Little sisters

Haha I just had to post these two pictures, because well they were too hilarious not too! Please meet my little half sister Phoebe. She was born on September 10, 2010 and will be two this September. She is one of the craziest and cutest babies I know and I absolutely love her to death!

Just a typical night at the Bokinskie household





The zoo

This past weekend Shay and I tagged along with my family and went to the zoo. The zoo is already my favorite place, but after seeing the brand new polar bear exhibit, it is HANDS DOWN my favorite place now haha. Coupled with the new kitty kat exhibit and the bird show, this is like my heaven on Earth. I have always loved animals and the zoo just makes me so giddy...just ask Shay haha. He could testify that even after a full day of the zoo I could still walk around for hours looking at all the animals...including the ugly turkeys that wander the grounds. But there was something that made this zoo visit extra special! Shay and I were standing in line for the bird show, when one of the zoo workers walked up to us and asked Shay and I if were were married...we very hesitantly said no...and then she asked us if we were brother and sister! haha It was pretty funny. After we explained to her we were engaged, she asked Shay if he would like to be apart of the bird show. He would be playing her fiance. The main guy would call them up to get a picture of some doves, frightened, she would fall backwards and land in a pool of water. Of course Shay agreed! It was super hard haha....I wanted to hold his hand the whole time during the show, but couldn't because he "wasn't my fiance", but the time came and they went up and it was HILARIOUS! and not being able to hold is hand was totally worth it. Plus we got free train ride tickets :) Score! Here are some pictures of our fun day at the zoo!

  

  

  



Formals

Here is a glimpse of Shay and I's formals. I was bummed at first that Shay was going to see my dress before the wedding, but you have to understand that if we didn't do them this last Tuesday if would have been 9 o'clock in the morning on the day of the wedding...ya I'll pass haha Luckily though our photographer was awesome enough that she let us do them another day. Huge stress off of Shay and I, as well as her. But it was so much fun. We went up to the Bountiful temple. The weather was perfect...it wasn't too hot and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I am so excited for August 3rd and I cannot believe that it is only two weeks away. Um....where did the last three months go??? It's crunch time now and I don't even know what to do with myself haha....I'm ready and then I'm like wait no I'm not! There are just lots of little things left to do, but I'm going to get them done.....hopefully haha. But here is a sneak peek of one of our formals! Wohoo!

Pictures!

Well I finally got them! My bridal pictures! Yay! haha So I can post some now.....Plus Shay has seen my dress and he absolutely loved it. Last night we went to the Bountiful temple and had our formals taken. It was so much fun and I enjoyed every minute of it...but here is some of my bridals! Enjoy! 

Sundays

Can I just say that I absolutley love Sundays with Shay. Especially this last Sunday. Shay and I went to the singles ward like always, but this Sunday it was a little different. Instead of having sacrament, then sunday school and relief society we had a huge combined sacrament meeting with another ward. The special sacrament was a huge effort for us to bring in the less actives and those who have stopped coming to church. More times than not they are just waiting to be invited back or are waiting for someone to reach out to them. So after the special sacrament we went out and visited those who the other ward hadn't seen for a long time or had lost contact with. It was so much fun and a great spiritual experience. I love the singles ward just for that reason. They are always going out and looking for opportunities to serve. Shay and I went out together and his mom even tagged along. It was really cool to watch these two. I said a few things here and there, but it was only to tell them about the activities over the next couple of weeks. However, Shay and his mom were amazing. It was kind of cool to watch Shay as he bore his testimony about the church and how much it has helped him in his life. This was one of the attributes that I noticed about Shay right off. He has a huge testimony and it is so strong. He is always looking for opportunities to share his testimony and when he is given one it is not wasted. It also kind of gave me a glimpse of what it would have been like to see him on his mission and possibly what it will be like when we go together as a senior couple. I am very grateful I was able to go yesterday with Shay and his mom. Service does great things. It not only helps you to be thankful for what you have, but it humbles you and helps your realize what your calling on earth is...helps you to remember what is most important in this life and that is our duty to reach out to those who need the gospel. We don't need to be missionaries to do missionary work.

The rest of Sunday just completed the day. We had dinner at the Dixon household and celebrated his Grandma Strawn's birthday. She is originally from Denmark and has the spunkiest attitude. I absolutely love it. She is the sweetest lady too and I think the world of her. Being able to celebrate her birthday was awesome. We ate lots of yummy food and played some volleyball. Then after that Shay and I headed to the 29th street trailhead to watch the Weber State Fireworks. For the past three years or so my family has gone up to the 29th street trailhead, then hiked up about 5 mins to the golf course to watch the fireworks from WSU. Every year it gets better and better. It is the best view and no traffic after the fireworks is heavenly! haha It was another fun year and even better because Shay was with me. I am so grateful for life right now and am so blessed. PS only 18 more days!!! Can't believe I get to marry this stud. :)

Bridals

Yesterday was an amazing day! I woke up and felt very....driven haha, which was nice because I was able to accomplish a lot! I made all of the decorations or centerpieces for the tables at the reception, and I also went and printed off a bunch of photos and filled up all the picture frames for the tables as well. It all made me so excited for the reception and for August 3rd all together! It was also a huge relieve to get those things done. I went and got my little sister Anna and she was a huge help, plus it was nice to have some company. We had a blast going to get the pictures and putting them in the frames. But the highlight of my day yesterday was going to get my bridal pictures taken. I think it finally hit me yesterday that I am actually getting married....well that I am actually going to be a bride haha. Being in my dress, having my hair and make up done, kind of all put it into perspective because it was the first time since I'd boughten my dress that I actually felt like I was one.

It was so much fun though! I took my little sister Anna with me and my mom. We met my photographer at the Smiths on 12th and Harrison and then headed up the canyon towards Pineview and Huntsville. We stopped along the way and took several pictures and even took some by the water. I  loved watching my mom as she watched the photographer take photos and even saw a couple of tears. She would rush to help me lift up my dress and was the first one there to help me down or straighten it out to make sure it looked good. It made me so appreciative of everything I have and for the wonderful mother I have been blessed with. She has been such a huge example in my life....especially during all this wedding planning. I know it is going to be hard for her to let me go and that it will be a huge change for me as well. I mean we've only lived together for the past 21 years!!! haha but it will be good for both of us and I know we will be just fine because of our love for each other and our Faith we have in our Heavenly Father.

It was also nice to have my little sister there. I remember when I went with my sister-in-law Emily to watch her get her bridals done. It was so much fun and I was excited for the day I would get mine...and now that day has come and gone! I am so grateful for the experience I was able to have and for the relationships that were strengthened. I'll post some soon, but I have to wait till the 17th. That is when Shay and I are having formals and he will have seen my dress by then so then the "cat will be out of the bag" haha.

Things I've done!

I found this list on my co-workers blog! and thought it would be fun to try it!


99 Things (those I've done in bold)


1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars - Too many places to name
 3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower - in my back yard many times

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland - once when I was seven

8. Climbed a mountain - Mount Oden Peak and Ben Lomond

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightening storm

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - Did this with one of my campus jobs, was skeptical the whole time that I was going to get caught....needless to say it never happened again.

24. Built a snow fort - with my brother Jimmy

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise - Will have come August 5th!

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Lived in more than one state
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke - With my little sister at my dad's house haha

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance - I wasn't the one being trasnported but I rode with my mom

47. Had your portrait painted - My mom had one done for me for my 17th birthday

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - soon! with Shay in Catalina

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching - Didn't get to see anything though :( boo! but we did see dolphins which was way sweet!

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial - Coolest thing ever! Went when I was a junior with my AP US history class

71. Eaten Caviar - in third grade.....and kind of liked it!

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper - for sports!

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House - same time I saw the Lincoln Memorial!

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - all the time with my gramps and dad....mostly fish and deer and some elk.

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Got a tattoo

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake - Went on a class field trip once.....it's really nasty haha
97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

33 out of 99??? that's sad...haha I need to get out more!!!

Kiss Me Dirty!!!

This past Saturday I did a race with my sister called the Kiss Me Dirty Race Series! Down at the Golden Spike Arena at the Weber County Fair Grounds. It was so dang fun and I am definitely doing it again next year. My sister, Summerly, was actually the one who told me about it and suggested we do it. It is a 5k where you get absolutely dirty! Hence the name Kiss Me Dirty! You go through about 3 miles of obstancle courses covered in mud, dirt, rocks, and possibly horse manure ;) haha I swear there was some. By the end of the race you are covered from head to toe in mud. But don't worry they don't just let you leave covered in filth! No! After the race they have fireman with hoses and yes....they spray you! It was freezing, but so much fun. When else will I get the opportunity to get hosed down by fireman! haha But the cool thing abuot the whole race is that it takes a couple of dollars from your registration fee and donates it to Gynecological Research! So overall way cool! and way fun! Plus it gave me the opportunity to really bond with my sister. I just hope next year we can get more of the girls to join in on the fun and participate!

My sister Summerly and I before the race! Nice and Clean ;)

Let freedom ring!

This fourth of July was especially fun for me. Last year I think I just went on a hike with the fam and chilled, but this year I got to spend all day with Shay and his family, plus my family a little later on. It was perfect and I wish it could have lasted forever. Shay and I started our day early and headed to my old home ward in Ogden, with my mom, where we got to see a bunch of my old friends from the ward. Ones of which I have known since I was a baby. That was great way to start of my fourth. After that we headed back to his house and waited till 10 and then headed to the parade. This was my first year watching the North Ogden Cherry Days Parade. I loved every minute of it and the small town feel. We also had the perfect spot, right underneath a shade of trees which was perfect for the hot summer day.

Headed down to the Parade!

Dixon family! From L to R: Dad, Mom, and Zac

After the parade we then headed down to North Ogde Park where we walked around and looked at all the stores and even did a friendly competition between the newly engaged and the not so newly engaged (aka his parents). It was way fun and of course Shay and I kicked trash! We played a game of basketball and the loser or losers in this case ;) got sprayed with water. It was awesome! haha but not only did we get to do that but we got to watch Shay's brother, Quinn, play it up on the drums! That kid is talented!

Quin is in the middle

After watching Quinn for a little bit we then went down to the car show which was way legit and way fun! Even though it was so stinking hot outside!

Totally beat all the other cars!

We did that for a little bit, then finally headed home where we rested for a little bit before heading out again to see Brave! Which was so cute by the way. Loved every minute of it and kind of want to go see it again....but after watching brave we went back to Shay's parents' home and watched Secretariat....well Shay watched it...I fell asleep, which is what usually ends up happening anyways. I'm horrible at staying up to watch movies, especially when I am with Shay. What can I say? Not my fault he is so comfortable to fall asleep on ;) Then we finished the night off with the the Cherry Day fireworks, which we enjoyed from The Dixon front yard! I love days where I am with Shay for all of it :) It makes for the best memories and for time where we can get to know more about each other. I also love spending time not only with my future family, but with my fam. I always feel so blessed and lucky to have what I have!

Tag your it!

So I was reading over some blogs and came across this fun thing!
Rules

1. Post these rules

2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things

3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post

4. Create 11 new questions and tag 11 people to answer them

5. Go to their blog/facebook/twitter and let them know you have tagged them.

11 Random Things...

1. Whenever I see a girl with really long bangs that keep getting in her face. I want to run over and tuck them behind her ear! Call me weird....but it bugs haha

2. Instead of walking over to my closet and hanging up my clothes, I toss them on my hope chest...then over the duration of the week, I make piles of things to hang and things to fold...that's about as far as I get ha

3. I dislike it so much when people go thirty...in the left hand lane...on a 50mph road.

4. I secretly love watching the Disney channel and Nickelodeon.

5.  I love to play halo and would play it all day long if I could.

6. When I eat a three musketeers I eat all the chocolate around it and leave the inside for last.

7. I can't get enough of the Lord of the Rings and watch all three every Christmas.

8. I like to brag that I asked my fiance out on the first date.

9. Sliding into bases when playing softball is the biggest rush and I love it!

10. When I was little, I was running with a stick, tripped, and it went through my eyelid.

11.I make to do lists for everything!

Questions I answered from blog I found
MY questions for YOU to answer

1. If you could be any Disney character, who would it be and why? Wendy from Peter Pan, so I could fly away to never never land and stay a kid forever haha

2. What is your greatest accomplishment in life? Receiving academic all-state for Volleyball and Softball my senior year.

3. Name a time when you got so mad you thought your head was going to explode- One time I was tutoring at Highland Junior High and this kid that had been giving me trouble all week called another kid I was tutoring a bad name....which was not the first incident. This time though he had crossed the line. I yelled at him and told him his language and the way he treated others was NOT acceptable! Needless to say I made him cry and he thought twice about teasing that kid again.

4. If you went to sleep and woke up married to a celebrity, who would it be? oooo....that's a tough one. Could I have a different one each day? haha ;) No I would have to say Orlando Bloom....dressed as legolas. haha

5. When was the last time you yelled at someone? Um.....Not sure. I rarely yell at people. I just give them the silent treatment haha

6. What is your biggest pet peeve? When people chew really loudly

7. Who is the best kisser you've ever kissed? Um.. my future husband of course! haha

8. If you were a hot dog condiment, what would you be? Probably ketchup....don't know why haha

9. What song do you know like the back of your hand? ALL THE SONGS from Moulin Rouge! Love that movie haha

10. Name one of your favorite memories- Going up camping with my family when I was little and lying out on the trailer watching the stars with my dad and brother :)

11. What would you do for a Klondike Bar? What wouldn't I do!?

I'm not going to tag 11 people because I don't like to follow the rules. So, if you read this, consider yourself TAGGED.

MY 11 QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO ANSWER!

1. What's the strangest talent you have?

2. Do you have any nicknames you are not proud of?

3. If you could be a character in any novel, which novel would it be, which character, and why?

4. What would you do if you had a million dollars?

5. What was one of your favorite things to do as a child?

6. If you could be any candyland character which one would you be and why?

7. If you were on a stranded island what one item could you not live without?

8. What's your favorite color?

9. Do you play any sports?

10. What do you have to eat everyday or at least every other day?

11. What is your favorite dessert?