picture overload

The easiest way to tell a story is through pictures, and when you don't devote that much time to your blog, pictures say a lot. 

Another three months has come and gone, and here I am, just barely getting around to the blog. Oh, well. If you're interested, you can keep on scrolling. 

You know me and my love for Utah football. This season has been no different. 

We've had our ups, and lots of downs, but they are still my team.

Even though it's really hard to continue to watch them lose. 

And especially because we heard today that, once again, we're losing our QB.

Potentially scary stuff for mister Travis.

In August I had an endoscopy done to check for polyps and to have my esophagus stretched so I could swallow food without it feeling like it was getting stuck.

Honestly, it was just like an amazing nap. I could have gone back to sleep after I "woke up", but they made me go home instead. 

September, I ran the Woman of Steel Relay with three of my sisters-in-law, and some of Tacey's friends. 

I won't lie, it sucked.

I'm a procrastinator, and I hate running, so I was not at all prepared. 

I ran 9 miles that day. 

More than I have ever run at one time. 

But, I finished. No one had to take over for me, I didn't get kicked off the course for being too slow.

I can say that I did it.

David got married!

That's right folks, all of the Lawrence boys are officially off the market.

Unless you're married to one, you're missing out. They are all pretty freaking awesome.

Mine being the best, of course. 

David and Amy got married on the 12th of October in the Salt Lake Temple.

We had a nice luncheon afterward at the JSMB, followed by their reception up Milcreek Canyon at Milcreek Inn.

From the day they got engaged, and I realized it was going to be the same time as the Utah v. Stanford game, I was a little upset. Only like the best game of the season, and I had to miss it. And then we WON, which made it sting a little more.

But, after all, family comes first, and even if I feel like they football team is my family, David and Amy are actual family, and I will always put my family first. 

Still proud of my Utes, though.

SELFIE!

Love my Walter White.

We were all a little skeptical of having the reception up the canyon in October, but it was actually not even that cold! They had these nice heaters set up outside that kept us all warm, and it was really pretty. Especially with the fall colors.  

All the sisters. :)

Congrats you two!

We love you!

The weekend after the wedding we headed to Vegas with Matt and Millysa for Bug O Rama. Essentially a car show filled with different VWs. Matt and John loved it. Millysa and I got tired and hot from walking around.

You should see the TOMs tan line I have on my foot. Sexy.

We watched some of the drag races which were pretty cool.

Who know an old VW bug can go 111 MPH?

Certainly not I. 

Then we went into the Shelby museum about a half hour before it closed. But we got the full tour, explaining why certain cars were named what they are (not for any logical reason), and why Shelby made the cars he did. Pretty neat. 

I still want to own one. Someday.

We stayed on Fremont Street, at the Plaza, which was surprisingly very nice. Fremont Street is like 10 times as crazy at night than the Strip, and I saw things I can't un-see. But it was an experience. We got to go to a free Our Lady Peace concert, which the owner of the D Casino was sponsoring, right outside his casino, which is new.

It's rare that you get to go to a free concert, and even more rare when it's a band that you actually know.

Yes, this happened. This man has his shirt tucked into his back pockets. He kept taking video with his phone, but didn't realize that his hand was in front of his camera, so he had a lot of videos of his hand. I'm sure the next morning caused some major confusion for him.

The week before Halloween the Sorensen's threw a Clue themed murder mystery. We had dinner and then played the game, around the house. It was super fun! 

Mrs. White; Mr. Green; Mrs. Peacock; Professor Plum; Colonel Mustard; Miss Scarlet

These two are quite the characters. 

John committed fully to his part, and shaved the cul-de-sac. 

As he put it, "What professor has a full head of hair?"

Miss Scarlet ended up being the murderer. 

Mandy ended up winning. Rigged. Just Kidding!

It was so fun to dress up! And do have Patty's totally real furs. 

She pulled them out of a closet, and John and I were shocked.

SO soft.

Monday, the 28th of October was my 24th birthday.

24? When did I get so old?

It was a good day.

I worked, like most grown-ups, and then John and I went to Cheesecake Factory, and he took me shopping. 

He had me all excited for this gift, only to inform me that it wasn't in stock, and would be arriving closer to Christmas, so it will now be a Christmas gift. I was kind of freaking out, wanted to know what it was. But he will not tell me. So, I'll let you know come Christmas!

My parents sent me this gorgeous bouquet of flowers at my office. 

Gotta love Skyline Flowers. They do amazing work!

My girl Mel Nash sent cookies to me at work also.

My boss kept coming over, and saying "Oooh, those look really good". I caught the hint, and gave him one.

Pretty much my friends and family are the bomb, and made me feel very special on my birthday. 

We carved pumpkins for Halloween with some of John's siblings and their kids. 

So many pumpkin guts, all over.

Leave it to my husband to make a scary pumpkin, and use an action figure to complete his work.

On Halloween, we both worked, and then spent the evening with the Lawrence's. After all, it is Patty's favorite holiday.

This is Lillie. We are in no way related.

We just work together.

From the first day at this job, people have called me Lillie, and are constantly getting us confused for each other.

So we decided to take advantage of it, and dressed up as each other for Halloween! 

I couldn't think of anything I could dress up as that would relate to his Walter White. I thought maybe Lydia, but I didn't want to walk around in heels all night. And Skylar is blonde. Boo. 

Arguably the greatest Walter White next to Bryan Cranston. 

The whole clan!

We have clowns with their elephant (who is not in her costume in this, but she was SO cute)

David and Amy walked around in morph suits, and Amy couldn't see. Hilarity ensued.

Jenny dressed up as Venom, and her friend Val was a caveman. 

Dan and Kristy dressed up as magicians and little N was their rabbit in the hat. Very clever.

That's it party people. 

Here we are a week away from Thanksgiving, and who knows, the next time I blog may be right after Christmas.

XOXO

we're alive...

I haven't blogged since APRIL. Holy fail. Here is a quick update for anyone who still reads this!

Sissy and Tom got married!

April 27.

It was such a great day, and she was a GORGEOUS bride.

Shortly  after the wedding (three days to be exact) I had surgery on my sinuses. I had been having chronic sinus infections so Dr. Hill (the best!) went in and removed all the residual infection, plus opened up my turbinates so that I can actually breathe through my nose! It was a rough week of recovery full of nose bleeds, throwing up, and lots of sleep, but it was so worth it!

Into May we go.

May 20th I decided I should crash my car.

Okay, I definitely didn't crash it on purpose, and I only remember the date because it was my parents' 30th anniversary.

I was exiting I-80 at 13th east, and after turning left I went to change lanes, but didn't realize the cars in front of me had already stopped. 

By the time I turned back from checking my blind spot, it was too late. 

Crash.

My first accident, ever.

I cried. Had a panic attack.

Thought the world was ending.

It wasn't.

It was just a scary event.

Luckily no one was hurt, and I didn't even get a ticket.

And, insurance covered my car, and the guy I hit, so it worked out. 

Then in June, John decided he needed some attention and ended up in the E.R. 

He had been having some abdominal pain, and was throwing up all day, so he finally gave in and we went to get it checked out. They checked his gallbladder and his appendix. Everything was normal. Except for his liver enzymes. They were double what they should be. So, after spending, literally all night in the ER, we were sent home, with no answers, and told to go see his regular doctor in 2 weeks about his liver enzymes.

So he did. And the doctor pretty much told him, tell your wife that if you start to go jaundice, then we have a problem. It sounds like you have Gilbert's Disease. It's where you liver randomly shuts down, then spikes, then is normal, then shuts down, etc. 

Sounds normal, right?

We celebrate the 4th of July with the Lawrence's in our backyard. Had a BBQ, watched the fireworks that are set off at Sugarhouse, watched people fight with the Arby's employees, you know, just the normal 4th of July stuff.

Then, on the 18th of July, we went and saw Jimmy Eat World! 

It was seriously the best concert I have ever been to. And yes, we were on the second row, and Daniel and John protected me and Mandy very well.

John and I talked about going to Vegas in September to see them again, that is how much we liked the show. Unfortunately, I can't get off work. That's what happens when the person you work with will also be out of town the time you want to be gone.

We celebrated FOUR years of wedded bliss on the 27th of July up at the Hawker Lodge.

We spent the weekend up there. We took out the ATVs on Saturday, and just hung out. So nice to just get away.

Saturday night we went to Cheesecake at City Creek, because that is what John wanted, so that is what we did! Then we went to Nordstrom and I got a new wallet, and iPad case. John is still searching for the pair of shoes he wants. He probably is sick of me nagging about it.

And last, but most certainly not least, I am officially a college graduate! I was supposed to walk the first week of May, but because of my sinus surgery, I didn't feel up to it. Didn't really feel like puking in front of strangers. And I had to take a class the first half of Summer, but I have been done since the middle of June, and just this weekend, I received my diploma in the mail! Officially have my Bachelors. You better believe that baby is on the fridge, until I get a frame for it. And then, I don't know where I'll put that frame. 

I'll try to be better at blogging, but I can't promise anything.

Besides, being a grownup isn't that exciting anyway. 

hallowbirthend

hallowbirthend: A rare occasion when mine and Mandy's birthdays, and Halloween are all celebrated in the same weekend.

It was quite the awesome weekend if I do say so myself. Friday night John and I spent three and a half hours at Ikea, and left with a little less money in our pockets! BUT! We got a cool new shelf, and even some inspiration for a new tv stand, because of course, my husband had to build one instead of buying one. Oh well.

Saturday, Dandy threw Halloween/Birthday party for miss Mandy, where we had delicious soup in bread bowls, carved pumpkins, and watched the most terrifying movie EVER. If you like scary movies, watch, "The Woman In Black". If you don't like scary movies, don't even think about it.

Everyone's pumpkins!

Daniels, ours, the Baucom's, and Marianne's. (Austin, bailed. Boo.)

Sunday night my parents threw a Halloween party so that they would be able to see their grand kids in their costumes! My mom made homemade Root Beer, dry ice and all. She also make pigs in a blanket that looked like mummies (watch out for the pepper corn eyes), and she made spaghetti, which we all just love! She got really into it, which made it so fun! Not everyone wanted pictures of their costumes, so I only have pictures of some of them!

Cutest little Telletubby ever.  

Elmo and a, very pregnant, cookie monster!

And a subliminal political message. ;) 

If you watch "How I Met Your Mother", then you'll know what the slutty pumpkin is. If you don't, then you will have no idea, like our entire family. But hey, she tried. :) 

John and I "dressed up" as Price is Right contestants. We totally forgot about our costumes, so I made them Sunday with the cardboard leftover from Ikea, saved us! I am bias, but I think they turned out pretty well!

Sunday was my actual birthday, so at the party my mom had balloons for me, and cupcakes from Sweet Tooth Fairy (FAVORITE!). They sang me happy birthday, and gave me a nice little gift.

For my birthday my husband got me a new pair of moccasins. They are, hands down, my favorite shoes in the entire world. I'm telling you, go buy some, they are legit. 

Oh, and not to mention, I got an early birthday present the first weekend in October.

Just a new car.

NBD, right?

I decided I wanted a four-wheel-drive car, and had been looking at Subaru's, but the Impreza wagon, which is what I was looking at, was smaller than my Honda, and I didn't know if I wanted that. 

Okay, honestly, I was worried Daniel wouldn't be able to fit in it, and that's who we spend all our time with, so he needs to be able to have enough leg room in my car. This was truly a factor in buying a new car! I also decided that I needed an SUV because I don't want to put a car seat into a small car. No, this is not an announcement. I am just thinking ahead! 

So, I went to the dealership to talk to J's brother who sells cars, and was looking at a Kia SUV, but the payments would have been too much, so he pulls out this Lexus RX330 that they had taken in on trade. I took it for a test drive and was sold! Traded in the Honda then and there, and drove the Lexus home. 

I am in love with it.

Best birthday present ever!

Oh, and how beautiful are Utah sunsets?

happy easter!

Okay, I'm a day late, but oh well!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter because we enjoyed ours!

Saturday night we dyed Easter eggs with our other half.

This is what I did with our eggs! Mandy pulled out her cricut and we put vinyl on them before we dyed them.

If you would like to read more, or see more pictures, you can go here.

Yesterday, we went to church, of course!

Then we headed over the Grow's, and sampled food there.

Uncle Steve was once again in town, and he had cooked, so he said I had to eat there.

But we only sampled because afterward we went to the Lawrence's where we had a full lamb dinner, and we even had an Easter egg hunt! Don't worry, there were only four of us and we are 19, 22, and 25.

No big deal.

It was a great holiday. 

I watched this Mormon Message yesterday morning. It reminded me what Easter is all about. So I thought I'd share it with you.

valentine's day

My least favorite holiday.

Really, I don't like it at all.

And this year really wasn't any different.

I went to work at 7AM, and John disappeared.

Not kidding.

I tried to get a hold of him for over four hours, and before I went to class I decided I had to go make sure he wasn't dead.

As I was driving to our house (this is after noon), he calls me.

He was asleep.

I had a panic attack for no reason.

I was kind of livid.

We both got off about six, came home, and the dinner I had in the crock-pot was ruined. 

Burned, nasty, NOT orange, chicken.

So we went to sushi. And that was actually delicious.

Then we came home and John started cleaning.

So I started making chocolate covered strawberries with cheese cake (pictured below).

By the time I was done with them, it was ten, and of course, we got a call from a tenant who had locked herself out.

Really?

Dumb holiday.

There isn't a picture of flowers in this collage...that's because I didn't get any.

Someone drop a hint. 

I made these fun treats for our Valentine exchange at the Lawrence's on Sunday. They are so easy, and they tasted so yummy!!

Anyway, we will be attending Monster Jam (monster truck rally) next weekend. That was John's gift.

I'm so thrilled. I just have to keep reminding myself it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for my husband to enjoy himself.

crafts

So, I've always wanted to be crafty, I just have never done it.

But, thanks to Pinterest, I get all these fun ideas, and have learned how easier they are to make!

And it doesn't hurt that I have to build a website for class, and DIY is my subject.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

This is the first project.

It's going to be a key holder.

We lose keys on the daily in our house. 

Obviously not quite done yet, but it will look like what I made for Kate for Christmas.

Which is this.

Next project was for V-Day, figured I could decorate.

I just bought wood hearts form Michael's 

Painted them different colors, just with acrylic craft paint. 

Used the handy-dandy Cricut to make our names. 

Connected the ribbon with the hot glue gun. 

And, ta-da! 

It is now hanging on our wall. 

I made this during the Superbowl. 

I honestly didn't care enough to just watch it, so I made this while I watched.

I didn't have my camera so I don't have step by step, I will though. I will have to make Kate's or my mom's. 

It's simple though, styrofoam heart, felt circles (hardest part), and push pins.

Done.