New Years

Every year, I make a New Years resolution that I end up forgetting about, or that I just stop a month later. So this year I have been thinking really hard about a goal that I can actually keep, and that makes sense. 2010 was a really difficult year for us, for many reasons. With Daniel's school (studying late), my job (long hours), infertility (just not happening), it was a struggle. With that in mind, I came up with this for my new years resolution.

Be happy, and have fun!

It might sound silly, but sometimes I forget. So this year, I am planning on being happy, and having fun. To take my lemons, and make some awesome lemonade.

Christmas

Christmas was just the two of us this year. It's hard not being around family for the holidays, but we knew this was how it was going to be, living in Memphis.

When me boss heard that we were going to be alone for Christmas, he invited us to be with his family Christmas Eve. He is the youngest of 12 kids, so it was a little overwhelming to say the least. We ate spaghetti and played Dirty Santa. It was a little weird, but we had a lot of fun, and were so grateful that he thought of us this season. It was nice to be around people.

Christmas Morning! I'm still like a little kid. I jump on Daniel, begging him to wake up so we can open presents.

Both of our families have the tradition of making pizza Christmas Eve. Why drop a perfectly good tradition? But since we were with my bosses family Christmas Eve, we decided to make it Christmas Day instead.

I never would have guessed that we would have snow on Christmas - in Tennessee. It started flurrying Christmas afternoon, and by the next day, we had about 1/2 an inch. Not very much, but still nice to have a little snow on Christmas.

Family Visit

Daniel's parents came to visit this past weekend. It was really exciting because we haven't had anyone visit us since we live so far away from everyone. It was really nice to be with family for a few days.
We went to the Peabody Hotel to watch the duck walk. Everyday at 11am the ducks come down the elevator from their duck suite to the lobby floor. They are lead by the Duckmaster to the fountain in the lobby, where they stay all day until 5pm, when they march back up again. It has been a tradition since 1940. I have never been in a hotel so fancy. It was a lot of fun.

We went to the Civil Rights Museum. It was built inside of the hotel where Martin Luther King Jr was killed. On the outside it still looks like the hotel, but the inside is completely changed to be a museum. It was really interesting. A wreath now hangs in the spot where Rev King was shot.

While we were there, we watched a little 25 min video about the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. In the video, Rev Samuel 'Billy' Kyles spoke a lot about the events leading up to and after the shooting. He was there in the hotel with Rev King right before, and near his side when he was shot. It was nice to hear from someone who was actually there, and not just about what happened. When we were leaving the museum we saw a little crowd of about 8-10 people. When we went closer, we saw Rev Billy Kyles talking to a group of people. It was weird, because it almost didn't seem real that he was there, since we had just watched him in a video. We got to hear him speak, and I sneaked a quick picture of him. (camera's are not allowed in the museum)

Daniel's Dad ran the St Jude Marathon (the full marathon). He is trying to run a marathon in every state. We were there when he ran the Dam to Dam Marathon on Rexburg, so it was nice to see him run again. It's inspirational to sit near the finish line and watch the runners as they approach the line (we were about 500 yards away). Some shout with joy, some extremely focused, and others just start crying when they realize they are about to finish.

I love being around family, and wish that we didn't live so far away. More reason to be excited for Daniel to finish school.

Chair Makeover

Our dinning room table was past down to us when we got married. It was perfect, because who knows how long it would have been for us to buy something ourselves. But over the many years, the chairs have started to look a little sad. They lost their color, and were nicely stained. I have been wanting to recover them for a while. This past Thanksgiving break I finally had the chance.

BEFORE

AFTER

TA-DAH!!

Harry Potter and stupid people

Daniel and I went to watch Harry Potter the day after Thanksgiving. We had thought about reading the book before in preparation, but decided to just watch the other movies instead. We knew that if we had read the book we would be disappointed in the movie. And I'm glad, because we loved the movie. When we were buying our tickets, the lady wanted to know how old I was since the movie was PG-13. I don't know whether that's a complement or an insult!

We arrived 40 min early to make sure we got a good seat. We were the first to arrive, and it didn't take long before people started piling in. About 2 mins to start, a group of 7 walk in looking for seats together. We had 5 seats to the right of us, and so they came up to us and told us to move because they had a lot of people to fit in. I was so annoyed. The front 2 rows were completely empty, and it's not my fault they arrived late with a big group. So we got up, and found two other seats together a row back. It was ridiculous!

Thanksgiving Daily

A message from Elder Oaks

Thanksgiving Dinner

We had a lot of fun having Thanksgiving dinner just the two of us. We woke up early and planned everything out so the timing would be perfect for all the food to be ready at the same time. And it was!

Daniel carving our yummy turkey. It was a 12lb-er. Lot's of leftovers.

For our dinner we had turkey, rolls, homemade sausage apple stuffing, potato casserole (we chose to be different from the normal mash potatoes), broccoli salad and gravy. A lot of food for just two people. Now we have food for the next week.

We ended with some delicious Toll House Pie. Just think cookie in a crust. It's Daniel's favorite, and I have no complaints.

It was a wonderful day.

Trip to Nauvoo

Daniel had the week off for Thanksgiving, and I had taken it off work because we were planning on going home for Christmas. But, plans changed, and now it was just the two of us. Since we had the time off, we decided to take a little trip to Nauvoo. Daniel and I were married in Nauvoo 5 1/2 years ago, and hadn't been back since. When Daniel told me that's what he wanted to do, I was overly excited.
It's only a 7 hour drive, and we left the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and came back two days later. I wish we could have stayed longer.

We took a ton of temple pictures, so we had to narrow it down to just one. It's hard to capture the beauty in a single shot.
In the Women's Garden. It was in Nauvoo where the Relief Society was organized.

Daniel sharing some words of wisdom in the Nauvoo Grove. A place made to represent the place Joseph Smith preached to the people.

In the Family Living Center making rope.

Daniel in the Printing Shop learning how to print the newspaper.

We learned that this place makes the best sandwiches in Nauvoo. Seriously!

We visited the Smith Family Cemetery. Above are a list of names believed to have been buried there.

This Red Brick store was where the Relief Society was first organised, where people paid their tithing, and where the first endowments were performed.

Joseph and Hyrum Smith

We went to the Rendezvous at Nauvoo play the two nights we were there. It was two different casts, so it was fun to see it both times. It's the story of the people getting ready to leave Nauvoo.

The Trail of Hope is the pathway the saints took when leaving Nauvoo. In all the times I had heard about the Saints leaving Nauvoo, this was the first time that it really hit me how hard it must have been. They had looked for a place to settle, and Quincy was the only place that welcomed them with open arms. They built their homes, their family, their lives there, and then they were told to leave. People didn't want to and were upset. But in the end, they trusted in the Lord and packed what they could, leaving everything behind. It just breaks my heart. I would like to believe that I would have had the faith to leave too.

We left in the pouring rain and 32' weather. Arrived in sunny 74' Memphis. As much fun as it was, it's always good to be home.

Coupon Obsessed

I've never been one to go crazy over finding the best deals, or spending hours looking for coupons before shopping. I hear about people who save so much by doing this, and I wish I could do it, but I just don't.
I would like to think it's because I am just so busy with work, that I don't get a chance to become coupon obsessed, but I don't know. Saving money sounds awesome, it's the effort that doesn't sound so fun. And, I wouldn't even know where to start even if I wanted to.

Here is a blog of one of my old college roommates, who is a little coupon crazy (that's not a bad thing to be crazy about). So if you want to save money on shopping, TAKE A PEAK!

The Holiday Season

I love the holiday season. There are so many exciting things about the holidays, but my favorite are the tastes and smells of the holidays.

I really think Eggnog should be an all-year-round thing.
You can't smell Cinnamon and Nutmeg and not think of the holidays. I think they put it in everything.

Sage. It reminds me of Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing.

I love the smell of pine. I think that is why I am such a huge fan of real Christmas trees.

Hot Chocolate with Candy Canes.

Pumpkin Ice Cream. Actually anything pumpkin is good. Cookies, cupcakes, pie.....all good!

I love the smell of snow. Something I miss down here in the south.

I know this isn't a smell or taste, but I love Christmas lights. I love driving around and seeing all the homes lit up, and all the main streets. There's something magical about Christmas lights. How can you be angry when walking down the street surrounded by beautiful lights?

I'm excited. Bring on the holidays!!

Baby Blessings

I lead the music in Sacrament meeting. I really enjoy it, especially when I realize I don't know that words as well as I thought I did, and I just stand there waving my arm like an idiot.

Today, as I was sitting at the top waiting for sacrament meeting to begin, I noticed two rows of faces I didn't know. Then I noticed the baby in the huge white dress. And that is when my heart broke.

It's hard sitting and listening to a baby blessing, wondering if that will ever be you. And then listening to all the family members bear their testimony of what a blessing it is to have this new child in their lives. And as exciting as it is for everyone else, it's the worst place to be when you can't share in that joy.

Even after 5 and a half years, I still can't listen to a baby blessing without falling to pieces. You would think that it's something you would get used to, but it's not. I feel like the more time passes, the harder it is.

I just wish I knew why! I know the Lord has a plan, but I just wish I knew what that was!

Work Costumes

When I found out that no one has ever dressed up for Halloween at my work before, I decided to make a change. I told my boss that the people expect it, and that we should give the people what they want. And of course, he agreed.
It was really hard to find something appropriate in Memphis. When shopping, I finally went up to a salesman and asked them if they had anything that wasn't above the knee, off the shoulder, sleeveless or low cut. He came back with only 2 options. Ridiculous!!
So I went as Raggedy Ann.

I had to make my own hair. I'm lucky I had Daniel who wasn't afraid to help!

These are my 2 co-workers, Genevie and Brianna. We had one patient who came in with her 2 year old daughter. When she saw me she shouted out 'Baby, baby'. Her mother said she had a raggedy ann doll at home. When it was time to go, the little girl started crying because she wanted to stay and hang out with Penguin, Princess, and Baby. So cute!!

Glad we could give the people what they wanted.

Corn Maze

I have never been to a corn maze before. Every year I ask Daniel to take me to one, but we never end up going. This year I was determined to finally go. I didn't realize though, that the one we were going to, was going to be a haunted corn maze.
We pulled up, and the place was packed. We found a parking spot (far away) bought our tickets, and approached the entrance. As soon as we entered, someone jumped out in front of us, and I screamed so loud. That was when I realized this was not a regular corn maze.


It took us a little over an hour to make our way out, and as petrified as I was, it was a lot of fun. My hand was stuck in a gripping position from holding onto Daniel so hard. But we made it out alive, and I'm sure we'll go back next year!

Studying

This is Daniel's second year of Optometry school. This is how most of the nights end!

I miss him so much, and can't wait for it all to be over!