Our Story

What I Love seeing....

2012-01-20T00:22:00.000-08:00

I still get excited and love seeing the following;

My Engagement and Wedding Ring - I love just staring at them.

When I see my name Mrs F L Mateer

The thought of I'll get to see my Husband soon.

And of course seeing Husband!

I love this guy so much!!

Just a Few pictures I've managed to find of us, from the past few years!

Christmas and New Year Celebrations

2012-01-11T05:19:00.000-08:00

This Christmas as you might all ready know we decided to spend it with my Family up in Birmingham.

On Friday the 23rd we celebrated Chris' birthday who's now getting old as he is 28! It was really nice, as we got to see their new house with them all moved in. Marshall ran up to me straight away saying his names now been changed by default to Marshall Maughan, which he was ecstatic about.

We then stopped over at Chris and Kezia's house so we could spend time with them on the Saturday and have lots a cuddles with Kowen, and give him his Birthday/Christmas Present, he preferred the wrapping paper more than the present, but then he realised one was very noisy so his preference soon changed!

He's such a cutie as he's now looking like a little boy and you can see more of his features!

I also saw a cute little outfit whilst I was doing the last bits of my Christmas shopping for Mikes family, I was torn between and Elf outfit or a Reindeer, but I'm glad I chose the one I did, as he was so darn cute!!

Christmas Eve we held Heilig Abendt at my Parents house, with lots of yummy food, everyone absolutely loved it, and we ended up with way too much food but its Christmas isn't that what its about?

We then opened our Secret Santa presents, as Karl and Alice we're heading down to her Parents for Christmas. this actually worked out really well, which meant we could buy whoever a decent present.

We then watched a Disney's Christmas Carol, then Sariah kindly graced us with her presence after working for like 12 hours straight! Sariah got a gorgeous new coat from Kez

Christmas day we all woke up and wondered down stairs, in my family its tradition to always have Coco Pops for breakfast with Orange Juice. We then wondered into the Front Room and there was magically loads of presents.

SANTA had been!!!!!

My Cameras battery then died, (hence no Photo's of my Mum) but I got some more Pearls, and Mike got some Aftershave, another book, and Yahtzee.

My Parents then gave us some money for a Date, and a little Hamper with a few bits in.

So that was our Christmas we had a fantastic time, I hope you did too.

For New Year we celebrated it again with my Family, and Mike and Chris turned into Lumber Jacks for the day.

Mike and Chris we're hacking away at this tree for over 3 hours, they gave up and popped and to a Hardware store, to come back and find the Tree on the floor, and the Hatchet in Karl's hand, with him saying I only hit it 3 times I promise!

I got to enjoy more cuddles with my 2nd Favourite Boy.

We then found Sariah's dream dress! Ok she doesn't have a Boyfriend or anything close, but I know my sister (Plus I had a dream of her getting married in the Lovely Lace dress.) So I took pictures and shown Sariah and she fell in love straight away!! I can't wait to take her Dress shopping one day... Plus we've all said we all want to try on dresses again! It must be a girl thing!

We then Chilled played games, got a really nice Indian, and had AMAZING hot chocolate. But Kez has got all those photos, so I'm sure I'll update you on a later date.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, I hope this year is fulled with loads of happiness.

Counting down the Hours

2011-12-20T05:54:00.000-08:00

Only another 4 hours and 30 minutes, and then....

I'm finished for Christmas!!!!

I'll get home, finish my parents present off, wait for Mike to get home,

Then I will be Driving Home for Christmas!!!

I've been singing that song all week cuz that's how sad I am!

So I'm really excited, I get to spend the night at my brothers new house, after his birthday celebrations, then we're having a massive German Christmas Eve celebration which includes lots of food :)

Then its Christmas!!!!!!

This weekend also consists of lots of cuddles from this cheeky chap!

Can't wait!!!

He'll get his Birthday present which he'll love... Not too sure what Kez would think after a week of it! And the cutest Reindeer outfit!!!

I love this Boy :)

Hope you guys have a very magical Christmas, whatever your doing.

Holidays - Prague and Germany

2011-12-04T12:31:00.001-08:00

So I know this might be a little late - but this is what happens when your Husband steals the Laptop for weeks on ends and hides in his little study doing University Assignments - Can't really moan can I!

Mike and I went to Prague and Germany back in October, and yes that's how behind I am! We went for our Friends wedding which was in Germany but we decided to make a trip of it and go Via Prague (Czech Rep.) As it was cheaper and the road trip was fun! Maybe even scary at some points as the fog was so thick we couldn't see in front of us!

So here's some pictures of our adventures! Enjoy

Our Car

Our hotel in Prague - Europeans like to have separate Duvets for some reason?!

Kebab anyone?

I loved this toy shop

I Lurve Italian Ice cream, these shops we're everywhere in Prague/Dresden

Our starter - Yes its Friend bread with Garlic cloves on top - Looks gross but it was all right!

My dinner

Mikes dinner - We both picked very traditional Eastern European food

Our little pub we found to have dinner

Our road trip to Dresden

Apple cake! It was lush!!

This is the Church us Brits Bombed to bits.. Well we basically flattened about 80% of Dresden,

You can see why this was Mikes hardest area!

The old and new!

Still ready for a Britt invasion!

In Germany its Tradition when you get married to hand washing out, and saw a log together to show unity.

I was pretty gutted as this was the bit I really wanted to see, but we stopped off to get some food so we missed it!

We loved our little trip to Europe and seeing 2 beautiful Cities whilst we were there, and driving through the scariest Fog ever!

Hens and Weddings

2011-11-18T05:28:00.001-08:00

So the 4th Maughan has just got Married, which leaves Sariah at home on her own!... Sucker!!!

The Hen Party was a right blast we had a Halloween Theamed party, which was so much fun. We went Tubing at my old work, which was funny as I haven't stepped foot in Snowdome for 3 Years! Its pretty much still the same too!

For those who haven't been tubing you basically get given a rubber ring and go down a snowy hill sitting in it.. In our case it was an indoor snow hall and also ended with going up a 1/4 pipe!

We then headed back to Alices house where we quickly got dressed up to supprise Renee... I decided to dress up like a Mummy.. The boys enjoyed wrapping me up too much and Chris was pretty good at the make up side too.. Pretty scary!

Pirate Kez doing a chicken inpression!

My Mum was soo funny, she isn't like us kids at all she's the complete opositte! Quite and quite reserved, she deicded to dress up like a Cat! And ended up having to Kiss Renee's hand (the Hen) like a Cat. You had to be there, and know my Mum.

Saturday 12th November Pete and Renee got married. It was a pleasaent creamony, and was nice to look after my Favourite boy all day :)

Renee's boys Mattias, Marshall and Mckai.. My new Nephews

Karl getting a bit too into it on the Left, Pete with the Pink Flower, Chris on the Right. And Renees brother in the middle.

Their Cake

The Bride

My Fav boy in the world... His attempt of smiling

My Family

Love These girls Sariah, Kez, Alice and I

Mike and I at Preston.

Children In Need

2011-11-18T00:10:00.001-08:00

Around this time every year, the whole of England supports a charity called;

Children In Need.

(This is the Mascot called Pudsey the Bear, all the kids love him! Recently his bandanna has got more spotty too!)

Its a charity which helps those working for Children In Need ironically enough. The whole Friday nights television is devoted to this charity and all the main celebrities get involved. For example their was a concert last night with all the biggest English solo artists/bands of this Year.

My work does a bake sale for it every year, so I decided I should bake some cakes this year instead of just buying them! Hopefully they all go well!

Fires

2011-10-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

Since we've moved in with Mikes parents we've been enjoying having fires and a Garden!

I've missed a Garden so much!!

There's something about fires that just make people open up and think... Plus the fires always look pretty cool and the wood always burn differently.

Theres my mischeivious boy!

P.S - Magneisium strips always go down a treat ;-)

Food Glorious Gruel.....

2011-10-27T05:34:00.000-07:00

So I'm trying to be good and exercise and eat a bit more healthy..

Normally people at work comment on how good my food smells or looks as I normally have last nights left overs!

Not today... Welcome to my new diet of Gruel!

Looks good hey!!

I'm pleased to say it actually tastes a lot nicer than it looks... Esp seen as I used hot water to cut a few more calories out!

The Little Things

2011-10-26T05:22:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love the little things in life?

Well I certainly do. My philosophy is if you can't appreciate the little things how can you appreciate the big things?

I try to do just that - appreciate the small things that is :)

Last night (Now a couple of weeks ago!) Mike surprised me and brought me the new Mcflurry McDonalds are doing at the moment. He knew exactly what my reaction would be and what noise I'd make it was something along the lines of 'Ooooohhhhh!!!!!!'

If anyone knows me they would know how nuts I am about Galaxy Cookie Crumble. My favourite chocolate of all time! Its delish.. Well McDonalds at the moment are doing that in a Mcflurry. The perfect combo... And the perfect Husband!

So that was Friday night! (a couple of weeks ago!)

The next day we decided to make the most of the crazy but nice weather we're having at the moment, and still having) we went for a nice walk in a forest with Ty. We love doing this for numerous reasons and I like to get the nice pictures off the pretty colours. (I only had my iPhone with me so pics aren't that good... but we're thinking of investing in a decent camera one day)

We also went to watch The Lion King 3D! It is totally amazing and worth a watch mainly because its The Lion King.. No biggy like!

On the way we saw this beautiful sunset.

Of course I loved it and was singing a long with Mike dying next to me of embarrassment mainly. Lets face it, its what happens when you take your wife to that sort of movie!

You can now see how bad I'm getting with my blog, mainly because we're just constantly busy! And Mikes laptop is rubbish so I can't upload pictures with out it crashing?! I've got so much to tell you and update you on... So keep your beady eye out.. It should all be on here soon :)

Misty Mornings

2011-09-30T00:13:00.000-07:00

I love our mornings at the moment..

We either wake up to a beautiful red sun or thick mist!

Plus the spider webs look pretty amazing.

Maryland Cookie Copycat Recipe

2011-09-29T05:56:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post this for the last couple of weeks, however I'm never quick enough to get a photo of the Cookies!

I personally think these taste a lot nicer than the Maryland cookies, as they are a lot softer. Plus Mikes family and all my friends at work agree... So much so they always pester me!

Ingredients

165 Grams Margarine

1/4 teaspoon Salt

75 Grams Sugar

4 Tablespoons Golden Syrup

2 Teaspoons Milk

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract - I normally use more as I love Vanilla!

260 Grams Plain Flour (All Purpose)

1 1/2 Teaspoons Bicarbonate of Soda

100 Grams Chocolate Chips - Again I normally use more and do a mix of White and Milk Chocolate!

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180 Degrees C about Gas Mark 5

2. Put first 3 ingredients into a bowl and using an electric mixer, mix until light and fluffy

3. Add the next 3 ingredients and continue to mix until thoroughly blended in.

4. Mix the last 3 ingredients by hand. If the mixture is dry add enough milk so dough is moist but not sticky. (Its better if you add the milk)

5. Shape the dough into the cookie sizes you want, and place on a greased cookie sheet. DO NOT flatten the dough

6 - Bake in the over till golden brown depending on size this nornally takes 8-10 minutes.

Optional but advised!

Pour yourself a glass of milk and enjoy :)

Maughan weekend

2011-09-29T00:23:00.000-07:00

So basically you guessed it I live for the weekends!!!

We visited my family this weekend which was really nice and managed to fit so much into a day it was pretty crazy!

Saturday we woke up bright and early again and took Pete (my brother) and Renee to Costco with her kids to buy some stuff for their wedding. The kids absolutely loved it especially the toy section...

Mckai fell in love with the Lego clown, and kept calling it Sariah... I personally think they look quite similar, I personally didn't think I had another sister?!

Mike and I then headed to the Jewelry Quarter which I loved as its soo sparkly!!! And I got my ring cleaned. Plus Mike was in his prime bantering with people!

After that we met Chris and Kez at their new house, where I done my monthly inspection, and left Mike to help out whilst I went back to their old house to chat and play with Kowen, except for he bailed and fell asleep!!

Saturday night we went for a meal as a 'family' for my Mum's birthday... I say 'Family' as Mike and Chris didn't make it in time from working on the house... So they had a man date instead. But this place was lush.. I hope the photos do it justice

Make your own Chinese

These potatoes are Lush... I'm going to try find the recipe, and will update on how that goes

Anyone want Chicken?

The Curry Section

Make your own Pizza

Kiwi Pancotta - Absolutely Amazing!!!

Strawberry Moose again amazing!!

Marshall's Combination of eating Ice cream... Hand full of Cheese and then some Ice cream.. Works for him but I think its pretty rank!

Kowens Face whilst having Ice cream

His face after realizing its cold!!

You can see why I love him so much!

My Mum with her Birthday cake!

It was a really nice weekend with lots of catching up, and a surprise late Saturday night when my Uncle popped the question to his Girlfriend! Cant wait for the October for the 3 weekends full of mischief from Hen party's to the Temple and a Wedding!

And I'm hoping Kowen the cutey is walking by then.... Fingers crossed!!

Weekend Mischief

2011-09-22T00:25:00.000-07:00

It all started with a Party... One of my Young Women had turned 18, so she had a massive party, which had my favourite sweets from when I was a kid there! mmmmmmm

We then decided to wake up at 6:45 on Saturday morning after a night of partying/watching a Movie to get a full day of activities and so we wouldn't get stuck in traffic!

We managed to leave the house by 7:30 A Miracle on my behalf!!

On our way to the temple we drove through a massive rain storm, it was absolutely crazy! Our window wipers wouldn't keep up with the rain. I tried to capture the moment but i only had my iPhone!

I knew the Temple was closed due to the cleaning, but I was still expected to be able to walk around the Grounds! Got there and No! Not a chance everything was shut. I was proper gutted. So we turned the car round and headed back into the storm.

On our way back home we pulled into Costco (my favourite way to shop!) I loved it as they've also got all their Christmas stuff out now, and it brought back memories of America... Then I started to miss America! But I'm like a Kid in a candy store whenever I'm in Costco, but seen as it was Costco AND Christmas things, Mike couldn't keep up with me!

We managed to do all this and get home by 1 in the afternoon! So we decided to watch Hanna,

This has to be the worse film ever made. Seriously its rubbish and made no sense!

All the Mateers then came round and had a fire in the back garden, and started discussing our next Snowboarding holiday! Woop Woop can't wait!

I absolutely loved my weekend with Mike, and I can't wait for this weekend as we get to see my Family as its my Mum's birthday and here all her crazy adventures in Paris. Plus its another 6 hour round journey in the Car with Mike and I love our road trips and adventures.

Its That Time of Year Again!

2011-09-16T05:41:00.000-07:00

We were driving around the other day, and I saw my first yellow tree for this year!

I got so excited that Mike looked and said 'Do you want a picture for your blog?' What a perfect husband!

So he stopped the car I got out and took this picture...

Then next day we decided to pop into our local supermarket - Sainsburys (which I can spend all day in the Home section I absolutly love it in there!) But then we stumbled across the Halloween section! I got so excited. I've always wanted to throw a massive Yearly Halloween party with all the trimmings, thats of course when we have kids and when their old enough!

I was even more shocked to then find all the Christmas Seasonal Goods in the next isle! By this point I was way about cloud 9! I sooo can't wait for Christmas this year! We had so many fond memories from last year.

Like me putting the Christmas tree up in November as I was so excited!
To spending time with both families, basicaly travelling up north every weekend, wrapping up warm and cuddling with the Husband, Hot Chocolate, Snowboarding, our Christmas Eve/Christmas Day traditions, to Christmans shopping in the cold and having hot chocolates :) mmmmmm, to popping into Birmingham for their German Market, the friendly atmospehere, the list is endless! But I can't forget the main thing

SNOOOOOOOOOOOWWW!!!

You can always Dream about it being a White Christmas in England!

As you can see I'm a Christmas nut too and always go mad with decorating... I think it always has to feel warm, Christmas have those smells and feel like Santa's Grotto... but not tacky!

Mike also promised that we can have a real tree this year!!!!! My first ever real tree! Cant wait!!! :)

We've also got bonfire night which I again absolutley love!! We normally go to Castle Park.

I absolutly love this time of year :)

In God We Trust

2011-09-12T05:13:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across a coin we had left over from America the other day,

and found it interesting how on every bit of legal tender in the US it has the following wording;

'In God We Trust'

I found this pretty interesting considering everything that's going on with the worlds economies at the moment, how most people don't trust it, and are feeling really insecure with their jobs.

Its a statement that most people don't even recognize, as we get complacent with different things, we get complacent with having a job, having money in our bank accounts, and their not being any problems on our home land for example wars, or even natural disasters.

I think its always important to try and have God at the forefront of your mind, as its only when you trust in him miracles happen. Plus it always reminds me of the Christmas movie.. A miracle on 34th Street.

One Year Later

2011-09-09T05:35:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday/Sunday Mike and I celebrated our First ever Anniversary!!

I can't believe a year has been and gone all ready, its gone so fast!

I absolutely loved these flowers

So we celebrated our anniversary weekend by going to a Wedding! Our Friends got married on the Saturday so we spent most the day celebrating with them.

Saturday night was finished nicely by going out for a meal at Bella-Pais (its a Greek Restaurant in Colchester.) The food was sooo lush... I'm still dreaming about it now, and want to go back soon plus the restaurant was mega nice (always helps)

Sunday our actual anniversary was spent just relaxing and reminiscing. My original plans of going for a nice walk on Mersea where Mike and I got engaged, we're ruined as it decided to chuck it down with rain! So instead we caught up with our shows and watched the DVD from our wedding day.

I grow to love this boy more and more each day :) I can't wait to have a family with him one day and all the wonderful adventures the next year will bring!

Does anyone want to go WALKIES?

2011-08-31T05:15:00.000-07:00

Since we've moved back in the the parents we've been able to walk Ty their dog basically every day.

I like it as I miss walking to work and it gives Mike and I time to chat, which I love!

So we've been seeing lovely sunsets and rainbows, then we love seeing Ty chase the rabbits and jump around all over the place

Despite all our best efforts with Ty he still left us a wonderful surprise when I came home from work one day last week! I walked into our bedroom and smelt this weird smell.. I kinda thought it was nothing till I started to head back outside the room.

I saw this weird brown stuff on the carpet splattered everywhere! At first I thought it was mud, but the. I realised it way Dog Poo! *VOMIT*

So now our nice light carpets now have brown Staines that we can't get rid of! Not bad for only being in the house just over week!

Smells a bit fishey!

2011-08-31T00:28:00.000-07:00

In England at the moment there's a fad at the moment to get your feet nibbled by fish!!!

Sounds a bit gross I know but it's actually really nice. I was a bit gutted that Mike couldnt do it as he got gross feet with veruccas. I've been enjoying freezing them and seeing him in pain ;-) payback is sweeeeeeet!!

So basically there's these fish called Gurra fish which suck all the dead skin of your feet/hands, they use it as a natural defence in the wild... Basically its how the big fish don't eat them!

It's aparently been around for like 400 years and it's the 'natural organic' way to exfoliate/ get rid of all your dead skin!

Here's my pictures hope you enjoy

Our new house

2011-08-25T00:29:00.000-07:00

We have finally moved back in with Mikes Parents...

I thought that day would never come, both living back with the Parents and our actual Move!

We've only been waiting nearly 3 months for it!

All our things ready for the move

My Little death threat over my cupcake stand!

So our move, went really well I walked back to the apartment from work (Something I really miss doing) and walked into an empty apartment, it was really nice as I had a really stressful day at work amongst other things, and the last thing on my mind was moving all of our stuff!

Our empty apartment! I didn't get pictures of our 2nd Bathroom and 2nd Bedroom. But they were massive

The new house is amazing its the type of house Mike and I would love to own one day with our kids running around causing Mateer Havoc! Except we would want it more out in the country with a nice bit of land attached.

(It was too big to get all in one photo, plus I had no shoes on so didn't want to start wondering across the road!)

Are little set up is we own the 2nd floor, which again is pretty cool, as we've just said its our mini apartment.

We've got everything you could ever want when there's just 2 of you living there...

We are just waiting now for our new bean bag sofa/ bed to come!!

We found in our old apartment we had a bit too much space and there we're parts we never used eg the 2nd Bathroom as we had our en-suite.

So this house is more than perfect and it allows us to save for our deposit/ future!

Mike doing the deposit happy Dance!

A few of my favourite things

2011-08-17T05:55:00.000-07:00

So for the past nearly 2 months Mike hasn't worked a Saturday... And I have absolutley loved it!

It makes such a difference, and at least for the next year he won't be working Saturdays either...

Thank you Mikes work!!!

So because we now have more Saturdays on our hands, its been quite cool, as we always get up to a fun things. I've kinda missed it becuase our Saturdays before were filled in straight away with visiting my family... Not that its not fun or anything...... Then our second Saturday free was always Temple day!

But now we have EVERY SATURDAY FREE!!!! well most

And its nice because it feels a lot like we're dating again! Which I Love!!

Its also nice as it gives us the next year to focus on us ready for tiny pitter patter of feet and the sleep less nights!.. When that eventually happens I will let you know :)

So a few of my favourite things at the moment other than free Saturdays are;

This boy I absolutly love this guy! He is my world

Ps did I tell you we've nearly been married a year all ready! - post will follow!

Also our favourite type of food, is dedicated to our German friends and ties... We traditionally have a big feast like this on Christmas Eve with all the family but we sometimes do a mini one from time to time too!

Best lunch in the world!!! And not expensive at all costs about £6 and last 3 days! Bargain if I do say so myself ;-)

Hope you enjoyed! And this is just a sneak peak into our Saturday funess including road trips and date nights!!

Family Holiday Maughan Styleeeeeee

2011-07-21T05:59:00.000-07:00

My Family have this tradition where every year we go on Family Holiday to Cornwall. Its changed slightly over the years from Camping, to Statics, to now renting out a house! This is due to various health reasons, the family growing at quite a fast rate and Babies!

This was the view Mike and I woke up to every morning! We also managed to get the Master Bedroom :-)

Maughan family holidays are normally chilled and laid back there's no rushing to get out the house, no rushing to get back etc, its really nice as its 1 week a year where we dont have to worry and just relax! We try and get down to the beach and surf everyday, but this year the waves didn't really play to our advantage! So we done all sorts of activities instead.

We went cannoeing one day which was really nice as it was chucking it down with rain, and all you could hear was the pitter patter of the rain on the lake.

A couple of members in the Branch invited us round to their houses to do 4x4ing in a land rover and Archery! Which was pretty cool. We sat on the front of the land rover and everyone else got driven through holly bushes etc but Kez (My Sister-in-Law) and I decided to go on the front on the way back to the house, being England, it decided to chuck it down with rain! So we got absolutly soaked and then made the most of it by dancing in the rain!

Another memeber who knew Mike from years ago invited us all over to do Archery at his house (Its also his Job!) We we're shooting at all kinds of things like Dinosaurs, Lord of the Rings Evil Characters, Knights and a Dragon!

One day it looked a bit grim so we decided to play crazy golf in the town we we're staying in - again its like a yearly tradition - and I'm still rubbish! Plus it brought back memories of last years holiday where I decided I was quiting my job and moving to Colchester to find a job!

We also spent a lot of the time on the beach doing what Maughan's do best and surfing / digging massive holes!

During the nights we got up to Maughan mischief of late walks.. Moveable fires (It started in the BBQ outside our house then we moved it to the beach!)... and Kareoke nights!

Last of all I got to spend an entire week with the most gorgeous cute boy in the world, despite his massive poo's and having to clean up his sick! But I still love him, and can't wait for Mike and I to have our own sometime on 2018 ;-)

This was the funniest picture of him... Little rapper Kowen!

I Love to see the Temple

2011-07-20T05:48:00.000-07:00

Mike and I have had this goal since May 2010.

That is to go to the Temple at least once a month for the rest of our lives.

So every month, I get my calender out and see which Saturday we can make the trip.

Every month we have managed to get to the temple, and every month we manage to get something out of it, (Mike normally catches up on his Sleep!)

I always remeber the Primary song of I love to see the Temple, and its true!

Everytime I see the Temple I love it and I get a warm excited feeling, which leads me nicely onto our second goal....

To visit every Temple there is in the world before we die (Or at least try!)

These are the pictures so far!

My First time through the temple - Preston

Our wedding day - London

Switzerland

Mount Timp

St George

Provo

Salt Lake

Draper

West Jordan

WE'RE MOVING!!!!!

2011-06-22T05:12:00.000-07:00

Thats right Mike and I are moving on up in the world... Well kinda...

We absolutley love our appartment and we've got so many fond memories of it, like the Mateer family invading on sunday nights, to the YM invading and having my old primary class round... To Christmas, my family invading and all the wierd funny moments we've had together.

However we've been given an offer of a life time.... And we couldnt say no.

For you that didn't know house prices in England have gone crazy and its near impossible for first time buyers to get on the market! The average price of a house in Colchester for a 3 bedroom is about £170,000... Now thats a hell of a lot of money, and a big deposit too as you need at least 10%.

So whats the offer I hear you say... Well we're moving in with the dreadful Michael and Julie Mateer AKA THE IN-LAWS..

They we're moving anyway and without us knowing was looking for a house that we could move into. The house which we got is AMAZING!! I absolutly love it, its a 2 storey house, very American looking and we've got our own floor!!! How cool huh!

So we've got 55 days of freedom left ;)

Special Delivery

2011-06-11T01:27:00.000-07:00

During my Lunch I got a Special Delivery from Mike!!

He called me saying 'He bares gifts from far away lands.' and to meet him outside.

So I had a little wonder down the stairs and found him holding a box with 2 do-nuts in!

Apparently this Woman was so impressed with him at the bank she went next door and brought him 2 do-nuts, so he wondered all the way down to my work to share them with me. :-)

What a great start to Date Night!

Don't you just LOVE Husbands ;-)

P.s We then watched X-Men Origins at night which is prob one of my favourite movies of this year! Def recomend it :-)

OCD

2011-06-11T01:18:00.000-07:00

Mike and I have just started a new thing where we have a budget for our weekly shop...

This is because we noticed our food bill was just going up and up, we used to be able to do a full weeks shop for £40 but recently thats turned to £60 even though we're buying the same things!!

~~Dont you just love inflation!!~~

So we tried this new thing of setting a budget.

Whenever I have a spare minute at work on Mondays I start writing our dinner plan...

Once I have the dinner outline, then I start writing the products we need to buy.

As Mike and I both work Mondays there's no such thing as a lunch date so instead its Geek mode activated!

I go on the following website

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/shelves/Top_Offers_in_Tesco.html

Its a great website, you should all try it :-)

Anyway I then do my shop and find out whos the cheapest then I write the products down and how much the website says so I know the price whilst shopping!

Now thats what I call OCD but it works!! As our food bill was under £20 Bargain!!

Cutest thing

2011-05-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

Kowen Isac Maughan is such a cutie!!
Every time we go up to my parents he's changed and absolutely loving life!

He is the most well mannered baby you'll ever meet! He's always so happy, and hardly ever cries!

He's made my whole family so happy, or maybe just me, because I'm baby hungry!

I love giving him baths when ever I'm up he's so funny he loves the water and is always splashing with the biggest smile on his face!

Dream Baby!

I've finally found a reason to be on the Xbox

2011-04-30T01:07:00.000-07:00

So Mike bought My Shape Fitness evolved for the Kinect...

And I've fell in love!!!

EVERYONE needs to get this fitness game, its sooooooo good!

I walk to work every day, go running at least 1 a week and make an apperance at the gym now and again,

so I thought I was pretty fit.......

Until I played this fitness game, It burns in all the right places and feels great!

But then it has all different fun excercising like hula hooping! and Yoga!! It also keeps track of all your callories burnt :)

So come on what you still reading this for, get on Amazon and buy it!!!

Its nearly time!!!

2011-03-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

I am so excited, in 2 weeks and 2 days....

Mike and I will be.....

STATE SIDE!!!!!

I've been counting down the days for ages! And I can't wait!!

I've got 10 days left at work.... 2 weekends left Which are both fully booked... Dont you just Love being popular ;-)

Soooo the places I'm dying to see/ go our;

Temple square

General Conference LIVE!!

Road trips to all the temples in Utah... Yes we're brave! Esp as 1 is in Ogden, and I'm kind of scared of Ogden due to the 'Gang's' :-/

Olive Gardens

Panda Express

Real Mexican food

Arbies ( I think I spelt it correct)

SHOPPING!!!

We're going to try go Snowboarding in Park City

BYU

Frozern Yogurt mmmmmm

Twinkies - Mike is obsessed!!

Shooting a GUN!!!

VEGAS BABY!!

and of course the best to last......

STEPH AND MATT!! and the Morehouse family and Hannah Mateer!!!!

AND MUCH MUCH MORE!!!!!!

Beauty and the Beast

2011-03-10T05:58:00.000-08:00

There's a new program that started a few weeks a go in England called Beauty and the Beast: Ugly Face of Prejudice.

It is quite thought provoking - Basically it brings 2 people together who are defined by the way they look, you've got 1 who has some sort of facial disfigurement and 1 girl who is obsessed by the way she looks!

I was catching up with it when Mike was out on Tuesday, the programme says 50% of women in the UK have some sort of cosmetic surgery, and 9 in 10 women aren't happy in the way they look.

The Girl is a self obsessed beauty holic... Whilst the Guy has had his face melted and a Prosthetic ear... Is he really a Beast?

This got me thinking about myself...

I use to hate absolutely everything about myself when I was growing up. My Brothers use to call me Fatty o' 7 (Like the movie about the Frog.) as I had quite a bit of Puppy fat..

Here's a list of everything I hated;

- My Cheeks,

- My Smile

- My Glasses

- My calf's/thighs,

- I always thought I was fat and ugly too!

It took me a while to get through the stage I was going through. I would miss Breakfast, Lunch and hardly touch my dinner, I was nearly 7 stone, and I was still determined I was fat! I would be happy going through the day just having a 100 calories, that was my goal...

It wasn't until my Mum took me to our doctors as didn't ever have much energy and I was always tired, that they told me how stupid I was being! That's when I started to appreciate everything I do have.

I still have moment when I think I'm fat or I wish I could change something about me, but I kind of think that's part of being a women, everyone always thinks they have flaws in their appearance. But I've learnt that the things I use to hate, there all the things Mike loves about me and now all the things I love.

- I love my big hamster cheeks, there what makes me, me!

- I love my big goofy geeky smile that shows all my teeth!

- I wear my glasses a lot more than I used to, and when ever Mike See's a pair of my glasses he laughs, as he thinks I'm looking at him and it reminds him of Geeky Faith!

- My Calf's and Thighs, I've toned up a lot, and there actually really strong, plus I wouldn't want Mikes Chicken legs!

- I'm happy with the way I look and the size/ proportions of my body, I wouldnt' have it any other way...

I still believe Beauty/ sex sells, I don't think anything would change that and I never want to be fat, but beauty does come in all shapes and sizes! And just because some one's face is melted doesn't mean their ugly or a beast, which most people especially girls in England think!

I think I would be upset if my face did get melted from heat/ acid and I'd find it hard, but I would still be me!

Then I thought about my future Children, what happens if one of our children was born like the below picture, how would I feel?

This was a Documentary in England about the 'Wolf Girl'

How would I feel if people classed her as a Beast? When she's a typical happy child?

What would you do?

SWITZERLAND!!!!

2011-03-03T05:43:00.000-08:00

First time on a plane

First time on a real mountain

First time in a real water park... None of the rubbish little England ones.

Equals

AMAZING!!!

I have never had so much fun/jam packed weekend in like forever!

We got to the airport bright and earlier with a rather excited 19 year old. We reached customs and Mike went through first..

BEEEEEP!

I burst out laughing! Mike got took to the side and searched. My turn to go through...

BEEEEEP!

I compleatly freaked out as I knew nothing was on me as I was in leggings, FUGGS, and a long shirt! The woman asked me to step to the side and searched me. I was like yeah fine saw it on the movies pleanty of times to no the procedure. So the ~~search~~ began.. I mean fondaling began!

All of a sudden this woman was literally feeling me everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE seeing if I had anything my mouth was opened in Shock! With Laura and Adam Laughing and walking through fine!

The take of and landing was amazing I think I was glued to the window the whole journey there and back! Its so pretty!

So we've landed in Switzerland!!

So Switzerland was amazing from the food to the veiws and especially snowboarding. It was easily the best weekend I've had in a long while!

Next year we have decided we would get a later flight than having to wake up at 1:30 in the morning!! And we decided that we need to get earlier nights.. As Snowboarding and looking cool in the moutains takes a lot of effot! ;)

But its a trip we're definatley doing every year.. Like the pictures just prove how pretty everything is!

So until January 2012 this is Switzerland Mateer style!

enjoy the pictures! :)

Everything all packed

In the airport 5 am in the morning!

On our flight!!! I Loved it

In Basel

Mmmmm Pretzels!!!

Lovely veiw.. We're going to have this in our bedroom

Mike and I In Switzerland

Swiss Chocolate!!! :) :)

Big Whoopers! These Merangue things were delicious

How cool huh!

Ovalmatine time

Fondue

Our view as we went up the mountains

Mike and I 2,500 metres high

I went exploring the snow was soo deep! I was sinking up to my shoulders!

Silly Swiss wanting to 'Fight the Police' Glenn Beck would love this!

Drinking water!

We found a gun.....

Mikes turn ....

Swiss Temple 3 out of 136

Freak out!

2011-01-10T05:30:00.000-08:00

So Mike, Laura, Adam and I are flying out to SWITERLAND on Thursday to go Snowboarding!!

Which I'm dead excited for as I've never been on a plane! And I've also NEVER snowboarded on a mountain before!

Our friends in Switerland called us last night to inform us its 10 degrees where they live, meaning there's

NO SNOW :(

So instead we're having to drive all the way down to the south of Switzerland just to go snowboarding as there higher mountains!! Which is cool as we get to see more of Switzerland!

Lets just hope that, that snow doesn't melt! Fingers Crossed.

Pictures to follow of course ;) once we've been!!

Loving husband and Father in Law

2011-01-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

This is how much my husband and Father in law love me...

They decided it would be funny to tie my hands behind my back and my feet together with Duct tape, making it impossible to stand up!! After they tried several times and just left me to fall!! They carried me to the front door dumped me and shut the front room doors.

I managed to wriggle my way back into the front room! And after a while Mike decided to cut me out!

Can you feel the love?!

Christmas Mateer style!

2011-01-02T12:36:00.000-08:00

So as I've previoulsy said December has been a very busy month! With a new baby, my brother coming home and Christmas.. racking up quite a few miles on the wee Yaris!

On the 17th December my brother returned home from his mission in Leeds. Which also meant the first time meeting Mike! The weekend was amazing and went far too quick for our liking. The Maughan family had changed quite a bit in the 2 years he was away, with 2 weddings and the first grandchild being born, so lets just say Pete was pretty out of it!!

Christmas eve came around far too fast. Mike and I decided to do a German Christmas Eve which was amazing! We had loads of meats and salami, cheeses, pate, and sausages of course, with far too much food. We finished the night with the new Disney a Christmas Carol, which I ended up in a food coma by the time the first Ghost arrived warning Scrooge of the 3 ghosts to come!!

Christmas day we went over to Mike's parents for opening presents, which was really nice, Mike's dad made the hint that for 2011 I've got to make plenty of cup cakes, with a cup cake stand, cup cake books etc!! It was such a nice day with so many wonderful memories.

From boxing day - 28th December we went up north to see my family, where again we got spoilt, with lots of food and a camera ready for our adventures in 2011!! With lots of cuddles with Kowen who is the longest baby in the world fitting into 3-6 months clothes because of his length! He is also becoming a wiggle bum and more awake!

Over all the christmas period went far too past and before I knew it Mike and I were back at work! But this was the best Christmas I can remember! I really enjoyed spending it with my wonderful husband!

The 3rd Generation has started!!!

2010-12-30T05:43:00.000-08:00

This is a bit late as I've been busy and forgot to post it! As He is now 3 weeks and 6 days old!

On Friday 3rd December 2010 at 14:08 I became an Auntie and the 3rd Generation was born in the Maughan family. Kowen Isac Maughan weighing 7lbs 8oz!

Kowen just born!

So the stress and worry is over, Kezia is back to full health and Kowen Isac Maughan is a cutie of a baby and all healthy!!

Returning with honour

2010-11-29T05:46:00.000-08:00

In my brothers weekly email, we just found out that he will be home in 18 days!! Just in time for all the family birthdays and Christmas!!

His Mission president thought it would be nice for them to be home for Christmas/ because he's only 90 minutes from my parents house, he is allowing them to pick him up on the Friday!!

Bring on the uncontrollable laughter of my sister!!

Its begining to look a lot like Christmas

2010-11-27T09:13:00.000-08:00

Whilst Mike was at Uni/doing his assignments on my day off I decided the tree had been sitting in its box for far too long, so I decided to put the tree up :) Yes I know its still November, however considering December is a busy month for us, with baby nephews being born and brothers coming home from Missions or maybe I was a wee bit excited so I thought why not!

So with the Christmas music playing and Mike deciding to come in occasionaly just to laugh at the madness, this was the final out come :)

Mikes Birthday

2010-11-24T05:44:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was Mikes birthday, and seen as we're now married we decided to go away for the weekend!

So I finished work early on the Thursday to fill the car up, pack for the weekend, tidy the house and do the washing (clothes and Dishes!).

When Mike finished work at 5 we headed straight to our destination, with Mike opening his first present.

OK to be fair it was a bit of a cheeky present seen as I'm the one obsessed with Christmas and buying all these decorations... However they are wooden typical German decorations... So I thought it linked in with his Mission ;)

When we arrived at our accommodation we we're so hungry so we went to this Indian restaurant I found in Lingfield. It was amazing! There was fish tanks everywhere and the service and food was amazing. It was perfect and nice and quiet seen as it was in this random Village used by the London Commuters!

Mike with His Vindaloo and my Chicken Tikka Masala (Lush)

Me Posing with our poppadoms and dip things (I could of ate this all night)

After Mike receiving his million and 1 presents and spending a couple of nights away from Colchester we headed back home, to a nice birthday party at his parents house and more presents!

The weekend was so perfect, I couldn't of asked for it to go any better, and to be frank, I don't think Mike would.

Our first Child

2010-11-23T05:12:00.000-08:00

Wow! We've only been married 2 months and we already have a 2 month old baby Hamster?!

The Story of our Hamster is basically I won a bet Mike and I had whilst getting ready for the Gym. Mike always complains at how long it takes me to get ready to leave the house in the morning. So one Saturday morning Mike made a Bet with me, whoever got ready first gets a pet of their choice. These were the prizes.

If Mike wins - A Terrepin Turtle... He likes to play the expensive card!

If I win - I get a Drawf Hamster!

Now regardles of winning or losing I knew I was still going to get my Hamster... However I'm the most competitive person properly in the world!

With this in mind I hid Mikes phone under the bed! So there was no way he could win!!

After the gym and some shopping we visited Pets at home where I fell in love with our first baby Frosty!

Frosty is the cutest most adorable Hamster in the world. I think she is actually training for the 2012 London Olympics as she is up on the top of her cage 24/7 swinging around knawing the bars!!

Now my parents came down from Birmingham to visit Mike and I last weekend. The first and last thing they said and cared about was seeing Frosty as they arrived and left. Not Their Daughter or Son-in-Law! I was pretty destraught by the end of it!

The start of my Wonderful life

2010-11-16T11:22:00.000-08:00

On the 4th September 2010, I married the most wonderful, perfect man I could ever meet... Maybe not so perfect :). Which was the start to my Wonderful Life!!

Our wedding day was such a Blur! It is such a crazy feeling. I ended up waking up at about 5PM not being able to sleep anymore. Keep thinking to myself so much for the lie in!! I'm going to be shattered!! I think I kind of annoyed my bridesmaids too... Not a good thing to do trust me.

Getting ready to get married was the most excitable part, I just wanted to be at the Chapel. I didn't care about wearing my dress or flowers I just wanted to see Mike! But it finally all came together and before I knew it my Dad was driving me to the chapel to get married.

I cant remember much of the ceremony.. I can just remember being on such a High, feeling giddy and as though it was all a dream, its a crazy feeling.

The next thing I knew we were outside taking photos. Thank you Steve and Liane for your wonderful photos.. Such a relieve as the professional photographer hardly took any photos then decided to leave!! Shocking hey!

The reception was amazing. The food was ingenious, we had Subway do the catering, and from the feedback that I've heard everyone loved it! We had so much food! It was just a pure laugh from the speeches to a gift we got given by one of our German Friends Samuel Schmitt.

Before I knew it, it was time to leave the reception and drive to get sealed in London Temple. In England it is tradition the guests throw confetti at the Bride and Groom, where this tradition started I have no idea! As I think they were a tiny bit crazy! As it kind of hurts if it goes in your eye!!

Driving to London Temple to get married for time and all eternity was properly the best car journey I've ever had, from everyone looking at us with our wrecked car! To just knowing what I was about to do. It would be no longer 'till death do us part'. But more I'm stuck with you forever. It redefines the meaning of I love you, well to me it did.

Arriving at the Temple knowing we had made it was such a great feeling I was so happy, although I think that's an understatement. Kneeling at the alter and taking Mike as my husband for eternity was the best part of the day. It was the part I just wanted and dreamed of for so long and it was happening.

Our wedding day was by far the happiest day of my life so far and defiantly defined the start of my wonderful new life with my best friend. I couldn't ask for anything more!

I love spending everyday with Mike knowing he's my best friend, and all the fun we have who said married life was boring?! I actually have more fun being married, and look forward to more things. I absolutley love it! :)