Summertime, Summertime, Sum-Sum-Summertime

Holy hotness! It's gotten so warm so fast! And to think that it snowed in May.

We went camping this past weekend. Woke up at like 5:30 AM to people leaving the campsite and one lady starting her car so she could sleep in it instead of a tent. At 6:15 we decided to just pack up and head out. I definitely recommend camping in American Fork Canyon. You don't need to reserve anything to use their dispersed camping. And it is B-E-A-utiful! Camping was super fun! We had fajitas and made smores with Keebler fudge striped cookies. So much easier than graham crackers and chocolate and super tasty!

We recently got rid of our bachelor pad table and chairs and got a normal dining room table that is black with green cushions and fits my sunflower themed kitchen to a tee! I'm in love with it and now we can actually open the doors to our washer and dryer without hitting anything. What a blessing! I did like those big puffy red chairs but can't say I've missed them too much. There's a time and a place for fun things like that and we certainly don't have the placed.

I also just want to say that I have the most awesome husband ever. He's just amazing. And he's also my parents' favorite son-in-law so that must mean he's spectacular.

We celebrated our one year anniversary! How time flies! We celebrated by going to our favorite restaurant, Texas Roadhouse. We then spent that evening with the other primary leaders playing ridiculous rounds of the Game of Things. Hi-lar-i-ous. Seriously. I saw a side to the other leaders that obviously do not come out during primary. Ri-dic-u-lous. Such a great way to spend our anniversary. We have some of the most awesome friends ever. But even better, I've been married to the most amazing guy every for over a year now and I could not be happier.

Sadly we don't have that much going on as far as summer plans due to 3 weddings in the fall within 6 weeks of each other. However, we do have a trip to Moab planned to go white water rafting. Right now it looks like that will be the last weekend in July. I should probably go make those reservations.

I know this blog is mainly to document what's going in our lives, however I do want to take a moment to say how grateful I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for the Atonement. I've recently found a major flaw in myself that I'm desperately trying to change. I've hurt a lot of people because of it and the past week I've been trying to recognize when this issue comes up and make sure that I apologize and make things right. I know that through the Atonement I can be forgiven for all the things that I've done that have hurt other people. I know that the Atonement is not necessarily about perfection, but also about progression. That if I can improve just a little bit every day that I will overcome this imperfection and be a better person. Finding your own faults has to be one of the most difficult things to recognize and not rationalize. I have not felt this horrible about myself in the longest time. But with the guilty, depressing feeling there is also a light at the end of the tunnel. A glimmer of hope that I've taken my first steps to becoming more like Him. And after doing my best to follow His example and do my best to right those wrongs, there's a very wonderful peace that has come over me reassuring me that my Father in Heaven is proud of me. That he sees the effort I'm making to follow his commandments. I certainly have a long way to go, but "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Tax Season...Almost Over

3 more days left of tax season...3 more days until freedom...3 more days until I can focus on cleaning my messy apartment...3 more days til, well, semi-normalcy?

My patience is running thin, but I think I might just make it.

I try to only post about the good news, but then I realize only posting the good news makes me look like I'm living the completely spoiled life.

Good things that have happened in the past month in a half

1. Braden got another student loan that doesn't accrue interest until 6 months after graduation,
2. Braden also receive a pell grant for summer semester that we were not at all expecting and will cover most of his tuition.
3. Tax season is over in 3 days.
4. We got to spend a wonderful General Conference in Idaho with all the family. Good times.
5. We're actually starting to be able to save money!
6. Tax season is over in 3 days.
7. My mom got a puppy! He has yet to be named...please feel free to spread your good ideas.
8. I've stuck to my healthy eating plan for a week (okay, its a diet, but not a crazy one!)
9. Tax season is over in 3 days.
10. We got a new employee at work to help keep me from going insane.
11. I'm almost done preparing are crazy part-resident state tax returns...yay for more refund money (if the state of California has any left to spare...)
12. We're going white water rafting in Moab this summer! We got a great deal online.

Not so good things that happened in the past month and a half
1. Someone in our little family got a speeding ticket and there was also no proof of insurance in the car. The car does have insurance. The said driver may or may not have been specifically listed on the policy though. It's gotten to be a bit tricky, but should turn out okay without resulting in any fines to pay.
2. Tax season isn't over for another 3 days.
3. Our apartment refuses to stay clean.
4. I got a really nasty migraine yesterday including spots in my eyes. I've never experienced such a strange and painful feeling before.
5. The weather keeps playing tricks on us. One day it's gorgeous and the next day its storming. Can it just be SPRING already!
6. Tax season isn't over yet.
7. Gas prices are through the roof and making me feel even poorer than we already are!


So the good things definitely outweigh the bad. Marriage definitely allows me to learn a lot about myself, both good and bad, as well as strives me to push myself. I sure wish I was more crafty and creative. Our apartment doesn't have that much style or personal touches to it. I don't want it to feel like an apartment, I want it to feel like a home! I've got so many projects that I want to start working on and other things I want to do once tax season is over: a healthy recipe blog (with pictures of course) of some of my favorite healthy, good-for-you, taste yummy recipes, finish decorating our lovely apartment, learn to sew (this one is very much a maybe), learn to enjoy running and exercising, get a system in place that keeps are apartment clean, clean out the 2nd bedroom once and for all!, start studying for the GMAT so I can at least be working towards my CPA, doing more outdoor stuff with Braden, its a bit over-whelming and not exactly a well thought-out, planned, structured list. Take more pictures for our blog should definitely be on there.

But today I realized that its one step at a time, kind of like the road to perfection. It doesn't happen at all once. I must say that I'm very happy where I am right now in my progression. I've got lots to work on and lots to accomplish, but I can do it. Heavenly Father showed me that today.

It's bedtime, but I'm not tired so I'm going to see what I can do to be productive. Sorry for the randomness. I'm kind of all over the place these days :) In a good way!

Let's Face It...

I desperately need to update this...It's only been two and a half months. I'll start with Christmas...

We had an amazing Christmas with my family this year. So much fun and laughter. Braden and I spent a lot of time with Dane and Louise which was super fun. It was a very different Christmas for our family. It was the first year that all the kids had significant others to enjoy Christmas with as well as the significant other who would be around for Christmas in years to come. It was really neat to see us bond differently then we have in the past.

For Christmas this year Braden and I got a Kinect for the XBox which we love!!! (as do Dane and Louise =P ). I must say I have the greatest mother ever. She tried to fool me by saying she was buying us snow tires for my car...tricky tricky! My Aunt and Uncle in Illinois also had a brilliant idea. Instead of attempting to buy us something in hopes we would like it, my Aunt and Uncle sent us purple sweaters (since its my mom's favorite color). We were to take a picture as a family with the purple sweaters, and then we could either keep the sweater, or return it. It definitely caused a chuckle.

The nice part about mine and Braden's job is that busy season is at the same time. He's full swing into ski season and I'm full swing into tax season (I'm actually hoping I will finish writing this post before I have to go to work on this lovely Saturday). For me the overtime is a nice added bonus to our bank account and Braden gets his fill of skiing. Last week he did take me skiing and I must say it was my favorite time so far. I can see why he enjoys it.

Next week I'm off to California for a week for one of my dear bridesmaid's wedding. I'm very excited since I could desperately use a break from tax season and I miss the warm weather that California offers. Only bad part...Braden isn't coming with me. He has to work. =( It will be our first time apart since we got married.

Another fun part of this year is that my niece has had basketball tournaments done here regularly so we've gotten to see Shalise, Kent, Bryn, Kinzlee, and the occasional appearance from Tayler and Brooke. Since we haven't been able to make it up to Idaho since Braden has to work every weekend, its been nice that they've come to us (even though its not specifically to visit us). It's been super fun watching Bryn's basketball games as well.

So Costco started offering one of the most delicious things imaginable. Belgian Waffles. And they are not quite like the ones you can get in Belgium, they are definitely an acceptable substitute. We are on our third box. Yummmmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy!

So after getting married, I have gained even more of an appreciation for my parents. They still do so much for us! The latest is helping us with Braden's student loan. No, they didn't pay for any of it, but they did offer to co-sign a new loan for Braden with a much lower interest rate. We plan on paying off his previous student loan with the new student loan. It will most definitely save us a couple thousand dollars. They really do too much for us.

No other excitement lately. Just trying to survive our busy seasons...Afterwards I think a nice weekend vacation to Las Vegas is in order. Braden still hasn't met my Grandma...