Beauty

In my last post I had mentioned that living up here has made me realize that living in the snow has its perks.  One of those perks is being able to watch mother nature act in a way I never knew before.  I love the sights and sounds of snow.  I don't have to look far to admire the beauty that is all around me here when snow does make its way down.

I took the following photo because it is one of the first times I had seen an icicle in real life, right before my eyes

Ok, so there are a lot of little ones on it, but still I say it counts. :)  I also like the way the picture flows and for some reason it captures my eyes and makes me reflect on lines and how they can create a picture.


This next photo was cool for me because it took me back to my jr. high science class when we grew rock candy crystals in the lab.  I remember them tasting horrible, but they looked so cool.  The fact that I had grown them and that the experiment actually turned out was what made me so proud that day.

I took this next photo because I have always loved the look of trees all nicely aligned.  Maybe it is because I am naturally a person who likes to be organized.  Maybe it is because I find it fascinating that it is so abnormal for trees to be growing all aligned like soldiers.  I just know that this was a moment in time that I wanted to remember and wanted to capture so that I could hold on to the memories of it.

In this next picture wanted to capture the drift of the snow.  As you may well know I am new to the abilities of snow and I was fascinated this particular day to see how the snow lands on different parts of the branches.  When snow falls, it goes everywhere... duh, but my point being is that there are millions and billions of snow flakes falling, how is it that some land on branches and decorate the leaf-ridden tree to dress it for winter.

Here is another example of how the snow decorated my tree out in the front yard.

Growing up on the Central Coast of California and being able to watch the sunset on the beach I thought I was spoiled to see the most wonderful sunsets ever.  I thought that there would never be anything more beautiful then to see the sun going down past the ocean, as if it is sinking in to the water to light the world under the ocean.  I am delighted to say that some of the sunsets here have proven me wrong.  The sun may not be setting on the ocean, but it definitely gives a good show for setting behind the mountains.  I couldn't help but be so very grateful for the ability to watch the sunset and to see the gorgeous colors that it brings on.

This picture was taken on one of the most windy/snowy days we have seen.  The heavy snow had fallen and it was still coming down a little bit, but the winds were spreading it everywhere.  The picture looks like it is fuzzy and maybe looks like it is out of focus, but that is the winds and the snow blustering around outside.  It was so cool to see the looser snow gliding across the packed snow.  It was cool to step in an actual foot of snow.  This was the first time it had snowed hard enough to bring a bunch of it to our back yard.  I was so excited that I went outside to go play.  My dogs came out with me too and we all went crazy playing in the snow that went to just under my knees.

This last photo is one that I absolutely love.  It captures the winter wonderland that came and went so soon.  I  can honestly say that this is one of the prettiest things I have seen that snow can do.

I am blessed to be able to see winter this year and to experience the new life style that it brings.  I can say that I am so ready for Spring, ready to see all the trees around my house with leaves on them and ready for the birds and the flowers.  I am ready for the warmth that comes with the new season.  I hope everybody's winter was as fun as mine and that Spring time brings new life and happiness to you!

Snow...

The definition for snow is: frozen precipitation that falls in small white flakes.

To the natives here in Idaho, this year was a very very light winter, but to me, as a first time dweller in the snow, I thought it was enough to get the idea that snow is kinda fun and can be very pretty at times.  It can also be overrated, slippery, annoying and just plain cold.

We have loved the snow for the most part and made some new memories being able to play in it.  My sister, Carolyn, knew of a great hill on campus where we could go sledding.

Before we started we saw a well built snowman and just couldn't resist the picture opportunity.

After our photo-op with the snowman we turned our eyes toward the hill.  The hill looked amazingly fun from the bottom of it.  The climb up it in the snow was hard because there were no formal steps or a path to go up, so we just chose a spot and started climbing and climb we did.  It was almost straight up at some points.  Never fear though, we made it to the top (as you can tell from the picture below).  I was so nervous because I was scared that the bumps we had used on the way up to help grasp would in turn make for a bumpy ride down.  We found the smoothest part to go down and shouted "One, two, three..!"  and down the hill we went!  I don't think I have felt that much of a rush since going on the roller coasters at California Adventure for the first time.  It was amazing!  What I didn't realize (or plan on) was that on the way down I would get snow in my pants, up my nose, in my boots, down my jacket, in my hood, and everywhere else.  Note to self for next time: wear Under Armour so as to stay just a little but warmer.

This was my first time being able to go down a hill sledding!  It was amazing!!

Results= very happy and so ready to do it again!

Carolyn was with us on our first time down too!  She was the bravest because she sat in the front for the first time down.  We did hit one bump that caught her bum and made her soar for some days to come, but I know she had so much fun with us.

Carolyn and all the snow that got in our sled the first time we went down the big hill.

So we decided that once was not enough, and we went back up for another round of fun.  And another.  After that we decided it was a bit to dark where we were to go again (and frankly that hill was killer to climb up) so we decided to go to a littler hill across town by the hospital.  That was fun too, just in it's own way.

It was little enough for me to brave going down face first.  I would absolutely do it again (it was also a much smoother ride down since under us was grass and not a bunch of little plants under packed snow).

Here are some more pictures from the smaller hill.  We all took turns going down together.

It was a good time over all and we will probably be doing it again next year!

Who-da-ho?.... no... Idaho!

Yes, we made it to Idaho for school!  We had a good time on the drive up and could not have asked for any better weather.  Of course there were ups and downs to the whole trip, one of the biggest ones being that our 26 foot long moving truck's tire split.  Thankfully it was noticed when we stopped for gas just outside of Donner's Pass and so we did not have to deal with it on the side of the road.  What a blessing that was.  The second thing that didn't go as planned was that when we arrived up here (late at night) that our key was not where the rental company said it would be... yeah that made nobody happy.  Thankfully we were able to get in, I wont mention how, but we got in :).  The next day was spent unloading the moving truck... boy you never know how much stuff you actually have till you have to go through it all and pack it/unload it.  We found out the hard way that with just us two, we already have way too much stuff, but we love all our stuff.

Here is my sister Carolyn in the driver seat of our moving truck that had just been unloaded.

It took a few days of some serious box unpacking to get the necessities out, but we did it thanks to the wonderful help of my dad, mom and two sisters.  I don't think we could have gotten settled-in in such good timing had it not been for the help of family.  Thanks guys!

Our dogs watching us unload the truck... I was wishing they had hands at this point :)

We like our new house.  It has it's goods and bads, just like all things do, but overall I think we fit it pretty well.  The property is on a half acre, with a large backyard.  We love it because our dogs can go outside and play and have lots to do out there.  They love it probably more then we do.

Our backyard... and the first snow that we saw here.

I have to say that coming up here I was very nervous about how our dogs would react to the cold and the snow.  I figured Olivia would love it, and she does love it so much.  I didn't know quite how our two smaller dogs would like it though, turns out my gut instincts were right.  Belle loves the snow.  She loves to get her ball or Kong and play fetch in the snow.  She is definitely an independent girl and will do anything to go outside or stay there, even if she is cold and shaking because of being wet.  My gut instinct on Indie was spot on.  He hates the water... and the snow.  He will only go outside to do his business and then go right back on to the deck to go back inside.

Olivia's first time in snow.

Belle blending in ;)

Indie's first time in snow... yes in my arms because he 100% refused to get down.

Overall we are enjoying the new adventure that we find ourselves on.  We are happy to be experiencing new things that are helping us grow and learn.  Speaking of learning, school... well let's just get 'er done!!!

Hoping for a great 2012 with lots of new things and firsts!!

Time flies...

I think this past month has gone by way to fast.  So much has happened that it seems crazy the changes that are coming our way.  We found out some great news that is making us both so happy!  Jon was accepted to BYU-I and will be starting in January!  We are so excited to be able to move to a new place and meet new people.  It will be a different way of living life, but we are ready for it!  I think my biggest adjustment will be the snow... I am a total Southern California girl who loves the sunshine and the beach... not snow and ice.  I will just have top trade in my swimsuit for a snow suit!  We are excited to be able to get school going again.  We both have been waiting to go back to school, and now is the time.  There is so much to do and so little time to do it in!  I guess I should get off the blogging world and go and do more packing!  Woohoo for new chapters in life!  And the best part of it is that I get to have new adventures with my husband/best friend!

November...

Ahhh the month that I have grown to love more through the years.  As a child I remember November being the month where we made turkeys by tracing our hands and then coloring them to have pretty feathers.  I remember that in school I was on a track system (B track to be exact) and that this was the month that we had been waiting for.  We had been in school since August and now it was our track's turn to go on a longer break.  So we had off from around Thanksgiving time to about January.  It was so much fun.  I remember doing so much stuff like playing with my sisters dress up; playing house and store with my sisters; pretending that I was the teacher in our cool backyard play house with a big chalk board.  I remember one time one of my parent's asked us to clean up the back yard, part of that was raking all the extra grass up.  We did it, and I remember pretending that the back yard was the top of an old man's head and that he was loosing all his hair so I had to clean it up for him (Gulliver's travels kind of thing where he was a giant and I was one of the super small people).  Oh the imagination I developed as a child... reality has definitely taking it's place.  I will always love going back in memories and thinking about how I viewed the world through my eyes as a child.

I love November because the season changes and you can feel the change from warm Summer weather to the chilled crisp air that comes with Fall.  It is the month of thanks giving.  I have so much to be grateful for this year.  I am most grateful for the blessings that God has given us.  As we have had an interesting year so far with so many new experiences, we have come to rely on the Lord and His timing.  Things happen when it is the right time, not because of our desire to have them happen right when we wan them to.  I am so grateful for my husband and his hard working self to provide for our family.  He is my rock and an amazing person.  I am thankful for my dogs.  They are so loyal and happy to see you when you come in from a day of work.  They are definitely part of my support system too.

I love the change in colors as I look around at the hills of the area where we are at.  I love the reds and golden colors that are coming.  One thing I am looking forward to is the rainy season.  Not the rain itself (because that drives me bonkers) but the smell after the rain and the clean freshness to the air is amazing!  I wish I could capture it some how and have it with me, but then again it might not mean as much to me if I could have it at my finger tips to enjoy so much.

I am grateful for this month so that I can make a conscious effort to count my blessings.  I have so many and am truly blessed.

Here a little and there a little

Color that is!!  I found this new blog about color and how it can impact the life of not only your home, but your clothes, accessories, parties... you name it, color can impact it!!  Love it!!  I just painted our bedroom a beautiful color and am so happy with it!!  I didn't realize how much having white walls affected my likeness for my own room!!  Now all I want to do is be in my room because of the wonderful warmth that the newly painted colored walls give to it!!  I also think that this poster would look amazing in it!!  How inspirational!!




Check out where I found this lovely piece of art work click here!

Getting C

So I know this is very late, but this is our tip to get Carolyn from school in like... July. It was during the summer I know. It was my first time going to Idaho and I think it was a cool experience. Road trips are always fun... especially in the heat. I can tell you that I will not be living in Nevada!! Yuck! I think over all we had a good time. I Loved seeing the St George Temple. I hadn't been there for a long time. The Rexburg Temple is super nice too! Over all we were successfull at our mission of picking up C. Love you C!!

August 2011

August just started... or so it seemed.   It flew by way too fast!  Here are some photos from August of this year to sum it up shortly.

It was my birthday!!  Woohoo!!  I had a very nice day full of kind wishes and happiness!

We have gotten to spend time as sisters reunited... we love shoes!

The funny thing is that we took my brother to SLO for a day of fun and we (my sisters and I that is) ended up at Ross there trying on shoes while the boys went off and did manly bonding things :)

Me showing off my dirty arms and face from good ol' fashion hard work!

I have done lots of out door things and look tan... for a person who stays inside 90% of the day.  ;)  I pulled super big weeds from our yard!!!  So proud of myself for doing that!!!  I also had my family over to help move our pool from under the tree to out in the sunshine so that we could have it be a little warmer!!

We love our pool and the ability to swim whenever we want to.

I think the biggest thing that happened in the month of August is adopting the newest member of our family.  Her name is Olivia and she is nothing but love!

~Miss Olivia~

They think that she is part Vizla and part pitbull.  We just love her to death and are so happy to have her be a member of our family!  Belle and Indie are adjusting to having a new member of the family nicely and they think they themselves are big dogs anyways... so they are doing well!

As for Jon and I we are working hard at our jobs and living life to the fullest!!

August zoomed right past us and hopefully I will be able to keep up with September!

Love and hope all is well!

Pucker-up Lemon Sugar Cookies

My cousin has a blog that she just started.   She also happens to have great culinary skills (lucky for her husband!)  She has a recipe of the week and I made it tonight.  I just have to say that it was amazing!  You should try making them!  They are so simple and the results are over the top!  Here is her blog and the link to the recipe: YummY to myTummY cookies!

Enjoy!

July 4th 2011

I know this is like a week late, but it is ok with me.  My sister had a brilliant idea to have a 4th of July BBQ at our place this year!  We mainly agreed because of two reasons: we had gone to the beach the day before and noticed that it was packed with people (can't blame them, it was a gorgeous day!) and the second reason is because of this:

We got our own pool!!!  I am so excited about this!  I can swim whenever I want to now!  This has been my childhood dream since.... well forever.  I love to swim and will enjoy our pool so much!

We had a lovely time with family here.

And we ate super good food!

We had a fantastic day!  Thanks for the idea Leann!

We love you!!!

We were also able to attend a breakfast that the Stake puts on every year.  It was nice to see so many people there and to honor those who have served and are serving our country.  We love being Americans!