Honeymoon in Montego Bay

After a very long and somewhat chaotic week, Chris and I were ready for a week long Sandals vacation in beautiful Montego Bay, Jamaica. We flew out of Cincinnati into Miami, then on to Montego Bay. Everything went very smoothly until we got to Montego Bay and realized our luggage didn't make the same flight we did! Like sister, like sister! Huh, Chica? :-)

Our tickets, passports, and Sandals reservations that took us to our waiting Paradise

Chris and I were not overly humored when our Miami --> Montego Bay flight was delayed. . .for the fourth time!
This was one of the neatest things I saw on the beach - a life-size chess board! It was awesome!
We went back that night after dinner to play a quick game.

The view from the balcony of our room. We were able to enjoy several events taking place on this pavilion with a front row seat view, including weddings.

The beautiful Jamaican sunset

Chris was VERY excited about his little shrimp dish! Apparently it was his favorite thing he ate while at the resort.
The food could not have been better. Every dinner was white glove service with at least 4 courses. We enjoyed the Orlander, Cucina Romana, Pavlion, Bayside, and the OK Corral. Each restaurant was unique in its food, service, and decorations.

I thought this was so cute! They put little flowers in the beach towels!

We both chose an activity of personal interest to do together. Chris chose horsebacking riding which was actually called "Swimming with the Horses." We literally rode horses out into the ocean until it was over the horses' heads! Very cool! I chose river tubing which was loads of fun. We had a great tour guide who was absolutely hysterical! He kept yelling "Shark!" and everyone would panic until they realized that sharks do not exist in that part of the Caribbean. Chris jumping off the side of a cliff into the river via a swinging rope tied to a tree branch

All in all, it was a wonderful week. Jamaica is beautiful, and I would recommend it to anyone. The people there thrive on pleasing tourists, making it an experience never to be forgotten.

The Long Awaited Update - Our Wedding

Chris and I are finally ready to post some new pictures after a looooong period of nothingness! We now officially have the internet in our cozy apartment here in Mission Valley, so hopefully I will become an active blogger once again!

I have greatly enjoyed seeing everyone else's pictures of our wedding over the past month. Thank you to all of you who have posted them. Ryan and Andrew did a terrific job! Instead of posting the same pictures, I am going to use a few snapshots from one of Chris's friends who was kind enough to email them to us, in addition to others from our photographers. Some of them are not professionally taken or edited, but they will give a flavor to our Big Day that I don't think anyone else has captured thus far. Enjoy!

Mrs. Polanycia (Chica) and Mrs. Scott (Squishy) kissing the last "Baker sister"

good-bye. . . at least to the shared family name!

One of my personal favorites - me and one of the many individuals who made my dream wedding come true. Thanks for the consoling moment in my room on Wednesday evening, Bek. I love you!

Isn't Pastor Duttry great!?! I guess he caught the Christmas spirit just before the ceremony! When I saw him walk in wearing a Santa hat, I knew it was going to be a fun ceremony.

Me and "my kids" - These are the six kids I have babysat for the past nine years. There was no possible way to choose only one flower girl and one ring bearer, so I found a position for all of them. Brandon (14) pulled Jonathan (1) in a sleigh; Riley (9) and Teresa (8) walked together as flower girl and ring bearer; and Joshua (5) and Emily (3) walked together as flower girl and Bible bearer. They were absolutely precious all dressed up in fancy dresses and little tuxedos! These children will always be priceless to me, and I'm so glad they were such a big part of my wedding.

My incredibly adorable father as he walks his last daughter down the aisle. I'm glad Rebekah and Chica went first because Dad had the whole walking-in-unison-with-a-girl thing down really well by his third go around! It doesn't hurt that with his adorableness (Merriam-Webster definition: worthy of being adored; extremely charming) comes his cute little stature. I love this picture because it captures a thousand unspoken words. I love you, Faj. Thanks for being my Superman!

My Christmas wedding . . .the beauty of a longtime dream captured in one picture

The bride's face as she informs her groom that "this whole event is the most natural thing I have ever done."

"With this ring, I thee wed. . .and pledge to thee all my love and FIDELITY!" (Only a handful of people will truly understand this. Let's just say my pastor is hysterical.)

"I now present to you, for the first time - Mr. and Mrs. Chris Smith."

Our "getaway car" was anonymously decorated with shaving cream, toothpaste, and toilet paper. We did manage, however, to use the provided toilet paper to smear off as much shaving cream and toothpaste as we could to put the top down before making our way to the nearest car wash. Great fun and good memories!

We Really Are Still Alive!

Greetings from the recent bride and groom! The last month of my life has been the busiest, craziest, most story-filled time of my life! Chris and I had a beautiful ceremony and reception on July 25. Many, MANY stories led up to the final moment of "I do." I can only say "thank you" to my amazing family and our supportive friends for making my long-desired wedding dream come true. The right words simply do not exist to express my gratitude.
I am still working on the whole internet access thing. There is a potential that we might have some "nice neighbors," but I have to figure a few things out first. As soon as I work that out, I will take the time to post pictures of the wedding (Oh, wait. . .that's right - - -I don't have one picture of my own wedding! Please send your snapshots!), our wonderful honeymoon in Montego Bay, our week long road trip out West, and my new apartment, which I absolutely love even though it is a work in progress.
Much love to my friends and family! Thank you, everyone, for all of your love and prayers! Have a wonderful day, Mama! And thanks for the oven-cleaning tip. It's spotless!