Sundance fun :)

It has become a tradition for our dear friends Coreen and Jon to come visit during the Sundance Film Festival. We spend a few days together going to films, going snowboarding/skiing, shopping, eating, and spending time with friends. This year Dallin and I got a package of tickets and saw two movies with Keen & Jon, then went to 6 more films after they left. It was a busy two weeks going to all those films intermixed with school and work, but it was worth the hectic schedule. Our absolute favorite movie from the festival was called 'The Music Never Stopped' --Dallin said it is going to be released to theatres nation-wide soon. If you get the chance, go see this amazing film when it comes out. Onto the picture highlights...

We love you friends!! Happy film watching :)

-Jacquelyn

playing a little catch up...

I really do like blogging...it has just been low priority lately. The best thing about it for me is that when I fail to write in my journal, I have my blog to look back on for the highlights of each year. The key to this benefit is me actually blogging, so although time has past and I have failed to blog about many things, you are all going to have to go back in time with me while I make a goal of posting every day this week to get caught up and organized.

So flash back to Christmas 2010! Hahaha....

-Sophie loves the snow and I absolutely love this pic of my lil pup and cute hubby.

-Sophie also loves the mud and a couple days before Christmas when all the snow had melted, I let her out on her long line and after about two minutes she had covered herself and our entire patio playing in the mud. The picture doesn't give justice to how dirty she was because the mud blends into her chocolate coat.

-We spent Christmas eve with my family and can read all about it on my momma's blog here

-Because of Sophie, we didn't spend the night at Cerva's this year, so we went home to do our own little Christmas. Sophie got a new giant octopus! This is our very first Christmas tree as a married couple because Christmas 2009 we had just barely moved into our house and I was more focused on unpacking than on putting up a tree. I LOVED having a tree up...definitely made the house sparkle for a month :)

-Christmas Day we woke up very early and headed up to Cerva's for more Christmas fun. Opened presents, ate a delicious brunch, and just enjoyed the day. Afterwards we met up with my family again to see True Grit. Going to a movie on Christmas Day together as family is a tradition that I really enjoy. Christmas was so wonderful to focus on Christ's birth and spend so much time with loved ones. Thank you to all of our friends and family who spoiled us again this year and made the season so special.

-Jacquelyn

friendships...

Dallin says I am picky when it comes to choosing friends. I don't really know why he thinks that and when I asked him to elaborate, his explanation didn't make sense to me. I don't think I am picky--I just happen to have really great friends. My closest girl friends are from all different stages of my life and today I am missing all of you. After having to reschedule a lunch date today I was left feeling a little sorry for myself--lame I know, but let me explain. One friend was the one who had to cancel, my sis was in Logan for the day, two work full time down town, one lives in Provo, one in Texas, one in Idaho, one in California. I called Dallin upset that I "have no friends" and am a "loser," which I know isn't entirely true, but I do miss spending time with my dear friends who seem to be all over these days. Please know sweet friends how much I love you all and I am grateful for the many years we have spent together.

As for lunch, I got food from a drive thru and ate at home with my sweet friend who is always around---Sophie :)

-Jacquelyn

Remember, remember the 5th of November

In 2009 as I was planning my wedding, trying to scrape by in some of my hardest classes at BYU, and working to save money, I started to develop ulcers. The doctor attributed this to excessive stress, too much caffeine, and too much ibuprofen. The cure? Take one prilosec in the morning and one at night and continue drinking way too much Diet Coke and taking ibuprofen as much as needed. This seemed to be okay for a couple months, but once again it all caught up to me and even with the high amounts of prilosec the ulcers started emerging once again. I had no choice but to quit the Diet Coke habit. So, on August 8th 2009 I swore off Diet Coke. It was honestly the hardest thing I have ever done. I had headaches for about two months. I was grouchy and honestly craved Diet Coke every single day for a good 9 months. Finally, it seemed relief came and although I missed my zero calorie treat, life would indeed go on.

Well, after 1 year 2 months and 25 days, I decided I would practice some self control and see if I could once again enjoy my delicious drink in moderation. At a wonderful sushi dinner November 5th I drank my first Diet Coke in so long!!! The first couple sips didn't taste very good, but it did not take long for me to remember my deep love for such a simple thing. It's like I have found a long lost friend...Wish me luck in practicing my self control!! Cheers :)

Another Cougar...

About a week ago we got Dallin's acceptance letter to Brigham Young University!!! We are both very excited that he gets to finish up his schooling there. He is applying to the Media Arts Program in March and will have about 4 semesters of school before he gets his B.A. I am so proud of him!!! He has worked really hard at SLCC to get a stellar GPA and transfer to the only film school in the country he wanted to go to. On Monday we went down to campus to get his ID and a couple of packets he needed to get working on.

It's official!!

Lunch at J-Dawgs--it's his new favorite.

I love my handsome COUGAR :)

Sophie's firsts and favorites...

By no means do I want anyone to feel offended that I see my dog in the same light many of you see your children in at this phase in your lives. Please realize that I do understand that she is not a human, but she is a huge part of our lives and is dependent on us to survive. That in turn makes her much like a child, especially in her puppy stage of life. So here is a post dedicated to my adorable little dog who I have fallen absolutely in love with. (I can't believe I have turned into one of those weird 'dog people')

Her first meal...she was too tired to eat standing up so she laid down and tipped the bowl up.

She fell asleep in her water dish the first day we got her.

Her first bath!

This is honestly how Sophie preferred to drive in the car for about a week--wrapped around my neck! Luckily she quit doing that right around 20 lbs--I don't think I could have had her doing that much heavier!

She loves cramming her quickly growing body in tight spaces--like under this chair

Or under our bed...

Here is a video of her first experience with snow! Did you guys get that storm Sunday night? I couldn't believe the snow when I woke up the next morning!!! She absolutely loved it.

Thanks for indulging me in my love for this little chocolate dog.

-Jacquelyn

Top 10...

My Top 10 Reasons I LOVE Fall...even though Winter is still my favorite :)

10. The changing leaves--so beautiful

9. Busting out all of my cute, warm sweaters I have been missing for months...

8. BOOTS! love them all...

7. Halloween--easily my second favorite holiday

6. Going back to school--this no longer applies to me sadly (but that doesn't stop me from living vicariously through Dallin! I look at his syllabus' and online scores more than he does)

5. Conference weekend

4. APPLES!! They are so good this time of year

3. When it is not quite cold enough to turn on the heat, but the night is crisp and chilly--that's when you spend the evenings reading by the fireplace :)

2. Thanksgiving--what better way to lead into the Christmas season than by showing gratitude surrounded by loved ones. Another great holiday.

1. My number one favorite thing about fall is the memories I have of "warm October nights..." Dallin- I love you and October will always be 'our month' to me. Here's to many more 'fall memories' to come.

Happy Fall to everyone!

-Jacquelyn