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.