Christmas in Utah!

(In this picture: Brad, our bear, Jackson (He is wearing his new outfit), & Allison)

This year we had Christmas with the Holyoak family in Utah. It was my first Christmas away from home, but my family and Brad's family made it a fun one! We got packages of presents from my mom, dad, grandparents, aunt, and uncle! We were not expecting much, but we were extremely grateful for them all thinking of us! My mom even filled our stockings full and sent them in a package! I was so excited cause I was thinking of all the fun traditions we would miss out on.

We also bought a 4 ft. tree. Yes I know it is small but we have an apartment and we thought it was cute. Here is a picture of it with all the presents under it.


Brad got Swedish fish (his favorite), a sweater, nice shirt, pants, a Pacman game that hooks up to the TV, socks, BEEF JERKY, Cabela's gift card, popcorn machine, popcorn kernels, shoelaces, more BEEF JERKY, a little "nuts about work" statue for accountants, money, and candy!!




Allison got some shirts, pants, pasta in the shape of PALM TREES, apron for cooking, penguin salt and pepper shakers, a penguin table decoration, a penguin that dances, 2 bags made by grandma, gift card to Kohl's and Old Navy, a little "nuts about work" statue for physical therapists, money, and candy....OH AND BRAD GOT A BAND FOR MY WEDDING RING!!! IT IS SO PRETTY!!!






We both got these HILARIOUS "Sing-a-majigs" from my mom! They are so FUNNY! Brad's has a deep voice and sings "It's raining" and mine has a high pitch voice and sings "Oh, Susanna". We had fun playing with them.


We have been very blessed this year! Brad graduated with his Bachelor's degree in Accountancy and I have one more semester to go before I graduate! We are excited about what opportunities will come our way and what the Lord has in store for us. Below are some pictures of us at Temple Square in Salt Lake City. We went to see the lights with our friends Logan and Alex! This is also where Brad proposed to me in March 2009. It was fun!

Wow, it's been awhile!

It has been a very busy semester for Brad and I. Brad is in his last semester!!! He is so excited but nervous at the same time about finding jobs. I am in my second to last semester and am very anxious to be done. We have done a lot this fall semester!

For Halloween, we decided to be Where's Waldo and Wenda! It was so much fun! It was a cheap/easy costume! Our ward party was Alice in Wonderland themed and it was so neat! We had food colored gravy, awesome cupcakes, painted white roses red, and made a madhatter's hat.








We also had a fall break (a much needed fall break) and decided to spend the night in a Little America Hotel in Salt Lake! It was AWESOME! We were on the 16th floor on October the 16th and were married on a 16! haha The room was BEAUTIFUL and there were rose petals in the shape of a heart spread out on the king size bed!! It was a lot of FUN!









On another note, I just want to say that we are so blessed! I LOVE my job!! I look forward to going to work. I love the patients and coworkers! I have made some special bonds with some of the patients. One patient that I have gotten really close to is like my grandma. She took Brad and I out to dinner! Today she told me she loved me and guess what?! I love her too! She is very lonely and widowed. Everyone thinks she is a grumpy old lady but she is the SWEETEST lady underneath. She has been through a lot!! All she needs is someone to love her and appreciate her.





My in-laws have been another huge blessing in my life. My family is in Virginia so sometimes it's hard, but my in-laws are so willing to help me feel love and they make sure to take care of me. I love them so much and am grateful I got good in-laws! They are taking the whole family on VACATION to DISNEYLAND in February! I am so EXCITED because I have never been to California or Disneyland! I will get to meet my role model...GOOFY!!! haha

In school this semester, I decided to take an institute class (church class). I am taking Book of Mormon from Brother Hunter with Kristin. It has been another HUGE blessing. I have gained such a GREATER testimony and appreciation of the Book of Mormon! My teacher is AMAZING! He is so knowledgeable about the scriptures and so spiritual! He gives us tons of COOL quotes! If anybody wants copies let me know. I love the church! I love the temple and the blessings that come from keeping my covenants.

Speaking of the temple, my GREAT friend Charlotte just got to go through the temple for the FIRST time last Friday! She is going on a mission to FIJI in February! She asked me to be her escort for her first time through the temple which was a huge honor to be with her! She is so smart and spiritual! I love her so much and she has been there for me many times.

Brad has been working hard and doing so good at work! He is also doing great in school and hanging in there for his tough semester. He is a great husband and so supportive.




We have been so blessed with amazing family and friends! Every little thing is AWESOME and the support we have helps us get through some of the toughest times. Thank you everybody for everything. We love you all! Have a HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY PICTURES!!! :D

We made it!!! :D

Brad and I made it to our one year anniversary on July 16, 2010...not that I didn't think we would make it haha. Brad had to work on our anniversary, but he sent me beautiful flowers for a surprise. I got out our huge "toasting glasses" that we used at our wedding reception and decided we would make it a tradition to use them at dinner on our anniversary (as long as we have them) every year! It always makes me laugh!

Our cake was GROSS so I decided to make a new one since the top of our cake was made out of Funfetti cake mix and then put our cake toppers on top. It was DELICIOUS and we didn't get sick. My AWESOME friend Rebecca, who lives in Virginia, remembered our anniversary and sent us a card with a book called, "Fun and Creative Dates for Married Couples". We are so excited to have more date ideas! She is awesome!

I got Brad a journal and wrote a letter in it to him. I guess the 1st year anniversary gift tradition is supposed to be paper so that's what I got him. He bought tickets to go see TARZAN at the Tuacahn Outdoor Theater in St. George, UT!!! It was sooooooo MUCH FUN!!! I LOVED IT!!! It was really hot though I will admit! We also got to go to Zion's National Park. It was absolutely beautiful and breath taking! We hiked up to Weeping Rock. It is awesome! I would love to go back and eventually hike to Angel's Landing and go on some other hikes! We took a lot of pictures!

We also decided to rent a car instead of taking ours because we were afraid of it over heating or something, but renting a car was DEFINITELY a GREAT decision! We didn't have to worry and it took a whole lot of stress off of us!

On our last day in St. George, we decided to go to the St. George Temple. It is beautiful and it has PALM TREES around it! (I have a fetish with palm trees).