Lately I've been neglecting this blog for a good reason. I got a full-time job!!! I'm still getting used to working full-time and I am now realizing how good I had it in college. College was fun and I got to be creative. I had time to blog and hang out with J but now I am working full-time and doing freelance graphic design jobs on the side. The little free time I have these days is spent hanging out with J AWAY from the computer. I think about blogging and I take pictures for my blog but sitting down to actually blog...yeah. We are loving our life in California and we still can't get over the amazing weather. I grew up here but being away for 4 years, you forget how amazing this place is. I guess I will let some pictures do the talking and I promise to be back soon!

The view from my parents backyard.

Arizona

J and I spent some time in Arizona over the Holidays. It was a big family reunion with a TON of people. Lets just say we drove around in a massive 15 seater and that was like 1/4 of the people. It was such a party! The Loar family stays up so flippin late, I love it. We had dance parties, ate out a lot, had a Luau, played games at the park, saw movies and went shopping! I love when we can all get together because it doesn't happen that often. Can't wait til this summer :) Here are a few pictures from our time in Arizona. 

Took some family pictures at the Temple :)

Mesa, Arizona Temple. Amazing.

I'm baaaaack

I haven't blogged in 20 days and it feels kinda good. I like catching up on everyone's lives and blogging about ours but sometimes it feels nice to just not worry about it. Now I feel really behind ha! J and I are really enjoying life in California. It is sunny and we are around family A LOT. That is probably my favorite part because towards the end of our time in Rexburg all of our family moved away and it was just us left! Talk about lonely. We spent Christmas with my family and then right after Christmas we headed down to Mesa, Arizona. Most of Justin's family lives down there and his parents were there for the holidays so we took my little brother and we went down there for New Years. It was SO much fun! The Holidays were amazing. There was so much family time and it was awesome to just relax and not worry about school or work. 

Drum roll please........Yep. This was my Christmas/Graduation present from my parents, my hubby and the in-laws!! Yeeeeeeeeeee! Seriously. I am in love. Enough said. I have so many pictures I want to put up and this is only the beginning......

This week...

This has been a crazy week. J and I finished our finals, I graduated from college and we moved to California! Phew! I can't believe we have done all that this last week. Since being in California, we have been moving in, catching up with friends and family, baking and relaxing. I will share pictures of my graduation later this week but for now....here are some pictures from around the house :)

The last 4 years...

I have spent the last 4 years at Brigham Young University-Idaho. I remember the day I drove into the tiny town of Rexburg, Idaho. I was with my Mom, My aunt and my cousin, Cassie. None of us had ever been to Rexburg before. We drove from one end to the other, turned to each other and said that's it? We were shocked haha! I came to BYU-Idaho because I got in. No joke. I had friends who were already up here and they loved it so I thought, Hey why not? Not before long, I realized that this is where I was supposed to be. Every time I left and came back, I would drive into town and it just felt right. It quickly became my home. In the winter, I cursed this place A LOT. I mean... A LOT. But I survived and I can say I survived the Rexburg winters...not many can say that haha! During my time at BYU-Idaho....

1. I went on a study abroad to Europe! (an unreal experience)
2. I went on lots of embarrassing and awkward dates. I could seriously write en entire post on awkward dates i've been on.
3. I lived with roommates who are still my best friends today.
4. I slipped on the ice, bruised my tail bone and blacked out one time...sad.
5. I endured lots and lots of finals and brutal tests.
6. I found a lot for art and graphic design.
7. I met J, got engaged and got married all while we were in college!
8. I learned how to drive in the snow!
9. I had some amazing professors who taught me A LOT and helped me become a better person.
10. I gained a stronger testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ.
11. I found out that I really love learning and want to continue learning forever!
12. I pulled one too many all nighters during finals weeks.
13. I got homesick, like really really bad pretty much every semester. It wasn't that  I wanted to leave but I  always missed my family.
14. I became very grateful for California weather :)
15. I drove from California to Idaho and back, a 13 hour drive each way, at least 20 times.

The list could go on forever. I had an amazing college experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. It feels very bittersweet because I know it's time to move on and leave Rexburg but I will miss it a lot. Now lets start from the beginning.....

This is literally the morning I left for college when I was 18!

EUROPE!

Efy counselor one summer!

I loved college and if I could do it all over again I would go to BYU-Idaho again! Now on to bigger things for hubs and I. Hooray for the future!