2009

I don't know if it's the fact that I started blogging in 2009, and have re-lived every event as I blog it or what, but 2009 has seriously seemed like the best year yet. I really think blogging has been part of it for me though because as hard as I try, I've never been able to keep a journal. And they always say that the more you recognize and record the blessings in your life, the more there will be. Probably because you remember them more. So I'm grateful for this little journal/ blog of mine.

2009

you are so fine

Since I truly feel this has been one of the most exciting years yet, I want to recap my favorite parts about it. This is a little redundant for me considering Eddie's Christmas gift, and how I've already spent many hours pouring over the year. But that didn't include things I did without him.

Like:

Traveling to the Holy Land and going to either the

Garden Tomb or the Garden of Gethsemane each Shabbat.

Going to Petra, Jordan and seeing the Treasury

Visiting Bethlehem and Shepherd's Field, seeing the place where the Savior was born

Seeing Galilee and where the Savior performed most of his ministry

Egypt- seeing the pyramids, Nile, sphinx and Valley of the Kings

best of all...exploring this amazing part of the world with the whole BYU group, especially

my two Israel BFF's!

Kara & Chelsea

Next thing 2009 brought:

Porter Novelli Internship with the best group of all time.

Without them, it wouldn't have been nearly as fun and I wouldn't have done

nearly as many things. We kept ourselves so busy checking out all CA has to offer.

Disneyland 3 times

Met Richard Simmons!

Finally:

Back to provo where I moved in with these two gems of friends/roomies. It's been a fun time living with these two all while dating Eddie and studying for the GRE/ preparing for grad school.

Not to mention the couple times I went up to SLC to see extended family, NYC trip with my mom and the most memorable Christmas yet. I'm so grateful for my many blessings and experiences I was able to have in 2009. It really felt like one great big adventure and I learned and grew a lot from it.

Although it will be hard to top 2009, here's to a great 2010!

deadskins

Thanks to mi padre, Eddie & I went to the Redskins Cowboys game last week.

It was a real good time, a first for Eddie. I just wish we both liked a better team.

Maybe 2010 will bring them a winning season?

Thanks for the tickets, Dad!

just finished this

& it was incredible. Its one of those books where it's all you can think about. You just want to finish whatever you're doing so you can get back to reading it. The other morning my mom walked in my room while I was reading it and I was bawling; it's really touching.

Have any books to recommend to me?

Christmas Eve

We did most of the celebrating on Christmas Eve this year bc Jordan was scheduled to work on Christmas day. I hope it starts a new tradition because I really enjoyed it. It lasted longer and I feel like we savored the night more, as opposed to running down the stairs and around the corner on Christmas morning, everyone wildly opening all their gifts in 4 minutes.

This was probably my favorite Christmas yet.

The older I get the more I realize I just like to be home with everyone.

I think the family bakery adds a lot to the excitement too though

a. because it gives me something to do while I'm home

b. it's always so busy with the gift-wrapping of holiday bread

during the weeks and days leading up to Christmas

c. the whole family is in and out of the bakery all day long

brother Jordy and me on Christmas Eve

Eddie & me
familyChristmas 2009

Eddie's Present

I was extremely excited to give Eddie his Christmas gift this year. I almost showed him the rough draft in November cause I seriously couldn't wait. This was probably the only year I'll ever have enough time to do it, so I did.

It was a book of our dating year together!

I ordered one for myself too

cause I knew I'd want to look at it just as much

we read it a couple {hundred} times

..and his gift to me was pretty perfect

A b.e.a.utiful necklace.

Pics coming soon

he did a mighty fine job though :)

I think the most fun gift-giving exchange

is between boyfriend and girlfriend.

Hopefully I still enjoy it

once I'm married someday

I just never want it to be

out of obligation

ya know?

white christmas

home for the holidays!

wreath on the front door

i love nothing more than when the house is

all decorated for Christmas

... it snowed a ton last week! The entire east coast got slammed.

It was awesome. I stayed in my pj's from friday night- sunday morning.

(watched lots of Hallmark Christmas movies)

my little brother Adam decided to shovel the snow one night about 9 pm.

He headed out with no hat and no gloves.

We thought he'd surely be in in 5 minutes

but nope,

he finished the entire thing.

then, wanted me to take his pic in the snow with shorts on

..you can tell we don't get a lot of snow

it's all so new!

In between takes, trying to get the perfect picture, he would run upstairs

and put his feet under the running hot water

he's so funny

i love my family, especially adam

then, i created this

& got real excited for when

Eddie comes!

.wednesday.

NYC 2009 Recap~

We're back from our annual mother-daughter trip to New York. I'd say it was the best yet, too. The weather was the mildest it's ever been; a little rain, but no snow. Snow is real nice to look at, but not that nice to trudge 90 blocks thru. The show, In the Heights, was our favorite to date- we loved it.

But the best part? Spending time with my favorite person.

Thanks Mom, I really enjoyed it

started the trip out right with breakfast burritos at McDonalds

probably when she discovered someone stole the cash from her purse- buttheads. we're hoping they spent the $$ on toys for their kids instead of drugs for themselves.

the most beautiful ivy-covered building

2010 is coming! It was wild to think where we were

standing will be total chaos in a few weeks

we found our way to a few chocolate shops

this was taken at like 8 pm in the pitch dark! Times Square is so bright

we went to two little craft shows; this gingerbread house had lots of homemade treats

buying candied nuts...so delicious

a bird pooped right on my head

biggest dogs I've ever seen

the tree at Rockefeller Center

Empire State Building

of course...

M&M factory!

In the Heights

Central Park

thanks again, Mom :)

NYC

New York City
tonight!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is December 8th.

Today is my mom's birthday!

I know you're reading this, so happy birthday Mom! I wish I could have been in VA on Saturday for your birthday dinner, or there today to get a pedicure with you. But I'll be thinking about you all day and am so excited for our NYC escapades this weekend. I really am; our New York trips are definitely at the top of my favorite memories list. Along with our mother/daughter San Francisco trip and St. George spa trip. Man you know how to have a good time.

These are the characteristics I love most about you/ my favorite memories with you:

*How you brought Padow's boxed lunches to my elementary school all the time; usually staying to eat with me

*The balloons you always had on the banister when we came home from the first day of school each year

*How excited I always got when I turned down the Mason's driveway from the bus stop and saw your white van in the driveway

*How I used to call you every single morning when you were at the bakery and ask you three questions. 1. what's the weather going to be like today? 2. what should I wear today? and 3. what's for dinner? Everyday!

* How sometimes when I didn't want to go to school I would claim I was sick, obviously, and drive around with you in your little Mitsubishi and help deliver bread store-by-store to Ukrops (man the bakery sure has come a long ways! Thanks to the hard work of you & dad)

*I loved our power walks throughout my high school and college years. Looking back, during the summer we often wouldn't even start walking 'til 8 or 9 p.m., when you would be waking up at 4 am the next day. But you always went with me and chatted about what was going on in my life

*How you've always had the biggest, most giving heart. I cry thinking about all the meals you've made and delivered to people, and all the kind things you've done. Like frequently volunteering to drive that deaf lady home from church, or always remembering other people's birthdays and delivering cute boxes to them.

*I'm also grateful you instilled that desire in me, through things like volunteering me to help that old lady in our ward decipher the genealogy records. Although I did not appreciate it at the time, I'm sure glad you taught me the value of service.

* I love your creativity. You've always been very crafty and enjoyed creating things; scrapbooking and gingerbread houses for example.

*This one I've loved and hated over the years. But I've learned to love your unique style. You have such good taste in clothes, especially out-of-the-ordinary clothes.

*You give people the benefit of the doubt and encourage me to be patient with others, which I've always admired.

*People love talking to you because you're such a great listener and have a unique and clear perspective on life. You've always been my friends' favorite; as soon as they meet you they always want to hang out with you.

*I value your opinion on everything.

*I very much appreciate the free spirited side of your personality and love that you passed it on to me; I feel like it makes our lives so enjoyable. Thank you

*I'm grateful that you have always been such a patient and loving mom/ wife. I wish I got more of your patience, but it's okay. Maybe one day. None of us have ever doubted that we were the most important thing to you.

Happy Birthday, I love you!

Festival of Trees

Man the holidays bring so many fun things to do. This time it was the Festival of Trees in Sandy. We went with my two girlfriends from VA and their men. It was awesome because there were tons and tons of Christmas trees decorated in different themes; my favorites being the BYU and Grinch trees. All proceeds went to Primary Children's Medical Center, which is incredible because each tree went for about $1000.

Dinner at Chipotle beforehand. Us + Eric & Sarah

(Angie and Charles were still stuck in traffic. )

Eddie & the Jazz tree

girlie tree

this baby carriage was so festive

Grinch tree!