Sunday, December 6, 2009

Thanksgiving Festivities

So it's been awhile since I've posted anything. Well since Halloween really - but not much has happened besides Thanksgiving. The month of November was basically spent working on lots of projects for school for me and adjusting to Will's new schedule for work. Since Will has switched stores he actually has a pretty decent schedule of Sunday-Monday weekends and lots of 6am-230pm shifts so he's home most nights .... which makes it extremely difficult for me to get any actual schoolwork done. Maybe that's why I slacked so bad in November. The semester is done tomorrow - and I'm all finished except for my final chemistry test that I must get done before midnight tomorrow night! Yikes! Thanksgiving totally threw me off and it was hard to finish my class but luckily I have the day off tomorrow and will get it done!

As for Thanksgiving - we had a total blast. We drove to Utah for Thanksgiving to spend it with my sister's family and my parents. The drive through Wyoming was .... well - Wyoming but at least the weather was good - just SUPER windy!

Here are our adventures of Thanksgiving....

630am Wednesday morning leaving Denver
Had to capture the sunrise.
We missed our exit in Fort Collins so we ventured onto
"Owl Canyon Rd" exit about 30 miles South of Cheyenne.
Yeah the road were scary awful and I completely thought we were going to get a flat tire.
We were in the middle of nowhere.
We didn't see one other car - but 15-20 min. later we made it
to our original highway (hwy 287)
Then we had a long stretch of this to look forward to ....
Highway 80 in Wyoming is the MOST BORING drive EVER.
It was pretty icy in some parts but VERY WINDY the whole time.
Will drove everything except I got the stretch from Rock Springs to Evanston.
Boring.
Although I was amazed at how EVERY SINGLE body of water in Wyoming was frozen.
I made Will back-track so I could snap a shot of this river.
I couldn't believe it was totally frozen over!
I was glad we left so early though because we made it to my sisters at 2pm.
I liked this picture because it shows us all singing my other sister's fiance (Ryan)
"Happy Birthday" on speakerphone the day we arrived.
Thanksgiving was delicious and we had way too much food - too much pie particularly!
But I was too engrossed in the food to take any pictures of the feast.
I did watch how to make a turkey though and will be attempting for Christmas!!

The day after Thanksgiving was super busy as we got up at 345am for Black Friday shopping at Smiths (Fred Meyer) for 50% off sock sale.
It was Will's first Black Friday experience so he had quite a fun time : )
We also hit up Kohls where we stood in line for an hour
but my $30 roaster and 60% off holiday plates were totally worth it!

After a 3 hour nap we rode the FrontRunner train from Ogden to see Temple Square Lights.
That was quite an experience since it's a 3 level train
and on the top level you can see the sights quite nicely.
This is the Ogden station where we got on:
Will and me on the train.
My lovely parents on the train:
Two of my nephews and their friend on the train:
The lights were pretty neat .... once we realized we were on the
wrong side of the Conference Center!
We were wondering why the lights hadn't turned on yet - but we were on the wrong side!

My parents and Janelle's three boys:
Also with us down to Salt Lake was Janelle's friend Shara and her family:
My sister and brother in-law and their boys
Don't mind Dalton - he wouldn't cooperate for photos that night.
Will and the "blazing tree"
I made my mom take this photo a few times since she totally missed
the temple in the first few shots!
I won't let her live that one down.

Will particularly had a blast skeet shooting Thanksgiving Day.
It sure didn't help his ambition to own a gun. I'm still fighting that one.

Here's Will at 730am Sunday morning at JBs in Evanston.
It was pretty dead in there - and we were dead tired.
We got home at 2pm on Sunday and right away I had Will setting up the Christmas tree.
I love this photo because Abby is sprawled out totally indifferent to the tree.
The finished product - and of course it's prettier in person but cameras never do it justice.
Its brighter in person.
Our stockings hanging on the wall.
More holiday decorations!
And Will was so nice and brought me home a poinsettia from work.
It's glittery and all - but its hard to see here.
I had to post this - Will totally caused a full on stove fire one night
while making biscuits and gravy.
He wanted me to show him how to do it so he can make breakfast in the future.
He yelled at me while I was in the living room and said "Its on fire, what do I do?"
I was like "eh." cause I figured it was no big deal.
Once I walked over there to see the damage I started freaking out cause it was so big I didn't
know what to do at that point.
So Will grabbed to hose to the sink and sprayed it down.
I'm pretty sure it was grease under the burner : )
This is the aftermath:
And just for fun:
Ignore the not-so-flattering picture of me.
I've been trying to finish another knit hat but Abby is so enamored by the yarn.
She kept swatting at it here.
She's such a "typical" cat.
All in all - it was a fabulous trip and we had a great time!
Next up our One Year Anniversary is on the 19th! Where did the year go?!
We got tickets to the Colorado Ballet's Nutcracker and we're going to eat red velvet cheesecake from the cheesecake factory since we had red velvet cake for our wedding : )

It's going to be fabulous. Almost two months off from school, 1-year anniversary, christmas parties and Christmas! Busy December!

Happy Holiday Season, All!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween!

I was hoping Friday work would still be cancelled, since outside it still looked like this:
Sadly, no go. Work was still mandatory. I guess it was a good thing though since our work Halloween festivities had been cancelled along with work the day before, so we had a "make-up" Halloween party.
My co-worker Lindy and I went as condiments.
Last night Will and I went to our ward Halloween party.
Will was Spock.
Check out those ears!
I didn't really want to be mustard without a ketchup for the ward party....
so I went as a "trick or treat" witch
Ignore the missionary jumping into this photo : )

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

It's not even Halloween yet!

Snow storm .... in October?! Well at least it gave me a day off today (Thursday) and they let us out of work early yesterday. Will had the day off anyway yesterday - and he was actually anxious to go to work today. He had cabin fever from staying inside with nothing to do. I luckily got to use today to get some homework done!

This is what we woke up to this morning!
Me after Will had to pick me up from work yesterday:
Will by my car - with the accumulation from yesterday:
...and this morning after more snow accumulation:
...and it's NOT even Halloween yet!!
Our pumpkins look so awkward by the snow!
Oh... and guess what? It's still snowing.
What does this winter have in store for us?!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Finished Product

Here is our finished product - our carved pumpkins!
Carved while watching Casper last night.

We think Abby's not too sure about 'em:
Will's is obviously the left.
Mine is obviously the right.
: )

Saturday, October 24, 2009

We're going to carve pumpkins!

General Conference weekend Will and I did the Breast Cancer Walk along with some of my co-workers. I had never done the Breast Cancer walk before - it was crazy how many people were there! Next year we are going to wear more pink!!

It was so cold and windy!
Will was not bundled up like the rest of us!
He was even wearing shorts!! brrrr.....
This is a few of the people from work who participated.
There were so many people that some Noble people didn't make it
to our "meet-up" spot because they couldn't find it in the crowds.
I'm in the back 2nd in from the left (I blend in)

This part down Federal was crazy.
There were soooo many people it seemed like it wouldn't end!

Will and I (with a sun flare)
Some people went all out.
Next year we will too!
As for lately happenings - nothing too different. We've been enjoying this fall weather! Although, it has snowed a couple times already - but we also see lots of sun! We went to a local pumpkin "yard". Not really a patch, but there is a local habitat for humanity group selling pumpkins near our apartment - and that's where we bought ours this year. We actually plan on carving them tonight! We usually just let them sit without carving them.

Will is starting at a new Home Depot store on Monday - and hopefully he'll have more Sundays off and more flexibility at this store (we hope).
Work is the same for me - going well - and school is going well. I actually like the online format. I went to a dental hygiene orientation at Community College of Denver the other night to find out more about the program and I am uber excited!!! I like this picture - this is what happens when I have to study when Will is home (I usually try to do homework only when he's not there). He'll try and do something quiet and read. One night after work I noticed it was too quiet while I was at the desk doing homework and I looked over and saw this:
: )
I'm not sure Abby is as thrilled about Halloween as we are.
Our pumpkins are taking up her "space" on her favorite window sill.
I'm currently making pumpkin cookies and watching Hocus Pocus until Will gets home. I'll be sure to take pictures of our carved pumpkins. Yay for Halloween!!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Haircuts and Broken Cars

So for recent events - I cut six inches off my hair last night! It was becoming unruly and out of control. It was a tad scary, but overall I am pleased. I am always unhappy with a few pieces - but thankfully with my background with hair, I can usually use my hair razor and fix them.

Before (all combed out):
After:
Lots of Layers:
Notice my sweatshirt from work - Will and I are participating in the Breast Cancer Walk this Sunday as part of the Noble Energy Team. It should be 68 degrees and sunny - so it should be a beautiful fall morning!

Will got a haircut this week too (from me, of course):
Since my starter went out we had my car towed to the mechanic this afternoon. Watching cars be towed is always fun - well maybe only when it's your car. (also fall is here! - yellow trees!)
My plan is to sell my car as soon as it's fixed. We'll see if that happens or not. I always think I'll sell it when things are bad - but then everything works again and I don't see the value of selling the car. We shall see.

And just for fun - because we are obsessed with our Abby Cat!
This is the catnip mouse that Abby chases everywhere.
:-)