2010...best year ever!

2010 was a year where my life was turned upside down...in a good way. Life as I knew it completely changed, but it was the best change I could have ever imagined.

The change all started on April 9, when after nearly 4 years of dating Brian popped the question. Due to my shock and awe, he had to ask 3 times...but of course the answer was YES!

With all of the excitement still settling in, I found out that my dear friend Catherine was going to give us an early wedding present. Catherine and I have taught together at Sprucewood since 2008 and have become great friends. She knew Brian and I would struggle to survive being newlyweds and owning our first home. So she did the most selfless thing anyone could do. She offered to take my half time position and gave me her full time position! I will forever be grateful to Catherine for making our lives just a little bit easier.


We planned the big day for July 9, giving us only 3 months to plan a wedding. Doing what we do best, Brian and I decided to throw a little curve ball into the picture and purchase a house.

We bought our home in Draper. It is small, but perfect! It is actually in the boundaries of my school which makes commuting to work a piece of cake.


Only a week after getting engaged, we welcomed a new member to the Dahl family. Little Elin Jane was born April 16 and it only added to the fun and craziness of it all. She is the sweetest little girl and we love her very much.

The wedding day was absolutely perfect! After a mini thunderstorm about 2 hours before the wedding, the weather cleared up just long enough to have the wedding. As you can tell by the picture, that moment was the happiest moment of my life. I FINALLY married the love of my life and my best friend. I have never felt anything like it.

The wedding was small, but exactly how I wanted it. Everyone I loved was there (or there in spirit) and it honestly was the coolest experience. Many people told me I would regret not having a big, expensive wedding. But if you know me at all, you will know simple is the only way I would ever go. I am not the typical girl who had planned her wedding from the first time I saw a wedding dress. I started planning it about an hour after Brian proposed. But the picture I had in my mind was exactly the picture that was drawn that day.


We left the next day for a quick honeymoon get-away in Park City. With the wedding and buying a home, we were left with next to no money, so Park City was just the answer. I have to admit, I was VERY happy I didn't have to travel the day after the wedding. We were both exhausted. Hanging around the pool, going to the spa, shopping, and of course eating, was exactly what we needed to re-energize. Don't you worry though, we are planning a super fun vacation for our 1 year anniversary.

The last half of the year was not nearly as eventful as the first half. It has taken us 6 months to finally get a house (somewhat) put together. I am still working on it. Being a full time special ed teacher has definitely taken its toll on me, but I am still loving what I do. We survived our first Rivalry week living in the same house (believe me, we were nervous about it) Good thing it worked out for me this year



We celebrated our first Christmas as a married couple in our own home. It was very different than either of us were use too, but sweet none-the-less.

It is going to be really hard for 2011 to top 2010 for the Dahl family. But you never know what life is going to throw you.

Truffle Shuffle

I got this idea from Kadee (Thanks!)

1) Go to your music library (Itunes, Ipod, whatever)

2) Put it in Shuffle Mode

3) Write down the first 20 songs that play

(This should be interesting considering I have only about 1/3 of my music put onto our new computer. But here goes nothing)

1- Ocean Avenue---Yellowcard

2- Tied Together With a Smile---Taylor Swift

3- Anticipating---Britney Spears

4- Illegal---Tim McGraw

5- My List---Toby Keith

6- More Than Words---Extreme (Classic)

7- Reason to Believe---Dashboard Confessional

8- DJ Got Us Falling in Love---Usher

9- Owe It All To You---Five Times August

10- Lessons Learned---Carrie Underwood

11- Popular (from Wicked)---Kristen Chenoweth

12- Don't Laugh at Me---Mark Wills

13- One Sweet Love---Sara Bareilles

14- One Fine Wire---Colbie Caillat

15- Find Yourself---Brad Paisley

16- Grow Old---Peter Breinholt

17- Beautiful Disaster---Jon Mclaughlin

18- Sing Me Home---Tim McGraw

19- Dust in the Wind---Kansas

20- You---Switchfoot

Quite the variety if you ask me. Brings back A LOT of memories

Another classic game

It started out a little sour....

But man oh man did it end SWEET!!!

17-16

GO UTES!!!

The Rivalry

This is my 27th experience with the Utah/BYU game. My earliest memory was when I was 4. It was 1988 and it snowed like crazy the night before the game. I happened to get sick that morning with the flu so my mom wouldn't let me go to the game. I remember being so mad at my mom and tried to prove to her I was not sick. But it did not work. I had to stay at Grandma's house while Utah demolished BYU 57-28 to break a 9-game losing streak to BYU. I haven't missed a game since then (either attending or watching on TV)

I don't remember every single game, but I can give a memory from every game since I was 9 years old. Since that would take forever, I decided to give my Top 5 Favorite and Least Favorite BYU games of all time. Let's start with the bad ones...

Top 5 Least Favorite

5. 1998--It was the first Rivalry Game at the new Rice-Eccles Stadium. With just a few seconds remaining, Utah had the chance to seal the victory with a 15-YARD FIELD GOAL. Yes, this was the game that produced "The Doink Heard 'Round the World" Ryan Kaneshiro nailed the goalpost and the ball fell to the ground. We lost 26-24.

4. 2000---This was Lavell Edwards last game as head coach of BYU. Utah was up 27-26 in the final minutes of the game. BYU had the ball and were driving. After a clear BYU fumble that was recovered by Utah, seen by everyone in the stands and watching on TV, but missed by the referee, BYU continued their drive and scored to clinch the win. I had to watch the players carry Lavell off the field on their shoulders. What's funny, another referee came out later and said he knew it was a fumble and Utah should have won the game, but he couldn't do anything about it. Utah lost 34-27.

3. 2007---Utah scored the first touchdown of the game to go up 10-9 with just over a minute to go. The defense held strong for 3 downs, to put BYU in a 4th and 18 situation. Well...Brice McCain fell down and Max Hall completed a pass to Austin. Collie to keep the drive going. After 2 more pass interference calls, Harvey Unga scored to put BYU up for good. We lost 17-10

2. 2009---Utah completed a 4th quarter comeback to force the game into overtime. After kicking a field goal, Utah went out on defense. Two Utah defenders ran into each other, allowing Max Hall to complete the pass to Andrew George and win the game. The fans rushed the field and put Max Hall on their shoulders. The D-bag had to become the most hated BYU player of all time after saying “I don’t like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, their fans. I hate everything. I think the whole university and their fans and the organization is classless. They threw beer on my family and stuff last year and did a whole bunch of nasty things. I don’t respect them and they deserved to lose." Utah lost 26-23.

1. 2006---In one of the most back-and-forth games in recent history, I had my heart literally ripped out and stomped on. I am pretty sure part of it is still sitting on a bleacher over in the Muss section. John Beck threw a touchdown to Johnny Harline with no time remaining. Utah lost 33-31.

Now, let's get to the good stuff.

Top 5 Favorite Games of all Time

5. 2005. No one gave Utah a chance to win this game. We had lost Brian Johnson to a knee injury the game before, and Brett Ratliff had not started a college game. Both teams were struggling that year as they both had replaced head coaches. It was the first overtime game in the history of the rivalry. Brett Ratliff played the game of his life and completed a pass to Travis LaTondress in overtime to clinch the victory. It was the 4th victory in a row for Utah. My mom and I got in the car and drove around town blasting Utah Man from the radio and flying our flags proudly.

4. 1994--Utah had one of their best teams in the history of the program. They had been ranked in the Top 10 and BYU was ranked in the Top 25. Mike McCoy threw a 20-yard pass to Charlie Brown to put Utah up 34-31 with under a minute to go to seal the win. I remember sitting on the opposite side of the stadium and being so excited that I cried. Utah won 34-31...again :)

3. 2004--Utah was a perfect 10-0. Gameday came to Utah for the first time ever. After plays like Bo Nagahi's fumble recovery for a touchdown, Steve Savoy's 92 yard TD run, and Steve Fafita's final TD run, Utah had completed the perfect season and busted the BCS for the first time in history. Utah won 52-21

2. 2008--Most people will say this is their favorite game after 2 heartbreaks in a row to BYU, but one game takes the cake for me. Like I said, we had lost 2 TERRIBLE games in a row. We were 11-0 and BYU was 10-1. We were both ranked in the Top 15, but the game ended up being a blow out. After Max Hall's 5 interceptions and fumble (and apparently a few beers being tossed around in the stands towards his family) , Utah pulled away for the most lopsided victory since 2004. Paul Kruger's interception is one of my favorite memories, but there is one memory that I don't think anything will ever top, and that memory come next. Utah won 48-24.

And my favorite Utah/BYU game of all time.....

1993. I was 9 years old. Utah had not beat BYU in Provo for 22 years and Lavell Edwards had never lost to Utah at home. Our kicker, Chris Yergensen, had missed 2 field goals already, but Ron McBride sent him out with only a few seconds left to attempt a 55-yard field goal and hopefully break the 2 decade losing streak. I was sitting in my Grandpa's office with my eyes covered, barely peeking out between my fingers. (Yes Heidi, this is when and where it all started) He broke every BYU fans heart when he kicked it right down the middle as time expired. The players rushed the field and the fans jumped on the goalposts. Yergensen ran around the field, arms spread like an airplane. My cousin Andrew and I ran around my Grandma's basement the exact same way, but screaming and singing Utah Man. In my opinion, and many others, it was the game that changed the Rivalry forever. Utah won 34-31.

It's a little sad to think this is the last Saturday in November that will host a Utah/BYU game. I have known nothing but ending the season playing BYU. But I could not be more excited to start a new chapter of Utah Football by entering the PAC 12. Here's to another fantastic chapter of the Rivalry (which hopefully will end with a Utah blowout)

GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!

Farewell MWC

As we all now by now, Utah is leaving for the PAC 12. Being in the WAC/MWC has definitely created hundreds of memories. With each game this year, I have thought of my favorite and least favorite games vs. all of our MWC foes. I thought I would bring up some good or bad memories for all those Ute fans out there.

Air Force

Favorite: 2003 Triple Overtime Win @ Air Force. Ben Moa completes the 2-point conversion in the 3rd overtime, then proceeds to do a toe touch right on the field

Least Favorite: 2007 Loss at Home. Lost Brent Casteel for the season due to a chop block and couldn't get into the endzone from the 1/2 yard line to win the game

Colorado State

Favorite: 2003. Arnold Parker returned a fumble 80 yards with about 1 minute left to win 28-21. The best part of this was I missed most of the game sitting in the Relief Society Conference. My mom and I left early because we couldn't stand not knowing what was going on, so as we got to the car and turned on the radio we were just in time to hear the fumble return happen. I have never attended another Relief Society Conference again.

Least Favorite: 2005. We were 1st and goal on the 1 yard line and COULD NOT GET IN THE ENDZONE!!!!


New Mexico

Favorite: One didn't really stick out, but I would have to say 2008 13-10 win. It was ugly, but it set up for the most amazing game I have ever witnessed.

Least Favorite: Almost every stinkin' time we play them. But to narrow it down, either 2003 when they came into Rice-Eccles and kicked our trash (Didn't lose again for almost 2 years). Or 2006 when we were up 24-3 and somehow found a way to lose 34-31.


San Diego State

Favorite: 2008. We dropped like 65 points on them and Deshawn Richards had back-to-back Pick 6's. Plus it was 90 degrees in November!

Least Favorite: 2005. Brian Johnson had like 400 yards of offense, but we couldn't score when we needed to. It was our 3rd loss in a row and broke our 10 game home winning streak

TCU

Favorite: Hands down 2008. In fact, this is probably my favorite Utah moment of all time. We were 9-0, they were 8-1. We were both ranked in the Top 12 and it was the first ever blackout. Down 10-6 with just about 3 minutes to go, Brian Johnson led the game winning drive, capped off by a touchdown pass to Freddie Brown with 47 seconds left in the game. I have never heard Rice Eccles that loud, and I have no idea how anything will ever top that night.

Least Favorite: 2010. Most disappointed I have ever been in Utah Football. But in a close 2nd is 2005. We had not lost in almost 2 years and we lost on a TERRIBLE missed call. Shocking...Man 2005 SUCKED!!!

UNLV

Favorite: 2004. It was literally raining buckets all night, but Stevie and I stuck it out to watch the Utes destroy UNLV. When the game starts off with a kickoff return for a TD by Morgan Scalley, you know only good things are to come.

Least Favorite: 2007. 27-0...enough said

Wyoming

Favorite: 2007. Joe Glenn promised a victory, and it pissed off Whitt. An onside kick, a friendly hand gesture, and the Muss pissing off the ushers by standing (or maybe pounding as hard as we could) on the bleachers made for a super fun afternoon. 50-0 final score

Least Favorite: 2006. My first trip to Laramie, and it will be my last. We lost 31-15, but worst of all I found Wyoming has the worst fans in the country, Laramie and Rawlings are the armpits of the earth, and "I hate FedEx Kinko's in Wyoming"


Yes I know, I left out BYU. But that history deserves its own post (which will come next week during Rivalry Week)

Moab

One of my most favorite places to be is Moab. I love the small town feel, the unique restaurants, the little shops, but most of all the trails.

We have made multiple trips down south since we bought our Four Runner 2 years ago and I think it gets better every time. I think this time took the cake! Brian and Jason rented dirt bikes (as a test run before they buy them) so that meant that Marci and I got to drive the cars, which doesn't happen very often.

Windows down...sun roof open...music blaring...and just me and the trail is just what I needed after a rough couple of weeks back at school.

Here are a few pics from the trip

Overlooking Moab from the end of Hell's Revenge

Another pic from Hell's Revenge...one of my favorite trails

A view from 7 Mile Rim


Bri and I with Moab in the background

Getting all geared up to ride the bikes

Can't wait for the next trip!!!

Nothing to say but....

Less than 24 hours and I will be in my sanctuary...Rice Eccles Stadium

LET'S GO UTAH!!!

Ole' Ole' Ole' Ole'...Real Salt Lake

We decided to buy Real season tickets this summer. It has been a BLAST!!! Along with Andrew and Carrie, Rob and Lindsay, and Jason and Marci, we make quite the soccer clan.

Here we are enjoying our second row tickets! (If you can't see us, I am in the red with white shorts on the front row)

Picture courtesy of Real Salt Lake's Facebook Page

The big 30!

Happy Birthday Brian!!!

Thank you for being all that I have ever wanted and more...

Here's to the next 30 being even better than the first!

I Love you

Nieces and Nephews...

...truly are the best thing on the ever. You love them, they love you...but at the end of the day they go home to mom and dad.

My first and only nephew Anthony just turned 1 on June 6th and I love him more than anything


But getting married you instantly inherit more nieces and nephews that you can love and spoil

Our newest niece Elin Jane

Kayla


AJ


Alex


and Keagan

The best news of all is that we will be welcoming niece/nephew number 6 in March as Brian's sister Mary is expecting a baby!

Congrats Mary and Todd!!! We can't wait for another one

Mr, and Mrs Dahl

It is not nearly as weird as calling him my "fiance"...

I definitely like calling him my HUSBAND much more.


Our first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Dahl

WOW I love him :)

Last post as a single girl

Over that past few weeks, I have had a chance to reflect back on my life. And WOW has it been great. Some people ask us why we waited so long to get married. Sometimes, I asked myself that question too. But looking back, I would not have done it any other way. I know Brian, I trust Brian, and I love Brian more than I could ever hope to. Every step I took in my life led me exactly to where I am now. It all was part of the great plan that was set out for me before I even came to earth. Here are a few highlights from that plan.

My Birth Day. June 22, 1984

Chicken Pox. A staple in every child's life. I only got about 10 over my body, but they were the size of golf balls. Obviously I was so sick that I needed an ice cream cone from Arctic Circle ;)

A Utah girl am I. I was this young when I started to realize that I didn't just like Utah because my mom and dad told me to, but that it really was EXACTLY where I wanted to be when I went to college. It slowly and surely became my passion and my love.

"I will be 'til I die"

My baptism day. I know I look crazy evil in the picture, but I really was a sweet little girl.

My first trip to the ocean.

My first formal dance.

Senior Pictures. Hillcrest High Graduate 2002...Husky for life!!!

Meeting Heather. Not only was she the one that introduced Brian and I, she has become one of my dearest, best friends in the entire world. Love you Nibbers!!!

It was the summer of '06. Brian and I met and I can't say it was Love at first sight, but we definitely jumped into things pretty quickly. Little did we know that this little summer fling we thought we were having would turn into all of this.

Trips and Football. Both something Brian and I have done A LOT of over the past 4 years. This was our 2nd trip together down to Pasadena to watch the Utes play UCLA in the Rose Bowl. He will kill me because I am showing everyone that Yes, at one point he did cheer for Utah (and wear their apparel) but he is a BYU fan. Luckily we have worked things out and we even were able to watch the Utah/BYU game together last year. Since then we have seen St. George, Las Vegas, Moab and Hawaii.

College graduation. This is something I am very proud of. I did it before I turned 23, and it was from the University I promised myself I would go to from a very young age.

So here we are, 4 years and 19 days later from the day we met. We have been through a lot, learned a lot, but most of all LOVED a lot. I couldn't be more grateful to be marrying a man who loves me for exactly who I am. He loves me unconditionally and patiently. He is exactly the man I needed in my life to make me be the best person I can possibly be. I love you Brian and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you! Here's to my single life that was, and hopefully a married life I have always wanted.

One year older and wiser too

Tuesday was my birthday and it was fantastic

Since everyone I know was working or at school, I decided it was time for a me day.

It started out with me making my own yummy strawberry and banana french toast

The traditional "Happy Birthday" phone calls from Grandma, mom, dad and my Aunt Julie (who shares my birthday with me)

Then a little shopping

Then one of my favorite sandwich shops for lunch

Off to a facial and pedicure

After working for just a few hours, it was dinner time with Brian.

(I love my family and friends, but I am overloaded with the attention being on me lately so it was a night just for me and him)

He gave me a SUPER cute red watch, for the Utah games of course :)

My favorite food of all, Cafe Rio Pork Salad

Then a Lime snowcone

And finally we went and saw "Sex and the City 2"

Brian was such a good sport sitting through the whole thing.

Overall, it was the perfect day. Like I said, nearly 3 months of being the center of attention really got to me, so a day spent by myself was exactly what I needed.

But only 2 more weeks...

12-PAC Here we come!!!

I AM A UTAH MAN SIR AND I LIVE ACROSS THE GREEN

OUR GANG IT IS THE JOLLIEST THAT YOU HAVE EVER SEEN

OUR CO-EDS ARE THE FAIREST AND EACH ONE'S A SHINING STAR

OUR YELL YOU'LL HEAR IT RINGING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS NEAR AND FAR

WHO AM I SIR

A UTAH MAN AM I

A UTAH MAN SIR

AND WILL BE 'TIL I DIE

WE'RE UP TO SNUFF, WE NEVER BLUFF

WE'RE GAME FOR ANY FUSS

NO OTHER GANG OF COLLEGE MEN

DARE MEET US IN THE MUSS

SO FILL YOUR LUNGS AND SING IT OUT

AND SHOUT IT TO THE SKY

WE'LL FIGHT FOR DEAR OLE CRIMSON

FOR A UTAH MAN AM I!!!

GO UTES!!!!!!!!

Realization

Just about 3 weeks now

and I will be...

MRS. BRIAN DAHL!!!

So excited :)