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Sunday, December 28, 2014

Christmas Is Here!

This past week has been so much fun! I didn't work at all the entire week and Braxton was just starting his new job, so our normal roles were reversed for the week and it was fun to be the one at home cleaning the house and doing all the dishes for a change. When Braxton got off work on Christmas Eve we had our own little Christmas before heading down to his grandparents house. We opened stockings, exchanged gifts, and decided to start a tradition of our own! We decided every year we are going to write a letter to the other person telling them all of our favorite things about the year as well as all the things we are looking forward to doing together the upcoming year. My favorite part was writing the letter and thinking back to all the amazing things that happened in 2014. This has been my favorite year yet. After exchanging gifts, (Braxton was super sweet and got me the DSLR camera I wanted with help from his parents and mine!) we drove down to Grandma and Grandpa Stokers house for a fun Christmas Eve celebration. 


I love just spending time in the car with Braxton; talking, laughing, and singing loud and off key to the radio. He's the best travel companion! Once we got down to his grandparents house, we said hello to everyone and had a yummy dinner! Then we did something that's a tradition for his family. We played BINGO and whenever someone got a bingo they picked a white elephant gift out of the middle.. once the white elephant gifts were gone there were tons of candy bars to choose from! We played until all the gifts and candy were gone and had a blast! After that we opened presents from the grandparents, talked for a while and then headed home. As fun as the night was, I have to say it was weird to not be with my family doing our normal Christmas Eve program. On the drive back to Kaysville, I sort of broke down on Braxton and he was super sweet to me while I cried out of homesickness and missing my own parents and siblings. As hard as it was, there is no place I would rather be than with Braxton. I'm so lucky to be married to him and be brought into such an amazing new family. 


Christmas morning we spent opening presents, and talking with family. Then we headed over to Grandma Foust's house for a big Christmas breakfast with everyone on that side of the family! At noon we were able to Skype Jaden which was awesome. It was fun to hear his testimony and see how much he has changed since he left a couple months ago. After that we headed back to Braxton's parents house to finish exchanging the sibling gifts. 



Mckenna wrapped all her presents like monsters and it was almost too cute to open! 


After that we were able to Skype my family, which was my favorite part about the entire day! They were all there and it was so great to get to talk to them for a while and see their faces. I miss them a lot but being able to Skype them definitely made it better. I even got to see Coda!

That night we drove back up to Logan because Braxton had to work the next morning. He worked Friday and Saturday and once he got off work Saturday afternoon we were able to have our fun date night! (My favorite night of the week.) We went to Buffalo Wild Wings with the gift card we got from Braxton's parents for Christmas, and then headed over to the spectrum to watch the Utah State Basketball game that Braxton got us tickets for (one of the things that he put in my stocking.) It was the best night and we had so much fun. 


It was nice to be in our own ward for a change today and look! our pictures even up on the bulletin board! I love being this handsome man's wife. 

Merry Christmas! 
xo Lexie

Monday, December 22, 2014

Date Nights & Christmas Spirit

This weekend has been the best! Friday was my last day of work until after the holidays, and these past few days we didn't have anything huge going on so we finally got a weekend all to ourselves! Saturday it was so nice to be able to sleep in! I love those saturday mornings where we have nothing to do and just get to lay in bed all morning and cuddle and be lazy. And really we haven't had a morning like that in a while. Saturday night was our date night (yay!). We stopped at Fizz N' Fryz to get a basket full of delicious fries as well as our very favorite Dirty Dr. Pepper's. (I told you I was addicted) 


After that we walked around downtown Logan and went into all the little shops. We had a blast just looking around in all the different stores and talking and laughing together. And it wasn't even that cold out! (I still can't believe it's almost Christmas and there's still no sign of snow in Logan.. but I'm not complaining.) We stumbled upon a cute little music shop that was in the basement of a book store and had a lot of fun looking around at all the different guitars, and I know Braxton was absolutely loving trying out all the really nice ones. I wish I knew how to play guitar better, one of these days Braxton will teach me! I do love that he has just as much of a passion for music as I do. It's one of my favorite things about our relationship. 


After walking around Logan for a bit we stopped at our friends Jon & Lia's wedding reception to congratulate them and then we headed home, got in our comfy clothes, made a giant plate of nachos, and cuddled up to watch the movie Christmas Vacation. (Braxton had never seen it) It was such a fun date night! 


Man I still can't believe Christmas is in THREE DAYS! Usually I feel like the weeks leading up to Christmas go so slow and it takes forever to get here.. this year every things just gone by so fast! I feel like it was just barely halloween! I do love that even though we just have a little apartment, we've still been able to decorate for Christmas and get the holiday spirit. We have a cute little 4 foot tree we bought from Michaels that's decorated with some ornaments and tinsel we got at the dollar store. And Braxton's parents gave us the cutest little ornament for our first Christmas together! 




Today, Braxton was so sweet and surprised me with poinsettia flowers and eggnog (my favorite)! He is so thoughtful and is always thinking of sweet things to do for me and I am just amazed at how lucky I am! 

Unfortunately, although I have this whole week off work Braxton doesn't.. I don't know if I already mentioned this but he got a job a couple weeks ago! He get's Christmas day off but that's it. He get's off work on Christmas Eve at 1:00, so once he's done we'll head down to Kaysville and spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with his family and then drive back up that night so Braxton can be at work on Friday. It's a bummer that he has to work this week, but it's such a huge blessing that he has this job now, and I'm happy he get's off at one every day so we get to spend the whole evening together! 


I'm also thankful that since I don't have to work I get to spend more time during the day studying my scriptures and growing closer to Christ. This year I'm trying to learn more about my savior and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. 


I found this quote and absolutely love it. I am so beyond grateful for everything Christ has done for me and am loving celebrating his birth during this holiday season. As Thomas S. Monson said, "To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only drop the last syllable and it becomes the spirit of Christ."

Merry Christmas Everyone! 
xo Lexie


Thursday, December 18, 2014

10 Things I've Learned About Being Married

Today I realized that Braxton and I have already been married for four months! That might not seem like very long, but to me it feels like just yesterday we were standing at the altar saying "I Do." These past four months have been the best months of my life and I can honestly say right now I am the happiest that I have ever been. As great as married life is, there are definitely some adjustments that need to be made. Here's 10 things I've learned about being married:

1. I don't know how long it takes to get used to a new last name, but I'm still getting used to the fact that I'm Alexis Foust now. When people ask me what my last name is I say Johnson out of habit about half the time… It's definitely an adjustment. 

2. The whole bed & blanket sharing thing is harder to get used to then I thought. I'm so used to sleeping in a bed by myself, it's hard when you suddenly only get half the bed, and half the blankets (although Braxton should be the one complaining about the blankets because I'm known to be a bit of a blanket hog.) And the fact that Braxton snores doesn't help either. After four months I think we're starting to figure it out though. 

3. Nothing's better than being able to come home to your husband after a stressful and exhausting day at work. Sometimes I just don't have the energy to be in a good mood when I get home from a long day, and I am so thankful for Braxton's loving and understanding self. A few weeks ago I was having just the absolute worst day. Literally. Everything I could possibly think of going wrong did. After work I stopped at the store to grab a couple gallons of milk and when I got to our front door I was struggling to unlock the door, while balancing two gallons of milk and my things from work. Finally I was able to get the door open, but in the process one of the gallons of milk slipped from my grip and smashed onto the floor spilling all over me, the ground, and our front entrance. As Braxton came rushing to the rescue I just burst into tears. I had had enough. He was so sweet and understanding about the whole thing and just gave me the biggest hug and kept telling me he loved me. Once I had calmed down he instructed me to go take a hot shower while he cleaned everything up. When I got out of the shower he had taken care of the entire mess as well as started making dinner so I wouldn't have to worry about it. And these are the moments when I realize I am the luckiest girl in the world. Seriously. I am so thankful for him.

4. Socializing is a lot more fun when you're single. Once you're married, the thrill of meeting new people and finding new friends isn't quite as strong. Part of it might be that once you're with the person you know you're going to spend the rest of your life with, the search is over and the prospect of finding that special someone isn't there anymore because he's right beside you. And to be honest, he's the only one you want to spend your time with. Confession: I'd be perfectly happy spending a weekend in bed doing nothing but cuddling, eating ramen noodles, and watching Netflix with Braxton. Sue me. 

5. Although meeting new people might not be as exciting, dating once you're married is a million times better! Without all those silly dating games, the "should I text him back yet", and the "does he like me or doesn't he?" questions dating is so much easier! I love that I just get to relax and be myself and enjoy a fun night out with my best friend. "Don't ever stop dating your wife, and don't ever stop flirting with your husband."

6. Guys are gross. That's just a known fact. I mean, I grew up with three brothers so you guys are probably thinking 'you already knew that Lexie.' And yes. To an extent I already did. But being MARRIED to a man… spending all day every day with him.. there are some things I just have to turn my head at. I'll give him credit though, he's learning! He now drinks his milk out a glass and puts the toilet seat down. Progress!

7. I've realized I love to cook! I like making food and he likes eating it, it works out. Being the feminist that I am, I had a hard time with the idea of that stereotypical "role" of a housewife who makes dinner and does all the housework every day. I almost felt like as a wife I was expected to make dinner. And that made the idea of cooking a little less appealing to me. But once I realized I actually wanted to cook a yummy dinner every night for my husband, it didn't matter. Here's my thoughts on that: if you want to cook dinner every night, clean the house, and be a stay at home mom that is awesome! If you want to go get a degree in medicine and become a successful doctor or something that is just as cool. Don't let anyone tell you what you should do. Anyways. Back on topic. I love cooking. A lot. I get so excited planning out the meals for the week and looking up new recipes. I'm constantly trying new things and absolutely loving it! (Our stomach's are pretty happy about it too, unfortunately we've both gained back all the weight we lost before the wedding. Time to start going to the gym? I think so!)

8. Sharing holidays with two families is hard. I mean there's not much explaining needed there. Braxton's family is absolutely amazing and I love spending so much time with them! But I miss my family a lot with them being on the other side of the country and everything. And it's difficult deciding which family to spend each holiday with. 

9. That being said, In-Law's are the best! I've heard so many In-Law horror stories so I guess I just got lucky, but Braxton's family is seriously the greatest. We spend so many weekends down there hanging out with his family and I absolutely love them! I feel like they're my second family and have gotten so close with them over the past year. I'm so thankful for them and the love and support they give to us every day. 

10. Marriage is all about compromise. As fun as it is to spend every singe day with the love of your life, odds are there will be things the two of you won't agree on. You will have disagreements, but the most important thing is that you learn to talk through things with your spouse. Compromising is necessary. When Braxton and I disagree on something we like rate how important it is to us on a scale of 1 to 10. If what we were disagreeing about was an 8 or a 9 for Braxton and only a 3 for me, I would willing to let it go because it was obviously more important to him. It's all about putting it in perspective. And of course, the fact that you love them makes it a little easier to make those compromises as well. Believe me, we are no where near perfect as far as our marriage goes, but we are working at our relationship every day. And I think that's what matters most. 

There are so many other things I've learned from being married but those are a few! Braxton makes me the absolute happiest, and I'm so excited to spend forever with him. We have so many adventures to come! 


It's a good life
xo Lexie


Monday, December 15, 2014

'Tis The Season

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year!  I love all the lights, decorations, and smells that come with the season and now that it's here I couldn't be more happy. We have had such a fun weekend, and it's really starting to feel like Christmas! Friday night we went on a group date to Temple Square to see the lights. We met up with some awesome friends and the whole night was just a blast. 


I am in awe of how beautiful the Salt Lake Temple is. Ever since I was a little girl I've always thought it looks just like a huge castle, and I cannot wait to get sealed to Braxton there next year!


It was so fun to see Rachel and Michael again (I haven't seen Rach since our wedding and it's fun to get to know her boyfriend better), Tyler brought Laurie (I can't think of anything better than your brother dating your best friend), and Sierra and Cody came too (so excited for their wedding in March)! I can't think of a more perfect group of people to be with. 


Love these girls!


(Bad quality photo's for a high quality night) 
After walking around Temple Square for a little bit we headed over to Applebee's for some half off appetizers and some good laughs. On the drive home Braxton and I were saying how lucky we are to have such great friends. 


Saturday was another great day! Braxton and I had our own little date Saturday night. I don't think I'll ever get tired of spending my days with this man. We walked around the mall and did a little shopping (Braxton's so good to be patient and follow me around while I try on clothes and obsess over cute accessories.) After that we stopped for some Dirty Dr. Pepper, which is my newest addiction, and then we grabbed a movie at red box to cuddle up and watch while we sipped our drinks. I am amazed at how happy he makes me and constantly think to myself that I truly am the luckiest girl in the world. 


Sunday night was Grandpa Stoker's 70th birthday party and we loved the chance to spend some time with family. We headed over to Matt & Stacey's house for some soup and breadsticks followed by gift giving and ginger bread house making! 



Our little gingerbread house! 


We had such a fun weekend with family and friends and are really starting to feel that Christmas Spirit! 

It's a good life
xo Lexie

Monday, December 8, 2014

Our Wedding Story

We got our pictures back from Chelsea and we absolutely love them! Here's the story of our wedding day in pictures. It really was a fairy tale and I can't imagine the day being any more perfect. We chose the colors mint green and grey and our wedding theme had a very rustic and bohemian feel. Having the wedding in the gardens at Eldredge Manor fit perfectly and was exactly what I had imagined for our special day!





It was so much fun getting ready and I'm so happy I was able to have my bridesmaids and my mom there the whole time to help me! We got all our flowers, including the beautiful flower crown and flower clusters in mine and my bridesmaids hair, at Willow & Wildflowers Specialty Florist and they did a wonderful job! 


My oh my doesn't Braxton look handsome?! I absolutely love the color of his grey suit paired with his mint green skinny tie, and the mint and grey argyle socks add just the perfect touch! 



The first look was one of the best parts about the day! It was so fun sneaking up behind Braxton and the suspense of him seeing me in my dress for the first time was absolutely killing me! And then when Braxton finally turned around, his reaction was absolutely priceless. He had the hugest smile on his face and kept kissing me and telling me how much he loved me and I was on cloud nine. 


The Bride's Family


The Groom's Family


The Grandparents!





The ceremony was absolutely beautiful. The whole thing was a complete dream. Eldredge manor was wonderful at setting everything up for us so there was no stress at all! I was in love with the hanging lights above us and the beautiful canopy of trees that surrounded the area for the ceremony. Throughout the entire ceremony I had the hugest smile on my face and could hardly keep still with all the excitement. Finally it got to the part where we got to say "I do" and then he was officially my husband! 










Aren't my bridesmaid's gorgeous? I found their dresses online and was nervous about them fitting right, but they fit perfect! The girls looked absolutely beautiful and they made the wedding so fun. I'm especially grateful for my Maid of Honor and best friend Baylie for flying all the way out from Michigan to be there and helping me with so much. 



The groomsmen were just absolute STUDS. They looked so good in their dark grey vests and mint ties. The guys were such a blast and we were so thankful to have them there for our special day!




The dancing was such a fun part of the reception and the daddy daughter dance and Braxton and my first dance were a necessary way to start it off. My dad and I danced to "I loved her first" by Heartland. After that the plans were to go into Braxton and my first dance. But when the dance with my dad ended I noticed Braxton sitting in a chair with his guitar and a microphone. He started playing and singing "Perfect for me" by Ron Pope and it was the sweetest surprise. After that we had our first dance to the song "Never Stop" by Safety Suit. Once our dance ended it became an open dance floor and everyone joined us singing and dancing to celebrate!


When it was time to leave we ran through an exciting sparkler send off to a well decorated car stuffed to the brim with balloons! It couldn't have been a more perfect day. 
And now we're living happily ever after. 
xo Lexie


Wednesday, December 3, 2014

So Much To Be Thankful For

Lately I have realized I have so much to be thankful for. I have such wonderful family and friends in my life and I don't know where I would be without them. Last weekend I was able to drive down to Provo and see all my favorite girls from Michigan! It was so fun to have the whole gang back together, and it was for the best possible reason. We were on a hunt for the perfect wedding dress for Sierra! Her mom flew in all the way from Michigan and we spent the whole day going dress shopping and trying to find the perfect dress. We are all going to be Sierra's bridesmaids and I am so excited!




We took a break for a couple hours and went to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch. I'd never been before and it was absolutely delicious! And besides, what's a girls day out on the town without a little cheesecake? 


After a lot of searching Sierra found her dress! 


And of course, if we're in town for the weekend I have to give my nephew a couple kisses.

This weekend was Thanksgiving! Tyler drove up from Provo wednesday night and I made dinner for us. We had a yummy meal, hung out, and watched Back To The Future. It was super fun to have Tyler at our place and to catch up. I love when we get to see each other. Tyler spent the night at our place Wednesday night and Thursday after breakfast we headed up to Idaho to spend Thanksgiving with family and Grandma and Grandpa's house. 


Thanksgiving; A day to count your blessings not your calories. 


We had a wonderful time at Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's house visiting with family! Everyone was there and we had a blast playing games, talking, and eating way too much food. 

I also got a new job this week! I wasn't enjoying my job at Convergys very much so I decided to start looking around for something new. I got in contact with a family that needed a full time nanny for their 6 month old daughter. I just started the job and I absolutley love it. 



Sunday night we heard the terrible news that Braxton's Grandpa Foust passed away. He was a wonderful man and is truly going to be missed. Braxton loved him so much and has had a hard week dealing with this tragic news. How lucky we are to have the knowledge of the plan of salvation. Knowing that we will see Grandpa Foust again and that Heavenly Father is there for us can bring so much peace in times like this. His funeral is this coming Saturday and Braxton and I were asked to sing a duet at it. I know Grandpa Foust will be looking down and smiling at all of us as we honor his life this Saturday. 

I am so thankful for the gospel in my life and the happiness it brings to me. I'm thankful for great friends who are able to make me laugh so much. I'm thankful for such wonderful family who are there for me no matter what. And most importantly, I am thankful for my amazing husband who makes me happier than I have ever been in my entire life. There is so much to be grateful for.

It's a good life!
xo Lexie





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