See you in 2009

We're heading off! My next post will be from the Ozarks, our new home sweet home.
Happy New Year's Eve!!!

Graduated

This post is a little late but important! Tony is finished with school! Yay!!! I'm so proud of him :) Unfortunately he won't be walking since BYU doesn't hold graduation ceremonies until spring. I wanted some pictures of him in graduation robes...oh well. He graduated from BYU'S Marriot School of Business. I found these little clips from the paper about his program:

For the first time ever, BusinessWeek placed BYU in its top tier of business schools, earning a No. 22 overall rank in its Nov. 24 issue.

The Princeton Review also ranked the Marriot School as the fourth most competitive, and 10th in the category of "best classroom experience."

Pretty impressive, huh?

Stockings!

I met up with my friend Heather at Trolley Square for dinner so of course I had to browse Pottery Barn while I was there. I have been looking for stockings but didn't want to buy any unless they were the perfect ones! We'll have these for years! I saw these in the catalog and loved them but when I was in the store they were on SALE!!! Whoo hoo!!!I got the red one for me and unfortunately for Tony they didn't have the green one pictured above, so I got him a traditional red and white velvet stocking. I don't think he minds :)
I'm so excited for Christmas!

PASSED!

Ok if any of you know my math history, you know that this is very exciting! I passed my math class! WHOO HOO!!! Not only passed but I did pretty good! Not an A good (no one in my class got an A, except for maybe this kid who sat in the back corner, kept quiet and knew EVERYTHING--I should've sat by him...) but I feel very good about it. Christmas break has officially begun and I couldn't be happier!!!

Happy For The Holidays!

I am LOVING this season! For Thanksgiving we went to my parent's house and spent a few days there. My mom is so great at making wonderful food and setting the table beautifully. We watched Home Alone on Thanksgiving night (a family tradition) and went to Bolt in 3D the day after Thanksgiving. We had a great time spending a couple days with them.
Tony picked me up from work last week and this is what I saw when I opened the door...
Well this except for the decorations. I was so surprised! I was kinda bummed we wouldn't have a tree, but honestly where would we put it? Tony rearranged our apartment a little bit so it would fit. I love it! It is so fun to have the lights lit up. It makes our little apartment feel more homey. I can't wait for Christmas!

The Weekend

Friday night we went to Twilight. Tony even came with me! I'm a lucky girl. I've heard good and bad reviews about the movie (ahem, Hailey) but I actually liked it. Yeah some of the effects were a little lame and it was kind of cheesy but I still liked it. I watched an interview with some of the cast and they mentioned that the movie didn't have a ton of funds so the effects weren't as good as they could have been. So I think they did a pretty good job overall. I'm excited for the rest of the movies now. The casting was great and the movie followed the book really well. All in all, I liked it!
Saturday night we went to see my sister dance in The Nutcracker up at Weber State. She did such a great job. I wish I had some pictures! We had to miss the BYU/UTAH game because we were driving to Ogden during it but we caught some of it on the radio and we ate at Winger's and watched more of it there. I'm not a big sports person but I do like watching this game once a year. I'm sad BYU lost. Next year.
So I have about a month and a week before we are on the road to Bentonville! I'm looking to living in our new apartment. I can't wait to have a washer/dryer and dishwasher again. (The laundromat I go to now is so ghetto) I'm also looking forward to Andy's frozen custard and the employee gym. Whoo hoo! I have no idea what I'll be doing when we go out there. I need to find some new hobbies...any ideas?

TAGGED by Miss Emily

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU CHANGED IN 8 YEARS
1) How old were you?13
2) Where did you go to school?Jr. High
3) Where did you work? babysitting
4) Where did you live?Utah
5) Where did you hang out? Nicole or Heather's house probably
6) Did you wear contacts and/or glasses? nope
7) Who was your best friend? Nicole and Heather
8) How many tattoos did you have? gross, none
9) How many piercings did you have? just my ears
10) Did you drive a car? no
11) Had you been to a real party? if birthday parties count
12) Had you had your heart broken? nope
13) Were you Single/Taken/Married/Divorced? single
14) Any Kids?no
*******4 YEARS AGO****** (2004)
1) How old were you? 17
2) Where did you go to school? Viewmont
3) Where did you work at the time? At the country club
4) Where did you live?Utah
5) Where did you hang out? my house, friend's houses, I could drive then so I guess wherever
6) Did you wear contacts and/or glasses? nope
7) Who were your best friend(s)? I had lots of friends but I probably hung out with Audrey the most
8) How many tattoos did you have? again, gross
9) How many piercings did you have? ears
10) What car did you drive? 1991 nissan sentra
11) Had your heart broken? no
12) Were you Single/Taken/Married/Divorced? single
13) Any Kids? nope
****TODAY (2008)****
1) Age?21
2) Where do you work? At an internet company
3) Where do you live? Still in Utah (for two more months)
4) where do you go 2 school? College :) I don't want any creeps tracking me down so I'll leave it at that
5) Who are your closest friends? Tony, Heather, Emily, family. It's hard to keep in touch with everyone now
6) Do you talk to your old friends? I try but it's hard since we're all busy now
7) How many piercings do you have? Just in my ears
8) How many tattoos? nope
9) What kind of car do you have? a silver one :)
10) Has your heart been broken? mmm...I'd say no. Now that I look back on times I thought my heart was "broken" I just roll my eyes.
11) Single/taken/married/divorced/Engaged? Married and I love it
12) How many kids? none but I want one

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You

The last few weeks have been good ones. It is just a really great time in my life right now and I am really happy :)

A few weeks ago, our good friends, Stace and Naomi, called us up and asked if we wanted to go to the Jazz game with them! It was so nice of them to invite us. We had awesome seats and had a great time!

Sunday was our sixth month anniversary! Saturday night we went out to dinner and rented a movie. It was fun to go out together and think about how our relationship has grown and how much we've learned about each other since we first got married. I'm excited to keep learning more about each other.












I found out our wedding album was complete last week but because of my schedule, I wouldn't be able to pick it up for another week. I've been DYING to see how it turned out.
Today I came home from work and our wedding album was on our bed! Tony drove to Sandy picked it up this morning! I absolutely love it!
I took a few pictures of the pictures in the album so they aren't the best but I just love them so much I had to put them up!
It has been so much fun looking through our pictures this afternoon.
Our wedding day was such a fun day!
Thanks to all of our family and friends who were there to support us. We love you!

OH YEAH!

I got my math test back today and I got 100% plus 2!!! I'm so excited! The highest score I've ever had on a math test EVER!

We're Moving Back!!!

(Bentonville is in the very top left hand corner of the state)

If any of you haven't heard yet, Tony and I are moving back to Arkansas for a job offer he got from his internship this summer.  He's going to be a computer programmer on the global transportation team he was on this summer.  The good thing about this is that he already knows the people he's working with and will have a pretty good handle on what goes on, even on his first day.  We're very excited but sad to leave our families, but then again it is ONLY 20 hours away and family car trips are so much fun so I know my family will be visiting us often :) At least we hope!  

Finding housing in the Provo/Orem area was such a nightmare for us so we decided to post our apartment early so that someone might be able to avoid the craziness of finding an apartment right before school starts.  After 3 days of posting we had probably 15 responses and showed the apartment to four couples.  We have a couple that are filling out the applications for our apartment this weekend! So we're pretty sure we have sold our contract.  Such a relief.  Because school starts the beginning of January, our move out date in January 3rd.  It is going to come so fast.  

I definitely never pictured living in Arkansas but I really like the area we'll be in.  Funny story about that, last week I was flipping through channels on TV and COPS was on.  I've never watched that show but on our screen it said they were in Little Rock, Arkansas so I stopped to see what was going on.  Two guys, shirtless, holding cigarettes AND beer cans (in the same hand) were being arrested.  Nice.  I was busting up laughing telling Tony, "this is where people will think we live!!!"

Besides that little episode on TV, I'm very excited to move to Arkansas!

 

Money Smarts

My dad has shown me how to balance a check book multiple times but I honestly never did. I always had good intentions...but I always just spent my money on whatever. I never had any debt and always paid my own rent, etc but I never saved my money or kept track of where I spent it. It was bad.
Well, I can now say that I have "money smarts" but I learned it the hard way.
When Tony and I set up bank accounts together (right before we got married) I was given a debit card but because we weren't married yet, it had my maiden name on it. We also got a credit card but that one had my new married name on it. No idea why. Long story short, when I got my cards in the mail I called to activate them but the bank wouldn't let me activate both because I had a credit card in my married name and a debit card with my maiden name. They would only let me activate the credit card. So I had a credit card, that I knew I wasn't supposed to use for random things, and a debit card that I couldn't use.
Then we moved to Arkansas. They don't have the bank that we use here in Utah there so we had to set up an account at a new bank. We went through that whole process and I was able to sign up for a debit card with my name on it. When the mail from the bank came, Tony got a debit card but mine never came! I went to the bank a while later and by the time one would be sent to me it would practically be time to move back to Utah so I just let it go.
It has now been five months and I haven't had a debit card. Because of this, I haven't spent ANY money on clothes, food, etc without planning it out beforehand.
Two days ago I FINALLY got a debit card with my name on it and it actually works!!! I haven't spent money on little things for so long that now I don't have any desire to. Sad to say but I think this was the only way I could've learned how to be smart with money!
So I'd like to thank Wells Fargo for assigning me cards with different names and the Bank of Arkansas for losing/never sending me my debit card.

You May Call Me Ms. Domestic

I'm feeling pretty proud of myself right now. I made chicken pot pie from scratch today and it turned out awesome! I put on my cute apron and even watched Oprah while I made it :)

Whoo Hoo!!!

I know I've complained about my math class quite a bit but today I am loving it! Wanna know why? My math professor has been sick since last Thursday. I feel bad that he is so sick (he came into class on Monday to tell us class was canceled and he looked awful) but at the same time...I'm taking advantage of this while I can! We would've had a test here in the next little bit but now it has to be postponed AT LEAST one week. Seriously, I think the heavens are blessing me.

Five Months

Tony and I have been married for five months! Best five months of my life!

Five things I love about Tony:
1-He's just a fun person to be married to--he's so funny
2-He gets up with me every morning, puts my lunch together and irons my clothes if I need it
3-his dark hair and freckles
4-He listens to me and remembers what I say
5-He loves me

I LOVE YOU TONY

If Pottery Barn was free

I have the pottery barn catalog sent to my apartment every month. I love, love, love to browse home furnishing stores and catalogs. I like to go through and pick out everything I would have in my house (if I could afford anything). Well, the PB "Inspired Seasonal Decorating" catalog came last night so I've spent the day tediously looking at everything in it. Figuring out what stuff I could re-do of my own to make it look like some of the things they sell, etc. (I really want to paint and upholster some of the furniture I have but I don't have any time or money to put into that right now, so I just imagine what I would do and hopefully I'll eventually do it). Here are a few of my favorite things!I love this chair and I LOVE the fabric of it. It is gorgeous, don't you think?

I love this one too!

I'm in love with this table. I love the chairs with the arm rest..for a closer look...

...these chairs! Aren't they beautiful?!
I also really like this bed!
If I posted everything I loved this post would go on forever so I'll leave it at this for now.

Book Club

The Relief Society in my ward started a book club! I'm so excited! I've always wanted to be in a book club, it just seems like a chic thing to do :) Besides, I thought it would be good for me to get to know the girls in my ward a little bit better. We're reading, The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. It's a puzzle mystery and is a winner of the Newbery Medal. It definitely isn't a book I would've picked out myself but I started it today and am completely captivated by it.

Book Review

If any of you don't know the author Shannon Hale, you should get one of her books! She is such a wonderful writer! Her stories are so creative and beautifully written--It's hard to find books like that.

Just a little bit about her, she began writing when she was ten years old and is now the New York Times best-selling author of five award-winning young adult novels, including the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy (which I haven't read an am dying to). She served an LDS mission in Paraguay, graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and also with a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. She currently lives in Salt Lake City with her husband and two children. Don't you just love smart women?!
Me, my mom and sisters went to her book signing at Barnes and Noble, in Orem, last year. It was really neat to meet the author of a book I had read. (I've always wanted to do that). I was surprised at how funny she was. Just a really nice, down to earth lady.
I read two of her books last week (I had a lot of down-time at work), The Goose Girl and the sequel, Enna Burning. I had read both last year but I loved them so much that I read them way too fast so I couldn't remember everything that happened in them. I have a bad habit of doing that. I just get so excited and I have to know what happens next! Shannon Hale has a few more books that I'm anxious to read, I just need to get a hold of them!

*Have you read any of Shannon Hale's books?

This Week...

Last past week was a pretty good one! Finally, after much anticipation, The Office finally premiered! We invited Tony's best friend and fiance over to watch it with us. We made homemade ice cream and had such a great time. I can't wait for this season of The Office! I hope it doesn't end after this season.

I took my math test on Monday. Such a joke. I'm just hoping that I got a C on it. The test covered 3 chapters but consisted of 5 problems. 5 PROBLEMS!!! Each problem had about ten bullet points underneath it with questions relating to the original problem, which means if you get the first one wrong you can't answer the other questions since they all related to each other. I did the very best I could, considering there were words and problems we never discussed in class and I don't remember seeing them in the book. Oh well. Now I know what the tests are like I guess. I should be getting my test back in a few days. We'll see how I did.

A few days ago, Tony was asked to go to the Walmart info session at BYU. We went so people looking to get internships could have someone with first hand experience tell them what working at Walmart is really like. We ending up staying for the rest of the session (mostly because they had Brick Oven pizza). It was fun seeing Tony up in front telling about the work he did this summer. I was so proud of him :)

Yesterday I went out to lunch with some of my best friends, Heather and Brooke. We went to Cafe Rio of course. It was so fun to catch up with them!
Anyways, thought I'd just update on what I've been up to this week!
My family is coming down for lunch tomorrow. We're so excited to have them come over!

Book Review

Those of you who haven't read this book need to.  It is so good!  It's one of those books that you can read a little bit at a time, put down and pick up at anytime (even though I wanted to read it straight through).  I put down the book thinking, "wow, President Hinckley is so smart!" He has so many stories, quotes and experience in every area of the book.  He gives great advice on marriage, relationships, leadership, our country and just how to be a good person.  Awesome, awesome book.  I wish everyone would read it!

Perfectly Said

True Love

There are lots of ways husbands can show their love but, you know your husband REALLY loves you when he surprises you with a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory rocky road caramel apple!

THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT MATH AND MY TEACHER

You Go Girl!

Lately I've been obsessed with CNN, trying to read and watch as much as I can about the election.
I like this lady!

I don't know if any of you have seen the show How to Look Good Naked but if you haven't you need to! I'm home sick today so I've mostly just been watching TV (thank goodness for Comcast On Demand). Anyways, On Demand has seasons 2&3 of this show and I've been watching them laughing my head off. It is such a great show! On LifeTime, Carson Kressley (the host) takes women who don't have the greatest confidence in their bodies and show them how all types of bodies are beautiful and points out what is great about their bodies. The person on the show gets a great make over and is shown how to dress her body type, etc. At the end of the show they do a photoshoot NAKED, very tasteful of course and they cover up "certain" parts of the body. If you haven't seen this show you need to! You'll feel like being naked too :)

(Go to this link to watch the opening of the show--It's hilarious)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Ik5YdtxjE

Lagoon

( I stole this picture from my mom's blog because I'm a loser and never take any pictures! This is a classic Jack picture. Don't you love how photogenic he is?)
Every year my dad's company has a family lagoon day and yesterday was that day. Luckily I was able to get off work a little early so Tony and I were able to go. My family is so great about always inviting us to things. We always have a great time and are exciting to see them.
Me, Tony and Jack went around and rode all of the bigger rides there, we had dinner as a family, etc. It was a lot of fun!
Thanks for inviting us mom and dad!

Love them!

You know the horror stories you hear of girls marrying into families where the sister's and the mom are just a nightmare? Well, I am so lucky to have married into such a great family. I love Tony's family. They have been so nice to me from the beginning. When we started dating, both of Tony's sisters would invite us over for dinner, games and babysitting (which was our favorite). Tony's parents are wonderful too. Last year, over Christmas break, we spent a few days with them at their home. I was kind of nervous but we had a great time going to movies, eating ice cream while watching the news :) and just hanging out together.

Now that we're married they have been so supportive. We stayed at Tony's parents house for a few days after moving back from Bentonville. After that his parents helped us move everything into our new apartment. Everything! They are driving an hour and a half to see our new apartment and have lunch with us this Sunday. We're excited to have them come and see our place now in order. Tony's sister and family came to see us and our new place a few weeks ago too. Really, this family is so great.
At our last family dinner we got the wedding present that has been worked on all summer...

This beautiful quilt! Isn't it gorgeous?! Tony's sister made it for us and we LOVE it! I can't believe she spent so much time on it for us.
See why I love this family?!

Tagged

1. What time did you get up this morning?	Woke up at six but got out of bed around 6:30 or so
2. Diamonds or pearls?	depends on what I'm wearing :) both sound great
3. What was the last film you saw?	Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D
4. What is your favorite TV shows?	King of Queens, The Office
5. What do you usually have for breakfast?	Cereal or toast
6. What is your middle name?	Renae
7. What food do you dislike?	tofu...and other stuff but I can't think of anything. I'm not picky
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment?	mmm...I don't know. I just listen to my ipod or the radio
9. What kind of car do you drive?	Hyundai Elantra and the bus :)
10. Favorite sandwich?	I love panini sandwiches from Zupas; especially the turkey artichoke and turkey avacado
11. What characteristic do you despise?	i don't know about a specific characteristic but I hate seeing people be mean to other people. I still remember mean things kids did in elementary school
12. Favorite item of clothing?	Fall Jackets
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?	Fiji because that's where Tony went on his mission and I would love to go there
14. Favorite brand of clothing?	Ann Taylor Loft
1y5. Where would you retire to?	Close to family
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?	16th. My mom and I went on a day trip to San Francisco. We ate on the wharf, drove down Lombard St, shopping, it was awesome
17. Favorite sport to watch?	I don't really watch sports but if I do like to watch volleyball and tennis
18. Favorite movie quote?	too many
19. Best Romantic Comedy?	I just watched The Holiday and really liked that
20. When is your birthday?	Aug 1
21. Are you a morning person or a night person?	definitely a night person
22. What is your shoe size?	7-8
23. Pets?	nope
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?	I'm pregnant. JUST KIDDING.
25. What did you want to be when you were little?	mom
26. What did you today?	went to work, read the ensign and cosmo, rode the bus to UVU, got yoasis frozen yogurt with strawberries to reward myself for going to school :), did homework, went to class, was given a bunch of free gum and got picked up from school by my husband!
27. What is your favorite candy?	I love all candy. Fun size milky ways
28. What is your favorite flower?	Roses and daisies. I love flower arrangements with all kinds of flowers
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?	All fridays because that is my day off
30. What are your favorite pastimes?	vacations, movies, going out to eat, camping, etc
31. What are you listening to right now?	tony playing the wii
32. What was the last thing you ate?	yoasis
33. Do you wish on stars?	I think about things I wish for when I look at stars but I don't specifically wish "on" stars
34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?	Pink
35. How is the weather right now?	in the 80's
36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?	My mother in law
37. Favorite soft drink?	anything from sonic
38. Favorite restaurant?	Cafe Rio, Desert Edge in Trolley Square, zupas
39. Real hair color?	dirty blonde
40. What was your favorite toy as a child?	I honestly don't know
41. Summer or winter?	Summer
42. Hugs or kisses?	kisses while hugging :)
43. Chocolate or Vanilla?	Chocolate
44. Coffee or tea?	neither
45. Favorite cleaning product?	409 spray and toilet bowl cleaners.
46. When was the last time you cried?	two weeks ago while I was watching Sense and Sensibility
47. What is under your bed?	boxes and random things we don't have space for
48. What did you do last night?	Lots of homework, hung out with my husband and watched king of queens
49. What are you afraid of ?	the dark, being kidnapped or attacked, not passing my math class
50. Salty or sweet?	sweet
51. How many keys on your key ring?	3
52. How many years at your current job?	one year
53. Favorite day of the week?	Friday because it's my day off and sundays
54. How many towns have you lived in?	we moved a few times when I was little but I don't remember that much. I would start withcounting towns from centerville on...so five
55. Do you make friends easily?	yes but I only have a handful that I am really close
**Will you do this meme too?**	**You know you want to do it!**

Carthage Jail

After leaving Nauvoo on Sunday, we drove to Carthage Jail. It was amazing to be there. Here are some of the photos we took!

It was so great to visit Carthage and see things I've heard about my whole life. I left feeling very thankful for Joseph Smith. I would love to visit again.

Nauvoo--Part 2

We came here on Sunday morning right before we left for Carthage Jail. Parley Street is the road the saints took to the Mississippi before they left Nauvoo for the Utah Valley. It's now called The Trail of Hope. Along this street are quotes from different pioneer journalsn that talk about the day they left Nauvoo.

This statue is at the end of the trail along with a monument listing the names of saints who died along the way.

The Nauvoo Pageant

The Yearsley Home (or so we think. We were told the address and this is what we found so hopefully this is it!). The Yearsley's were my mom's ancestors so when we came to Nauvoo we had to find their home! I asked one of the missionaries and they said it was this house. Supposedly it is the tallest home in Nauvoo. Performing missionaries are living there now.

I really liked the Scovil Bakery. Maybe because they give you cookies inside :) They had the original cookie cutters from the bakery hanging up. I thought that was cute.

Us before we went to do a session!
Nauvoo was so great. We loved it!

Nauvoo-- Part 1

Tony is wonderful and took me to Nauvoo for my 21st birthday. We spent the weekend there and had such a great time! Nauvoo is eight hours away from Bentonville so we left Friday afternoon and got back late Sunday night. Even though we were only there for a short time, I felt like we saw everything we wanted to see, plus we got to do a session in the temple. Here are some pictures from our trip!

This is the top floor room inside the Cultural Hall. Here Joseph Smith took a piece of chalk and on this wood floor drew the journey from Nauvoo to the Utah Valley.

The new Hyrum and Joseph Statue across the street from the temple. This is supposed to be them leaving Nauvoo for the last time.

View from the temple

Lucy Mack Smith Home

This is where you get the infamous Nauvoo red brick. It was neat to hear how they made the bricks. Practically all the homes in Nauvoo were made out of this red brick. Something I liked about being in Nauvoo is you hear stories about people that you don't normally hear. The early saints were so talented and everyone had some talent (like making bricks) that they used to make up this big city.

Joseph Smith Mansion

I really liked this home. Jonathan Browning made guns in his gunshop attached to the house. He also invented different kinds of guns. He invented either the rifle or handgun that could shoot more than one bullet without having to reload. Having that element of surprise helped the mormons when they were attacked by Indians. (Don't quote me exactly on that story. It has been a few weeks since I heard it...)

Joseph Smith's Home

The graves of Emma, Joseph and Hyrum Smith

Joseph Smith Red Brick Store

Kimball Home

A piece from the original Nauvoo Temple

We had dinner here and it was so much fun.
I have more to add but will do that later!