Part 2 of what I love about Robin

11. As I mentioned before, Robin has a thing for crying. But she also loves to try to catch me with a tear in my eye. During the sealing of her brothers I don't think she heard half of the ceremony because she was watching me. She loves men who are in touch with their emotions. I had to give a talk in the Spanish branch a few weeks ago and Robin came to lend her support. I got emotional during a story I related, but Robin, since she had no idea what I was talking about, assumed that I was talking about her the whole time. She was doubly excited. I was crying, AND I was probably giving her compliments in the process. In retrospect, I never should have told her it wasn't about her. Sometimes I just stare into the fan or the wind without blinking just to make my eyes water and then I tell her that I am crying about something sentimental. It almost works sometimes.

12. Robin claims that she is very frugal. I always argue she could be more frugal, but in reality, for a girl from Newport Beach, she does better than I give her credit for. She splurges on cheap candy, and gum, but rarely buys clothes or shoes. The one thing she doesn't mind spending money on is vacation. Our one year anniversary is next month (wow!) and I told her that this year we have to do something low-key since we are trying to save money for a house in expensive SoCal, with that said, the other night I catch her on the computer looking at cruises...the antithesis of low key. I love that my girl is what I call California frugal.

13. During the time I lived in Provo I probably got a massage at the local massage school about 20 times, so I know a good massage when I feel it, and I have never had a better massage than from Robin. Enough said.

14. I love (to laugh at) Robin's dancing. She has the weirdest moves I have seen anyone do, especially when she gets together with her brother Redge. But she also has some dance moves that make me cringe, especially when she does them in public. I tell her they are good birth control. Every time I laugh at her dancing, she says in her defense, “I know how to dance, I was a cheerleader”. She has yet to show me any of those cheerleading dances, but I don’t doubt that she has the skills.

15. Robin has a weak spot in her heart for certain items that she just can't pass up, especially when they are on sale. Gum, any type of candy, lotions, hair products and face creams, just to mention a few. I love it because when they are on sale, she stocks up and in the process, saves us money. Some of the gum does taste like something I would have chewed while watching that robot girl on Small Wonder, though. But you can always count on Robin to have a good supply of gum and candy or if you ever run out of toothpaste, you know who to call.

16. I love how much Robin loves nature. She is in love with trees, flowers, and beautiful landscapes. I was so excited for her to see Arkansas in the spring because it is beautiful and it didn't disappoint. She loved it. She once told me that she hates it when people make the comment, "It is a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky", because she thinks clouds are one of God’s greatest creations. I happen to agree, even though I generally make the above comment about 4 times a month just to hear her reaction.

17. I love watching scary movies with Robin because she makes me feel like a such a man! She always gets so scared and wants me to comfort and protect her. But she covers her face for most of the movie and wants me to give her a play by play of what is happening. That part I don’t like.

18. Robin is a good conversationalist. She can converse with anyone about anything. One thing that I think is hilarious is when she tries to complete other people’s thoughts or sentences before they say them. Usually she is pretty close, but sometimes she is way off, which is even more hilarious.

19. Robin has great oral hygiene, probably from having a dental hygienist as a mother. One of the first memories I have of Robin’s mom is going to their house and seeing her mom with the family dog on her lap and she was going to town on the poor dog’s teeth. Robin flosses daily, and will do it anywhere. I don’t always like seeing used specks of food flying from her mouth when I am trying to enjoy a ham and cheese sandwhich with cheetos, but I give her kudos for always remembering to floss and for always having a fresh kissable mouth.

20. Robin has a good sense of style when she gets dressed up. The best compliment I could give her is that she is so “East Coast” in her dress. She loves being associated with anything East Coast. For some reason, she hates when I call her Hermana when she wears long, cotton skirts, which she does frequently…especially to Sam's Club.

Call me Mrs. Match Maker

A couple years ago I set my brother up. I don't make a habit of setting people up. There's too much pressure for the two parties to like each other, and as I discovered with my brother, you as the match maker become WAY too invested in a relationship that doesn't involve you. So as a novice match maker I set my lovable, fun, and handsome brother up with my dear friend Marci.

Marci and I were serving in the Relief Society Presidency together. I, at the time, just thought that she would be good for Redge and vice versa. She was wildly different from the girls he had always dated. She was mature (older than him), artsy, real, spiritual, and more than anything, calm. Marci was the calm to my crazy in the Presidency and since Redge and I are crazy squared, I thought they might go good together too.

I remember celebrating my birthday in Boston shortly after the set up, and receiving a call from Redge. He said that my birthday present was that he had kissed Marci. I loved the news, but my excitement was short lived. Redge went to Montana for the summer shortly after the kiss, and upon mutual agreement, they dated other people. Both were in relationships months later and I hated it. I decided to butt out. To stop caring so much about their union. I even played it cool when they got back together roughly 9 months later. I tried not to care. I tried to have the position of, "How nice." Plus, I had my own relationship in which to invest myself.

Well, I have to admit that I was quite ecstatic on August 21st. You see, my lovable, fun, and handsome brother married my mature, artsy, real, calm, and spiritual friend. Their sealing was wonderful. Their reception was everything Marci: creative, unique, and beautiful.

And as I post these pictures, I pat myself on the back a little. Maybe I was spiritually guided to set them up. Maybe they would have dated without my set up. Maybe not. But I have to say that my match maker track record is excellent...perfect actually.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Bendheim!!!





And now a glimpse at the reception decorations.

Southern Manners...

As long as I'll live in the south, I don't think I'll ever get used to older men and women, even the elderly calling me Ma'am.


It's a very respectful title. I love it. I'm just always thrown when being called it.


"No, Ma'am." "Thank you Ma'am." "Ma'am, You have a good night." "Excuse me Ma'am." "Where might I find the napkins Ma'am." "Yes, Ma'am." The "Yes, Ma'am" phrase is said to me hundreds of times a week by our customers.

Can you just picture a cute grandma saying, "I don't need a receipt Ma'am" to me her junior. It seems so backwards from a California girl who has always been called "dear" by cute grandmas.

I'm not complaining though - I love me a good dose of southern manners.

The Wedding Day - The Happily Ever After

I had the best time at the temple, at the reception, on my wedding day. It's been nine months! since that wonderful day and looking back, it went exactly the way I wanted it to and I wouldn't have changed one minute of it. I have no "would a-could a-should a" thoughts. This is all a reflection of my mother's dedication to detail, my overwhelming love for Cody, and the people who supported us on that day.

I won't lie and say I wasn't tired and ready to leave when the time came for our send off, but I was sad to say good-bye to my family and friends who had traveled into town for my wedding. I've mentioned before, but I was completely overcome with emotion on my car ride to our hotel that night. I just felt so loved and grateful for the good people in my life, sadness/guilt for not being about to spend more individual time with those who travelled from afar, and spiritually blessed because of our sealing experience in the temple. Yes, I know what some of you are thinking too, and it's true, that some of those tears might have a twinge to do with some apprehension for the ensuing events later that night.

Our send off went well. The cones tossed the rose pedals and feathers well. Cody and I drove my dad's car to the hotel and the windows were so foggy we couldn't see where we were driving for the first seconds of our send off. Cody picked out my send off dress when I showed him three I had purchased. He thought I looked sexy in it, which is so funny to me. I look at these pictures and don't see anything seductive or sensual in them whatsoever. Men.



(the above photo has a good hair shot...compliments of Brooke Davis designs)


My anniversary is closer than my wedding date, which is crazy. I can't believe how time flies and yet how comfortable and secure I feel with Cody. It's like we've been together for a long, long time, and I feel so blessed to be living my "happily ever after."

The Wedding Day - Reception Festivities

My wedding posts are coming to an end. I'll document these reception festivities and save the send off for my last wedding post (I know you've been craving a post not wedding related...but my brother is getting married on August 21st so you'll get one on his wedding...ha...but mine will be done). Do I hear cheers from the gallery? Shush.

We'll start with Cody and my first dance. We danced to "At Last" by Ella Fitzgerald, which is, by the way, the LONGEST SONG ever. Cody and I loved dancing together...but felt bad for picking such a long song.



My father/daughter song was "Rockin' Robin" - bird theme remember? - and an upbeat song. I didn't want to dance to a slow "tender" song because my dad and I are all about fun. Cody and Connie danced too.



The bouquet toss was caught by two of my friends, Ali and Frances. I've never been too keen on the tradition. I've always been less than enthused to fight over used, and supposed "lucky" flowers. But this time I was the one throwing the flowers, and for that I was thrilled!




The garter toss was caught by my brother Redge whose wedding I will attend on August 21st. Maybe garters really are lucky. Look at Redge's smile - it's like he knew the garter meant something for him and Marci.





Derek and Brooke did an amazing job on their toasts. They weren't too long or too quick. They were heartfelt and honest, the way it should be.





And the entertainment: dancing and a photo booth. The photo booth really was the hit of the night. My nephew, Carter, must have gone in that booth a bazillion times. The company who brought the booth also brought props and people went nuts. Here are just a sample of the hundreds we have. And the band was great, we had the same band my sister did at her wedding.


























And Cody and I made it into the booth together: