Long Beach

It's finally time to try to catch this here blog up. See why I am horrible at keeping a journal. I do good and then I get behind and I start procrastinating. But here goes my attempt to get somewhat up to date. Last month started off with Brett and I taking a 10 day vacation to California. I had a coding conference in Long Beach so we decided to take some extra time to see the sites and enjoy some sun(hopefully).

Our hotel was the Hyatt which is downtown Long Beach. It was right near Belmont Pier, tons of fun shopping, and right on the track of the Grand Prix which was to take place right after we left town. The first day we arrived the temp was 8o degrees and I was in heaven!! The next couple days were a little cloudy but I was in class so no biggie. We found a fabulous little mexican resteraunt right on the waterfront called Tequilla Jacks. We liked it so much that we ate their twice! Yummy!

We got to hear and see the sights and sounds of the Grand Prix. I can't believe how loud it really is in person- and how fast they drive! We were also walking distance from the Queen Mary. Brett was reading all the literature how some people believe it is haunted so I didn't jump at the chance to take a tour--maybe next time. Here are a few pics of our stay in Long Beach---

Top 5 of 2010

#5- Getting my recipes organized.-- It was a big job but somebody had to do. I love cooking and baking so I have collected tons of recipes. Now I can actually find what I am looking for.

#4- Our family vacation to Bear Lake-- It was so much fun. Sun, sand, jet-ski's, good food, and family- What more could you ask for?

#3- Book of Mormon Challenge- Thanks to a wonderful challenge by our Young Women's President, I read the entire Book of Mormon in 3 months. This was a huge accomplishment for myself. I have never read it so fast, or understood so much. It was an amazing experience and I hope to do it again this year.
#2- We finished our adoption papers- This was a huge step for us. It has been a great experience for us. We are so excited for the family and friends lives we have seen changed by this amazing process. We are hoping that maybe 2011 will be the year we finally get our little adoption miracle.

And #1- Celebrating our 10th anniversary at the happiest place on earth! We had an amazing week in Florida. What a great way to celebrate 10 years together. I am thankful for the opportunity to be married to my best friend. I can't wait to see what the next 10 bring!!

Although it is sad to see 2010 over- I am excited for what 2011 will bring. I just got released from Young Women's. After serving there for 4 1/2 years it is weird but I am kind of enjoying having a little extra time back in my life. I have lots of goals for myself for this year so I better get started!

One Crazy Christmas Day

Christmas Day was a little bit different for us this year. My little brother is on a mission in Canada and he got to call home for Christmas Day. Usually we have my parents over for breakfast on Christmas morning but since Brock was supposed to call early that morning, we ended up eating breakfast at my parents. Then we all got to talk to Brock. It was so good to hear his voice. He is doing great. Then we watched my brother and sister who still live at home open their gifts and then my parents ended up opening theirs. Brett and I didn't get home to open ours until around 1:00 so it was strange. Brett did great at surprising me. I wanted a food processor. He got me The Ninja and I love it. I also got a Sony alarm clock for my Itouch and lots of other fun stuff. Brett got mostly electronics and he loved that. It was a great Christmas and I am thankful for such a wonderful time of year. I realize Christmas is not about the gifts we give and the gifts we get- but about the birth of our Savior. I am so thankful for him and all he has done for me. I hope everyone had a happy holiday season this year!


Finally!

Mom talking to Brock

Brett's stash!!

4 Christmases

I decided today that I really needed to blog about Christmas so I get get on with the new year. Since both of our families live here we have lots of Christmas parties to attend. We had 4 this year. It makes it fun because it seems to last longer when you party all week. I decided to post a few of the pictures that made me smile as I looked back at the over 300 pictures I took. Hope you like them :)

Yep- he is a little dramatic but I love him!

We ate lots of yummy food this holiday season

Brett got a special little present from my grandma this year. She played a little joke on him. She wrapped it probably twenty times. Here is the before:

And here is the after! Yes-- it is coal! He always tries to guess what each gift is but this is one he never guessed. Good Job Grandma- we love your sense of humor.

Love this guy!!

We had lots of entertainment from the kiddos. This is Micklee's famous Shush girl


Kolten even sang a few notes. I love his little voice.

I think these two had a little too much Sprite:)

We all got our usual Christmas PJ's from my mom. The kids also got super cute blankets to wrap up in. I love family traditions!

I love spending time with family during the holidays!

More entertainment from the kids. They loved hearing themselves in the microphone!

This is how all the great- grandkids entertained themselves at Grandma's party.

These two love Uncle Brett- so cute!

Amber was the lucky recipient of Tumor Head at Brett's family party. They love to do white elephant gifts and Tumor Head is the one that started it all.

We had an awfully large baby Jesus this year!

A Season of Gratitude

Well- again I have fallen off of the blogging train, but once more I will jump back on and vow to do better. I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving. I know I sure did. We spent the day with Brett's family this year. The food was amazing and I have to admit, I didn't even have room for desert. It's OK, don't worry about me. I took some of my Pumpkin Cheesecake home so I ate it the next day:) My sis came over and stayed with us that night. Her and I and Brett started our Black Friday shopping at Walmart at midnight and got home about 9:00 AM. We hit lots of stores and got lots of great deals! I am happy to say I am pretty much done Christmas shopping! I am so excited because now I can focus on a more Christ centered holiday.

The last few weeks I have focused alot on Gratitude. I think it all started with our Stake Conference. It really is amazing what an attitude of gratitude can do for you. So, since this is basically my journal-I thought I would share a few of the things I am grateful for. Mind you-- this is only a few. I could go on and on.

I am so thankful for my amazing husband. I know I've said it before but I will say it again. We have so much in common. I love that he loves to go shopping with me. I love that he is a clean freak!!(this is totally to my advantage). I love that we think the same things at the same time all the time. I am so glad that he has the patience to put up with me all the time. I am so grateful that he is mine forever and we will always be together :)



I am grateful for my family. Yeah- we may be a little quirky-- but I love them! I am grateful to my parents for always putting up with me and for making me who I am. I am thankful for Heath--for teaching my how to stick up for myself(isn't that what big brothers are for. I am thanful for Dustin for always making me laugh. I am thanful for Brock for his example of service. He is on a mission in Canada and I am so proud of him. And I am so thankful Heavenly Father finally sent me a sister. I love hanging out with Amber and even though we are 12 years apart we couldn't be closer.

I am grateful for chocolate! I know it cheesy but its the truth. Lovin these babies!


and don't forget these-




I am grateful for my toothbrush! What other tool do you use 3-4 times a day?


I am grateful for books!! I love to read. I really love to read in the tub- or by a fireplace on a cold day.

I am grateful for pictures. It is another weird thing- but to me pictures are memories! I remember going to my grandma's when I was little and I always wanted her to get out her boxes of pictures so I could look at them. I would spend hours looking at them.

I am grateful for my job- I am one of the lucky few that can actually say I love what I do.

I am thankful for our cat Izzy. She loves us so much. We always say she is our baby until we get a baby. I love how patient and forgiving animals can be.


I am so grateful for adoption. Even though we haven't adopted yet, I can't believe how much adoption has alreadly changed my life. It has given me such a different perspective on so many different things. It has even given my oppurtunites I wouldn't have been able to have. Tonight for example- we were able to attend a fireside by Micheal McLean. He did it specifically on adoption. The songs and words shared were amazing and just what I needed to hear. At the end we were able to talk personally to him and he gave us some personal advice. Then he gave me a hug. I was so thankful to be there and the spirit I felt. Adoption has given me such a different perspective on birth parents. They are so strong and I love them for that. I am also greateful for the people I have been able to meet thru adoption. Friendships have been formed that I would never have had without this process. So basically I guess you can say I am grateful for my trials. As hard as they are, they also help me to see how much Heavenly Father loves me. They help me become who he wants me to be and who he knows I can be.

There is so much more to be grateful for, but I will stop there for now. I hope you take some time to think of the things you are grateful for this time of year. I know if you do-- you will see all the blessings we have been blessed with!

O Canada

This week I got to go with my parents to take my little brother to the MTC. He will be serving his mission in Toronto, Canada. We are so excited for him and proud of the choices he has made. He has been a great example to all of us and we are all going to miss him so much. Brock is the most even tempered, hardworking person I know. He will be a wonderful missionary. I found a saying the other day that really helped put everything in perspective. It said "A missionary leaves his family for two years so that those he teaches can be with theirs for eternity." Good Luck little bro with love you tons and know you will do a great job!

Yellowstone

** Warning** Picture Overload! Brett and I were able to go thru Yellowstone this month. Luckily it was a beautiful day. We were able to see parts of the park that I have never seen before. The beauty of Gods creations are amazing. It was great to spend the day seeing the Park and spending time with Brett. Sorry for the excess of pictures!

Old Faithful