When Garrett and I were first dating I went all out for his birthday. Last year, it was weak because I got in late the day before from a surprise business trip to New York . So this year, I tried to do go all out.

I had his close friend and family help me out with his 100 list. That can be seen on a different blog post.

Garrett’s besties, Morgan & Alex took him to breakfast. We then spent the day getting ready for a birthday party for over 35 friends. I made a yummy dinner for everyone.

The best part of the whole day was when his sister, Gabes, surprised him. Morgan came to the door and told him, “I have your present, but it’s too big to carry in.” Garrett walked out the door to look at it and Gabes walked around the corner. He was SO shocked. His face was priceless!

We then had birthday cake and I gave him his next surprise. His annual piñata! Which this year it was FERB. He also got 2 gifts that he wanted from my mom and Laurie. A Mac Track Pad and Wireless Keyboard. A few days later, he got an AMZAING package from his mom. She always sends the best packages.

To top off the evening, we went with some of our closest friends to the Reale Salt Lake soccer game at Rio Tinto Sadium. It was a close game, but someone forgot to tell them it w was Garrett’s birthday and n

eeded to win. It was the first home game they lost in over a year.

Anyway… it was a great birthday. I tried to set the bar a little higher this year so that come December, he remembers his great wife!

This year, one of Garrett’s New Year’s resolutions was to be in the Utah Student 25. This means he was nominated by someone as one of the top entrepreneurs in Utah for 2010. Last year, he volunteered as a student coordinator and said that he goal for this year was to be on the stage. CHECK.

My company asked me that day to go represent ONO as one of event’s sponsors. Convenient. Not really our demographic for recruiting… but it was good to get our name out there.

There was a very nice dinner put on at The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The event is very fancy… but what does Garrett show up in?!!? A bow tie. And his hair back in a shoelace. Urgggg. I was SO mad. He refused to take it out.

So, he and Morgan Lyman (his “business partner”) walk up on to the stage and are awarded #17. They are ranked in order and they count down to the #1 business. The order of students is ranked off of growth and revenue in the past 5 years.

Next year, his goal is to be #1. He has a LONG way to go!

1. I love how much Garrett loves my girls. He always takes time to really play with them and make them laugh. I love that Violet calls him Garbum.
2. I love Garrett's fabulous style. That everyone else at the banquet was wearing boring suits while he and Morgan rocked the bow ties!
3. I love that Garrett is the most innocent looking, deceptively powerful salesman I know.
4. I love that Garrett always believes everything will work out...which is why it always does for him.5. I love how creative and nonstop his mind is.6. I love that Garrett found the perfect match for him in Jessica!
7. He has lots of projects

jessica....she's a great sister in law!
26. We like that garrett is going to byu, so you guys live relatively close by (for nowat least).27. I like it when garrett tries my food i make and then he says he likes it, cuz i know he's a picky eater, and if he likes it, than most people will.

35. This is easy. The #1 reason why I love Garrett is definitely his baby sister Gabrielle.36. And the other 99 reasons why I love him are basically the SAME reasons why I love myself.37. Garrett loves sharing in other's excitement and is easily excited
38. I love that Garrett is relentless, helps to have him on your team
39. Sharing O's at 2am while watching Boy Meets World at full volume to hear over our loud crunching
40. Garrett is the world's best team mate
41. He is a terrible liar42. His jokes are harmless, and usually very funny, BUT always hysterical to Garrett
43. He's a ridiculously great dancer with GREAT rhythm44. My favorite shopping partner

ensitive to others
46. Garrett's reasons for calling are usually legit47. I never tire of talking to Garrett48. I love the semi-ridiculous projects Garrett has convinced me to do- brick his wall in cardboard
49. He can recognize something great
50. Extremely sentimental
51. We can call each other to explain how funny we just were
Garrett's advice is reliable (just make sure you recognize 1st where it benefits him!)
52. EVERYTHING is more fun with Garrett53. EVERYTHING could be made more fun with Garrett
54. That he isn't afraid of cold water or foreign food
55. That he has inspired Shelby to grow his hair out again56. He has more will power than anyone I know...not to be mistaken for stubbornness...ie: 67. Remaining on his detox diet while we all ate fillet mignon

57. His dedication to his dreams, whether it be family, school, his mission, or soccer, ect. he gives everything to achieve the BEST!
58. He is kind59. He likes to dance
60. He can make Gabes smile the most genuinely
61. The fact that he shares the same name as Olivia the Pig's Uncle Garrett, and that just like that Uncle Garrett, he will one day help Olivia dance a pas de deux for her show and tell kindergarten class
62. He inspires me to eat less candy and more blueberries63. He's creative
64. And my most favorite thing about Garrett...he is my little brother and therefore we will always be tight gee-six thugs!!!
65. He is loyal to and maintains friendships66. He has great relationships with siblings. Jessica has great relationships with her siblings---good family relationships is a key quality and I notice it with your siblings also.67. He is a hustler-as in the day you hid in wait to speak with President Holland from UVU-that took guts.

It’s been a crazy 2 weeks. Garrett left me for a week adventure in LA. He spent the weekend with his sisters, Gabes and Miristi and the week at the Adobe MAX conference.

I still have yet to hear everything he learned, but I know they put on a fantastic conference. There were lots of hands-on classes about the Adobe Suite. He was able to do some major networking with people from Google and Lynda.com. Garrett has mastered Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator over the last year and is now moving toward Dreamweaver and After Effects.

The main highlight of the conference was when they gave all attendees the new Google Phone as well as the Google TV for FREE. A ticket for the conference cost

$1,800 but Garrett talked one of his past clients into sending him there for $195. After the free Google gifts,

everything learned, and all the free food, Garrett really made out like a bandit. He will leave to his next design conference later in November to New York City.

Meanwhile, I was at home with a hacking cough (that Garrett left me with). I had a girlfriend stay with me for the weekend where we were pampered all weekend with manies, petties, and scalp treatments. We watched a few scary movies and went to a haunted house (bad idea while husband is gone). It was a blast, but I missed Garrett so much that I bought a plane ticket to New York City so that I didn’t have to be alone another weekend while Garrett attends the Future of Web Design conference.

He came home late Wednesday night and I left on Friday for Denver. We did manage to squeeze a Thursday date night in there with Outback and Step-up 3. (Garrett has now seen Step-up 3, 3 times!)

The very next day (Friday) my mom flew my sister Amanda and I home to Colorado for her birthday weekend. It was so much fun. We went to the temple on Saturday morning and did some family names. I love being there with my family. It brings on a whole different meaning to the song “Families Can Be Together Forever” when you are all together in the Celestial room. It was an amazing experience. I’m sure nothing makes my parents more happy than seeing us all in the temple together.

We enjoyed a nice lunch at Hacienda with Grandma an

d did a little bit of shopping. Saturday night was spent at the ward Trunk-or-Treat. We didn’t bring costumes but managed fine when we spent a few minutes looking in my dad’s

closet. I found his vintage Boy Scout uniform and Amanda wore some Indian thing my grandma sewed for him when he was 14. It had tassels on it. Jim came out in the epic mummy costume. Dad was the wizard. Typical.

Sunday was amazing. I enjoy going back to my home ward and seeing the people who helped raise me. We had dinner with Dan and Dan Doerfein and the Sigmons. It was the quintessential Sunday.

Back in Utah, Garrett was busting the Beiber-doo. He spent some time with the boys going to haunted corn mazes and dressing up as "Thing Wild” His hair sure has gone wild. He needs a haircut. Bad.

But I missed Garrett even with his moppy new hair style. I’m glad I’m finally home.

The last few weeks we’ve both been sick, out of town and crazy busy with work/school. I’m excited to be home with everything back to normal.

Hopefully things will slow down and allow us to relax (ps. Garrett is launching a business on Thursday, meeting the Governor for his design business being named top 25 student-owned businesses in Utah, his birthday is on Saturday, he just got an MRI and found out he needs surgery this month as soon as we get home from New York... Then we will relax.)

Its been an interesting past few weeks. Garrett made the soccer team in the middle of September, and the season is already over. And most people didn't know (including the coach) that Garrett was struggling with a torn abdomen that he got right before tryouts. The doctor told him at the beginning of the season to stay off of it for 6 weeks. Well, the season didn't even last 6 weeks. But Garrett pushed through it. He'd heat his groin before practice and ice it after. He had the occasional rub down from the trainer, which I'm sure was a little awkward. Anyway, the last month he's been going about 80% with his injury.

The team was separated into 2 teams. The starting 20 who dressed for each game. And the bottom 12 which was comprised of mostly freshmen, RMs and walk-ons (Garrett). Each practice they'd have 4 scrimmages among the 2 teams. Each player was to report to the coach at the end of practice how many games they won. The players with the most wins on the bottom 12 will have the chance to move up. And the players who aren't performing on the top 20, will be moved down. Garrett was consistently at the top of the 12. With 2 games left, Garrett was able to move up and dress for the last games. He always said, "just put me on the team, and I'll work my way up." Which he did. I'm sure when the season starts next Spring, he'll do even better... and tear it up playing at 100% health.

Regretfully, this last week Garrett got strep, or the flu, or phnemonia, or something... It probably started with a cold and becuase of course Garrett doesn't let his body heal, it got worse. A few days this week Garrett was up most of the night with a hacking cough. :( But he had worked so hard to move up and play for this weekend's game!

Yesterday, Garrett shows up to the game as sick as a dog for his game against BYU-I. When he walked in Garrett got the #7 jersey. NOT A COINCIDENCE!!! The coach also mentioned before the game that whoever scores the first goal, would get amazing tickets to that night's Reale Salt Lake game. Garrett boasted "Hey Coach... just so you know I'm going to get those tickets!" Typical Garrett. Garrett was pretty upset when he didn't start (I'm sure it was because he was sick all week) so when he finally got in at the start of the second half, he brought his A-Game. The score was 0-0.

He was playing pretty aggressive and knocking guys over. He really brought the intensity. But, about 10 mins of playing time Garrett got a nice easy pass to him right in front of the goal and he tapped it right in. GOALLLLLLLL! The smile on his face was priceless. I was going crazy on the sidelines. He ran over to the sidelines and motioned for the RSL tickets to the coach! He was so happy but I knew he was dying on the inside and couldn't breath.

Good ending to the season. The final score was 2-1. The other guy who scored was the only other walk-on.

Good thing the season is over. Garrett needs to focus on school. Which will be hard as he goes to L.A. and New York City in the next month for Design Conferences. Garrett kindly shared his illness with me. I'm here dying on a Sunday missing church. :( Oh well... we'll both be healthy soon.

Garrett and I had the opportunity to see Arkadi Lantuk at the MTC this weekend. Arkadi is a young man that was found and taught by Elders Wes Thompson and Jake Madsen. Garrett gave Arkadi his baptismal interview and had the opportunity to baptize Arkadi.

Arkadi is an amazingly humble and passionate young man. He has such an incredible love for Heavenly Father and everyone around him. I had the opportunity to serve in his area for 6 weeks. He was always willing and excited to help Sister Allison Shiffler and I on lessons.

Arkadi had no clue we would be there and was so shocked to see me at the MTC and turn around to see Garrett. It is such a tender mercy to see someone who we saw come into the church be a missionary. We saw both him and Nastya Samsonovich in the MTC and they are/were killer missionaries. He will in incredible in the Russia, Moscow West Mission.

I'm listening to the 180th General Conference. The Prophet is talking about gratitude. I realize that all of our blessings come from a Heavenly Father who loves us and wants us to be happy.

Here are a few things I'm grateful for over the last month:

1. I'm grateful for General Conference. I'm grateful for the Restoration of the Gospel and the Priesthood. I'm grateful for the knowledge of the Gospel that bring true happiness. I had the opportunity to join my friend Monica at last week's General Relief Society Broadcast. We were able to go through the tunnel where the Prophet comes out. I sat 5 rows back from the Prophet. I swear President Uchdorf and Eyring were looking right at me. My testimony was solidified that President Monson is a true Prophet today. I am grateful for him and the leadership that he brings to the church.

2. I'm grateful for our talents and abilities. I'm grateful for the opportunity that Garrett has to be on the team this year. I'm grateful for our health. I'm grateful for a husband who looks really hot playing soccer on that field.

3. I'm grateful for my job. I know it is a great blessing to be employed, especially in my field. When I was a freshmen a girl in my home ward gave me the advice to start getting internships and jobs that were relevant to my major early on. Because of that, I have be lucky enough to have jobs and internships that have given me the experience that I needed to get a great job once I graduated. I'm grateful for the people I work with and everything that I learn from them each day. Oh, and I'm grateful for my new red shoes.

4. Family. My mom had surgery last month. I'm so happy that A) she is not pregnant and B) she quickly recovered from a very invasive surgery.

I'm SUPER grateful for my older brother Jim. I'm grateful for the example that he has set for me. I'm grateful for the gift of repentance. And I'm grateful that families can be together. I'm proud of Jim and all he has done in the last 2 years.

I'm grateful for the trials that my family has gone through in the past few years. I'm thankful that through them, my family has become even more unified. I am thankful for the gift of family and the support that those relationships can bring.

5. I'm grateful for Garrett. And his long hair.... And that he is going to be cutting it this month. :)

One of the first things I ever knew about Garrett (or Elder Gee) was that he was a health freak. Our mission president's wife challenged each of us to eat 9 servings of veggies a day. Elder Gee doesn't know that "there is moderation in all things" and he only ate fruits and veggies for the rest of his mission. Here are some of his recent health antics...

CHIA SEEDS. Looks less than appetizing. First off, its in a carrot juice bottle... yuck. The orange liquid is actually Chia seeds in a protein drink. Chia seeds (Yes, as in Chia Pets) supposedly can hold great amounts of water. They help athletes run longer because they stay hydrated longer. Garrett still has yet to see if they actually work, because no matter what, he's really tired after soccer.

Next... CEREAL. Garrett eats on average 3/4 of a box of cereal per day. He can go through about 6 boxes of cereal and 2 gallons of cereal in a week. He'd be perfectly fine not eathing anything else besides cereal. Any other guy would appreciate the fact that I love to cook... not Garrett. He'd actually prefer to only eat cereal. Luckily, WinCo sells Kashi for cheap.

Although he is very health concious... he will go-big everyonce in a while. Thanks Cheesecake Factory for the HUGE burrito.