Moab - Our Anniversary Vacation

Dev and I escaped down to Moab after we took our last finals. It was a much needed vacation (after such an intense school year, and a new job for me) and was also a time to celebrate our first year together. It was some of the most beautiful terrain I've ever laid eyes on. It reminded me especially of my friend Laura, who would always talk about Arizona being pretty, but me never believing her (how can something so dead and barren as a desert be pretty?) But the hikes, bike rides, and rafting, even though physically exhausting, were so worthwhile, just to witness the beauty God has given to us. Since going I have such a testimony of this. He has created such a beautiful place for us to inhabit. I can't believe how often throughout regular city life I forget about these special creations.

Random Everyday Life

I crowned him king watermelon...after he crowned me queen, of course!

creepiest faces I've ever witnessed

missy, taylor, joc, nae, steiner, me

camping with the ward

one of many fun Sunday dinners

There are always those moments of random silliness, good old camping trips, and fun family dinners that keep Dev and I close knit and happy. We have hard work and school routines, but it's nice every once and a while (on the weekends) to relax and forget about life for a while!

Dev's Mexico Trip

Dev got the awesome opportunity of going down to Mexico on a Medical Trip. In a group of about fifty pre-med students, he was able to not only shadow physicians, but actually perform basic surgical procedures: catheters, stitches, abscess removal, etc. He was also able to witness several births, extensive surgeries, and mostly just hang out with some really cool ER doctors. They also took a bunch of toys and clothes to an orphanage there...it really humbled him. It was neat to see how much he cared for these children he had only known for a day.

Christmas with the Jackson's!

So I'm going to have to ask my folks to help me with this one. Our camera died in St. Simon's, so we didn't get any pics of time with my family. There was lots of excitement at the Jackson home though...Sunny came home from her mission on the 28th of December, so we all celebrated it late - on the 30th. Bryan came down from North Carolina, and Marshall was seen frequently too. (hehe) We had three straight days of celebration - Christmas Eve on the 30th, Christmas Day and then New Year's Eve on the 31st, and then New Years Day! We enjoyed playing volleyball, softball, and tennis on New Years Day with the whole family (even Grandpa and Donna, who came down for the Homecoming) It was so good to see everyone again!

Christmas with the Clarke's

AFter spending actual Christmas with the Clarke's at home, we drove down to St. Simon's Island, and spent the rest of Christmas week on the beach! We played football, fed seagulls, and skim boarded for three days. Dev was a bit sad that no wind showed up, though. He really wanted to kite with his more experienced and better-equipped cousins.

Our first Christmas!

Yes, our fish tank has antlers.

Dev and I have different opinions about tree light. Mostly I just like a lot of lights that are well-hidden. So I kind of took over the light stringing.

I was very excited...and yeah, those candy canes didn't last very long.

So we celebrated Christmas three times this year...the first by ourselves, before we left SLC, with the presents we bought each other. Dev surprised me with a keyboard! It was the most thoughtful present! (He had tricked me into thinking it was a Christmas village train set). I bought him a much needed blender, a shirt, and a violin (he's decided to start learning how to play). It was so nice...and Santa even visited...putting stuff into our crafty homemade stockings!

Skiing/Snowboarding

Dev's sis, Jocelyn, her boyfriend and Dev enjoying Snowbird's free cat track!

I don't even know when or where this was...but one ski/board day

Freezing cold, but awesome Brighton nightskiing - on Mondays it's buy one, get one free!

prep work on the bindings...ps we got those at DI for 2 bucks!

dev waxing it up!

So I have become a pro at wax a snowboard, and Dev and I both have become expert cheap skiiers. Alta has ski for free after three, Snowbird has a free cat track (great to learn how to board on), and Brighton has nightskiing for discounted prices everyday! So when there's no wind...