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

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.

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

Jerm

A few weeks ago, I found old drawings and school assignments from when I was really young. It seems like every chance I got, I was drawing or telling a story about this little guy. He was my pride and joy. I loved showing him off to my friends. Today, Jeremy turns 16. I am nervous, excited, and in awe of how time works and how life changes.

Jerm, I know you must never tire when we tell the story of how you were afraid of my goldfish.. It makes me giggle to remember the times you would scream when you saw him. Or when I got my new little puppy and you were so scared that I had to carry you around the house.. :)

You are so sweet, generous, and funny. I love you to the moon and back. Happy 16th birthday.

Lake Powell

I remember going to Lake Powell with my family when I was younger and thinking, "this is my favorite place in the world". I remember running down the sandy hills with my cousins and sleeping on the boat with Austin. Tubing for hours.. cruising around the lake as fast as we could. Ice cream cones on the dock.. Ah, I have always loved Lake Powell.

We went with the Tobler's in June and it was just as wonderful as I remember. Here is my happy list from our trip, and pictures, of course.

-Cafe Rio before we left for our trip
-getting to Kanab much faster than we thought!
-waking up giggling.. Sometimes I am so hyper in the mornings
-boating on beautiful Lake Powell!
-wakeboarding & getting up on my first try! (it has been a few years..)
-tubing with Meagan
-sandwiches on the beach
-dinner & Safeway's ice cream
-the most delicious french toast I've ever had
-a very friendly waiter from the Philippines
-relaxing
-swimming at the pool with Kaden, Meagan, PJ, & Jared
-pina colada by the pool
-Kaden and his water gun
-a dinner cruise on the Lake. It was so beautiful and a wonderful time.
-swimming under the stars
-talking with Meagan in the hot tub
-Kaden "swimming" back & forth
-showing Kaden the stars and him saying, "I just can't believe it!"
-going to the Antelope Slot Canyons. It was so breathtaking..
-an indian tour guide who said he use to play in the slot canyons when he was little. He helped me out a lot and took many pictures of me and Jared.
-a french woman's very hairy legs
-touring Bryce Canyon
-pizza & coke for dinner
-a very adorable candy store with very yummy FUDGE!
-Willis Creek.. so pretty.
-Mossy Waterfall

thankful

A few things I am grateful for:

-My life.

-Jared and the sweet and loving person he is. He has been tucking me in before he leaves to work in the morning. He always puts pillows behind my back so I "think" that he's there to snuggle with. It melts my heart every morning.

-My cousin Jeremy. He sent me this text a few days ago:
"I had a great idea for a Christmas gift for Austin (his brother). How about we take a photo of all of us! Could you bring your camera on Thanksgiving?" Now, it's probably just me.. but that is adorable.

-Missionaries, the gospel of Jesus Christ, a loving Heavenly Father, my nursery calling at church, and the cute little babies that let me read to them and snuggle with them every Sunday.

-Our families who I love spending time with, laugh with and.. spend Thanksgiving day with! (can't wait!)

-All of my wonderful friends, new and old. I am grateful for every last one.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Please click here.

The two other men in my life..

Me, Jeremy, & Austin

Estimated.. 1999

Today, my heart has been bursting with love for my Aushi and Jerm. I love them so much I could explode with it and I want nothing more for their happiness. They are the two sweetest loves I could ever ask for. I am so lucky to have them in my life.

Jeremy just finished up his 8th grade project which was a story he wrote. He dedicated this story to his mom and to his cousin, Sarah.

(Elder) Austin just sent me a card that makes my heart melt everytime I read it. It's dripping with tenderness.

I love my family. And today.. I miss my boys. Jeremy, let's have a game night!