Christmas Wrap Up

We were surrounded by family the entire weekend.

We were able to see some of my extended family Christmas Eve which was very nice, and then we were able to spend the rest of the time with Tylers family. We were also able to SKYPE my family on Christmas. That was a lot of fun!

My favorite part of Christmas was when it was just Tyler and I at our apartment cooking our first little Christmas dinner together. I am so grateful for all of the gifts I have received this past year, the best one being that I was able to marry my best friend in the Temple.

1st Christmas

Crazy to think this is our 1st official Christmas together!

I had so much fun shopping for Tyler, and we had fun starting new traditions throughout the month. We have already thought of a few things to remember for next year!

You HAVE to have new Christmas Eve PJs!

Our favorite gifts.

Trip to Colorado

My BFF moved to Colorado and I finally got to visit her! It was so much fun to catch up with her and see her new city!

Highlights Included:

Seeing Breaking Dawn

Ate a lot of great food

Took at ghost tour at the Stanley Hotel

Volunteering at her Christmas Kids Work party

Thanks for such a fun weekend!!

See you soon.

Christmas Eve

What we Made:

Dutch Pancakes

Dill Dip & Veggie Tray

Muddy Buddies {hadn't eaten these since 3rd grade}

Cookie Dough Dip

Where we Went:

Temple Square to see The Testaments

Deseret Book {bought the CUTEST Nativity}

Syracuse for lunch with family

Tylers Parents for Christmas Eve Night

Home for Christmas Eve Pajamas and reading the real Christmas Story

It was a good day.

Christmas Eve 2011.

Gingerbread Sleigh and Temple Square

Just some more traditions...

Lights @ Temple Square

&

Decorating our gingerbread sleigh! {Growing up we decorated a sleigh every year-- I have missed this tradition since moving away from home!}

Tylers Side

My Side

The front!

Christmas Baking

We love to bake! We made some treats to share and it was a blast.

We made...

Mint Fudge (All Tyler)

Sugar Cookies w/ Peppermint Kisses x3

Hello Dollies

Pecan Sandies

and

Sugar Cookies (All Tyler)

We gave to our Home Teachees,Visiting Teachees, Friends at work, Family, and ourselves!

Traditions.

My family has a fun tradition of going bowling on Christmas Eve. It is one of my favorite traditions. Read about duck pin bowling in 2008... I have only missed 2 years of this tradition! I knew we would be too busy on Christmas Eve to go, so Tyler and I went on Saturday. It was a night of firsts-- Tyler and I had never been bowling together! How weird is that?! Also-- I have never been bowling with just one other person! Those games go F-A-S-T!

I love this tradition and I am so glad that we are going to continue it with our family!

Festival Of Trees

I love traditions. I love being a part of traditions and I love starting new traditions. I do not think its ever too late to start a new tradition! It is our 1st Christmas together {last year we were engaged and I was NOT in the holiday spirit...just ask Tyler about the meltdown I had in the mall parking lot last year over socks} and I am LOVING carrying on and starting our very own traditions! We were able to go to the Festival of Trees and see all of the beautiful trees {and gingerbread houses} on display.

Love the colors!

The Up House!

Sisters.

I feel so blessed to have such wonderful sisters. It is tough to live so far away from them and feel like I am missing out on so much, but it has made me very grateful for the time I do get to share with them. I love talking to them on the phone, and texting them about what is going on in our lives. I am already looking forward to seeing them this summer!!

They both make me so proud.

I love you ladies!!

Thanksgiving

As usual, Thanksgiving was AMAZING! It is so nice to be surrounded by family and friends.

Hightlights Included

I was able to fly out a little before to spend time with family.

I got to see Emily in her cheer competition-- so fun to be there!

I got to see Cara perform up at school-- so talented!

Tyler surprised us all by flying out early-- I have never been so surprised in my life!

Bureau of Engraving with Tyler and of course Bens Chili Bowl!

A LOT of laughing, eating, and NERTZ!

Team TOG (The Old Guys) Winning.

I had some time to reflect on things while I was out there, and while I came up with a lot of different things the most important is that, when it really comes down to it we have so much to be thankful for.

Already looking forward to JMTP9

Happy Birthday Cara!!!

Cara is a freakin' rock star.

I love this girl soooooo much.

She is such an example to me. We have made some awesome memories togheter. I am so lucky to not only have a sister but a friend.

I cannot believe she is 21 today.

So happy I am here to celebrate with her!

Love you.

11/11/11

I believe that wishes do come true. As cheesy as that sounds, I really do believe that!
If I am looking at the clock at 11:11 I always make a wish.
I make my wishes count when I blow out candles too.
If I am lucky enough to see a shooting star... I make a wish on that too.

I am pretty sure making all those wishes is how I got Tyler.

Today is 11/11/11 which means at 11:11 you must make the best wish you can think of!!
Better make it count!

Date Night.

When Tyler got home from school last night he came home to a poem on the door.

"I know its a little late

For a Halloween themed date.

There will be pumpkins, popcorn, and coco to share

Come on in if you dare."

I'm sure my creative writing teacher would have been impressed with that.

We never carved our pumpkins-- we got crazy busy with other other activities! I am so glad we waited because after Halloween we were able to pick up a pumpkin carving kit {I ALWAYS wanted one}!

Tyler and the Pumpkin Guts

For some reason I remember pumpkin carving being extremely messy-- I think the last pumpkin I carved was when I was 10. It was not messy at all-- very civilized.

The final result!!

I think it turned out super cute!

I also made pumpkin hot chocolate-- delicious.

and

Popped homemade popcorn-- in a pot over the stove!! It was seriously so fun {I am easily impressed}. Tyler did a video of the popcorn-- I will try to find it!

It's Already November!

How on earth is it already November?? Most of the time I am counting the days to get to November, but this year it snuck up on me!! November is one of my very favorite months because it is Fall...the leaves are changing and falling...oh yeah and McNeil-Janes Palooza aka Thanksgiving! So excited.

Us last Thanksgiving!

I was just looking at my November posts from last year and they are all about wedding preperations-- hard to believe that was all happening a year ago! What an amazing year it has been!

Las Vegas

October was crazy busy for us!

During Fall Break we were able to sneak away to Las Vegas for a few days.

It was very relaxing!

The highlight of the trip was seeing Jersey Boys. It was amazing! So amazing that we had to stop in Mesquite on the way home to buy the soundtrack! We were defintely the youngest people in the audience-it was so cute to see all of the people around us singing along! I leaned over to Tyler and said, "this is like if they make a musical of N'Sync." I am by no means saying N'Sync did not have the cultural impack that Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons had!

Halloween

It's funny how holidays evolve as you grow up, and then I am sure they evolve again once you have kids of your own! I made some delicious chili for dinner and then we had homemade pumpkin chocolate cake with pumpkin buttercream frosting for dessert! We got ZERO trick-or-treaters, unless they came while we were gone from 8:30-10:00pm. We only have 10 pieces of candy left...so I'm not quite sure what happened there! {I am so jealous of the people who say they don't like sugary stuff.}

My Gryffyndore scarf {Tyler has a matching one}. Thanks Mom!

Some Halloween Treats.

A tiny little baby! We were able to visit Sharlene, Matt, and their baby girl!

Halloween Decorations

Decorating space is limited at our household-- so I just decorate one of our tables in the living room. Since we are just starting out we do not have too many decorations so it works out perfectly! I glittered my own pumpkins over the month-- a combination of Krylon Glitter Spraypaint (we have a love/hate relationship- thankfully Krylon has excellent customer service) & glitter acrylic paint. I saw a ton of tutorials on using Martha Stewart Glitter but that is a bit pricy for me. Tyler and I went to town on glittering those pumpkins. I have a few more to glitter for next Halloween! The skull was from the $1 bin at Target!

Ghost Tour.

Tyler was able to get some tickets to the Ogden Ghost Tour.

It was awkwardly hilarious.

I did learn some interesting things about Ogden-- basically it was a huge brothel and ghosts LOVE to mess with doors.

Sorry the pictures are blurry-- must have been the ghosts {sometimes they like to mess with the cameras}.

Hee Haw

Tyler and I had a Groupon {Groupon is the best} to Hee Haw Farms. We tried going at the beginning of the month but got rained out! We tried again Friday night, and it was a success!

Us and our pumpkins

They had a lot to offer-- including a haunted forest {Tylers idea}. It was a lot of fun-- but I am a HUGE WIMP. Within 2 minutes I thought I was going to vomit-- with the bridge turning, lights flashing, smoke everywhere, and this spinny thing ahead of me I was a MESS! We hadn't event gotten to the "spooks" yet. Whenever a "spook" got in my face I screamed, and I screamed loudly. I honestly was scared, but I also thought if I screamed loudly they wouldn't be as in my face. Incorrect. The scariest spook {besides the chainsaw in my face, who I accidentally kicked} was this spook who followed us {I had my face mostly covered} who got right in my face and whispered, "You have a pretty face". I just about peed my pants. I also kept repeating, "I'm going to be sick, I'm going to puke" hoping to keep the spooks away... didn't work! Let me tell you-- if I was a spook I would stay away from the girl saying she was about to vomit. We survived the forest better than the group behind us. Let's just say, some had wet pants and decided to forgo the hay ride back and walk the half mile back to the farm. That would make for an awkward night.

We got back to the farm, and picked out our pumpkins! Of course, this ENTIRE time Tyler did not flinch even once.

It was quite the date night!

See You Soon

Having Cara visit was seriously so much fun!

I was so sad to see her leave. I watched her walk into the airport and I got all teary eyed. I typically am the one who is walking into the airport but that day I got to be on the other side of the situation! I am so proud of her. She is amazing. I cant wait to see her in less than a month!

Canyon with the Sister

We wanted to take Cara up in the canyon to see the leaves and eat hot-dogs and s'mores!!

We went up Sunday after church. It was so fun! It made us super excited for the Fire Pit at the Cabin!

Tyler building that fire.

We pose the same way.

{I taught her at a very young age.}

After the canyon we came home and watched a scary movie. Tyler was in heaven- since I would never offer to watch a scary movie, but with Cara there it was 2 against 1! Luckily Cara had seen the movie before so she could prepare me!

Caras Visit: Part 1

We were so excited to have Cara visit us for a few days!!

Welcome!!

We picked Cara up Saturday morning-- poor thing had to stay in Atlanta.

We rested for an hour or so and ate delicious pumpkin pancakes before heading up Bountiful to see some cousins! Later that night Cara and I did some shopping-- she got some really cute things! All businessy and what not.

We ate some more-- {Chicken Alfredo}

and then made

Caramel Apples!

It was so fun and they turned out awesome!!

Cara is a professional apple dipper!

We did apple pie and sprinkles!!!

Rolls.

Over the weekend I went on a baking frenzy.

I made home-made rolls-- used my G'pas recipe but with whole wheat flour!! I also made some delicious honey butter.

Ohhhh and made baby cinnamon rolls with the left over dough.

I was in a carb coma for the rest of the weekend...

More Taylor

I have been a Taylor Swift fan since her first c.d. I remember listening to the songs over and over and over again. They were all songs about relationships gone wrong, or wanting to be in love. So basically any 19 year old girl (myself included) could relate. Then her next cd came out that had my favorite "Love Story". I specifically remember listening to her songs and thinking, "these songs are the soundtrack to my life. Ifeel like I came full circle from relating to the relationships gone wrong songs to the being in lots of LOVE songs. That is why I think it is so neat that I was able to go to her conert with the love of my life {who SURPRISED me with tickets}!

We sat next to a couple clearly on their first date-- it was a.w.k.w.a.r.d. I didn't think there would be a second date until I saw him down a large popcorn all by himself, and then I knew there would not be a second date. I just hope Taylor Swift isn't ruined for them. I went to a Smashmouth concert once on an AWFUL blind date, and now I can't listen to Smashmouth (haha).

Thanks again for such an amazing surprise!

Taylor + Tyler + Me = Awesome

Tuesday night Tyler surprised me with tickets to see
Taylor Swift!!!!!!! He should have recorded it because I am sure it was a sight to see.

Tyler is NOT a fan of country music. I am slowly breaking this country music barrier down, so for Tyler to get these tickets AND to go with me is EXTREMELY sweet. {I know he has a soft spot for T.Swift though.}

It was an amazing.

She is extremely talented, and is so adorable!

Her show was fantastic.

More details to come...

Cabin Time

Tyler and I had a quick get away to the cabin this weekend! It was wonderful.

My in-laws were able to come too- I hope they enjoyed their stay as well!

Of course I did not take any pictures except for the FIRE PIT!! It is just about done- and it is going to be so awesome. Can't hardly wait.

Hightlights Included

Going to Cedar to see "Dial M for Murder"

Sonnys BBQ

Margarita Chicken Tacos

French Toast & White Chocolate Pancakes

Grafton- the Ghost Town was having a reunion so all the buildings were open

Sleeping In

Watching the movie An Affair To Remember

Thanks Mom & Dad for letting us use the cabin!!!

Happy Birthday Schpoops!

Happy Birthday to my Dad!!

Or should I say

Spencer Tracy?!

When they speak they sound just like each other.

I noticed this while watching Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

Especially during the last scene.

Happy Birthday Dad! I hope its a great one!

8 Months

Tyler and I have been married for 8 months {yesterday}. Can hardly believe it. Somedays it feels like years {in a good way} other days it feels like just yesterday. I can say with certainty that I love him more today than I did 8 months ago. I would always hear people say that love grows exponentially, and you will love someone more tomorrow than you did yoday. I found it hard to believe because I knew that I loved Tyler and it was a lot of love. Its true though, because my love for him grows every. single. day.

We went on a night hike a few nights ago.

I know that I married a wonderful man. He proves that to me day in and day out. He is patient. He is kind. He is smart. He doesn't mind when I wake him up in the middle of the night because I had an awful dream. He is genuine. He is mine.

Best. Dinner. Ever.

A few months ago Tyler and I were watching a cooking show and they were cooking chicken by making it thin, filling it with deliciousness, and then tieing it up with twine. I am sure there is an actual cooking term for this- but I don't know it, so when I searched for recipes I thought I found something but it was not really what I wanted. However, it gave us a start. It gave us a recipe for the filling, and I made up the rest.

I pounded out chicken breasts with my meat mallett. They were perfectly thin after I was finished with them. Then we filled it with a mixture of goat cheese, bacon, and green onion from this recipe.

Then we rolled it, peppered it, and tied it up with twine.


We browned it in the skillet.
Then baked for a little bit.


Our finished result!!

The pictures do not do the chicken justice. It may have been the best meal we have ever made. Top three for sure.

Eaten with rice and a green salad-- wonderful Sunday meal!!

GYGI.

Sprinkles Galore.

Ahhhhhh....

Finally made it to GYGI.

It took some HUGE will power not to buy the entire store, and just buy our icing tip.

Cannot wait to go back.

Greek Festival

Tyler and I were supposed to go to Peach Days on Saturday. We had it all planned to stay with my G'pa & G'ma but Tyler had to be responsible so we hatched a plan B which involved attending the Greek Festival! It was so much fun. There is nothing like watching lamb on a spit.

We had already eaten a late lunch so we just got delicious desserts. I am a big fan of baklava and galactoboureko. I need to learn to make baklava-- however, I think it may be one of those things best left to the Greek bakery. We watched some performances of traditional Greek dancing, and also enjoyed some awesome people watching. It was a fun way to spend a Saturday evening!

Can't wait for Peach Days & Greek Festival 2012!

Date Night.

I know this isn't the best picture of the Draper Temple, but I still love it.

Tyler and I went last night and it was wonderful.

Even though it is hard to find time to go, and to make the necessary preperations to get there on time, it is always worth it.