Happy List from last week, Thanksgiving, and FAMILY PICTURES!

-seeing progress with our financial goals
-talking with Jill for couple hours
-being told I do "a good job" by a customer. Haha. It helps after being yelled at on the phone. :)
-Oaklee looking at a picture of Jared and quietly saying to "him".. "Jared, you're the best!!" :D Haha
-Cuddling with Oaklee while watching Pocahontas & her falling asleep on me
-a really incouraging email from a co-worker
-ChickfilA and Breaking Dawn with Whit, Chels, and Cami
-laughing histerically in the car
-beautiful winter photoshoot
-going on a double date night that included new underwear, pizza factory, Harry Potter, and "Truth or Truth"
-Walking to Stake Conference in the snow with Jared
-feeling the spirit at Stake Conference
-Justin's birthday party
-visiting my mom & dad
-playing Upwords
-getting our family pictures back :) :)

This last weekend was so wonderful. Besides getting smacked in the nose by the edge of my car trunk while putting away groceries, that is. :) (Yes, my nose is bruised but thankfully, not broken) Smooooth, I know. On Saturday, I had a photo shoot with an adorable family, cute hats, and fresh beautiful snow. Perfect. We lounged around, I edited.. Then we went with some dear friends to buy new underwear (and it was more exciting than it probably should be..), go eat at the Pizza Factory (just thinking about the bread sticks and salad bar makes me hungry!), and home to watch the last Harry Potter (I need to get those on tape so I can finally finish)..

On Sunday, we had Stake Conference. Jared and I put on our coats, I wore boots with  my skirt and it was officially Winter in my mind. We walked to the church holding hands. We had told ourselves we’d get there early but, getting there just a few minutes before the meeting began, we had a difficult time finding a seat. We lucked out and found a great spot. We sat and listened, back tickled, and whispered. We felt the spirit when our leaders spoke and when the choir sang and we were edified.

I couldn't be more excited that Thanksgiving is nearly here and my long weekend begins at the end of today. I am so blessed and have so much to be grateful for. I'm most grateful for.. The gospel of Jesus Christ, my family, my friends, and of course.. This guy. So grateful to have him forever.




Photos taken by Travis Buhler. :) Trav, I love them.

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you have a wonderful Holiday. :)

I won't back down

Check out this timeline..

Friday, June 24th 11:00 PM - Pick up Jared from work and start our roadtrip to Oregon
Saturday, June 25th - Thursday, June 30th - Oregon.. :)
Friday, July 1st 4:00 AM - Arrive home & straight to bed.
Saturday, July 2nd - July 3rd - Camping!
Monday, July 4th 3:00 AM - Arrive home, shower, & straight to bed.

26 hours of driving, 5 states, 1 waterfall, 2 lighthouses, 2 Burgerville shakes, 2 Candyman ice cream cones, family time, 3 games of Upwords, 3 campfires, 10,000 mosiqutos, fourwheeling, 32 fishies, and 2 very sleepy Toblers.

These past 11 days have been quite something! I have much to edit, much to blog, and much to do. There is fun to still be had.. now dear ShayLee is visiting. :)

For the 4th, Jared and I planned on going swimming at Seven Peaks. We got into our swimming suits and put on some sunscreen but, when we walked outside there was no sunshine to be seen. So, we went back inside, put on our pajamas, and watched sitcoms on the couch. It was just what we needed.

Jared later went to work (bless him and bless holiday pay) and I went to watch fireworks with the girls..

I am obsessed with the Instagram App. It's true.

p.s. blog title explanation: I heard Tom Petty while filling up my car, it made me instantly happy, and I decided it was today's anthem. Plus, what's more American than listening to Tom Petty?

beautiful

From start to finish, this weekend was wonderful. 
I had guests over on Thursday night..

(their mommies were there too) We made Alfredo for dinner with Caesar salad. Then, I burnt the brownies! Heartbreaking, isn't it? So instead, we had Reeses and whipped cream for dessert while talking until the late hours. Bliss.

On Friday, I spent the morning being lazy with Jared. After he left for work, I chatted with ShayLee, who now lives in Italy.

Friday night, I went to Richard & Emily's beautiful wedding. I love weddings, especially when two people as wonderful as them are involved..

While we were eating Coldstone and admiring Emily's dress (which she designed herself, by the way) we met the Duchesnes..

This couple told us the story of how they met and fell in love and how this sweet man purposed to this sweet woman. When she was done telling the story, he looked at her and said, "That was such a fun time, I love you." Then he leaned over to give her a kiss. After that, they began to tell us that, though they have lead wonderful lives, it hasn't always been easy and that there have been many rough days. He said that despite the fact that he loves her so much, they are very different people and that it has taken a lot of work to be where they are today. She gave the advice to "choose each other" everyday. Choose each other, despite the hardships. I was uplifted talking to both of them and I'm grateful to have met them.

When the night was over, I talked in the car with Chelsie and Whitney for hours. It was wonderful and just like old times. It was the perfect night.

The next morning, we went to Ihop for breakfast and then went to Bridal Veil Falls. It was beautiful weather and I hope to go on little adventures like this every weekend.

Everything about this weekend was amazing and I'm grateful for weekends like that. So full of beautiful moments. I am grateful for the friends and family that Jared and I have been blessed with. Happy Wednesday!

Temple Square

Chirstmas time isn't complete without a walk around Temple Square. We went with our friends, Alex and Chelsie. We drank hot chocolate in front of the temple while talking with the Sister Missionaries. After seeing all of the wonderful lights, we went to Costa Vida (it's not Cafe Rio but, it'll do..) and then went hot tubbing! I love hot tubbing in the snow. Chels and I were dared to do snow angels in our bathing suits and naturally, we couldn't say no. :)

I love us.

Who says I'm too old for a sleepover?

We had the best 24 hours together. Taking, eating, laughing, crying, food storage, giant marshmellows, starting a fire without the essentials (lighter & lighter fluid), killing bugs that got into the house, Utah Lake, chocolate-chip muffins, waterfalls, getting soaked, pina colada slurpees.. :)

"Chels, you can let go, you know.."
"Oh, yes! That does feel nice!"

:)

Basically, I was in awe for the following week, thinking about just how blessed I am to have friends like these.. who have held my hand through everything, the good and the bad, and will continue to do so.