Grown Up World

Really though when did becoming a grown up happen. I feel like I was just graduating from high school yesterday and now I am done with college and working? 

Sometimes I don't feel like I am ready to be grown up, like when my husband comes home and tells me we need to plan a budget and set up our 401K and....what? But then I check back into reality and realize how blessed I am. 

I started working full time in July. Well, full time for a hygienist anyway. I work Monday through Thursday. Three day weekends every weekend are awesome. I use my Fridays to get lots of errand and random things done so Matt and I can really enjoy our weekends together. Since we are both still commuting (only a couple more weeks of that) we don't see much of each other during the week. We cherish our weekends together! 

Most of the time my job is not glamorous by any means. And most of the time I am wondering if any of my patients actually listen to me. (Prevention people!) But every once in a while I get sweet little reminders of why I love my job and the relationships I have with my patients. 

(We may tell you to limit your sugar intake, but we still enjoy it when you bring us some.) 

Two Years of Wedded Bliss

Two years already?! I know crazy. Feels like just yesterday. 

Since we have had a busy summer we celebrated a bit late this year, which was totally fine with me, just another thing we looked forward to. 

We celebrated by spending the night up in Newport and dining at one of our favorite restaurants.

It was perfect. 

Whit's Wedding

My beautiful cousin Whitney, who is like a sister to me, got married. Her and Steven are absolutely perfect together.  I could not be more happy for the two of them! Their wedding day was so perfect and their reception was so fun, such a party!

Can't wait for anniversary trips with you two!!

FaceTime

Thank goodness for FaceTime. 

We love being able to see and talk to our nieces and stay up to date with their happenings. 

Summertime

Matt and I were fortunate to spend a lot of time together before we both started working. It was great. 

 We spent many of those days by waking up going for a run and spending the rest of the day at the pool

(The running only lasted until it got super hot, Temecula is a little hot for me.)

We also enjoyed the Angels 

A few random projects got completed, one being some end tables I've been wanting to re-do.

(Don't have a before pic or a good after pic, (I really need to be better at taking pictures)

Our Monday nights consisted of sweet treats while watching The Bach with Doug and Jen

I chopped a good ten inches of my hair off. And got bangs. I love the change, but still miss my long hair. Matt says that I am lucky because I look good with long and short hair. The bangs are too much up keep for me, my hair grows super fast, and I don't feel like going in to get a bang trim every other week. 

We also enjoyed farmers markets, the beach, BBQ's, game nights, random surprise parties, weddings and so much more this sumer. (Another reason why I need to be better at taking pictures) 

Summer was good to us and we are already planning for next summer, which will be even better. 

Park City Vaca

We couldn't stay away from Utah for that long. (We actually really do miss it, mostly the people, but still...) My parents took our family to Park City like the good old days. 

 Per my mom's request we had to go bowling at Holiday Lane's

And followed it up with a trip to Granny's.

Fresh raspberry shake is my favorite summertime treat! 

We also made a trip back to campus, of course, for chocolate covered cinnamon bears. 

We were able to spend a lot of time with our cute nieces

And help my brother move

Britt also took some cute pictures of Matt and I

(This is one of those times where I wish I had put a little make up on)

4th of July fun

Sunbeams

Within two weeks of moving to CA I got called to be in primary again. I'm noticing a pattern here and beginning to think its my eternal calling. This time it was to Sunbeams which I was very excited about. A month after I got called the other teacher got released, so I put a word in to get Matt in there with me,  and my request was granted. 

There are definitely times during Primary where I want to pull my hair out. Six 3-4 year olds is a lot to handle. Especially during their lunch time. 

When I got set apart I had a really cool experience that proved to me that this is one of my many callings in life, not only with these kids but with my future children. Heavenly Father has given me such a gift and great responsibility to teach His young children and to love them and for that I am grateful. 

We have such a fun primary!

One of our many visitors is Captain Jack 

Ellen

My best friend Ky moved to CA for a little bit this year. She was talking about going on game shows and such while she lived here and one show being Ellen. So it got me think and I signed up to try and get tickets and I did! (Sorry Ky!)

We didn't actually get to sit in the audience this time but we already have tickets to go again and be in the audience. Matt said he didn't care that we didn't in the audience this time because she didn't do any giveaways anyway. Fingers crossed for our date coming up! 

Definitely won a shirt for a dancing.

Bye Bye #12

The day after graduation we packed up and headed west. So the last few weeks at our apartment were crazy and full of clutter.  (Really though, ask our friends that came over and didn't have a place to sit because we sold out couch a few weeks too early.) 

I took the task of packing up most of our stuff while Matt studied for and took his finals and finished up his last days at his job in Orem. 

We loved our first little apartment together. (And I definitely mean little.) 

 Moving meant saying goodbye to many people, some of the more important ones being both of my brothers, my sister in law, cute nieces and favorite cousins. It was quite the tearful goodbye. We were so fortunate to have lived so close to them for the last 8 months of us being in Utah. We miss them everyday! Especially our nieces cute smiles and laughs. 

A HUGE thank you to Matt's parents who drove our Uhaul for us while we drove one of our cars back to CA. Yet I think Matt and I both would have gladly traded since two of the worst things happened to us on the drive. 

#1 - Bumper to bumper traffic in the gorge 

If you have ever made the drive from UT to CA you know this is crazy. 

Don't worry this lasted a solid hour.....

#2 - Popped a tire ... 2 miles out of Vegas 

We definitely said many prayers of thanks for AAA and for a Costco close enough by to get us a new set of tires at that time of day on a Saturday

And this little stint of the drive just happened to be when I was driving. It was solid. Matt did say I handled the popping of the tire pretty well thank you very much!

Matt Graduates

Matt graduated!

 Bachelors and Masters can both be checked off the list for him. 

So proud of him!

Classic Cougar pictures 

Getting crazy with hood...

Relaxed grad dinner at his favorite pizza place.

(The real celebration happened once we got to California)

His sweet mom surprised him with a yummy cake

  

And a true Cougar Blue cake for that matter! 

Congrats babydoll! You're all done! 

I think we both miss school a little bit, I know I do! 

#LDSCONF

I love conference and I feel like it always comes at the perfect time (even though its the same time every year.) It is still mind boggling to me how I hear exactly what I need to hear each time and gain so much from it when none of the speakers are given a specific speaking assignment or topic. 

Conference is always that little bit of hope that seems to make everything better. My friend and I were talking about this when we were visiting teaching. We both agreed that even though a trial that we are going through is not changing our outlook, attitude or feelings can change by listening to conference, going to the temple, etc. and can make the trial easier. 

Conference always enforces the importance of marriage and family. As I was listening to a talk I was thinking how fortunate I am to have married such a great man. Matt is such a great example to me of endless amount of service and faith in the gospel. I am grateful for the fact that we can speak candidly with one another. I am grateful for the marriage we have and the relationship that we share. I am grateful for how hard he works towards his goals that in turn will benefit our family. I am grateful for how smart and wise he is. I am happy to say that we really are the best of friends and truly enjoy one another's company. I get teary eyed thinking of how great of a dad he will be one day. He treats me like a queen and gives me more than I deserve! 

Some of my favorite randoms from conference: 

1. We must not see men as they are, but as what they can become.

2. The Savior wants to forgive us. Its that simple. 

3. Marriages are based on cooperation, not negotiation. Marriage is also a gift of God. 

4. Technology is really over taking our daily lives. Matt and I have decided to set aside time to completely turn off all technology and enjoy each others company.

5. Where there is respect there is also transparency. 

While all the boys went to Priesthood session that girls went shopping. 

She is quite the fashionista already! 

Park City was a perfect weekend getaway! 

We enjoyed a lot of time with family and a lot of relaxing. Matt is totally her favorite and I think its really cute.