Where Has the Time Gone!?

I haven't blogged in forever because (1) We're super busy, and (2) Kory has his computer all of the time so I can't get the pictures off of his camera.

We have some fun pics from our Canada trip (February 18-22) I'd like to share. That trip was so great! We flew up to Seattle on Wednesday night. Rick picked us up from the airport and took us over to Don and Jodi's house. It was fun to see the Fowles and get a tour of their new business operation, Eagle Ink. Thursday morning we woke up and got ready to head to the shop to catch the super nice charter bus. But first, Kory had to take me to get a donut from the Donut Shop, yum! I loved having a chance to get away, and hang out with Mom and Dad Hjelm, and Celeste and Bryan. Up in Canada we went out to dinner, played card games, and relaxed in the hot pools. Good times! We came home Saturday, and Kory and I went to see the Fowles again. Later Adam (Carissa's husband) flew in Saturday night because he had interviews in Tacoma the next few days. It was fun to have him there, all of us played cards again that night. I told Rick we had to have his famous guacamole before I left, so for Sunday dinner we had fajitas! Kory and I both love family time.

Coming home was a little stressful. I just have so much school work all of the time it is hard to keep up. Then with work on top of that. I've been doing ok lately.

The next weekend, February 28th, we got to go to Savannah Cheney's baptism! It was so fun to see the Cheney cousins. After the baptism Jon and Gina has us over for naffle waffles, which are waffles with ice cream and strawberries. Can you tell it was Savannah's choice? Klyn, Kay Lynn, Brett and Mikalla were all there. We had fun visiting. Then Brett, Mikalla, Kory and I went downstairs and watched the movie Sky High. I love that movie, I think it is cute. We totally forgot our camera though! We were so busy leaving straight from work it slipped our minds.

That night Kory and I celebrated our year of dating :) We went to California Pizza Kitchen at the Gateway which is where we had our first "date." After dinner we went to Barnes and Noble and read through some books together. It was actually really fun. We saw The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey at Jon and Gina's house earlier that day. I am always talking about things that Dave Ramsey says with Kory. So he was inspired to get us the book. It was a fun little date.


I can't believe it is already half way through March and here I am telling you about February! This month I have been counting my calories at Livestrong. It is totally free and it has been a lot of fun to see how I am doing just being healthy.

Other than that we have just been enjoying having a nice sunny day every now and then. Also some random snowy days. We are both keeping super busy with work and school. And I am getting super excited to pick my brother from his mission on the 25th! Woo hoo!

I've Been Dying to Blog! Here Are Updates :)

Oh my goodness I don't even know where to start I am so far behind! Things have been super busy. I am totally behind in homework and that is what I should be doing right now...but I really am dying to blog. Not only for you guys, my loyal readers hehe, but also for myself because it is kind of like my journal.

Tuesday, January 20
I threw a bridal shower for my friend Shantell. She married one of my best guy friends from college, Mike Bullock. I am not one of her bridesmaids or anything but it was an honor to throw the party for her. I think bridal showers really make a bride feel special. Throwing the party reminded me of my bridal shower. It is SO awesome to have so many girlfriends come to celebrate with you. When I had like 20 of my friends there it just reminded me how many great friends I have made. I value friendships and relationships I have with other people so much.

Anyway, I delegated food and desserts but got party prizes and decorations myself. I planned some fun games and I think it turned out really great! Mike was telling me that she couldn't stop talking about it and the really loved it. Yay! I love making other people happy. It is the most rewarding thing in the world.


Group Picutre! I had to set the timer and run in, haha. Oh by the way I cut like 5 or 6 inches off my hair. I'm still getting use to it.


This is how I set up. Moved the chairs, baloons, etc.


The candles were the prizes for the games (dollar store and super cute). Then I got her a cute pink sash you'll see on her in a second.



She had to chew a piece of gum every time she got some fact about Mike wrong. We did that at my shower and it was fun.

Saturday, January 24
Mike and Shantell got married in the Timpanogos Temple. It was SO awesome to go see a sealing, you hear a lot more when you aren't the one being sealed haha. The Provo Temple President, President Bateman, sealed them. He is so funny. One of the stories he told was about learning how to compromise. He talked about how he and his wife had completely different Christmas traditions. His family had always gone to bed at 10PM, woken up every two hours until finally his parents would let them get up at 6AM. Then they would all rush down stairs, rip their gifts open, and Christmas was done by 6:30AM. His wife's family would go to bed at 9PM, wake up 6AM, brush their teeth, then go downstairs. Then they would have a family prayer, eat breakfast together, go back up stairs and brush their teeth again. Then they would line up oldest to youngest. Their father would go in the room with the tree before everyone else so he could have the camera ready. Then they would walk in in order and were handed their gifts one by one and take pictures with each gift until they had gone through all of them. President Bateman said that when they got married they had to learn to compromise...so the kids DID go to bed at 9PM. They DID wake up at 6AM. They DID brush their teeth, then come downstairs for family prayer. Then they DID eat breakfast together and go back upstairs to brush their teeth. Then they DID line up from oldest to youngest and waited while dad went in the other room first...you get the point? They did Christmas HER WAY! That was how they compromised! hahaha. Kory and I were dying laughing when he was telling that story. So was everyone else in the sealing.

Here are Mike and Shantell Bullock.



Later that day we got go to Ivie's baptism (Uncle Lorrin's daughter). It was so cute to see her and be able to witness two covenants being made in one day. The blessings of baptism and eternal marriage are both so amazing. I know without a doubt that our Heavenly Father has created a plan of salvation and a plan of happiness so that we can be with our families forever and return to live with Him again. If you want to know more visit this website. Here are pics!



Saturday night we got some bar stools for FREE! And then we came home to find our super duper amazing vacuum was there! Yay! We absolutely love it. This is my celebratory picture haha.


Sunday, January 25
Kory and I had the wonderful opportunity to speak in our church sacrament meeting! We both spoke on the power of prayer, and ways that you can make your prayer more meaningful. We really enjoyed being able to speak in church.

Tuesday, January 27
My really good family friends the Ellsworths were in town! Heethe was entering the MTC on Wednesday. So I got to go meet them at Johnny Corinos to celebrate. I LOVE the Ellsworths with all of my heart. They are like my extra 6 little brothers. I didn't get any pics with the Riley, sad! But here are pics with Heethe, Cindy, Levi and Dallas, then Heethe and Brady, then Beau and me.






Friday, January 30
I got to go to a study abroad 2008 reunion sleepover (with just the girls of course)! It was so fun! We went to a cabin, at Sundance ski resort, in a gated cabin community! Can you believe that! The cabin was absolutely beautiful. I was sad Kory didn't get to go. We had SO much fun catching up with everyone. It was absolutely beautiful out too! I felt so lucky to be able to go.











And...HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYANN! My best friend in California's little girl turned 4! (The day before he Mom's birhtday). She is on the right, and her little sister Reagan is on the left.

This picture is a year old from the last time I was in Palm Springs, but I love it!



Saturday, January 31
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENI!!! Jeni has been my best friend since senior year of high school when we met in summer school (we were both over-achievers haha). We were brought together and then were never found apart. We went to different high schools, but we still visited each other during lunch and still did sleepovers on the weekdays haha. Jeni is one of those people that I strive to be more like. She is an amazing friend, wife, and mother. I hope that I am half the wife and mother that she is. It has been an absolute joy to watch her over the years. I am so grateful that I have been able to go to California to see them as often as possible, and even run into them in Hawaii a few times. Jeni was one of my bridesmaids, she and her husband Hugh drove all the way up from Palm Springs to be there. I hope I get to see them again soon! I love you Jeni! This is the last time I was in Palm Springs with Jeni left and Karly Jo on the right.


We also got to go to the Jon Schmidt concert at BYU on Saturday night. That was so fun! We met up with a couple in our ward and apartment complex. We've been trying to really get to know the people in our ward. We have so many cool people to be friends with at church! The concert was amazing. We don't have any pictures. But maybe this sound clip will work? This is a sound clip of Jason Black, one of Kory's mission buddies, spoofing some of Jon Schmidt's songs. He is also an incredible pianist. I hope you guys get to hear it. Sound clip doesn't work, sorry!

Sunday, February 1
SUPERBOWL SUNDAY! We went to church, of course. Then later we went to our friends' house. They are in our ward, but they are also from Boise! I went to high school with Mallory and Logan Brown. Deena and Zach Taylor were also there. It was so fun to catch up with everyone and hang out. They are all so awesome. I wish we were able to have get-togethers more often! Boise people are such cool people :) Seriously, married couple parties are fun too. It is just so awesome that your friends are my firends and we always have each other.

Tuesday, February 3
I swear I have been writing this blog for like an hour or something! Things are going well so far this week. I have so much to catch up on, but I needed a little break to do something I love.