... To the very best part every day, from the moment I wake up to the moment we say goodnight (even if sharing a queen bed hasn't been a favorite... :) I love you to the moon and back and can't imagine navigating through life with anybody else now that I have you. Thank you for making six months the very best I've ever had. I sure do love you a whole lot.

a little place called the shire.

A few years ago while I was in New Zealand, we visited a little town called Hobbiton, famously known as The Shire. Honestly, it's amazing. I've never been a LOTR fanatic, but it was unbelievable how much work they put into just one set that only has a little time on screen! When we were there, we had to sign a disclosure form before going on the tour, agreeing that we would not post any of the pictures online since it was still in use for the filming of The Hobbit; now that the filming has finished, we are finally allowed to post away!

It's truly unbelievable, (like the rest of New Zealand, really) and I can't wait to show Max in a few weeks! Except truth be told, my favorite part of the whole tour had to be bottle feeding the baby lambs at the very end :) I'd take one home with me if I could.

our first thanksgiving.

November can really be summed up in three syllables: last weekend. The rest of the month was great, but it can't beat four days of Christmas movies, leftovers, and apple pie (and Max all to myself!) We spent the weekend up in Salt Lake, staying overnight in our favorite hotel and seeing the lights on Temple Square. Minus the crowds, it's always so pretty.

Not pictured:
Earlier this year I thought I had found the deal of the century on a $2.50 baby turkey. If you know me, you know I capital LOVE/love turkey. I called my mom about this and she said there was no such thing. I insisted that there was, that it was currently sitting in my freezer, and when I showed her a picture, all I had to do was read the fine print: I had purchased a baby hen. I still have no comment.

To make matters worse, I called my mom just last week telling her of the good news again! I had really found a baby turkey this time! Since Max and I were spending Thanksgiving day with his family, we decided to have a mini-Thanksgiving dinner of our own the night before, and this baby turkey would be perfect.

Unfortunately, when I told my mom the good news, she reminded me (again) that there is no such thing as a baby turkey -- never has been, never will be. I told her she was wrong, I even checked it twice. It was indeed a baby turkey, perfect for two! So I went ahead with the preparations, thawed it the night before, got home from work ready to put it in the oven and... I had purchased processed turkey meat. I had no idea there was even such a thing. Little cubes of white and dark meat and I nearly fell over in my kitchen. It looked bad, real bad. My first thought was to cancel Thanksgiving, but I did what I always do and I called my mother. She told me I should never be allowed to go grocery shopping, and reminded me that I could always buy a fresh turkey (no thawing!) and still have it ready that night! So I ran to the store at four in the afternoon, picked up a real honest-to-goodness-turkey, and four hours later... we feasted.

And then I burned the pumpkin pie.


Our first Thanksgiving as a married couple was what I would call memorable. Alls well that ends well, I say.

christmas and forgiveness.

Christmas is my favorite time of year, and almost more than any other year before, Christmas this year has been most needed.

2012 has been an unimaginably wonderful year, but growing has inevitably been a part of it. I have often thought on the lessons I learned in a book (which I've mentioned before) called The Peacegiver. If I could, I would send it to every person I know, or stand on street corners handing it out. I loved it, I loved its teachings, its messages, and its relevance no matter what you believe or ascribe to. At the time I was reading it, though, I had no idea how many more situations would come in the following months where I would need to remember those feelings I had felt before.

To be quite honest, there have been times I have found myself conflicted with those teachings and feelings that I had once felt with so much confidence; there have been times since when I have desperately struggled to fully accept and emulate those lessons, especially when it comes to forgiving those who seem not the least bit concerned with any injury or pain they've caused others. I'd be lying if I said it were easy.

This Christmas season, though, I've made it my primary goal to focus not only on the birth of our Savior, but on His life. What His life has meant for me, what the purpose of His life was (and is), and what that means not only during Christmas, but every other day of the year: good or bad, better or worse... Especially the worse.

"We are not perfect. The people around us are not perfect. People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way. Nevertheless, we must let go of our grievances. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things. That is the Lord’s way. Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive."

                               --President Dieter F. Uchtdorf



I saw this video a few years ago, and I was entirely amazed (and especially moved) by this story and his dependence and faith in Christ, and his willingness to forgive. An amazing story, and an incredible example.

treasures.

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  --Thornton Wilder

So grateful for my many, many blessings this year. Groceries, warm blankets, and phone calls from friends and family. So, so, so grateful this year especially for my best friend, for making five months of marriage (today!) the "best of" my life. So many treasures to be thankful for, all the year through.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Photo via Kinfolk Magazine

that's what's up.

I'm pretty sure that this is the cutest video,
ever, ever.

leaving the country.

It will come as no surprise to anyone that I was clearly disappointed Governor Romney did not win the election last night, (disappointed is an understatement, and for those of you more optimistic than I, I am genuinely glad that there are people like you out there!) At the very least, we got to throw somewhat of a mini party with our friends last night, who, when the tides had turned, helped keep things somewhat cheery :) (thanks guys).

As for leaving the country, no, we're not leaving because I didn't vote for the President who won, but it is because our tickets are all booked, and we are officially ready to spend the last few weeks of 2012 in sunny and glorious New Zealand! This will be our last trip out to the country for quite some time, (perhaps our last trip out there as an entire family, ever) since my parents move home in February, and will be on to new adventures elsewhere; so I've already started my checklist! Day trips to Devonport, my all-time favorite, Bay of Islands, even a 13 hour plane ride with hobbits (genius)-- yes, it is no secret that Max and I are holding out to meet Bilbo Baggins. 

Bon voyage, mon amour!

the future of america tonight.

"It's been a part of the American experience to know that its future is better than its past...Let us begin that future for America tonight."

I voted early, and nearly ran once we parked the car to get in line outside of the Utah County Health building, to wait patiently for my own turn at the polls. I'll have to be honest in admitting that regardless of what the majority of my fellow Americans vote tonight, and even though I so desperately hope that the next President of the United States will be Governor Mitt Romney, I felt proud (as I'm sure we all do) that I was voting as an American first and foremost, for a future of a country that I so gratefully and proudly believe in.

october.

 Note:
-I married a pumpkin carving connoisseur.  Max takes these things so seriously, but claims it's because it's his first Halloween in three years.
-Max also tagged along with me and my dad to his first ever BYU football game. I think he enjoyed himself, minus the cougar fight song. He refused to sing along with that.
-Witches night out this year was another success!
-If you're not into really, really scary movies, (like me) anything black and white will do. Cape Fear, Twilight Zone episodes, Rear Window... some of our favorites this year.
-And I'm always amazed at how much we get into our murder mystery dinner parties. I almost convinced myself that I had actually had an affair with Al Capone in 1928.

And wish us luck as we throw our first (ever) Halloween party. Homemade root beer and trick-or-treat bags all thanks to Pinterest will be on the menu, (ps. remind me to tell you which gift bag not to recreate, because it's impossible to be that cute, and I wasted two boxes of brownies on it) - anddd no UVU dances for me this year, thank you very much.

And thank you, dear month of October, for always being so great. I'll be missing you these next 11 months, until we meet again.

disneyland!

Unfortunately, I took maybe four pictures while we were in Disneyland for the remainder of the weekend; too many fun things to do, and I made zero time to capture all of our memories (regretted)... So what I do have to say, is that out of all the many trips out there with family and friends before, my trip with Max had to be my all-time favorite. He hadn't been since he was a little, so it was like going with a seven-year old version of Max. 14 hour marathon days park hopping (even though we were both exhausted by the end of the trip!) was the best.

And just for future reference: Mickey's Halloween party was like, the best Halloween party ever. They give you handfuls (handfuls!) of candy (and only the good kind!) at all 390,483 candy stations throughout the park. Plus all the rides have zero lines because everyone else is excited about the trick-or-treating. After stopping at only two of the stations, Max and I ran around the park like crazy getting on as many rides as possible (completing 21 rides in four hours!) eating two bags worth of candy! I had to stop at one point and just jump up and down. Not a joke. I was just so excited! This felt like every kids dream come true! And even though we had had enough of a sugar high to last us a month, we made sure to stop for some pineapple dole whips - theyrethebest.

Thesis statement: Disneyland is the happiest place on earth.
Add candy, costumes and no lines? Happiest-est place ever.

PS. Radiator Springs is totally worth the wait.