Saying See You Later...

It is one of the hardest things to do for me...

how about you?

I hate it..I even hate it more when its a bond with an animal. 

They can't speak but know a way into your heart. deep down in there & it never leaves

You might remember, a few weeks ago my brother came down from Sacramento & brought my fur-nephew Indy. 

I always knew that after these weeks he would be heading back home with him..

That time has come & I am just not ready for him to leave... 

Look at that sweet sweet face. How do you say no to that?

I didn't. I pretty much spoiled him like any aunt would do.

He got rib bones, snacks, treats, lots of loving, car rides and even toys. 

I am going to miss...

The howling and growling in his sleep

the hard hit of his tail when he gets excited to see you

the running up to me at the gate looking like he smiles

car rides with a dog the size of a horse in my little jetta 

the kisses

the love he shared with me. 

&& so much much more.

Please come back & sleep on the bed ANYTIME you want.. 

sooner than later...

or you can sleep on your own bed that you are just too big for but I love it just because you are inside with me. 

the hardest part... I am not sure who is going to miss you more...

me or

that buddy of yours...Trigger! 

  Who will get in trouble with him while he chews on everything..who will he chase around the yard..or play tug a war with..who will sleep with him in the dog house 

what dog will share a bowl of dog food with him and even a bone? Run up n down the grove & all over the road... you two made a bond.. 

Indy,

I love you as more than just my fur-nephew but as my own. I always will & will always want you here. I know I gotta do what is right & that is to allow you to go home, but PLEASE come back & visit me for my wedding for a long period of time. It will make my wedding that much sweeter for me {as selfish as that sounds} 

stay a puppy forever. 

See ya later boy.... 

Weekend Fun in the Sun

What a weekend!!

I can't believe that it is already Monday.

&& its July. 

{don't worry, I didn't forget my monthly goal link ups is coming}

This past weekend was a great one!! 

My brother & his girlfriend drove down from Sacramento Thursday Morning. 

Really my weekend started than. 

Thursday night.

We went to the fair. 

Sadly I forgot my camera of us girls. 

Either way, it was fun to walk around and eat fair foods!! 

Friday:

We hung out at home until that afternoon it was wedding time.

If you follow me on intagram, you saw how beautiful the ceremony was. 

Alex, me & Tricia

Maid of Honor & bride & grooms Son. 

Tricia & me during Happy Hour. 

Let's just say when everyone woke up Saturday it was hangover central in our home.

Saturday Afternoon.

We headed on over to Aunt Patty's house for some BBQ & pool time

Eli went crawdad Fishing. 

Otherwise no pictures. 

Sunday:

We packed up the brother & Tricia & headed to San Diego to show Tricia.

She has NEVER been to San Diego so we wanted to show her around for a little bit before their plane let. 

@Dick's Last Resort. "I am sooo wasted"

Than we walked around Seaport Village 

Saw a crazy magic trick guy!!

&& managed to get one family picture in!! 

Over all the weekend was fun & relaxed. 

I cant wait for this weekend already. 

How was your weekend?

Happy Monday.

If there even is a Happy in that. 

Finally I did It all while on Vacation!

Did you read Part 1 & Part 2...

it might help you understand part 3. 

The week in Minnesota was a lot of fun.

Partying, drinking way too much, staying up late, getting up early. 

Monday night after the aquarium...

we headed to Dave & Busters since our Iowa people 

have NO idea how awesome it is... 

but it just wouldn't be vacation unless 

there is a speeding ticket & 3 seat belt tickets involved.

Now we can get our party on at Dave & Busters.  

Tuesday I spent it shopping :)))) 

Wednesday... it all came crashing down...

This is why we started the morning with some yummy Starbucks. 

but we couldn't just end at Starbucks 

had to get our breakfast of Champions. 

Nothing some sunglasses & a sweatshirt can't hide!! 

Mom insisted we head to a buffet!! 

Her 18th Birthday present... Michael Kors purse! 

E loves his Auntie Cy. 

&& that is how California does Minnesota. 

If you missed Part 1

or Part 2

make sure to check it out... 

Now that it is all over & I have recovered...I am ready to go back!!!

I can't wait till the end of July to see my sister again. & now that she is 18 & coming back to Cali...WATCH OUT!!! & than I will see Mom again in August for Bacherlotte party in LAS VEGAS!!! & than October I see the fam-bam for the wedding..what a GREAT year if you ask me... 

Coming up on the blog:

Military Spouse word vomit. 

Friday Letters.

Sponsor Spotlight. 

If you are interested in Sponsoring Before The i Do's shoot me an email. 

Be4theidos@gmail.com 

Happy Hump Day. 

Happy Birthday Baby Sister

I am BACKKKKKKK

Did you miss me?

My vacation was ALOT of fun. 

i can't believe how fast a week goes.. 

I promise I will post pictures & recap 

but for RIGHT NOW.... 

my baby sister is a high school graduate. 

{today would be 5 years since I have graduated high school too} 

&&& 

SHE TURNS 18 TODAY!!!

Happy Birthday Baby Sister!!! 

I hope you have the BEST day ever & I am so proud of you for everything you do. 

Sorry we couldn't stay one extra day to spend it with you but I sure hope you enjoy your birthday presents!!! 

I LOVE YOU.

Two Year Ago...

Happy Wednesday !!

I am so excited for today... by the time you read this:

1. I am on my way to the airport 

2. I am in the air flying to Minnesota 

3. I am with my baby sister again for her high school graduation for a week

When I booked our flights I didn't even realize I had picked June 6th. I just knew I wanted to get to Minnesota before graduation June 7th for graduation. So flights are booked & realized that today is 

A's & mine 2 year dating anniversary. 

prepare for photo overload from the past two years

{the first night we met...can you tell we were going to be getting married}

Today is the day I vowed to say goodbye to my single life after a week of being single

front row Tim McGraw 4 days after we met

Today is the day I will always remember driving in the car when you asked me to be your girlfriend & not knowing 

Brad Paisley Concert 2010

Today is the day of many to remember where we came from

looking over Petco Park

Today is the day I knew I would marry you

All before I was to become the Future Mrs. Gardner 

we sure had a good time together. Many concerts, dates, facial comparing, surviving working the fair, school and lots of vacations.. 

Than we got engaged

November 18,2010

The ring. Disneyland hotel November 18th will forever be remembered as the day I vow my forever

Than came the real fun

we went to a Laker game before deployment

Our trip to meet my parents in Las Vegas. 

Than you deployed for 6 months. 

came home from deployment & we were back to us. 

Padre games. 

visiting NC

Than Came

2012...

Here we are...

Wedding season while planning our own

& now we are a happy family waiting for October 13,2012 to seal our fate forever! 

Happy 2 years Babe! 

I love you. 

I can't wait to see what else our lives has to offer us in the next 80 years together!! 

If you have made it this far, thank you for reading & looking through the past two years with me! It has been a journey with it's ups & downs but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I have a lot more pictures but not enough room or time! 

Happy Wednesday

We Got a Puppy!!!

How was everyone's cinco de drinko? 

Mine was great. 

Celebrated as usual. 

Tacos. Beers & family. 

Not to forget to mention, one of my good friend's baby shower. 

Now though, if you follow me on instagram or have been reading on here

you know we got a puppy!! 

Bloggy world meet Trigger - Trigger Meet bloggy world! 

He is half rott/half dobi 

He is 20 weeks old {this week} 

Now you may ask, how did you get a puppy when you already had 4 dogs?

A has been feeling left out sorta (i want to say) since all my animals have been here before we got together. So he kinda adopted dogs, cats, and a bird when we got together. The only animal we got since being together was our Fish Rex & if you remember floppy we had to find him a new home though. 

Well a few weeks ago, A told me he was going to get a puppy. I just told him to tell dad because he is  NOT someone to just spring things on. Apparently he called & he said ok (yet he was still a bit upset) but how can you stay mad that face for long? 

The guy apparently got him to help his beagle lose weight, well the beagle was NOT a fan of the puppy & he was going to take him to the pound THAT day. So what does A do? He brings him home as he thinks we run our own pound. He always knows that once I see a puppy I won't let him go to the pound. 

I am one of those that would adopt all the animals if they didn't make it so difficult to adopt an animal. Stupid pound. 

So that is how we got trigger. Our puppy. He is a handful but so very loving. 

A & Trigger. 

Look at that sweet face!!! 

I love him. 

I am almost positive their will be many stories of trigger to come. 

Happy Monday.

Our Love Story

Today I am linking up with Becky who is over at From Mrs. to Mama

You should check her out & follow her life journey on raising her beautiful baby girl & her marriage to her best friend. 


also link up & fill out "What's your love story?"

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

Alex & I have been together to date one year, seven months and one day. That is so crazy to think about that and how fast time flies. 

(our first date [ i say it wasn't really a first date but] was a Tim McGraw concert in June of 2010. we started off with grass seats & ended up FRONT row holding hands with Tim.)

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

.

Well I will be honest with the blog world - Alex and I met on Plenty of Fish (P.O.F) all thanks to my guy best friend Tran. He insisted that I get on the site because he was sick of me dating "losers" and less than 6 months later I met Alex and with in FOUR months we were engaged. 

(the VERY first night we met)

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

Yes Alex & I will be married October 13,2012. This blog was started to follow the wedding process of planning but has turned into much more than that & I am loving ALL of it but the planning of the wedding. Isn't it weird how that worked out?

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?  If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

The wedding will be semi-big, I am shooting for under 125 guest but we will see how that works out considering I come from a big family, and we will be getting married at a golf course in California. Don't worry everyone there will be lots of pictures of the wedding in November or December. 

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

No we really do not have nicknames that stick with each other. Sometimes Alex does call me baby but what guy doesn't call their love that?

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

1. I love how he cares so much about me 

2. I love how he calls just to say hi to me 

3. i love how he randomly surprises me with flowers some days just because he can

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

Proposal was at Disneyland. Not in the park but in our hotel room. Obviously I said yes (well we think I said Yes) Him nor I truly remember me saying yes but here we are. I do remember telling him that I was going to punch him because I couldn't believe it was happening. Here is the full story of how him & I became a We

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

Well this is our [[FIRST]] valentine's day together so it will be interesting to see what he does. I truly just want to see The Vow but because of Eli I doubt we will be able to go because we do not have a babysitter considering it is a school night for him. 

Last year, I got flowers and a tiny itty bitty bear in the mail & some diamond earring studs but I can't complain considering he was deployed 

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

I would consider myself Both. I know I am difficult. I love sunset & dinner but I am a homebody type of person who loves a good home cooked meal. Poor Alex will forever suffer with these two.

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

I would love to go to Bora Bora. Just the two of us. No phone. No internet. No work. Just drinks in hand, swimming in the warm water, relaxing, reading, tanning and eating. Sounds like perfection to me. 

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day. 

This Valentine's day will be just another day for us {I believe - don't quote me but I will def. post about it considering its our first} We will probably eat at home because Eli needs to know what good home cooking is and probably spend it reading and watching TV, but I would LOVE to see The Vow. What girl doesn't want to see that movie?

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Honestly, the only thing I really want is to see the movie & have a good day with Alex. I even asked for a bow ring but I won't be upset if I do not get it. I love anything blue, purple and bows. 

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love. 

Trust. You must have trust in yourself & your love to have a strong relationship. Trust is what builds a strong foundation to grow and move forward. & Always remember each day is a new day to change something and start over. 

14.  Show us a picture of what love means to you.

I love Alex foreve because {{without}} the R it means it is never ending