January Recap

Wow January has gone by fast! It has been a great month though...we've been super busy (like usual). I was asked to be on a newly-formed team building committee for my department at work and I signed up to take a quality associate test in June, so things have been very busy for me at work. But it's been a lot of fun and it's nice to have more responsibility at work and be more involved within the company.

John has also been busy with work and his first class for his bachelor's program, and I've been busy writing stories for the paper like usual. By the way, if anyone ever cares to read my news articles, you can check out the Journal's site at http://www.taylorsvillekearnsjournal.com/. I know you're all dying to read about what's going on in Kearns!

This month we've also been REALLY good about working out. We have gone to the gym at least 4 times a week this whole month, and we're both starting to see results which is exciting. John has already lost like 10 pounds! It also helps that we're being more careful about what we eat and trying to limit our calorie intake each day to about 1,500 calories (except for on the weekends!).

I also just figured out how to do little tab things in our blog, so I'm going to try to get some cool tabs going...like "recipes" (because I love cooking/baking) and "about us." I also want to do a couple others but I don't have any good ideas right now...I just think I could really make this blogging thing a hobby. Haha.

Anyway, that's what we've been up to. Now on to February!

The best surprise!

So the other day John told me he had a surprise for me but he wouldn't tell me what it was. It wasn't too long before I found out. He sent me these pretty roses while I was at work! It made my day! I have such a sweet & thoughtful hubby. :)

The flowers came with some chocolate too...which is good because I was definitely having a chocolate crisis!

Wendover

John & Me

Gaya & Prasad

Charlie & Becky

At breakfast the next day!

So last weekend John and I and some of our friends headed out to Wendover to try our hand at gambling. We all got mini suites so we could stay out there overnight-- and they were way awesome! Luckily John and I came out even...I lost $40 and he won it back! I guess I just don't have the good luck streak!

It's Official!

John finally got his diploma in the mail! Yay! And don't mind his crazy hair...we had just gotten done working out...haha.

Christmas/New Years/A Great Start To 2011

I have not posted for about a month so I have a lot of ground to cover! Let's start at the beginning...

CHRISTMAS:
Christmas this year was awesome. Not only because it was mine and John's first Christmas together, but because we got to spend it with family and we didn't have to work for most of the week during and after the holidays. We spent Christmas Eve with John's parents. We had a delicious dinner and saw "True Grit" and then opened presents and went to their church's Christmas Eve service. After that John and I went home and watched Christmas movies and read some of my favorite Christmas stories. Christmas morning we spent just the two of us, and opened gifts from each other and had some delicious homemade gingerbread pancakes (that I was very proud of..haha), eggs, sausage/bacon, and fruit. Then we drove up to Roy and spent the rest of the day with my grandparents and brother and sister. All we did there all day was eat, sleep, watch movies, and eat....haha. Annnnd because I am no good at taking pictures lately, we don't have pictures of any of it! But the memories will always be there because it was an amazing first Christmas together!

NEW YEARS:
For New Years we drove down to St. George to spend time with my family there. We were there for about five days, and it was a blast. We had good times together and I even got to get together with some of my old friends from school, so it was really awesome. Our New Year's Eve party was lots of fun (besides the 20 degree temp outside). It's hard to believe that me and John have spent three New Years together now! And you guessed it...no pics from this trip either. Oops!

A GREAT START TO 2011:
So I know it's only been 2011 for a week and a half, but so far this year has been great. I think that's a good sign! Right before Christmas John got a 10 percent raise and promotion, and I can't think of a better way to start the year. We are really excited to be making more money so that we can save, save, save for a home! The most exciting thing is we welcomed a new member to our family. Olivia Manyla Miyo-Tanner was born on Jan. 8, and she is soo cute. We are so excited to have a new addition...especially because she's a sweet little girl! John and I have also been working out an hour a day and eating really well for the last week. I guess it's kind of our "resolution" for the new year, but I try not to think of it like that because then I'll feel guilty if I stop being healthy in three weeks...haha. We both want to tone up though and it's been a lot of fun working out together. It also helps that John used to be a personal trainer. He has really pushed me this last week. It even hurts to type!!

Cute baby Olivia!

Anyway...anyone who was crazy enough to read all that must be bored! Haha. But that's what we've been up to lately. I cannot wait to see what else happens in 2011 -- I have a feeling this is going to be a wonderful year!

David Archuleta & The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Last night was the concert with David Archuleta and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It was awesome! We left around 3 p.m. to head downtown and spent the whole afternoon there. We went shopping at Gateway, spent some time at the Salt Lake library, and then walked around Temple Square to look at the lights before heading to the concert. The concert was absolutely amazing....it really got us into the Christmas spirit! I can't wait for the CD to come out next year, because David's rendition of Silent Night was beautiful. I was really impressed with all the music! After the concert we went to dinner at Olive Garden and just enjoyed walking around downtown. It was such a great day!

Cupcakes = Love

Anyone who knows me knows I love love love to bake...especially cupcakes! I am not as good as those bakers on TV or the people who work at Sprinkles, but I still try to keep up! I got the idea for this cupcake Christmas tree from my aunt, and I think it turned out pretty good. They're red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting....which made John very happy since those are his favorite! Too bad I'm taking the tree to my work party (but don't worry--I saved six cupcakes just for John).

This week is the week of Christmas parties for us. We had my company party last weekend, but this week there's my department's party, the Valley Journals newspaper party, and Monavie's party. We are also going to see David Archuleta perform with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Saturday. I can't wait to get the parties started....literally! And after this week...there's only one week left until our first Christmas together! Yay!

Oh yeah, one last exciting thing...John now officially has his associate's degree! I am so proud of him! He worked really hard to get to this point, and in 22 months he will have his bachelor's degree. I'll post a picture of him with his diploma when it comes in the mail. :)