Christmas is Coming!!!

Early this month we took a trip to temple square to see the lights. There were so many people there, and tons of lights. It really helped to kick-start our Holiday spirit!

Justin and I also decided to get a real Christmas tree this year!!! After getting it home we realized there were a few branches in the way of it fitting in the stand. Justin decided to grab our saw (attached to a leatherman) and hack off the branches in the kitchen. My job was to put the lights on the tree. Together we put on the ornaments.

Of course we could not get through a holiday without a DIY project. At the top I made a Christmas candy wreath, it was easy although time-consuming. I also made a simple advent calendar to countdown the days till Christmas. Last but not least I transformed a tablecloth into our tree skirt.

We also made Gingerbread houses with the Abbotts, it was so much fun especially since I have never done that before. We had no rules and tons of different candy supplies, and then let our imaginations roam free.

We hope you are enjoying your holidays as much as we are. We also cant wait to visit California and all of our family and friends there!

A Birthday & Thanksgiving

MY BIRTHDAY!!!

I have been a total blog slacker, and I'm here to catch-up. This year I turned 21! which is exciting although it doesn't matter as much as it does in the regular world. To celebrate my birthday we went out to dinner with Justin's family to a chinese restraunt called Jasmine. The food there was great and chinese is my favorite!

Justin ordered the caterpillar roll (not made with actual caterpillar)

My baby bump (about 22 weeks)

On my actual birthday justin brought home these! a dozen red roses. He also got me an early birthday present this summer, my very own screen printing maciene. I can't wait to use it! (any project ideas?)

THANKSGIVING!

Despite the cold on Thanksgiving morning we ventured out for the anual Turkey Bowl. Although I had no clue who was winning it was fun to watch, and Justin escaped with only a bruised knee and foot. Then we headed to Kim and Kathy's house for dinner and to break in their new ping pong table. (Kim's early Christmas present)

Talena trying a bite of cranberry sauce, I missed her sour face wich was hillarious!

The boys were so excited to have so many football games to watch in one day.

My contribution to Thanksgiving was a pumkin cheesecake, it was delicious.

(will post recipie later)

Hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving as much as we did, we can't wait until Christmas!

Baby Update

Last week Justin and I got to see our wiggly baby on the ultrasound. Justin wasn't able to go to the first ultrasound, so this was the first time he saw the baby. Our little guy kept his legs together for quite sometime but eventually relaxed and we were able to get a peek. We also know that he enjoys being squished, running his feet up the walls, and having his hand next to his face.

now for your questions:

I'm 21 weeks along and growing outward (will post pics soon)

I have been feeling the baby move for a month now, he kicks even harder when his daddy is around. Justin said he wants to start rough-housing.

We don't have a name picked out yet, but we probably won't until he's born.

The baby's room is still un-decorated but I will be getting started soon!

A Mystery, BBQ, & Halloween.

In the spirit of Halloween we had a dinner party with the Abbotts. It was Clue themed, which was seriously fun. I wasn't sure Justin was going to get into his character but at the last minute he asked me to put a mustache on him (so fun!) We ate pizza by candlelight, played the Clue board game and the watched the movie Clue. (totally cheesy and dramatic but hilarious) We are so glad to have our partners in crime back!

At the End of September I started work at Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse in Sandy UT. The original locations are in Dallas, Texas our location is the only franchise so far. They are looking to open a new store in West Valley UT which I may transfer to when it opens. If you are looking for authentic Texas BBQ apparently this is the place to go.

I really wanted to get into Halloween this year, so I found a few inexpensive ideas for decorations. The trio of Jack-o-lanterns are made from vases from savers, acrylic paint, and black vinyl. The spiderweb is made from yarn attached to the ceiling and walls and the spiders are leftover paper. I cut the bats out of a poster from the dollar tree, And last of all we bought the cheery little pumpkin who lights up at target. All in all it really felt like Halloween, I can't wait to decorate for Christmas!

UP NEXT: BABY UPDATE!

A Utah Update

Here it is! Our first Utah update! On September 10th we moved into our new apartment here in Utah. We're living in Taylorsville in the Mark Twain apartments. Now for the tour...

Our newest baby is this 2011 Chevy Aveo that Justin's dad helped us get at a car auction.

Since Justin's dad Kim has season tickets to BYU football, we were able to go to the game. Unfortunately it was the game against the Utes... which was a really sloppy game, but still fun to be there.

And now for a short baby update!!! I'm 16 weeks along right now, I don't have a belly just yet but I'm sure I'll pop out sooner or later. the baby is apparently the size of an avocado. Justin and I can't wait to find out if we're having a boy or a girl, which I'm sure will launch my nesting into high gear. We'll post more pictures when we have them!

A New Addition

Can you guess what this picture is?

Yes, it is sideways... not intentionally, my computer was not cooperating with me.

If you guessed BABY then you were right! Justin and I are expecting our first little bundle of joy in March. So let me answer all of your questions, here goes!

Due date? March 16th 2012

How far along are you? 11 weeks

How are you feeling? I feel sick most of the time but, haven't thrown up yet.

When do you find out if it's a boy or girl? Sometime around Halloween.

Are you showing yet? nope not really.

Justin and I are very excited to see my stomach grow and see the baby again!

More love from Minnesota

I still have plenty of fun pictures from my trip to Minnesota, so here's one last post. First the Basilica Block Party Day 2. On day 2 Shannon Stratman joined our group to see the awesome Amos Lee.

First we started of with a delicious and ridiculously hot blooming onion.

After our "dinner" we moved to the Main stage to listen to Gomez. They were really good! all three of the main musicians sang their own song which doesn't happen very often.

By the time Gomez finished we were itching to see Amos Lee, a laid back musician that can play any style of music he wants from rock to folk. He was awesome!!! I would love to own his new CD. Unfortunately he wasn't the headliner so he played a shorter set then we wanted.

We also watched Braeden and Spencer play baseball.

Spencers team made it to the final game, but due to a few bad calls they didn't beat the Marlins.

All in all it was really fun to watch and cheer on my little bros.

We also made our rounds to all of the necessary culinary stops. One day my Dad, Spencer and I went up to St. Paul to pick something up at my Dad's office. After my Dad took us to one of his favorite Thai resauraunts Ruam Mit Thai. The food was great! we ordered a giant bowl of Tom Kha Gai soup (for my Dad) a chicken and vegetable stir fry, and some chicken satay. In the stir fry the carrots were cut like flowers, so we asked for a tutorial and my Dad even tried his hand at making them. I so can't wait to make a stir fry and use my new trick for cutting carrots.

At home we made some delicious food too! We made homeade potstickers (tutorial to come) chow mein and p.f. changs orange chicken.

My family and I also made a stop at Famous Daves, some of the best BBQ around! I don't mean to brag but we've been to some of the other locations and the one in apple Valley is THE BEST!!!

We even braved the crazy humidity and heat to get a picture of all of us kids together. I loved spending time with my family and can't wait to have some more fun when we all meet in California for Christmas.

UP NEXT: POTSTICKER HOW-TO

The Basilica Block Party: Day 1

While I was Minnesota I was able to attend and rock out at the Basilica of St. Mary. The block party is hosted by a local radio station Cities 97 to raise money for a gorgeous church in downtown Minneapolis. Cities 97 is the best radio station ever! yep... EVER! they always have great music new and old, and they have interviews and live sets with some killer artists.

The Jayhawks were the second band to play on the Main Stage. The Jayhawks are originally from The Twin Cities so most people are familiar with them. They debuted in the 1980's so I haven't really heard much of their music although I did enjoy it.

David Gray was the headliner on Friday night. He totally rocked! and has a great sense of humor and even decided that he was going to do a header with a GIANT beach ball going around the crowd. One of his more popular songs is "Babylon" on his first well known album White Ladder, He also played many of his songs from the more recent album Draw The Line. If you haven't listened to him before, you should!

UP NEXT: More Basilica block party, the culinary tour and baseball.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

 As you've probably guessed I took a vacation from the blog, to Minnesota!!! When Justin and I found out we would need to move to California for the summer it also put a damper my parents plans to visit us in Utah. Justin suggested that I go to Minnesota to visit my family despite the fact that he would have to stay in California for work. On july 8th I flew from Orange County to San Fransisco and then on to Minneapoils.

The San Fransisco Airport was a new adventure for me, I loved how many books were crammed into such a small space in this bookstore.

There were also quite a few pieces of art in the teminal I was in. There were large pieces of art like these two, hanging sculptures, and even art pieces made from what some would call junk (i.e. soda cans, tires, telephone wires, glass bottles, and more!)

Airport food is SO expensive! so I found a more delicious and WAY cheaper alternative, some delicious San Fransisco Sourdough. I also brought a loaf home to my Mom as a hostess gift.

Taken from the tarmac in Minneapoils while we were waiting to take of.

I saw these fluffy clouds out my window and wished they were as much like giant cotton balls as they look.

It was bittersweet leaving my family and friends in Minnesota, but thanks to blogs and skype we can keep in touch even though we are more than 2000 miles away.

UP NEXT: MORE LOVE FROM MINNESOTA