As many of you know, Dan and I spent Christmas and New Years in Hawaii. We spent the first week at my Aunt and Uncle's home on the Big Island and then the second week with my father-in-law on Maui. I know there are a lot of pictures, but I hope it makes up for my lack of blog-posts. We have come to love Hawaii so much. Dan has loved it since his childhood and the three times we've been since we've been married has only solidified my desire to move there ASAP! Another bit of good news...I graduated from the Academy of Art! I am officially an Interior Designer now. We hope you enjoy the pics. I put captions on each photo so you have an idea of what you are looking at...

AAAAHHHHHH.....FINALS!!!!!!

So, I know....the slideshow of Disneyland pics hasn't gone up yet, nor have I posted pics of Thanksgiving (which was wonderful)and you may have noticed I haven't commented on any of your blogs recently or responded to your comments, HOWEVER, I HAVE REASONS.... I graduate in a week and a half and am going crazy from all of the requirements for finals! I hope and pray I survive. This is my second degree and it's what I've always wanted to do...graduate from art school! So, wish me luck and after next Thursday-Dec. 18 I am done and hoping a job comes along soon to pay off the student loans (art school's not cheap). All too soon our blog will be updated regularly, I will return to leaving comments on your blogs and getting in-touch with life again. I can't believe it's been 2.5yrs. since I started at the Academy of Art. I owe it all to my wonderful husband who encouraged me to follow my dreams. He supported me through my year of "what the heck kind of teaching job is this?" and through "I absolutely love art school, but I've stayed up for 3 days without sleep to complete this project or that project." Life is truly beautiful and I love being able to look back on experiences with 20/20, otherwise, how awful would it be if we couldn't look back on stressful situations to laugh, cry, and breath a sigh of relief that we made it through! The picture is of my AAU DIFFA Dining By Design team's table for the event this year at the SF Design Center. The chandelier is made out of the ends of plastic soda bottles.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today is our anniversary!
3 years to the day and going strong! Being married has been the BEST blessing. We are truly eternal companions and best friends. We have grown so much in the time since we met, 8yrs ago in a math class at DVC. Our eyes locked and it was magic. Of course it took both of us a year of friendship to admit that we had huge crushes on each other, but we are both grateful that we developed a friendship first before dating. We cheer each other on everyday and spend most of our time laughing together! We are so grateful that we place Heavenly Father first and foremost in our lives and marriage. We don't know what we would do without our eternal marriage, sealed in the temple. The temple offers so many blessings, such peace, and understanding.
Happy Anniversary to us!

Back Home

We had a blast in Disneyland! The first day we spent entirely in Disneyland. We rode the Haunted Mansion ride numerous times. It was incredible how they decorated it for the "Nightmare Before Christmas". We rode Pirates of the Caribbean and we had to ride Peter Pan and Snow White (Dan had never been on those) then we rode Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. We had lunch at the Blue Bayou (the restaurant in the Pirates of the Caribbean). We shared the Monte Cristo sandwich and it is amazing! Our waiter gave us "Happy Anniversary" buttons after we had mentioned that's why we came to Disneyland. He told us to wear them the rest of our time there, which proved a great thing- We were wished happy anniversary by every employee that we passed and we got front row seats to the "Soaring over California" ride at CA Adventureland. We then went on the Big Thunder Railroad, Winnie the Pooh, and Jungle Cruise. We went on the Matterhorn, Space Mountain (which was my first time on that ride) and Star Tours. We rode some other rides again and we were beat at about 7pm (hate to admit) but in our defense, we arrived at our hotel the previous night at 12:30am. The second day we went to Disneyland first (because CA Adventureland didn't open until 10am). We rode Indiana Jones twice and the Jungle Cruise again to restore Dan's faith in that ride (the first tour guide wasn't funny at all, however the second one was hilarious!). We then went over to CA Adventureland. Everything was decked-out with these huge oversized candy corns. Dan convinced me to ride the "Hollywood Tower of Terror" which was one of my biggest fears...rides like drop-zone at Great America....I didn't like the free falling thing. BUT I MADE IT! I rode the ride...thought I was going to die, but I loved it...after. Instead of just lifting you up and then dropping you, the ride disorients you by bringing you up and dropping you and dropping you again and then bringing you up again and dropping you and then the final drop from the top. Then we went back over to Disneyland to eat lunch at Cafe Orleans where they serve Mickey-shaped beignets (puff pastries). We started eating lunch and the entire restaurant had to be evacuated because the fire alarm was going off. After about 1/2hr. we were allowed back to our tables. After lunch, we got our picture taken with Jack and Sally -from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (we had tried twice before that to get in line before they closed it off). Then we went back over to CA Adventureland and rode "California Screamin'" It is probably the best rollercoaster we had ever been on! We went to the Bug's life 3D movie thing they have and it was hilarious! We then watched the Muppet 3D movie and it was great too. We finished off the day back at Disneyland riding more rides, eating dinner, and watching the fireworks. On the drive back, we went up 101 instead of 5, so we could stop in Solvang. Dan ate his first Aeblskivers! They are puff pastry that is from Denmark and they are soooooo good. I hadn't been to Solvang in almost 9yrs. We walked around for a little bit to stretch our legs from the drive and then continued on home. I wish I would have taken a picture of a "Yes on 8" sign we saw at the side of the road...It was huge and the base was completely surrounded with chain-link fence topped in barbed wire! It was awesome. We will post our pics on a slideshow, once I figure out how to do that.

Going to Disneyland

Dan and I are leaving for Disneyland today for our anniversary. The big three! I made him Mickey Mouse pancakes this morning for breakfast. Mickey has blueberry eyes and a blueberry nose.We are so excited! Neither of us has been to Disneyland in about 10yrs. During Halloween time Disneyland decorates for the holiday and they take-over the Haunted Mansion ride and redo it with a Nightmare Before Christmas theme (which is my favorite Halloween movie).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAN

Today is Dan's birthday! The big 26! WAHOO! Words can't explain how grateful I am to have Dan as my eternal companion. I learn from his wonderful examples each day of how to be more like the person I want to be. I changed the border of our blog today to the "John Deere" motif...(Dan wants to be a farmer when we are old and grey). Dan is the best husband and friend!

Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker-Jacks!

We went to church-night at the A's game. After not having any moisture for who knows how long, as we were walking to will-call the sky began to sprinkle! We were so excited! We didn't even care if the game got rained-out... we just wanted it to pour. Well, that didn't happen, but it was exciting to see some drizzle! We met-up with Beau and Heather Oyler with their adorable son Luke. The game was great, considering the A's are having a horrible season, but they won! After the game we got to go down to the field and lay on the grass to watch an incredible fireworks display! We had a blast!