Sunny California...haha

I just wanted to show some of you that it really does snow in California. My mom sent me these today. It snowed ten inches in about five hours in Grass Valley! That's more than we have here in Utah. Crazy. It usually doesn't snow like this in Grass Valley, but its neat to see what everything looks like when it does! The first pic is the front yard, and the second is the backyard.

It is winter. I'm not even kidding.

I usually dread winter, but I am actually excited for it to come this year. Why? I couldn't tell ya, but I just am. I still hate driving in snow, and walking to class in it is even scarier. But it is so pretty and it really feels like the holidays when there's white cold stuff covering everything.

Today I was on campus (like everyday) and I thought I'd take some pictures with my phone of our first big snow of the season. At least I thinks its our first, I could be wrong. In my mind it's the first...

I love when they light the trees on campus. I also love the Joseph Fielding Smith Building when it gets dark outside and can see the lights and spiral staircase all lit up. Yes, I spend way too much time on campus.

The JFSB and people trying not to slip and die on the ice. Do you see that snow plow on the left? One literally almost backed into me and some other people while walking to class. Snow is pretty, pretty dangerous...

Look at that huge pile of snow!

Unlock the Magic...

Here is Andrew's application video. He made it in flash and after effects. Cute, huh?

Go Andrew!

For the past few months (actually all last semester and all last summer) Andrew has been working hard to apply to the advertising program here at BYU. He had to take several classes, take a big ol' test, do some essays, create a 60 second application video, and submit an application. It has definitley been a process. He submitted the application about a month ago, and we've been full of anxiety waiting for the news...but finally last night he got an email saying he can pick up the decision letter in the morning. We woke up super early this morning to get to the communications department to pick up the letter...and...drum roll please....Andrew is accepted to the BYU advertising program!!! We are so excited (and not to mention relieved) about the news. All his hard work has paid off, and now he gets to start doing something he really enjoys doing. Way to go, Andrew!

P.S. I will post his application video as soon as I figure out how to do so. Also, does anyone know how to post a video from youtube?

Summer Fun

This summer...

Little Lauren came to BYU...

Michael and Lauren had TONS of fun with us (just look at em).

Lauren experienced 'dorm' life.

We enjoyed the beautiful summer weather. No snow! Yipee!

And the fam came to chill with us.

I carried Lauren.

We went to the Stadium of Fire on July 4th! This was so much fun. We already can't wait until next year!

Andrew and I took a spontaneous getaway to Las Vegas. On the way we saw the beautiful scenery at Zion's National Park.
We visited the St. George Temple grounds for the first time.
We went to the Hoover Dam for the first time.
We exhausted all the 'dam' jokes that we could.
Look! A dam tower! Haha...
We took in all the sights and sounds (and smells) Las Vegas has to offer.
We enjoyed the bright lights and crazy people.

Andrew's parents even came to visit! This is at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house.

We went to Disneyland. I don't know why, but Disneyland never gets old.

It's just so fun!
The whole family got to hang out together.

And we did a whole lot of this.

So there you have it. Our summer has been awesome! Busy, but awesome. We don't want it to be over quite yet, but I guess summertime has to come to a close at some point. If I had it my way, it would be summer four seasons straight. I have a serious dislike for that fluffy white cold stuff that falls from the sky. But I guess that just has to happen to get to next summer. Ugh. We have a lot to look forward to this fall. Andrew will be applying for his major soon, this will be my second to last semester (hopefully), and we will have plenty of opportunities to make more memories. So bring it on, winter! We'll show you who's boss (but please don't be too harsh).

Graduation

This year Lauren and Joey graduated from Bear River High School. We are so proud of our little siblings! They made it through high school, and now they're out to conquer the world!!! We got to go to California for a week to celebrate their graduation. Going to the ceremony made me think of how quickly time goes by. It seems like just yesterday that Lauren was a freshman in high school. Now she's in college! Where does the time go? And it will probably go by quicker now that I'm older. Sheesh.

Lauren accepting her diploma

Andrew and his goofy brothers

Me and Megan

It was fun going to the graduation ceremony and running into old friends and teachers. Megan and I graduated together four years ago from the same high school. I had a good time catching up with her. It is always nice to keep in touch with good friends :)

Congrats Class of 2009!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

I can't believe that one year ago Andrew and I tied the knot. It has been a blast and I cannot wait for the many adventures we get to share together. I could not have picked a better person to make these memories with. I love you Andrew! Happy anniversary!

Climb On

We have seriously been enjoying our summer. Recently, we've been taking advantage of the beautiful weather and started to get into rock climbing. I am usually scared out of my mind, but it is a ton of fun. Andrew is getting pretty obsessed with the sport. I think he might even dream about it at night. Our friends Alma and Joy introduced us to it a few weeks ago and we've gone almost everyday since then!

Andrew and Alma getting ready to climb

Almost there!

Success.

The bed was made for the first time today in about 3 weeks. Yes.....

It's already March?!?

it would look alot cooler if my camera lens wasn't scratched

(those aren't my hips, Lauren. its the pockets)

Walking on Utah Lake

Yes, we are still alive. With school and work and everything, we have been SO busy! I don't have a life, so there hasn't been much to blog about. I pretty much live on campus, but Andrew and I do cross paths every now and then. This semester I'm taking family finance, parenting and child guidance, child development, the family and the law, religion in the home, and LDS marriage and family. I really enjoy going to school, but I can't wait for this semester to be over! I'll only have ten more classes left until I can graduate!!! Andrew is loving his classes. He's taking advertising, communications, news writing, book of mormon, and a video editing class. I can't believe the semester is almost over! No complaints though.

But aren't these pictures kind of cool? We decided to go for a drive after church a few weeks ago and we stumbled upon a very frozen Utah Lake. Since we had a camera, we decided to run around and take pictures. I was a little scared to walk off the dock, but luckily the ice supported my weight.

Disney Land Pictures

Here are some pictures from Disney Land that I didn't post in October. I can't wait to go back!

Skipping away in California Adventure

3...2...1...BLAST OFF!

Parentals

Guitar Hero at Disney Land?

Narrowly avoiding a huge wreck in Autopia

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe its already 2009. So much has happened since our last post. I know I haven't been very good about keeping a current blog, but with my friend Stacy's constant encouragement I think I'll be blogging more often :)

Well, we made it to Utah unscathed, found an apartment, found jobs, registered for classes, bought books, and survived our first few snow storms. We are actually finding that we love it here. We have good friends, Lance and Stacy, that we see pretty much every day. We are also meeting new people and catching up with old friends. The holidays were a little different for us this year. Andrew and I stayed home. We didn't feel completely safe driving in the weather, so we opted to have our first married Christmas alone. Our friends Joy and Alma came over for Christmas eve dinner. I even cooked, which is a huge accomplishment for me! I didn't even burn anything, and our apartment is still standing! We had fun eating, playing games, and watching almost a full season of Arrested Development. Christmas morning we woke up and got on our webcam with my family while opening presents. We figured that seeing them through the computer was the next best thing than actually being there. We had a good time lounging around the rest of the day doing nothing in particular.

We were feeling festive

Alexa came over to make little snowmen!

Visiting with the Nielsens on Christmas

Our first little tree

For New Year's Eve, we went to Lance's dad's house in Park City. Steve and Gail were so nice for letting us come over. The four of us went downtown for the evening and were amused by the drunkards and scantily clad women prancing around in sub zero temperatures. We had so much fun! The next day Stacy and I woke up early and went shopping while the boys went sledding with Steve. It was such a relaxing winter break! I'm so thankful that I have such great friends and family to spend these times with.

Park City!

Buddies