A Great End to Summer

Ahhh...

This was my long deep breath after a ridiculously crazy summer semester. It felt SO good to have it over and have my degree! My sisters and I planned a little trip down to Arizona to visit our parents and see their new home. (Yeah we kind of ditched our hubbies for a week), but we had a blast together. It was like old times :) Mom and Dad were the best hosts ever, they really wanted us to feel comfortable and we were more than comfy!

Some neighbors gave my parents some fresh chiles, so we had homemade chile rellenos. I had never made them before but they were soooo tasty! Here's a shot of the girls in the kitchen...

A nice relaxing day of golf! Kim and I were cart buddies :)

The poor dog! We tried to pull her in the pool so many times and she hated it! We actually got a pic with her in the hot tub. She's so sweet!

The girls with their daddy... need I say more?

Just some pretty ladies!!

Now that I'm home I need to start planning my next trip down to Phoenix!

Is my butt really that big??

So, I basically look like this picture. If anyone hasn't seen me in awhile and can't believe it, maybe you will after I tell you my events of the day...

So I am an intern at The Children's Center which is a really awesome place... but I was extremely embarrassed today! One of the teachers asked me if I could help her out in the hall. When we got out of the door she said, You have a hole in your pants... I just barely noticed it but it's really big. So, I was extremely mortified when I felt my butt that there was a HUGE split in my pants! How fat am I getting?! Anyway, I concocted a safety pin seam so that I could stay for the rest of the hour with the kids. I walked back into class with a clear issue on my backside, but hey the kids don't care and you can't see my butt anymore so I thought it was fine. However, right when I sat down the safety pins split and broke open! So, I was horrified and left the room holding my butt. The teacher brought me my purse and said, "It's okay you can go home". Yeah... that's how big my butt is getting these days! I told my mom and she reassured me that we could go shopping and replace my pants when I go down to visit. What a sweet mother... but that didn't help my ego. I told Jerrick I wasn't eating for a month, and then had some chocolate ice cream to cheer me up. hmmm what's wrong with this picture??

I LOVE Celebrating my Homeland

The fourth of july was really fun this year! We started off the day by meeting my sisters and some aunts and cousins in north ogden. We got some yummy breakfast and watched the cherry days parade. I forgot to bring my camera to the parade, but it was so fun seeing all of the cute little cousins running after the candy! (I'll admit I sent them a few times to get me some salt water taffy.) It was also good to see some of my mom's family! I just don't see them very much. My sister Katy surprised us by bringing her NEW PUPPY! It is a golden retreiver and I am just so jealous. Not only that, but Kim just got a puppy a couple months ago for her birthday. Maybe this means I have to get one for my birthday?? hmm not gonna happen! Anyway, they each had a dog before getting the puppies, and so when we went to Kim's for a bbq after the parade we had these four scoundrels having so much fun together!

I'm amazed that we could even get a picture of them all lined up for even a second! They were so fun though! The puppies are precious!! We had an awesome bbq and celebrated Katy's birthday which is on the 6th. We made a flag cake with strawberries and blueberries for her. It's a family tradition for her birthday! It was fun being able to celebrate with her! Happy Birthday Katy!
Then, we hurried home so Jerrick could make it to work, but he got off early enough that we could use his sister's extra tickets to THE STADIUM OF FIRE! I have never been to this extravaganza but let me tell you it was pretty awesome! I never knew teenage girls could scream so loud until the Jonas Brothers walked out... I seriously had blood on my q tip the next morning! SheDaisy also performed and Glenn Beck was the host, Jerrick's mom was very excited for us, and we were suppossed to tell him that she loved him! We sent the message in spirit! Anyway, I've seen fireworks plenty of times, but there is nothing quite like having them go off in the next set of bleachers from where you are sitting. They were so close and right above our heads. I felt surrounded by them. We got a little bit rained upon by ashes but they were so cool! Thanks Gen and Brenden for the tickets we had so much fun! Here's some pics of us and our neices partying away!

One Year!

June 27, 2009: We made it to the one year mark- yes of marriage :) I had a class all day, but when I got out at 5 the party began! We had just planned to go out to dinner. We went to Market Street Grill... yes I love that restaurant! Yummy fish mmmmm. Anyway, it was really good. We got all dressed up to go because that's all we had planned. However, when we got home our neighbors said, "Wanna go to a Temptations Concert?" So, yeah we went and it was so fun! (Thanks Bennetts!!) 

Here is a pic of the Temptations, one original member! The rest are wannabes but they were still good :)

The concert was at the Sandy Ampitheatre and we got some good shots with the sunset!

mmm yes the traditional wedding cake on the first anniversary! You would think it would be gross but my mother took care of us! On our wedding night she seriously wrapped this thing in 17 layers of seran wrap followed by several tin foil layers. Then, but it in a gallon ice cream container. Believe it or not, this was moist! Chocolate fudge and peanut butter filling, needless to say I loved it! We pawned off a big portion on our neighbors!

Oh yes, and one surprise! We made a quick stop for a few things we needed after the concert and we spontaneously decided to get a fish! The only pets allowed in our apartment... I want a dog so bad but this fish is so fun to have around! It was hard to get a good pic of him, but he is a fiesty little beta! We named him Phoenix... I think it fits he is like a little red dragon! He is the most interactive fish ever! Okay, I know no one really cares about my fish but I have no puppies or children to brag about so give me a break, he's awesome!!

Anyway, the anniversary turned out really special. This past year has definately had it's trials adjusting to married life, but I am so happy to have such a wonderful and supportive husband. I love my life with him! I can't wait to see what this next year and many more will bring us :)

Bye to the Branch :(

Today was a sad day for us. We have to leave the branch and go back to our regular ward for church. I know, that doesn't seem so bad but it is amazing how fast you can get used to a 30 minute sacrament meeting! In all honesty, the past 8 months have been so good for Jerrick and I in our church callings. Getting called to the medical branch is so great because you are serving for 4 hours every Sunday! I'm pretty confident that if the Savior were walking the earth today he would be caring for the sick and afflicted. To stand in place of him and serve the spiritual needs of patients in the hospital has been such a blessing for me. It is such a testimony to see individuals going through so much pain and heartache, yet have an unyielding love and appreciation for the Savior. I grew to love the other members of the branch and I will really miss them! Today there was a little branch breakfast after church. I like to think it was just a good farewell for us :)

Here is a picture of a good part of the group. Those who were still there at the end of the breakfast.

President Smith doing his thing... He was pretty much a professional french toast chef and they were so awesome!

Leah and Mary and me... most of our Relief Society Presidency. I will really miss these awesome ladies! They were so fun for me to work with.

Jerrick and most of the Branch presidency and our High Council Rep. I think working in the presidency really gave us a greater appreciation for the calling. Also, working with the rest of the presidency taught us a lot! I usually enjoy change but this I am a little sad about. We will truly miss everyone but hey... callings await elsewhere and I'm sure we will grow to love those as well.

Summer Break

So, Jerrick and I are both taking classes and working this summer. Not much of a break if you ask me! Therefore, our summer consists basically of this one week vacation between the spring and summer semesters. We went down to Phoenix to spend some quality time with my parents and the sunshine :) Here are some fun pictures from the trip.

We went to Old Scottsdale and mixed right in with the locals...

One night we met up with one of Jerrick's old mission buddies and some of his friends for some good ol fashioned bowling. I love the shoes in the front. PS the girls totally whooped the boys. I have to admit, not on my account! The other two ladies were awesome. When we were clearly winning the boys pretended they weren't trying and goofing off... yeah they couldn't handle the loss! It was fun to see Jared again. One night we also met up with mine and Jerrick's old room mates from Tucson. They happen to be dating now! We must just bring people together! It was so good to see them I miss the good old days in Tucson. I don't have any pictures but they are really awesome people. Love you Paige!!

mmmm... yes those are bacon and cheese flavored CRICKETS!! on the right. The left, hard candy surrounding what was once a scorpion. We didn't buy them to say the least. I'm just not daring enough.

It was so nice to spend a couple nights grilling on the patio and watching the golfers go by. This was burger night and I'm pretty sure my dad outdid himself! I wanted to take a picture so I could remember what he was going to try to get his mouth over! 

So, we basically had a fabulous time and I can't wait to go back down! My parents treat us like royalty they are very giving... says the somewhat spoiled princess :) I love them so much. Hopefully one day we will live closer... can you tell that I love arizona?!

Almost There!

Ahhh... I am not acutally done with my Bachelor's degree until the end of the summer. However, walking in comencement today was great! It makes all the hard work seem worth it and even though I wish it meant I was done, it still is a great reminder that I'm almost there! I feel so loved to have such wonderful family members supporting me today. It was fun considering there were 1400 names to read in the undergrads alone... they have a system down to get you through pretty fast though! We had a great lunch afterward at Market Street Grill yummmmm :) Here's a few pics from today!

My AMAZING parents. I wouldn't have made it without their support. p.s. My Daddy got me the roses :)

Jerrick and the In-laws. They are wonderful! They drove up from St. George and we were so excited to have them with us!

My sisters and best friends! Also my Bro in-law Josh, Katy's hubbie.

My sis in law came with one of her daughters and cute new baby boy! What a woman to bring them just to support me. Kids and a boring ceremony probably don't mix well. She's awesome!

AND last but not least my dad's parents made it. They are the sweetest people in the world and have been so great my whole life. They even let me live with them for three weeks after I moved up here before Jerrick and I got married. I love them so much!

I wish we had a big group picture but I just love everyone so much I had to have a picture of them all... so you get a bunch of pictures!! Okay... now I just have to make it through 20 credits and 30 hr/wk of work this summer. I guess I will plan on relaxing and seeing the sun some other time... BUT people, I can do this!!