Stress overload

This week is finals week and I have my LAST final of my undergraduate college degree tomorrow. It also happens to be my hardest final. I'm freaking out. I'm beyond stressed and my apartment and personal hygiene have begun to suffer. But in less than 12 hours I'LL BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then I will be able to finally catch up on some much needed blogging :) I hope all goes well!

One Month

Hello my blogging peeps! I've sucked it up lately on blogging. It's not that I forget about it, I just always say to myself 'you can do a post after your test' or 'blog after your paper is done'....but my never-ending list of things to accomplish is holding me back! I decided to title this post One Month because a lot has happened in the last month since I've blogged, and there is a lot I'm looking forward to in the next month.

Things I've done in the last month:

- Enjoyed a MUCH needed Fall Break (the one day off of school is kind of a pathetic break, but still nice)

- Went to Palisades State Park with my Saunders extended family

- Received a 100% on the paper that has been the hardest to write of my college career (spent about 12 hours looking through 50 years of the U.S. Census. Barf.)

- Tyler and Jennie moved back to Logan, so we've had some family/couple together-ness :)

- Enjoyed a scrapbooking get-a-way with my amazing Mom (I LOVE HER!!!)

- Dressed up like a princess for Halloween. I had little kids getting pictures with me at work, and had little girls freak out because I was a princess. So cute!

- Watched USU BEAT BYU in basketball. There is nothing I love more than beating some Cougar butt. Seriously people. I was beaming with happiness (sorry cougar lovers :) )

Things I'm looking forward to in the next month:

- Thanksgiving! I need some good food, and lots of it! Pies, potatoes, turkey, rolls, B.R.I.N.G. I.T. O.N.!!! (With my work schedule I may not get Thanksgiving day or any part of the weekend off, which will epic-ly suck...I find out my schedule on Friday. Either way though I'll have a few days off of school.)

- GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE!!!!!!! Yep, that's right folks. I graduate from Utah State University in less than a month!!! I'm freaking out. I'm so sick of homework, but I'm also scared of being let loose into the 'real world.' We'll see what happens....

- Christmas!! It's more like 6 weeks away, but whatevs I'm still wayyyyyyy excited! (What should I get Petey?!!! I need ideas!)

- My little brother Tanner is about to start his senior season of basketball for Payson High School and I'm so stocked for him. Love you little brother!

- My last finals week!!!

- I'll be quitting the USU Bookstore in December. It will be bitter-sweet since I've been working there forever, but it will be good at the same time. It's been a great job and I love the people I've worked with!

Fall Break

Fall break was so nice for Petey and I. We were both so burned out so it was good to have a few days off of school/work to go on a much needed vaca. Over the break we went with my family down to Palisades State Park for 2 days. My dad had to leave Palisades to announce a BYU football game, so that was a bummer. But he then came back down and was able to enjoy the rest of our stay! All of my mom's brothers and sisters were there and most of my cousins were there. It was so nice to spend some good quality time with my extended family!!! Here are some pictures of our Palisades weekend:

Finally being able to use our camp chairs!

On a walk around the lake

Petey decided to take a picture of me

doing the 'I'm happy I caught the football

dance!' So attractive.

On the dock

Petey insisted on giving me a piggyback

on the walk down this giant hill

haha.

The world's largest pizza couldn't

keep the Saunders clan full

This was part of the wood inside our

cabin. Doesn't it look like Sid the

Sloth from Ice Age? Anyone...??

Our cute cabin

I had to post this. After Palisades we

stopped at my house for a break and

I was able to capture this precious moment.

2 of my loves!!I love my

husband and my cat,

and they love each other :)

ha ha

USU vs. BYU Basketball Game

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE basketball. I love my Aggies and I'm so happy that my brother was able to play 4 years of college basketball for them. The USU vs. BYU basketball game was last Friday and it was nuts! People started camping out for the Friday game on TUESDAY morning! Petey and I didn't really want to camp out....so we decided to get up at 5am on Friday morning to go and sit. I had to work at the bookstore all day, so my awesome husband sat outside the arena ALL DAY so we could get good-ish seats at the game. Our friends Jason, Mallori, and Nate sat with us at the game too. Petey even helped me make a sign for the game. It was awesome :) I think one of the reasons that I dislike BYU so much is because I'm from Utah County. I never wanted to attend BYU, never applied (even though I would've gotten half tuition...just sayin') , and I wanted to go to Utah State and I've loved every minute of it. Most of the people from my high school either went to BYU or UVU....but I'm so glad that I made the choice to go to USU.

Anyways...the basketball game was crazy and so much fun to be a part of. There were some signs that were on the inappropriate side, but for the most part they were funny. I'm sure most of you have heard the issue with Brandon Davies on the BYU b-ball team (if you haven't, google him). There were many signs directed toward him, some sketchy & some funny. I think my favorite was 'hey Davies, welcome back from your fornication probation.' So funny. After the awesome win Petey, Tyler, Jennie, & I went to Zeppe's to get some Italian ice. That place is legit.

Petey has a Calculus test on Friday that he's been studying extremly hard for. I can't wait for him to be done with that EVIL class! Christmas break will be really nice because we'll actually be able to spend some quality time together. Our schedules both suck right now. Like tonight for instance, I got off at 4 from the Bookstore and didn't have to work at Lee's. So I had the night off, but Petey has been really busy with a school project tonight from 6pm-8pm, and then he works from 8:30-midnight tonight. Like I said, Christmas break will be nice to have some time to just hang out :)

Well I think I might end this post since it's super long and I'm rambling on about a bajillion things. I'm going to try and get better at blogging, soon I won't have school as an excuse for me not keeping up! Yay for graduation!!!!! Then what....yikes?! Love you all! Xoxo!

October and recent happenings

I'm treating myself to a lil' blogging session tonight. I've been doing homework for like 7 hours (curse you paper!!), so this is my reward :) This weekend is Fall Break, a 'break' meaning that we get one day off of school {lame, but I'll take it}!! My family has been planning a weekend over Fall Break for the past few months. I was hoping that I could get off work from my jobs to go, and I DID!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so nervous to look at my schedule for Fall Break weekend, but when I saw that I had Thursday-Sunday off I wanted to cry tears of joy. Seriously people I need a break! Petey and I are going to head down to my house Thursday night, and we will head down to Palisades State Park Friday morning. My mom's whole side will be down in Palisades too, so that will be fun! My parents rented out a cabin for all of us too, so that will be legit. However one thing that will not be so fun, is that I have a test Monday morning, the day I get back from Fall Break. NOT COOL!! I hate having to study of long/fun weekends. Oh well :)

Petey and I haven't been up to much lately, just school and work. I finally got a Saturday off (yesterday), so I was lazy for like 20 hours and it was lovely. A few weeks ago we went down to the USU vs. BYU game, which was really fun until the last 15 seconds. We had some BYU fans turn to us and say "I'm so sorry" and I wanted to be like REALLY? Are you REALLY sorry? You just won!!! Grrr...I had to use all my energy not to scream. My mom works at BYU (which is funny, I know) so it was fun for me and Petey to hang out in her office and walk around BYU's campus wearing our Aggie gear. We got some weird looks, and we loved it :) About a month ago Petey, me, my mom, dad, and little brother Tanner went to a Real Salt Lake game. It was really fun, and a gorgeous night! Petey loves soccer, so it always makes me happy when we get the chance to go to a game. He gets so giddy haha. Here are some pictures from the game:

Smile for the camera

These people are LOVE RSL...like seriously...

Kyle Beckerham woot woot!

Under the lights

I love October when the leaves start changing...but I hate knowing that the bone-chilling winter of Logan is coming. However, I do like these things! Last week when it we had a cold spell Mr. Peter and I decided to buy some Stephen's Gourmet Hot Chocolate (chocolate raspberry flavor!) I love hot chocolate!!! I finally got to use my Minnie Mouse cup too!

I especially love whipped cream and sprinkles!

I'm a sprinkles freak.

I LOVE Count Chocula. I had a freak-out

attack when I saw this in the store.

It's probably the unhealthiest cereal

on the plant and I. Love. It.

This is a bad picture, but these are mini brownie

bites with orange chocolate chips. Love!

I'm a sucker for 'cute things'!! My husband has

to restrain me from buying every cute thing

I see haha.

I decorated for Halloween a few days ago. I love decorating! I just wish I had some more stuff! I'm sure I'll build up a collection in time....

Love him! SO cute

Ghosts around the window

This cute sign on our nasty door

I'm really excited about our vacation this weekend! I'll take lots of pictures, and I'm going to try to get better at blogging! I also need someone to tutor me on how to make the sidebars of my blog cute with pictures and such....I need help! Also...I need help with a Halloween costume! What should I be?!!!!

Love you all! Happy October :)

Life....

Don't worry friends....we are still alive. I've wanted to blog a lot lately, but I seriously haven't had time! This whole working 2 jobs thing, and trying to be a student takes up 99% of my time, especially recently! During last week I had 3 exams, and last week was also the (STUPID) Case Lot at the Lee's Marketplace. If Case Lot were a physical item, I would punch it multiple times, as hard as I could. I'm so sick of seeing cans!!! Since it was Case Lot I was scheduled over my maximum hours (which is 12)...I was actually scheduled 22 hours. I had a little freak out because I work 17 hours at my other job, and working 40 hours a week while going to school isn't very fun. Luckily I got someone to take one of my shifts, so that helped a little. This week (STUPID) Case Lot continues...and I have one exam and 2 papers due. I'm am sooooo looking forward to this weekend. My plan is to do absolutely nothing this weekend and I'm so excited!!!! Petey the past 2 weeks has had an Organic Chemistry exam, a Calculus exam (barf), and a Communicable Diseases exam. We've been busy lately....but we've already made plans to do something fun this weekend, so hopefully my next blog post will be more exciting :) Life has been a little stressful lately, but we are alive! I hope I can survive until Friday!

Wedding Day...and the events leading up to it :)

I need to get better at writing! I've sucked it up the past few weeks! I'm going to warn all of you right now that this blog post is going to have a bajillion wedding day pictures and be super long...but I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

June 9th, 2011

The day before our wedding consisted of me having a major freak out about my slip being 12 sizes too big (don't worry...I tried it on wrong...it actually fit perfectly once I had it on my body right...oopsie), having a fruit cutting party at my house, Petey and I putting together a wedding playlist, taking a LONG relaxing shower, packing, checking that we had everything packed (12 times), then heading up to Salt Lake. Petey had to leave that afternoon to go up and spend time with his family and to help set up the luncheon.

Once we got to SLC we checked into our hotel and decided to go to The Gateway for dinner. My parents decided to let me choose where we ate since it was my BIG day tomorrow...where did I chose to eat? The Gateway Food Court :) Yep, nothing sounded more appetizing to me that night than eating Hot Dog on a Stick inside the Food Court! My mom even bought me dessert from there. My dad ate Panda Express and decided to give me his fortune cookie. He told me that the he dedicated his fortune cookie to me. When I opened the fortune cookie, my fortune said "Happiness is around the next corner, wealth is down the street" -- I've never had a better fortune in my entire life :) !! I've carried that fortune with me (in my wallet) ever since that day. After dinner I got a call from Petey asking us to come help set up the church for our luncheon the next day. His family wanted our input on how to set everything up. After we set up the church, Petey and I said our goodbyes, and we headed our separate ways.When we got back to our hotel in SLC I got a root beer float with my family, watched an NBA finals game, and waited for my bestie Caitlin to arrive. Once she came we were off to bed.

June 10, 2011 (WEDDING DAY!!!)

I didn't sleep well during the night...but I'm guessing most brides don't sleep well on the night before their wedding. I woke up around 6am and Caitlin started to do my hair. THANK GOODNESS SHE KNOWS HOW TO DO HAIR!!! (I'm completely hopeless when it comes to doing hair). Once I was ready to go my mom, dad, and I headed off to the temple.

Once at the temple I met up with Petey and the temple workers double checked that all of our information was correct. After that we were sent to change into our temple clothes. On the way to the dressing room I saw my good friend Kathryn Peterson (formerly Hopkins), who was getting married on the same day!! It was so fun to see her! We had a group of friends that was there to see her come out of the temple, and 2 hours later watched Petey and I come out. After getting dressed in our temple clothes we had a little time to relax and take everything in. We got married at 10am :) It was amazing to walk into the sealing room and to see are family there. During our sealing our sealer talked to us about how we should say things that we love about each other daily. He also joked with Petey that the woman is always right :) happy wife = happy life. Haha. The ceremony was beautiful!! After we were sealed we changed into our wedding attire. I was excited to show off my dress :) Here are some pictures of us fresh our of the temple:

Coming out of the temple :)

Husband & Wife

The dress, the bouquet, the ring

After getting lovies from all of our friends and family at the temple it was time for some pictures. I absolutely LOVE our photograper (Kelly Samson @ Gallery Photography)!!!

My amazing family!

Petey's lovely family!

I love my girls!

The handsome men

The wedding group

Love this one

I LOVE LOVE LOVED my wedding dress. It was literally the first dress I tried on!! It was also the cheapest one I tried on (which made Daddy happy haha). The only thing that disappointed me was when I went to my dress appointment to have the dress hemmed, the seamstress said that she didn't think it needed to be altered/hemmed at all....so we didn't do anything. The dress was a little too long, so I struggled with stepping on it during our wedding, but oh well. I loved it :)

Love him!!

The Cook's

I refused to wear heels, I wanted to be comfortable and to be able to walk, so I was very happy when I found red flats!

We we're a little excited...

After we had taken our photo's on the wedding grounds it was time to head to our luncheon. My family left during our couples pictures so they could help set up with the luncheon. When I got back inside the temple I had to try and find the dressing room on my own (the Salt Lake Temple is huge!!!). I finally found the dressing room and the sweet temple workers helped me get my things. Once I was in my luncheon dress, I walked into the bridal room to find my wedding dress with my SHOES on...which wearing shoes in that room is apparently a big NO-NO. Ooops. Once I found Petey, we were on our way to get some lunch!

We arrived to our luncheon a few minutes behind schedule and everyone was starving when we got there. We had sandwiches, fruit/veggies, and chips for our food. We wanted to keep it simple :) After eating our immediate family (and my grandpa) all got up and told stories about us (some that were embarrassing), gave us advice, and gave us their blessing. OF COURSE MY ENTIRE FAMILY HAD TO BRING UP MY MANY CAT STORIES. I laughed so hard I was crying during the telling of my many cat stories (hey...I love cats!!)! After lunch was over we headed down to Spring Lake, where our reception was being held. We realized when we were on the freeway that I had left my bouquet at the church house (don't worry, I left it in the bridal room too and had to go back for it earlier in the day). So we turned around and went and picked it up.

Once we got to my house in Spring Lake we just relaxed. It was a busy day and we wanted to have energy for our reception. We decided to have our reception in the backyard of my church house in Spring Lake. I've never wanted to have a reception inside a cultural hall, I always wanted to do something outside. The backyard of my church in Spring Lake has lots of big trees, green grass, and is fairly spacious. It was my mom's brilliant idea to have our reception back there! I decided it would be cute if we had red and yellow (the wedding colors) lanterns hanging from the trees, and lights in the trees to add some decoration. I loved how it turned out! Since the reception was outside, and May's weather was full of rain we were really nervous that we would have to move it inside. We checked the weather multiple times and day and luckily the weather was perfect and beautiful that day!!! These next pictures were taken in Spring Lake before our reception started. I am in love with these pictures!! The field and the barn look amazing!

These photo's were taken in the beautiful Spring Lake

I LOVE these ones!

Bridesmaids: Kyrie, Caitlin, Jennie, Emily

Bridal party

My amazing parents

Petey's family

My Grandma Saunders made it to our reception :)

Our reception was lovely. It was a beautiful night that was filled with family and friends. My family spent countless hours trimming trees, spraying ants, and raking up pine needles/pine cones to help make our reception look beautiful. I love them all so much and am so thankful for all their hard work! We were so happy to see all of our loved ones show up to our reception! For our food we had a little candy bar filled with twizzlers, peanut butter m&m's, lemon heads, and bubble gum. We had a fruit bar with cantaloupe, watermelon, grapes, and pineapple, We also had yummy lemon bars and brownies that were served. Here are some pictures of the reception:

Love my friends

Our delicious wedding cake: The top tier was red velvet, the middle tier was lemon with blueberry filling, and the bottom layer was vanilla with raspberry filling = delicious! One cool thing about the lady that did our wedding cake is that we can contact her on our 11th month of being married, and she will remake the top tier of our wedding cake in time for our one year anniversary!! I love that and think its so fun! No nasty, 1 year old frozen wedding cake for us!

The lights and lanterns we hung in the trees

Yep, I had cake up my nose

Daddy-daughter dance: during the dance with our parents we danced to Adele's "To Make You Feel My Love"

Our FIRST dance as husband and wife: During our dance we danced to the beautiful piano piece by Hans Zimmer called "Maestro" - if you haven't heard this song before look it up (right now) it is soooo beautiful!! The song was been featured on the soundtrack for the movie The Holiday (which happens to be one of my favs). I'm in love with that song...and with the boy in the picture :)

The bouquet toss/handoff: the bouquet toss was quite the event. Last year at my brother & sis-in-laws wedding, my sister-in-law and I had planned in advance that I would get the bouquet. Instead of throwing the bouquet over her head, she turned around and threw it right at me :) my lovely friend Caitlin and I decided that we would keep the tradition alive! I was married a year later....so maybe the pattern will continue!! I love her!

My bestie got the bouquet!!!

Oh dear...the garter toss: Petey refused to get the garter off with his teeth (which was FINE with me...I always think that's awkward/sketch), he used his fingers and got it off so fast that I didn't even know what was happening. He flung the garter and my little cousin Ethan (who is like 6 years old) caught it..haha.

Leaving after our PERFECT day!!! We loved having the sparklers, but we were scared that the little kids were going to burn us during our departure...they got a LITTLE excited about having sparklers. It was still amazing though! When we left we were on our way to California for our honeymoon!

So there you have it! That is the story of our wedding and the events leading up to it!! Everything turned out beautifully and I couldn't be happier. Thank you all for making our day so special!!