We made it!!

(Don't you love that it's mis-spelled? I love my brothers)

We made it through the crazy wedding planning and we're finally back to real life. There is so much to catch up on - the wedding plans, the wedding and reception, Christmas, living in hurricane. I'll do my best but bare with me as it comes in scattered pieces.



If I ever have daughters . . .

Dad offered us the money three months ago if we wanted to just take it and run. About three weeks ago I started to seriously question my sanity for not taking it. If I ever have daughters, they better take the money.


Thanks so much to all of the incredible friends and family who helped out with everything.

Jeremy Christensen - staying after work and in on lunch breaks to design and order invitations. We loved em Jer - they felt so unique and just what we were looking for.

Jean Orton - Reading my mind since we had no pictures to go off. I loved my cake!! It was simple, elegant, and Gorgeous!

Mike and Deborah Outz - their brilliant idea for a photobooth and the life it brought to the party. Zane and I won the booth from a drawing at the what women want expo. The Outz's are family friends and have done so much for us. (The pictures from the booth can be seen with the event password: smith)


Lacie Christensen - thank heavens we have the same coloring! Lacie did an amazing job with my make-up for my bridals and the entire day of my wedding (she even helped in the brides room) Thanks Lace!


Kori Dutton - We loved our Pics! Kori did such an amazing job shooting our engagement, bridals, and wedding day. I wish we could post all of them, she is incredibly talented! Our schedules were so crazy and she was so good to work with us and help make it memorable for us.

Mellissa Caldwell - She turned my crazy feather idea and fear of flowers into a beautiful masterpiece. (Thanks Jeff for letting us raid your fly fishing supplies). The first and last pic are of the live bouquet and the middle one is silk.




Mom - Making sure I had the dress of my dreams, humoring my determination to pull off a wedding with no flowers and no round tables and all the stress and headache that came with it.

Lacie McCullough - staying up all night hand sewing my veil, making 100 of the most beautiful cupcakes for my bridal shower (hope your hand isn't still cramping), taking a wet-wipe bath so she could help with with my hair the day of.

Chrissy and Aubrey - spending countless hours pulling together the cutest bridal shower, shopping at every store in town five times each with me for decorations, taking random materials and turning them into stunning centerpieces, patience with me as we explored the concept of a storybook/display table, hours of planning and setup. Girls, I loved it all!!! When I walked into the room it felt and looked EXACTLY how I had hoped. Zane had to shut me up that weekend because I just kept sighing over how happy I was with the way everything turned out.





Tammy - for making the luncheon happen despite the 45 time and location changes, pulling together outfits for everyone, and the beautiful wedding video (we were all in tears).


Mike and Damien - for driving all night to be able to make it to the wedding. It meant so much to have you guys there!



I can't say thank you enough to all who helped out in so many more ways than are possible to mention. We love you all and are far more grateful for your love and support than words can describe!!!!

THANKS AGAIN!!

When it rains . . .

Thanks to all who came to and threw the shower's, Zane and I enjoyed the chance to visit with all of you and feel your support. We are so lucky to have such amazing friends and family.

The entire weekend was packed - mom and I just can't stand to leave something out. Friday we headed up to idaho (already and 8 hour dr.) and stopped along the way in Provo and Lehi to shop (5 hrs) which is when I'm sure most of you recieved a phone call from a very patient Zane trying to fill the time :) and then finally in Salt Lake to pick up my Aunt Calleen (my mom's older sister) who was able to spend the weekend with us.

If you have never been to Theresa at Shear Elegance, you're missin out. I found her this year after two years in Rexburg of crying after every haircut and love her!! So Saturday along with the shower we squoze in a haircut (4 inches - i love it!!), dentist appointment, and his bachelor party where Zane had an amazing time at dinner with his dad, brother, and friends.

The girls had a ball at the shower. Ashley had the cutest idea; each time I opened a gift I had to say one thing I loved about Zane. It was hard, haha! By about the 20th reason I was stretching. The funniest part to me was that the whole rest of the night after I wasn't under pressure to hurry and think of something, the reasons kept coming. I love you Babe! I won't make you relive all 30 but here are a few of my favorites:

I love . . .

That he's active. He always has something going on. If we're not doing it, he's planning it. We both love the outdoors and most of the time we have spent together has been fishing, hiking, or camping. I love to be busy and the chance to spend so much time outdoors.


That he's sensitive but not sappy. He'll probably kill me for sharing either of these (but remember babe I think you're tough). Ashley, Tammie, and I have had a few good laughs at him as he's tried to flirt, be suave or romantic, or even just give a compliment (the first one I ever recieved was that I was "low maintance" I wanted to cry then but understand now just how big of a compliment that was coming from him, haha). Every attempt seems a little rough around the edges but you'll never find one more sincere and heartfelt.

He'll be the best little mom, haha. My roommates used to tease him that he'd be a better housewife/mom than I will and its true. I'm a germophobe so I love that he is OCD about cleaning. Any of you who have watched him with kids know that he is amazing. He has won my little sister Maggie over - this picture of him reading her a bed time story is one of my favorites.


How hard he tries. When he went to the Jewelers to order my engagement ring, they loved him! He had them all rolling on the ground laughing as he told them, "I tried to listen! I just don't always hear what she's saying!" Its true. No matter what it is, the minute he sees that there is something that needs to be done or any way he can do a little better or add a little extra he does everything he knows how to make sure its done.

He can make me laugh. The faces he pulls, the jokes he tells, not to mention how he laughs at himself (he thinks he's the funniest person alive). I love that he is able to deal with whatever comes at him with a smile and a laugh.

How he loves me. The poor kid has chased pretty hard and has been completely devoted since day one. It means the world to be able to see how much he loves me in everything from the way he looks at me, the fact that he dropped everything and moved to St. George, to the way he is always searching for ways to serve and make me smile.

The weekend ended sunday as we traveled home. We met up in Ogden with Zane's cute mom and her side of the family. We were running a little late and they were so good to wait for us. They all traveled quite a ways to be there and it was greatly appreciated!! It was so much fun to see all those sister's interact, they definately enjoy eachother :) and I felt extremely welcome. Thanks to the Spence sister's for all you did it was so fun to meet everyone!

We also had the chance to stop in and visit my cousin Jentry and her husband Terrell in Ephraim and Grandma and Grandpa Lee in Monroe. This was the first time they had met Zane and fortunately he passed the test, haha (phew). Thank You Grandma for the beautiful quilt!

Thanks again to all who were involved this last weekend! We love and appreciate you more than you know!!

A Long Time Comin'

Okay so I'm not sure if that title is in reference to the fact that I'm actually creating a blog (contrary to my commitment to never become a facebooker - as if this is any different) or that this blog is in existance because Zane and I are GETTING MARRIED after well . . . I'm sure with the way my fiancee socializes you all know the story (grin) but either way it's been a long time coming and we are so happy to be here.

The date is set and the chaos is underway. On Dec 19th 2008 I will be the next Jane Doe ... I mean Rachael Smith. We recieved our engagement pictures last week (Thanks Kori) which turned out incredible. The invitations have been designed (Thanks to Jeremy for countless hours he's put in!) and we head north this weekend to for two bridal showers (My in-laws are all amazing! Thanks girls!!) We'll hit every bridal shop in the state on the way up to find me a dress to get hitched in and try to sell Zane on the idea of wearing something other than a fishing vest to the reception (Maybe I'll stick a lure in his pocket and he can pretend).

We are so excited for all that is coming up and will do our best to keep everyone updated. I'm kind of a space cadet so we'll see how this goes :)