Christmas and New Years

Shane and I had a Merry Christmas, and are looking forward to the New Year. Our Christmas day was filled with family, food and of course tons of presents.

We hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas, and that you have a safe and Happy New Year!!!!

We are excited to see what 2010 has to offer us.

Music and the Spoken Word

Shane and I had a wonderful time going to Music and the Spoken word with his parents. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir had done their Christmas concert this past weekend, so after the broadcast of the Music and the Spoken Word, they performed a mini concert with Natalie Cole and David McCullough who performed with them this year for the choirs Christmas program. It was amazing, and loved every minute of it. Here are a few pictures that I snuck and took before the programs had started.



The Choir and the Orchestra before Music and the Spoken Word. I know it's not the best picture, but I couldn't give myself away and use a flash.



President Monson and Sister Ann Monson Dibb waiting for the program to start



Natalie Cole getting the orchestra ready for her song " The Holly and the Ivy"



President Monson after the programs and presenting both Natalie Cole and David McCullough with a plaque of the Christmas Program.

Christmas Devotional

Last Sunday Shane and I had the wonderful opportunity to go with his parents to see the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. We loved it, and I wish that we could make it a family tradition every year. The messages were great, and were very direct that we needed to focus on the birth of our Savior at this time of year, rather then the hustle or bustle of Christmas itself. We are so glad that we got to go. Here is a few picture of us, and the conference center before the program started.


The First Presidency- President Thomas S. Monson, President Henry B. Eyring, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf



Me, Shane, Renee', and Lex before the program started



The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

I was in awe that night the music was amazing, and they sang my very favorite song from Handel's Messiah. I sang "For Unto Us a Child is Born" right along with them. Wishing the whole time that I was in the choir. I can sing but I am just not that great. Only in my wildest dreams would I ever get to sing with the choir. For now I will stick with our Ward choir.

Elf yourself

Send your own ElfYourself eCards


This is always a ton of fun to do, and do it every year, it's silly I know but I love them.

Kempton family pictures 2009

I have been wanting to post a few of these for a while. Shane and I got our pictures taken the first part of October. My dear friend Allyson took these, and I am ever so gracious to her for doing so. She had just gotten into town, dropped her kids off with her parents and ran out the door to meet us. Thanks again Allyson for the fabulous job that you did. I had a ton of fun, and I love them all!!!!! I will be calling you in the future to do them again. Just wish you lived so much closer then Vegas.



















Sorry I couldn't post all of them. They are suppose to be for Christmas.

All Things Thrifty

Check out this website. Way cute stuff and they even tell you how to do stuff in lame mans terms.



Who doesn't like a Thrifty Deal? I love them!!!!

Thanksgiving and Christmas

At our house we usually have a Grinch. This Grinch doesn't want to hear any Christmas music, watch any Christmas shows or even have a touch of Christmas in our house until December 1st. This does not settle with me, as you know I love Christmas and set it up the day after Thanksgiving every year (working or not the tree ALWAYS goes up the day after Thanksgiving, it is just tradition). Well the Grinch never surfaced this year, and as matter of fact he told me that I could set up Christmas early. What has gotten into this Grinch, and where did he go? I too am clueless, but have to say that Christmas was set up on Thanksgiving here. This was a first for me, and I am not one to mix holidays together. Maybe I am feeling a little more cheer this year!!! I am actually very excited for Christmas this year. I am loving every minute of this season. I am singing along with the radio, and when alone (car or not) I sing with all my might.

Christmas is up, and I am excited, and can hardly wait. I feel like a kid again waiting in anticipation for the big day to come. Can hardly wait!!!! I love seeing my house all lit up for Christmas, and I really love it when there are presents under the tree. The gifts I receive DO NOT and CAN NOT go under the tree until Christmas Eve or morn. I am really good at guessing what the gifts are. I learned from the best. Thanks Mom!!!!
We added a new tree this year. This one is bigger then my slim tree that we have had for several years.


Yep that's a real Christmas wreath above my Mantel. It was hanging on our front door when I came home from seeing New Moon. I can always count a good laugh from Shane.

This was given to me a few years ago, by my Mother in law Renee. She did a great job on it, and I love it!!!! I have no excuse why I haven't put it out before, I have just forgotten to get it out.

We hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas season planned. We do!!!! I am looking forward to seeing the First Presidency Christmas Devotional again this year, and to see Natalie Cole perform with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir during the broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word. Shane's mom got tickets both of them, and I am so honored that she wants us to be her guests to both programs.

New Moon

I went to see New Moon on opening day with my good friend Summer. We have had such an obsession about the books, and the movies, that we couldn't wait to see the movie. We had a ton of fun, and the movie was GREAT.



Eating at Iggy's before our big date with Edward, Bella and Jacob



Waiting for our movie to start. Notice we are both wearing black and red. This was not planned, but we both thought that it was fun. Summer shirt is from the Inn where Prom was held in Twilight.

Now we just have to be patient for Eclipse. Can't believe that it will be released the summer of 2010. Can't wait!!!! I am making plans to go, and I am really thinking of catching the midnight showing. Anyone Game?

We love Pumpkins!!!!

We love pumpkins, and we have had our fair share of them this year. I have made batches of Pumpkin chocolate cookies, Pumpkin chocolate chip bread, and Pumpkin Waffles. All were delicious, and so not good for the waistline. We even love to carve pumpkins at our house too. Amazing I know!!!! I love Halloween, and so we just had to be different this year with all the pumpkin decorating. I got a creative bone this year, and decided that we needed to be different.
This is what we came up with this year.



Flying Bat by Nan



Spooky Cat by Shane



Evil Pumpkin by Shane



The Best Pumpkin EVER!!!!! Go Yankees!!!!

This Yankees pumpkin was my idea, and started/ruined mine the night before Halloween. I of course was mad at myself, and basically told Shane in my tiff, that I better have a Yankees pumpkin when I got home from work on Saturday. So this Yankees pumpkin was a combined effort. WE LOVED IT!!!! It looked so great from a distance, that I think that I am hooked. We had to support our team, especially since they made it to the World Series.

Hope you all had a great Halloween. We had a great one, and topped it off by watching a Halloweenie movie later that night. I do think that this however is a new tradition. We did this last year, as trick or treaters were out and about. Every time the door bell rang, I jumped.

Callings

After having served for a little over three years in the Young Women's Presidency. I was released today. I had bitter sweet feelings about this, but I knew that it was the right decision. I truly love these girls, and have grown very fond of them all. They all have beautiful testimonies and they are all so strong, in so many ways. I wish that I may have been that strong when I was their age. They all have wonderful parents, who have raised them righteously, and that have taught them the correct principles and how to live them in their lives. I will miss these girls and the relationships that I have made with these girls. I do know that the relationships I have made with them all will continue into the next life, and I am so grateful for them blessing me in my life. I needed their strength at times when I felt my world was crashing in on me.

I have truly loved this calling, and I will miss it. My hope is that the girls will continue to be successful in this life and achieve all of their goals. It was such a wonderful opportunity to serve these girls and to teach them by example. Thank you to Sandy, Rebecca and Sarah for your many hours of service, and your dedication. These girls were so blessed to have you in their lives, and I too was very blessed to have gotten to know each of you personally. Friendship like this will continue in this life and in the next life.

I am ready for whatever the Lord has in store for me. I look forward to this next year, and I look forward to teaching the CTR 5 class in primary. I love little kids, and look forward to hearing their testimonies, and how much they love the Lord. I am sure this will strengthen my testimony in ways that are not yet known to me. I love this gospel, it is true, and I strive to live it everyday.

Conference

I really enjoyed conference. It was just what I needed. I love the talk that Sister Dibb gave on Sunday morning. There were so many things that I needed to hear, and that I need to remember, from all of the conference Sessions. I have found deep within myself a new found commitment to do the things that I need to do. I know that I need to have more faith in my Heavenly Father, and that I need to trust him with all that happens, in this life, and the life to come.
I have a very hard time reading from my scriptures everyday, but have committed to myself that I CAN and WILL do it, and that I am going to try and finish them by the end of the year. I know that if I do, that the Lord will bless me and my family in the blessings that we need at that certain time.
I am so grateful for all that my Heavenly Father has given me in my life. I truly have been so blessed.
I am really looking forward to sitting down and reading the messages from Conference, and to feel the spirit testify of it's truthfulness.

Monday Night Football & Baseball Playoffs

Well today is Monday, and Shane just had to get home right after work. He had things to do before Monday Night Football came on. For all of you who don't know that Shane LOVES the Minnesota Vikings. He has loved them since he was a little kid, but I think his love has grown even stronger this year with the addition of Brett Farve to HIS team.

Monday Night Football happens to be an exciting one tonight. It is a game of Rivals the Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings. Good Luck to the best team.

I am just way excited that it's MLB playoffs!!!! Yippee!!!!!! Go Yankees!!!!! I just love October!!!!

Just Stuff

We have gotten our first taste of fall, and its September 30th. Wow what is up with that????? The leaves are all changing in the mountains, but down in the city its been 90 degrees. Way to hot for someone who loves fall as much as I do.

I am looking forward to Conference this weekend. I am really excited to hear the messages, and to just be spiritually uplifted.

Hope you all enjoy the fall weather, and conference too.

I love Fall!!!!

I think that I am more than officially ready for fall. I love fall, and it happens to be my favorite season. I love the crisp fall air, and the fabulous colors that autumn brings to the mountains. I love getting out my fall decor, and testing Shane to see if it's too early to put it out yet. I love everything that fall brings (except for dry hands/feet and WINTER). I love the smell of the house when you have spent hours baking yummy fall treats. I love getting out my fall/winter clothes, and bundling up on the couch with a blanket to stay warm. I always get a bad case of "nesting" in the fall, where all I want to do is cook, bake, craft etc. etc. etc.

I don't know why I love fall like I do? I JUST DO!!!! I look forward to it every year!!!!

So to all of you out there.

HAPPY FALL TO YA'LL!!!!!!

The last few weeks

It really seems like the last few weeks have flown by. We traveled down to Vegas for a quick trip for a funeral, went to Swiss Days, watched Aynsley perform at halftime for mini cheer camp Shane finally got his Antelope, and has been busy finishing up with hunting.

Gotta love the Strip!!!!


Love my mom



Mom, Dad and me


Actually a nice picture of Shane (he usually doesn't smile).
My dad's long lost son. This is my cousin Aaron, and we all think that he looks a lot like my dad.

The great white hunter, finally gets something at last

Well many of you know that Shane loves to hunt and fish. Well on September 5, 2009 Shane got his opportunity to get the "Antelope from Hell". Shane has been putting in for the past SEVEN years to draw out for an Antelope, and was really excited about it. I wont provide many details, but if you want to hear his version, I am almost positive that he would share.

San Diego trip

After being busy for the last couple of weeks, with Shane being at Scout camp and then my trip to San Diego, I am finally ready to settle down. Shane on the other hand will be busy from now until the end of the year. Shane's hunting season starts August 15th, and he will be gone most nights and weekends, and I will be a hunters widow, until the season ends. I love hunting season!!!!!

My trip to San Diego was a lot of fun. I went with Shane's mom, sister and niece. We had a great time seeing and doing things around San Diego. The main reason for the trip was to see the Broadway Musical WICKED. We all LOVED the show, and wanted to go back the next day to see it again. I do have to admit that I have had WICKED FEVER for weeks. I just had to listen to the soundtrack to familiarize myself with the music. I have been listening to the soundtrack non stop since. I am so horrible I HAVE to listen to the stuff until I have it memorized. I may just get grounded from the soundtrack if I am not careful.


Cortney, Janille, Me and Renee' before WICKED



Our view of the stage

I saw my first Major League Baseball game while I was vacationing. We went to see the Padres play the Atlanta Braves. The game was fun, but not what I wanted to experience for my first MLB game. I wanted to see my team for my first game. I have to be reminded all the time that it's not my party. One day my dream will come true.


Renee' and I at Petco Park for the Padres game


Chipper Jones at bat. Plays third base for the Braves

We spent two days at SeaWorld. The shows are AMAZING, and really a ton of fun. I loved how people in the Soak Zone really do get wet, no matter what time of day it is. I loved the Dolphin show, it was a ton of fun, and the people left the shows soaked. One thing I learned while at SeaWorld........if you want to have straight hair all day DON'T GO ON A WATER RIDE BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE.

Shamu Show


Getting everyone soaked



Shamu doing a flip


The Dolphin show at night.

Summer Fun

Shane and I are full speed in the middle of our Summer. We had Girls Camp a few weeks ago, and I have been meaning to post on that. We had a really great time, except for the heat. Our Stake was in charge of it this year, and I love when they are in charge. They had a beautiful evening, where they focused on the parable of the Ten Virgins. It was a very emotional experience and I truly needed that. We really did have a great time, and good food. But I have to say the best part was taking a shower, when I got home. How come it takes so long to get Campfire smell out of your hair? Here are a few pics from camp. I won't bore you with all of them since I took about 200 pics for the week.
At the lake



Rebecca and I at the lake


The Leaders with Mandy


All the leaders doing a Gangsta pose.


The Girls with Bishop Grua, on the last night of Camp.

Life has slowed down for me, but Shane is doing Scout Camp this week. I think that he was really dreading camp from when he received his call to be Scout Master. I don't know what his problem is, he loves camping, fishing, hunting, and anything to do with the outdoors. He also loves the scouting program and can tie several mean knots. I think that he was just having issues with being able to control the boys, while they were at camp. I hope that Shane enjoys the time that he spends with the boys. He has a great opportunity to teach these boys the correct ways to live your life.

Fourth of July!!!

This year for the Fourth, Shane spent the day fishing at Strawberry Reservoir, and I had to work. We missed being with family, and missed everything about the Grantsville parade. We did get to go to a BBQ at Krysten and Leo's house, watch the Egan's get in a HUGE waterfight with good friends and neighbors the Miller's, we ended the day with Fireworks at the park. It was a great day!!!! Next year I hope we have an even bigger waterfight!!!! This time I WILL BE PREPARED!!!!

We hope that everyone had a great fourth. We love living in the country that we live in, and get to share in all the freedoms, that this country offers us. We are so grateful for the Service Men that serve our country, throughout the world with our of their hearts, I thank them everyday.
I love this country, and I am so proud to be an American.