Our Primary Class

Ok, so we finally have pictures of our primary class. We were missing Georgia today, but when they're all there, maybe we can have a big class picture. First there is Grace, then Page, Leah, and Debony. They all have such different and unique personalities, it is amazing to learn from them. They are all five and already know so much about the scriptures.

One time we were teaching that we need to obey the laws of the land. We asked what color meant stop - they all said "red." We then asked what color meant go. Debony said, "white!" :) What? We asked her what she meant. Very confidnetly and almost in a tone of "why are you asking," she said, "when there is a red hand it means stop, when there is a white person, you can walk." Smart!

Another time in church we asked Debony to say the closing prayer. She was so funny, she said, "...and please bless that we can have treats." :) Luckily we had cookies, but that was so funny.

Grace in our class is so fun and sweet, but she is also very sensative. One Sunday we didn't call on her to say a prayer and she didn't look up after the closing prayer - she was crying. We asked her what was wrong and through her tears she said she had wanted to say a prayer and she didn't get to. So we decided we would have her say the opening prayer the next Sunday, well we did and she said she didn't want to say the prayer...Oh, they are so fun.

Well, we'll keep you updated on other funny things they do. I know they aren't our kids so it's not as cool, but for now... :)

Oh, also, we should report on the Body Worlds exhibit we went to. I don't think I'll tell you what we saw cuz it sounds grose but it isn't - PROMISE! It's so cool and educational - we loved it. However, if you're planning on going, plan for 2 + hours, and of that it takes about 1/2 hour - 45 minutes to get through the lines - even with pre-purchased tickets. But, it's cool. Well, for now, take care and we'll write again.

37-inches of pure awesomeness!

Doesn't the title just say it all? :) That's right we made our purchase of our first 37-inches of pure awesomeness! And soon we will be watching TV in all of it's HD glory. We saved up all of our gift cards to Target that we got for our wedding and added a little that we saved and got the beast! She fills up the entire space on our entertainment center, minus 1/4 in on each side! Previously, we had a nice, silver, 13 inch TV but now we don't have to lean forward to watch a movie! It was funny because the day it came, Braden was home and got it all put together before work. It was the Friday after we got back from Oregon, the TV wasn't scheduled to come until the next Monday or Tuesday. I rushed home to get ready because we were meeting Braden's family at the Timpanogos Temple. I ran in and said Hello to Braden and he was all smiling, I made a comment about him being happy and asked what was up, "Nothing." was his reply. Then I was getting ready and he came in the bedroom, again ALL smiles, "what?" I asked. "Nothing" he replied! :) So, I continued. He just kept looking at me and smiling, so I finally went over to him and said something like, "Ok, something is up, what?" He asked why anything would be up. I told him it was because he was SO happy. He said he was always like that but I didn't buy it. I was finally ready and I said, "Ok, let's go!" He just stayed in the living room on the couch. I went in, and you could guess, still smiling. "Ok, something is up!" I went in the kitchen to see if something had changed - then I saw the VIZIO pamphlets on the table. THE TV! :) I looked in the living room - past Braden and YEP, There was the TV - Big, Black, and filling up the entire entertainment center. How did I miss i? The TV came I said - YES!!!! Braden said. Man it sure took me long enough! But it was fun and we love it now. Now we're just waiting for the TV connection - we're going with Dish.

ORYGUN

I know. I know. It's been awhile. Ever since school started (I'm back at Boy You're Ugly) things have been pretty crazy. But, we do have a lot to share with you because the last few weeks have been pretty eventful.

For starters, we should probably tell you about our trip to Oregon. It was Jen's maiden voyage to the Treehugger state. In the short 5 days we were there, she got a pretty good shellacking of very non-Utah culture and a pretty severe case of Duck fever. It didn't start out, though, as all fun and games (Jen learned to play Ripple!). After being (Grandpa was driving) in the car for 8 hrs on a trip that usually takes 5, we were spent. It was nice in good ol' Nampa, Idaho. We stayed at my Aunt Jean and Uncle Steve's place. Too make that long story short, they got a new 4-wheeler and wanted us to take it for a spin. I glady accepted and took it by myself for a good 20 min. ride around farm land. The view wasn't much, but it was a fun ride. I came back and got Jen and we headed out again. All of the sudden, out of nowhere, when we were in the middle of a dusty farm road, a huge dust storm hit and we were getting pelted by dust at, like, 30 mph. It was crazy. Well, we eventually go back safe but not after getting sand blasted.


Well, the next day saw green like you only see in pictures in Utah. Trees were everywhere it was nice!! The place of my origin! We did lots of stuff. We ate at Papa's Pizza (some of the best pizza, and a plain old tradition), played lots of Ripple, talked lots of football and went and saw the sites of Eugene. That took all of about a day. With nothing else to do, we went to the "Coast" which Jen thought was kind of funny because everyone calls it the coast. Not the beach, not the ocean - the coast. Anyways, that was fun except for the fact that it was all fogged in. But it was still, like Jen said, "Beautiful though." NOTE: Grandma got lost in the bushes trying to find a trail and got all cut up and muddy. We found her by the trail in her huge purple coat. It was really funny!!





Ok. After all of that, the day of days finally came. It was Saturday and Jen's hazing was almost complete. To be completely initiated into true Oregonianism, Jen had to see true liberals. A.K.A. hippies. So we went to the Saturday's Market in downtown Eugene. Among a lot of cool things to buy, we saw more dreads than Jamaica, a man in a dress, a guy singing a song about people wearing shoes (all he said was, "He/she's wearing shoes" over and over again.) It took him 20 years to come up with those, so he said. A fully grown, straight man, was wearing a skirt and mid-drift t-shirt. Jen had never seen hairier legs - on women. And the air smelled so good that I can't really remember what happened for the next few hours. Maybe it was all the weed?! Once making it through that, Jen was ready - ready for her coronation into the family - The Duck game!




Without a doubt, this was the part Jen was most excited for. I was like, "Oh, it'll be pretty fun." But Jen showed me a side of her she has never shown, probably to anyone. She couldn't even sleep the night before. I don't know why. It was only a football game. She even wanted to paint her face. The game wasn't until 7pm but she insisted that we get there at 4 so we could see the team, hook up with some REAL tailgaters, and just see the stadium and everything. The best part was, once we got into the stadium, it didn't take long before we heard the student section taunting the Washington fan's and team by chanting, "F*** the Huskies!" over and over and over again. What surprised me the most is Jen's willingness to join into the ruckus. I had to hold her back and cover her mouth. It was embarrassing, but once she really got going, I couldn't do anything but join in also!! So there we were F***in the Huskies over and over and over again! It was great. Needless to say, the Ducks won their home and Pac-10 opener by a lot. It couldn't have been better! NOTE: The preceeding message was completely falsified. Braden was actually the excited one (in case you didn't already know) and there was no f***in from us. We promise.






The next day, we flew home, got to Utah in the worst rain storm it has ever seen, and slept at Joe and Kathy's place. Monday was Labor day, so we cleaned out the fridge, picked up Joe and Kathy from the airport, and enjoyed the rest of the day/holiday/vacation. The next day saw work and school and that's been the story ever since.

Update by Jen

Hello! I haven't written on here for a while, it's usually Braden :) which is great cuz he's really good at it. But, I thought I'd take a minute and update you all on our life.

Yesterday, Braden finished his finals and hence finished his Summer semester!!!! Whooo! He did so great in all of his classes, especially his industrial design drawing class. Now he has 3 weeks off and I know we are both going to really enjoy it. Especially because for a week of that time we get to go to Oregon, which I've never been to and it's where Braden grew up. The two highlights he's been talking about the most is a donut shop in Eugene and the opening Oregon Duck game which we will go to live!!!! - along with my first ever tailgate party. We will for sure post pictures when we get back.

We had both of our parents over for dinner this last weekend - My parents and the puppy came for Sunday dinner, and Braden's parents came for Monday dinner. We had so much fun! Both nights we played a game we got for our wedding - In a Pickle, both our dad's won! With my parents we checked out the highlights on YouTube of the TV show, "Wipeout." If you haven't seen it, it's so funny. Then on Monday night we watched a movie, Drillbit Taylor. It was funny with a moral of how the bully get's it in the end.

I know I'm going backwards but that is how my mind works! :) Sunday we also accepted our calling in church to be Primary teachers. We teach three little girls - they are about 5 or 6 years old. Only two of them were there this last week, Page and Grace. Again, we'll take pictures and post them.

Last bit of news is that one year ago Braden and I met. I can't believe it's been a year. I have so much to be grateful for and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in my life than in our basement apartment with my wonderful wonderful husband, Braden. I don't know how I got so lucky. We tell each other we were good missionaries - cuz as I heard the Elder's say a lot, "gotta work hard for those "Hot Wife" points" - or in my case "Hot Hubby" points! :) Yep, I must have worked dang hard! It's been a great year, I'm so grateful to our Heavenly Father for bringing us together and that we are now an Eternal Family.

Until next post, we love you all TONS and hope to see and hear from you all soon. Oh, and thanks for voting on our new hair. Braden actually has even newer hair now. He buzzed it for the summer - I think it looks hot! :) K, C-Ya!

It's Summer Time!!

Ok. I know what most of you are thinking. You're thinking, "What the crud Braden, it's been summer for, like, the last 3 months." I know. But, for me, today is the first day of summer!!! See, for the last calender year, I have been a faithful member of BYU classrooms. That's right. I have been going to school. But yesterday, I finished my finals (did pretty well too!) and today, well, today I get to do pretty much nothing - only what I want to. I'll be spending the next couple of weeks sleeping in, making movies, writing books and reports (that's my job), paying serious attention to the olympics (we don't have cable so I'll watch it online), watching a lot of movies, going to Oregon, seeing the Ducks play, spending time with Jen not doing quizzes, and more. Then, when all that is done, guess what? Back to school. Yup, only two weeks for me. But hey, come April, I'm done! Anyways, I just wanted to let you all know. I hope you all have had a nice summer. Peace.

p.s. don't you just love the picture?

Do the Do!

So, it wasn't but a week ago that Jen and I had our one month anniversary. I know I know, a lot of you are saying, "Whoopdeedo. It's a month." But if you really think about it, many marriages, especially celebrity marriages, don't last that long. So I think that we're doing DANG good! Anyways, for our anniversary, we decided to get new hairdo's. Jen cut her hair short, which I love! I darkened my hair up a bit. So, it's somethin' different for the both of us. Let us know what you think!

Wedding Day!

Alright, I know that some of you have been anxiously waiting to see some pictures from our wedding day. So here are some. I hope that you enjoy them. They really turned out nicely. Our photographer, Joanna Taylor, did an amazing job. I recommend her to any who are looking!


















Needless to say, the day was perfect! We couldn't have asked for a better day! Thanks to everyone was able to come to the temple. We love you all. Stay tuned for more pics from the reception and BBQ!