Scrapbook

I decided to post a few of the pages on here from the scrapbook I made for Austin...I actually really enjoyed working on this and finally got it sent a little bit ago...unfortunately I didn't get to give it to him in person, but he loved it =)

Shoes

Had to post a picture of my awesome new shoes...The other day mom and I shopped till we dropped and this was one of many awesome deals I scored. Not only is my favorite color blue, but I've been wanting some casual shoes other than flip flops since my toes have been freezing. Later on I found out that they're also made out of hemp and bamboo and recycled products...pretty sweet, huh?!

Union meeting

So these are the young kids that are closest too us...almost two hours away =/ They live in Blythe California were we go to union sunday so unfortunately we don't get to see them too often. But this picture was from last union meeting...it was really bright out hence the reason we're all squinting. I really miss being around young professing kids, but glad we have Britney, Ciara, and Dustin...We use to see Alyssa more often too before she moved, but she is now engaged and I'm very happy for them! Excited for their wedding next month!

Random

I don't have anything terribly exciting to write about, but since I haven't written anything lately I'll give a few random new minor things:
-I'm almost done with the last book from the Twilight series and have loved reading them...I'm definitely not normally into anything sci-fi-ish, but loved these books
-I'm still working on my weight...nothing too exciting has happened though, but I'll be sure to write about it when it does...the last 15 pounds go sooo sloooooow - ugh! I'm still making progress though
-I finished my online classes...with A's!
-I have a new found love of kiwi...I've always liked it, but recently it has been tasting REALLY good
-I'm so excited for Blake&Tammie!
-I'm happy for Landon&Alyssa too...excited to go to their wedding next month and of course see Pete&Deena
-I'm also very excited to see all my family next month!
-I'm pretty sure I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have such a sweet guy =]
-I need to clean my disasterous room!

Texas trip/updates

I'm a bit late on updating my blog, but things have been so busy lately! I'll start with Texas: words can't suffice, but it was amazing! SO much fun...we did so many things...It was really great to be able to hug and kiss Austin every day and spend a lot of time together as well as getting to know the rest of the family more! We started off by making stockings...Zoe sewed mittens for the girls and stockings for the boys...then we went to Joann's and all got our own decorating supplies and decorated our stockings...everybody had such good ideas and were super creative. Christmas eve we opened stocking stuffers with a fire going...it was so cozy! Then on Christmas we had a fabulous dinner and opened Christmas gifts...for gifts we exchanged names which made it simpler and a little more financially friendly. In the days following we we did a lot of really fun activities...we played wii, guitar hero, played quite a bit of sports at the park - tennis, baseball, football, ultimate Frisbee etc., went ice-skating, went bowling, made quite a few starbucks trips in between everything, went shopping a few different times, went paint balling, went to six flags, ate LOTS of yummy food, and went to the Stockyards in Fort worth...the stockyards had some really neat shops and bars and different activities and historical type stuff...it was also very country-ish. Those were some of the main things we did and I could go into great detail about each experience, but that would take a realllly long while...everything we did though was so much fun - and of course the people you do it with makes it even better =) Overall I had an amazing and wonderful time...I felt very spoiled and lucky! As for my weight and being on vacation I didn't do too bad...YES we had a lot of really good, heavy food, but we were super active which made up for it...being back home has been hard to be good because I've been so busy and don't have a regular good routine going yet...I'm working at it...and I think once things get settled down more I'll be able to do better. My grandparents are here and our old neighbors - Randy, Evie and Mickey Hansen are here, plus i'm doing regular school and online school and I've had a nasty cold...thankfully I think it's getting better! I have lots to do though on my to do list...One of these days maybe things will slow down and I'll make some progress...maybe even get a good nights sleep! Austin and I made some new years resolutions also and one of the deals we made was to both exercise everyday...I did start doing that when we got back but then I got a bad cold which kept me from hitting the gym...soon though! And Austin has been sticking to everything he said he was going to do some I'm really proud of him! Anyways given that updating my blog was on my to do list, it probably isn't as productive as some other things I could be doing so I should stop...but thats pretty much whats going on with me right now!

Holidays/Texas trip pictures

So I figured I would do one entry of photos and one entry of writing about my trip...but i'm going to have to do the writing one tomorrow because it is really late and I have to get up early...I haven't gotten a good nights sleep in a long time...thats on my list of things to do =) Anyways here are some photos...I tried to not put tons on here but its hard to pick and choose

This neat little bar we went into that had cowboy hats all over the walls and ceilings

These were alan jacksons huge handprints! We went to this place called Billy bobs at the stockyards in fortworth...it is a big bar/club/restaurant/performance hall/entertainment place...I don't know how to describe it but it was very western like...a very famous spot for famous country singers to perform...and they had tons of famous handprints...

Hootie and The blow fish

Dance floor at Billy bobs

New years

hilarious moment when Austin started laughing uncontrollably until he was crying

we all had lovely matching crowns

at six flags

so awesome! I'm a thrill ride fanatic!

We went paintballing!!! Soooo it was fun to experience and an adrenaline rush, but i'm pretty positive the guys enjoyed it more thoroughly, ha! Personally though, I wouldn't pay that kind of money to be left with a bunch of welts =] It was a first time thing...probably a last time thing too

We all went ice skating which was great! Austin and Evan skated backwards circles around us, but thats ok =) Above is Bruce and Zoe skating

Brianna and I

Family picture at the rink

Evan playing guitar hero...quite the rocker

This was us playing wii...which we all played quite a bit of...it was a lot of fun...very entertaining.

Austin being silly :)

opening gifts

All of our stockings hanging up...from left to right: Bruce, Zoe, Evan, Brianna, Austin, me, and Narque

Zoe sewed all of our stockings...stockings for the guys, mittens for the girls. Then we all decorated ours which was lots of fun...I was blown away by the creativity and ideas everybody had.

The limes needed some softening so the guys gladly obliged...by using them as juggling utensils, hackey sacks, baseballs etc.

Squeezing limes

For awhile I asked Austin if I could cut his hair and he always said yes pretty easily...well I never thought he would actually let me but that wasn't the case so with the experience of cutting my dogs hair a time or two I went at it...and after a very long time and a little guidance I was pretty impressed with myself =)

Happy Holidays!

I wanted to write one more entry before I leave tomorrow to say: MERRY CHRISTMAS and I hope everyone has a fabulous holiday vacation! Tomorrow I'm on my way to Texas and of course very excited to see Austin and spend Christmas/New years with him and his family! Just the fact that it's Christmas time is exciting enough. It looks like quite a few people might get a white Christmas even. It seems like everyone is getting snow. I had a near heart attack when I found out McCarren (Las Vegas) airport was closed due to snow, but recovered when I figured out I probably and most definitely hopefully won't be affected. A lot of flights were canceled, but today things have gotten a lot better so I hopefully will be ok. All day today I've been trying to get things ready to go (as you can tell I'm accomplishing great things at the moment) and attempting to fit everything into one suitcase...gonna have to squeeze! Anyways once again, have a great holiday!

we were told that you're never too old to sit on Santas lap

Us girls in front of the bridge

Me and Britney

Ciara and Daniel

the three of us again

We had a great idea to set the camera on the steps and use the self timer...it worked! After a few tries...

Coffee and cold winter nights go together

Ciara did my hair and I thought it was really cute

The before...

and the after.

The Hightower girls (Britney and Ciara) came up to Havasu and spent the weekend with us. We go down there (Blythe, CA) for union meeting and have endlessly talked about getting together other than union meeting...finally it happened, and for the most part we had a blast! Friday night we had pizza and played games...Saturday morning we went shopping and than in the evening we went down to the bridge, which is becoming quite regular for me. Of course it was fun to once again be down there...the atmosphere is great! We even got to sit on Santa's lap, haha. Then we warmed back up with some starbucks...believe it or not it gets pretty chilly here at night! Sunday we had meeting and lunch and a couple games...then the not so fortunate event happened. Britney long-boarded down our hill and crashed (I did the same thing on a skate-board one time, except I didn't get hurt as bad...I think we've come to the conclusion that it's not a very good idea). She scraped up here arms and legs and tore her shirt open, but the worst of it was on her face...she got some bruises, a big bump on her forehead and a chunk out of her nose (not sure how else to put it)...there was lots of blood and needless to say we were pretty worried for awhile...We cleaned her up and put ice on her head and had her rest for a long while and she looked and felt considerably better...Anyways she's ok and we all learned our lesson. We ended the weekend at cold stone to try and end on a happier note. Sorry to go into detail, but that was a big event of the weekend...just glad she's ok and they insisted they STILL had lots of fun.