Gardner Village

Gardner Village is the best place for Halloween pictures! This is my third year running! Matt and I tried to go to 'Boo at the Zoo' Saturday, however the crowd that gathered there was astonishing. We couldn't even get close to the door, so we turned around and headed to the village. We had a great time looking at all the pumpkins and witches.


Lexi is a lady bug this year (thanks to Celeste for letting me borrow the costume!) She thinks it is the GREATEST to wear the wings and little headband. But even greater then that (she soon discovered) is all you have to say is 'trick or treat' and people fill your bucket with candy! What more could a little girl ask for?

Halloween Party!

Saturday night was the ward Halloween Party! This is time honored tradition in the Mormon world! My best friend Cara was in town for the event. Fun was had by all!

Lexi and I were matching Lady Bugs!

Cara joined in the fun with a witches hat.


Matt has been wearing this farmer/cowboy costume 4 years running. He does try to get creative..but I always veto his ideas before the big night, and this is his fall back. For some reason I just don't think digging up the old 'kissing booth' costume is appropriate.

Getting work done....

Most days it is very difficult to get any work done on the computer when Lexi is awake...she likes to jump on my lap and press the keys. We usually get our emails typed by splitting the screen with Barney. Mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do right?

Bloggers Block

I haven't intentionally been neglecting my blog...I just haven't had anything clever to post as of late. Or even funny, nor have I taken any cute pictures of Lexi lately. Plus, both Matt and I have been making candy apples like nobodies business. 140 go out tomorrow, I've already been to the post office once today, plus I busted out a quick dozen to go out as soon as Lexi wakes up. It's craziness! So I'll try and post something good as soon as I get the chocolate out from under my fingernails....

The Best I've Ever Made!

My sister-in-law Tamara joined up with a website called 'cooking and eating as a family' where friends and family can post recipes. I've been hitting this website regularly to spice up my dinner menu. It seems like I've been making the same old things for the last 4 years we've been married. At any rate, last night I pulled a recipe for 'Bacon Pie' submitted by my other sister-in-law Lisa Hall. It's actually more of a breakfast food, but we ate if for dinner and then leftovers for lunch today. I thought it was awesome, and Matt went as far to say this was the best thing I've ever made....I don't know about that, but it was pretty scrumptious! Here's the recipe if you're looking for something new!


1 1/2 cubes softened butter
1 1/2 c. pancake mix ("just add water" kind)
6 eggs
3 c. milk
1/4 tsp nutmeg
dash of pepper
1/2-2/3 lb. cooked bacon
2 c. montery jack & gruyere (combined total is 2 c.)
**We also added spinach and broccoli**

Directions:
1. Mix butter & pancake mix
2. Add eggs, milk, nutmeg, & pepper
3. Grease 13 x 9 pan
4. Put bacon in bottom, then cheese, then pour in egg mixture
5. Cook at 350ºF for 1 hour

Birthday Musings

Yup, today's my birthday, turned the big 26 today...didn't think it would ever happen to me, but here I am!

My younger sister is in her first year of college at Snow, the last day or two she's been posting about loneliness. She just so happened to pick a school where she only knows a handful of people, and it happens to be in a smaller town, so I can imagine it could get lonely from time to time. My cousin Shara posted a comment on her blog, it said "you have no idea how cool alone time can be lol time to sort out your thoughts catch up on things read your scriptures and so on... what i wouldn't give for some peace and quiet at my house" Shara has 2 small boys and her husband is in the military so he has to be gone a lot. Looking at these two perspectives got me thinking how interesting life is.

Take elementary school, now that was the life! Recess, nap times, summers off, who could ask for more? But how we couldn't wait to get to High School. Now High School was full of fun times, first dates, first driving experiences, first jobs, all the things we dreamt about in elementary school, but boy I couldn't wait for college. When I got to college, that was real freedom! No parents, no curfews, practically no rules at all. College was definitely the most selfish time in my life...but I spent all too often waiting to be married. And before I knew it, I was married, and life was good! We both had good jobs, money to spend, traveling to do...but before too long we were wondering when we should have a kid. Then the baby comes and we think it'll be great when she can crawl, walk, talk, be potty trained, go to school, go to college, and although this is the phase I'm in, I'm sure it'll all be over before I know it too.

So I think happiness is really a choice we make, not something that will come to us someday or from someone. Enjoy the phase you're in, laugh at the things that go wrong. Be thankful every single day for big and small things! That when when you look back you wont have wasted a single moment.

Pictures

For those of you who don't know, a few weeks ago Matt was called to be the 2nd counselor in the YM presidency. In our ward, that title also comes with Scoutmaster. Crazy huh? Well this week for scouts, the boys all went on a bike ride. I ended up getting scheduled that day, so Matt strapped Lexi on his bike and and she got to go too.


She's waving in this picture.

And this one is my favorite! Look at her smile!



When Lexi was in St. George, Grammi hooked her up with some new overalls. They look darling on her, and I think they'll fit through next year! She's getting the hang of this picture thing, this morning she was telling me to smile while I was taking this picture.

Blogs are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!

**Warning, I post this blog not to offend, but to state my outlook on life***

Today I read a blog posted by a gal in my ward, it started out 'Is your ward full of back-biting, gossiping ladies?? Geez.. my ward is!' Needless to say, it didn't give a very inspiring outlook on the girls in my ward. I have been thinking about that blog most of the afternoon and I feel compelled to say something about my ward. I didn't grow in Utah, neither my family, nor my husbands family lives in a 300 mile radius. I have a few friends I made in college or while working, but for the most part we were on our own when we moved into this ward. I have found a family in this ward.

Even before we moved in Stacie Thomas was on our doorstep inviting us to a young adult activity. The first week in the ward we were invited to a FHE activity where Jessica Staker invited me to the walking group. I have LOVED the walking group, it has made me great friends with Lynnie Wilde, Celeste Humphries, Tara Felix, Sara Wagstaff, Lindsey Allan, and in the old days it gave me a chance to get to know Karen DeLaMare, Jessica Staker, Dawn Plaudis, and Marci Moeller. There are a many others who've joined up with us every now and again, and I've been surprised to learn more about them, and what strengths they have.

The day I found out I was going to miscarry, three of the girls from the walking group offered to take Lexi at the drop of a hat. I got many phone calls checking in on me and Jessica was on the doorstep with yummy cinnamon rolls. I had a wonderful conversation with Stacie that reassured me through one of my harder days. I couldn't have done it without them.

I know there are unbreakable friendships in this ward when I see Amber Warner come back every chance she gets :) I have learned so much from Lindy Merkely both in teaching crafts and listening to me talk about my life. I have been indebted to Marci Moeller and Lindsay Allen for the many hours they watched Lexi while I worked. I can't thank Lynnie Wilde enough for the frienship she has given me, and the friendship her kids give to mine. Sheena Hendrickson cuts my hair and keeps me looking cute, she also spreads laughter in whatever room she's in! I don't know how many times I've come home and there has been one treat or another on the doorstep from a whole array of people, just because!

There are a lot of younger moms in this ward, and due to the close proximity (and honestly I think the blogs are a big part to blame), we are way too up into each others business. However, I don't necessarily think this is wholly a terrible thing. A lot of time information gets passed out of concern, and I don't think any of the ladies in this ward are purposfully mean or hurtful. I see way too much love and service to honestly believe that. And if Lynnie can forgive me for blogging her secrets to the world, I think I can forgive anyone else of anything they may have said, or will yet to say about me.

So even though we can and will continue to be hurt by an insensitive comment, let's forgive and forget. Use the blogs for good and try to inspire rather then hurt or be offensive. And before you're ready to point fingers, look inside and think, can I truly say I've never done that? And thank you to each and every member of this ward who reads this blog, I'm truly thankful for all the friendships I've made.