I've missed her so! My sister Mary is home from her year long adventure in France as an au pair. Now fluent in French, cheese, and baking just being around her makes me feel more cultured. She's such an amazing beautiful person inside and out, I can't get enough.

After...Finally!

Holiday Spirit

I have to say, fall is fabulous! I never realized how much I missed the cold, but it feels as though I've found the missing frosting to the holiday season. Although still delicious, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas never feel quite right without the desire for a warm blanket wrapped around you, a hot beverage, and home baked goods. I feel giddy over holidays in a way I'd forgotten. I love being back in Utah.
The season has also been one of change as we have purchased our first home. I love our new home, or should I say I will once completed. We decided to renovate the kitchen completely, torn out walls, floor and all. I've learned so much, and can hardly wait to move in. The home is in Sandy, only 1/2 hour away from Alta, yippee! Check out the progress:)

Summer Delights

A few pictures to share from our beautiful Timpanokie hike.

Full Circle

Thought a new post would be appropriate just days from my last posts one year anniversary. Never being one to conform to the unnecessary deadlines magically created by electronics, I feel waiting a year since my last update actually gives me something to write about!

This past year has been an exciting one for us. In October we went on our first cruise, which had mixed reviews but was fun none the less. Our favorite stop on the Mexico tour was Cabo San Lucas. We came prepared with our own snorkeling gear and put it to good use in the crystal clear 80 degree water. We also managed to find a Dairy Queen to help us cool off!

Brady's sister Lindsay and her husband Dusty came to visit us in November to run in the famous San Diego 10K Mud Run. Splashing in the mud was invigorating, but we were exhausted from the obstacle course over estimating our athletic ability not being properly trained, opps!

Mid December Brady graduated from the Art Institute of San Diego voted top student of his graduating peers by the professors (yes I am bragging:). Brady's parents Daryl and Marie along with my mother Lisseth and step-dad Glen came into town to help celebrate. We had so much fun with them relaxing, indulging in San Diego's fabulous shopping, and being spoiled eating out almost every meal.

After graduation we decided to try moving back to Utah. Although San Diego had been everything we'd hoped for, it came with a high price tag. Once one of us landed a job, we would make the move. In February I was offered a job by Mission Pharmacal, continuing on in women's health care sales. Yipee!

Shae, Brady's older brother, and my mom were kind enough to fly down on short notice to help us move. The move was intensely bitter sweet. We'd made so many amazing life-long friends who made it very difficult to move. My book club threw farewell party, and we were treated to our final San Diego dinner by our close friends the Teemsmas and McLellans.

So far being back in Utah has been good. Nervous to start a new job moving back only a few days prior went surprisingly well. I love my new teny tiny company which makes me feel like family. Brady has been freelancing and is enjoying answering only to himself doing what he loves.

Only being away for a little over a month, we decided to turn a business trip into a little get away to So. Cal. We finally made it to Disneyland, a first for both of us. It was nice to visit San Diego and really enjoy it as a vacation!

Currently we're living in my Aunt Connie's condo in Bountiful where we started almost five years ago. Being able to be there for our families special moments and eat Sunday dinner with our parents makes it all worth it. Talk about coming full circle!

Hard to believe we're just around the corner from our 2 year anniversary of becoming San Diego residents! The past 7 months have been a typhoon of delight, burns, growth, love, and conquest. Just 5 months from Brady's graduation we're experiencing a little whip lash from the ride while trying to decide which attraction to jump on next.

Brady is at the Art Institute of San Diego and loving it. In the spring he participated in an invitation only National Advertising competition (NSAC). His group took 3rd place in his district, and were also awarded "best creative" on which Brady had been the lead. He's enjoying his Christmas gift of season Padres tickets, and plays on a rec team with a bunch of his buddies. He also spends way to much time updating his fantasy team... ugh!

Currently, Brady is rolling out a campaign for the movie "The Spirit". Yeah, the real deal! Unfortunately it is not paid but his and a group from his school designed and created a number of posters, signs, clips, and gimmicks which the producer loved and decided to roll out nationally! Being this close to Hollywood has had some great perks for Brady's education:).

Staying busy with his calling as ward clerk and working part time at the Container Store, Brady and I have also started training for the San Diego Mud Run in November. It is a 10k obsticle course, and to be honest... I have no idea what we were thinking! We'll be running in a team with our buddies Jared, Elaine, and SD friend Dan. Should be memorable if nothing else!

I'm still working for Organon (now a part of Schering Plough) Pharmaceuticals in women's health. Things have been a bit hectic since our purchase by Schering Plough, but I'm still lovin' it! I was recently made the Computer and Regional Trainer for my district of Southern California, where I help peers with development technically and train new hires. Crazy, I can hardly believe it! I work with so many amazing people who have helped me to grow in many ways professionally and personally. I'm so grateful every day to have a job that has allowed Brady to fully focus on his education and live in such a beautiful place.

My calling as Young Woman's president has also kept me occupied. I love the girls so much and although a lot of work, it has been such an amazing experience and blessing.

We were also just called as Temple Workers! We were a bit shocked but so excited for the opportunity. Every Saturday from 5:30-11:30 am we will be serving in the San Diego Temple (funny, when we chose this time the temple president kept saying, “Now, you know you have to be up here and ready to start by then… are you sure?” We’re going to have to learn some real discipline! Afterwards from 12:00-3:00 we’ll be across the way surfing, sweet double bonus!

Some of my gal pals and I recently started a book/ restaurant club which has been a fabulous estrogen fest! Each month we select a book and restaurant, enjoying the ultimate girls night. Currently we're reading 'Twilight' (which was an insane page turner, I finished the first 2 books in 4 days!) and 'Modoc, the Greatest Elephant that Ever Lived'.

We've made some wonderful friends who have become our SD family. Recently we vacationed with our pals Dan and Autums and their gorgious twins Owen and Giddeon in Arizona over the 4th of July. I know, crazy to be there in heat of summer, but the company made the trip! Brady and Dan were able to catch a Diamond Back's game while Autumn and I hit up my all time favorite store Last Chance. We got some much needed RR, played my new favorite game 'Dutch Blitz' and enjoyed cooling off in the pool.

With some saved up vacation time, we also were able to visit family and friends in Utah. We could hardly stand how home sick we'd become! A definite benefit of changing the proximity to your family from 3 miles to 1,300 is you really begin to appreciate the incredible people they are. Hard to believe we are related to the most generous, loving, selfless, beautiful, and funny people I've ever met, we miss them every day!

Although San Diego has been a dream come true, one thing is for sure... we miss our loved ones! So, after much deliberation we've made the choice to move back as soon once we get all our ducks in a row. Probably some time early 09', we'll keep you posted!