Easter 2010

First holiday as the married... well, besides Valentine's Day & St. Patrick's Day...

We celebrated Easter!!

We had a lot of fun coloring our hard boiled EGGS :) We found a kit at Walmart that even gave us some fun sticker faces.... oh we're so going to do this every year.

The above were David's eggs he did... Below are mine. When there's only 2 people, we could die 12 eggs! Wow....What a fun holiday! Besides the eggs we visited family and that sort of stuff but this was the best part for me....

Last Christmas Alone

**Disclaimer: I mention a FEW times in here that Christmas might not have been the best... It's only cuz I'm engaged and I hated being away from the love of my life... It doesn't have reflection on those I love in AZ. But I will say, for those of you planning to take vacations alone while newly engaged or married, or even years later - I didn't like it -and hope to never do that one again :)

CHRISTMAS 2009

....

So, I went home to AZ for 5 whole days to spend half and half as normal... All the family got together and we had a few meals, Christmas presents, shopping, and the usual hustle and bustle. The only thing missing for me... David! I planned my trip before we were engaged and decided I could survive for 5 days. And that's what I did - survived barely. (No dramatization at all...) Thank goodness for SKYPE and technology. David was back in UT with his family, but we still could chat.
I flew in with Grandma, who did awesome on the trip down. Then Dad & I did some last minute shopping since I only had 1 day, and I got it all done in like 2 hours (totally had planned what I was getting). Then we looked for stuff for Diane and by that afternoon I was tired and done. I headed to Moms where I spent the last few hours with her and Eric and we watched Elf. Awe. Mom was in the hospital a few days before I got there (she's okay now) but so we had a few things to run and do that night as well. That morning Amanda came over and we all opened presents (below).
And then that afternoon I rode with Eric & Amanda to Dads where we had an International Dinner where everyone provided something for dinner from another country, and we opened presents. It was an 8 hour family event...but I didn't get too many great pics...
The rest of the weekend I skped with David, shopped with mom, watched movies, went to 2 churches and showed off my ring, had Sunday dinner at Dads, and just waited to go back to the freezing cold and umm...this guy...

Thanksgiving 09

Happy Thanksgiving!! It was our first true holiday as the newly engaged couple :) And the first time splitting our time with each family. We went to my Uncle Richard's house at noon. We played games and stuffed ourselves. And my mom was in town so that was nice!

Next up was David's parents house... but I didn't get too many pictures - just one with Sam, the first nephew. They're too cute huh? David was good to still be hungry 1.5 hours after our first meal - I ate too but definitely couldn't pack in as much as he did. We played with his siblings - usually we do Nintendo and air hockey... And then headed out for the evening. That night we met up with Steph and Co. and went to see a movie. David & I stayed up a bit longer enjoying time together on the holiday. I didn't get too much rest before heading to Black Friday with Steph & Mom. I didn't do too much shopping either. I was surprised that I showed up to go out with them at like 6ish and they weren't ready for another hour at least. But we still found some good deals. We also took a road trip later on to visit Ogden relatives. And then the rest of the weekend was devoted to STUDY. I had my PHR test the next week (which you already know I passed... !) But I was pretty nervous, so instead of getting lots of R&R - D & I studied. But since he was sitting next to me, I was a happy studier.

Not yet...

So... It's not Christmas YET...........but SOON!!!

I saw this picture and I just HAD to post it :) !! Really, I would totally do this if I had a real house and cool neighbors that I would never be able to beat at decorations. It's so funny to me!! (The title of the e-mail going around said "Money Saving Christmas Idea" :P )

In other news... here are the updates so far:

• I went to AZ this past weekend!! It was an awesome 48 hour trip - I'll have to post some pics soon when I can get a few minutes.
• I have 2 WEEKS until I take the PHR Certification test. YIKES!!! I just took a test at my study class and didn't pass....yet. So, I've got LOTS of studying to do. I'm thinking positively, but if I don't get it, I can try again in May. BUT, for now I'm going to try and study at every down moment possible.
• It's getting COLD, but it's good - the Holidays are among us.
• Work has been very hectic with problems with payroll commission stuff, a few layoffs today that killed me, gift card problems that are never ending, etc etc etc. I could write about all that jazz forever too. But instead I should be working, so I will.

Happy Christmas!! Okay, not yet. NOT YET... but SOON!!! Happy November and week before Thanksgiving. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas :)

BOO!!!

Halloween weekend was one of the BEST weekends!!! Really. Maybe I can't even explain it, but I had a lot of fun and spent time with those I love and care about, so how couldn't it be good?

First, at work on Friday the 3oth, we had our HAlloWeEn Party.... We've been planning it for about a month with a few co-workers who wanted to help. I had been excited about this party and planning it - but after the first meeting - I had other thoughts... You see, here at my work we have the kids come in to do trick-or-treating and movies, popcorn, etc. At any job I've ever been at - employees pay for these extra parties on their own. Everyone brings food, costumes, candy etc and we party together. BUT no, here there's some "entitlement" that our employees think they should be getting everything for free - and they'll still probably complain. (Yes, they did...) Anyway, so we had to be creative and think of ways to have a party with a smaller budget. This created a lot of disagreements in our meetings and many who were bitter to plan the party knowing the employees had this entitlement feeling. Well, finally the meetings are over and the party was successful enough for me!! The good part was that my 2 other co-workers and I decided to be the "Hocus Pocus" witches. We didn't turn out like them after all we did, but it was fun. We even decorated our own hats and everything! Aren't we cute?? Pretty dang hot.These are our execs.... David came to the party - which was great to have a friend there. We played Foosball - I lost of course...but I loved it. (one of my favorite games). We left the party while it was still going (which meant I cleaned it up on Monday...hopefully no one cared too much) and David and I headed to SLC to help his mom with a school carnival. It was great because we both were volunteers but I spent the whole time with David, so I was happy. There were 100's of kids and we were running candy to every station. I was pretty partied out afterwards. BUT, we headed to an Institute Dance to donate some left over corn dogs and then dance a bit.

Saturday was actually Halloween, but I didn't dress up again. Sadly... I was done with the hat. I think I need to think about stuff I'll be wearing all day and be more practical. Next year - jeans???!! :) We went to a ward party and then dragged my friends with us to another Institute Dance (at the U...yikes...). Look how cute they are!!! Shayla is BOO - I loved it. I love that movie!!! She went to the dance like that and I danced with Mike Wizowski... Worn out again, but then we all went and watched Edward Scizzorhands...
Okay I know that was a bit in-depth, but the weekend was just good and even Sunday was great too...and all this week basically. It's been wonderful. I can't believe it's November now. Christmas is well on it's way - although I'm not allowed to listen to Christmas music yet. Which is okay I guess. It's been warmer this week (since last week it was SNOWING...days before Halloween) and I'm happy. Next week - probably snow again. And then... Christmas music... right? Totally...



Oh, PS - this was me last year... Without the wig though... I gotta get rid of wig/hat costumes...

Pumpkins

Ever since it turned "chilly"... I started saying that I wanted to go pick pumpkins!! So, it happened, yay!! David and I went with his family to pick out some good looking pumpkins in a muddy field. I still need to clean my shoes a bit from that...here's us with the pumpkins and a few of David's siblings. He's second of 9 kids...wow! They are all so cute.

After the picking, we then carved them later that weekend before Halloween. Everyone had a pumpkin, and even David's 6 year old brother had a knife and was doing some carving. Okay, so when I first get the top off my pumpkin, I hesitate a bit. I'm kind of an OCD person and the thought of sticking my hand into the seeds and goop looks a bit atrocious. BUT, I brave it and stick my hands in there...and realize - I sort of like this goopy stuff!!! What???!!??!! Yeah, I know. After running my hands around and grabbing the slime and seeds that I can, I then grab a spoon. The OCD kicks in and I'm back in the pumpkin slimy hands and all - deciding that I can probably get all the slime out of my pumpkin so that he's just as squeaky clean on the inside as the outside. I think I had pretty good success this year. So - that's my FAVORITE part of pumpkin carving - at least this is what I decided this year. After that was done - I realized I didn't have a design for my pumpkin face. I tend to do the normal pumpkin face, someday maybe I'll be more creative, but I'd rather take other's ideas and carve something cool. Not sure why, but my creativity side doesn't come out during the carving I guess. Oh well. This year I was surrounded by LOTS of cool carved pumpkins, or carvers...and I was stumped. Luckily - I had David next to me, and he gave me my idea. He's got some good creativity. I mean, you'll have to see his pumpkin - below. Mine was 3 circles, and it was great. His was like a work of art, but he was quick about it. Wow huh?!

BOO!!!

Over

Just FYI - The boy is GONE. Its over. Maybe I jinxed it by posting about it huh?

No worries, back to shopping again... Actually I did go shopping with Megan Cannon Williams and it was a BLAST. I think shopping cures the heartache sometimes? Or at least lessens it since now I feel extra-gorgeous in my new clothes. Honestly though, the heartache hasn't happened yet. Or maybe it has, and it was just so small or earlier on since I knew it was ending. Or maybe it just wasn't right. Probably. And that's why I feel okay about it. A bit "alone" again, but heck, life is wonderful.

I'll find something else to post about soon...cuz let me tell you, soon life will be busy. I only have SO MUCH summer left. I am already trying to prepare myself for the cold, don't worry, its not here yet, but it will be and I will be in denial. I need to find a good part of it. Christmas. YES! Okay, but for the rest of the summer I am planning on a few more things still...and wishing on a few that haven't been planned yet but hope to soon:

- Boating - with my ward for sure, in AZ for sure, and then maybe with the Cannons and Speirs

- Lagoon - I totally want to although it won't live up to the others I've done this year

- CALI - Not sure how or when I'd get here, but maybe when it gets chillier I will go and play at the beach if I can't do it now

- Keith Urban - totally getting tickets like, today.

- AZ - to see Briand's baby once it comes...can't believe 9 months is coming to a close

Okay, that is just a bit of what I haven't done yet. I will have to forgo the white water rafting, the ski dos, and Hawaii (wasn't in the plans, but sure is a dream)... At least I did Park City and a few other trips to the East, camping, swimming, and Fireworks already. Fireworks are one of my FAVORITE things. Seriously. I went to several in July. And my new favorite is being up-as-close-as-you-can. I can see them being shot off. My body shakes because it's so loud. And it's just fun to be with the crowd. I will do this always! Katie, David, and I had the best time on July 24th...

I'm 25!!

YIKES!!! 25???!!!???

Okay, I'm not OLD at all.

I know. But I'm a 1/4th of the way from dying. At least I hope I live to 100. So, here's a re-cap from my day yesterday. Thanks again to everyone who helped me feel SO LOVED.

- WORK. Till 4 when Jayne told me to go home :)
- At work they decorated my cube, I did catch them (today is my boss's b-day and I snuck in early and decorated her office window and put up balloons, that was even more fun!)
- TEXTS. I got a bunch from family and friends.
- One person, texted me every hour yesterday, and sent me one today too...haha
- Facebook. I'm not really good at that anymore, but people still wrote me.
- Calls. Yes, I love those too - although since I was working and out it was hard to answer a lot of them.
- Lunch. I had lunch with my favorite Steph at the Training Table.
- Baskin Robbins. Mom bought me a couple pints so I went and picked them out and took them home... YUMMY!!
- Eric called, and Briand called - one of the many highlights of the evening :)
- Date with Chris.... more below
- My Apartment got decorated while I was gone... it was everywhere, as you will see also

Chris took me to the Garden Restaurant on top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and we could see the SLC Temple and the city down below. He didn't even know that that was one of my favorite places - I even wouldn't have thought of it, but I surely LOVED it. Then we decided it was cooling down so we could take a walk to the Conference Center and get a tour of the roof. So, we had our own private tour with a lady who took us around and told us many cool stories. And I even convinced Chris to take a picture... he hates that, but since it was my birthday I figured he'd do anything right? Yep. But I only got him to take one other one that night. I should have really milked it for all I could get... oh well. Here we are on top of the roof with a view of the temple:
Then we headed to Bountiful. I should have stopped at Grandma's, but it was Chris who was planning, so I didn't say hi. But we went and walked around the Bountiful temple and just watched the sun set. Yeah, it seems pretty romantic writing this, and he did a great job and making me feel all special. Thanks Chris!! But, we are barely dating, if that, so it wasn't mushy or anything - no one start getting ideas. I don't know that this will go anywhere, so why put on my blog huh? Oh well, just don't ask me too much please cuz I freak out about dating... This blog will be more for me anyway someday. Anyway, i LOVE the SLC sunsets. They have so many gorgeous colors. A lot like the flowers Chris got me, see?
And here's what we came home to - my cutely decorated, or trashed, however you think, apartment. I love girls!! It was the sweetest thing. I've missed my old roommates and friends, so it was something I truly needed and I felt loved. Thanks Shayla and Katie. Awe!!
(Even in the shower...I didn't find that till I got ready to hop in...)

And they even got my car...totally embarrassing driving to work!! :) What a great day!! The celebrations will continue ALL WEEK, and maybe longer. Come celebrate with me if you want!! The party's here....

Shorty - It's your Birthday

Go Shorty, It’s your birthday, We gon’ party like it’s yo birthday,

Thanks to 50 cent!! This is a song, in case people didn't know. Instead of the famous primary songs, this song always enters my head when I hear "birthday" !!! Anyway...

I'M 25 TODAY!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Here's me as a child... I'm so dang cute huh? I tried to find one of just me as a little baby, but I'm not in AZ so that's not easily accesible.

Anyway I was born on a beautiful day - July 22, 1984. At 5:30 PM. 5 lbs 11 oz - such a small little cute thing!!

And today has been WONDERFUL so far. And really, all I've done is W O R K E D. Ha. But, I woke up to little sticky notes of "happy birthday" all over the apartment from my new roommate. Then I got to work and they were in the process of putting streamers up at my cube and had candy and pasteries set up for everyone. And then Steph and I went to lunch just the two of us at Training Table and had fun telling stories... And now, I'm sitting here, continually getting texts and facebook notes that show me how much people really do care. I didn't even think more than 5-10 people knew it was my birthday, so it was a shocker to see otherwise. One girl from my ward has texted me about every hour to say Happy Birthday - thanks Shayla! She's great. And now I'll I've got to do is stop by Baskin Robbins and pick up some ice cream my mom ordered for me, then head home and see what is planned for the evening. I'm not incharge of it - but it will be great no matter what. Date with a boy, Chris - fun fun.

Here are some fun exciting events from my life that I just wanted to review in picture, I can't believe I'm so OLD!! Joking! I've done SO MUCH already. And now I can get my car insurance lowered and rent cars for cheap. SWEET.
Okay - I didn't find too many cool pics. Oh well...guess I better go and enjoy this day rather than blog about it huh? Yeah. Sweet! Happy B-day AND!!!