Our Top 20{19}

I can't believe this decade is over! There have been so many different life changing experiences in the past 10 years. 

I graduated from high school and college, went to the temple, went on a mission (one of the best things), 

met Andrew and got married, new friendships, and a lot of growth in every aspect. 

This year was a great way to end the decade! We had some fun things planned for the year, and 2019 delivered! 

1. Saw Comedy Sports 3x's!

2. Got to hear from Elder Bednar for a Q&A Fireside

Elder Ballard is one of the 12 apostles in our church and it was such an amazing experience to hear from him. 

One thing that he mentioned was that even if he answered our question that night, it was not the end of the road. 

The questions we have are still something we need to pray about and spend more time on with God. 

He just gave us a stepping stone. 

3. Hawaii Trip with Andrew's Family

4. Kennecott Trip

5. Lagoon Day (thanks Alyse!)

6. 3rd Anniversary

7. My Birthday Celebration

My mother-in-law took me out to lunch 

and my mom took me to the Hale Theater to see the play, "Tuck Everlasting."

8. Cabin + the Manti Pageant

9. Ran my 1st Half Marathon

My word of the year was "wellness" and I set a goal to run a half marathon, something that I never thought 

I would do but I loved it and it was so worth it. I would do it again!

10. Backstreet Boys Concert

I'm usually not a concert going type of person, but this was AMAZING! I loved every second.

11. Pioneer Day Concert

Andrew and  were able to go to the Tabernacle Square Pioneer Day concert featuring Sissel. 

It was so good. I don't have a picture, but here is one of my favorite songs from the performance. 

12. Passed BOTH sections of my Praxis test!

I needed to pass the math and science sections of my praxis test so I could student teach and graduate.

Sooooo stressful but I did it! Prayer works because there is NO WAY I could have done that on my

13. Huntington Lake

14. St.George Trip

15. We got a new car!

We had been on the car hunt for awhile and we went up to Riverton to look at a car with no intention of buying it. 

Well the next thing we know we are making a deal and buying the thing. 

I am trying to call it Wanda the Honda, but Andrew just wants to call it the CRV. 

16.  Disneyland with my family

17. Finished college & got a new job!

I FINALLY finished my bachelor's degree! It took awhile with my mission and credits being added in my absence 

(that pushed me back a year), then going to part time online school when I got married, but I'M DONE! 

I will walk in May so I'll share more of my story then. But if feels so good to be finished!

18. Giving my parents their Christmas gift

My mom had loved Cher since she was a teenager. She has always thought about how close she is to Cher & always 

tries to sing like her. Cher is coming to Utah on tour and we thought it would be so fun to give my parents tickets 

to Cher's concert (and my dad is up for anything my mom is). We did this whole presentation for them of giving 

them different clues with our own Cher music video at the end. They thought the music video was so funny, 

so when we gave them their tickets at the very end they didn't even see it coming! They had no idea Cher was 

coming to Utah, so it took them by complete surprise! Both of them started crying a little bit too, which we 

were not expecting at all! It was so much fun to give it to them.

I tried to upload the music video but YouTube won't let me because of copyright reasons.  

19. Went to California on a last minute whim

To see our favorite memories of the past few years:

Our Top 20{16}

Top 20{17}

 Top 20{18}

Vietnamese Wedding Celebration

We made a last minute decision to go to California for a few days. Andrew served a mission for our church from 

2008-2010 in Anaheim, CA and he spoke VIETNAMESE! (I still can't get over it). He became really close with the 

members in the area because he was in the same area for the entire 2 years! One of Andrew's friends from the area 

was getting married and they had invited us to the wedding months ago but we were still on the fence about 

going because it was right after Christmas and we did not know how the weather was going to be. It was something 

that I knew would take a lot of time and I had so much to do at home (getting my new classroom 

ready with the layout, schedule, & lesson plans, putting Christmas decorations away, cleaning, etc.) so I was kinda 

dreading going. But once we made it it felt so good to be back in a place that Andrew and I love! 

(if you didn't know, I also served my mission in Anaheim, but English speaking)

We got there late at night (there was NO snow in Utah, but there was a snow storm on the Nevada/California border 

and it closed the road. Andrew and I took a L O N G detour that added 3 hours to the trip).

The traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony was early the next day. I love culture, so I really enjoyed seeing it! 

In the Vietnamese culture it is traditional to wear red Áo dài (pronounced Ow-y-eye) on your wedding day. 

The groom comes to the bride's home with gifts for the bride and they do a tea ceremony which is presented 

to the the family's elders. 

^Gifts for the Bride's Family, and a pig is very traditional^

After the ceremony there was a breakfast, then after the breakfast came more food! 

And that was only the beginning of the endless food. 

The couple were getting sealed in the San Diego temple later in the day. Andrew and I drove down early so we could tour 

the area. We went to the Mormon Battalion site which is a Visitor's Center to learn more about the history. 

About 500 members of the church joined the United States Army in the war against Mexico (while the church was 

currently fleeing to Mexico for religious freedom). The army made it to San Diego and that's why 

there's a Visitor's Center there.

We met up with one of Andrew's old mission companions there and Linda 

(the girl who introduced Andrew and me).

^We panned for "gold"^

We went to the temple and that place is gorgeous! 

The couple got sealed and the temple is just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. 

The rest of the wedding party went and got food, but we stayed at the temple longer. 

When we came out it was dark, and look how beautiful the temple lights up the night.

We drove back to Anaheim and picked up Andrew's "viet mom", got spring rolls, and went to Downtown Disney

 to watch the fireworks. It was such a fun way to end the night. 

The next morning we met my "mission mom" for brunch. It was so good to see her again and it makes me wish 

we lived closer to California so we could go more. 

Went for lunch dessert with our Viet crew.

(Andrew's mission mom & Andrew's mission companion + his 2 brothers)

And of course we went to the beach. Guys, I really need more California in my life. 

That night was the wedding reception and it was gorgeous! 

And there was SO MUCH FOOD! I think the entire thing was at least 7 courses not including the appetizers before. 

There was fried rice, shrimp, lobster, noodles, and so much more. And it was really good. 

Andrew did try an 1000 year old egg. It reminded us of James Cordon's Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts. 

Andrew has tried 3 different things from that show: Balut, Pig's Blood, and now the 1000 Year Old Egg. 

The wedding was a lot of fun. Andrew really enjoyed it because he saw so many members, some who have moved 

away so when we come back to Anaheim, he doesn't see them. 

And the bride had S E V E N dresses! 

1. Her red traditional Áo dài 

2. She wore a white Áo dài to the temple

3. Her temple dress

4. Her white wedding dress after the temple

5. Reception dress #1- Long ball gown

6. Reception dress #2- Shorter white dress

7. Reception dress #3- White going away dress

That wedding spared no cost. My favorite part was the reception food.

Before we left California the next morning we saw some people I love. I saw the Wick's, one of the members in 

the last area I served in. The kids are so old. The youngest just turned 8 when I left now he's almost 13! 

California is always so good to us with the the weather, the experiences, the food, but mainly the people. We love it all so much.

Disneyland with the Fam

Growing up my brother and I were the only cousins that were our age, everyone else was older (by 15-20 years) and my parents did not want to drag us to Thanksgiving where we would sit and be bored. Instead of hosting or attending the traditional Thanksgiving meal, they decided to travel for Thanksgiving instead. It's been so much fun and the tradition keeps on going! 

This year we went to Disneyland and we loved it! Andrew is the Disneyland master and when I first went to Disneyland with Andrew I wanted my family to experience Disneyland with him because he makes Disneyland magical! He knows how to work the Disneyland system; how to get on the most rides, the shows to see, the food to eat, everything!

Four years after that first time with Andrew, my we finally went as a family! And we were finally able to go to Star Wars Land and see the new Pixar Pier!

Thanksgiving day it poured rain the entire day! Just walking to the shuttle to take us the park our shoes got soaked! (we later learned to tie plastic bags around our socks and that trick worked wonders!) But even with the rain, we loved it! It was the day we laughed the most and the day we got on the most rides! 

^In line for the Star Wars ride and the boys thought this was so cool. My mom and I just got in the picture^

We did Splash Mountain twice because we figured we were already wet, so why not get on the wet rides then?
Plus we were poncho prepared which actually did help a lot. 

 ^If you can't tell my mom and I are soaked through!^ 

The next day there was no rain! We went a little slower today to enjoy all the small magic parts of Disneyland.
My family enjoyed looking at all the small details that make Disneyland an escape from reality. One of my
mom's favorites was Turtle Talk. It was so funny and it's good for adults and kids. 

One thing that I love about California is the people that I met while on my mission and it's so fun to see and catch
up with them. We didn't have a lot of opportunities to do that on this trip because we were in Disneyland for all 3 days,
but one of my friends, Shannon was able to stop by! I love her and she taught me so much on my mission.
It was so good to see her and she came on a few rides with us.

 ^Guardians of the Galaxy was one of our favorites^
(we are in the back and middle rows)

 ^One thing that I have wanted my family to see forever was the World of Color show. It's amazing the things
they can do with water, lights, movie projections, and some music. It was incredible and I loved hearing their reactions!^

Our final day in Disneyland started out with only Andrew and me. My parents had some errands to run,
and Blake wanted to sleep in. They did meet up with us later in the afternoon.

 ^Our favorite drink from Cars Land^

^We had asked Shannon what the best food in Disneyland was and she recommended the corn dogs
and I would have to agree + it's filling.^

^Blake really loved Star Wars land. He and my dad went to look around,
and just looking at stuff they were there for 2 hours!^

^Walt's apartment behind us.^

We left the park around 8:30 to get a head start on the drive back to Utah so we would not be doing it all in one day.
Disneyland, we love you. Thanks for the memories and the magic.