Happy Halloween

Jeremy will be taking over the computer in a couple minutes to finish his lesson prep, but I did want to throw some pictures up on the blog while I had a moment.

We spent Halloween with some great friends and Addie has been talking about Halloween since it ended last year, so she was excited to say the least.

I made her costume, it didn't turn out perfect (because I put it off then had to restart because I made the sleeves to short) but I was pretty proud of my 3 days worth of work. She went as snow white, btw, and Barrett is an Ewok. Some teenage girl didn't know what that was and thought he was a tater tot. How sad is that?

Either way, we had a great time and it was a wonderful Halloween. I should have more pictures coming soon, but more on that later!

Describe 5 pet peeves you have

I don't consider my self a pet peeve kind of person. I had to sit and think about it and I still couldn't come up with 5

1. Ignoring (i.e. on your cell phone) your kids while you are out spending time with them. Seriously, if you are trying to spend time with them turn it off.

2. Clipping nails when I am anywhere close to you. Especially when you aren't my husband. Yes this has happened.

3. Being unnecessarily rude.

4. Other people's pet peeves especially if they are inconsequential. Seriously, no one is perfect. Unless they are being rude or harmful you should not add problems to your life.

So I lost my computer...

Do you know we have an awesome warranty on our laptops? Seriously, Bestbuy has been good to us. So when I lost my laptop this time I decided to save some money and downgrade to a Kindle fire hd. It does mean that I don't have quite as much time to sit in front of a computer and work on photos and write blog post.

Let's see...since the vacation...

Barrett turned one! I can't believe it. I know it sounds cliche, but seriously, I can't.

We have some pretty exciting things going on right now and coming up. I have been preparing for Halloween (I am making addie's costume and part of Barretts,) we have special surprise coming up for Jeremy's birthday, family pictures, not to mention all the holidays right after. It is going to be fun

Utah trip

 So this is going to be quick. I haven't had much time to myself recently. Life of a busy mom. :)

So we were in Utah a little more than 3 weeks. We drove (because we are crazy) 24 hours there, plus, 3 hours to bear lake, plus 2.5 hours to rexburg, then 3 hours to logan, then 3 hours to Riverton, and lastly another 24 hours back home; for a total of 59.5. And that is not counting all the driving we did once we reached our destinations.

  Barrett at a random gas station in NM.

We spent the first week in at my family's reunion in Heber City, UT. We had such a blast. Zip lines, Games, Food, Laughter, just being with each other made the entire trip worth it.

Next we went to Bear Lake (after seeing the dark knight) for Jeremy's family reunion., I wish I had gotten there sooner. Turned out they were checking out 2 days before I thought :( but no worries, I loved the time I did get to spend with the Watsons!

 After Bear Lake we drove up to Rexburg. We went and visited some of my old college friends and some friends that might as well be family. It was great

 This is Addie and Barret sitting where Jeremy proposed to me.

After Rexburg, we went and visited Grandpa and Grandma doc in Logan. They let us stay with them for a couple of days (they took us to see their new house near Brigham City.) Addie loved visiting with her grandparents

 The kids were not cooperating for picture time this day.

We then went and spent a week at my sister's house. I went and saw a couple of friends before I went up to bear lake, so by that point I was so exhausted that I pretty much just recouped before we made our trek home. We did get together with my sister and her kids and did dinner and went to the pool. Oh, also we went to the parade of homes. That was fun! We saw some beautiful houses (including a 20,000 sqft house. It was a little crazy.)

 Anyway, that was our trip in a nutshell. We are home now, and soooo happy to be!

List 10 things you would tell your engaged/early married self.

1. Skip nice engagement shots and hire someone for your wedding shots.
I loved our engagement shots so much and everyone who was at the temple took such lovely shots, however, I wished I had a professional. The phrase 'To many cooks in the kitchen' comes to mind. I am grateful for what we did have, but I would make this switch.
2. Get married later in the morning so you won't come out of the temple at 12.
The sun was so bright and it was hot. My morning would have been a lot less stress if we had done an 11 or 12 o'clock session.
3. Don't let your mom do anything.
I don't mean this to be mean, so please don't think I mean it that way. My mom seemed really stressed and I think things would have been smoother if I handled it myself. Plus she was working and has 4 kids at home at the time. That is a lot on her plate.
4. Being apart sucks. Sorry, you have to do it. You will do it when you are married too.
Just to help rally my spirits
5. Stay in Rexburg. Take a semester of courses or work.
Honestly it felt like I bobbed around all summer and it would have been better to do something productive.
6. Pinterest would have made you life easier. 
... :(

Early marriage
7. Your instincts are good. Trust yourself. 
This is a little bit of early marriage and engagement. Both positive and the negative.
8. While you are moving around the country stop and smell the roses.
 We didn't experience all the places we lived till 3 years ago. I wish we had done it sooner just because it has been such a great experience so far. 
9. 'Keep each other active'
 I heard this advice while in rexburg and I thought it was strange. However, now that I have been married this long I think it is such good advice. It could be applied in so many ways, both temporally and spiritually. 
10. Make a budget!
It may seem unnecessary now, but the habit will benefit you later. 

Home but...

It is possible I have lost my camera. I will have to let you know. I can't give up hope yet!

In Utah

It will be a little while before I post something new, but wonderful times ahead.

San Antonio

We did San Antonio in 2 days. I need to go back again...just not until it cools off a bit (Texas is hot!)

Our first day we did Sea world. Our first stop was the sea lions. I am sad I didn't have a better camera. Most of my pictures of the animals didn't turn out.

Addie was navigating us ;)

 Sea lion.

Next we went to catch the Killer whale show. Which we did get any photos of but was incredible. Some how everyone around us go super wet and we barely got touched (which I was thankful for.)

We rode a couple of roller coasters and then went to see the penguins.

Addie thought the penguins were super cute. Next we went to the kid zone. Addie did want to touch the wet area she just looked around and then went on her way. She did love the rope course and rode a couple of her own roller coaster!

 Me and Barrett hung out in the shade.

 We then went to see the dolphins. I wish we had come earlier in the day because turns out they rope off the dolphins an hour before the park closes (thus why we will be going again before we leave texas) We did get to go see them and a couple of them came super close, but we weren't able to feed them or anything :(

 

It was a great day. Exhausting, but great. 

Being the history buff I am, there was NO WAY we were going to pass up the chance to go to 'The Alamo' while we were in San Antonio. So the next day we did The Alamo, River walk, had dinner with some old friends, and then drove home.

We did an audio tour through and it was fantastic. If you ever go, I highly recommend it. You learn so much!

The tree was gorgeous. If I am remembering correctly, it was planted when the alamo was built and was something like 40 years old when it was transplanted there. 

Addie firing the cannon.

Barrett making a wish

River walk is so nice. I see why it a main attraction when you go. 

Our last stop before leaving was downtown to visit some old cathedrals. 

I wish we had more time. There were a couple of things I would do differently (They had an old movie theater you could tour. Wish I had known that! I would also make it a 3 day trip at least.)

5 years ago

 I was here.

With all of these people. 

I married this man.

It was the best day. 

I now have this.

and I thank God every day for the decision I made this day, 5 years ago.

Since we are reminiscing...

  From when we were dating.

 

Conference center while we were engaged.

our first engagement gift.