Merry Christmas to You and Yours

Merry Christmas!! I wanted to take a second to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday. It truly is a wonderful time of year. I am spending Christmas this year with my family in Morgan. That is what I do every year expect for the two Christmases I spent in Brazil as a missionary. I love this time of year. We are so blessed. As always I hope the spirit of the season continues with all of us throughout the coming days and next year.

Christmas is coming

I am so excited for Christmas. I can't even wait. It has been fun decorating my house this year. I was given an artificial tree by the people who sold me the house. For this I was thankful! I am looking forward to seeing lots of my close close friends, for the spirit of the season, and the time to be with family. I love this time of year and the opportunity we have to remember Christ, the Savior of our world. It is an easy time to remember him and feel his spirit. May all of you have a very safe a merry holiday.

I Am A Grateful Person

Our morning hike to the "M"

I didn't ever write about Thanksgiving. I didn't mean to not write. I have just been a slacker. I had an awesome Thanksgiving this year. It was so much fun. Austin and Alysha, Colette and Aaron, Monica and Scott with all of their children and I went to my parents house in Morgan for Thanksgiving. We started off the day of course with some baking to prepare for the meal. Around 10:30 in the morning some of us took off to hike to the "M" in Morgan on the hill. It was something I wanted to do so I wouldn't feel so guilty for completing pigging out later that day. When we got back I hurried and showered and we all sat down for the meal. It was yum yum yummy and I ate like a queen. The traditional afternoon Thanksgiving nap was next. We watched movies and hung out. Then later that night I joined the Little family for the gingerbread house decorating party. I invite myself every year. Quite nice of me I think. They are gracious enough to let me come.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. You get to be with family and friends. There's no presents and no expectations (well expect for the food). I love being able to relax and express gratitude for the things I feel. I am grateful for so much in my life. My family, my testimony that God is real, my belief that the gospel is true, my health, my house, my intelligence, my learning, my career, my friends, my life....it is a great one. I want for nothing more!

Coconut Caramel Pie

You have to try this recipe. I made it for Thanksgiving. It was inexplicably divine. Those of you who were lucky enough to try it need to leave a review so people know that I speak the truth.

1 package flaked coconut (7 ounces)
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 carton whipped topping (16 ounces)
1 package cream cheese (8 ounces)
1 jar caramel topping (12 ounces)
2 deep dish pie shells, baked

Preparation: Melt butter in a heavy skillet. Add coconut and chopped pecans; cook until browned lightly then set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and condensed milk; beat well. Fold in whipped topping. Put 1/4 of the mixture into each pie shell. Drizzle 1/4 jar of the caramel topping on each, then sprinkle with about 1/4 of the coconut-pecan mixture. Repeat layers. Freeze. Serve frozen.

My house had a Flood

My house had a flood. Ahhhh!!! I woke up Saturday morning a few weeks ago to start my weekend ritual. The ritual consists of working out, cleaning my house and running errands. I got the workout and cleaning part done but when I went downstairs to go run errands....there was water everywhere! Okay so maybe not everywhere but a significant amount. My main pipe was full of debris and caused the water from the washer not to drain. The worst part of the flood drama was that I called Roto-Rooter to come unclog the drain. I talked with three different agents and they all told me they didn't have a number for the Salt Lake office. What? I tried to call another plumbing service and they didn't have any technicians within a 50 mile radius. Again, What? At that point my brother called and I started to cry. I told him I was the worst home owner ever and that I had no one to help me. He of course said he would be right down. He came along with my parents and Brianna. What would I do without them? We got everything cleaned up and my insurance company covered the disaster so now the task at hand is finding tile to replace the carpet that was ruined. Ah, the joys of home ownership.

I love to Snowshoe

I got to go snowshoeing today for the first time this winter season. I was so excited. I bought myself some new snowshoes last year. Today was the first time I got to use them. They are awesome...I love them. We went up Millcreek canyon at about 7:30 this morning. Scott my brother in law came with me. It was freezing cold but luckily with good gear you can keep toasty warm. If you if you look real close at the pictures you can see the frost on my hat and in my hair. It was so cold. But, gorgeous and tons and tons of fun.

The Wave

So those of you who know me well know that I have been talking about the wave since the first of the year. I heard about it from my brother in law Scott in February. I have been waiting to go there ever since. Scott got a permit to hike it again a couple of weeks ago. Being the nice people that they are, Monica and Scott, invited me to tag along. I was so excited. They are the best!!

Bryce Canyon

It has been lots and lots of years since I have been to Bryce Canyon. I know that I went there when I was a little girl but I don't really remember any of it. Monica and Scott invited me to go on a little trip with them to Bryce Canyon and The Wave in Arizona. It was an awesome trip. We spent Sunday night and Monday at Bryce Canyon. It was gorgeous...I loved it.

1, 2, 3.... Jump

There are massive boulders at Invesco Stadium in Denver separating the sidewalks. We kept trying to take a picture of us jumping on the rocks. We wanted the picture to be taken while we were in the air. I thought it would be a simple enough task but, I failed. Todd had to take over and after several jumps we got out. The perfect (well, almost perfect) mid air flight from one boulder to another.

Invesco Stadium ... At Mile High

Can't forget to visit Invesco Stadium at Mile High while in Denver. The most fascinating part...the stampede of horse statues at the entrance. I guess I should call them Broncos not Horse.




















Me, Dudu and Heidi
















I want some ice cream



































Todd trying to tame the wild stallions..I mean broncos





















Let us in...Let us in

Coors Field

As I said, I went to Denver a couple of weeks ago for the World Series. We tried to get tickets on line but the Rockies website crashed. When the website reopened the games sold out in minutes. We went to the box office at Coors Field, asked scaplers for tickets and in the end despite our valiant efforts to secure tickets....we failed. We still had a good time. The energy in the city was intoxicating, literally, ask Todd?




















Coors Field





















Let us in....let us in.




























Batter's up

Denver Colorado

I took a trip to Denver two weeks ago with Todd, Heidi and Dudu to see the Rockies play the Red Sox in the world series. We didn't actually end up getting tickets to the game but had fun nevertheless. I loved the 16th street mall, the tall tall men, I wish I had some pictures of them...they were giants, and being with friends.
















Breakfast at the Delectable Egg. (the eggs were gross but the rest was yummy!!)















Getting ready for the party.
















16th Street Mall





















The Purple Building















Heidi and I watching the game.















Todd's grumpy face.