Triathlon!!!

On Saturday Grafton did an olympic triathlon at lake pleasant

{1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6.2 mile run}

It was so fun to watch him, oh I am so proud of my husband. He trained so hard the past couple months. and it was so great watching him accomplish such a goal. He really did amazing. Beat some personal bests and completed the rigorous course-swimming was in the choppy lake, and half the running and biking was straight up hill!! I loved being his number one fan.

(Lookin legit in his wetsuit before the race)

His proud parents :) We sure had fun cheering him on!

Yep, Thats my man!

Still has a smile on his face :)

(He was giving me a high five!)

andddd finish!!....I really love this man, very proud to be his wife :)

So proud of him for working so hard and accomplishing his goals!

Honeymooners

Oh...there is nothing better than going on a secluded tropical getaway with your best friend!! We had the time of our lives!! We went to the Secrets Maroma Beach Resort near Cancun, Mexico. It was the most beautiful place! The resort was incredible, the beach was perfect, the company was amazing of course, and it was just what we needed. :)

^ Look at these beautiful pictures....I couldn't stop taking them because the landscape was so amazing!! What a beautiful world we live in :)

Our Honeymoon suite...I felt like royalty! It had a great view from the balcony, that we loved to look at as we ate breakfast.

Our favorite part: Layin on the beach all day, drinking about 3-4 Pina Coladas a day!! They were delicious! It was so nice to just relax, have nothing and no one to worry about but being together! The perfect vacation!

We found lots of stuff to keep us entertained when we weren't relaxing...Giant chess board, crashing a wedding reception dance, hanging out in the lobby listening to music, letting our Mexican sides show, and going to some of the fun shows they had going on at night. SO FUN!

And of course we loved the food...It was so fun having a bunch of different, romantic, fine dining restaurants to chose from every night, get all dressed up, and eat amazing food of all kinds!!
We had some little adventures, went on a snorkeling tour, and went through the fresh water, ocean, Cenotes (caves), and got to cliff jump and zip-line into some beautiful fresh water pools!

We even saw sea turtles, and sting rays!

These caves were incredible, the water was so clear you could see 75+ feet down.

Can we go back now?! :) such a great week!! LOVED being together, enjoying the beautiful resort and beach, finding adventures, playing games, eating great food, having neat experiences with the natives, relaxing, and getting away from everything. Sure love this man, he is SO much fun! I sure am one lucky girl! :)

Mr. and Mrs. Milne

...Finally getting around to posting about the best day of my/ OUR lives :) I feel so blessed to be married my best friend and the most incredible man I've ever known. I can't believe how fast time has flown, already over two months being Mr. and Mrs. Milne, and we're loving every second. I could not have dreamed of a better wedding. It was everything I could imagine and more!! And we have all of our wonderful family and friends to thank for that! We felt so loved having all our friends and family at our celebration. I loved watching everything come together and counting down the days until the wedding. What an exciting time. My Mom and I had so much fun together planning away, looking at countless wedding blogs and websites for ideas, getting my dress fitted, shopping for accessories, making/painting decorations, talking to decorators, searching for photographers, finding the right pictures, cake, announcements, and spending quality mother daughter time before I moved out. I could not have pulled this wedding off without her!! She has such an incredibly creative mind, and worked so hard to help me. I was in school full time, and got a new job, and extremely busy...and she still helped me plan a wedding in 3 months!! And it was perfect :) Besides my wonderful mother, I cannot even count the amazing people that helped make this day so special...From the Bachellorette Party, Bridal Shower, Wedding Dinner, Pictures, Sealing, Reception, and all that comes in between...Thank you everyone for all your help. We really appreciate it, and feel so loved! Here are some pictures of our Big Day :)

The first time he saw me in my dress...his face was priceless...i love the way he loves me :)

Bride + Groom

What a blessing it is that I get to be with this man for Eternity!!! Oh he's so good to me!

Coming out of the temple after an incredibly spiritual and touching sealing...I have never felt more joy and happiness in all my life than at that moment. I wish I could relive it over and over again. A flood of emotion rushed through me as I became forever and always Grafton Milne's Wife!!! Nothing could make me happier. I get to spend every moment-happiness, sadness and everything in between-with the love of my life!! And he's forever mine :)

It was so neat having family and friends there to share this special occasion with us...they love us so much they withstood the 110 degree AZ weather!! :)

Let the true personalities show! HA!

I had the best bride's maids and Maid of Honor! They were so helpful, and made everything so much fun! I feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends, they've always been such good examples to me and always been there for me. I am so thankful for their support and friendship.

The details...SO fun!! It is totally my personality, I loved it :)

One of my favorite parts of the decorations...our photobooth! During the reception everyone took there pics here, and it was so fun looking through them after. We had some good laughs.

Cutting the cake...

The bouquet and garter toss... My best friend Kylee caught it, we're still waiting for the proposal!

I loved dancing with my Daddy, He's always been my hero and best friend and I feel so loved and protected by him-what every girl needs. I am so lucky to have found a man to marry that has that kind of heart that will always love and protect me and our future family. And keep life entertaining and spontaneous!

And the dancing began...So I really love to dance, and I am so glad my friends and family shared this love with me for the night. We all had a blast!! I want to do it all over again! THE most fun party I have ever had!!

So our life together begins...a life of joy, laughter, fun, love, hard work, family, friends, and celebration...could not be happier. Thank you again to everyone that helped make our wedding so special. We could not be happier. We're having so much fun starting our new lives together! Just about every day I stop and think about how lucky I am to be married to the man better than my dreams!!! :)

Oh. Life is Good!

Here's our fun little wedding music video we did...hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it :)

I got a JOB! :)

Happy news!!!! I just got a job for Frost Orthodontics!!! I could not be more excited about it! I've been dreaming of this job since I was a 14 yr. old Brace Face with Frost. He is an amazing Orthodontist, with an incredible office, and a fun staff. I am thrilled to be a part of it. I start training on Monday and then start full time after the wedding :) I feel so blessed, it is just what I needed! I can't wait to wear scrubs every day and learn more about the dental field I will be going into. Life is so good :) I love all the new adventures I am going to have!!!!

Happy Heart Day to ME!!!!

Today is my EIGHT year anniversary of my

OPEN-HEART-SURGERY :)

I love to celebrate this day that saved my life...Because of my amazing mothers intuition to take me in to the doctor for check ups and the wonderful medical technology, I am blessed to have a whole, happy, healthy heart :) Because of this surgery I will now be able to survive child birth, and live passed the age of 35!!! I have so much to be THANKFUL for!!! I love my "Zipper" that reminds me every day how precious life is, and how truly grateful I am to be alive, healthy, and able to love and live life to its fullest!! :) Even though it took me about 3-4 years to recover, I wouldn't trade this trial in my life for anything, it made me who I am and strengthened me so tremendously.

(I guess this one is a little more realistic)

I'M ENGAGED!!!!....

TO THE MOST INCREDIBLE MAN IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!!

Grafton Milne!

I love our story... :) Everyone keeps asking me about it, so I figure blogging it will help give everyone the deets!!!

Brief from the beginning:

We met last June when I started going to the Indigo Bay Single's ward. He always made me feel so welcome in the ward and I was immediately attracted to his amazing optimism and upbeat, happy outlook on life! He always has a smile on his face and makes everyone feel like a million bucks...no matter who they are!! One day, soon after I came into the ward, he texted me and said -"It's your lucky day, I'm your new home teacher!" Who knew I would end up getting THIS lucky?! :) He was my home teacher for six months and I LOVED it. I loved getting to know him and I have always loved and admired the person he is. I quickly developed a crush on him but I was completely convinced I had NO CHANCE with him and thought he was way out of my league! (apparently he thought he didn't have a chance with me either!-SOOO glad we got over that! haha!)

He really is the most incredible person I have ever met. Not only is he always happy, outgoing, giving, energetic, and fun, he has the best HEART. He loves life and always looks for opportunities to serve, develop others and himself, and most importantly he has a passionate testimony of the gospel. I knew all of this before I even got a date with him. I loved to be around him at ward activities and always had so much fun with him.

At the beginning of December, I went into my High School Seminary teacher's office to catch up. Brother Chatwin and I have always been very close-and interestingly enough he was also Grafton's Seminary teacher at Mountain View. We began talking about dating and different things and he asked if I was interested in anyone...I told him that I had a crush on someone and he totally knew him! Without even mentioning Grafton's name, His face lit up and said Guess who I went to lunch with last week, I replied saying I knew who he went to lunch with...He said, So does that have anything to do with your crush?! My face couldn't hide it :) He was amazed and so happy!! He told me that they had been talking about me at lunch and that Brother Chatwin told him he should ask me out because he loves us both and could see us having a great time together! I couldn't believe it!! So Brother Chatwin called G when I left the office and convinced him that I did want to go out with him and he said, "You know I would never call you an idiot, but if you don't call her and ask her out, you're an idiot!" hahaha...A couple hours later I was sitting at the table with my parents and my phone rang. I froze as I saw it was Grafton....my parents nudged me back into reality and said...well, you have to answer it!! ha! So, I picked up the phone, very nervous, and he asked me on a date! We ended up going out the next day!! (December 11th) I have NEVER been so nervous/excited to go on a date with someone in my life!! It was the craziest and greatest feeling!! It ended up being THE best date of my entire life!!! We both had the time of our life, and it was incredible how natural and right I felt with him from our very first date! After only three weeks I told him I was in love with him...and meant it with all my heart! I have never felt that way before and it is definitely the best feeling in the world!

I've been floating on clouds since that day...

pure happiness and bliss :) :)

ENGAGEMENT:

So, after a month or so we both knew we wanted to spend the rest of forever together, so it all came down to the Deets. :) He still wanted to make it a surprise...which I loved! He had my whole family in on it and I am amazed at how well they did it!!! All week G had told me that he was bummed because there was complications with "a certain sparkly item" and that it would be another 2 weeks. So I believed him of course...AND he told me that we were going to his family BBQ at a park and I believed that too... turns out BOTH were false! ha!

He took me to Fountain Hills...which is where we we had our first kiss, so it is a special place for us. As we got there he told me, "Um, I have a secret...There is no BBQ!" ha! He was busted...but I forgave him of course! He told me that since I had all these tests this week and he was bummed the ring was taking so long he wanted to do something special for me. He's always so thoughtful and romantic, so I really didn't expect anything. I loved every second of it.

We laid a blanket down in the big park, right in front of the incredible fountain-just like the first time we were there. He opens the cooler and pulls out two gecko grill burritos-which are my all time favorite. We had sparkling cider "Bubbly", and chocolate covered strawberries. And watched the sunset while listening to some James Taylor tunes...perfect mood :) Ohhh he is SO good to me :)

It got dark and we were waiting for the fountain to go off again and decided to go sit on a cute bench right by the water. We cuddled up and watched the fountain go off, it is so magical and brought back all the memories of how amazing the first time was! I was already in heaven...Then he just looked at me with the most sincere, loving face and stood up, gently pulling me by the hand. We stood there holding eachother and he whispered in my ear, "I have a question for you..." My heart fluttered and I was shocked, totally caught by surprise and just looked at him in anticipation...then he got down on his knees with the ring in his hand and with watery eyes and the most genuine heart felt way told me how absolutely crazy in love he is with me and knew from the first time he met me that there was something special about me. That he never knew he could be this happy and that he wants to spend the rest of eternity with me. Then he paused and said, "Laurisa Whiting, will you marry me?!" I replied with the happiest feeling in the world, "Oohohohoh YES!!" and gave him the biggest hug and kiss possible. Happiest moment of my life...YET!

I love Arizona...it is SO beautiful, and SO romantic! Fountain Hills will always be a special place for us! Oh I LOVE the way he thinks. I love the way he plans-he is so cute and creative!

We came back to my house to share the amazing news!! This is Mitch proposing a "toast" to our engagement! how clever he is! haha

I'm so in love with my gorgeous ring!!! I told him that I wanted to be all from him...so I didn't want to pick it out...and he did an incredible job picking it out all by himself-never ceases to amaze me!!! It fits me perfect and sparkles like crazy!! I can't stop looking at it and realizing the most important part of it...it symbolizes our eternal LOVE :) :) Sometimes it still doesn't feel real!

OH HOW I LOVE HIM!! I could not possibly be happier. He is absolutely perfect for me in every way, everything I have always known I wanted in a husband, and I got lucky enough to find him!! Every second I am truly grateful for him in my life. I love the person he is on the inside and out. I really believe I am THE LUCKIEST person in the world. Everything still feels like a dream, and I think it always will... Our life is going to be full of so much energy, excitement, good, fun, laughs, and more love than I could imagine. THIS is what LIFE is all about!! I love knowing that living life with him, will be spent every moment CELEBRATING LIFE!!!

XOXO

Just a little of what is on my mind right now....

I Love this man so much!! :)

I'm the luckiest girl in the world!

CELEBRATING LIFE...

Is what I have been doing EVERYDAY for the past 7 weeks

with this AMAZING man...

Every single day has been an adventure and the new best day of my life!!! I love spending time with Grafton more than anything!! He brings such great JOY into my life!!

Temple Lights!

ZOO LIGHTS

Christmas Festivities

Last Date of the year...Tandem Bike ride in Scottsdale! Incredible weather, Beautiful scenery, amazing company. I love the fun planner he is...He makes life so much fun!

New years Eve! We hung out with the Fam for a while, playing the candy bar game, dancing, and pretending like it was midnight! Then Graf and I went to Mill Ave in down town Tempe for the big block party they had going on. We met up with his Bro Stu and wife Angie! They are the cutest couple and we always have a blast with them!! Fun filled evening of music, dancing, fireworks, love, confetti, and Celebrating the new adventure of a new year! 2010 is going to be a GREAT one :)

We decided to go up to Flagstaff to visit G's friend Jake Porter who was baptizing someone that weekend. We all jumped in Graf's Jeep, blasted the music, had amazing conversations, and headed to Flag. It was such a fun getaway! Again, with amazing company! Before going to the baptism, we took a day trip to Sedona and hiked to Devil's Bridge! It was absolutely beautiful!

G-"SO, its your last weekend of break, lets do something really fun!"

Me-Okay!! (I'm ALWAYS up for that)

G-"Perfect, lets go to Disneyland!!!"

Oh, how I love his Spontaneity! So in two days we decided to go to Disneyland and have the most magical, happiest, time of our lives!!! Really, I loved every second of it! Including the car ride! Who wouldn't have the time of their life in the happiest place on earth with the happiest people on earth! So many amazing memories, laughter, smiles, and celebration!
Now it is back to reality, with a crazy school schedule...BUT somehow we don't seem to skip a beat. We still have so much fun every single day!!

I have enjoyed watching him play flag football for the city league! They just won the championship!! All I have to say is Grafton is a STUD!! I love watching him :)

We have been doing fun little things with the family, bowling, Monster Truck Jam, playing in the irrigation after big rain storms, Q.T. (quality time), trying to focus on homework-HA, and loving every second of life!!

This much joy, fun, love, and pure happiness shouldn't be allowed for one little girl!! I am the luckiest girl in the world!!! I have had the most amazing times of my life with Grafton Milne. I never could have imagined life could get THIS much better! I am so incredibly blessed! I can't wait for each new day of adventure with him. Times like these are what life is all about... :) :)