2010 recap plus good news

Dear Family, Friends, and Blog Stalkers.....

We can hardly believe that the year 2010 is coming to a close. It has been a marvelous year. We have loved every minute of it. Here is a little recap/highlight of some of the things we did, accomplished, visited, and enjoyed this year:

Abby

-finished her first year of graduate school (only one more to go)

-learned to sew
-started tutoring (again)
-completed a few craft projects
-volunteered at a Boys & Girls Club for the summer

-read lots of books

-turned 23 years old
-completed a gratitude challenge for 20 days

Logan

-revised his resume and got lots of job interviews

-went to New York City for the first time. ever. 

-got a part-time job working at the adult learning center
-turned 24 years old
-carved his first turkey for Thanksgiving

-finished another year at BYU (only a semester and 2 more classes to go)
-traveled to New Mexico for the BYU football bowl game

Together

-spent the summer interning in South Carolina
-took surfing lessons

-went to lots of BYU sporting events

-served as Primary teachers (and still serving)

-hiked the Y mountain

-gave talks at church

-visited New York City, Washington D.C., and Nauvoo (Illinois)
-celebrated our 1 year anniversary in May

-drove from Utah to South Carolina, and back again
-celebrated our 3rd Christmas together
-went to the temple often (including new temples: Logan, UT & Columbia, SC)
-said "goodbye" to Logan's brother (Carson) who left on a mission to Peru
-enjoyed many game nights with the Rexes & Meijomes
-decorated our first Christmas tree
-had relatives from AZ visit our tiny apartment for Thanksgiving
-attempted the Insanity workout DVDs (killer!!!)

And, last of all, probably the best thing that happened in 2010 was finding out we are having a BABY!!!! We found out a few days before Thanksgiving. Baby Corbett is expected to make his/her appearance on July 29, 2011. Yay! I'm about 10 weeks along and I am feeling great. I get mild fatigue and that occasional light-headed feeling, but other than that no morning sickness AT ALL (knock on wood). I will post details and pictures of my non-existent baby bump (lame) soon.

We are so happy and truly grateful for this wonderful blessing:) The Lord has definitely blessed our family this past year. We are so excited for the great things in store for us in 2011.....a baby, graduation (for both of us), job offers (mainly for Logan), etc.

We hope you had a great Christmas and we wish you a wonderful new year!!! 

Love,

Logan, Abby, and Baby Corbett:)

Christmas Cards

I love this time of year! I love everything about Christmas...the snow, the shopping frenzy, the decorations, the family traditions, and so much more! I especially LOVE getting Christmas cards/letters from family and friends from all over the country.

With that said, Shutterfly is a great source for all your Christmas needs especially when it comes to photos, calendars, photo books, cards, etc. Shuttefly offers so many different products and all for a reasonable price. It’s also very user-friendly, so don’t worry if you are lacking in the creative department. Shuttefly designs everything for you; you just have to decide what you want! 

Good news, for all you bloggers out there (yes, blogging is finally paying off)!!! Shutterfly is giving away 50 free Christmas cards to bloggers. Check out the promotion here. 

I am excited to get my hands on Christmas cards and send them out to family and friends this year. Please do me a favor and leave your address in the comment section of this blog post OR simply e-mail me at corbett.abby@gmail.com, if you would like a holiday card from us.

Here are a few of my favorite Christmas photo cards from the Shutterfly site. They are so festive! I LOVE THEM ALL!!

I am crazy about polka-dots....

 Ordering information here

Ordering information here

Ordering information here

Ordering information here

Happy Birthday Logan!!

My dear husband turns 24 today! He's been so excited for this day for a few weeks now, and it's finally here but the poor boy is still sick!!!! Yuck! Well, we are going to celebrate anyway. It's been an overwhelming month so far because we tend to go overboard and sign up for all these amazing birthday deals to restaurants (i.e. Happy Sumo, Tucanos, Fuddruckers, etc). So, it's pretty much a whole month of going out to eat for CHEAP! Pretty cool, huh? We think so!

So, tonight...we'll go celebrate at Fuddrucker's and I'll bake a yummy funfetti cake with ice cream (his favorite). Plus, he'll get to open all his birthday presents (which he already knows about). I got him tickets to the Jazz game (see earlier post here), a new leather-ish jacket for the winter, and permission to go to the New Mexico Bowl to watch BYU football with 4 other guys (boys weekend, if you will). My parents also gave him a gift card for new shoes since the boy goes through shoes so quickly; it's insane. And, his parents are getting him a new stereo for his car (hooray)! Trust me when I say, he is very very happy with all his presents this year (he better be). 

And, now I'll leave you with one of my favorite pictures of Logan...

 

(circa. Summer 2009) 


Happy 24th Birthday, Logan!!!! 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Logan and I wasted NO time to begin decorating for Christmas. We put up our tree and all the decorations the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I was so excited to put everything up. We got this amazing Christmas tree from our friend, Shiree. She moved to Colorado last year and kindly gave us her Christmas tree. It is awesome and we love it (especially because Christmas trees are so expensive). We went out to Hobby Lobby and Walmart to pick up some ornaments and stockings. Most of our Christmas decorations were last year's Christmas gifts from my Aunt Mary, so we did not have to buy much. Plus, a lot of the decorations are things I got last year. Our apartment looks great!! I love it! 

We are sad we can't spend Christmas with our immediate families in Virginia, but we are excited to be able to have our own Christmas this year (just us). We are excited to start our own family traditions and celebrations for Christmas:) Only a couple more weeks!! Yay! 

Enjoy the pictures!!!!

Thanksgiving Break

Logan and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break. It was so so so fun! We loved the time to relax and be with family! It was definitely a fun-filled weekend full of family, good food, lots of laughs, and good news!!

We drove up to Layton, UT on Wednesday to spend time with Logan's extended family. It was so nice being there and spending time with them. Logan even got to carve the turkey on Thursday (his first time)! It was awesome! Thanks Aunt Susan for letting us crash your place and for being a great host!!! It was a blast!!

I love my cute sister-in-law:)

playing Lost Cities early in the morning

beautiful table setting

 Logan carving the TURKEY:) yum!

After Thanksgiving dinner, we drove back to Provo because my extended family came to town from Arizona. It was fun having Aunt Martha, Uncle Derek, Dallin, Macey, and my grandmom visit us for the weekend. I'm not going to lie...having 7 people in our tiny apartment was crazy, but we made it work! They really spoiled us with all the cooking my grandmom did and all the early Christmas presents we got from them. We did some Black Friday shopping (never again will I do that...so crazy), went to Temple Square, and watched movies/played games with my cousins.

 cousins-Dallin & Macey

 Whitfield Family

beautiful lights at Temple Square

Logan and my silly cousin Macey 

 view of the SLC Temple from the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

 so gorgeous!

 life size Nutcracker!!

 inside the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

my awesome grandmom!!! 

And, the good news!! I got a text message from my mom early Thanksgiving morning to announce that my Uncle Andy and Aunt Mon had their second baby....a baby girl.....Anabella:) Yay! I get another cousin! That makes the Sangbouasy grandchildren total = NINE (Abby, Amanda, Thomas, Madison, Anabella, Marisa, Ethan, Dallin, and Macey)!!! Wow!

Rejection

Rejection hurts, but you know what Corbett's do? We move on and make the best out of it! I'm referring to the rejection letter we got from Disney this past Wednesday (December 1st). It was a LONG wait, but we're glad we know now. And, even though we got rejected....I still love Disney:) It just wasn't meant to be this time around and we get that. We trust that the Lord knows what is best for us, so we won't complain.  

I must say that with rejection and closed doors/opportunities, there have been more, better, and exciting opportunities that have come our way (even in the past three days)! Logan actually got called for an interview this past Wednesday; it went very well and it is a REAL person job (as Logan would say). We should be hearing back from them very soon. We were also reminded that Logan will be getting a raise at his current job in a few months, so that will be a nice little bonus for us. Plus, I started tutoring again this week so it has certainly been another blessing to be grateful for (I get experience and some play money)! Yes! Logan has also applied to countless other internships, so don't worry about us! We will work at it until we get something good. 

Patience...patience...patience....

On the other hand, we are excited and happy to stay in Provo for the next semester (mainly me, I didn't want to miss out on BYU basketball season). So, even with rejection....we will be okay. Life goes on and we are loving what has been coming our way:)   

Stay tuned for our Thanksgiving recap and a post on Christmas decorations this week!!! 

Jazz Game

A few weeks ago, Logan and I went to our very first Jazz game (early birthday present for Logan)!! Heidi and some friends from Logan came down and met us in Salt Lake City for the game too. We had a ton of fun, except for the part where the Jazz lost to San Antonio (booooo).

Enjoy the pictures:) 

Gratitude Challenge: Day 19 & 20

My last TWO days. This challenge has been a blessing. I have felt an added measure of gratitude for what I have in my life. Feeling gratitude is a heavenly attribute. I have much to be thankful for and I hope that I can express that every day, not just during this time of year.

Gratitude Challenge: Day 19

Parents

I'm grateful for my parents. They are remarkable individuals and have shaped me into the woman I am today. I do not know what I would do without my parents. Here is a little synopsis about each of them:

Daddy: I am grateful for my daddy! He is loving, generous, and helpful. My dad is also really smart when it comes to computers. He is also very dedicated; he's worked with the same company for over 20 years!! I love talking to my dad about anything and everything: politics, money, life, family, etc. I know that I can always go to my dad about advice and/or questions! Thanks DAD for all you do:)

Mommy: I am so grateful for my mom! She is talented, honest, and humble. I know that I can always go to my mom whenever I need her. I love being around my mom; she has a great sense of humor and can always make me laugh. I also love how giving my mom is; she is so good at being there for her children and helping them in any way possible. I am thankful for my mom! I love her and I am grateful for her example. She is such a strong woman and I know that she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to. She is so talented with her cooking skills, sewing abilities, knitting skills, etc. My mom is awesome!!!

Gratitude Challenge: Day 20

Husband

I saved the best for last...my HUSBAND! I am so grateful for my husband. We've been married for a year and a half and I seriously grow to love him more every day. He is so patient, understanding, and kind to me. He is my best friend and I do not know what I would ever do without him. Thank you, husband, for being such a good example and for doing what you can to make me happy every single day. You are amazing!

Gratitude Challenge: Day 13-18

 Gratitude Challenge: Day 13

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

I am grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was baptized and confirmed a member of the church (it's been over 5 years now). I can't even begin to describe all the tremendous and overwhelming blessings I've received because of my decision to join the LDS church. I love my Heavenly Father and I know that He has a marvelous plan for me. I am so grateful for the church, the prophet, apostles, general authorities, and local leaders. I am grateful to all the individuals I have met since investigating the church; I am grateful for their examples and supportive ways. I would not be where I am today without strong, charitable, and supportive members of this church. Thank you!

Gratitude Challenge: Day 14

In-laws 

I am grateful for my in-laws. John and Delilas (my  father and mother-in-law) are wonderful, amazing individuals. I am so grateful to have married into such a great family with awesome parent-in-laws! Seriously!!! I am so so lucky! Here is a little synopsis about each of them:

John: My father-in-law is fun! I love how he is so patient with everyone around him. He is a great example to me of working hard, but also playing hard. I am always so impressed by how dedicated he is to everything he does whether it is work, church callings, working in the yard, playing with his kids, etc. He is busy, but he somehow always makes time for the most important things. I think Logan gets a lot of his personality from his awesome dad which is a very good thing:)

Delilas: I can't say enough about my amazing mother-in-law. I absolutely LOVE her. She is so easy to get along with. Logan definitely takes after his mother when it comes to his sense of humor. My mother-in-law has a GREAT sense of humor. She is also incredibly understanding, honest, and loving. She is also a wonderful mother/mother-in-law to six (seven, if you count me)--her children (plus me) absolutely adore her. Oh, and did I mention that we share the same birthday? We're practically twins. Logan always jokes that he married his mother..well that is definitely a compliment because my MIL is awesome!

I am so so thankful for my in-laws! They are awesome and I appreciate them so much. I also love how welcoming they have been to my family. I love that my parents and Logan's parents live close to each other and that they can build a relationship with one another (even while Logan and I are not there). It's awesome!

Gratitude Challenge: Day 15

Challenges/Trials 

I am grateful for challenges/trials. I know that the Lord gives us trials and burdens so that we can learn and become perfected in Him. I am grateful for the small or even big challenges/trials the Lord gives me. I know that it is part of the plan the Lord has for me. I know that as I endure my challenges/trials well and with a positive attitude, the Lord will give me strength to accomplish anything.

Gratitude Challenge: Day 16

Temples 

I am so grateful for temples. I know that being in the temple is the ultimate joy and peace that our Heavenly Father can give us. I know that in the temple we can do a sacred work in strengthening families. I know that the temple can provide us with comfort, joy, and an overwhelming peace that we can not get anywhere else. I love going to the temple and feeling Heavenly Father's love.

Gratitude Challenge: Day 17

Scriptures 

I'm grateful for the scriptures. I am so thankful that I have them to read and to learn from. It is such a blessing for me to have somewhere I can turn to for answers, guidance, and direction in my life. I know that I can be better at reading my scriptures every day, and I certainly intend to!

Gratitude Challenge: Day 18

Extended Family

I have a very large extended family and I have also married into Logan's family (which is also very big). I am grateful for aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc who have been wonderful blessings in my life. I am so thankful to have a wonderful extended family who really care about me. I love my family and I feel very fortunate to have been blessed with a great one:)

"No, we're still waiting"

Dear Disney Company,

We have been waiting patiently to hear from you for a long time now (since October). We are getting very anxious and frustrated with you. Logan checks his e-mail every 20 minutes and has his phone permanently attached to his hand just waiting for any word from you. We even tried to contact you, but you said that the latest we'll hear from you is December 1st. Well, we are getting very impatient!! We would love for you to tell us that we can move to California or Florida, so that Logan can intern with your company for a few months. We love you, but you are seriously crossing the line between love and hate. Please, please, please do not make us wait any longer. Oh, and PLEASE accept Logan for this internship. We promise to go to all your parks, eat all your food, recommend you to everyone we know, and be happy forever. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Abby & (Logan)

Carson = Elder Corbett

Logan's brother (Carson) came to Utah on Tuesday morning (November 16) set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Logan, Carson, Heidi, and I got to spend most of the day up in Salt Lake City. We went to lunch at Tucano's (thanks MIL), walked around Temple Square, and took lots of pictures. It was such a fun day. We love spending time with Heidi and Carson. They are always so much fun. It was great! I'm also really glad that Logan, Heidi, and Carson got to spend some time together before Carson left---they are such good siblings to each other. It warms my heart seeing Logan with his siblings (and it makes me miss my sibling even more)!!

 Elder Corbett in all his glory ready to go on his mission!

And yes, all Corbett boys are very handsome:)

 Logan, Carson, and Heidi

I love this picture! Look at all that blonde hair:)

 typical missionary handshake

 at Temple Square

 right before Heidi said goodbye to Carson

Of course, they were sad...

talking to Grandma & Grandpa Corbett one more time before the MTC

The next day, November 17th, we dropped Carson off at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo (it's actually right across the street from where we live). It was a surreal moment for us, but much easier than I expected it to be. It was just so natural. Carson was very ready to go (he's been waiting 4 months since getting his call).

He gave us quick hugs and I was able to get one good picture of him and Logan together with Carson saying: "Okay, hurry up because I don't have much time. I need to get going." Hearing him say that did not in the least bit make us sad; it actually made Logan and I so proud and happy for him because he really wanted to go. He said goodbye one last time and off he went--he didn't look back even once! He was so ready to go and serve.

 talking to his mama one last time before the MTC

 Check out that smile! He's so excited to go!

 walking to the MTC (don't try, they make you turn around to get your car)

"we're like brothers, only closer"

 Look at all that luggage...two years worth of stuff in 3 bags! hooray!

almost there

 one last picture together

 last picture with Logan

talking to the other missionaries

We know that this is part of the plan that Heavenly Father has for Carson. We know that the Lord really needs Carson in Peru...to teach, serve, and love those people. He is a great example to us and we think he is going to be a wonderful missionary. Of course, we will miss him but we honestly believe the people in Peru need him more than we do right now. Thank you, Carson for serving but more importantly for going willingly! You have been such a blessing in our lives and we know you will be a tremendous blessing in the lives of those you will meet on your mission! 

Carson will serve a full-time, 2 year mission in the Peru Lima West mission. To learn more about the church and missions...click here. If you have time, read this blog post by Carson's mom (and Logan's mom too). It will make you cry (because it sure made me cry).

Gratitude Challenge: Day 9-12

I'm a little behind in posting my gratitude challenge, so please be patient with me...

Gratitude Challenge: Day 9

Photographs

I am grateful for photographs. We had the opportunity on Saturday afternoon (November 13) to get some pictures done with a friend from our church ward. Click here for a preview. Nicky is trying to build her portfolio for her new photography business. I think she did a superb job. Thanks, Nicky:)

I absolutely love photographs; there is something about looking through old pictures that gives me a sense of nostalgia for the special moments that made me the person I am today. I love creating memories with my family and friends; I especially think that memories are best shared when they are captured on camera or video. It's so fun being able to display photos in our home whether they are of us, family, or friends. I also love looking through photo albums and photography blogs. I am always struck at how well photographers can capture special moments. I think what separates mediocre photographers from great ones is how much time and effort the photographer takes to get to know their clients. I love photographs that really showcase the individuals...you can see it in their poses, their smiles, and their overall demeanor. I am grateful for the technologies that we have today that makes it possible for me to have my special moments documented. 

Listed below are a few of my all-time favorite photographers:

Jonathan Canlas- his photos are so fresh and absolutely original. Check out his wedding photos. I think he does a superb job at capturing real emotions. Love it!

Tracy Turpen- her photos are exquisite. I love the colors and the dramatic shots she takes. Simply amazing!

Jen Korth- her photos are beautiful! I absolutely love her style. She certainly has an eye for photography. Also, check out her birth portfolios. Incredible!!

Gratitude Challenge: Day 10

Children 

Logan and I were part of the primary program in our church ward on Sunday morning. It was a wonderful experience to hear the testimonies and experiences of three Primary children (yep, we only have three in our congregation). I am always struck by the innocence and sweet spirit each child has. It is a blessing to be around the Primary children; they teach us (adults) in so many ways through their patience, purity, and absolute joy. I hope to have the opportunity to raise children one day; I know they will be a tremendous blessing to our lives.

Gratitude Challenge: Day 11

Work

I'm so grateful for my job and the ability to work. I know that the Lord really wants us to use our talents and skills for the benefit of others. I get to work with children (well, more like teenagers) Monday-Friday. I love it. I am so glad that I have been given the opportunity to interact with children and develop their love for learning. I am also thankful that the Lord has placed wonderful opportunities in my way for me to work and share with others.

Gratitude Challenge: Day 12

Friends 

I don't know where I would be without friends. I know that the Lord places people in our lives for our benefit. I am grateful that the Lord has entrusted me with so many wonderful people that have shaped me into the person I am. 

 Anna, Angelina, and Abby

I am grateful to my two best friends from high school, Anna and Angelina. They are remarkable women. I am so thankful for their love and patience with me. I would have not been able to get through high school without them.

 Erin, Julie S, Julie P, Abby, Heidi, Sylvia, and Jaclyn

I am grateful for the PFF (pretty fun friends) that I met and became really great friends with in my college years. These women are amazing. I do not know what I would have done without them. We have had so much fun together. We are older now, many are married, and living in different states, but I know that if I ever needed anything I can always count on them. They are wonderful examples to me and I am so grateful for their friendships. 

 Logan, Abby, John, Allison, Maddison, and Adrian (we're just missing Britni and Adam)

Lastly, I am grateful for friends in Utah. It was hard moving out here and not knowing very many people, but I am grateful for good friends who like to play games and do things together. They are awesome!