"I don't know what else to be but grateful"

 I like this video: "Giving Thanks Is More Than A Holiday" 

I have much to be grateful for. Grateful that I married my best friend, that I know I have a Father in Heaven that knows and loves me perfectly, and for friends and family that make me better (just to name a few big ones) Happy thanksgiving everyone. There truly is so much to be grateful for.

A few updates for November...
I flew to Arizona and saw Jess and Bobby. Theyre having a BOY!!! She looks soo good pregnant and they are going to be the greatest parents.

Blake flew out to Hawaii to spend a week with us. It was so fun to have him here! Here are some pictures of a few of the things we did:

china mans hat

cliff jumping

we got to stay in the villas at turtle bay (thanks max!)

 

pool

we ate really good

polynesian cultural center

  

celebrated blakes 19th birthday

nut farm

went to the beach a lot and to a surf comp

Then the three of us flew to Utah for Thanksgiving, and had a great time! I crave Alexis sweet potatoes all-year-round. They are DELICIOUS and it felt so good to finally eat them again! 

Catching up

A lot of fun things have happened, so I will catch you up chronologically...
 

I  flew out to Salt Lake for Ingunn Bennett's wedding! Oct.26th was a beautiful (70 degree) day. But not as beautiful as this bride :) I love my Ingy, she has been such a good friend to me. I am so happy for her and Riley!

 

I also spent a few days in Colorado working and seeing my family.

Kylee is such a little diva haha

It was a great trip to the mainland but it always feels so good to be back in Hawaii! Monday night we drove down to Honolulu and supported the Traditional Marriage Rally and then stayed the night at the Hilton Embassy.  We enjoyed the Happy Hour drinks and entertainment, a HUGE breakfast, and laying around the pool and beach. That night we went to Dukes and had their Hula Pie (I'm addicted to it) with Greg and Heidi Atkinson. They are so fun, hopefully well hang out again soon! 

 

Keith continues to be busy with school and is loving it. So glad I married such a hard working and smart man :) Let me just brag about him for a second... read below: 

Kind of hard to read but it says he was one of the 27 out of 3943 cadets with a 4.0. Go Keith!!

Even with his 8 demanding classes this semester we still find time to enjoy Hawaii on a very regular basis. Some of our recent activities include: 

Picnic dinner @ Sunset Beach watching the sunset

Matsumotos!

Laying on hammocks:

THE BEACH:

Going for walks

 

Having friends over. Here is Sesi and her boyfriend

And eating our fav. shrimp sandwhich @Teds

The end of October Ashley and Dad came out to visit us in Hawaii! It was a quick trip but we jam packed it with FUN!! We hiked Stairway, went to a surf competition, North Shore, Haleiwa, Matsumotos, Dole Plantation, Ko Olina, Teds, walked to the temple, Ash went to class with Keith, Hukilau Cafe, stand up paddle boards, and of course, we played hearts :) 
 

 
 

 

Friday night we took them to the airport and the flights were looking good so Keith and I decided to fly to Utah! We surprised his mom which was so fun and Keith finally got to hold baby Jackson! Utah was a blast. We golfed, saw Enders Game, and as always, ate a lot of really good food. 5:30 on Monday morning we accidentally locked our bags and the keys in the car at the airport so we decided to stay another day! We saw a few friends in Provo and spent more time with family. YAY!

Cute little Hannah learning to play the Violin

 

IM AN AUNT!!!

Yay, I'm an aunt!!! And Keith is an Uncle! Little Jackson Max Jolley was born Sept. 29th. I saw him over conference weekend and he is as cute as can be! Ashley, my little sister, once told me that when I'm pregnant she hopes I'm just like Alexis, cute and fun. Alexis did look so good being pregnant and she looks so good being a mom! I am just thrilled for them, and to be an aunt! Jackson is so adorable. He is literally just PERFECT!

And more great news....JESSICA IS PREGNANT!!!!!!!!! Im beyond ecstatic! And so happy that I can finally publicly talk about it! I cant stop thinking about it. Im so thrilled for Jess and Bobby, and for me to be an aunt two times! She is due at the end of April.

These two little babies are so lucky to have such good parents. I am so excited that they are part of my family!

Hawaii, Weddings and Longbeach, CA

After a few days with our families in Utah and Colorado, we flew to Hawaii!! Our Honeymoon couldn't have been better but we were also excited to start "real life" and have a routine and a schedule and a home. We are loving Hawaii and our small on-campus apartment right next to the Temple. In some ways (besides the school and work part) it feels just like a continuation of our honeymoon. We are still very much in the honeymoon phase ;)
                                                                         TVA, the apartment complex we live in.

                 Our humble abode:

           Campus!!

                                                                    Me and my old roommates catching up. So fun to be re-united!

           Keith is really good at school :)

                                                                  We love Dukes Hula Pie and the Waikiki firework show.

A few days after we "settled" into our home in Hawaii, we went home again for some weddings. Keith and I both had our best friends getting married (just not to each other) So I went to Colorado and Keith went to Utah for the weekend. They were both beautiful weddings and we are so grateful for their friendship. And SO excited for them to enjoy married life, because its the BEST.

The following weekend we went to Longbeach, California. We met up with my in-laws and had a little couples vacation! It was SO fun. We went out to lunch, watched reruns of the flugtag that happened earlier that day in Longbeach and most excitingly, got to watch John, my father in-laws, Nightlife concert! John is an incredible singer. His group, Nightlife, previously won the Gold Medal at an international quartet competition! They are so talented and entertaining. Saturday night Keith and I spent the night on Grandpa Bobs 46 foot catamaran. Also, very, very fun.