Health Insurance...

As last semester ended, we realized we needed to take care of health insurance.  The good news with health insurance is that you can stay on your parents until you are 26.  If your parents will let you stay on their health insurance with the new Obama Care happening, do it!  You can save some cash every month!  However, as I'm (the wife) is turning 26 in just a few weeks, we needed to make the change.

We asked my parents the best way to do this and they suggested to get an insurance broker.  We contacted him and he did most of the work.  He asked me if I would be planning on getting any surgeries this next year or having any children…these affect which plan you get and which deductible you will want.

He then went over all the terms we should know…and he put them in understandable terms.  For instance, we had no idea what a deductible was.  BUT we know what it is now!  He also links up the insurance company with you for payment each month.  He called us on the phone with the insurance company on the other line and helped out with the process.  I honestly thought that I would have to find the plan myself, know all this information beforehand, and lets just say, I was stressing out.

The lesson to be learned here as newly weds, is get an insurance broker/agent.  They don't cost anything and do everything for you!  They answer all your questions and take the stress away.  To celebrate our grown up accomplishment, we took a trip to Portland, Oregon where we served LDS missions and also met.  It was lovely and I felt safe on the way there as my health was insured.

Our First Christmas...

With being newlywed, the holidays can get tricky.  Parents aren't quite to used to the fact that their child is sharing their life with their spouse now.  At times parents seem to expect the newlyweds to drop everything and be the "daddys little girl" or "mommas boy" that they used to be.  However, when it comes to the Holidays, this parental thinking can hinder what newlyweds think about the Holiday season.

This is why we decided to alternate years on which family we will spend Christmas with.  This last year we spent it with the wifes family.  Next year we will spend it with the husbands family.  We are sure that eventually we will just want to spend Christmas as a family, but we don't have any children yet, so we feel it neccessary to comply to our parents wishfulness at this moment in time.

Despite all this chaos, it was nice to rekindle our first date love by going to Temple Square, seeing the lights, and attending the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert.  Enjoy the pictures of our life!

We are also in the market for a high quality camera.

What is the best kind to get?

More Wedding Pictures...

Our photographer, gave us back some more wedding photos.  We really enjoyed our photographers.  I would highly suggest using them-Kim and Garth Pratt.  Thank you to everyone who also came to our wedding back in July.  We appreciate all the love and support.  Enjoy the pictures!

Tribute to My Wife...

Exactly one year ago today, Michelle went through her 2nd spinal fusion.  She might kill me for putting this video on here, but in honor of her 1 year mark, I think she deserves the nostalgic laugh.  I don't know who reads this blog, but whoever does, enjoy Michelle on pain meds' tribute to Justin Beiber/Bieber/Beaver.

Festival of Trees and a Hospital that Gives...

This month marks the upcoming year of when I had my second spinal fusion.  I received my first spinal fusion when I was 13, about twelve years ago.  Having a straight, fused spine, has been difficult!  But, I'm proud to say I have gotten through this trial.  When we first found out I had scoliosis, I was just this young girl who had no idea what kind of ride I would be in for.  I didn't know the extent of how serious a crooked spine could be.

I remember my parents researching and finding a specialist.  I remember going to appointments after appointments.  At first, the scoliosis was just something minor that we would keep on eye on.  But, after each appointment, my spine starting curving even more until I had a S-shaped spine.  Literally, it was in the shape of a S.  I had 2 curves.  The doctor then "prescribed" me to wear a back brace, which at first was exciting.

All of this was happening when I was in the 6th grade.  I remember I made all the boys believe that I had abs of steel.  I think that is the only claim to fame I had back in my elementary/middle school days. Other than that, the back brace probably ruined my chances for popularity.  But, none of that matters in the grand scheme of this story.

I had my surgery at Primary Children's Hospital and said some hilarious things while I was drugged up.  I was in the hospital for a week.  I also missed school for a month.  I don't remember a lot about the nurses and the doctors because I was young and didn't understand much.  Though, this last surgery I had was a real eye opener.

I came home from an LDS Mission a few months early because my back was bothering me.  I learned that my lower curve, which wasn't fused, was worse.  It looked like a question mark.  Not only was it curved more, it had twisted.    I was scheduled to get surgery at Primary Children's Hospital.  I was 24 years old.  My stay at PCH was great.

Because I was older, I was more observant at everything going on.  I could not have had better nurses or doctors.  This is why I'm participating in Festival of Trees.  I want to give back to the hospital that gave to me.  My tree is called the Neon Twist and I need some help putting it together.  Pictured below is what I want my tree to look like.  I already have a tree donated.  But if you would like to donate ornaments, bedazzling things to help make my tree look spectacular, or some spare change, please contact me!  My email is meeshmonson@gmail.com.

Help me give back to a hospital that gives.

SpOoKtAcUlAr MaRrIaGe...

We have had a busy month.  We are proud to say we have about a month and a half of food storage.  Every time we went to the store, we would buy the cans of food that were on sell.  So far, we have a variety of beans, corn, soups, diced tomatoes, pasta, spaghetti sauce, and a case of water.  We don't have a lot of room, so the little bit of food storage we have will suffice for now.  It's been great to have a little stash because we are able to relieve our worry of having enough food in case we have a natural disaster or some sort of dilemma happen.

We have been very busy with school and it's very difficult to find time for everything while we are busy studying.  We have had the most amazing dates and cherish the time where we don't study.  We love spending quality time together!  We were able to go to a Strike concert.  They are a local band that had the opportunity to open up for the Stadium of Fire awhile back.  They sound great live and we really enjoy their music.  Check them out here.  We had our ward Halloween party and we fulfilled the husbands dream by dressing up as 80's rockers.  We carved pumpkins for Family Home Evening.  We also took a few family pictures with the Nielsen side.  

We hope you all have a sPoOkTaCuLaR hAlLoWeEn!!!!

Date Day...

We did the best thing this last Saturday.  We ventured out on a date day.  We went on multiple dates throughout the day and it was lovely!  Our day consisted of getting haircuts (the wife chopped off 6 inches), going up the canyon to take pictures, decorating for Halloween together, making sugar cookies, eating a dinner at the most delicious El Salvadorian restaurant in Provo, and then ending our night by watching a scary movie.  With the holiday season upon us, it's so easy to come up with fun date ideas!  Currently, there are some amazing online deals for corn mazes, pumpkin patches, haunted houses, and more!   Go out and have a date day!  We promise you won't regret it!

Thank you to our friend Jenny who took these amazing pictures of us!