A YEAR IN REVIEW

2010!

What a great year! It was filled with memories and alot of firsts. To start the year off, Brandon and I took a trip to ARUBA in March (Spring Break baby)! I absolutley loved it!

One thing we learned is that Aruba is like 90% desert. It would be hard to tell if you stayed around the coast because it seems totally tropical. But yep, lots of cactuses... uh... thats not right... cacti?
The country is little... it is only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide.



snorkeling



The people are sooo friendly! Their official language is Dutch, which seemed so wierd to me at first, but most Arubians speak lots of languages. It was also hard to tell who was a tourist, and who was from there. There were so many walks of life in Aruba. One thing we didn't like was that everything was sooo expensive! The food especially. It made us definately appreciate free drink refills at restaurants.


Can't wait to go back.




Another first that I experienced in 2010 was buying a house.
The process was fun, stressful, and exciting. We have loved (yet hated) all the decorating, painting, and hard work that we have put in to make this house our home.

New Job in 2010!

First Aruba then Jamaica! In 2010 i felt like I was living in a Beach Boys song.

This time we were smart and stayed in an all-inclusive Hotel. Highly recommended!

This is the view from our room.

Dunn River Falls

WARNING: In Jamaica EVERYONE will try and sell you weed!

Brandon sitting on Bob Marley's former meditation rock. He looks high but I swear he isn't. When we went to look at Bob's resting spot, our tour guide, of course offered us marijuana. Afterwards everyone was like, "We should have smoked, how many people can say they smoked weed at Bob Marleys grave" and I said... "how many people can say they DIDN'T smoke at Bob Marley's grave!!!" I definately think we were the minorities on that one.

Brandon and I talked in Jamaican accents for like a week after we got home. Everything we said was followed by a "no problem mon!"

Probably my favorite 2010 experience was getting my puppy Barkley!

He started out so tiny!

I probably have 100 pics of him sleeping. I can't help myself, he is so stinkin' cute!

I wouldn't consider my self a huge animal lover but I am so attached to this dog its not even funny. I know its cheesy but I always think "what did I do without him?" and then Brandon reminds me.. I slept in, I didn't have dog hair all over me, I had leftover money, etc. I wouldn't change it for the world. I love him.

Sleepy boys

He has gotten sooo big! Okay, okay... I will quit with the crazy cat (dog in my case) lady talk.

GOODBYE 2010! I can only hope that 2011 can bring me half of the joy you brought!

Halloween 2010

Another fun night at the 3rd annual Halloween party at Liz and Bryans house. Brand and I, last minute, decided to be Thing One and Thing 2 from Dr. Suess' - The Cat in the Hat.

Mario and Yoshi

Bryan and Liz/Oscar the Grouch and Elmo

Liz made these costumes from scratch!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Robbie and Shay

Puppy Love

Meet Barkley! The new (and other) love of my life!!! I am so happy that he has joined our house and I couldn't be happier with our decision to get him. I am, however, quickly realizing that my life is changing rapidly. No more sleeping in, or sleeping at all for that matter, constantly having to watch his every move, entertaining him, and the potty training! Oh the potty training! Despite all of the changes, I am loving every minute of being a dog owner.
6 weeks old.

Named Barkley after Brandons favorite former NBA player, Charles Barkley

He is a Boxer, and judging off of the size of his parents we estimate he will grow to be about 90 lbs. So I am soaking up every minute of his short lived, small, puppy dog stage.

I got a little camera happy, but he's soooooo cute!

Playing in the yard

My two favorite boys!

Gone Fishin'

This Labor Day weekend was so much fun. Brandon's parents, Madelyn and Richard came down to check out our new house and just hang out. We spent our saturday driving up the canyon in Beaver. It was so beautiful and there were around five lakes to pick were we wanted to fish. We settled at Puffer Lake, it was a little windy but for the most part it was good weather. Only Richard and I were able to get a catch... sorry Brand!

I feel so blessed to be surrounded by so much beauty

So relaxed

Father and son



me and my fish

Maddy's HUGE catch.. actually Richard caught it, she just wanted to pretend

Thanks for coming to visit Richard and Maddy!

Goodbye Summer

I've had a great 2010 summer and this past weekend (Aug 20-22) was a great way to wrap it up. My darling friend Angie got married in Sandy, UT. It was so good to see almost all of my Dixie State College friends. I was also inspired to update my blog (thanks Raquel!).

Me, Ang, & preggers Raquel

my three besties!
Marcee, Nicole, Angela

Campus Villas gang

The beautiful bride!

Strawberry Reservoir

A little fun in the sun and water was the perfect ending to my summer.

Boating was a blast. Both Brand and I waterski'd. We were able to get up, just not stay up.

mom in law- maddy

Ibarra Family

A quick catch up

Dear Diary,
Well I can't believe that it has been 10 months since I last wrote you. Now I know I've said that to every diary I've every owned and eventually quit, but this time I'm sad that I haven't kept up. So much has happened. Lets see... I went back to school after 3 years to get my Master's degree in School Counseling and boy it is hard! But so far I've survived two semesters and am half way through my third. Other highlights of the past 10 months include: going to the gorgeous country Aruba, and buying a house. Here are some pictures to help you remember the rest of 2009 and the first half of 2010.

October 2009, Halloween

Kayne West and Taylor Swift. Of course this costume is based on the actions of Kayne West during the 2009 MTV Video Awards.

There were so many fun costumes at the party we went to......

Beetlejuice & Lydia


Wayne and Garth- Party On!



DECEMBER 2009
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

New Years Eve

Black Light Party

February 2010

I turned 26!!! So sad :(

March 2010

ARUBA!!!

We had a great time in Aruba and enjoyed learning about the country and culture. I took alot of pictures but these were some of my favorites. We can't wait to go back some day.

April 2010
New House!