Fall Semester 2010...complete

I have done a horrible job of keeping my blog updated, but that is because school is so busy! Both Brian and I have been in school this semester, which means and lot of homework between the two of us, and not much time that we get to spend together, or doing much of anything else. Even though this was my busiest semester, I loved what I learned! I took Teachings of the Living Prophets from Ronald J. Hammond, which is hands down my favorite class. We got to study each of the General Conference talks from the 1st Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve and their biographies. I feel I have grown spiritually this semester faster than ever!

Among other classes, graphic design was my big hard one. I would often come home 9:00 pm (since my class was 6:00-9:00 Tuesdays and Thursdays) and be frustrated. Graphic design is my major, so I really want to do well, but at midterms not one person had an A in the class. Maybe part of it was a hard teacher, but it made me work even harder. Here is one of my two final projects in my class.

We had to pick 50 of anything...and I picked 50 Natural Wonders around the world. We had to design the band and build the box it wraps around.

We designed the band, box, 50 front and back cards, and an info card explaining the project. We researched our topic, and wrote 50 paragraphs on each card.

It took a LOT of work, but I was happy with how it turned out. I should have counted my hours, but I am estimating it took around 70 hours.

Overall, it was a great semester. I ended up getting an A- in graphic design, which I didn't think was possible. I was able to get all A's, bumping my GPA up to be high enough for a full ride scholarship my senior year, which starts next Fall. (unless I bomb my classes this winter) I know I have really been blessed. The best part about it, I did better reading the Book of Mormon and praying BEFORE I started my homework and classes each day. I know because I put the Lord first, He helped me. I learned how to rely on the Lord for everything, and that is priceless to me!

Summer Love!

My brother Shiloh got married August 14, 2010 in the Bountiful temple to Megan Pugh. They met up at school, just like Brian and I did...and 80% of everyone else at BYU-IDo. I had the bright idea to make the wedding cake, and I've decided that next time I wouldn't have such a big idea.

I spent one day baking the cakes...which took nine cake mixes. You should have seen our freezer when I tried to squeeze all of them in there! The day before Shiloh and Megan got married Brian and I spent the day at Brian's mom's house and I decorated it. In all, it took nine cake mixes, 14 cans of frosting, and about 15-20 hours. I was just crossing my fingers that I would be able to transport it from Draper to Bountiful without a crisis.

Brian and I got to the Bountiful temple after dropping the cakes off at a church nearby...so far so good. Everything about the temple and sealing was beautiful! I have never learned so much in one sitting before, and it really gave me an eternal perspective. I was so happy for Shiloh and Megan!

After the wedding ceremony I went to set the cake up hoping it would turn out like I had planned in my mind. I hadn't practiced putting it all together before, so I was excited but nervous at the same time. Luckily, it all came together!

Our little family is growing!

Lake Powell

Brian and I went with his dad and Patty and more family to Lake Powell for a week, and now I am in love! I had never done anything like boating before, but all in one trip I went boating, cliff jumping, tubing, water skiing, and wake boarding. I was so amazed how warm the water was, even 8:00 at night. (But that's coming from someone who lives in Rexburg aka "Iceberg" for ya!) There were 25 people in a three-room cabin, with six babies...what an experience! We can just say I got to know Brian's family a lot better!

It was paradise for me! We left every morning and went to a beach on the lake, and we played hard all day. It was nice to relax and not worry about anything...because it had been a long time!

A perfect picture of paradise!


1st time water skiing...



The best part about it...we are side by side where ever we go, and we keep making memories of us!

After a Long School Year

After Brian and I moved into our house, we started school right away...and didn't stop until April when the school year ended. I am a graphic design major and take a lot of art classes, and I love it! Brian is a mechanical engineer major, and he stays busy! Every time he tells me what he is learning or what he is working on, I just think to myself, "And this is why I am an art major!"

In April Brian and I went to St George, Utah and spent time with his grandparents. We also went to Zion's Park and had a blast! Believe it or not, we took this picture from inside our room in his grandparent's house...beautiful!

We hiked around Snow Canyon and found cool rock formations.

After we got home Brian started his Summer semester, which just ended in July. I worked all summer from home for Piano Marvel.

First Two Months

Brian and I went on our honeymoon to Orlando Florida and stayed at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek resort. Everything was perfect, and that was thanks to my aunt Lori!

For the first five weeks Brian and I lived with my parents in Colorado. Brian went to work with my dad every day and I worked with Piano Marvel from home. It was a great time for Brian and my parents to get to know each other.

The biggest pain I had to go through was changing my name on my social security and driver's license. The first day I went, I waited at the social security office for 1 1/2 hours, and it turns out I needed to get it changed on my driver's license first. I was bummed, especially when I drove to the dmv and found it had moved to another location, and by this time I was late.

The next day I was sick with the dreaded swine flu, which I am sure I caught while trying to change my name, which I did not even accomplish until a few days later. :( I had never been that sick! For a week it felt like a horrible cold, and I had no energy. That weekend Brian and I went camping at the Sand Dunes National Park. We climbed to the highest peak we could find. When we got back home, everything caught up with me and knocked me off my feet. For the next week or so I had a fever that reached up to 104 degrees and I slept up to 17 hours a day and was still exhausted. I didn't have an appetite for food, which wasn't normal again for the next three weeks. Moral of the story...don't hike the sand dunes in the blistering heat with swine flu!!!

I was still not better when it was time for us to move back up to Rexburg. That was the longest 12 hour drive of my life! I was so excited to move into our new home together though!

Here we are...with no kitchen table, chairs, or desks, sitting on our "couch that never made it" going through gifts and things that mom and dad, and Brian's dad, Steve, and Patty gave us. We started out with next to nothing, but I believe we are the happiest couple in the world!

The Best Day of My Life

On July 25, 2009 I kneeled across an altar with my best friend and love and was promised eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. We met October 2008 and got engaged the next April. Everything about our relationship has been better than I ever dreamed of, and it keeps getting better and better! I knew I was in love when the thought of eternity with Brian wasn't scary, but a dream come true. I always think I can't love him any more than I do now, but as the days pass, I realize I just fall in love even more.

Everything about our wedding day was perfect. We got to the temple in plenty of time and Brian and I were able to sit together and talk for an hour before the ceremony. I felt like a princess the whole day. I will never forget the way I felt when we kissed over the altar and I was called Mrs. Hancock for the first time. After the pictures we had our first reception in Draper, and it was beautiful! Brian wrote a song and sang it to me...and lets just say my heart absolutely melted! Our first dance was to Taylor Swift's Love Song, which we consider to be our song. My dad and I danced to Bob Carlisle's Butterfly Kisses.

This is just the beginning of an amazing life and eternity together, and I am so excited!