Showing posts with label Married Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Married Life. Show all posts

Monday, April 18, 2011

Baby Names

Nik and I bought a book of baby names and I've had some fun this weekend looking through it.
I have started a list of names that I find in there to be interesting.
We want to have a couple names to choose from when she gets here
But it hasn't been the easiest to agree on any.
Nik seems to like the traditional names
But I would prefer something different so they don't go to class with 2 other "whatevers."
I mean, not off-the-wall different and weird...but not the usuals.
Hope that makes sense.
I never went to school with another Dawna or Donna
But Nik has always had to deal with other Nicks.
So far we have agreed upon one name...
Ayrika
I saw that name from my Stake President's daughter and have loved it ever since.
Her middle name will be
Genette
Just like mine and my mom and grandma.
That will be passed down and we agree on that 100%.
As for the other names...we are still working on more.
But let me share one awesome name that just might trump them all!

Dawnika
(African American)
meaning: dawn

How AWESOME is that?!?!
hahaha.
Ok, we just think it is funny and cute and silly and really...kinda cool
But we won't name our baby girl that.
That would be weird.
Honestly....can YOU do that with your spouse?!?!
Make one real name using both names.

We joke about naming our girl
Nikole
and our boy
Donald
But that is just fun talk.
And whenever we talked about kids in the past we always called them
Our little Nikawna or Dawnik just to be funny.
And then to see our names combined FOR REALS!
hahahahaha.

Honestly....if you can do that with your names...I wanna know about it!

Dawnika Genette Berry.
Has a nice ring to it, eh?!?
haha

Monday, January 31, 2011

Date Nights

I feel the need to document this wonderful date that we had last Saturday...because....I just LOVED it. Reminded me of our dating years.
I kept the mushy parts out, just.for.you, don't worry.

We started the night early so we could get cheaper tickets at the theater to see Tangled.
It was super cute!
Nik even laughed during the movie and teared up in the daddy/daughter moments.
(gosh, I love him! he is going to be a great father!)

Then we went to Costa Vida!
AMAZING!
We both love their salads
....I guess it is the Sweet Pork that does it!
We just sat outside and talked and talked and talked...about nothing and yet it was everything.
After dinner we went to Cold Stone.
We love that place!
Brought the ice cream back home and watched Money Pit on Netflix.
Pretty funny movie.
And guess what...I stayed awake for BOTH movies of the night!
THAT, my friends, is RARE!

But you know what I loved MOST about this night...other than the funny movie, awesome food, and amazing dessert...
...the undivided time Nik and I had together.
We didn't discuss work or family or money...
we just enjoyed each others company and talked about random fun stuff...
like back in our dating lives.
It was so fun! I went to sleep that night with a big smile on my face...
because he is the man that gets my whole heart for my whole life...
and then some.

(oh and get this....
all this was for $21 out of pocket.
we both love discounts, gift cards, and coupons!
SCORE!) 

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Mrs. Berry

Yep.
Over a year and a half married...
and...
It still gets me everytime!

The other day I was checking out at Safeway and as the cashier pulled my receipt from the machine and read back how much I saved...I got a little excited! Yes, the savings were great...
But then the best part came....
"Thank you, Mrs. Berry. You have a great day."

GAH!

I love the way that sounds.
Having that last name means one very awesome thing...
...That Mr. Berry is my husband.

This Mr. Berry is very berry [ :) ] handsome.

This Mr. Berry completes me.

This Mr. Berry loves me!

This Mr. Berry is PERFECT for ME!

This Mr. Berry is mine...forever...and ever!

This Mr. Berry is Nikolas James.
I just love it.
I love this!
I love HIM!!!

I love being Mrs. Berry!!!
Forever and Ever

Monday, December 27, 2010

Whisperings

Ok, here is a little story for you.

Nik wakes up early for work and to be able to work out before work (they have a gym at his office and it rocks. Gotta love BofA).

Anywho...he woke up at 5am this morning so he could get there in time to work out, shower, and get ready for work there and be to work by 8 without any rush.

As he is leaving the house I was still cozied up in bed but had this feeling to roll over and make sure he took his scan badge to get in the buildings. But then I realized my phone was over on the bookshelf and I didn't want to have to get up to text him if it did happen to be there on the dresser still.
Bad wife? Maybe.

Well about an hour after he leaves and I fall back asleep I get this BANGING on my window!
My head lays right there and it scared the HECK out of me!
My eyes SHOT open and stared at the ceiling.
I didn't know what to do.
I have this fear of looking out windows in the dark because I might  see some yellow beady eyes staring back at me.
Ok?
might
But still...it's a horrible thought.
Then more rapping at my window.
I just layed there motionless and prayed that Nik locked the door when he left for work.
THEN my phone light went on and I ran to it.
Maybe Nik was having a feeling that something bad was happening to me and wanted to tell me he loved me.
So I got out of bed...and IT WAS Nik calling me!
My LOVE!
So I called him back and whispered "hello"
And he goes "Yes, it's me at the window."
GOSH!
Scare the living daylights out of me!!!!
I look over on the dresser...and there was his scan badge!
DURH!
Why couldn't I have just LOOKED over there when I had that feeling...because now Nik will have driven the length to Maricopa and back today and that was one thing we were looking forward to with me being out of a job now - less gas! Yes, he drove to Chandler and the 101 and THEN he realized he left his badge. grrr.....listen next time, Dawna!
The reason he was knocking at my window was because he doesn't have a house key to my parent's house yet....which is NOW on my list for the day!

So not only did he waste gas because I didn't listen to the Whisperings and he didn't double check...but he also didn't have time to work out before work (which he loves). Sorry babe.
Learn from my mistakes and listen!

LOL
What a morning!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Call Me A Baby...

...But I just cannot help but tear up everytime I see this picture.
(which is probably means it's not a good idea to make it my desktop.)

It means so much to me to see all these people that love and support us.
To know that the man I am kissing is the man I get to keep for the rest of my life.
To know that he makes me so happy.
To know that half of these people I inherited with this marriage
And they are wonderful to me.
To know that THIS is love, life, and happiness!

This was the happiest day of my life...so far...
....another to come this summer!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Newlywed Graduates!

June 10, 2010
Disclaimer:
This is long overdue....
but made possible with the faster internet now.
In California our internet was too slow to do any pictures on our blog,
so that is why there is a huge space between posts.
Enjoy!

This has been one crazy fun year of marriage.
We have lived in
Provo, UT
and
San Diego, CA
and loved each experience in its own separate way.

Now it is time for our First Anniversary
so we got work off to head over to
DISNEYLAND!
We were both so excited because the last time I went to Disneyland I was 8 and Nik's last time he was 18.
This was MUCH overdue....
and came at a perfect time for living 90 minutes away from the park at the time.
Here are some pictures I can FINALLY load up with the faster internet.


Welcome to Disneyland, ya Lovebirds!

In front of Splash Mountain.
We did this one twice.
Loved it.
Pictures below.

Don't know why this is sideways

I love him!

This was our delicious lunch
And our waiter snuck into the picture
It was so good!
We stuffed our faces and didn't have to eat for the rest of the day.

Before

After.
OMGoodness! It was sooooooOOOOooooO Good!

On the Matterhorn.
First time on this ride because when I went at 8yrs old,
some guy fell off of the ride just prior to our visit,
so it was down for construction.
Eek.
I WAS a little nervous to ride it.

1st ride.
Made him go first because I didn't want to fall out.

My MOST FAVORITE ride EVERRRRRR!
Nik and I waited a little longer than 2 hours to get the front seats.
It was AWESOME!
(don't mind my goofy face)

Our last ride of the day.....
I WAS SCARED OUT OF MY MIND!
But then I wanted to go on it again right away.
It was amazing.

Well, that sums up our trip. It was so fun.
I love this man and the fun times we have together.

Friday, November 5, 2010

In HIS Time

This has been a hard concept for me to comprehend. Patience hasn’t been one of my best qualities. I thought I did great while waiting for Nik. Of course I had my ups and downs but I survived those two years. I did it. We made it. But looking back at that….I wouldn’t really call that Patience. I would just call that “waiting” just like a pregnant lady….let me explain.

When Nik left, I knew when he would be back…just like a pregnant lady has an estimated due date. There is something to look forward to. I thought I would be perfect as a pregnant lady (in the future) because HECK that is only 9 months, not 24. I might be perfect at it…but I wouldn’t call it patience.

To me…patience is waiting for something to happen and not knowing when that might be. Now THIS is very hard for me. I have a HARD time not knowing. Ask my mom (or Nik, as I shared this with him on our first date) about my first Disneyland experience. I was NOT about to wait an unknown number of hours to find out where we were going. Not gonna happen!

Well these last 3 months my patience was tested to the max. Let me explain….Nik and I have been married for 1.5 years and this whole time we have made many choices with Prayer and Faith. We got married 6 short weeks after he returned home from his mission and then the day after our reception we moved to Utah where I had a job but Nik did not. We didn’t know anybody except my aunt who lived 30 minutes south and Nik’s great-aunt who lived 45 minutes north. So…we were pretty much flyin solo in good ol’ Provo. Although that was a difficult 10 months away from what we were comfortable with in Mesa, we felt we needed to experience it and are so grateful we did. Nik was able to get a job 1 week after arriving.

Then we heard of this opportunity in San Diego selling pest control. That was another experience that helped us grow. I was able to work with the same company there with Nik, so we were both employed. It was awesome to live there for a few months. After 2.5 months there, my old boss from Mesa called me to let me know she needed me NOW but Nik still had 5 weeks left in his contract in San Diego. We decided I needed to go home to AZ without him to be able to keep the job I loved and we needed. (so, if I lost you, we married in AZ, moved to UT for 10 months and then to CA for a few months, then back to AZ).

After being apart for 5 weeks while Nik was in CA and me in AZ, he was finally able to join me and we moved in with his parents house. They are so kind, generous, and they love us. I am so thankful for them and their hospitality, also for his dad giving him work while finding a job. We have been living with them since August and we are so blessed. Well, Nik had been applying everywhere for any sort of job. He focused on Bank of America as they have great benefits and pay. One of the positions he applied for actually did a phone interview and then a real in-person interview with him. Even though he interviewed, he kept applying for more positions with BofA. Well, he kept getting emails back denying him a position but they weren’t specific as to which position he was denied. So I thought a few times those were from the interviewed position. But then they would send him a request to do a background check…and then I got my hopes up again. And THEN we would get more denied emails. And I got so sad. That position looked so promising! For some reason, Nik has always been better at keeping his chin up and positive. (I think that is why we were meant for each other….so I could grow.) Well after we were suppose to hear back from that interview after a week…..it was 3 or 4 weeks and THEN we heard back….AND HE GOT THE JOB!!! He got it! And Nik just said “I told you we would be okay.” Yes, yes he did…but I just have a hard time. WHEN? When was he going to get a job? There was no timeline or expiration date. This has been hard but such a blessing to move forward with Faith.

Okay, I had to take a break from this post...as I'm sure you did IF you are still reading this...so let me just make this short-ish story shorter.

I love my Heavenly Father and His plan. He keeps putting things in my path to help me grow with Patience, but I usually just give up. Maybe I don't even give up, I just complain. I might not even complain, I just get really sour about everything. My wonderful husband is a sweet man because he puts up with me when he is so strong in this. And my Heavenly Father is wonderful because He KNOWS I can do hard things...He will never give me a task He knows I cannot handle.

Like I said earlier....I believe that is one of the many reasons Nik and I were meant for each other. I wouldn't say we are complete opposites, because we aren't, but there are many things we are opposite in.
He like the crust of the brownies, I like the inside. PERFECT!
He like the crunchy cookies, I like the soft...sometimes not so perfect.
(only in the sense that I get all my cookies to myself).
He is always warm and I am always cold. THE BEST!
We are both picky eaters but about different things....so food usually never goes to waste.
I could go on...but the most important on, and the reason for this blog is
PATIENCE.
He likes to live each day in itself and I can't help but look forward and wonder...
which then makes it difficult to have patience.
I love him and my Heavenly Father, who has the plan set out for me...and probably gets a good laugh every now and then over my ridiculousness.

Well, enough. This was extremely long. Thank you.

Oh, and Nik starts his new job in 12 days!!!! I'm so excited. WE'RE so excited.
With that comes better hours for everyone involved = more time together.
LOVE!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Berry Happy!

I didn't have access to the internet yesterday, so today will have to do.

Yesterday, May 13th, marked one year from the day Nik asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. We have it on video because he was super sneaky (knowing me, you have to be) and still I have yet to see the video. Someday when we get back to Mesa I will, but it has been in storage all this time.

I am so lucky to have him as my husband. He is the best thing that has happened to me. He makes me laugh all the time, helps me learn and grow, and makes me so happy everytime I look at him. At times I feel I do not deserve him because I just could never imagine being any more happy.

Nikolas James Berry, 
You are the man I have waited for 
and 
dreamt about my whole life. 
Thank you for finding me and loving me.
Love,
Dawna Genette Berry

Four weeks from now we will have graduated from the Newlywed Stage in life. How exciting! We are hoping to go to Disneyland since it is right around the corner. [Keepin' my fingers crossed]

Friday, April 23, 2010

Me? Tan??

Okay....So....last night we went to Target to get me some new flip flops.

I heart Target flip flops.

The top is rounded perfectly with my toes...a slight square toe with a slight curve. PERFECT!

So...like I was saying...we went to get my flip flops for the summer. 2/$5.

Nik was down the aisle checking out the Clearance shoes.

He found his favorite shoes in a new color...for $5.

SCORE!





SO HE BOUGHT 2!
I laughed and rolled my eyes...but heck, if my favorite shoes were only five bucks...I WOULD BUY MULTIPLE TOO!

He was so funny to see him so excited to get new shoes and to get 2 of them. Silly goof!

It was funny.

But let me tell you about my awesome shoes.

The white flip flops.

Today I wore my knee shorts and the white flip flops...and the brand new white shoes make me look TAN!
I love it!
The end.

(Great blog, eh?)

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

New Blog

Well....I have started another blog. I thought ONE was hard enough...so I need your help to keep me inline. ;-)

Anywho...it's true. Here is the link.


It's just a simple blog that will showcase new recipes I find.

Heck, who doesn't want to try something new....and can I say....EASY!!!
I know I like that idea! And so does the Nikster. 

So...as I look for new recipes and try them out, I will post them here for you to try. 
I have to successfully complete the recipe in order to post it...which means ANYONE can do it too if I have!
Trust me...I am NO Pro and definitely NOT any better than anyone when it comes to cooking or baking...but I AM trying to expand on the few recipes Nik gets stuck eating every week.

Check me out. Follow the adventure. And enjoy!

I am always [the whole purpose of the blog] looking for new delicious and simple meals....so email me if you have some for me to try! I would love it!

Email Me

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Happy 280th Day!

Let me start out by saying...No I have not personally counted down how many days Nik and I have been married.

One of my friends blog - Kimber & Casey - posted something about Googling your name. She suggested we go and Google our names and let her know what we found. Well Kimber, I hope you are reading this!

When I Googled Dawna Berry I found a wedding website for a Dawna Berry and Michael Tousignant. I searched through and they got married in NH on June 13, 2009. Nik and I got married June 10, 2009! Crazy! She gave up her last name and I received it. I'm happy to be a Berry.

Short story shorter...on their website was a countUP for how many days they have been married...and it said 277 days. Well Nik and I got married 3 days prior...so that makes us being married 280 days!!!

So....I am not a silly little Counter-Upper....I just Countdown! Which brings me to the next thing.....150 days til we are back in ARIZONA for GOOD!!! Now THAT I did countdown. haha. No, I did not use a calendar and count it (like how Nik said would be the smarter thing to do)...I used an online website to count it down for me! lol. Much easier! Heck, I would get lost in the 70's and have to start all over again. haha.

Thank you Mr. Internet!

How many days have you been married??

And Happy St. Patty's day! I can't wait to show you what I have done to celebrate. Nik thinks it has been fun too! Can't wait to show him the yummy cake I made for tonight's dessert. YUMMM!