The End of the World...

We got an interesting phone call tonight at work.  We often get calls like this...actually, we get calls like this every single day.

Here's what happened tonight.

Samantha (producer): Good evening, 8News.

Woman on phone: Hi, I keep seeing these billboards that say the world is going to end Saturday. 

Samantha: Yes...

Woman: Well, is it true?  Is the world really going to end?

Samantha:  Uh...well, we can't say if it's going to end or not but that's what some people believe.

Woman: Well, my son is really concerned the world is going to end on Saturday and we want to be ready.  Can you please tell me if the world is ending?

Samantha: If I were you, I wouldn't worry about it.

Woman: Okay.  Thank you.  Goodbye.

Honeymoon!

After saying goodbye to our family and friends, Erica and I check into The Little America in Salt Lake.  

 Our superior king room is on the 12th floor and we're greeted with a bottle of non-alcoholic peach champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, and a cool engraved honeymoon key.

     

We have a great view of the city and the Bees baseball team celebrates our marriage with fireworks!

SUNDAY
We wake up and try to pack our clothes, wedding gifts, and a giant quilt my mom's relief society made for us into four bags.  Fortunately we're flying Southwest so we check all our bags for free!


After a short flight to Los Angeles, we get our rental car (we're on our honeymoon so they upgrade us for free) and drive to Burbank...where we spend the week in this beautiful hotel.

We don't have anything planned Sunday night so we explore Burbank and stop for supper at Boston Market.  Nothing says Easter dinner like turkey and chicken in a box!


Because we have to wake up early, we head back to the hotel and watch The Amazing Race...then call it a night.


MONDAY





 Our alarm clock rings around 4.30am.  We have to be at the CBS studios by 6am to get our tickets for The Price is Right.  We put on our amazing shirts and hit the road.

Fortunately the studios are less than 10 minutes away.  There's a long line but we get our tickets fairly quick.  We are told to be back at the studios at 8.30am...so immediately go to Jamba Juice.  After getting our wonderful smoothies, we head back to CBS...where we check in.


We are led through security into a holding area.  A staff member puts on our nametags...another worker takes everybody's picture.


After waiting about two hours, we are led in groups of 15 to meet with the producer of the show.  He spends less than 30 seconds interviewing each and every audience member.  Behind him are three people taking notes.  This is how they decide who will be contestants on the show.


Our group is called and the producer starts to talk one-on-one with everyone.  When he gets to Erica, he asks her what she does for a living.  She replies, "Nothing.  I quit my job so I could marry him and we could come on our honeymoon!"  The producer loves her answer and asks to see her ring.  He then asks me what I do.  I tell him and show him the back of our shirts...which say, "Newlyweds.  Broke.  Will bid for furniture."


With that we're led away but as we leave, the lady next to us says, "You guys are going to get on.  They were writing the entire time you were talking."


Eventually we're taken into the studio where party music is playing.  There's several people on stage watching the audience and taking notes - they look to see who's dancing, who's sitting, who's having fun, etc.  They want fun - not insane.  You could tell some people were trying too hard to put on a show.


The announcer comes out and talks with the audience...then, before we know it, the show starts and out walks Drew Carey!


The guy sitting next to us gets called and I instantly think we won't get chosen because why would they choose two people on the same row?  


It comes time for the second to last contestant to get called and suddenly we hear, "Nathaniel Eaton, come on down!  You're the next contestant on The Price is Right!"  I'm not sure if I hear my name right but I look on stage and they're holding a big sign that says NATHANIEL EATON (that I later take home with me).

I freak out and run down...only to overbid on a television by $50.  The next prize was a telescope (who buys telescopes?) and I was waaaaaaay under...so I never made it on stage.  However, I did win a year supply of coffee (which I don't drink) and some crazy headphones you can wear when you watch TV.  We end up forfeiting the prizes so we won't have to pay the taxes.


We have a great time even though we don't make it on stage.  It's something we definitely want to do again!


After we finish the show, we're starving...so we eat lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.  We are so exhausted from the excitement of the day and waking up early that we head back to the hotel and relax.


TUESDAY
We sleep great and decide to eat breakfast at a place Erica spotted across the street from our hotel.  It's called BeaBea's...and it's DELICIOUS!  We end up eating there three times on our honeymoon because it's so good!  

                                                                  

Erica orders fresh fruit cream cheese french toast and I get the turkey club sandwich.  We finish our amazing meals and head off the happiest place on earth - DISNEYLAND!

 We spend the morning at Disneyland California.  We're given a badge that says, "JUST MARRIED."  Of course every employee in the park (and many other people) congratulate us.

We go on a few rides, tour the tortilla factory and sour dough bakery (where we receive free samples), and hop on the Ferris wheel...where we record a special message for you!

After a few hours at the California park, we head over to the "real" Disneyland.  Here we go on more rides (including the Toy Story faceoff...guess who won?), eat at a nice restaurant, and watch a 3D preview of the new "Pirates of the Carribean."

We plan to stay for the new "World of Color" light/fireworks/water show but are so exhausted that we go back to the hotel around 9.30pm.


WEDNESDAY
We are supposed to attend a taping of the Ellen Degeneres talk show but get a call saying the show is cancelled for the day.  They tell us they'd be happy to reschedule us for another show in May.  We explain we're on our honeymoon and ask if they can fit us in another day this week...they say no.

With no set plans, we eat breakfast at Beabea's and decide to go shop at some factory outlet stores.  Erica scores some new clothes...I score a Subway cookie.

The weather is hot so we go back to the hotel and play a game of Scrabble...then head to Hollywood Boulevard for dinner.  

We end up at the California Pizza Kitchen...where the server gives us free dessert because we're on our honeymoon.


We explore the boulevard for a few minutes...then call it a night.


THURSDAY
I wake up and the first thing on my mind is, "I'd really like to eat at Sizzler."  We had seen a Sizzler commercial the night before and because the restaurant isn't in Virginia, I really want to have a steak, cheese toast, and all-you-can-eat salad bar!


Erica isn't sold on the idea but after begging her to give it a try, we hop in the car and are on our way.  We get to Sizzler a few minutes before it opens so we wait until they let us in.


I immediately have a feeling that this isn't going to be a good meal...but don't want to say anything because I've just spent all morning convincing Erica to give it a try.  We both order steaks and start to build our salad.


The food arrives and it tastes...well...awful.  The steak is extremely salty, the salad tastes old, the fries are soggy.  We eat a few bites and for the first time in our married life, I say, "Honey, you were right...I was wrong."


We leave the restaurant and drive to Universal Studios.  We both aren't feeling very well but we spot a Jamba Juice right outside the park so we buy a smoothie to soothe our stomachs.  It tastes great!

Universal is a great time.  We spend the majority of the day going to live shows.  The highlight of the visit is the backlot studio tour...where we see the world's largest 3D film while riding on a tram.  Truly amazing.

As we are about to leave, we decide to go on the Simpson's ride.  We have no idea what type of ride it is but quickly learn it's a simulated roller coaster.  Erica doesn't do well on roller coasters and with her recent back surgery it's not wise for her to be thrown around.  We go on the ride anyway and it turns out to be the wildest ride of our whole trip.


We decide we want to have a romantic date night the last night of our honeymoon so we go back to the hotel and change into nice clothes.  We're not sure where to eat so we drive to downtown Burbank and walk around a few minutes.  We decide on a Mexican restaurant and order fajitas for two.

Dinner tastes fantastic and we're so dissapointed we don't have a fridge in our room because we have so many leftovers.  We go back to the hotel, start to pack up our stuff, and head to bed.

FRIDAY
We wake up early, watch a little bit of William and Kate's wedding while we pack, then head across the street for one last breakfast at Beabea's.


We fill up the rental car with gas and head to the airport for the long flight home to Richmond.  We are so sad the happiest, best week of our lives is over...but we're excited to get back for our ring ceremony!


COMING UP NEXT: The Virginia Ring Ceremony and Reception!

The Big Day

In case you've been living under a rock, the wedding of the century was held a few weeks ago.  It took months and months of planning.  Thousands of hours were spent booking, ordering, scheduling, detailing, and confirming.  Guests flew in from everywhere.  

Then, on April 23, the royal wedding finally happened.  No, not William and Kate...but Princess Erica and Prince Nate!  

Everyone has been asking how the big day went...so let us tell you!

Erica and I fly into Salt Lake a few days early to finish last minute details...like getting our official marriage license.  

You can tell I'm ready to get this show on the road!








The night before the big day we go to bed early...me at my parent's house, she with her family at a hotel.  Like other almost-married couples, neither of us sleep very well.

Erica's alarm goes off at 4.45 am and for the 
next three and a half hours she undergoes the ultimate makeover.  75 bobby pins (we counted) went into her beautiful hairdo!






Meanwhile, I spend less than 15 minutes getting ready in Brigham City.


Around 8.45 we meet up at the hotel.  I was so excited to see her!

We hop in the car and all drive over to the Salt Lake Temple! 

This is where we will be married!  Not only that, this is where we will be made into a family not just for our life here on earth but for time and all eternity...meaning our love and relationship and good times and future kids and special moments will continue FOREVER.  That's the best wedding gift anyone can receive!


After checking in, we're taken to the bride's and groom's rooms where we change our clothes.  In the temple, everyone is dressed in white.  This not only symbolizes sacredness, purity, and cleanliness, but demonstrates that everyone is equal in God's eyes.

When we finish changing, it's time to meet with the man who will perform our marriage.  His name is Elder David Bednar and he serves in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for our church.  It's uncommon to have an apostle perform your marriage because there's only twelve of them and they're so busy traveling the world teaching the gospel.

I first met Elder Bednar a few years ago when he was president of BYU-Idaho.  I took a class from him and we've kept in touch.  After I proposed to Erica, I called to see if he'd perform our wedding.  His schedule was free and he was kind enough to say, "YES!" 




Elder Bednar meets with us privately for a half hour and then we are taken to a room (like the one below) where we will be married!

As we walk in, it's touching to see so many family members and friends supporting us on our special day.  The room is full of people we love so much...and we know some who have passed away are there with us too.  


Before pronouncing us husband and wife, Elder Bednar teaches us.  Here are a few things he says that touch us most:


-There's not a better time to get married than Easter weekend.  Christ's resurrection brings new life and promises.  Our marriage will too.


-Too many people sacrifice/sell their children for "stuff" (new cars, toys, etc).  Do not sacrifice your children for anything.


-While we are leaving our parents and our families, we don't belong to them any less...but we belong to each other more.


-We have generations of ancestors that have gone before us and generations of children who will follow us.  Don't ever think our decisions only affect us.


Following this counsel, we are pronounced husband and wife!  The ceremony is amazing and we are promised some incredible things.  One of the best parts of the whole day is hearing an apostle of Jesus Christ bear his testimony of Jesus Christ on Easter weekend.  Another great part is hugging each and every person who's sharing our special day!


We leave the room and, within a short time, walk outside and are greeted by everyone waiting for the newest Eaton family!

It's a little chilly but actually feels good.  We spend the next few hours taking photos - first with the group, then with just the two of us.

 Highlight: the folks working at the Lion House bring us out cookies and congratulate us!

Around this time we are STARVING...so we head to the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and have lunch with 100 of our closest friends.

Of course it wouldn't be an Eaton family event without music.  Our nieces and nephews sing "What Makes Life the Sweetest"...

and then Nate's brothers and sisters sing an altered version of "Together at Last."






Our mother's present a slide-show of our lives and then our dad's give touching tributes.


Ben Watson, Nate's best friend, concludes the luncheon with a toast.

  
He gives great advice: Marry the one you love...and love the one you marry.  He also says six of the greatest words that make a marriage work: You were right.  I was wrong.


We say goodbye to everyone, open a few gifts, pack up the car, and head to the Little America...where we will spend our first night as a married couple!

Next post: The Honeymoon!

First post as a MARRIED MAN!

A lot has happened in the past two weeks!  There's so much to catch up on...specifically:

-The AMAZING wedding of Erica and Nate in Salt Lake City.
-The INCREDIBLE honeymoon (Disneyland, Universal Studios, and "The Price is Right."  Did we make it on?  We can't say...but DO NOT MISS the show on Friday, May 13!)
-The SPECTACULAR ring ceremony and reception in Richmond.
-The DISAPPOINTING health update on Erica's back tumor.  You can read more about it on Erica's blog - click here.
-The UTTERLY FANTASTIC new married life of Nate and Erica!

Once we get settled into our new routine, updates, photos, and videos will be posted.  In fact, we may have made a special video blog high atop the Ferris wheel at Disneyland!  I know that will keep you coming back!

Stay tuned...

PS If you can't wait and want to see some pictures, click here and here.