Things that I love...

I LOVE this time of year. This time of year has been my favorite for as long as I can remember. Although I have to say that I love my Utah Autumns and Winters.

I love the feel and the smell of the leaves that have fallen from the trees. The crunch and crackle under foot, and the sweet smell that they give off when decomposing. The beauty of the trees with the multicolored leaves. The yellows, golds, oranges, and browns. It is a beauty that is there for a short time every year before all the leaves fall on the ground, and you know that if you don't take it all in you will miss it.

I love the snow, the way that it makes the world look so clean and white. I really miss being around the snow for that reason. I remember days in Jr. High and High School when I would be walking around outside. The snow would glisten under foot, and there was fog all around me, I felt totally alone and yet at peace. I love the crisp air that chills your nose and cheeks and the way if feels when you start thawing out. I love how clean the air seems. I love the crunch under foot from stepping on ice and snow.

I love the beautiful Christmas lights, especially at the temples. I love the way that they glisten and add so much color to the otherwise dark and boring night.

I love the tasty dinners that you only get at this time of year. The smells of the turkey in the oven, and the taste of the homemade stuffing. I grew up in a family where we made lots of pies so I love that part the most.

I love the wonderful memories of years past. Memories of my Grandpa that died when I was very young, going to Christmas Village (in Ogden UT), Family,and parades. There are so many memories that add to my love of this season.

I love Christmas music that gets you in the Christmas spirit. The songs that proclaim the birth of Jesus Christ and his mission here on the earth. I love the fact that you can hear it everywhere this time of year, you go to the store and you hear it, its on the radio (or at least on 99.9 KAZ), and you don't feel so guilty pulling out your Christmas CD's.

I love hot chocolate and lazy evenings playing board games with family and friends. Just taking it easy and not worrying about the troubles of the world for a while.

So needless to say, there are many things that I love, and there are more, but I think that I will stop with these ones. I hope that I haven't bored you with this, I just felt a need to get it out.

Adventures in taking pictures....

So this year we really don't have enough money to get our pics taken professionally, so we decided to be cheap and take some pics at home and hope that they turned out good.

We had lots of fun setting up green screen material (that Richard has bought for his web series that he is getting started), lights and getting the kids to stay away from the cords. We have some wonderful friends that came over and took pics of us, along with us taking some to see if we could take some good ones.

I have to say I think that they turned out pretty good, we are hoping to be creative and get a good picture of an outdoor scene or something and we can impose it with the green screen, but even with out it, I have to say that some of the pics (especially the ones with Amanda) turned out with the green.

Any way to save money right?

new hair cut.

so here are the pics that you have all been waiting for. Or at least those of you who are unable to see it in person..... Or maybe just a select few of you...... If you weren't looking forward to these pics..... well thats just to bad that you decided to open up the page.... now you just have to keep reading.










HA fooled you... this is Gabe getting his first hair cut though.....


ok ok keep scrolling down, then you will see my hair cut.

This is before the cut..... dont laugh I know that I look horrible.

And the after photo.

Its cut to be a bob, but I like it much better jelled out and a little funky looking.

ward halloween party....

So this last Saturday was our ward halloween party. It was lots of fun. We ate lots of GREAT chili and hot dogs.

Amanda and Gabe had lots of fun getting dressed up and trunk-or-treating. Richard and I won an award for the best pair, along with another couple that looked way cool too. Unfortunately we didn't get an pics of just the two of us. We did get some family pics, but they didn't turn out. One of the sweet brothers in our ward took some pics of us though (hint hint Brother Johnson).

Amanda in her adorable Tinker Bell costume Grandma made for her.Gabe in his Charlie Brown costume.

All in all it was a great night, we enjoyed it alot, and the kids had a blast.

I love to see the temple.....

I was very blessed last month to be able to take two trips up to Utah... It made a busy month, but it was absolutely wonderful.

Richard and I went on the first trip together. His sister Janet went through the temple for the first time. It was an amazing experience, just as any temple trip is, but as it was Janet's first time it made it that much better. It was nice to go though the Bountiful temple as that is a temple that I have always wanted to go to.

We had quite a few of the family members there. I was the only spouse that was able to go, but it was nice to have as many family members as there were.

(Richards family minus one Brother and one sister)

I forgot about the camera in the car so I was unable to get pictures in front of the Temple like we were hoping for, but we did get a few pictures of the family.

***

One week after the trip for Janet, I was able to go up to Utah again to be there for one of my best friends from High School's wedding.

I was so happy to be able to be able to share in his wonderful day. It was a beautiful experience to be there with him and his new wife. Being there I couldn't help but tear up a bit, remembering our wedding day. I haven't been able to attend any other wedding in the temple since ours so it was nice to remember those things that we covenant with Heavenly Father and each other, as well as to hear wonderful advise on how to strengthen your marriage.

The Draper Utah Temple

My friend Chris and his new Bride.

I also had the opportunity to go to temple square with some of my friends, we were unable to go until later in the day (meaning after dark), but it was still wonderful!

I was able to get some nice pictures of the temple, even though it was dark out. I haven't been able to visit Temple Square for a while so it was so nice to be able to get some pictures to remind me of just how beautiful it is.

Me, Stephanie, and Jen

Standing in front of the conference center.

It was a busy month, but it was so wonderful to be on the temple grounds for 3 different temples in just over a week. I feel so blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. To be able to enter the House of the Lord, and to feel of his love and peace while inside.

I love to see the temple, and I hope you do too.

Wedding Rings...

I have to give a BIG thanks to Mom for suggesting this idea.

Since the Government is so willing to give money away right now, And Richard and I qualified to get the "First Time Home Buyers Credit", We figured that we might as well take it, and pay off some bills such as our car. Mom suggested that while we had some money we should use it to buy me the wedding ring that we have been saying that we were gonna buy "someday", knowing that it probably wouldn't happen for quite a while. We thought that it was a wonderful idea. So on top off paying off our car we were going to get me a wedding ring.

I have been waiting patiently for the day that we were going to get the money.... from mid April until last week.

So we found a friend to watch the kids (thank you Kim), and took a trip to Scottsdale to the Shane Company. I was so excited to be able to pick out my ring and build it the way I wanted it.

I think that it looks absolutely beautiful (it looks better in person).

you can click on the picture to get a better view of it (please excuse my hairy fingers)

Oh..... I suppose I should thank the government for giving me the nations tax dollars to pay for this... so thank all of you readers who probably helped pay for it too.

Amanda's Birthday....

Our little Amanda is now 3 years old. It seems like just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital... Well maybe not yesterday, but it doesn't seem like it was a whole 3 years ago.

Amanda the day she was born. isn't she cute.

One of my favorite pictures of Amanda to date. 1 year old and oh so adorable.

Her 2nd Birthday. Wearing her cowboy hat that she loves so much.

While eating her Cake and Ice cream. Yummy.

Our little Tinker Bell. She LOVES Tink.

Opening up the Tinker Bell blanket

And last but not least, the Pink cup cakes she asked for.

It is amazing to see Amanda growing so fast, and to see how she is learning so much. She is such a sweet heart, and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father saw fit to give me the opportunity to be her mother. I love her to death and for eternity.