BYU!!!

Today I left this building for the last time...Ever!!!!

The dreaded BYU testing center

I can't believe how fast four years at BYU has gone. Although I can't get too excited...I still have to student teach in the fall so I'm not completely done. But still, it's a good feeling. As I left campus today, I thought about how blessed I have been to attend BYU. It is a beautiful campus with great professors and a great overall atmosphere. It's going to be weird to not come back for classes in the fall.

As I was leaving to take my last test, I instinctively reached for this ring.

It was my high school graduation present from my parents. Since Freshman year, I have thought of it as my "BYU Sapphire Good Luck Ring." I have worn this ring to EVERY test I have taken throughout my BYU career. I'm not superstitious...but I'm a little-stitious!!! (Please tell me someone caught that hilarious Office reference!) Although the ring hasn't brought me good luck on every test (I blame the human effect...aka lack of studying/effort), it has been a rock star for the majority!

I'm so excited/nervous to start student teaching. It feels like a big step towards a real job in the real world!

When Hard Work Pays Off!!!

I know this post is almost two weeks overdue...But I'm still as excited as ever to announce that Phil was accepted to his Masters program at U of U!!!!!

On the morning of Friday, March 23, Phil was at work and I was in the shower getting ready for school. I heard my custom "Phil" ringtone and my first thought was that work needed to send someone home because they were overstaffed, so Phil was calling to ask my permission to leave (sweet man!) But I was in the shower so I couldn't answer. Right after the first missed call, Phil called again...still in the shower. He must really want to come home! As soon as I was out of the shower, I called back. The first thing he said was, "I got into my program!" Right then I started screaming and jumping, which was then followed by tears, laughter, and a ridiculous amount of smiling! I was so proud of my man and happy that he got accepted on his first try. He has seriously worked so hard in his prerequisite classes over the past year and he has gone above and beyond to learn everything he can about OT and to develop relationships with significant people inside the program! The hard work has finally paid off!!!

(Yes, I am aware of creepy internet people, so I blurred out our address with my sweet computer skills)

It was such a relief to finally know that we have a plan for the rest of Phil's education. He starts this fall and will graduate with a Masters degree and be an Occupational Therapist in three years! It's essentially school for the next three years straight, with very few and small breaks. It will be hard but it will be worth it!

We celebrated with a yummy dinner at Chili's followed by bowling!

Valentines Day--2012

Quick update before our Valentines day....

Phil had his interview for the occupational therapy masters program at the U of U on February 10. The interview went incredibly well and he basically nailed it with his charming personality! We should hear if he got accepted by the mid to end of March.

Doesn't he look so cute all dressed up and holding the good luck poster I made him?!

So usually Phil and I go out to dinner for valentines day, but this year we decided we would make a nice dinner together at home. I got home from school and found this little display on the kitchen table...

Alright so the chocolate covered strawberries and eclairs are from Phil's mom...but still ;)

The menu for the evening consisted of our new favorite recipe of stuffed chicken, with asparagus and oven roasted potatoes. And for dessert, hot lava cakes with raspberry sauce and ice-cream! Yummy I know!!!

Phil had this cute idea of getting dressed up for our dinner. It was so great! Before dinner we had a little appetizer.

Yes, we are feeding the strawberries to each other (well he is feeding mine to the camera, but still...cute right?)

The meal turned out incredibly. It was 100 times better than anything we could have had at a restaurant.

This picture makes the chicken look pink, but I swear it was fully cooked!!!

The chicken also has a delicious sauce, but I didn't put it on for the picture.

Ah, it was so yummy!!!

Sorry the picture is kind of blurry.

But inside you can see the ooey gooey deliciousness of chocolate!

2012 was definitely one of the best V-Days so far!

It ended with Phil giving me the best back tickle/massage.

Christmas!

After our delicious Christmas Eve dinner of steak, twice baked potatoes and other yummy things, Phil let me open the present that he had been making for me. He was so excited that he just couldn't wait!

He had me wait in a separate room while he brought it in from the car. I also knew that he was waiting for his family to bring over another part of the gift. No one knows this but I was seriously so excited as I waited alone in the room. It was kind of ridiculous. I was like a little kid. Phil told his family to wait outside as I opened the first part of the gift. I opened it and found this. . . .

I remember seeing it, and immediately turning to the front door to see Phil's family walking up with this little cutie pie. . .

I was so excited and surprised. Phil knew that I wanted a little puppy, but I never asked for one (especially since we are living with his parents right now). The puppy kept us entertained for the rest of Christmas Eve as we cuddled with her and brainstormed names. Phil and I decided on Gracie!

For the first several days Gracie was such a cuddle bug. She loved to curl up around your neck and sleep and she loved being held. However, lately she wants to sleep in peace on her own. Gracie had this horrible habit of getting tired and falling asleep at like 8pm so she would sleep all evening and then she would be excited and want to play when Phil and I were ready to go to sleep. This made for a few nights with little sleep between the yapping and the potty breaks throughout the night. Phil and I then decided that the goal was to keep her awake between 7 and 10pm. Lets just say Gracie wasn't a fan of this plan. She was tired and just wanted to sleep. That's when she decided that she wasn't going to cuddle if she wanted to sleep. She figured out that she had a better chance of successfully sleeping is she was far away from human contact. Fortunately for us, sometimes she will still cuddle and we love it.

She has been such a good dog with potty training thus far. She has had a couple of accidents inside but she is good at trying to communicate when she has to go to the bathroom. For the past two nights she has gone about 6 hours without yapping to go potty. Phil and I have thoroughly enjoyed the sleep!

She seriously is the cutest little dog! We both just love her. How could you not love this face?!

Overall, Phil and I had a great Christmas. We slept at my parents on Christmas Eve and then got to go to church with both of our families on Christmas day! I loved having Christmas on Sunday this year. It was such a good opportunity to reflect on the Savior and the true meaning of Christmas. It allowed the focus of the day to be more on Christ and family, and less on presents. I loved it!

Homemade Christmas!

Phil and I have a tradition of giving each other a homemade gift as our main Christmas present to each other. This is something that Phil's family has always done and I love that we have also made it a tradition.

But here is the thing. . . I have this love/hate relationship with surprises. Especially when the surprised gets hyped up and everyone is telling me how much I'm going to love it!!! That just makes me want to know what it is even more! Phil has this habit of making me really incredible gifts. He also has a habit of telling me how excited he is and how he can't wait to give it to me, blah, blah, blah haha ;)

So it is six days until Christmas, and I'm wondering if I'm going to make it that long without knowing. I know that my gift is right on the other side of this make-shift barrier.

How easy would it be to go take a quick peek? I know right?! This is taking me a great deal of self-control. I keep telling myself, "I want it to be a surprise! I want it to be a surprise!" Hopefully this self hypnosis continues to work for the next 6 days. I make no promises ;)

Here are Phil's past gifts to me. . .

2008 Christmas dating: the biggest and comfiest blanket in the whole world.

We still use it on a daily basis!

2009--1st Christmas married: A beautiful case to hold my perfume!

2010 Christmas: It's not hanging in this picture but he carved this on his own!

I can't wait to see what Phil has in store this year.

No, but really. . . I CAN'T wait!!!!

Yep....

I finished my finals today!!!!

It was such a good feeling to check off all six of my finals in 4 days! I have now enjoyed approximately eight hours with absolutely no school hanging over my head. I love it! I also love thinking that I will NEVER again have to take finals before Christmas! Ok maybe I shouldn't say never. Getting a Masters degree someday is not out of the question ;) Ah but it's so nice!

On an unrelated note. . .we had an extended Lamoreaux family Christmas party last Sunday. Phil and I decided to give a little hamster as our white elephant gift. I told Phil we shouldn't name him because we would get attached. We named him anyways. . . And got attached.

He is so cute. His name is Pong because he is a Chinese hamster, plus the pet store sent him home in a Chinese food to-go box. Unfortunately, the game of white elephant means someone else takes him home. I miss Pong! haha

Thanksgiving Break!

Phil and I had such a great Thanksgiving break. We both just enjoyed time with family and did ZERO homework (that part proved to be a little stressful once classes started again).

The night before Thanksgiving, Phil and I made gingerbread houses with our friends Brandon and Melissa. We got a sweet gingerbread kit from Walmart, although the candy that came with it was disgraceful. We had a great time eating frosting and decorating our little village.

Phil and I set up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. Before we set our little fake tree up, we helped Phil's family set up their massive real tree!

Phil did a great job on the ladder!

It was so fun to turn Christmas music on and decorate our tree. It definitely made me feel ready for Christmas. Now I just need to get through finals next week for the Christmas season to truly kick in!