Sorensens 1st time in Chicago!

I Cannot forget to mention that during our week of wedding planning and catastropies we had our best friends from Utah in town with us!  We took them into the city for a day and showed them around our neck of the woods. It was their first time here so I am sure they were a little overwhelmed with the hustle and bustle this town has to offer.  We rented a larger vehicle to accomodate our new family of seven and took them everywhere!  Downtown Naperville was included in our list of things to do, as cookie dough creations is a favorite ice cream shoppe of ours.  We also stopped over at my sister's house to the kids could all meet up and run around and enjoyed ourselves by a fire and chatted.  We really miss Tyler and Jennie and the kids, and are hoping to plan a vacation to Utah soon.  I hope we didn't scare them off too much that week and perhaps they would love to come back here too! =)

An exhausted Jennie after a long day in Naperville

Maui Fever

Shain and I honeymooned in Maui this October and loved every minute of it! I really wouldn't have cared if the plane broke down and we couldn't leave. =) We were pretty exhausted after landing (it is every bit of an eight and a half hour flight) and jumped into our suits and layed out by the pool.  Our resort was BEAUTIFUL and the food was top notch so just laying around didn't bother us one bit. We had a rental car out there so driving the scenic drives they have were breath-taking, as was the sunrise we watched atop a dormant volcano one morning.  We also drove the popular "Road to Hana" which is a winding road up mountains that takes all day but is unlike anything I had ever seen.  There were random waterfalls on the sides of the road and locals selling jewlery and pineapple on every turn.  We decided to drive the road all the way thru back into town; they tell you not to because the road soon turns to gravel and has drop-offs that scared me into closing my eyes.  Shain was an expert at snorkeling, where I on the otherhand, looked like a drowning whale.  I was not graceful with the breathing aspect and therefore gave up after a short time in the water.  We also did a lot of shopping around and got pretty comfortable with our way around the island.  One night we went to a lou-out and stuffed our faces with pork and unlimited drinks until we had to roll ourselves home.  It was a fantastic experience to be there with Shain and I don't think either of us wanted to come back to reality.  I did however, get a call while on vacation for a job offer as a radiographer.  We celebrated the day before we left and soon came back to reality and married life.  It doesn't feel any different back at home now, other than working a LOT and learning new recipes to please my husband. =) Ah and yes, Shain did tan better than I did, and he will tell you that until your ears hurt. CONGRATS SHAIN! =) LOVE YOU.

Wedding Love

As promised to Ashley W. =)....

Well, as everyone knows... Shain and I got married on October 14th 2011! We got engaged in Utah last July, and had been planning our wedding since; and by we, I meant me =). The weather turned out lovely, and the moment was so surreal. The day started out a little bit rough.... I lost a good amount of hair after it was caught in a round brush and had to be cut out, and almost lost my mind after my bouquet was 2x the size of me and had to be totally redone by myself. I slowly got myself back together and headed over to the church to meet the girls and get ready. My bridesmaids are pretty much the most down to earth, loveliest ladies ever and I would have not been able to get a panera lunch, make-up done, or eyelashes glued on without them. After the anticipation of getting dressed, we were shuffled into line by Shelly's twin sister Kelley. She put us in our place, literally, and made sure we knew our role. I don't think my knees started to shake until I was walking up the stairs to the sanctuary.  I think the guys were calm and collective, as I have gathered from their photoshoots. Walking down the aisle with my dad was a moment I will never forget, as well as seeing Shain waiting for me at the alter. =)  The ceremony itself flew by and not until we watched it on tape later did we see our facial expressions and giggles come to life. After we got into our vehicle we sped off to the party at a country club in a nearby town and took an hour for some photo ops in golf carts and on the golf greens. (Shain's first second love in life is GOLF). The reception was a party and a half and we came with our dancing shoes on! We are both grateful everyone that came was able to participate in our special day and share memories with us.  The day after we committed our love we were on a plane to Maui to soak up some sun and sip back on mai tais and lava flows. Ahhh the life..

Getting my garters on thanks to my sister, Ashley



Missy, Ashley, Me, Casey



I think we held it together pretty well outside seeing that it was a tad chilly and the normal Chicago windy day!

Our Wedding Party <3

Party !!!

Utah 2011

Shain and I arrived home yesterday evening from Utah! =) We chose to drive again this year, which I believe to be the last time on Shain's behalf. We left last Wednesday morning and stopped for the night in Laramie Wyoming. After making it to Utah on Thursday; we were booked with things to do. First, we ran around looking for Ugg boots for me, so I could have something to match with my outfit for engagement pictures. Jennie; Shain's best friend's wife and an awesome photographer agreed to take our pictures while we were out there. We set up a day to head to Park City and snap a few there, and then some on ski lifts at a resort. I had never laughed so hard while we were on the lifts, because Shain was so nervous about being so high on those things, without seat-belts. I kept burying my face in my hands laughing as Shain clung to the rails for dear life. Granted it was freezing without jackets on; they turned out amazing, and I cannot wait to get them to send out save the dates!!! =) The best part of the pictures was taking them in a grocery store as well. We thought it would be a fun and different idea; based around the fact that Shain and I met in a grocery store ages ago! =) While we were in Utah, we also stayed at a resort for a night to snow-mobile. After arriving at our cabin, Tyler had to make a bathroom stop in the room which lead us to have to stay in the night in the lodge, because the bathroom was out of order; literally. Snow-mobiling was a blast; it was Shain and I's first time doing it.. and I loved it! Shain is pretty proud that he got up to 55mph with us both on there, and I surely felt that the next day after flying over the ruts and bumps on the paths. Our night was then filled with countless games of Monopoly Deal and my new found love for Jennie's alcoholic beverage. =)

After another fantastic time in Utah, it was time to come back home to reality. Coming home was pretty scary because of the winter storm that had passed through the day before we left; especially in in Nebraska and Iowa. I swear we counted over 40 cars in ditches and flipped over off of I-80. Needless to say, we are home safe and I am trying to prepare myself for school on Tuesday. After having a month off, it is hard to prepare your mind of what is to come!

When I get pictures set up from the vacation; I will post!

Girls Day Out!!

How lovely is it to have a day to just do anything you want? Well, Thursdays class lets out at 11am; so I am normally running home to finish up homework or complete cleaning tasks that have been much needed. This Thursday, Casey, Beth, Ashley, and myself hooked up for a lunch date and a day around Geneva. There is an amazing lunch-spot in St. Charles that is nestled inside of a bookstore and offers sandwiches, soups, and salads; kind of like Panera, only 100x's better. =) We also visited Beth's wedding reception site (which is gorgous!) and a possibilty of a site on my end.

It was a great way to spend a lovely day and it does not happen often that we can all get together and chat outside of school and clinicals. Of course Thursday quickly turned into Friday, and today I have clinicals in the CT rotation. I think I really love it, and would not mind opening my options when I graduate!

Counting Down..

Since being newly engaged; I have been searching up and down, near and far for ideas. Tonight, instead of studying, I have been looking up old pictures from my sister's wedding to reminisce on what her special day was like. I came across this picture and have since vouched to myself that..

1. I will not spray tan unless everyone I take pictures with has done the same.

2. I will not spray tan and whiten my teeth in the same day...

3. I will not spray tan unless I can be reassured it will fade....

Uncle Shain and Abby

Smiles =) I love this picture! I think Abby is just so excited that her uncle is finally comfortable holding her!