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.

4 wonderful years....

So as of today, at 3:00 pm, Utah time, Richard and I will have been married for 4 wonderful years. It doesn't seem like it has been that long, like time has flown by... But when I look at all that has gone on in that 4 years, 4 moves, 2 children, buying a house, it seems like it has to have been more than that.

When we were at the temple a couple of weeks ago with friends I had to have some pics of the spot where Richard proposed to me.
I have an amazing man as my eternal companion, I am so glad that I can be by his side for that long (if he can stand me that long that is). I am so glad that I found this WONDERFUL MAN, and was able to be married to him in the temple making eternal commitments with him and our Heavenly Father. I am a very lucky girl.

Our visit from Jen and Stephanie

We had some wonderful visitors a couple of weeks ago. My Roommate from College (and adopted sister) Jen, and her sister Stephanie came down from Utah for a little over a week.

We had a fun filled and busy time while they were here, going to the movies (to see a chick flick that Richard refused to see with me), to Arizona Mills mall, and Arrowhead Mall. We were going to go to the zoo, and to Metro Center Mall, to see the places that we spent so much time, and tears during college. I worked at the Chick-fil-A there, and Jen at the pet store. Unfortunately we had to cancel on the zoo, and they had to go with out me to Metro center due to Gabe getting a wonderful childhood illness called Rosiola. We rounded off the week with a trip to the temple.

It was so good to see Jen again, and to get to know Stephanie better. I look forward to many more tips from them in the future (hint hint hint).

A pic of Jen Stephanie, Richard and Gabe,
Andy, Melinda, Me, & Amanda
on our temple trip.