*Jeff and Robyn's Wedding*

Well it's official...My little sister Robyn is now married to her sweetheart Jeff for time and all eternity! This was to say the very least an eventful and a tad bit stressful weekend. My sister was endowed on Friday, which was probably one of the most beautiful and spiritual endowment sessions (besides my own) that I have been to. She loved every moment of it and I know my family loved seeing how happy it made her to be in the house of the Lord. Saturday was the big day and let me tell you this was definitely a day to remember. My sister and I had hair and make-up appointments at 10:00 a.m. however, we were running late so we didn't get there till about 10:45, and so it began a race against time. My sister and I have TONS of hair so it took a lot longer then normal to get our hair done, and we didn't really notice the time because we were having fun being pampered. My mom was not happy to say the very least because the sealing was at 2:20 pm so my sister needed to be there an hour before to get ready. We didn't even leave the salon till about 10 after 1:00 and we were all the way in Layton, and she was being sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple. On top of that we didn't have any of our clothes or jewelry and their was TRAFFIC because the I-15 was closing down. Hahahha so we did make it to the temple eventually but were definitely cutting it really close and had a lot of unhappy people at us. By the time the sealing started everyone was calmed down and the rest of the day and night was beautiful. The reception was at the Joseph Smith Memorial building on the 10th floor and the view was amazing. At the end of the night we said our goodbyes and saw my sister and hew new hubby off to their honeymoon in Riviera Maya, Mexico! So one reception down two more to go!!!!

*Christmas Decorating*

Christmas is my favorite holiday and I love to decorate, which usually I help my mom do every year. However, since Josh and I are in the cold tundras of Idaho we are on our own for decorating. So this year we purchased our first little 6' foot Christmas tree from Wal-Mart for only $20, and also got some cool lights and other decorations. Josh and I had tons of fun putting our first Christmas tree together and decorating our front door w/ lights and making it look like a present! It is so fun being married and doing all these first time things together....I just can't wait to be first time parents sometime hopefully in the near future!!!!


Also Josh wanted be to blog about his so called "man room" which is actually our moving trailer but he considers it his own little work shop since he doesn't have the one at his parent's house to work in so here is a picture of that!

*Thanksgiving 2009*

This year we have so much to be thankful for with me having a good job, and Josh doing good in school, and being blessed w/ good health and wonderful families. Although this year for Thanksgiving Josh and I missed being home w/ our families in Arizona we were able to spend Thanksgiving day at Josh's grandmas house in Twin Falls, Idaho. Not only did we get to see his sweet Grandma, but Josh's aunt Hollie was there with her absolutely adorable little girls Ashlie (2 years) and Riley (11 months), and let me tell you I am so in-love w/ these two little girls, they make very good stand in children for the ones I don't have...well for right now!



Josh and I also got the chance the week before to start out the snow skiing season with his parents in Park City, Utah. We skied all day Saturday and Sunday went to church with his parents, and had a wonderful dinner at his other grandma's house. So needless to say we had two fun filled weeks w/ family and can't wait for Christmas to come when we can be home in beautiful Arizona!!!!

*Swine Flu*

Well it's official, I have joined the Swine Flu club. I started feeling really sick on Saturday w/ a fever, muscles aches, coughing and congestion. Looked online sure enough those were all Swine Flu symptoms. Went to the doctor today and it was confirmed. This illness is really as bad as it sounds and I can't wait to be over it!

*****ENGAGEMENT*****

Well it's official....My little sister Robyn and her Jeffrey are now ENGAGED!!!! They have been dating for about 7 months now and after a long wait are now getting hitched on December 12, 2009 in the Salt Lake City, Utah LDS Temple for time and all eternity. As a big sister I could not be happier and feel more blessed that my baby sister is being married in the Temple to the boy of her dreams. The wedding plans have already been set into motion so now I will keep everyone updated on fun wedding plans and events to come. CONGRATS TO MY SISTER AND JEFF soon to be Robyn and Jeffrey Meise!!!

*Lake Powell 2009*

Well we finally got to Lake Powell this year and had an absolute BLAST! We met up with my family and other relatives, and spent 4 wonderful days having fun in the sun. The water has gone way up since we last went so we were able to get up sand hill which we have not been able to do in a few years. Here are a few pics from our trip!





More fun announcements to come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*One Year Wedding Anniversary*

Well it's official...Josh and I have been married for a WHOLE YEAR! This first year of marriage has flown by but oh what a wonderful year it has been. So for our anniversary Josh took me to his beautiful family cabin in Ophir, Utah where we spent three wonderful and romantic days! Friday we got there a little late so we just hung out in the cabin and explored it since we haven't been there for awhile. Saturday, which was our actual anniversary day (August 22) we went quad riding all around the mountains surrounding the cabin, had a romantic bon-fire and cheered w/ sparkling cider to a wonderful year of marriage and an eternity more to come. Here are a few pictures to enjoy from a weekend that ended too soon!





HAPPY ONE YEAR SWEETHEART, I LOVE YOU!

*San Diego 2009*

In the Bracken family it has now become a tradition since last year that we go to San Diego and camp right on the beach w/ a beautiful ocean view. Well this year we had tons of fun, especially now that Josh and I are married the sleeping arrangements were so much nicer! It was also really nice to finally have time away from work since I have not been away since I started in March, so needless to say it was a well needed and deserved vacation!

To start out our vacation we went on a long 18 mile bike ride around downtown San Diego, and took a ferry around the harbor to see all the aircraft carriers which was really neat to see. Here are a few pictures to enjoy from our bike ride....





The very next day my wonderful in-laws took me to Sea World for my very first time and let me tell you it was a blast. I loved seeing all the shows, especially "Shamu Rocks" which was the night time show, and SLL (Sea Lions Live) which was just like the show Saturday Night Live. It was really funny and the sea lions really act like people and are super well trained it honestly did not seem like they were real sea lions (I was very impressed). Also the Shark exhibit was awesome and going through the shark tunnel was a bit creepy since basically the only thing between you and a shark is glass, so a bit scary. Here are some pictures from the Sea World adventure....








Josh and I decided before we ended our wonderful vacation we would stop home in Arizona to see my family and hang out for a few days. Well that ended way to quickly and before we knew it, it was time to come back to Idaho. I cried the whole way home because I'm a baby and I hate saying goodbye to family, and well to be honest I love Rexburg but I am so ready to be home in Arizona...only a year left!

*Utah Trip and the latest and greatest update*

A few weeks ago Josh and I ventured down to Utah for a fun filled and spiritual weekend! First thing we did on Saturday was go to the Salt Lake City Temple to do a LIVE session, which may I say was such a wonderful experience that I hope to do again very soon. It was also fun to see the tons of girls getting married that day (I asked a temple worker and there was a little over 70 weddings that day..CRAZY) but it reminded me of my wedding day and put a big smile on my face.



The next adventure we had was going to the REAL Salt Lake MLS (major league soccer) game which was a ton of fun. It was Salt Lake vs. Canada and WE WON 3-0 so it was a sweet game. There were also a ton of crazy fans that were singing songs, yelling at other people, and making fun of the players from the opposite team the WHOLE time which was entertaining.






So to end this wonderful weekend of adventures on Sunday we went to my cousins farewell which was fun because I got to see my cousin for the last time before he leaves for two years, and also got to around my relatives and sister! So needless to say a very fulfilling trip, it definitely ended way too soon.

The weekend before that my parents, grandma, and aunt came to Idaho to visit with us in Shelley (where my other aunt lives). We had lots of fun sitting around the camp fire and just visiting the whole weekend. I got to mother my new baby cousin the whole weekend too so that was lots of fun for me since I don't have one of my own yet. Of course that weekend ended too soon as well and my family had to leave which was really hard for me cause I love being with family, but my sweet husband comforted me so life is still good (but it will be better when we are back in AZ)!

*The ceiling fan.....A SUCCESS!*

So this is a continuation of our home improvements that we did not think would happen but did...we got the ceiling fan installed yeaaaaaaaaaaa! Josh is basically a genius and figured out a way to get it in so I definitely owe him because I was thinking it couldn't be done. So we will now be nice and cool during these hot summer days in Rexburg, Idaho hahahahha because we all know it gets so hot here!

*Home Improvements*

So this weekend was home improvement weekend, although not all of our improvements worked out the way they were supposed too. We finally put up new curtains which I have been wanting to do for a long time, and now since Josh and I have decided that we are staying here in Idaho (Josh is now officially on fast grad)till July of next year when Josh graduates we decided now was the perfect time, so we put up curtains in our living room and in our bedroom!


So our next home improvement was to put in a ceiling fan in the living room to keep our apartment cooler during the summer. Well we took out the light fixture and in a nut shell basically realized that the boards in the ceilings are not going to allow us to put in this support rod in order to hold the fan so no ceiling fan. However, my handy-dandy husband is still trying to figure out a way to make it work so it still might happen...I'll keep everyone updated on our ceiling fan dilema.

*Update*

So my good friend Pez aka Lesli pointed out to me that I need to update my blog hahahaha so here it goes. Ummm where do I start...well I had a birthday in April so I'm now a cool 23 year old and I got to spend the weekend in Utah with all my family so that was a blast. Also for my birthday I got the movie Twilight and a new pair of pink Nike running shoes, and clothes from my little sis so all in all a pretty sweet birthday!


(LOL this picture was taken last year in Utah so I thought I would just throw it in to make it interesting since posts are funner to read when there are pictures hahah!)

Josh is doing really well in school and loving every second of his major, except for all the homework and studying he has to do, but other then that he is pulling straight A's and only has three semesters after this one to go so I'm very proud of him. I am really enjoying my job at Qwest and actually just graduated from training 3rd in my class so I'm now an "official" employee of Qwest and my job is now somewhat secure yeaaaaaa!

So not really sure what else to blog about since nothing has really changed to much in our life, oh except Josh and I just had our 9 month anniversary so we are getting super close to our One Year which is very exciting because then I will have something to blog about hhahahaha and pictures too!

*Graduation Day!*

Here are just a few pictures from Graduation Night! My parents and Josh's parents flew in from Arizona for the event, so needless to say I am blessed to have two such wonderful families who love and support me so much!

Me in all my glory right after I received my "diploma" lol actually just the holder


My parents brought me this beautiful arrangement of flowers!