This past Saturday Carson and I decided we needed to get outside and be active. We both had work meetings in the morning, but as soon as we got off we packed up and picked up some snowshoes. We headed up Provo Canyon and decided to hike Mt. Timpanogos as much as possible. 

It felt so good to get outside and spend time together, and can we talk about this weather in Utah?!? 50 degrees in January! It was a perfect day and breathtaking. Carson kept insisting that we "blaze our own trail" you know, Indiana Jones style.. 

^^ I kept asking Carson how adventurous I looked in these shoes... he said not very...shoot. 

^^ I'm jealous of his natural eyeliner.

^^ can you even see my head... blond hair problems. 

We found an igloo off the trail that maybe a small child could fit in. Carson said, "Good thing I married someone skinny who can fit in igloos when needed." And that folks is the exact reason why I'm watching my weight... igloos.

Even though winter seems to be non existent in the Utah valley, that doesn't stop us from adventuring to find some winter in the mountains. 

Speaking of finding winter... we are headed to Aspen this week for the Winter XGames. Goodbye Provo, Hello snowy Colorado! I cannot wait for this little getaway! 

2014 was full of a lot of "firsts" for us. It was a busy year but one of the best years of my life. It is always one of my favorite things to look back and the end of it all and say "WE DID IT!" (especially after this year... wedding planning consumed about 1/2 of our year...) 

Lets look back shall we? 

January

The wedding planning began. We also found time to play in the snow and visit the ice caves in Midway.

February  

We spent our first Valentines together. Carson cooked us dinner and we watched a movie outside on an air mattress smothered in blankets.

March

Little brother got his mission call to Indianapolis Indiana speaking Spanish! we were so excited for him! Carson was also surviving taking 7 classes. 

April 

The wedding was right around the corner. Tears were shed. Finals were taken. My favorite part was doing our bridals/first look pictures. That moment I will always cherish. 

May 

WE GOT MARRIED!!!! May 16th was the best day of the entire year! The stress was over and we could just relax on our honeymoon in Hawaii. Take me back!!

June

We were enjoying our first month as a married couple. We stayed up way to late giggling, I burnt too many dinners, and we were loving our summer time sunshine in Moab.

July

We took a trip to Bear Lake and spent time with friends. We also celebrated the 4th of July and ate WAY too many snow cones.

August

My favorite place on earth was visited to say goodbye to our summer. Carson and I took a trip with his family to the cabin at Brighton. hiking and s'mores were a must.

September 

We started school and little did we know we were starting the hardest few months of our life. 

We did get to see our best friends get married though. 

October

The month of birthdays happened. Carson turned 25 and I turned 23. We celebrated together and i wouldn't have it any other way. 

November

Thanksgiving was spent with the Brockbanks. We plucked our eyes out due to our anatomy classes. and studied until we were sick. literally.

December

We survived our semester! skipped out of our finals! I got a 4.0 (lord have mercy) and we decked the halls in our loft to celebrate our first Christmas together! 

Boy!! 2014. you were wild. you were crazy. I loved you oh so much though. 

2015--- I hope you can live up to this... so far you haven't by giving me the stomach flu all week though... 

^^ exhibit A. 

I love the time I am getting to spent with Carson. Now that school is over we have been enjoying as much time as we can get. Our Christmas break got cut short a bit due to me starting a 2nd job, working 13 hour days is SO fun. ;) but this was definitely one of the best days of the break. 

^^ and again? this is just embarrassing. 

On Christmas Eve we spent the night eating/visiting family, and also took a little trip to the Salem Pond lights.

After Carson and I came back to our house and decorated a Gingerbread House under the tree.

I have a tradition from when i was little of opening pajamas on Christmas Eve and watching the 24 hr marathon of Christmas Story on TV… 

can you ever watch Christmas Story too many times? the answer is no. definitely not.

It has always been one of my favorite traditions and I knew I wanted to carry it on when I had a family of my own. (the little family that we are right now). So we ripped open our pajamas and snuggled up watching Ralphie shoot his eye out. ;)

On Christmas morning we woke up to SNOW!! the first real snow storm of the season! I was like a little kid and was running around the Loft with so much excitement! Carson on the other hand had to be woken up a few times before he finally wanted to get out of bed! lil stinker.. how do you sleep on CHRISTMAS!

Santa sure spoiled up this year. 

We got a GoPro (eek!!) 

a fitbit 

longboard

clothes

ski tickets

jackets

work out clothes

nike shoes

fifa soccer for the wii

just to name a few things he brought us. ;) 

After we headed to my parents house for more gifts and Christmas dinner. My favorite part of the day. Prime rib and all the fixings for me please! 

ELDER SCHOENEMAN also called home! it really was so exciting to talk to my brother who is serving an LDS mission in Indiana. Someone needs to tell him to stop growing up! I think he is more mature than me now! ;) 

We then made the trek to Carson's family to visit and  also skyped with his brother who is serving in Mexico City. Missionaries really are such JOY! 

Christmas 2014 you were good to us. Can you believe it's almost 2015?!?! yikes!! 

let the New Years Resolutions begin!!! (maybe I should come up with some first!)

We also took advantage of the location. We have been wanting to visit Zoo Lights for 2 years now but sadly have never made it. SO this gave us the perfect opportunity to do so. 

It did not disappoint. Carson and I were in AW the whole time. there is something about walking around surrounded by twinkly lights and sipping hot cocoa that just warms my soul… (or maybe that was just the hot cocoa talking)

either way, Zoo lights is highly recommended.

^^ we win best selfie award. 

On our way home we found the most festive little street. I mean how much more festive can you get than CHRISTMAS STREET.

We were both like little kids. 

Let the Christmas week BEGIN! 

I am in love with December even more this year. I am usually an Anti-Christmas until after Thanksgiving kind of person. There is something about this year that is different though. Maybe (and when i say maybe it is definitely) it is that it will be Carson and I's first Christmas together as a married couple. eeeeek! 

This time last year Carson and I were ring shopping and in a few weeks getting engaged! thus, december is my next favorite month now ;)

This year we bought a tree and had it all up before Thanksgiving. I even took my Thanksgiving decorations down BEFORE Thanksgiving. i know i know…. awful. 

We were trying to think of some things we could do to make this a very special first year and maybe even get some traditions started, so we came up with a list of " December Dates" that we will be doing throughout the month of December. 

1. Pick out a special yearly ornament. 

2. Festival of trees 

3. Ice Skating

4. Make Sugar Cookies

5. Snowboard Trip

6. Christmas shop for family gifts

7. Salem Pond Lights 

^^ fun fact. we went there right after we got engaged. so magical. 

8. Christmas Party with friends

9.  Christmas with Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square

10. Make Sticky Buns

11. Make Gingerbread Houses

12. Have a Christmas movie marathon

13. Go to the Annual Family Barn Dance Party 

15.  See A Christmas Carol Live 

I can't wait to get started on them and also squeeze in a few school finals of course! ;) 

Happy December! 

Because it's just one of those days where looking through wedding pictures makes me happy. And sometimes you just have to do something to make YOU happy even for a moment. 

I'm so grateful for this man of mine. He truly is the definition of happiness. 

He is my other half

my rock

my supporter

my #1 fan

my companion

my lover boy.

and I love that he's mine forever. 

Now go out and do SOMETHING that makes YOU happy, even if it is just for 30 seconds.