREADY do. Why am I so upset?! Because people don't know me and they assume I'm stupid. And we all know what assuming does. "You really need health insurance!" Really?! Because I knew that when I got my tonsils out when I was 5. "You're really lucky! Nate's a great guy." Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know that when I was dating him and decided that he was going to be the father of my children. "Don't go to bed angry is bad advice, just sleep on it and work out the problems when you're rested". We got this gem twice now. Are they mentally challenged? If I do not resolve whatever it is, I'm not going to sleep and Nate will. Then I will have 8 more hours to brood about it and become even more upset that Nate can forget about it and sleep and I can't. Lastly, I hate weddings. I always have, and I always will. I keep telling Nate the next time we get married we are going to do what I wanted to do originally and elope.

Senior Special

Nate and I went to IHOP today. This was the first IHOP I had ever been to that didn't smell like throw-up (considering I've only been in 2 in my entire life, this was a step in the right direction). I had a craving for breakfast foods, but I wasn't really hungry, so I wanted to order off the kids menu. I also wanted to order off it, because I wanted a "Grandslam" and Nate had to inform me multiple times that we weren't at Denny's. When our waitress came, she seemed really uneasy about me ordering off the kids menu. She began looking around the room, shifting her weight, and rubbing her forehead. I, trying to ease the situation and use some charm, stated that I wanted it for it's portion size. She stated, "Well, what do you want?". I stated "French toast and bacon". She said, "Well, you can get the senior special" because it will get me what I want, at the portion size I want, and satisfy the "watching eye" (which she stated while continually scanning the ceiling). She also made comments how giving someone the senior special flies under the radar better than a kids menu. This may be true judging by the fact there were no kids in sight, and the average age of customers (minus Nate and I) was probably 60.

She gave me the plate stating "You need to be 55 to eat this" and walked away quickly. I said "I can be 55 today".

Seattle or Bust

Nate and I spent a few days in Seattle so Nate could meet the family.

I took Nate to my favorite restaurant.

My dad took some engagement photos.




We went to the temple to look at our sealing room.

It rained and snowed and delayed school.

I showed Nate downtown.

We went on a ferry so that Nate could prepare for a possible cruise/honeymoon.



Bonnie, my mom, and Katie threw me an amazing shower.

And we survived.

Is that a fat joke?

So I walked into change of shift a few days ago, and after stating "Good morning" and sitting down, my co-worker turned to me and asked "Are you expecting?". When I didn't respond and looked confused, she asked, "I mean, are you pregnant?". I responded "No". She nodded her head and then went on with what she was doing. I looked down at what I was wearing--a Huskies sweatshirt with my phone in the front pocket--and couldn't help but wonder if she actually thought I was pregnant because of my appearance. Or maybe they thought I was getting married because I was pregnant.

So naturally, after about a minute of silence, I asked, "Do I look pregnant?". She responded "No, [a patient] has shingles, so we just wanted to make sure".

Yes, she didn't even apologize. The only redeeming part of the event came when the co-worker next to me, who is maybe 4'8" tall, looked at me over her glasses and said "Heaven's no!" to my question. I mean I know I haven't been to the gym in a while, but I only thought this kind of stuff happens to my mom!

The 3rd Times the Charm

So it's officially official. With a real ring and everything.

Nate took me up to Slate Canyon Park in the freezing cold. He got down on both knees, and I told him to go on one because it looked like he was begging, and he said, "Whitney Ann Englund will you mar-" and then a car pulled up to where we were and stayed right next to us. Seriously. Nate asked if he should just finish or do it again. I said that the car had "killed the moment" and we hiked up further into the mountain. Nate once again got down on his knee and asked, "Whitney will you marry me?" He put the ring box in my hand and I said "No, no, you have to take the old ring off and put the new one on my finger" (I'm still wondering why he wants to marry someone so bossy). Which he did. I said, "Yes".

It was a full moon and my ring was out of control sparkly because of it. I feel so lucky, not just because my ring is gorge, but because I'm marrying my best friend and the love of my life.




PS my ring is not purple as it looks in these pictures. I can't get it to photo and sparkle at the same time because the camera always blocks the light. Ai, so annoying. And if you're keeping count, yes, that's 3 proposals.

Both of Our Names Have *Robinson on the End

So, Nate "finally" popped the question. I know you're all dying with anticipation, so I'll give you the run down.

On Tuesday, January 31st, 2012, Nate came over to my house to pick me up to go to the temple. We were in my kitchen, and I was making/eating a snack when Nate asked me, "I have a question I want to ask you, but I want you to feel comfortable saying no". I said, "Ok", thinking it was about a family event or something family wanted me to do. He said, "I don't know if I want to ask it". I stated, "You can't just say that and then not ask!". Nate changed the subject and I quickly and COMPLETELY jokingly said, "Nate, you can ask me to marry you.". He asked "I can?!". And I stated "Yes!". He then asked "Will you marry me?". I stated, "Yes!" in a high falling tone, as if answering a rhetorical question. He looked me straight on, and said more sternly, "Will you marry me?". I again stated "Yes", this time more affirmatively, and as I was answering, I realized he was seriously asking me. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring he had purchased at Walmart the night before because he was sick of waiting for the real ring to be done (They forgot to put in the ring order and we've been waiting over a month. Don't go to Sierra West!).



Now my family will stop asking me if Nate is backing out, and I can start saying that Nate is my fiance without feeling like I'm lying. The wedding is June 9th and I can't wait!