Thirty Before 30

This fall I'll be turning 30! Yikes- for some reason I am more anxious than I'm sure I've ever been over any age change before.
Thirty- that means that I better start making of myself who I want to really be or it won't matter when I do! I saw an idea awhile back that really sunk in with me and I've been working on it for myself since...
Thirty Before 30! A list of 30 things to do within the next 9 months (I'm quite sure I'll be fudging and giving myself the year) :) Thought I would share a few of them here...



 1. Sleep through a night
 2. Go on an overnight getaway with Stephen (see #1)
 3. Sew curtains for the front room
 4. Sew a backpack for Coop, a skirt, an apron...Just sew more!
 5. Become coupon savvy
 6. Start and grow a design business on the side
 7. Make and store strawberry freezer jam
 8. Get a new family photo taken
 9. Fill a ward temple assignment
10. Plant a garden
11. Get new carpet! (this ones a stretch...)
12. Make carrot cake from scratch
13. Ride with Cooper on his own bike to the park
14. Host a backyard BBQ
15. Master homemade whole wheat bread
16. Pay for the person behind me in a drive-thru
17. Particpate in Time Out for Women
18. Take family photos for someone else
19. Go to a hockey game
20. Watch fireworks


Also, remember last year when I chose a Word of the Year?
I've thought about it for a long while now and for 2011, it's gotta be...

Effort... this year I'd like to do better at putting effort toward things I can affect.
Things that I acknowledge I'd like to improve in myself and our way of life. Instead of merely acknowledging, I hope to actually make efforts that will result in improvements. Being a better housekeeper? I can do that! Dealing better with stress? I really can try to do that!
Carry on 2011... Even if I won't be young anymore when it's over,
this is going to be a good year! :)





P.S, In reference to #6, check out my new little venture... Click HERE!

Conner+Jodie=Happiness

This past Thursday, December 30, 2010, I watched my only brother get married. Watched my only brother be as happy as I've ever seen him! Smiled as I watched my new sister-in-law ask Cyndel to pinch her. Watched my husband watching me as we sat together in the sealing room. What a great day!

 Letting Stephen know I love him as we wait in the cold with them outside the temple afterwards. :)

With my beautiful sisters and Mom outside- I love this pic :)

Self-shot as we walked back to our car, ready to  be warm and feeling badly for Jodie in her short sleeve dress! I love this guy! I am lucky to have him, blessed that our life is together, that our own marriage is eternal! I am so grateful for my family- I am so proud of you Conner and Jodie! Marriage is bliss :)

To see more of the bride and grom, click on thier photographers blog here.

Year of Dates

Wanted to quickly share the fun, homemade gift I gave Stephen this year for Christmas. We have been terrible at taking time for ourselves ever since we had Cooper and I know that Stephen would really like it if we had more "us" time. So I sat down with my awesome friend that generally watches the boys and we mapped out one day per month over this whole next year that would be a date night!

Picking the actual day allowed Stephen to sit down with this cute little book and schedule them in his phone. I also got to pick some unique, inexpensive things for us to do, like shooting pool, picnic in the canyon, and lots of temple sessions. I'm hopeful this will be a fun, effective gift for him all through the year! I adapted the idea from here.

Christmas Goodness

We really enjoyed a great holiday with all four boys! We had a great week with Taron and Keaton, and Cooper is the perfect age for Christmas all the way around! We are so blessed!

Taron shared the recipe for these fun cookies- peanut butter spread between two Ritz crackers, then dipped in melted chocolate. We added plenty of sprinkles too!

This is my new favorite Christmas Eve jammies picture ever!! Could these four get any more adorable/ handsome?! All four of them got new jammie pants but no shirts, so it was the perfect flexing opportunity :) Love little Ryder joining in!

Christmas morning all together- this was a really happy time. They were all so excited and grateful- a really fun year!

 And the next day at out family party, I finally got to meet my new little niece, Brylee! I have been so anxious and she is so sweet! Silly me forgot to bring her a gift exchange gift from Ryder though! Yikes- good thing she was none the wiser I guess :)

We then traveled to Grammie and Grandpas for a couple of days and enjoyed lots of snow fun! Our snow here is gone, so this was a treat!

While Stephen pulled the boys on the four wheeler, I got to trail around with my Dad on the snowmobile up past the house- what beautiful scenery! This is without a doubt one of my very, very favorite places on earth. So invigorating!

Born to be Our Friend

"...Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is Peace.

Chains shall He break for The Slave is Our Brother

and in His Name all oppression shall cease.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger

in all our trials, born to be Our Friend.

He Knows our Need,

to our weakness is No Stranger.

Behold, Your King!

Before Him lowly bend..."

I have thought many times of this verse of my favorite Christmas song, Oh Holy Night, this season. I am so grateful to know that our Savior was born in a stable and placed in a manger on that First Christmas night. And even moreso to know that He really does know our needs and our weaknesses- I need that knowledge right now. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas- hopefully it will meet your expectations whatever they may be!