Thursday, July 30, 2009

Happy Birthday Allison!

I now have three new sister-in-laws, for whom I am very grateful.


And since we've been married none of them have had birthdays.
Well, finally a birthday has come around!

Happy Birthday Allison!!

This picture is from the week that I first met Allison. We went on a family outing to Yosemite.

We hope your day is absolutely FANTASTIC! We can't wait to see you soon!!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

we love our friends!

Just recently my good friend Sara made a visit to Utah to surprise her boyfriend Steve. She lives in California, and throughout the whole summer she has been requesting that he come visit her because she didn't want to come back to Utah before she absolutely had to. (Can you blame her?) So, it was definitely a surprise for him!

This past Friday was Pioneer Day. For those of you who don't know about Pioneer Day here's a little synopsis that I copied and pasted from Wikipedia:
Pioneer Day (also archaically called the Day of Deliverance) is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in the U.S. state of Utah, with some celebrations in regions of surrounding states originally settled by Mormon pioneers. It commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, where the Latter-day Saints settled after being forced from Nauvoo, Illinois and other locations in the eastern United States. Parades, fireworks, rodeos, and other festivities help commemorate the event.
So, in order to celebrate Pioneer Day since we are in Utah we had to go watch some fireworks! Steve got us the hook-up and found out that the nearby city of Mapleton was putting on a big display. So, we drove the 10 minutes, got lost (Mapleton, according to Steve, only has about 3 streets, but also keep in mind that he was driving and was the one that got us lost), made a phone call to get us unlost, and finally found the park where the fireworks were being shot off. After laying out our blankets in a prime firework-watching spot and making it to about Phase 4 of Phase 10 it began to rain. And when I say rain I mean downpour! We ran for the shelter of the car, but once we got there we realized we were already soaked, so there was really no point in even getting in the car. Instead we decided to take a picture.



Oh, and here's a great picture I found dealing with Pioneer Day.


Eventually the rain let up and we ventured out into the field to find yet another prime firework-watching spot. However, we were informed the wind was blowing too hard and the rain was still coming so we'd have to wait for the fireworks. So, in the meantime, we watched Sara dance and took silly pictures. Here's some of the best of the night.

This is what happens when Brad has gel in his hair, it then gets wet, and I get ahold of it.

This is what happens when Sara tries to sit on Steve.


This is what happens when Brittney says she's cold.

Aren't they just so cute?!

Aren't we just so cute?!

Isn't Brittney just so cute?! (she refused to have her picture taken)

Well, finally the wind let up and the rain stopped and the fireworks began!

When Steve dropped us off that night after all the festivities we got curbside service, literally!

We love Sara and Steve and are so excited for all the fun times that still lay ahead this next week before she goes home!

Oh, and Happy belated Pioneer Day!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Happy Birthday Don and Sue!

Happy belated birthday Sue!
Happy birthday Don!
We love you both and can hardly wait to see you in October!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Good Job Brad!!!

Congratulations Brad!!
Last Thursday Brad took the DAT. He's been studying and preparing for far longer than I could ever study or prepare for anything. After 5 long hours of testing all on one day he finally finished! He did so incredibly well!! And I am SO proud of him!
For 5 days before he took his test I surprised him every morning with cute little cards letting him know that I supported him.


Day 1 (orange): Blast off! You're gonna ROCK the DAT!
Day 2 (yellow): You're my Star, babe! Good luck on the DAT!
Day 3 (green): You're gonna BULLDOZE right over that DAT!
Day 4 (blue): I know you can, I know you can, I know you can smoke that DAT!
Day 5 (purple): You're so beary smart, I am so beary proud of you, and I love you beary much! Ace that DAT, hunny!
Day 6 (blue): Shred that DAT to pieces! GOOD LUCK!! I love you always! (He got this one the morning of the DAT.)


I think he liked his cards!

About a month before Brad took the DAT his good friend Spencer took the test (Spencer got married yesterday! Congrats Spencer and Kelsey!) Spencer also did well, but he told Brad that before the 15 minute break they get he had to pee so incredibly bad. It was awful. He was shaking and trying so hard to make it but just couldn't. So, he had to run to the bathroom in the middle of a section. The time doesn't stop either. Brad and I felt so bad for him, saying how awful that would be. Well, Brad goes in and pees before he even starts the test. He was determined not to re-live Spencer's awful experience. BUT ... it happened. Right before the 15 minute break it hit. He was shaking in his chair, wiggling around, and trying so hard to hold it. He couldn't. He also had to run out in the middle of a section to go to the bathroom and the time didn't stop. This little inconvenience didn't phase Brad at all. The section he had to pee during was his highest scoring section of the whole test!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Happy birthday to my cousin Hannah! (I think this is the last July birthday...) She turned 13 yesterday! I hope her parents are ready! She's their first teenager. They're in for a treat, huh?



Sunday, July 12, 2009

"Hot Now"

Have you ever had a hankering for something sweet?
We sure did just a few days ago!


So, we made a quick run to Krispy Kreme. Lucky for us, their "hot now" sign was turned on so we got free ones!


Delicious!


Thursday, July 9, 2009

4th of July

We had a wonderful 4th of July which we spent hanging out with family, purchasing season passes to Seven Peaks, and of course watching fireworks!


on the hammock at Holli and Carl's


waiting for the fireworks to start


These are two of my favorite pictures that I got of the fireworks (and probably the only two good ones at that)


Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Happy Birthday Thomas!

Once again, another birthday! Today is my brother Thomas' birthday. He is now 14, which is so crazy. I remember when he was born! Here are some pictures of him. He hates being photographed, so just the fact that we even have this many pictures of him is amazing.


Here he is as a little boy. He's the only kid in our family with blonde hair.


This was taken a couple years ago at our grandparents' house in North Carolina.

This is the most recent picture. It was taken at our wedding luncheon.

Happy Birthday Thomas!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Happy Birthday Susan!

July is full of birthdays for my family; we still have more to come. Today is my aunt Susan's birthday! She is so wonderful and I love her dearly!

Here she is partying at our wedding reception!


And here she is having fun on the lake!!

Susan, we hope your day is fantastic! Happy Birthday!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Happy Birthday Brittney!

Happy Birthday to my sister Brittney! She's the big 1-8 today! So, I thought I'd post some pictures of her just to show everyone how darn cute she is!




Brittney and I in North Carolina


Me, Brittney, Dad


Brittney and Phillip, our brother
Brittney and I in 2006


Her dorm door that Brad and I decorated last night as a surprise for her


Happy Birthday, sister!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Mom Visits Utah

Two weeks ago my mom and sister Brittney came out to Utah. Brittney has just started school out here at BYU, so my mom was dropping her off. We did lots of fun stuff like going to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house, touring Bridal Veil Falls, and going to the Bean Science Museum here on campus.


This was taken after we were refreshed with wonderful cookies; temple open houses would make great Family Home Evenings...you're spiritually uplifted and you get treats at the end!


Brad and Courtney

Brittney, mom, Courtney


Brad and I at Bridal Veil Falls


This was at the science museum. Who knows what that crazy bird was, but Brad sure enjoyed it.


Right before my mom and sister came, Brad and I went to the Orem SummerFest. It's just a little carnival that the city puts on for a weekend with a parade on Saturday. The parade had to end early because it started raining, but fortunatly we snagged a ride on the ferris wheel before the storm set in.


See the dark clouds in the background?