Aurora

I'm so sleepy why are you taking my picture?
MMM... Daddy's Thumb

Christmas is Coming

Check out this ornery look... I got it from my Daddy..

Can't believe that our little niece Aurora is already one month old... so precious!

A few of the many reasons I love Steve

I got home from work on Wednesday and Steve had not only cleaned the house but he had this little Christmas Flower arrangement and some of my favorite cookies waiting for me.

But I love him for a lot more reasons than the fact that he is thoughtful and buys me flowers often. One of the other many reasons I love him is for his talent and love of music.

So, if you didn't know Steve loves music, he likes to write songs, and collaborate on songs. Many years before I met Steve his brother wrote this song, and Steve collaborated in recording it. Take a listen I think it may be one of the greatest holiday songs of all time.



You may want to go to the bottom of the blog and pause the other music playing before clicking on the link.

Thankful for My Family

So today at work I had to sit through a conference call about Childhood Violence, and the effects it has on children. Things like abuse, kidnapping, sibling abuse, dating violence, sexual victimization, exposure to violence at school etc.... not much fun. Then we went on to talk about internet safety for children etc. Also I was talking to my good friend Kathleen about some of the kids she has been seeing in her new ward, and the challenges they are facing.

It is overwhelming to think how many kids have to struggle just to have a "normal" life, some of the horrors that kids see today are just overwhelming, and at work sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in all the bad... and forget the good.

So today, in the spirit of Thanksgiving and all I am grateful for I wanted to take a minute to thank my family. I have so many wonderful people that loved and supported me throughout my life, and I am so grateful to Steve's family and all the love and support that he received, and that we both continue to receive. This love and support has really made him a great husband, uncle etc.

In closing today I am particularly grateful for my little brother and his new family. Aurora is beautiful and truly represents all the hope that there is in this world. Congratulations Mark and Cera - good luck, I know you will be great parents.

Johnson Mill Inn

So when Steve and I got married we waited almost two weeks before heading on our honeymoon. But, we did want to do something right after we got married so we headed up to Midway for a couple of nights at the Johnson Mill Inn. This year we decided it would be fun to go back up for a night to celebrate our anniversary.

They have a paddle boat that guests can use, and while there three years ago, I begged Steve to go out and he said no, this year I prevailed much to his dismay.

In addition to the paddle boat ride we were able to walk around the grounds and see several deer.

And spend a wonderful evening together, followed by a fabuolous homemade breakfast of stuffed french toast.

Pumpkin

One of Steve's favorite things about fall is pumpkin. Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin pie shakes, pumpkin bread... and yes even pumpkin pancakes.

So this week Steve and I had Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday off work. Partly to celebrate our third anniversary, and partly because Steve has a lot of time he needs to take off before the end of the year, and it is just fun to have some days off.

Tuesday morning we got up and went to the Original Pancake House in Sugarhouse one of our favorites.... and Steve got his pumpkin pancakes.

On a side note, I noticed that they are serving crepes for the Holiday Season!!! So we will probably be going back soon so I can get one of my favorites.

Halloween in St. George - October 31st, 2009

The past couple of years, Jill has gone down to St. George to help with a 5k Run/Walk that benefits the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah office in St. George, which helps match almost 200 at risk children with a volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister, someone to be a mentor to them.



This year, Jill persuaded me into joining her for the trip and we both decided that we'd participate in running and/or walking the 5k. For me, it really was much more walking than running, but it was a lot of fun and took place in a beautiful setting, with the rising sun coming up against the red rocks of the landscape.

We had a lot of fun spending a couple of days in St. George and are looking forward to returning there next year to do the 5k again.

Train

So, about a year ago, Pat Monahan came in concert to The Depot - Steve and I went and I must say it was probably one of the best concerts I have ever been to. For those of you who don't know Pat is the lead singer of Train, most people in Salt Lake didn't know that either, so there were very few people there that first night.

Last Thursday, Train came back to The Depot, and so of course Steve and I went back. The show was great, one of the best things about it was the interaction that Pat had with the crowd, and the fact that he played for a full 2 1/2 hours in spite of being under the weather.


What a great night!

And don't tell Steve, but wow that Pat Monahan is so cute...no Steve... but nonetheless I have a bit of a crush.