Happy Valentines Day!

we beat the rush and celebrated valentines over the weekend at one of the most delicious restaurants.  

my brother gave us a gift card for christmas, and we definitely enjoyed it!

no better way to celebrate love than over a nice fat juicy steak. 

love package

people either love valentines or they hate it. i am one that loves it.  but i've always loved it, even before i got married and had a perma-valentine. i know for a fact its because i grew up with the best mom ever who made holidays so fun. i remember being so excited to see what new outfit, treat, movie, nail polish, etc. she'd have on the stairs/ my bed for valentines day when i got home from school. 

the awesome packages haven't stopped. in fact, eddie has now caught onto them and if he is home before me, he always tears into them.  he seriously can't wait.  then he greets me at the door cause he feels bad he opened it w/out me, and excitedly escorts me into the kitchen to check out the goods.  but who can be mad at their 28 yr old husband who gets so excited for holiday packages?!

this year she sent eddie his fav sweater in a new color, and me the first season of downton abbey. little did i know eddie would get into it just as much as me.  we are only on episode 3 but already obsessed.  there's almost nothing we love more than getting into a new good show.

and how cute is this love tree?? i serve with such talented women in primary.  

one of them made this with sticks she picked up in the canyon.

it was filled w/ chocolate valentines for all the kids- they loooved it. 

superbowl 2012

the annual rib-fest Super Bowl party was moved from matt's to booboo's this year. 

the closest thing i got to a group shot- ha! 

madsen- even with a completely scratched up nose he is still cute. 

allison and i loving madonna's halftime show

all the haters can keep hating, but i thought she was great! 

 cute emma- loved her curled hair! 

also celebrated michael's 22nd birthday- yahoo! 

sugarhouse park

when the weather is nice all i want to do is go outside, 

so we hit up sugarhouse park this weekend for a little walk. 

The Happiness Project: February

I am loving the monthly-resolutions! January was a total success, maybe that means my resolutions were too easy. Regardless, I really do think that taking the stairs is a new habit for me, thanks to my 31 days of doing so. Also, I hit the gym at least 3-4 times every week, surpassing my goal of 2x/ week. 

My goal for february is sleep-based.  

Lately, I've gotten in the terrible habit of turning on my phone the second I can't sleep, and reading the news/blogs for hours.  I get so excited/energized when I come across good ideas, that I'm just wired and can't sleep.  It.is.terrible.  I realized it was a serious problem when I literally couldn't keep my eyes open the other day at school.  After not falling asleep til 3 am and having to wake up at 6 for school, I was a zombie.   I ended up going into a big, empty, dark auditorium and laying on the floor for an hour nap during a break.  I was so tired, that i was able to fall asleep on a cold, hard floor. Didn't even care that my hair was all over the ground. 

This goal will also help eddie, because he has a goal of being up by 7 and at school by 8am everyday.  If we're both going to bed earlier, hopefully it's easier for us to wake up earlier. 

Neither one of us are morning people. 

February:

Be in bed by 11 every night. 

And no phone/computer after 10. 

Here i am rolling out of bed with a fat smile on my face after my month of sleep training.

our month

january typically seems like the slowest month of the year, but not this year! can't believe we're almost into february already.  here's a sampling of what we've been up to lately: 

eddie leaving the library after studying all day.  you might say "wow, that's the only picture of eddie she posted." and that's because study is all he does! he's a great student- much better than i am. he's also really involved with the law clinics- every tuesday and a couple thursdays a month he helps out at the clinics.  plus, the main attorney he's been working with gives him assignments to do on his own time. i am proud of him, and just happy he enjoys it. 

oh, he also plays church ball every tuesday night- loves that. 

i've had a couple interviews lately,  hopeful for a great job after graduation.

went to dinner with his law buddies and their wives. 

eddie, max, steve, drew

sam, me, carly, noelle, liz 

taught the little rascals in primary about the creation. 

applied for graduation! yippee! 

we switched it up a bit and went to the oquirrh mountain temple instead of the usual slc.

it is BEAUTIFUL

we saw an awesome movie at the sundance film festival. it was about our health care system, and how 

we have a disease care system instead of a health care system.  how we, as Americans, need to get back to the basics of good nutrition and exercise instead of treating all our ailments with tons of medicine. how lifestyle changes are better than drugs and surgery. 

my crafting girl whit and i got together and decked our halls for valentines day. 

of note but not documented w/ pics: 

-we were introduced to Vinto by max & carly- delicious! 

-we've done the sumo vip night a few times, always a favorite

-caught 2 byu basketball games

-getting whipped into shape by the physique 57 dvd w/ allison

-makeover and all new makeup- NARS. allison and i spent 10 hours at the mall this day

-eddie and i brought back our game nights, just the 2 of us

-loved the golden globes. fav dresses were octavia spencer and sofia vergara

didn't love angelina jolie's dress- i know, i'm the only one. 

-anxiously awaiting the grammys & oscars

-seal and heidi klum- what!?!?! i broke my own rule of no gossip mags for this one.

-can't believe the weather. it's only snowed twice the entire winter. so grateful though,  since i'm still commuting to provo twice a week. 

anyways, january has flown by.  excited for february, the month of loooooove. 

Books

The thing I will miss most about school is being exposed to the latest and greatest books.  This is the first semester where I've been assigned more interesting-read type books more than actual text books, and I am loving it. I am currently reading: 

{ for my Judaism & The Gospel class... a refresher from my days in Jerusalem}

{this is for a little side reading. yeah right, like i'll have time for this!

 i'll probably get around to this one on April 20th}

New Years 2012

We spent new years at lake tahoe- one of the most beautiful places i've ever seen.  Jewels and Brett invited us up to their cabin with some other couples, and it was a fun and relaxing weekend-- perfect way to ring in the new year.

The weekend included a lot of games, lounging, chatting and good food.  It was crazy that it was pretty warm with no snow in January, but we'll take it!   

the huntings

the munsons

(ps how beautiful is jewels? let me be that pretty 7 months pregnant)

lunch in reno 

games around the table for hours 

twins?

blondies at midnight

welcome 2012!

the cute kids on the trip- zion & mae

thank you, brett & jewels!! we had the best time. 

The Happiness Project: January

I love the clean slate of a new year, and have been thinking a lot about resolutions and goals.  I, like most people, always set resolutions and forget what they even were by February.  This year I want to take a different approach, and focus on one area a month.  I have not yet read The Happiness Project, but evidently this is what the author does.  She focuses on a different area of her life each month, hoping to develop new habits to increase her overall happiness by slowly making small changes.  I like this approach since its not so overwhelming.

My goal for January is fitness oriented, and has two parts.  

1. Make it to the gym twice a week for at least an hour.  

2. We live on the third floor.  Take the stairs every time (unless I have groceries).

I am excited about it!  Hopefully I stick with my resolutions easier this way.  It'd be great if these little changes turn into habits and by the end of the year I have 12 new habits, but we'll see. 

Here's to fitness!

Hail to the Redskins

We had a great time in Virginia for Christmas.  We loved seeing both of our families, eating delicious home-cooked meals, visiting the midlothian ward on Christmas, walks, bowling and going to buffalo wild wings for the jimmer show. One of the highlights of going home is always a skins game, thanks dad! 

I do have to note that this was my first trip to virginia where virginia felt a little less like home and more like vacation, and coming back to utah felt like coming home.  I don't know if it's because it was my first married christmas in virginia, or the fact that i haven't lived there in 8 years, but there was a noticeable change. Just another step of growing up, I guess. But I am learning this is very true: