Surprise!!! Happy 3 Year Anniversary!

January 4th was mine and Joel's 3rd year anniversary! We often take small trips on our anniversaries, but this time we "decided" to pass on that expense, and just have a nice romantic date after work- Or so Joel thought :)
On Monday morning Joel woke up to his alarm and was pleased when I told him that I had gotten work off for both of us. Then after we went to breakfast and relaxed around the house a bit, I told him we were going on a trip somewhere, but I didn't tell him where. He had to figure that out on his own as the day went on. Well once he found out that we were taking a flight, the flight was to San Diego, and our friends Heather and Jon were surprisingly sitting at the same gate at the airport, he put the pieces together and realized we were going on a cruise!!
We had an absolute blast kicking back and relaxing for an entire week with our great friends! I have had this trip booked for 6 months, and the fact that it still ended up being a complete surprise was a miracle!
I love my husband so much and I feel so blessed to have spent the last 3 years with such an incredible man! He makes me laugh more than I ever thought possible and makes me feel like a princess every day. I'm so grateful I married my best friend in the world. There is never a dull moment in our house and that alone makes for a great life!
Here are some pictures of our trip!

Our first night on the ship at Dinner. We're sporting the 3 Year Anniversary shirts I made especially for the cruise!

Here's a picture of the back of the shirt :)

Our cruise ship! The Carnival Elation :)

Sitting waiting for the (what ended up being TERRIBLE) dance show to start

Downtown Catalina Island- Somehow I look incredibly awkward sitting on the ledge, and Heather doesn't? Go Figure!

Downtown Catalina Shopping Center

The genius man who we asked to take our picture put his finger over the lens... Gotta love it!

We both look a little...strange in this photo? Ah well! Heres another night at the restaurant!

Tthe men continued to make fun of mine and Heathers "Quarter Pusher Game" which is a "Lame Money Pit".... I then proceeded to win $137 on that same "Lame, Money Pit" :) They haven't made fun of it since!

We visited 1 of the only 3 natural blow holes in the world in Ensenada Island. (If that fact is wrong, blame our tour guide)

Looking out over the ocean from the Flea Market in Ensenada

This was my main food source throughout our 4 days at sea. No wonder I gained EIGHT pounds!! Mmmmmm... Soft Serve Icecream

At the beautiful San Diego Temple! I've always wanted to see it in person!!

If you were wondering what it took for that amazing picture to be captured... :)

Back Surgery

Yes.. Its a shocker, for the first time since May I am actually going to post something!!! J

Some of you may know that Joel has had terrible back problems since we've been married. He injured his back while on his mission in Florida. At the time he was helping members clear up damage and fallen trees from hurricane Ivan. In the process he managed to herniate two disks in his back which had him on bed rest for several weeks. He then injured it for a 2nd time on his mission while playing basketball. Once he got home his back was pretty severe, but he managed the pain through light medication. That is, until he re injured it playing with our 6 month old puppy. Then a year later it was injured for the 4th time while water skiing. With each injury his back has only gotten progressively worse to the point where his disks were then herniated and spilling over into his spinal column. Joel finally made the decision after speaking to several doctors that his best option was for him to have open back surgery to have excess disk completely shaved and removed from his spinal column.
On November 5th Joel had the surgery done on one of the two discs, (the other disc will be done sometime in the next few months). While the healing process has been long, and difficult, there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel!
Here are some pre and post surgery photos :)

Rocky Point Mexico!

Yes.... we did go to Mexico turning the peak of Swine Flu Season... Call us crazy :)
but we all made it out alive!!!
Last weekend we took a family trip to Rocky Point Mexico! (THANKS MOM AND DAD!!!)
My sisters posted the trip on their blogs the day they got back... I post mine a week and two days later :)
We had an amazing time and loved spending some time with the long lost Carlsons :)

This was some of the best guacamole we've ever had... And probably the cheapest too which made it taste even better!

Joel was boogie boarding almost the entire time and I refused. Then with only one day left there I finally let him teach me and I LOVED IT! We had a blast!

So much fun together!

This is the private villa we stayed in as a family! Great memories!

Sportin our boogie boards :)

The kitchen

Family Room

Overall it was a very relaxed weekend. A nice breath of fresh air! I wish I took more pictures but I didn't want to bring my camera to the beach and have it ruined by water and sand.

San Francisco California!

A few weekends ago my Grandma and Grandpa Craig were awesome enough to fly me and Joel to their home in California to spend the weekend with them! Joel had a blast golfing his life away all weekend, and we had fun just relaxing and getting away from the hussle and bussle of our everyday life!
The only day we took pictures was the day we took a trip to San Francisco, it was INCREDIBLE!

We started our day at an aquarium on the pier. The aquarium was basically an underground tunnel with water and fish surrounding us. By far the coolest aquarium I've ever been to!

These are real jellyfish.... Insanely CREEPY jellyfish

We got to stand in the tunnel while we watched a giant school of fish swim around us.

We also got to touch a shark and a stink ray!

At this pearl shop you actually get to pick out an oyster and watch them open it. Then you get to keep the pearl!! I got a nice big one out of my oyster! (Thanks Aunt Debbie!!)

We got to ride through San Francisco on an OLD trolley car!!

Our adorable Grandma and Grandpa!! They spoiled us ROTTEN!!

Joel eating some AUTHENTIC chinese food in China Town... He was less than thrilled at the quality. Of course, the only thing he has to compare it to is PF Changs :) (Josh's face in the background sums it all up :) )

In China town standing in front of a butcher shop with Peking Ducks DANGLING in the window... Ew.

Happy VERY belated Easter!!!

This is almost humorous since its so delayed, but I sold my printer with the built in memory card reader at our last garage sale (genius) and didn't have a way to post my pictures... Hence, the reason why I haven't posted anything in about a month!
Anywho, since we are yet to have a little babe of our own, Wymme the dog will have to make due! We decided to let her help us dye Easter eggs... She was very very curious!

My favorite thing about holidays is creating pancake shapes! Obviously I haven't quite mastered the art yet :) They always seem yummier when they are in shapes- Kinda like macaroni and cheese :)

Happy (very late) Easter everyone!!

P90X- Take Two!

Back in November Joel and I decided we'd purchase P90X (The workout/diet system) for ourselves for Christmas. However, what we quickly found is that starting a VERY intense work out and diet regimen would be incredibly difficult right in the heart of the holidays. So we said we'd start after the holidays.... Days turned to weeks, and weeks to months, and here it is almost 5 months later and gosh darn it we're finally starting again!!!
So.... MONDAY MARCH 23rd= DAY ONE!

Bowlin with the PLOTTS!

Joel's mission companion Eric Plott and his wife Ashton came to visit from Palm Desert this weekend. We had an absolute blast hanging out with them and wish they lived here :) After they left, I noticed we didn't take a single picture with them (Sad!), but dont worry, I did manage to capture this picture of my STELLER bowling score! 158 may not be a good score to most, but I think I've only broken 100 about 3 times in my life. Luckly we had wagered that the losing couple buys dessert! ;)
Until next time Plotts... :)

Colorado + a new nephew!

My sister Tarah and I made the 14 hour drive up to Colorado to surprise my sister Amber who was being induced last Sunday. Luckily we managed to pull off the surprise and she was dumb-struck when she saw us standing on her front porch! Just a few long days later..(haha) she had my newest baby nephew, Taz Tyler Carlson!
He is just as sweet as the other two, and both Tarah and I are very sad that we will not be able to closely watch this one grow up before our eyes :( (Thank goodness for Blogs!)
Congrats to Amber and Tyler on their newest addition!!

(Take note of the GREEN in the photos.... Baby Taz was born on St. Patricks Day!!)

Me and My Sis Amber! She looks amazing for only having the baby an hour ago! :)

Me and my very newest nephew TAZ!

Brooklyn, Boston and Taz.... Their first encounter :)

Warming up to their new little brother :)