Christmas 2011

On Christmas Eve, I put on my apron (for the first time) and started cooking while the Michael Buble Christmas CD played. It all felt very Christmassy. Jared was outside, cleaning the car and if you know him at all, this is no surprise.

My Uncle Cliff is a Pastor in Heber, Utah. We were invited to a Christmas Eve musical program. It was a very nice way to start Christmas Eve and great to be with family. We even had the chance to listen to a four-time Grammy nominee pianist. He’s amazing.

After hugs goodbye, we drove home and quickly finished dinner with my mom’s help and a friend’s oven (one oven just wasn’t enough!) When the rest of the family arrived, dinner was ready. I’m sorry to say that I didn’t take a single picture on Christmas Eve but, I think I was just having such a great time, I didn’t even think about it! It was such an incredible night. After we ate dinner, we talked, ate dessert (and ate and ate), and played games. We played our family game, Upwords, and Jared won! J (It’s always hard to beat my mom & aunt..) The family stayed all night and left around midnight. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time and I sure do love my family. When everyone had left, our house was a disaster. Jared and I cleaned for the next hour and a half and fell on the couch when we were done.

Christmas morning came too early but, we were both excited to see what Santa had brought. We got all ready and then went downstairs to (quickly) open presents. Charlotte’s Web, The Brave Little Toaster, and Heavyweights for Jared. :) (He says he wants them for our future babies to watch.. ) Snowboarding equipment, slippers, books, and a skinny tie too. Hair products for me! –A straightener, curling iron, and a blow drier. (Do you think he was trying to tell me something? Haha.) When it was time for my last present, I was completely shocked to see that he had gotten me a new camera and photography equipment! It was such a surprise and I was so excited that I could have cried! I’m so excited to progress my photography in 2012 thanks to Jared and I appreciate that he believes in me.

We rushed out the door for breakfast at his parent’s house. They went all out and made every breakfast food you can imagine. The best waffles, cheesy potatoes, and strawberry drink I’ve ever tasted.. It was delicious. We opened presents and each of us got a stocking from Mom & Dad. Kaden & Jace were the stars of the day and we loved watching Kaden open presents.

We went with my family to visit cute 82-year old Aunt Maurine in Copperton. This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. After our visit, we went to my Uncle Kent’s and Aunt Jody’s for our favorite Christmas dinner. Ham, Yummy potoatoes, green bean salad, and blue-berry muffins – A tradition started by my grandmother. (It’s also what I made on Christmas Eve) The girls talked upstairs while the boys watched TV downstairs. It was the perfect end to a great holiday season. Above all of the excitement Christmas brings, what I love about it the most is spending time with our wonderful families and reflecting on the birth of our Savior. We are truly blessed, Jared and I.

Thank you to my family and sweet friends. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

Nephew Kaden with his new BB Gun.. "You'll shoot your eye out!!" :)

Thanksgiving Weekend

 I didn’t take a single picture on Thanksgiving. Well, besides this one:

(This is Jared’s extended family with many people missing. Can you believe that? I can’t! I have 5 cousins, total.) This was our first stop on Thursday. After we ate and nearly everyone left, we played basketball as a family.. Me, Jared, and Jared’s dad played as a team against Jared’s sister, Jessica and her husband, Ryan. Jared is an amazing basketball player however, with me on the team.. we lost. They were so nice about my basketball ”skills” and I even earned us 4 points! ;) I haven’t played basketball in about 10 years but, it was a lot of fun!

We drove to my parents house and had dinner with them and the Hintons. Austin brought along his new girlfriend, Brittnee, and we all played games. Brittnee killed us at Last Word (beginners luck..) and Deanne, Jeremy, and I won everyone at Cranium. Games are my favorite tradition with my family.

On the way home, Jared and I decided last minute to go check out Walmart during their HUGE THANKSGIVING SALE. It was a madhouse. We mainly just people watched and couldn’t believe the crowds. Very entertaining.

On Friday, we slept in and lounged until we went up to Park City to take pictures for my Aunt and her family. I hadn’t seen some of them in 10 years so it was so great to see them. I am usually not fan of indoor photos but the wind was terrible and we had no choice. However, it worked out that we were able to find a beautiful location for the pictures and I really like how it turned out. Love them. They are all such great examples to me.

The rest of the day was spent eating Café Rio, shopping, shopping, and more shopping. Jared was spoiled at Abercrombie and Fitch and he insisted that I buy at least something so, I got a couple shirts too. He’s the shopper in our family and personally, I could care less about what name brand I’m wearing but, maybe it’s a good thing I have him around. Let's face it, I'm not incredibly fashionable.. But, I’m working on it. On Saturday, we just didn’t have enough Park City so, we went back! (Truthfully, Jared needed to exchange his jacket for a different size) This time we went Christmas shopping and got most of it done. I ate delicious Mac & Cheese from a Pub on Park Avenue and then we got Mrs. Field cookies and hot chocolate for the drive home. It was such an incredible day and a weekend with Jared is just what I needed.

After church on Sunday evening, and a visit to both of our families, we decorated our house for Christmas while watching the Grinch. When we were all done at 11:30, we sat on the couch and just admired our tree. I'm so happy the holidays are here..

The busiest month of the year.

Happy List : October 2011

-babysitting the twins and successfully getting one of them asleep
-girls goodbye lunch with my co-workers
-a sweet e-mail from Jayme
-last day at POST
-girls night with Hannah, Whitney, and Chelsie. It seriously made my week.
-laughing and talking while cuddled in blankets
-having a dead phone and having to shout back and forth to Whitney while driving in separate cars. Hilarious.
-going to lunch with my mother in-law after a cousins sealing
-going to Midway with the Witts to do their pictures
-lunch at a small town pizza diner
-going to pick pumpkins at a pumpkin patch
-dinner with the Buhlers and Reimschiissels & bobbing for apples
-taking family pictures with the Toblers
-Nephew, Jaces’ first birthday party
-First Day at new job
-having Jared home on Monday evening
-finding out the Witt’s are having a girl by getting a call to come over and seeing a pumpkin carved, “it’s a girl!”
-the twins birthday party
-getting our family pictures taken
-going to Red Robin
-funny things Oaklee says
-going to the movies with Jared
-running into to Jeremy and then Jared’s parents at the theatre
-going to church
-visiting baby Fallen
-a neighborhood Pow Wow campfire in the front yard J
-taking Jake and Ashlie's pictures and then going on a double date
-going to the Haunted Village
-going on a walk with my mom and Aunt Jody
-visiting Whitney
-making cookies with Jared
-re-arranging our front room
-watching a movie
-lunch with my old co-workers! I miss them!
-watching old videos from high school! HILARIOUS!
-Jared coming home early.. happy day
-the Preisthood

yes, I do reward myself with ice cream..

weekend happy list (despite my pain and agony of a toothache)

going to lunch with my cousin Austin, Mom, and Aunt Deanne
going to Coldstone to reward myself for surviving another day of pain :) haha.
spending time with Whitney, laying on her bed and looking through her mission memories
going to a Bee's game on a double date
a lazy Saturday
soup and salad at Red Robin
going to the movies on a double date
a neighborhood BBQ
watching movies with Jared
my root canal!! (I can't believe this is on my happy list.)
rewarding myself with a strawberry cheesecake shake from Arctic Circle

& now for pictures..

 at the Bee's Game

watching the game :)

my first time making deviled-eggs. YUM.

Our neighbor, Jon, made delicious fried-green beans!

Northhead Lighthouse

There is something so beautiful about lighthouses. Such a big part of the Oregon Coast. I remember coming here with my cousins when we were little. There were yellow flowers everywhere and it was so chilly, I wore a blanket around with me. We were able to climb to the top, back then, admire the glass and the view of the waves. Years later, I'm bringing my husband along and he is apart of my family. Life is grand.

This picture was right after Jared pretended the umbrella was a baseball bat and the top part flew off of the cliff. :) Ooops! Oregonians don't use umbrellas, anyway!

My cousin, Austin, who just returned from a 2 year mission. This picture showcases how different he is now, in a good way. He's fantastic and I love him.

Jeremy, who will be 17 next month. I can't believe that. (Isn't he so photogenic?)

This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip. I love my three boys. They are the world to me.

S'mores on the beach

I don't think there's anything like laughing around a campfire on the beach, with family. We listened to my Aunt's (failed) attempt at a scary story, had good conversations, and ate delcious s'mores. Bliss.

 

He's Home..

My dear cousin Austin is finally home from his LDS Mission to California! I was so excited to see him, waiting anxiously at the airport with my family and Jared. I made sign  the night before and asked my mom to bring balloons. We saw him coming down the escalator, waving, and I started to jump up and down and wave back. He was home. It was a sweet reunion. When I hugged him, my eyes filled with tears and I told him how happy I was that he was home. After hugs, we went to lunch at Cafe Rio, talked, and dreamed of our Oregon trip. Austin is an incredible missionary and example to me.

Oregon Happy List

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-Meeting with the Hintons for breakfast in Pendleton

-going to Multinomah Falls.. Beautiful!

-seeing Grandma and Jo

-going to eat dinner at the Logger

-arriving in Seaside & going straight to the beach

-going to bed early & falling asleep until 3:00 AM

-the whole family waking up at 3:00 and chatting because we couldn't sleep :)

-picking up Austin from the airport

-going to Burgerville for lunch

-playing 20 questions on the way back to the coast

-family time

-having a campfire & smores on the beach

-special one on one talk between me and Austin

-Deanne's "scary" little red riding hood story

-spending so much time with Austin and Jeremy

-texting Jilly & having her there to look after my little home

-climbing the Astoria Column

-our favorite Long Beach fudge shop!

-the word "deedle" with Deanne

-going to get snow cones with Deanne

-shopping with Austin and Jared

-walking around the North Head lighthouse

-Jared accidentally throwing our umbrella off of a cliff!

-having spiritual conversation with my boys on the beach, in the rain.. bliss.

-the most wonderful bed.. so comfy

-the Four Winds Hotel.. A tremendous blessing in my life and some of the most Christlike people I've ever met.

-listening to Grandma tell us stories about her childhood spent at the diner

-listening to oldies all week..

-walking with Jared, in the rain, with a polka dot umbrella
-a relaxing day

-going to see Transformers

-talking with Grandma and Mom

-eating grapes while playing Upwords

-not wanting to go home so, going shopping and to the beach instead..even if that meant getting home at 4 AM.. :)

-finally making it home & going straight to bed

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?

Sundays

My favorite day of the week is Sunday.

Big breakfasts, going to church, family time, relaxing, delicious dinners, game nights.. and a full day with Jared.

Last Sunday was Whitney's Homecoming. She gave a wonderful talk in Sacrament Meeting and afterwords, we had delicious pancakes and parfaits while we reminisced about our elementary days, trying to see how much we could remember. We remembered polka dot art, spelling on our desks in shaving cream, celebrating the Jazz with Miss Snow, and our lunch seating chart. :)

Jared and I were able to spend the rest of the day at home, just the two of us. We had chicken tacos for dinner, took a long nap, and watched a movie. It was bliss and I'm already counting down for next weekend. Happy Wednesday!



Baby Jace

This is my new favorite picture of our nephew, baby Jace..

.. and now I wish I could cuddle him..