a New Year ...

Chris' Point of View:

As the new year approached, I prepared for Natalie to visit Salt Lake for the second time. I imagined what goals we could set, what challenges lied in wait, and how our relationship might be strengthened. I thought about how far we had come already and how we had truly succeeded in the progress we had made.

As Natalie arrived, my intention was to allow her to get to know my family a bit better, however, as I picked her up from the airport, I knew it was going to be difficult not to hog her all to myself. We chose to have a second Christmas with Natalie there, and enjoyed opening presents and being in the presence of each other.

We spent time in doors huddled together, watching movies and eating mashed potatoes. It was so great to have Nat here with me once again. While the weather was cold, my frosty red nose could not distract me from looking at Natalie with a loving smile.

The last day of the year came, and I remember sitting next to Natalie as the cries of the New Year rang loud around us. I leaned over and softly whispered in her ear, "This is our year." Somewhere I knew that following the cold, our relationship would blossom, melodies of the future would fill the air, and I would be spending many moments in my life with my hand grasping hers.

nat's point of view :

ob-la-di, ob-la-da !

when i got on my flight to seattle and slc, i caught myself thinking, about how quickly it has been for chris and i - 5th months together, and my 3rd time seeing him. ... no math here.

i was super-duper-ultra-goober excited to visit the van wagoners again. the last time I was in slc i had such a great time and had been missing them ever since. the icing on the cake was that i got to meet the last member of the fab 6, laura; she was overseas the last time i was there when i came. of course, w/ a drop of joy, was being able to attend lukas's blessing, the newest members of the allen's. =D

i was delighted to find that they chose to have a 2nd christmas w/ me, and waited till i got there to open the presents chris and i prepared. it was so much fun! my family doesn't often celebrate western holidays, (generally only family members’ birthday). the feeling of christmas and the spirit in their house has filled me with warmth and felicity. the family took me to the temple afterward, we had a great time picture snapping.

for new years eve, we drove out to alyssa & craig's for the count down. we played some wii sports, chris and i did the bowling challenge (as it was what brought him to me. haha). no surprise there, natalie remains as the champion b/w our little game. har har! =)

we spent the rest of the night watching a classic, james bond 1985 - a view to a kill. oh, how i heart christopher walken; however, grace jones scares me. =S i couldn't bear to watch him kiss her. ergh.

finally, the time came for the ball to drop, the new year approached w/ so many things in store. my stirred emotions wouldn't keep me seated, as this was the 1st big holiday that we spent w/ each other as a couple, i wanted to capture this feeling in my heart. ... >>> 5 , 4 , three , two , ... ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR! chris held me in his arms, kissed me passionately, and whispered the most endearing words to me for 2008. <3

i felt something
different for the first time
having it made sense
when all the words rhyme
no chance of stopping now
i'm taking it all
and now i'm caught in the air. <3

'it's a good life!'

the Ever-Ascending Coaster ...

Chris' Point of View:

The course of a relationship generally mirrors the experience of a rollercoaster. Twists and turns, ups and downs, relationships are sometimes followed by nausea rather than euphoria.

Nat and I have been on a different type of rollercoaster however, one without twists and turns, one without lows. This ride started with an unexpected explosion and sent us propelled high in the air with a final destination equal to the stars.

Following her trip to SLC, we planned to go to Miami to visit her mom and brother - Nigel. While we were there we were able to spend a day in Orlando at Universal studios. This was one of the funnest things I have ever done. Great rollercoasters, unique rides, popular culture themed landscapes, I was a kid again only this time with a really pretty play-pal. =)

I also was able to meet Natalie's mom and brother. As we spent time with her mom's side family, we couldn't help but see how well the puzzle pieces fit. They are really great people. Individuals, I have definitely come to respect and highly regard.

At the end of the trip we could only look upward and onward. The coaster was gaining speed and height, and as we looked at the ground below us, we couldn't imagine returning to it, but anticipated the view from well above the clouds.

nat's point of view:

is it any wonder //

i had always thought i was living in the kingdom of the good and true, now i think i have met my equal, to share that kingdom with me.

the longest parting since we met. (and still the standing to this day!) it was definitely hard in the beginning. the first couple of months into the relationship is when you want to spend the most time w/ each other - all . the . time. some say. 24 hours is not enough; i second that! =)

there were gloomy days where even though there were birds singing, the sun was shining, and people were dancing i felt like there was a storm cloud above my head, following me. it just wasn't the same, food was tasteless, colours faded into shades of grey and occasionally some green.

i thought i would have to sell bread on the corner to get by, in order to have the day to come faster for miami.

oh where would i begin, where our thoughts bloom? =)

i had MAJOR butterflies on my way to meet chris. my flight was delayed and I was IN NEED of catching my flight to miami. i ran like a mad woman. finally, from a distance, i saw a tall young man. i don't think he recognised me, as i was running. ... oh jolly!

i hugged him from behind, and quickly ran into the washroom before he said anything. 2 mins later, he asked me if i was feeling ill, i replied no - just needed to fix my hair. hmmm. hair, one of our similarities. hehe.

on the plane, we were lucky enough to have the 3 seats all to ourselves. just about to depart from denver - we had a little game to settle in >>> THUMB WAR!!! ... i didn't win, chris' hand was bigger ... i protested that. =P

the fantastic summer trip to slc was a blast! chris and i did alot when i was there, it was all that i asked for. =) carefree relaxation, and especially making breacky for the family. <3

i had a great time visiting my mom and relatives, as it was about 2 yrs ago that i came for a visit. chris did quite well with the first impression, he even made my cousins look badly because of his skilful chopstick ability. =D

beaches, food, ice cream, sushi, stone crabs, getting lost, wave runners, universal studio, getting soaked, pictures, even some dancing was involved on this trip.

when we were out and about, , people greet and smile and asked, 'are you guys on your honeymoon?' ... we looked at each other, smiled back at the strangers and carried on our vacation. we knew exactly where fate had brought us, it just took a matter of time to admit it. =)

technically, it was only our 2nd date. back to the streets where we began ...

i'll manatee out of here ...

braving New Worlds ...

August 2007

Chris' Point of View:

After we returned from our incredible Boston trip, Nat and I had no idea what to do with the situation we had fallen into. Do we fight or forget? Do we hope for the future, or do we allow prospect to go unrealized.

Not only did we stay on the train waiting to see what was around the bend, but charged forward, moving that 'Loco'motive down the rails. I remember thinking how crazy it was, and how if it was any other girl, I wouldn't have bothered. However, with reservations aside, we eagerly made plans for Nat to come to Salt Lake City and see where fate would take us.


I had a a great time. Movies, hiking, Ice Cream, more ice cream. Nat was everything I remembered and I knew that this new world that we were exploring was worth the risk.











natalie's point of view :

_ smiley faces

THE boston trip was great, didn't expect it to be a trip that i can never forget. =)


there were questions, worries, fears, thoughts all intertwined together. some of them were answered the very moment that i stepped on the plane to slc, that first time visiting chris.
hmmm, my very first (and only) long distance relationship. ... honestly, i was unsure what to expect or to hope for, wondering if i'm making a mistake.

finally, i arrived to slc airport, ...

what do i do? what do i say? do i walk - or do i run away?

no doubt, chris's smile is one of his charms that draw my attention, literally. hehe. the strong beliefs that we both share, the hardcore music interest pleasure we take part in, and an obsession about star wars. really, am i being punk'd?

the trip not only to visit chris, but also meeting the folks.
result? first try - TKO! =)
the van wagoners are all so amazing - sweet, beloved, affectionate, i had an incredible time with them.

zero ground. the visit had cleared my head and has extinct all the ridiculous fears that i once had. a very meaningful first date. <3

the Beginning ...

I guess this is where the blog starts. I couldn't think of a more fitting way to begin this chronicle, than with one of the first pictures taken of us, and a video clip of Natalie from the same day.

Boston 2007

In the begining, there was a Panda, and a Bunny. In a scenario much more than happenstance, we found ourselves gravitating towards each other. The photo above was taken at a bowling alley in Boston. We sat talking, oblivious to the world around us; a supernova surrounded by the void. I never would have thought, sitting on that couch, that in 8 months I would be engaged to that incredible girl.

The above video clip is from Legal Seafood in boston. Natalie is fluent in The Simpson's references and was dared to act out a part of the Pinchy episode. Luckily one of Nat's sillier moments was caught on film. =)

ps. ... i'm not the only silly one! <3