angel tree

We always do something for someone that is in need this time of year with our families, and both of our families said to just do it on our own. So Bryce and I decided to do the Angel Tree. Can I just say how depressing that was? We showed up on the last day that they were accepting gifts at Shopko, and wouldn't ya know that tree was still full of names, I had the hardest time narrowing it down to just one, at one point I left the tree with three names in my hand, and Bryce told me, "no, just one". So we spoiled one little girl named Shaylee but it honestly broke my heart thinking that all these kids were not going to get any presents!! Please, someone ease my mind, I need to think that there is something that goes on behind the scenes, and everyone ends up getting presents whether there names were drawn or not, please someone please put my mind at ease.

a day of thanks

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my loved ones and dear friends. As I woke up today, I couldn't help but think of the things in my life that I'm grateful for. I could seriously type all day about those things but I will just pick a few that seem to stick out in my mind today. First of all my husband. I honestly don't know where I would be without him. He is everything to me. I would spend every minute with him if I could, I don't think the feelings are mutual all the time however. He is such a good man, and I have been blessed to have him in my life.
The next thing would have to be our families. We have the best families ever. We are together all the time, we talk all the time, we work together, and we all just really get along very well. When you get married you hear of all those horror stories about the "in-laws", well I personally don't know what they are talking about, I have the best in-laws!
I just love this time of year, it's seems like you stop more often to think about the things in your life that your grateful for, family, friends, etc.. I'm looking forward to spending time with family and loved ones this upcoming holiday season, I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving, we should all give thanks, we are a very blessed people.

Halloween, Football, Go Jazz!

Wow, could this post be anymore random? I've been a little behind lately on the blogging scene as most of you have mentioned, so I'm trying to multi task. Well it's nice to be missed anyhow. Well let's start off with Halloween since that was first, we don't have kids so we didn't get to make the rounds, but we did carve pumpkins at the Stevenson's. I chose to do a spider on a web, mainly because that was all that was left because we were late, and Bryce did a driver hitting a golf ball, go figure! It was a big production put on by mom and dad Stevenson, as usual, games for the kids, a movie, a story, and of course way to much good food. Thanks for the fun!
Now onto the football segue. We got invited to go to the BYU vs UNLV game with our friends the Wolsey's, Ryan and Miriam. They treated us to a great game with great weather and phenomenal food. We were in the VIP section, of course, 50yrd line about 24 rows up, (don't be jealous Rob). And best of all, we got to go into the Legacy tent before the game, during half time, and eat and drink all the food we wanted, you name it and we probably had it! And to top it of the cougars won!!
And last but not least the one and only Utah professional sport, The Jazz, yeah! We got free tickets to that event as well, what can I say people really like us, they really really like us. We were about 19 rows up center court, way fun and of course they won as well. I think that Bryce and I are really good luck, everyone should give us tickets more often and we'll see what we can do! If anything this post states that you can have a lot of fun on a fixed income, as long as you know someone with money!!

This economy rocks!!

Well as many of you are aware the economy kinda sucks just a little right now. Bryce's home building business is taking a direct effect to that as I'm sure are most of your jobs and business as well. Things are getting just a little scary, and this winter we have known is going to be even worse, and of course my job, designing, people just don't find the need for it when they don't have money, go figure! I've got a couple of jobs I'm working on right now and Bryce has a few homes going but I just got a little nervous, so I got a job at an Endodontist's office, you are now looking at the all amazing designer/dental assistant. Those are some pretty serious credentials. I knew taking on this job that it would be full time, but not as crazy as it is. I have to be to work at 7:15 and then I don't get off usually until around 5:45ish, wow those are long days, especially when I'm coming from being my own boss, working whatever hours I want, and getting paid really well when I do it, but now? So now I have to do my design stuff on Saturday's, still help Bryce with his book work, and try and fulfill my calling as 2nd counselor in the YW. It is definitely taking some getting used to, and a lot more organization and I think I need to get myself a cape and start calling myself "Wonder Women" ha ha. Although things are tough right now I know they could be a lot worse, some people don't even have a job and I have plural, I still have a roof over my head, and food on the table, whether I make it or not it's still food, I have so much to be thankful for and I just need to remind myself of that every now and then.

Happy B-Day Babe!!!

Today is my best friend in the whole wide worlds birthday, Happy Birthday Bryce!!! My dear husband of seven and a half years is now 29, ahhhhhh. It is so weird to think that we are getting that old, not that he his, I keep telling him he looks like he's still 22, and he does. The lady at great clips that cut his hair actually asked him which high school he went too, as if. Since his birthday fell on a Saturday, he went golfing of course,(he would have went Saturday or not). Him and my dad took on my cousin Paul and one of his friends and of course my dad and the birthday boy took them down. After that we went to eat at Rodizio's, Bryce's favorite of course because of his mission to Brasil. My parents and the Wolsey's joined us for the birthday dinner. I had sort of arranged for the family to all come over to our house around seven and play games, guitar hero and eat some ice cream cake, but needless to say we didn't get home from eating until around 8:30 and all the family had gone home, sorry again. :( However the Wolsey's made it so that our party wasn't such a bust, thanks guys. We got Bryce a Mt. Bike for his birthday a couple of weeks ago, we've already been out on a few rides, it's been fun. Well honey, bald, fat, grey, or wrinkled, none of which you are, I will love you just the same. Happy Birthday!!!!

another weekend away

Wow, it really feels like we have been wrapping up summer. We havn't spent a weekend at home the last 3 weeks thanks to camping and now St.George. St. George was still a little to hot for me, 95 degrees, but none the less it was still fun. It was just Bryce, me and of course Abbie. We ate out a lot and did a little shopping, and of course we went golfing. This golf course is so pretty, I don't think my pictures do it justice, nor do they with me, go figure. Anyway here are a few pics of the weekend.

Nelson Camping Trip

I got to go camping 2 weeks in a row! I know for many of you your thinking, "and she's excited about that?" And yes I was. I love camping. There is just something about getting away,away. No cell phone service, no computers, so that means no work and I have to say, I like the fact that it's normal to not bathe for 4 days in a row, gross I know. If I could just clean the private parts and my stinky feet, I'd be good to go for quite awhile. Every year in June, as far back as when my grandpa was a little boy, we've had the tradition of going up to Browne Lake in the Uintah's for our family reunions, we love it. So we decided to get one more end of the year camping trip in and went up to Browne Lake. Unfortunately the only ones that could attend were my parents and us, but it was a lot of fun. Maybe next time sisters:( Mom got sick the first day we were there, throwing up and such, we won't go into details, but she was a trooper, as soon as she could walk she was back up and joining the party. We went down to the Flaming Gorge Lodge to eat one night, and on our way home we saw a BLACK BEAR!!!! Can you believe it, it was so cool, we were all so excited it was like this huge adrenaline rush, you really don't see those bears up there all that often so it was really neat to see, I'm just glad I had my camera. We did a lot of fishing which is always fun, and then one of the days Bryce and my dad went on a hike up to one of the lakes to fish and brought us home some really good dinner for that night. We played a lot of card games of course. Once again, these trips just go way to fast for me, but there is always next year right? Love ya mom and dad and thanks for the fun trip and we missed you Kel,Jen,Kendell,Cameron,and Jamie, here are a few pics so that you can feel like you were there.

Stevenson Camping Trip

I love camping!!! Usually over Labor Day weekend we go camping with the Stevenson family. This year we went up to the Uintah's, Lake Lyman, which is always nice because it's the Layton Stake camp, and they have church up at the lodge, I know it would be disrespectful to do this at "normal church", but I really enjoy going to church in camping clothes, how often do you get to do that? We left on Friday afternoon and didn't come home until Tuesday afternoon, we had so much fun. I got to take my new bike that I got for my birthday, which came in handy, instead of riding the four-wheelers down to the bathroom, most of the time I rode my bike, good work out,(and I'm a little out of shape, it's the altitude right?). Of course we spent a lot of time eating thanks to Daren and Debbie. There camping grub is some of the best I've tasted, thank you so much for all the meals you guy's are the best!! The whole family was there, even Debbie's parents, grandma and grandpa Maxfield. They sure make it interesting, well mostly grandpa, he's a card. There's never a dull moment with them around, and I just love listening to all of there stories, man they've lived a long time. We did get some bad weather a couple of the days, as did the rest of Utah we heard. Lots and lots of rain, wind and don't forget the snow, it was a little chilly. The last morning we were there it was 22 degrees, and yes we were in a tent. One of the nights it rained the entire night and our rain fly kept puddling up the water, so we had to keep pushing it off so it wouldn't come inside our tent, we actually did stay warm, the worst part about the whole tent situation was that our insta bed had a small hole in it, big or small a hole is still a hole, but I guess fortunately it was a small one so it kept some air in where our heads and feet were. We spent almost one whole day playing games inside the trailer, solitaire, golf, oh and don't forget coloring. It's always nice to get together with your family and do something fun, and that it was. I'm glad there were no major injuries and nobody got frost bite.
Love ya Stevenson's, can't wait till next year!!

The Big Two, Seven!

Well as most of you should know, yesterday, August 25th was my birthday. Happy Birthday Janica!!! Well it started off a couple weeks ago at the Stevenson's, it was Sara and my b-day's, so we got to pick what we wanted for dinner and of course dessert. Sara picked the dinner and I went with the dessert, so yummy, one of my favorites, spice cake with cream cheese frosting. Thanks Stevenson's it was so yummy! Then on Sunday, it was off to my parents for the same event, but I have the whole month of August to myself, and I chose to have this yummy beef brisket that my mom makes, mmmm goood! Thank you families for the Sunday dinners, it's always nice to celebrate part of your day with those closest to you. As for my actual b- day, it started with me going visiting teaching at 9:30 in the morning, it's my fault I should not procrastinate. And after we were done VT, my partner, and friend, Kriste and her to cute girls took me out to get a Birthday Doughnut, it was so good, thanks girls. Then of course it was lunch time so Bryce and I went to Gandolfo's, hey, I had a coupon, buy one get one free. Then a little while longer passed and we had to eat dinner, where else better then Texas Roadhouse, mmmmmm. I loved it as usual. I know it sounds like all we did was eat, and that's almost true, eating is fun and what better time to do it then on your b-day. I should have taken a before and after shot because I swear I gained 10lbs yesterday. After dinner I wanted to see a movie, so I let Bryce pick, and we ended up seeing "The Rocker" at the Junction in Ogden, it had its funny parts, but I have to say the best part about it was that we had the entire movie theater to ourselves! (I think that Bryce secretly rented out the whole theater, trying to have some alone time) wink wink. We tried inviting our friends the Wolsey's, but there anniversary happens to fall on my b-day and I think they had some other fun plans, you really missed out guys, there's always next year. As far as my present goes, I didn't get it yet. I have been wanting Bryce and I to get bikes for awhile now, and that was my present, it's just not here yet. I can't wait to get it and go for a ride, I'll make sure to post some action pictures. So thanks to all those that made this a special day, I loved it, I just wish that I could say I was looking forward to the next one!

Texas Roadhouse

Can you believe after all that food, we still have room for popcorn!

Just Another Sad Weekend

Is there possibly someone else out there whose husband has the same problem that mine does? GOLF, ahhhhhh! It's not so much the golf as much as the golf trips, I swear this is the 5th one this year, at least he doesn't have to pay for them, thanks Stock Building Supply! Even though I sound all pissy, I really am glad that he is able to go, he works so dang hard, and he's always under so much stress, he really does deserve it, unfortunately it just leaves me to have another weekend alone, sad. Well I guess I'll always have Abbie to keep me company, but she just doesn't make for good conversation, go figure. I really can't complain though, I have lots of friends whose husbands travel for weeks at a time, and let's not forget the husbands that are gone many months serving our country, OK, OK, OK, tantrum over!! I guess I can just be glad that I have a husband that leaves me for just a few days, 5 times a year. I love ya babe, hurry homes it's just not the same without ya, and I hope your having fun golfing in Sun Vally, Idaho.

We had family pictures last night with the Stevenson's,

so I was kind of in a picture taking mood, sorry for all the

photos of us, but don't cha think we're kinda cute, and just in

case some of the pictures didn't turn out with the real

photographer we'll always have these.

Abbie waiting to take Bryce to Stock Building SupplyI think Abbie's thinking, "your leaving again?".

This is NOT an announcement

Why is it, that a man without any little boys is not allowed to go to the "father and son's " campout without people thinking that we must be making an announcement? If you think that I LOOK three months pregnant well than that's understandable, but just because he wants to go camping doesn't mean we have big news to share with the world. And even if I did, do you all think that is how I would announce it? "OK Bryce, you go up to the campout alone and then all the men will start to think why is he here? They must have a baby on the way." Oh brother, I would be so much more creative than that! So yes, Bryce is up at the ward father and son's overnighter, and I think it's cute. I think it's a little sad however that he will be sleeping in that tent all alone. He probably could have taken Abbie, everyone thinks that all big dogs are boys anyway, so I guess that could have worked on some level. Some of the men in the ward were convincing him to go, and that's what I love about Bryce, he doesn't care what people will think, doesn't worry about having anyone to go up with, he just packed (well I mostly packed) his stuff up and off he went. I didn't get any pictures of my little camper before he left, mainly because I forgot, and partly because he would have said "are you kiddin me", well I hope you had fun babe, and I'll see ya tomorrow. And remember this is NOT an announcement, and I will come up with something a little better than that when the time comes!

Kendell & Cameron

I'm doing this for my sister Jenny and her husband Kelly who are on an Alaskan cruise right now. They had to leave their 2 little ones behind for 8 days and I know it's killing them. So I thought, I could put together a little blog of pictures from the time that I babysat them, and then they could see Kendell and Cameron, and the fun that they are having while mom and dad are gone, (trying not to have to much fun until you get back).

Here is Bryce and the kids watching "Jimmy Neutron", I'm sure you can tell by Bryce's big eyes that it must have been an intense scene.

Here's the gang after I interrupted "Jimmy Neutron", and said "your mom and dad are going to see these pictures, so smile dang it and look like your having fun."

We roasted marshmallow's and had smores, didn't take any pictures at the time, cause there was food to be had!

Uncle Bryce was kind enough to set up this tent in the backyard for us!!

Taking pictures in the tent before bed, (7:30 sharp)

me and Kendell taking silly pictures,

and Cameron missing out on all the fun!!

There's the spot where I didn't sleep at all and my back hurt like heck.

sleeping in, ahhhhhhhh

I gave Cam a cool faux hawk(or as Cam says pokey hair like Bryce) I think he liked it.


Gaining up on Bryce,

Bryce fighting back,

Bryce throwing one down so Abbie can have a turn.

Before going to Cherry Hill

Kendell

Cameron and Grandma

Kendell on the way home from Cherry Hill,

Cameron on the way home from Cherry Hill. I kid you not Kendell slept for 2 hrs, and Cam slept for 2 1/2. Nice.

These guys were so much fun to have in the house, I love the little things that kids say and do, they are priceless!! Love ya Jen and Kel, hope your having fun and return home safely, and know that all is well back home.

CHAMPIONS!!

I'm so proud of that gorgeous husband of mine! He has been playing softball with a bunch of guy's from the neighborhood, and last night they had there championship game, and they won!! The final score was 11-4, and I'd like to think that my great cheering skills played a part in that. Bryce almost got his face taken off however. He was running to second base when they tagged his base and were going for a double play, the guy went to throw the guy out at first and he threw the ball right at Bryce, luckily he put his arms up in the air or else I think he would have taken it somewhere on the face. That is our family motto, "it's better to get hit on the elbow then on the face!" In all actuality, we know that Bryce should have slid to second, but come on, they all wear shorts and this is not the major leagues! So idiot who threw the ball at my husband, if your reading this, try that again and you'll have to answer to me HA.

Love ya babe, great season!

As you can see, I posed Bryce for this pic, he didn't like it very much and his exact words after I took the photo were, "o.k, that was gay." None the less he posed anyway. Then when I was doing this post he looked at the picture, and we just started laughing, his next comment was, "I look like a four yr old going to play t-ball for the first time." Well even if he does, I think he looks cute, and he was just being a good husband and doing what his wife asked of him, (which isn't often, so thanks)

Bryce going up to bat.....the ball was pitched.....he makes contact with the ball......nice follow through.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!!

Am I getting old? I didn't think it was that long ago when I was a young women going to girls camp, and I would stay up all night long, and it never fazed me. Well I just had 4 days of it, and I'm exhausted! How did I use to do it, and still form sentences together properly? I think in this last week I've gotten like 5 hours of sleep, in case you were wondering, that's very very bad. The first night I had just fallen into my deep sleep when my precious little Beehives (that's a church term for 12-13 yr old girls) let out a few screams which I thought were one's to be desired from a scene in a thriller movie, I swear at the young age of 26 my heart skipped a few beats, once again, in case you were wondering, that's very very bad. The next night the girls were actually being quite reverent compared to the night before, it must have been the wrath they received, and of course the night that I couldn't hear them, one of the girls comes into my tent, waking me up at 2:30 in the morning, (me having gone to bed probably 1 hour prior), and informed me that one of the other girls had just thrown up in the tent, but a little good news was that part of it's contents made it outside the tent. So I stayed up with her rubbing her back while she was in the fetal position, waited patiently while she took a shower, knelt and said a little prayer with her, and then when I came to the conclusion that she was in fact actually sick and not just home sick, I got to drive her home at 5:00 in the morning, ya ya ya, I know your all thinking it, and yes it was very very bad! I hope your not thinking that I'm a big complainer and I hated every minute of it, (and yes I can use that term because I was almost awake for every minute), but I really did have a great time. There was a river that we were crazy enough to go tubing down, because of the cold factor not that there were white caps or anything. I gave my self a pretty good sized bruise on my hip where I was so blessed to run into a pointy rock, put a hole the size of a softball in my tube and slowly sank into the water up to my shoulders BUUUUUURRRRRR. It was really fun to float that river though over and over with good friends that you serve with, we had some great times in there. They also had a zip line, that was also really fun, I loved watching the girls giggle up until the point when they started climbing there way up the scaffolding, there facial expressions turned very somber, I loved it. As some of you may know, I'm the second counselor in the Young Women's Presidency, and I know that people were inspired to give me this calling and that I may be blessed with the opportunity to serve my Savior and these girls. They are truly an example to me in so many ways. I love my calling and the growth that is taking place as I serve others. I love the thought that I can affect there lives for the better, in ways that maybe there parents, and friends could not. As I sat around the camp fire for our testimony meeting, I was thinking about how in such a short time of having this calling I feel that I have taken on the burdens of my 13 little Beehives, then I thought of how my wonderful bishopric must feel with all of the members they need to watch over, and then from there I thought of my Savior, and the burdens that he did bear, and how that must have felt I cannot imagine. I'm so grateful for my Savior and his sacrifices for me, and for a Father in Heaven who truly loves me no matter what. Bottom line,we had a great time playing together, getting to know one another better, and strengthening our testimonies, and yes you can say that was a very very good thing! (sorry for the American Novel).

Here is our group before our hike.

Sam (one of my Beehives) and me on the hike.

Here is me after the zip line.

Here's Jill and me floating the river.

And the group after we lost 3 tubes on the river.

"The greatest fun spot"

Well that's what the song says, I can't say it's the funnest of all the fun spots but I do think it's pretty dang fun. Today I went to Cherry Hill with my family. My sister loves to go swimming any time she has work off and this is where she picked. So we were all there, mom, Jen and her kids, Jamie, Debbie, Bri, Kina, Aimee and all of there kids, it was really fun. It's always fun to act like a complete idiot, and hopefully you don't see anyone that you know other than your family cause they already know how stupid you are. We like to find the wildest way down the slides legal or not, and yes there have been a few whistles blown, but not to many because those 16 yr old lifeguards are kind of afraid to blow the whistle on someone that is pushing nearly 30. I haven't been kicked out yet, so I'm going to keep on having fun in the summer sun at Cherry Hill!!

My cute fam at Cherry Hill

Kendell and Cameron with auntie me!!!