the kids and their costumes

I am really happy we could be here for Halloween and see Matt's nephews and sister dress up. We had forgotten how awesome Halloween is. We loved seeing the costumes, watching Brandon and Justin pass out candy and the kids willing to share their loot with us wasn't so bad either.

independence day

With fireworks for sale on what seems like every block around us and lack of regulation we have enjoyed hearing fireworks every night this past week. Matt described it well when he said our drive home last night was like a war zone because you never knew what house or street was going to set off the next firework.

We celebrated the night of the Fourth at Fort Vancouver. An inactive military base that was used from the time of the Civil War to WWII and the former home of Ulysses S. Grant.

Next to the Fort is the oldest operating airfield where a biplane was available for rides. We enjoyed people watching, the vendors and the impressive firework display. Since the Fort is on a hill, we also got peeks at all the other firework shows going on across Portland and the Columbia River.

I love my country and thankful for all the servicemen and women!

father's day weekend

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

all hallow's eve weekend

 

 

I was impressed by the amount of people dressed up as we ran errands this weekend. Halloween is awesome. We can't believe how big Matt's nieces and nephews are getting when we see them in pictures in their costumes. I can't get enough of it. It makes me so excited to dress up our future little ones. They are going to look ridiculous.

Lindsay went above and beyond for her murder mystery dinner. Just look at that food! We had never been to one before and it was unique and fun. Everyone looked amazing in their costumes. Matt's character name was Jules and I was Desiree.

For Halloween dinner, Rach brought bread bowls shaped and colored to look like pumpkins. I take forever cooking (no matter what I do I am just slow cutting, peeling, dicing, grating...), so Matt helped me with the butternut squash soup and it turned out delicious. Chipotle spice was key.

happy halloween!!!

 

Love, Jim Morrison and hippie

(Yes, Mom, that is your belt. I made sure Matt took good care of it.)

4th of july festivities

For the 4th yesterday, Matt put together his amazing shish kabobs and we had a nice, little picnic in front of our apartment. He put so much love and care into preparing these puppies, it made me a little jealous. I'll offer my help whenever he cooks, but I don't think he trusts me.

Today was the parade and this morning we woke up to a hot air balloon right outside our window. This is my first 4th of July celebration in Provo and I never knew what a big deal it is until I experienced all the festivities. There is no regulation for fireworks and we have heard fireworks go off every night this past week.

Matt, Rach and Manti ran up with the little kids to be sprayed with the fire hose.

After the parade we drove down the canyon to float the Provo River. The view of the mountains from the river was beautiful. We bought tubes that we thought wouldn't pop (luckily they didn't, a first), but the water was FREEZING, more than usual. And any part of my body that wasn't burned before is no doubt burned to a crisp now. Time for us to take a break from the sun and let our skin recover. I have a love/hate relationship with the sun. I know I will get a nice tan, but it will cause way more damage in the long run.

happy birthday nathan and america!

Every 4th of July growing up meant two things:

Celebrating the Independence of the US of A

&

Nathan's birthday.

(Must be nice to have fireworks every year on your birthday!)

I am so grateful for my brother. He is funny, smart, outgoing, hard-working, a great dancer, and loves his little sisters and family very much. Happy birthday big bro!

Nathan's wedding. February 2010.

I have the best brothers. Two have/are serving in the military and you can't celebrate the 4th of July without celebrating all those who have sacrificed and served to protect us and our freedoms. It takes a lot of courage and love for our country to be a member of the armed forces. We owe them for all we have.

Steve in Afghanistan. March 2010.

I stole this picture from Adrianne's blog. I couldn't find pictures of Matt in his Navy attire, but Luke is looking precious in the camo. Matt and Luke in San Diego. 2008. I hope Matt and I have cute babes like Adrianne and Matt!

Aren't my brothers handsome? I am so proud of them for who they are and what they have become! I am one lucky sister.


Last weekend, Matt and I drove to Pocotello, Idaho to spend time with Matt's Grandma and Dad. We went through his Grandma's old pictures and had the favorites copied at Kinkos. It was really fun to look through the old black an white photos.

 This is Matt's grandpa, Tolbert. During WWII, he lied about his age and enlisted in the Navy at 17. He fought in the Pacific as a Seabee with the rank of MOMM1 (Motor Machinist Mate 1st Class) and earned the Purple Heart.

America is the greatest country in the world and I am so blessed to live here!

happy father's day!

I am so grateful for my Dad. He is hardworking, generous, loves helping others, the nicest guy you will ever meet, will talk to anyone and everyone, can make anyone feel good about themself, super athletic, positive, very passionate (he could turn any conversation into him convincing you to run a marathon or to join the military), goofy, knows EVERYONE, and I am so lucky that he is my Dad! I am so grateful for his example in my life. I only hope I will accomplish as much as he has in his life.

Matt started to complain after seeing my post about my dad, saying that "this is SO your blog." And this is what he gets.

This is Matt and Bill on their Yucatan/ Belize Ruins Trip. Here they are at Lamanai (quite possibly the city of King Lamoni).

Matt and his Dad are a lot alike. They are passionate about Mayan Ruins, Mexico, discussing Church history, they love Trivial Pursuit, their familes, speaking Spanish and probably would just travel together all the time if they could. I'm lucky Matt was raised by such a great Dad and to be apart of Bill's family.

Matt is going to have to start adding to the blog because "this is SO our blog."

a life-changing book and mother's day

Dale Carnegie is better known for his book How to Win Friends and Influence People (and the next book I am going to read), but the most recent book I have read by Carnegie has in a large way changed my life. It is called How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. My mom read it when she was 29 and she gave it to me to read because she knows of my battle with the unknown and my unconstructive desires to control what happens to me.

I strongly believe that anyone who reads this book will gain some kind of invaluable knowledge to live by. Even if you have no worries and are completely happy, you will have a greater appreciation for your life aftering reading the hundreds of stories and interviews Carnegie uses to justify his advice and methods to conquering worry. Carnegie has covered every possible topic and method of living a happy, fulfilling life without worry and they are all equally important. I can't say enough how amazing this book is. It is an easy read and is practically 341 pages of stories and knowledge of awe-inspiring people from Christ to Benjamin Franklin and so many more scholars and leaders that we can learn from.

This book was written in 1948 and gives fasinating examples of how people overcame worry during the depression, war, and unimagineable situations most of us will never be faced with. I would read this book just for the history and to learn more about the amazing people Carnegie learned from to write this book.

This book has changed my life and has given me a new perspective on what I can do to improve myself and attitude towards the unknown.

At the beginning of the book, Carnegie gives the advice to read each chapter twice before moving on to the next and to take notes. I did read each chapter twice before moving on and regret not taking notes. I was happy to read each chapter twice before moving on. The information is THAT valuable and the stories are THAT fascinating. I loved reading this book.

I am so grateful my mom gave me this book.
Speaking of my mom...yesterday was Mother's Day!
We went to church, ate brunch, opened presents, napped, swam, played games and watched the nba playoffs. It was a fun day celebrating the greatest mom ever.

The day before Mother's Day; Rach, mom and I went to Thanksgiving Point for the Beehive Bazaar (craft show) and walked around the gardens there.

The lady at the front desk told us about the new owl and its babies at the waterfall. The owl's head moved like a robot.

Besides all this excitement, Matt and I were able to see Matt's mom, Aunt Deena and cousins as they came to Utah for a short day trip for Matt's great Aunt's 80th birthday. It was at a beautiful park up American Fork Canyon and made me more anxious to spend time this summer hiking and camping. I love Utah in the summer!