New Family Blog

I made a new blog that is not just a Michelle Reane blog. Clark thought that it was time we had our blog instead of it being my blog. So come visit. It is vivalavarner.blogspot.com

Honeymoon Part II: Vegas Adventures

Well since we were in Vegas, we had to enjoy some wholesome parts of the strip. We spent one day walking up the strip and a couple hours the next day going to the things we missed. We went to M&M world...after a bite to eat at Del Taco ;)
The yellow M&M is my favorite. I always get a picture like this.
Clark had the hotts for the green M&M. I figured I should steal some of her tricks.
We made a little trip to the Belagio. I LOVED the Christmas decorations. I was dressed pretty nicely and it was fun because the workers in the fancy stores would personally escort me around and thank me for visiting their store. I felt like such a high roller.
I had never seen the Belagio fountains before, so it was so fun to watch them. They are AMAZING! I probably looked like a child with the look of pure awe on my face.


We ate at one buffet...we felt that we should. We ate at the Luxor, it wasn't all that great, but it was the cheapest one we saw.

Honeymoon Part 1: Valley of Fire

For our Honeymoon, Clark and I went to Vegas. Well, Clark's not really a big fan of Vegas, but he does LOVE Valley of Fire which is about 40 miles out of Vegas. On the day we got to Vegas, we dropped off our stuff at the hotel and left straight for this fire valley. I was a very paranoid passenger. I think because now I have more to lose, I am more afraid of pretty much anything that could cause my love to be hurt. Anyway, after driving off into the middle of nowhere for a while you come around a bend and see these huge red rocks just shooting out of the ground. The name is very fitting.
Clark and I explored for a while. I was nervous that the rocks were gonna come crumbling down on us...so I was pretty cautious. I also was wearing my uggs, so I didn't really want them to get dirty. Next time I will be prepared.
Clark was in heaven because he used to go to Valley of Fire with the scouts when he was little. I think it has a special place in his heart and it's full of memories. I also think he likes an adventure.

OOoooooh my husband is so strong!!

The lovebirds.


It is so cool because there are pictographs or something like that on the walls from Native Americans. So cool! I haven't ever seen those in real life before.

DEL TACO!!!!!

Ok, so for those of you who don't know...I am obsessed with Del Taco. My favorite item is a 1/2 pound green burrito with no cheese. Hello! it's only 99 cents and it fills me up. Of course I really like to mix the diet coke with a splash of cherry coke. Something I really miss is my mom and Julie's and my almost daily trips to Del Taco. We would sit there for hours just talking and laughing. I think I probably planned most of my wedding there. The manager, Alex, also knew us and would give us free stuff. It was awesome. Now I pretty much only get to go once every other week, if that. Oh well, it's probably better for me anyway. But I do look forward to my next trip to Cali, when we can go to the Del Taco by our house. These pictures were taken on a day when we were feeling silly. Julie had tears. LOVE YOU GUYS!!! MISS YOU!!

I'll start from the beginning

Hello again...Long time no see. I know, I apologize. I am sure that I have lost a lot of readers due to the lack of attention I have paid to my blog. But can you really blame me? I just got married. I'm still in the honeymoon stage. And if that excuse doesn't due...how about my one about starting my new job as a first grade teacher? Clark and I have also been spending a lot of time at the local recreational center trying to get our bodies lookin good. Not like they weren't already...but you can always use a little work right?
Anywho...I'll get on explaining these pictures. I feel like they were taken an eternity ago, probably because they were. I had my bridal shower a couple of months ago. Sweet Noellie threw it for me and the Clark's were sweet enough to host it in their home. When we got in Brother Clark made us some yummy hot cocoa that we could dip some butter cookies in. Then we had sandwhiches and in true Noelle fashion...costco hot dogs. Way to tie in my life to my bridal shower. They were a true hit. We also nibbled on some fruit...my fave. Everyone was given a candy bar and they had to give me advice or tell a story about me that included that word in it. I got some really good advice that I should always remember and some truly hilarious stories told about me. Everyone was super creative.
I love all of these beautiful women. My life would not be as beautiful without them.

This is all you are gonna see of me in lingerie...it is for Clark's eyes only. So sorry.

And oh do I look good in this little number ;)

This is the woman that started it all. I am so glad that I got to know her so well growing up when I used to babysit her kids almost every Friday night. If I hadn't, she wouldn't have known how well Clark and I would get along and I wouldn't be married to my sweet hubby right now. Thank you Lisa, I am eternally grateful!

It is a tradition in our little group of friends that the maid of honor makes a lingerie cake for the bridal shower. I must say Noelle did a stupendous job. I'm sorry Ash that yours wasn't quite so elaborate.

These are all the wonderful women that could make it to my shower. I love them all and am so grateful for the great things they have taught me and how much fun I was able to have with all of them. Thanks for making my shower such great fun!

So since we got married two days after Christmas, our engagement was spent with Christmas decorations all around. It had its ups and downs. I love Christmas lights and wish they could be up all year long, and it was super romantic. I only wish that I could have enjoyed them a little more. It didn't really seem like Christmas time because I spent all of the time leading up to Christmas planning a wedding. And Christmas wasn't all that exciting this year because I was still anxious for two days later. Now I am really looking forward to Christmas this next year because I will really be able to enjoy it. I am also looking forward to seeing my family next year, because I felt like I didn't get to spend enough time with them.

Oh and here is a picture from the "ring engagement." Since Clark proposed sort of spur of the moment, he didn't have a ring. I had to wait quite a while for that rock, but oh it was so worth it when it came. Clark sent me on a secret mission to uncover the item Nexus. His friends were all dressed up like secret agents and they drove me around to lots of the important places in our relationship to discover clues. Finally I got to the Canyon Bldg in Azusa and Clark proposed with the ring overlooking a reservoir with the sunset as a back drop. It was oh so romantic...he even had candles. Oh how I love him and am so grateful that we are eternally sealed!!!

I'll be back with more tomorrow.

Engagement Pics

Anyone that has been engaged and planned a wedding knows how stressful this time can be. I am no exception. I don't remember the last time I was this stressed. But there are those sweet moments when you can step back and enjoy. One of these moments I would like to share with all of you. Taking engagement pictures was so surreal, but I loved it. I'm kinda vain that way. I love looking at these pictures. They are so sweet to me. I can see the love. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do.

Oh Happy Day!!

I'M ENGAGED!!!!! Crazy I know! Who would have thunk it? This is my future husband, Clark Varner and myself...

So here's the story...I moved to California and had some fun times. Sister Tanuvasa showed up at my door one day and told me that I should go to Institute in Glendora. "Of course," I say, "That I will do." She also informs me that there is this gentleman that she would like me to meet whose name is Clark. When I heard he was half hawaiian, I was so excited. That same day, Bishop Tanuvasa calls and asks me to be on the Institute Council. It just so happens that Clark is the president of that Institute Council. I met him the first day at Institute. We hung out that night and that weekend. He asked me out the next week and we have been dating ever since. It wasn't love at first site...it took us a while before we let ourselves feel the love, but once we did...we knew it was right.

Well, this last Wednesday I asked him, "So if we were to get married, when would that be?" (Thanks Dr. Barlow). He said he would probably propose around November or December. Well we continued to talk about our future and how much we love each other. Then he walked me out to my car and got this look on his face. I knew what he was thinking, but didn't think he would have the guts. He then asked me what I would say if he asked me to marry him. (He totally worked the system) Of course I told him that I would say yes. So he got down on his knee, I looked up and saw a shooting star (so cool) and he said that even though it hasn't been long, it feels so right and he loves me and asked if I would marry him for eternity. I said "YES!"

We weren't going to tell anyone until Sunday when we talked to my family, but that didn't happen because when I got home, my mom was on the couch and I couldn't help but tell her. And I called Noelle, Emily and Cindy. I made sure Ashley knew that she should be pregnant, but she's not.

Funniest thing was when I walked into Institute the next day. All I saw were faces with wide open mouths staring at me. Apparently Clark couldn't keep the secret either. Bishop Tanuvasa made the announcement to the entire Institute then. The secrets out!

I am so excited to be sealed to my love for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple on December 27, 2008. He is such an amazing guy and I love him with all my heart. YAY!

Please Accept My Sincerest Apology

You must excuse my absence from my blog. I know I have not been keeping you all entertained, which I'm sure is my job in life. I am the entertainer. But you see, I have been quite busy traveling the world. I have been on many adventures this summer. One of which was to Italy. Dre was laid off from U.S. Airways and was given 90 days free travel. She came home on a Friday night and said..."where do you wanna go?" I said, "Italy." We left that Tuesday. With the help of Lonely Planet, we planned a fantastic trip to Rome, Florence, Pisa, and Venice. Oh how wonderful it was. Here are some of my pictures from Rome. The Fall Of Rome
Cool Coluseum...
Giolitti's Gelato....so divine, I want to eat it all the time
This was for Noelle
Just chillin on some columns from ancient Rome

The Roman Forum



Vatican City...it was hot and crowded and I hadn't slept for over 24 hours...not the greatest part of my trip, but something I had to do.

Where's Michelle....can you find Michelle in this picture?
Where's Andrea? She's hiding in there somewhere...I promise.
Good ol' Trevi Fountain. So pretty and I made a wish!
I took one of the illegal pictures in the Sistine Chapel of Michelangelo's ceiling artwork. I love it! It's kinda dark, but you can see the fingers touching.

I hope to be back on here once again filling you all in on my wonderful and not so boring life. So stay tuned to find out more about my trip to Italy.