Halloween 2011 - Carving Pumpkins

On Friday October 28th we all picked out our pumpkins at our local Maceys.  Back at home we got to work carving our huge pumpkins!


William was a little nervous about touching the inside of the pumpkins. 

But eventually he decided it was okay to touch the slimy guts! 

Henry was a little nervous too. 

But he soon dug in!


Their finished product! (William told me which shapes to use.) 

My finished product!

David's finished product!
I never got a really good picture of his, but this one helps you see his design the best.
He carved Puss from the Shrek movies.

Omaha Trip

On Thursday October 20th I flew out to Omaha. David and the boys took me to the airport. I was excited to go, but sad to leave my boys behind. I'd only spent 1 day away from William ( I don't count the time I was in the hospital having Henry because I still saw him multiple times a day) and I'd never been away from Henry. As I said goodbye to David and my boys I definitely got choked up! I knew my boys were in the best hands with their daddy. He had work and school off so I had no concerns. I just knew I'd miss them all like crazy! But I had a promise to keep so I needed to go.
I met Mindy in Primary when I moved to Nebraska when I was 8.  We didn't really become friends at first. But starting in junior high we gradually became better friends. Since high school we've been best friends. We're there for each other through thick and thin. We would visit each other either in Omaha or here.  She came out to be with me for the week or so before I was married. I promised her at some point that I would be there with her when her time came to be endowed.

(Mindy is the one on my left)
Mindy received her endowments the night of Thursday the 20th.  It was amazing to be with her and to be her escort. It is an experience I'll always treasure.  I'm so grateful that everything worked out so I could be there with her.

During my trip I stayed with Becky and her family. Being with them definitely eased my loneliness.

On Friday we went to Vala's Pumpkin Patch. Becky and her family LOVE this place, so of course they had to take me!

Becky and Matt

Josie, Anthony, Makayla, and Zachary

We first went through a storybook village.
They had some fun displays of various nursery rhymes and fairy tales.
My favorite was the 3 billy goats gruff - especially since a goat was going over the bridge and the troll right as I took the picture!

We also went to some pig races. While waiting for the races to start I saw and visited with my 7th grade social studies teacher. That was a strange but fun experience.  

Back to the races. This was the first race. 

The second race. 

The third race.
They were all pretty fun and the kids loved it!

We also went through some haunted houses and rode the train.
We had a great time!

On Saturday morning we went to the zoo. 

Aren't they adorable?

We went through my favorite - the jungle!!!
The monkeys were really active and very noisy while we were in the jungle. 

One of my favorites - the sloth! 

A pretty peacock-like bird was walking around our feet.

A friendly orangutan.

Zach really enjoyed his chocolate animal cracker.

Saturday afternoon Becky and I played skipbo while we watched the Husker. I spent that evening with Mindy. We saw the new Footloose movie.

Becky and I woke up very early Sunday morning to make it to the airport on time. My flight left at 6:20 am.  It was sad saying goodbye - just because I wish Becky and I lived closer to each other.
But it was so good to get back to my boys. I sure missed them! 

Decorating Cookies

During the first year of our marriage, my friend, Crystal, gave me this huge bucket of cookie cutters. It has cutters for every holiday!
Recently we pulled out our Halloween cookie cutters and baked some yummy sugar cookies.
(You need to try this recipe some time... It's my favorite! The cookies are so moist!)

I dyed some Betty Crocker frosting and we got to work decorating our cookies. 

William's first attempt at decorating his pumpkin cookie.

Henry attempting to decorate his cookie.
I helped him with what is already on the cookie.

Eating our work!

Delicious!!!

We'll have to do this again soon!

Five Years

October 12, 2006

I married my best friend.

For time and all eternity.
A promise I truly believe in.

So happy.

So in love.

We looked forward to the rest of our life together.

One of the happiest/best days of my life.

Almost 2 years (and 3 apartments) later...

We became a family of three.

We are blessed with our darling William.

I became a mother.

You became a father.

A family of three.

21 months later...

One turned into two.

We are blessed with our adorable Henry, our feisty redhead.

A family of four!

But still two best friends in love.

And now here we are...
Almost a family of FIVE (can you believe it!?!).

5 years after that special October 12.
5 wonderful years.
We've had our share of downs and ups.
But through it all, you've been by my side.
Thank you for making me a wife and a mother.
I love you more than I can express.
Here is to the rest of our mortal life together
and to eternity together.


“If a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; . . . and if [they] abide in my covenant, . . . it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world” (D&C 132:19).

Henry's first hair cut

I am in love with Henry's red, curly hair. It is so curly in the back! I love the little ringlets he has.
I don't care what others say about his hair. The curls will be cut when David and I are ready for them to be cut.  So for now, he will keep his ringlets.


But something really needed to be done about his hair.
At times he looked like he was about to take flight. 

So we had a little bit cut off around his ears. 

He was a good, wiggly client! 

And now I have his little hairs saved in an envelope.  

This is how he looked a few weeks after his hair cut.
So handsome!!!

I'll post a picture with his 18 month update of all his curls. 

Sunday Best

I know I'm not biased... all the older ladies who sit on the back row in my ward agree with me.
These boys are simply the cutest, most handsome boys I've ever seen! 

Mary Poppins

At the end of August I found a great deal on tickets to Mary Poppins at the Capitol Theatre. David and I decided to get tickets for our 5th anniversary.

On September 3rd we left our boys with my parents and went on a hot date!
We first went to the Macaroni Grill in Salt Lake. When we were walking to our table we passed Elder Dallin H. Oaks! We waved to him and then went to our table.
After dinner we walked over to the theatre.


This was our first time going to an off-broadway production together.
The Capitol Theater is amazing and really beautiful.

Outside the theater.
Once in the theater I overheard someone say the Elder Oaks was sitting a few rows in front of them.
Apparently David and I had the same date night as Elder Oaks and his wife. 

The playbill.

The play was INCREDIBLE!!!
We really loved it and were totally blown away by some of the things they did in the play. 

After the play we walked through this forest of pipe type things. 

We had a great time on our date! It was so nice to get out and go on a date in honor of our 5th anniversary. It had been a while since we'd gone on a date without kids. Hopefully we'll be able to do this more regularly once David is done with school.