Conference & Easter Weekend

Because this year Easter fell on the last weekend before school was over we figured we wouldn't travel because we will be traveling in 5 days to go see both of our families. Easter weekend also fell on Conference weekend this year as well. So we spent our Saturday and Sunday cuddled up on the bed/couch watching and listening to our leaders of the church! It was a great few sessions of conference.

*In honor of conference, here is a picture of us that we recently found on lds.org of us from 

conference a year and a half ago.*

*We of course had our easter candy to help us through, and President Uchtdorf is one of my favorite speakers so here is what conference looked like for us*

We are lucky to have a little bit of family here in Rexburg with us so we had Elle, David, and sweet little Graham over for Easter dinner in between sessions. Elle and David brought ham and potatoes and we made deviled eggs, orange salad, and strawberry pie! It was delicious! And it didn't hurt that I got to hold Graham for awhile. *Excuse my wrinkly table cloth*

Honestly conference was so good this year, like it always is but I really enjoyed listening to our Prophet, Apostles, and Church leaders this weekend. There were way too many wonderful talks to choose just one, but here are some of my favorite ideas, quotes, and things that I learned. 

Linda K. Burton spoke about our husbands. So I will work on sincerely praising him, praying for him, saying kind things, and focus on the things that matter most. 

L. Tom Perry spoke about the family! His was one of my top favorite talks. The quite I love was, "Family is the center of life and is the key to eternal happiness." 

He said that being married and having children is the HAPPIEST way to live. 

Families bring joy and fullfilment. 

The restored gospel is based on marriage and families. 

David A. Bednar said, "Because of Him, our hearts need not be troubled or afraid and we will be blessed to hush our fears."

D. Todd Christofferson said, "Love comes from you, but marriage comes from above, from God."

"Many things are good and important but only few are essential."

"Marriage is as much as part of the plan as the fall and atonement."

Wilford W. Andersen- LOVED his talk. 

"If our lives are out of tune with the music of the gospel we need to tune them up."

Perform in our homes with the attributes that will invite the spirit.

It takes diligence to perform well.

"Keep practicing" to make the spirit of the Lord fill our home.

Dale G. Redlund quoted Nelson Mandela "A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying."

Heavenly Father cares that we keep on trying. 

Michael T. Ringwood said, do good continually to please our Father in Heaven not for the praise.

Quentin L. Cook said, "Our children need to know they are loved and safe at home."

Make a personal effort to be more Christlike.

The church has NEVER been STRONGER

President Monson, "In the temple we can find peace."

Find order, beauty, and rest in the temple.

As we do go to the temple we will better be able to resist our temptations 

and overcome our trials.

The blessing of the temple are priceless

Rosemary M. Wixom said to focus on what you do know. 

Let the truths that you do believe fill your heart.

Jose A. Teixeira said, "Life is not confines to a four-inch screen."

Jeffrey R. Holland, "Today we celebrate the gift of victory over every fall we have ever experienced, every sorrow we have ever known."

"Today (Easter) is the most sacred day of the year."

I thank him and the Father who gave him to us.

"However many chances you think you have missed, however many mistares you feel you have made or talents you think you don't have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf said that "Living the gospel faithfully is not a burden."

We have never done all that we can do.

The gospel is simple and clear.

Robert D. Hales said, "How you LIVE your religion is more important than what you 

say about your religion."

Kevin W. Pearson said, "Don't let something you don't fully understand unravel 

everything you do know."

Average effort will prevent you from enduring to the end.

Russell M. Nelson asked us to think, "What sign do I want to give to God by what I do on the Sabbath day?"

I am so grateful for the gospel in my life. I am grateful for this Easter season and for our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that because of him we can be forgiven and we can continue to strive to be better. Because he suffered for us we don't have to. I am grateful for our Heavenly Father's plan and that we can be with our families for all eternity. I am grateful for the temple and for the things that we can feel and learn there. I am grateful for President Monson and I know that he is a Prophet of God and that he is the Lord's mouth piece. I am grateful for the talks that were given this weekend and for all of the Apostles and leaders of the Church. I know that this church is true and that our Savior lives and loves me. And that He died for all of us, and that He is risen. 

Honeymoon- Cancun, Mexico

Well it has been 8 months (yesterday) since we were married and went on our honeymoon but I figured there is no better time than now! Better late than never.

So after our reception we left Billings at about 10 p.m. and headed for Bozeman. Garrett's parents were SO generous to send us to Cancun, Mexico for a whole week!

*Don't mind all the iphone/ipod pictures*

So we got to Bozeman late, no thanks to the construction and then the hotel was going to shuttle us to the airport that morning at 3:30 and let me tell you I have never been so tired in my life. Literally felt like I was hit by a bus. And after feeling beautiful for a day and totally pampered you really feel like crap the next day even with make up on. We got to the airport plenty early for our flight so we fell asleep on the airport benches. And honestly every flight we got on, we don't even remember the plane taking off because we were already asleep.

We flew to Denver and had a short layover there and then we flew straight to Cancun. We got to the airport and went through customs and everything like that and a little Mexican man was there to pick us up. Then we got in the van with him and we drove for like 45 minutes to our resort. And we slept again. Then we got to the resort and were sweating immediately, it smelled like bubble gum and we got our room. As soon as we got to our room we dropped everything off, went and looked around, went to dinner at the buffet-- tried everything we could, then went to bed super early and slept for like 12 hours.

SOOO glad we did that because the next morning we were ready to party. So every morning we got up and went to eat breakfast and every morning we got up and I walked outside and was sweating and I loved it. The first day we tried a lot of different things for breakfast but almost every day after that we would eat the same thing. French toast with condensed milk (why we don't do that in the US, idk), cereal, hashbrowns, bacon, Garrett would have an omlet, pinneapple juice (also SO good), and yogurt.

So at our resort there was a beach and a pool. So how do you decide where to go? The first day we picked the pool and it was heaven. Shade, sun, music, swim up bar, the buffet super close, what could be better?

*This was the swim up bar where we had like 7 drinks each day, no alcohol of course*

We ended up loving the pool so much that we pretty much stayed there the whole week! So our typical routine was-- get in the pool, swim over and get a drink. Then get out of the pool, I would read and Garrett would just lay there. Then when we would get hot we would get back in the pool and swim over and get ANOTHER drink. This process was repeated multiple times throughout the day. We would also fit in lunch into our busy schedule.

Every night we got to go to a different resturant! Each resturant had a different theme and menu so each night was a different adventure! Since it has been almost eight months since we were there I don't remember the names of the resturants but they were all really good! The first night was our favorite though. We have said that if we were to go back we would want to eat at that resturant more than once during the week! 

 *This was my meal the first night. SO good!*

 *Mexican 7up is seriously so good. I was downing those pops like never before in my life. I would drink like 3 or 4 glasees of them at dinner every night, hence why I would get so full so fast.*

 *And Garrett would drink Coke like I would drink my 7up.*

 *My cute lunch date--This is at the little resturant by the beach*

The second night I remember we went to a place for dinner that was kind of like Tucanos how you have the red, green and yellow light and they keep bringing you different kinds of meat. There were some nasty ones and some delicious ones so that was fun!

We had some interesting things that happened that we had no idea about. So first thing is that there were so many bugs. And they really liked me. I got so many bites every night when we would go to dinner or if we were just walking on the beach. Garrett had like none though so I don't know what the deal was. Second.. were the raccoons. SO MANY RACOONS.

So funny story, one night we were just hanging out in our room and it was kind of late and we were getting hungry so I stayed and was reading my book and Garret was going to go to the little restuarant at the beach to get us some fries and some drinks. Our room was really close to this so I thought it would be super quick. After he hadn't come back for a while I started to get nervous so I was like if he isn't back in 5 minutes I'll go out to look for him. Luckily he came back within those 5 minutes but he was out of breath, the fries were cold, and he didn't get the drinks we were wanting. So I was a little bit confused. He then went on to tell me that he was being followed by the racoons. That he had to toss a fry one direction and then run the other way and they just kept following him. I was dying of laughter and truly didn't believe him. So the next night I went with him and we sat at the tables on the beach waiting for our fries and he wasn't even kidding. The racoons would climb up on the chairs and try and get people's food on the table. It was crazy! We couldn't believe it!

*Most days the weather was sunny and hot and perfect*

 *But towards the end of the week in the late afternoons there started to be some storms*

We sat right by this sign everyday and I never really noticed it until Garrett pointed it out to me and said, "Hey go stand over there and make a sad face." I then read the sign and started laughing and then gave him a sad face.

*This is where our room was. Walked in and it was right there on the right! We never saw any of our neighbors but it was the best place!*

*This was at the Mexican resturant that we ate at one night. Take 1*

 *Take 2*

 *Take 3, yay Garrett*

*Look at that tan husband of mine!*

 *This was the day we spend like an hour at the beach and then gave up.*

 *Hot dogs or my legs?*

 *Garrett spent a long time snorkeling. I hurt my foot and then gave up.*

 There were shows that were played everynight but since the bugs were so dang bad and ate me alive we only went once. It was actually pretty funny! We of course had to get our pops for the show. 

 The morning we left beautiful Cancun! I had my apple and was ready to go haha. I have no idea what I'm doing of why I'm posing with an apple but who cares, it's Mexico.

*Going home, the flights home weren't as easy because we didn't sleep the whole 

time like the way there*

 

We had the best week in Mexico, and can't thank Debbie and Vince enough for sending us there! Now, we just can't wait to go back! 

March MADNESS

March really has been madness! It has been so so busy! It's been a while since I've blogged but here is what we have been up to! A few weeks ago the sunset was AMAZING so I quickly ran up and tried to take a few pictures before it was gone and I made it just in time. How gorgeous is it?! Almost looks fake!

The best thing that has happened lately is that our BFF's game to see us! The Jacobs came and stayed with us for the weekend! It was the best time and a much needed weekend with them! We have really missed them this semester! Friday night when they got here we ate and then went to the MC and watched the Elite 8 games and played some games! We topped it off with vanilla dones from Mcdonalds and then hit the hay. Saturday morning the boys got up early and went golfing! They had the best time. Katrina and I got up and went to look for apartments (they might be coming back, yayyyyy for us!!!). Then we spent a lot of the afternoon playing Rook. Girls vs. Boys and let's just say that overall the girls won... :) And we of course had to get some spikeball in! It was SO windy all day Saturday but we made it work!

We were totally slacking with the pictures while they were here, probably because Katrina and I didn't shower until like 5 in the afternoon on Saturday but it was super fun to have them here! We love you guys! And they left us some pictures on our doorstep when they left and we love them!

Here's a picture of our Easter banner. I wish I could say that I made it but this is from Target! This was our last Sunday here in Idaho together for awhile so why not document it?

Everybody look out! Garrett got and iPhone! He is LOVING it! But who wouldn't! My mom said, "I'm sure he is, finally came out of the stone ages." hahaha. He had to get a smartphone for his job this summer.  

 We have had the busiest week with homework, tests, and everything else! We only have one week left of school and it will be busy all the way up until the end of the week! So since we survived the week we decided to dye some eggs and just relax a little bit!