1st Apartment- Everett, WA

This is Jeff and I in our 1st Apartment. We lived in a one bedroom apartment in Everett, WA from May 20th to June 27th 2011.

Honeymoon- Cabin Near Mt. Rainier National Park

Dueteronomy 24:5, "When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him. He shall be exempt for one year for the sake of his family, to bring joy to the wife he has married."

Wedding

We were married at the Seattle Temple, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Bellevue, WA on Tuesday, May 17th, 2011.

Jeff's dad, Reid congratulates him on his big day.This is my wonderful sister in-law/Maid of Honor/Mom of the Year Shauntel, and my sweet nieces Abby and Quincy and my awesome nephew Isaac! Abby (my 2yr old niece) followed me around the entire time helping Shauntel hold my dress.This is my adorable new in-laws (Reid and Kathy Bates) with my handsom new hubby.My beautiful Mom and I share a moment of pure joy. My super cool bro, Jason Hart.Kathy and I now have the same name (different spelling). Good thing I go by Kate and she goes by Kathy or it could get confusing. :) In this photo Kathy, myself and Claire In this photo: Kate, Reid, JeffIn this photo (left to right)

Back row: Jason Hart (holding Chloe Hart), Shauntel Hart, Kate Bates,

Jeff Bates, Connie Stevenson, Mike Stevenson, Jeremy Hart

Front row: Quincy Hart, Isaac Hart, Abby HartIn this photo (left to right)

Mike Bates, Reid Bates, Kathy Bates, Kate Bates,

Jeff Bates, Claire Bates, Laura Tolsma, Jeff TolsmaThe Bates's and the Hart's

Wedding Shower

Shauntel and my mom planned such a wonderful wedding shower with games and yummy treats. At the end, Jeff shoved cake right up my nose! So I rubbed cake all over his face. :)

Hiking in New Castle

Jeff and I like to go hiking. This is a really neat trail in New Castle, WA.

The Proposal, February 21st 2011

This was one of the most exciting and surprising days of my life. Jeff planned a hiking trip for us near beautiful Mt. Rainier. We woke up at about 5 am on a Monday morning. It was a gorgeous winter day. We hiked until lunch then we sat under some trees on a log to eat our picnic lunch that Jeff packed for us. We ate Peanut butter sandwiches and some other yummy snacks. We hadn't seen any people or wild life all day until a little mouse joined us for lunch. I was startled while Jeff fed it raisens and bread crumbs. When we were done with our lunch Jeff pulled a fortune cookie from his bag. I said something like, ooh fortune cookies, what does my fortune say? So, I pulled out my fortune cookie and opened the plastic wrapper, then I cracked the cookie open and read my fortune. It said, "You or a close friend will be happily married." (I got this fortune before the 1st time I had ever met his family. Jeff's sister Laura told him it might be a good idea to save it. He did. :) Jeff surgically removed a fortune from another cookie and replaced it with this one!) Jeff said something like what does that mean? I said something like, you are suppose to ask me to marry you! Not expecting what was going to happen next. Jeff pulled a small black box from his pocket and got down on one knee. He said something so amazing and romatic as he as me to marry him. I cried YES! with excitement!