Ok so it's not even February yet but...

I've already started planning for Valentine's Day and our (3-year) anniversary on the 24th...I think I may be a wee bit early but I get so excited planning vacations and events that as soon as I know something is happening (or may be happening depending on the situation) I start planning! Yesterday I asked off the days I wanted for our anniversary (23rd and 24th of February) and as soon as I got the ok to have the days off (like an hour later...you rock Doug!) I called and made reservations for us a the Brighton Lodge. Yeah it's like a month away but you can never be too prepared right?! Luckily for me Matt doesn't mind too much that I like to get every detailed planned out months in advance. I think he is use to it now and maybe even possibly likes it. For me it just gets me more excited for whatever is coming up.

Take for example our anniversary on February 24th...

We are spending the day up in Brighton snowboarding to our hearts content (or as long as we can before we are so dead tired we can't move). Then we can walk right over to Brighton Lodge, relax in an outdoor hot tub (what's better then being in an outdoor hot tub, in the winter, after a long day of snowboarding?) and spend our anniversary just kicking back! Awh...I can't wait!

Since I have that all planned out my next focus is Valentines. Valentine's Day is on Saturday this year (to those that don't know) and Matt is working 7-5pm...not ideal but it's ok, I got a plan! I decided to plan a romantic dinner for us (since going out to a restaurant that night will be nightmare) with candles, roses pedals (blah, blah, blah). I think it will turn out really nice and be a surprise for Matt after a long day of work. If anyone has any ideas or tips about romantic candle -lite dinners let me know!

So yes it is early to be planning Valentines Day and our anniversary agenda's but I can't help it...I love doing it! Life would be so boring if we never had fun right?!

California Vacation!

So it's been awhile since my last post but there's a good reason...Matt and I spent all of last week in California visiting with family, going to Disneyland, the beach, and even snowboarding! We had a blast!

We took off after work on Friday (January 16th) and stayed the night in Wendover.

We grabbed a bite to eat at Sonic's before taking off to Wendover.

Chicken Sandwich...good!

We stayed at a Motel 6 the first night...very crammed and tight but way cheap!

All of our junk! We didn't dare leave anything in the truck over night (we are paranoid like that) so we brought it in and didn't realize we brought so much stuff!

Matt just chillin in the Motel...

...and myself. We watched a little tv then decided to get some rest since we were driving about 10 hours the next day.

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early! We took off to California as soon as we could.

Leaving Wendover...later cowboy man!

Of course you knew we had to hit up In-N-Out! This one was in Sparks, NV close to Reno.

YUMMY!!

Just enjoying the food. It was so crowded inside but yet so warm outside we decided to eat on the back of the truck. Good times!

Enjoying my grub! (Notice the short-sleeved t-shirt...it was actually warm enough!! BEAUTIFUL!)

Me just being silly... :P

After many, many grueling hours we finally made it to Thom and Sarah's house (Matt's brother and sister-in-law) in Newark, CA (in the bay area). We rested and relaxed the rest of Saturday and then Sunday we were able to attend church with the family which was nice. Here are some pictures of my ADORABLE niece and nephew, Luke and Leona...

Me and my stinkin cute niece Leona! I haven't seen her since June and she as grown so much!!

Matt and Leona...she is such a little cutie! (He isn't too bad either...lol)

What a sweetie!

Uncle Matt and Leona.

Just playing around!

My energetic nephew Luke! He LOVED playing with his swords and pretending to be Peter Pan...of course that meant Matt was Captain Hook!

The look on Luke's face is priceless! That's a pretty scary Captain Hook!

After church on Sunday Thom and Sarah (Matt's brother and sister-in-law) took us up to the Oakland Temple. Very beautiful! I had never been so far north in California before so it was really neat seeing the bay area and the temple.

Luke, Thom, Leona, and Sarah in front of the temple.

Matt and I being cheesy!

Aunt Brittany and Uncle Matt swinging Luke up...he loved it!

The next day we took off to Anaheim to meet up with Mom and Dad as well as Allie and Tim. On Tuesday we went to Disneyland and had a blast! Besides spending time with family and well just being in one of the funnest places on earth...it was actually warm! It wasn't hot...and it wasn't cold, it was just perfect! I highly recommend anyone who needs a little vacation from the snow to get out to Cali and enjoy the sunshine!

YEA! We're in Disneyland!!

Matt's favorite ride...Haunted Mansion! Sadly it was closed when we came...they were changing it over from Christmas time when they do Nightmare Before Christmas in it.

I LOVE Pirates!

Me, Matt, and Mom after we went on Space Mountain.

Mom, Allie, and Tim posing for the camera!

After Disneyland we went to California Adventure! Love it!!

The next day (Wednesday) we headed up to Big Bear to spend a couple of days with the family. Before we went up though we decided to go to the beach...it was amazing! It was the perfect temperature outside and I didn't want to leave!

Me and Matt chillin at the beach!

Smooch!

When we got to mom and dad's we got to open Christmas presents...how rad was that?!

Allie and Tim just relaxing on the sofa.

Allie and Matt playing Guitar Hero later that day...

...you guys ROCK!

On Thursday Matt took me snowboarding for my very first time! I was a little nervous at first but it turned out to be a hoot! I of course ate it a couple of times and was pretty sore the day after but I would definitly love to go again!

Matt coming down the hill.

Ta-da! He made it down in one piece!

Yea I am snowboarding! Rock on!

So though this hill wasn't steep AT ALL I am actually going down it here...and yes I ate it a couple of times.

We took off Friday morning and it was bitter sweet coming home. Though I really missed my bed and apartment it was hard saying goodbye to our family and getting back to life (aka work, etc). We made the most of our drive home and you'll never guess where we stopped by to have lunch...

Another In-N-Out...how could we be so lucky? This is actually the first In-N-Out I went to. Matt and I went on a road trip (back in 2005 when we were dating) with my buds Ashley and Kathy and Matt took me to this In-N-Out in Vegas. Since then I was hooked!

Very scrumptious!

This is what we got to come home too...so not cool!

Overall we had one of the funnest vacations ever! I couldn't have asked for a better week with my hubby and family!

"He Inspired and He Gave" In Memory of My Grandfather...

James G. Bergera

April 13th, 1931 - January 12th, 2008

A year ago this past Monday my grandpa James Bergera passed away. It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since I’ve seen my grandpa. I was extremely close to my grandpa, he was like a dad to me and I miss him immeasurably.

Since I was young my grandpa taught me the importance of gaining knowledge, giving to others, and unconditionally love. I fondly remember grandma and grandpa coming over to visit when I was younger. Grandpa would grab a book for us to read, put us on his lap and we would read for hours. He had such amazing patience and wouldn’t get frustrated when we were learning to read a new book and couldn’t quite get through the pages as fast as he. He would sit there, help us sound out the words, and smile when we made it through a rough patch. He was always good about hearing our stories, helping us out with homework (number one priority!), and taking us out to our favorite little diner for lunch. On days when my mom and dad worked he would come over and take us to school so we didn’t have to walk in the snow and rain. He was that kind of guy, always willing to help us, teach us, and push us to do our best.

My grandpa was also the most unselfish man I have ever known and was consistently giving to others, including myself. Whenever we needed a little extra cash we knew we could always come over and clean his house, wash his windows, or mow his lawn. He would pay us so much more then we needed but that was my grandpa. Don’t even think about trying to pick up the bill when you went out to eat with him. And when you asked what you could order he would say, “Anything you want”. He was gracious enough to let my sister, brother, and I move into his house as soon as we graduated and we were so thankful to him for it! I lived with my grandpa for over two years I am so grateful for those years and for the relationship that I grew with him.

Reflecting on his passing makes me reflect on the atonement of Jesus Christ. I become elated to know that I can see my grandpa and my grandma again one day and this is not the end of life for us. My grandma passed away in 2004 and I am overjoyed to know that my grandparents are together again and happy and I can't wait to see them!

I will always miss my grandpa. I don’t think a day will pass that I don’t think of him as well as my grandma and the immense impact they have made in my life and all those they have touched. A truly remarkable man who brought so much love to me and my family. I love you grandpa!

California Dreamin...

So I couldn't be more excited because in one week from today Matt and I are taking off to California! I mean what could honestly be better then a whole stinkin week away from work, school, stresses of life, and of course snow! Over the Holidays we weren't able to visit Matt's family and so now we are taking advantage of the little vacation time we have both accumulated and we are taking off west to spend a whole week with the gang! We are going to open Christmas presents, crash at Thom and Sarah's house while we spend time with our cute little nephew and niece, and even go to DISNEYLAND! I mean come on, how stinking AWESOME is that! I really can't put into words my excitement, just be forewarned there will be a HUGE post about it all with plenty of pictures when we get back! Bring on the sunshine!!

Not another one…J/K!

8 TV shows I like to watch...
1. Prison Break
2. The Office
3. Grey’s Anatomy
4. SNL
5. Bones
6. Brothers and Sisters
7. Pushing Daises
8. 30 Rock

8 Things I did Yesterday...
1. Drove to work and hit some major black ice!
2. Worked 7-4.
3. Did training with the “new guy” Joel.
4. Read a little bit of “Goodbye, Darkness: A Memoir of the Pacific War”.
5. Went to Wal-Mart and waited for Matt to get off.
6. Went to Café Rio with Matt for dinner…yummy!
7. Watched a couple episodes of “Numbers”.
8. Fell asleep with hubby! (my favorite part of the day).

8 Restaurants/Fast Food places I love to eat at...
1. Rubio’s
2. Rumbi Island Grill
3. Red Robin
4. Cafe Rio
5. La Dolce Vita
6. JCW’s
7. In ‘n Out
8. El Pollo Loco

8 Things I am Looking Forward to...
1. Getting a new cell phone today!
2. Getting my hair cut and colored tomorrow!
3. Cali trip in just over a week!
4. Seeing my cute little nephew and niece!
5. DISNEYLAND!
7. Our 3-Year Anniversary next month!
8. Any days off with my hubby!

8 things on my wish list...
1. Find a new job for Matt.
2. Pay off all our debt!
3. To see our family in California (and Michigan) more often.
4. To travel abroad.
5. To attend the Temple more often and continue to grow spiritually.
6. To finally graduate (both me and Matt) and get good jobs!
7. To always stay close to our family!
8. To have an AMAZING life with my AMAZING husband for ETERNITY!

8 People I tag...
EVERYONE!

Out of shear boredom...

High School Never Ends... Payson High School Lions!

1. DID YOU DATE SOMEONE FROM YOUR SCHOOL? Nope not really...I went out with a couple guys here and there but never really "dated" anyone until I was college.

2. WHAT KIND OF CAR DID YOU DRIVE? Oh wow...ya I had a White '91 Chevy Cavalier that I got from my uncle...it was a clunker and broke down several times (once on Main Street in Spanish Fork...it was so stinkin embarrassing!) but it was my car and I loved it!

3. DID YOU PASS YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE TEST YOUR FIRST TRY? But of course!

4. WHERE YOU A PARTY ANIMAL? LOL...ya ask any of my high school friends this question and they would burst out laughing...NOT AT ALL!

5. WERE YOU CONSIDERED A FLIRT? Also LOL...I didn't even know how to flirt!

6. WERE YOU IN BAND, ORCHESTRA, OR CHOIR? Neither...I was in band in 6th and 7th grade but that's it...although a lot of my friends were in Choir and a couple in band, I was the odd man out.

7. WERE YOU A NERD? Not really though we were all pretty nerdy in Payson (hehe).

8. WERE YOU ON ANY VARSITY TEAMS? Duh! J/K of course not!

9. DID YOU EVER GET SUSPENDED/EXPELLED? Nope...I was a good girl!

10. CAN YOU STILL SING THE FIGHT SONG? Not at all...I don't think I ever sang it in High School though...I do remember it had the words Green and Silver in it.

11. WHO WERE YOUR FAVORITE TEACHERS? I loved my art teachers Mrs. Burdick and Ms. Shuler...they were the best...made class just so low key and chill...very cool ladies!

12. WHERE DID YOU SIT FOR LUNCH? We would usually sit in the lunch room on the same tables (hard to explain where) some of us would eat some wouldn't...we would just sit and talk, it was cool.

13. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S FULL NAME? Payson High School

14. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S MASCOT AND COLORS? Lions, Green & Silver

15. DID YOU GO TO HOMECOMING AND WITH WHO? Yup, with Devin Rowley who actually just became a dad a couple of days ago...talk about CrAzY!

16. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN WOULD YOU? It would be fun to hang out with my chica's again but as far as the school part no thank you!

17. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT GRADUATION? Being nervous I would trip or something...having fun with my friends, driving up to the graduation with my bud Kathy and just having a blast!

18. WHERE DID YOU GO SENIOR SKIP DAY? I don't know if we even had one...

19. WERE YOU IN ANY CLUBS? Nope!

20. HAVE YOU GAINED SOME WEIGHT SINCE THEN? I've actually lost some weight since High School :)

21. WHO WAS YOUR PROM DATE? My mom, sister, and aunt Cathy (hehe)...we actually went out to dinner all together at Los Hermanos and just had a girls night out, it was fun!

22. ARE YOU PLANNING ON GOING TO YOUR 10 YEAR REUNION? We will just have to see...

23. DID YOU HAVE A JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL? Sort of, I had a seasonal job at Olson's Garden Shoppe and I worked for a little bit at World's Gym in Spanish Fork, and though I am ashamed to admit it I worked for about a month with my buds Ashley and Kathy at Western Watts (don't judge!)