THE BIG ONE!!!

A bit more than a week ago, it was our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!! Hooray!!! I can't believe how quickly time has flown by. I never believed I could love anyone so much or grow as close to someone as I have to Jon. Everyday just seems to get better and better as we learn more about each other. Cheesy, I know, but true. We had both of our parents over for dinner the other night and they asked us what the most surprising thing was about marriage in this first year, and we both answered that everyone told us how incredibly difficult it would be to adjust to one another, to get over the little quirks that we both have, to learn to do things for the other person, and it surprised us how wrong they were, because married life was immediately (and still is) very easy for us. Life with Jon has been amazing...we just seem to fit perfectly! He is incredible in so many ways and I am so wonderfully blessed to be married to the most unselfish, devilishly handsome, sweet, caring, hardworking man! To prove his wonderfulness... Jon surprised me with a weekend getaway to the Zermatt Resort. We got some excellent discounts and they upgraded us to the Honeymoon Suite! It was so fun! The whole weekend was spent in complete relaxation, which was much needed after the long semester and finals.

We got to Zermatt late on Thursday and then Friday we lounged around the resort, ate gelatto (devine), slept in, watched TV (which we don't have and sometimes crave), watched movies...pretty much, it was heaven. Jon also had made some really fun plans to go either hot air ballooning or for a helicopter ride, but they fell through because of the stinky weather. So instead, we went to The Crater. It was pretty sweet. This is a picture from inside the crater, which is actually like 50 ft wide. The water was really warm and Jon and I went snorkling. We watched from above as others below were getting their scuba diving certifications.
The water was so blue it was incredible, and contrary to rumor, the water was really clear and you could see all of the wall formations underwater.

This is us on top of the crater and Zermatt is in the background. Later that evening, we went out to dinner at ClaimJumpers because our favorite restaurant in Seattle was ClaimJumpers. Sadly, Heber ClaimJumpers doesn't quite match up, but we had a really good time and the food was really good. That night, Jon presented me with some really pretty flowers, and a sweet gift certificate for a shopping spree the nest day, and we enjoyed an evening of candy and movies! I gave him a much needed electric razor and a hair clipper kit (and I cut his hair just last week for the first time...I was terrified but it ended up looking okay!) It was a fabulous weekend and a fabulous anniversary!!!

This past weekend was my brother's 17th birthday! I can't believe that Josh is that old. He is the one with the glasses down below. He is currently ranked the #6 best goalie in Utah for lacrosse! Incredible! Anywho...Jon and I decided to put aside other responsibilities to go hang out with my family and we had a great time. My brothers always crack me up and somehow manage to make the oddest comments of all time...they are definitely a generation of TV addicts. Sam is missing from this picture...

This is my dad and my cute grandma who came up for the birthday celebration. My other grandparents were there too and it was so fun to spend time with them.
Unfortunately, we spent too much time and didn't get home until 12:00pm...with the rude realization that both Jon and I had massive amounts of homework...I mean, an eight page paper due by 8 in the morning! It was a LATE night for us both.

So anywho...other than that, the update on life is that Jon and I are pretty much going to be dead this summer. We are trying to work really really hard so that we can save up and get back to Brazil and Ethiopia soon! Jon is working three jobs and going to school full time (he is crazy, but so willing to work hard and sacrifice for us!). I am working two jobs and also going to school full time! I just started waitressing at the Old Spaghetti Factory if anyone wants to come in, please do! I would love a friendly face! To sum up, we will have a very busy summer, but we both feel that it is the right decision and hopefully we can reach our goals. One sad note is that we are being kicked out of our cute, lovely little house. The landlord has decided to sell it to some buyers who want to rent it to their married kids, so we got the boot. Unfortunatley, the house has got me a bit spoiled...it was so nice, so open, so full of light, and SO cheap...I don't think something like that exists south of campus besides our house. Luckily, we got into the newer part of Wymount (you gotta love the "rabbit hutches") for the right time, so I don't think it will be too much of an issue. I just wish we weren't leaving our home, which we have really come to love, and I wish we weren't leaving the ward! We just got called as ward mission leaders and are LOVING the calling. GRRRR to change!
Wow...well this was a novel....hope it makes up for the slacking I have been doing (sorry katie!).

Crutches, School, and Spring...

It has finally arrived! Spring is here!!!!! I am soooo happy. I just had to post these precious flowers from our backyard because I am so pleased they made it through the snow and crazy weather and now they brighten up our backyard and I get to see them through our huge back window everyday! I can't believe how attached I am to our growing green things! Some of our trees almost toppled this week because of the snow's weight, but they survived (we did have one tree crash down in the middle of the night and hit our bedroom window, but all is well) and are now budding and growing bright green leaves. Oh hooray.


On top of the wonderful spring weather, school is almost over! YES! I only have one more final and Jon has two left. We cannot wait for this week to be over! Our anniversary is also next week and Jon has some kind of sneaky plans going on. All he will mention is that he has rented a U-haul, code-phrase for he has reserved something. Not quite sure what to expect, but I can't wait for a good relaxing weekend.
On some not so good news, I tore the ligaments in my ankle 2 weeks ago playing soccer and have been recovering from that. As I quickly learned (and people have told me over and over again), tearing ligaments is MUCH, MUCH worse than breaking the bone. It hurts much more and heals much slower. GRRRR. For about 8 days I was on crutches, but now I only have to wear a brace and I am so grateful for my legs! It had been a hard week being totally dependent on everyone else, not being able to walk anywhere or hold anything in my hands as I walk. Not to mention the fact that crutches are incredibly painful for the first few days! I couldn't help post some nasty pictures of my ankle from a week after it happened. I look like I have elphantitis or whatever that disease is. I promise my foot and my ankle are not normally that fat, but this is actually my ankle looking GOOD. You should have seen it 5 days earlier.


Prior to all of this, Jon and I and some friends from our ward took a vacation and hit up my grandparents' house in Heber. It was a fabulous getaway and much needed with the upcoming end of school. We actually got to go snowshoeing and it was so much fun!

101 Things

So in the effort to do better at blogging, I found this on another blog and thought it would be fun to do while I wait for Jon to get out of class. Feel free to copy and paste it and put it on your own blog.

101 Things

At least one of us have done the bolded items:

1. Ridden in a train
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band/orchestra
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis - which bit or pinched me
10. Sang a solo - and I cried
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning - this last week we both had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Had a letter to the editor published
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked - In Ethiopia...probably not the best idea
23. Taken a sick day when not really ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Seen the running of the bulls
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - Sweden!
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Been on a draw-bridge
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Received a traffic ticket -(only Jon)
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Been in a story on the news - for the NBL
50. Seen a wild mustang
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - Jon and his friends
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Received flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (that would be only Jon)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - my blankie!
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Won a contest
77. Broken a bone - 3 for me
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Been in a cave
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible or other religious book
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating- does fish count?
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone’s life - my brother who has drowning
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Been to the top of the Gateway Arch
99. Been stung by a bee - I HATE bees
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

I am a terrible blogger...but I am repenting

Time is just flying by and I am so terrible at blogging. Thankfully, I have some very close friends that keep on top of it and remind me dutifully to update my blog...so this is for Kenz and Katie.
But wow...there is so much to tell in the past 3 months that I haven't written. I think I will just post pics from these past couple months and skip to writing about this week...This week has been a little crazy! Jon and I have both been sick (I don't think Jon ever gets better). He had bronchitis and I just had a little cold, but being sick is so miserable! We just finished our midterms this week, which were terrible, but at least they are done for now.
Oh! I also got a second job so that I can build up my resume for teaching. It is only 6 hours a week and I get fabulous pay. I will be teaching SAT prep for math, reading, and writing at a boarding school. I get excited every time I think about it! I will be teaching lower level students and I am nervous that I will fail miserably at teaching, but I get excited when I think about the good experience it will be!
This past week, we had a a lot of fun because one of our really good friends got married, Matt and Brianna Reynolds (see pics below)! Because of that, the boys had a bachelor party and the girls had a girl's night (dinner, movie, and lots of treats). But after our party ended, the night wasn't so fun because the single guys of the bachelor party group made it into an ALL-NIGHT thing. Us wives tried to be supportive of them having fun, but I was sad. This was the first night away from Jon since our marriage and it was so dumb! I slept on a couch at Courtney's house with my blankie...it was so depressing! Jon came and got me early in the morning and we went home and slept. We have decided that there will be NO more sleep overs with just the boys.

But the actual wedding was so wonderful! Jon and I haven't been to a sealing in almost 8 months, and it was so good to listen to the covenants and promises that we made. I am so excited for them and so excited to have another wife to hang out with!

Matt and Brianna

And today is Valentine's Day! This is our first as a married couple and I am excited. I used to hate Valentine's Day, but I think I am really starting to love it! Jon made me breakfast in bed and has surprise plans for tonight...I LOVE surprises.

Well, here are some more pictures from the wedding and several pictures from earlier in the year! There are a lot of them, but I figure that pictures are the best way to catch up and they are the most fun to look at!

Randalls and Carters at the reception

Jon and Matt

Jon and I professing our love on the temple steps

Jon and I at the wedding reception

The Low's baby, Joiee, the baby I am completely and totally obsessed with

Brotherhood Hugs

Me and Courtney at the wedding

All the boys in line

My family going Christmas tree hunting

Jon and I at the Jazz game


My cute parents and their prize winning tree

Friends playing traveling jenga

The brotherhood and respective wives and friends at Christmas

Updates and Birthdays!!

Wow...it has been a little bit since I have written. Let's see...Jon got really sick for a couple days this week, which was no fun. I felt so bad! He can usually push through what ever illness he gets, but this flu knocked him out for almost a week! We pretty much slept the entire weekend because he was so exhausted! But he is feeling much better now, thankfully, and just in time! It was his birthday yesterday! Yay! It was definitely a different feeling being his wife and getting ready for his birthday! I loved it because it was the only day that he couldn't escape getting spoiled. I was kinda nervous knowing that I was pretty much in charge of the whole day, but then I got excited. I made breakfast in the morning...and we both learned really quickly that bacon has the most potent smell, and that while it is really nice to wake up to, it is horrible to come home to later when the smell is still just lingering. My clothes smelled like bacon all day....mmmmm. After school and work, we went to dinner at Tucanos, his favorite restaurant and we loaded up on the delicious food! As usual, we ate way too much, but it is so good, we couldn't stop! When we got back, we had a bunch of friends over for cake and ice cream! It was a lot of fun with everyone over and as usual, stories of the Brotherhood were told till all ends of the night! We were so busy all day, that he didn't get to open presents until later that night...at midnight! Along with some candy and iPod accessories, he got some MUCH needed shoes and clothes. I sewed two pairs of pants up a couple days ago, because he had torn completely through the knees! And then, when I went shopping for Jon at the mall for his shoes, I got lost (Provo Towncentre...never been) and somehow managed to walk right past the dumb "Dead Sea Salt" guy, and without Jon, I am hopeless with sales people. The salesman had this terrible accent and he made my nail all shiny, which was cool, but I didn't want his product. All I know is that I somehow went from trying to find Journeys to buying the dang kit! I kept telling the guy that all I wanted was shoes from Journeys and he kept putting products in my hands! AH! He kept trying to sell me on the fact that his nail kit would be a perfect gift for Jon...haha...and he just kept pushing and pushing.... I was so overwhelmed and I am terrible at saying no, so when he dropped his price from $89 to $24, I said yes to just get away. The minute I walked away, I suddenly found my wits again, and I was SO mad I gave in! Pretty sure that I will never go to the mall again without Jon. This is the picture of the stupid kit...a symbol of my weakness. I gave it to Jon as a birthday gift, just like the guy told me too, haha...just so I could tell him the story. All in all, it was a fun day and I loved spoiling him rotten!

Moab and Family!!

So the men in my family have a tradition every year to go to Moab. I normally couldn't go because of school, and my mom couldn't go because of her health. So this tradition became a "man" only tradition. Until this year, when Jon and I and one of my girl cousins decided to crash. Neither Jon nor I had been to Moab even though we have driven through it a million times to other hiking trails...and we have NEVER been to Arches! How crazy is that! So we were super excited. Except for the fact that day number one was to be spent mountain biking. Bikes and I do not get along. I have no balance, have a slight fear of speed (especially on a bike), and I have no trust in the bike's sturdiness to keep me from falling off of a cliff...which is what we biked on all day. But of course Jon and I stepped up the plate...my little brothers were peer pressuring us so off we went. It was possibly the hardest thing ever, especially for someone who hasn't ridden a bike in forever. We rode all over Moab's slickrock trails...most of the time right on the edges of slanted cliffs. It was steep and hard, but it really was fun. I focused most of my energy on getting up the mountain, while my little brothers ran circles around me and were doing insane tricks off of the cliffs. The day was so fun and being with my brothers was hilarious. These pics were taken at the very top of one of the harder trails.
The only thing we didn't like was that our bottoms were extrememly sore. I thought I could cry when we got back on our bikes for our second trail. Jon and I walked a little bow-legged for a couple days afterwards.
The next day, we went to Arches! Yay! It was so amazing! We didn't have too much time, but we went on some really awesome trails. We look fairly disgusting, since we had been hiking all day, so ignore that. The first pic is of Landscape Arch, which is expected to fall very soon, and the second is on the trail to Double "O" Arch, which was my favorite. The view was incredible!

Tackling Timp!!

So Jon and I went camping with our friends Steve and Rachel two weekends ago and we decided to tackle Timp! I wanted to post pictures of our triumph so you all get the story behind it. I had done the hike before and it was a terrible experience, complete with blood soaked shoes. So I was hoping this time would be better. We backpacked up to Emerald Lake Friday and camped there overnight, which was way more fun than just straight hiking! We even got a really good fire going! But because we were so close to the glacier (or maybe it was because we only brought one tiny sleeping bag and a blanket for the two of us), Jon and I froze during the night. I was so grateful for the morning sun and the fabulous oatmeal we drank out of lidless waterbottles. We were sore and tired from packing in all of our stuff, so that last bit of the hike to the top was not so fun, but it was worth it! The views were spectacular and my dad went out into the street in Highland and flashed a mirror at us and everyone on the point could see it. I think I thoroughly embarrassed Jon when I said excitedly, "That's my dad! That's my dad making that shiny thing!" I repeated it several times and people were looking at me oddly. But it was really cool and fun to see everything! We tried to slide down the glacier but it was so rocky that Jon and I only made it about 100 feet of the way. By the end, my bum was soaking wet and sore from pointy rocks, and my hands were beyond freezing. But I think the worst part of the trek was hiking down. My knees were practically screaming at me! Overall, Jon and I decided that we would not hike Timp again for at least a year, but that the trip was way worth it and really fun.