Halloween flashback....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

Can you believe it is already Halloween? I am a bit sad; that I was unable to dress up this year and go to a Halloween party. We usually have a party with my old roommates, but this year I was out of town. And... they ended up canceling the party because my friend's son was sick.


Halloween holds a special place in my heart. It was the first time I really spent time with Brad over 7 yrs ago. We had "officially" talked for the first time the previous Sunday and I had invited him to our annual Halloween party that week. I think deep down I kind of liked him but told myself I invited him because we needed more guys to come! It was surprising to me, that when he got there I was kind of excited to see him. At the time, I also liked another guy that was coming to the party, so I wasn't sure how I was going to balance my attention. Luckily Brad had homework and had to leave early so I was able to pull it off. It was also funny that when one of my friends asked who he was - my immediate response was "he's with me!" That was so NOT me and I didn't realize what I said until my friends pointed it out to me. So.. random. Anyway, it all worked out and that's what is most important! I am glad that a loving Heavenly Father helped us overcome our differences and see the happiness that was right in front of our faces the entire time.


I didn't have time to find pictures from our first Halloween together..but soon! For now.. the best I can do is the YW Halloween activity from last year. Enjoy!

Halloween activity 2007

The original leaders... Bethany (mia maid advisor), me, Hilary(laurel advisor), Kim (1st couns), & Mindy (2nd couns)

Our cute laurels Janneka, Suzy, Hilary, me, Audrey & Aaron (one of the boys)


Jaada (beehive advisor) & Mindy (2nd couns)

Close up of the teeth..isn't this a great costume?!

Fall is in the air....

**I updated the recipe to be 2 cans of broth rather than 2 cups. I just made it on Sunday and we needed more broth. ENJOY **

I have to admit I am a Spring girl for sure but I do enjoy all the seasons. I enjoy fall because of the crisp air, the changing of the leaves, pumpkin spice and cinnamon candles, Halloween ( I know that sounds strange but I love dressing up and going to our annual Halloween party!), and also Thanksgiving which leads into Christmas. Fall means we are starting a time of family traditions, parties and good times with friends. It is a great time of year.

Fall is also a time to eat soup! My favorite place to buy soup is called Zupas in Draper. So many great soups and sandwiches!! YUMMY!!!

I also LOVE this recipe I received last year from a friend in our ward. It is super easy and delicious! Give it a try and let me know what you think! Thanks Amy!

Chicken and Lime Tortilla Soup

2-3 shredded chicken breasts ( I like to use the rotisserie chicken at Costco and I use most of it)
1/2 c. chopped onions
1/ 4 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
2 cans chicken broth
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 (4 oz) cans green chilies ( I use 1 hot and 1 mild can)
1 c. sour cream
2 limes

(add to bowl when serving cheddar cheese, guacamole and tortilla strips or chips)

Combine all ingredients, except limes and simmer for 20 minutes. Add fresh lime juice to taste. Top with cheddar cheese and tortilla chips/strips and serve. We also like to add guacamole to our bowls too. Mix up and eat!

Enjoy! Any great soups or fall recipes you want to share?

Precious moments...

In the 6 years we have been married, I have spent almost 5 of those years in the young women program in our church and I have loved every minute of it! My first calling in the young women program was as Camp Director and I had 3 of the best youth leaders anyone could ask for. They were organized, had great ideas and were such a joy to be around. They made me a better person even though I was supposed to be influencing them. Shortly after camp I was called as the Laurel advisor (16-18yr old class) with these same 3 girls and 2 others. Again, they taught me more than I taught them.



We have kept in touch over the last couple years since we moved from that ward and were able to attend Lindsay's wedding last summer and attended Kelsey's wedding last weekend Sept 27, 2008. What a blessing it is to see two of the girls I served reach the ultimate goal of marrying in the Temple.

This is Kelsey and her husband Bryan.. they met in Cedar City while attending SUU.

Alli and I waiting for the happy couple to come out after the ceremony. She is still dating around and is on the ballroom dance team at SUU. She will finish college in a year and so far is planning to go on a mission. She has always reminded me of myself when I was her age. (throughout young women's and now) She is darling!

L-R Alli, Me, Kelsey and Lindsay.

The 3 girls have also stayed in touch, it was so great to catch up with all of them after the ceremony and at the dinner that afternoon. They have always made such great decisions growing up I remember having conversations about kissing and at the time they were all 17 and 2 of the 3 had never been kissed. So many great memories... love these girls!

Here is Lindsay's little sister Ashley. After serving in the laurels with Lindsay for a few months I was called as 1st counselor working with the Mia Maids (14-16yr old's) and worked with Ashley for over a year and a half before we moved. She is already a senior in high school! Crazy how time flies!

This is Kelsey's little brother Caleb who is now 17 but was one of Brad's 1st scouts at age 13 when Brad was Scout Master. Boy has he grown! He and Ashley are not dating now but plan to marry after Caleb gets home from his mission.. they are best friends! hee hee

Precious moments that will forever live in my memory..... Any precious moments you would like to share??

Girl's weekend! TOFW - Las Vegas part 2

TOFW - LAS VEGAS

Girl's weekend #2 started with Girl's weekend #1 here. We were supposed to be 5 but ended up with 3. We originally planned to go to TOFW (Time Out for Women) in Las Vegas back in February but because of President Hinckley's funeral it was postponed to September. We went from 5 to 4 at first because Becky just had her 4th child and wasn't ready to take a road trip with a new baby. Here are the 5 of us at our last GNO - dinner at Texas Roadhouse - YUM!

L-R Me, Becky, Nikie, LeAnn and Kim.

The story of how we went from 4 to 3 will have to come at a later date. We started the trip Friday morning driving straight to Vegas with a few potty stops (Kim is pregnant.. that should say it all!) but forgot to get gas so we barely made it to the edge of Las Vegas on fumes! We also had to plan out our meals around Kim's schedule.. every 4 hours she would ask what we were going to eat next.. it became a fun game to guess when she would mention it again! We love you Kimmy Sue!

We spent a great deal of time in the Caesar's Palace Forum shops Friday afternoon and evening..especially at FAO Schwartz. We helped Kim find some Christmas gifts for her kids. We went to dinner at La Salsa a Mexican restaurant that evening and then headed to the Von's grocery store to get some treats for TOFW the next day. I almost stole a protein bar but luckily remembered I had accidentally stuck it in my purse instead of on the check stand. It could have been awkward sitting at TOFW feeling guilty about not paying for my bar. Good thing I figured it out then so I could pay for it before leaving.

We stayed at a hotel approx 5 miles or so from the strip and the convention center. It was surprisingly nice and a great set up for 3 women to get ready bright and early in the morning. We were upgraded to a golf course view for free and didn't get to see it until the morning as we were leaving. oh well...

The next morning we headed to the Time Out event. (Click here for more of an explanation of what TOFW is and my previous experience.) We thought we were getting there early but when we arrived, there were 4 lines of at least 40 women in each line. Luckily, we still found great seats right up front. I was able to see Hilary before the event and chat with her a bit before getting started. I have only been to TOFW events where she has been performing and I can't imagine one without her. With her fun sense of humor and strong testimony she has it all!

The day started with having each presenter introduce themselves and a little bit about what they were going to speak on. We were fortunate to have Virginia Pearce stay over from the previous day to fill in for Carolyn Rasmus who was ill. She was so inspiring and by far my favorite speaker of the day. Amanda Dickson was presenting at a Time Out for the first time outside Utah and she was fabulous! She was so hilarious and really spoke on a level for many to enjoy. We also heard from Michael Wilcox, Pam Hansen and Chris Stewart who were all great as well. Overall, a great day filled with inspirational presentations that made me laugh and cry all at the same time! This weekend was a great way to relax and really evaluate where I am in my life.

Here we are with Hilary.. L-R Kim, Hilary, LeAnn and Me.

Just us girls!! Aren't we cute? All color coordinated..that is what the lady who took our picture said!

We had such a great time laughing and making memories! Thanks Kim and LeAnn for making this a very memorable trip! Love you both!

We can't wait until next time when Nikie and Becky can join us. We missed you guys!

Girl's weekend Las Vegas TOFW ...Part 1

A little something to get you excited for the official Girl's weekend TOFW post!

September 19-21, 2008

Top 10ish list (ok 62! Thanks to LeAnn for putting this together)

( In no particular order)

1. Kim’s sweater hitting the baby in the carrier right behind her seat and the mother getting snippy and throwing her sleeve back at her. Kim didn’t know there was a baby right behind her.
2. The bathroom at the 7-Eleven saying “Out of Order, Not a public restroom.” And when Kim asked about it, the cashier replied, “There’s a reason it says that.” Then he let Kim and Angela use it.
3. Kim’s conversation with Laurel Christensen and trying to figure out how they knew each other. “She asked if I went to BYU, not if I lived in Provo!” They were in the same singles ward in Provo.
4. Running into MaryKay Orgill at the event and Angela asking her if she knew Traci Norris. She also asked Laurel Christensen if she knew Traci. She’s apparently the only common link if Angela knows them as well.
5. The Thunder From Down Under billboard of hot men in Vegas. Angela and LeAnn took pictures of it through the open sunroof.
6. Angela yelling at the man standing on a barricade “You’re hot!” out LeAnn’s side of the car.
7. Angela asking a man/worker in the Forum Shops “If I were a bathroom, where would I be?”
8. Playing in the FAO Schwartz store and trying to find gifts for Kim’s kids.
9. Kim’s fajitas not sitting well with her and eating 20 tums in an hour.
10. . Disgusting Nephi bathrooms – separate building from the gas station store – worse than the ghetto 7-Eleven in Las Vegas.
11. Hilary asking LeAnn if she says offensive things too after Kim said, “I can tell this is an old CD because your picture is old” after Hilary commented that she chose an interesting CD – it was her Christmas one.
12. Hilary telling Kim she looked like she was 10 minutes pregnant.
13. LeAnn talking with Amanda Dickson while she had Michael Wilcox sign her book.
14. Borrowing Shannon’s (a girl behind us) sharpie marker so Hilary could autograph Kim and LeAnn’s CD’s. Then the break was over and Shannon wasn’t able to get Hilary’s autograph.
15. Discovering we’re BFF’s (Best Friends Forever) with Hilary Weeks because of two degrees of separation through Angela.
16. The waiter burning his finger on Kim’s hot fajita plate at La Salsa and showing Kim how quickly it blistered.
17. Kim asking “Where are we going to eat?” at the beginning of each day and around meal times. 18. Angela trying to get LeAnn to jump up on the back of a statue in a fountain at the Forum Shops and pull its tail.
19. Walking up the stairs in the Forum Shops and getting winded. So we decided to take the curved escalators the rest of the way.
20. Getting a view room of the golf course at the Sun Coast Hotel and not being able to see it until morning.
21. Going to bed Friday night in Las Vegas around 10:30 p.m. – heading back to our hotel at 9:30 p.m. So much for staying up late on the strip!
22. Angela and Kim giving LeAnn dating advice.
23. Parking LeAnn’s car at Angela’s parents’ house. “Does your car leak?” – Angela. “I don’t think so. Oops it must, there’s a puddle there now that I’ve moved it!”
24. Driving down Las Vegas Boulevard and Kim trying to remember where her sister Heidi got married. It was the Little White Chapel of Flowers – same place that Dennis Rodman and Carmen Elektra got married.
25. Kim measuring the beds in the hotel room in St. George with her arms because she thought one was a queen and the other was a double. Nope, both are doubles.
26. Semi truck tire blowing out on the drive home from St. George. Kim telling Angela to hurry and get past him, “Go, go, go!”
27. Driving down to Las Vegas on one tank of gas. We stopped a couple of time for breaks but never thought to fill up on gas.
28. Eating brunch at Gandolfo’s in Mapleton. Tasty breakfast sandwiches.
29. Picking up our lunch boxes behind the stage and then eating outside on a shady hill and digging in our heels so we don’t roll down.
30. Trying Power protein bars. LeAnn picked a different type and Angela later told her she should always listen to her recommendations.
31. Kim saying “I hate to say this, but I feel better already” after Angela got her to drink some Bragg’s apple cider vinegar and water.
32. Kim asking frequently, “Will that detach my placenta?” or reassuring us that it wouldn’t.
33. Laughing hysterically at the “4 Christmases” preview in the movie theater when Vince Vaughn was struggling to keep vomit down after a baby threw up on Kate Hudson.
34. Kim throwing up in her mouth when she smelled LeAnn’s banana that she brought with her in the car.
35. Kim saying her baby was the length of a banana. LeAnn kept calling her baby a banana.
36. Three ladies completely zonked out during the TOFW afternoon break.
37. Crawling over a railing to get to our seats because we were sitting next to an older lady and a lady with a cane. Kim saying that a pregnant lady shouldn’t have to go over rail.
38. LeAnn asking Kim if she was concerned that she had 3 bottles of drinks with her when she came out of the gas station store. She had thought LeAnn went to the bathroom more than she did as a pregnant lady who goes 10 times a day.
39. Kim telling LeAnn that she needs to get her phone number unlisted.
40. Kim giving us a fashion show of her outfit choices and being worried about wearing red shoes with the brown pants with pink and white plaid print and having to readjust because her pants were too big.
41. Kim trying two times to push the door open to go into the bathroom while Angela was in it in the middle of the night in St. George. She had her ear plugs in and couldn’t hear Angela saying she was inside.
42. The really loud air conditioner and brown box filtration that drowned out the outside motel noise in St. George.
43. Mini teddy grahams – small portions of chocolaty goodness.
44. Angela almost not paying for her protein bar. She stuck it directly into her purse when she picked it up.
45. Buying treats the night before the TOFW and Kim getting a Savings Von’s card. We all used it and then left it in the hotel.
46. Leaving the melted yogurt covered pretzels in the St. George motel freezer. We forgot to take them in from the car during TOFW.
47. The ladies from Hurricane, UT getting teased throughout the TOFW. Hilary asked people to shout out the states where they were from if she didn’t already mention them. After hearing them she said, “I didn’t ask for cities. Let alone a town!”
48. Kim saying we should have a prayer for safety after the semi truck tire blowout “Ok LeAnn will you say it!” 49. Kim buying a couple of Halloween cups and saying that her kids will be scared of the skeleton head one but will later fight over it.
50. Walking through the casino lobby at 7:30 a.m. and seeing people who looked like they hadn’t gone to bed yet.
51. Walking out of the TOFW for lunch break and seeing a woman from the Home Show next door smoking a cigarette.
52. Angela telling us about Hilary Weeks on the drive down.
53. Using the men’s bathrooms converted to women’s during the TOFW event.
54. Wishing the Cold Stone Creamery was open at 9:30 a.m. We frequently talked about getting some ice cream but never did.
55. Our post event critique of what we think should be done differently or what we thought went well.
56. LeAnn calling it TOWF, TFOW and mixing up the sequence.
57. Pam Hansen saying that when the sound guy turned on her microphone she “would be hot!” Later she asked “Am I still hot?” when she forgot to release us for a break.
58. Telling Amanda Dickson that we would vote for her to continue on the TOFW events. This was her first one out of state. We made sure to let Laurel Christensen know.
59. The lady telling us we looked color coordinated before taking our picture at the TOFW.
60. LeAnn and Amanda Dickson calling themselves Amazons.
61. Kim asking if we thought Cesar would have a puppy for her when she got back.
62. Kim’s cashier at 7-Eleven giving her change in poker terms – full house and some change. He said that his job at 7-Eleven was just math practice.