Graduation and Anniversary celebrations!

This past weekend was my BYU graduation and our one year anniversary!

For graduation my family, grandparents, and Brandon's parents came up for the weekend. We had such a blast!

Our families got in late Thursday night and my brother and sisters slept over at our place so the fun lasted all through the night!

On Friday we all went to my graduation, which only lasted about an hour thank goodness!

Waiting for my name to be called...Almost there!

This is right after I gave one of my leis to the Dean of FHSS

The Class of 2009!!! WAHOOO!!

The coolest kids on earth!

My amazing parents!

My loving & supportive husband!

The graduate

So long BYU...it's been fun!

A personal congratulations from Cosmo the Cougar

After the ceremony & pictures, we visited my old office and only TWO people were in! So we said a quick hello and it was off to Salt Lake for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory!

Diane & Melba of the MSS office :)

Mmmm we LOVE Cheesecake

Brandon trying to get out of another picture

Group shot at Cheesecake

...My graduation gifts...

Tanzanite & Diamond necklace from Gma & Gpa. Gold "Lehuanani" Necklace from Mom & Dad. Orchid lei from Auntie Nani & Ginger Lei from Mom & Dad!

Diamond bracelet from Steve & Shelly

After lunch, Grandma & Grandpa headed back to the airport and the rest of us went to Cabela's, the mall, Red Box, and then home to relaaaax!

On Saturday we did a little shopping in Provo and then headed out to Gardner Village for...more shopping!After Gardener Village, we went to Mo Bettah Steak for lunch with Mom's cousin and family. After lunch we drove back to Provo and I went swimming with my sibs at the hotel and then we had dinner at Sizzler for the first time, according to my parents it is much different than it was when they were teenagers.

On our way to the Sizzler!

Watching Amber do...something?

After dinner we went back to the apartment and fell asleep to a movie...

Sunday came way too soon and it was back to CA for the family :( I miss them already!!!

Mid August has been a busy time for us this year!!

Just two days after graduation was Brandon and my one year anniversary! Since we had family in town, we wanted to take advantage of the time we could spend with them so we haven't officially celebrated our anniversary yet.

We cannot believe how fast this year has gone by. It feels like just last month we were married and rushed off to our honeymoon. So much has happened in the past year, we have grown in ways we couldn't have imagined and we cannot wait for the many many more anniversaries to come!

This is the amazing gift Brandon got me for my anniversary/graduation :) Isn't it awesome!?

I love you sweetheart! Thank you so much for all you do and your constant hard work and patience. You are the most wonderful and perfect husband a girl could ask for. I love you more than life itself. Happy anniversary!

Eternally yours, Renee <3

A modern day miracle...

So I never thought Utah would have any redeeming value until we came upon this wondrous miracle...

COMING SOON!!

And literally down the street from our house!

Ground breaking and construction has already begun.

Can you believe it?! I guess Utah isn't so lame after all :)

My weakness...

So anyone that knows me knows that I used to be a little shopaholic.

Well I'm proud to say that ever since Brandon and I got married I have been SO good at budgeting and not blowing my entire paycheck on clothes.

Well...out of no where I was hit with an intense urge to shop! So I logged into my Victoria's Secret account...NEVER a good idea. It proved to be worse than grocery shopping on an empty stomach.

Here are some of my purchases for your viewing pleasure :)

Bow Pencil Skirt in Black

Fleece Hooded Jacket in Winter White

NEW! High-waist Skirt in Grey-Black Plaid

And of course, Beauty Rush Mascara in Blacktastic

Just to be fair, I let Brandon do a little shopping too. This was his pick...

Corset Blouse in Black

What do you think?

I think I got my shopping fix...at least until the next swimsuit season ;)

4th of July fun!

This 4th of July was spent in Utah with the Rowe family.

We went to their huge block party, had dinner, hung out with family and friends, and of course....blew off lots of fireworks!

Here are a few shots of the day...

The kids waiting for Rocket Chick.

Rocket Chick!

She rode up and down the street with a ton of fireworks on her back!

Brandon dancing with Dottie :)

Chris, Shannon, & Abbey came up for a visit.

Abbey enjoying a little snack.

Matt driving the train

4th of July train!

We had so much fun with the family. Can't wait until next years block party!

Welcome Home Surpsrises!

Brandon knows that I love surprises so when I got home from my trip to California he had lots of surprises waiting for me :) Not only did he have the entire house cleaned spotless...he also bought me this...

A brand new desk for my craft room!

(This is a close up of the desk top & legs)

(super inexpensive decor idea...paint on rocks! I'm still looking for the perfect large egg shaped rock to go in the back :)

AND...My most favorite flowers (the flowers that we chose for our wedding).

AND...A wonderful futon couch for the craft room (we're still hunting for the perfect pillows).

Here is the very first craft I started working on my new desk...Can you guess who it is?

It's a pointillism picture of Christ.

Yep! just a bunch of little dots. It's my final project for one of my classes. I'm really nervous to do his face...that's why I've done pretty much everything but that!

What do you think? Do I have the best husband or what?!