Turkey Day

After much anticipation Thanksgiving has come and gone. Just as my Mom warned, Paul and I were cooking for a day and a half and the meal lasted only 20 minutes. It was the first time I have been away from home on thanksgiving, and the first time I've cooked that much food in my life. Now I can honestly say that I can relate to my Mother...I am still exhausted!



I even sacrificed my face for a good homemade coconut cream pie. While I was stirring it...right before the boiling point it splashed up in my face leaving two very nice burns. It was pretty painful, but I'd like to think that is was worth the price!
At some point in the morning I didn't think I was going to make it to my 4:00 goal. We ended out finishing an hour ahead of schedule and the food was great!

Here are just a few things that I am grateful for this holiday season.
*An amazing husband...he was so worth the two years of waiting.
*Paul's internship here in Texas. I have learned so much being here and Paul has had a great work experience
*The Gospel of Jesus Christ
*My family...I love every single one of them

Here's Paul and his brother James watching their car and driver videos. I'm sure it will be become a new Thanksgiving tradition.

The Closet Performer

(This picture was taken by my sister..isn't she amazing?!)

I feel like I have to hide when I practice. Not because I'm afraid to sing or practice in front of people...to be honest I am afraid people will get annoyed. Practicing whether it's piano, guitar, or voice is not beautiful. Paul's Mom told me that when Paul was younger they never knew he could really play the Saxophone. He was taking lessons and was in band, but they never heard anything but phrases of music he struggled with, played over and over again.
I guess I struggle with something Paul didn't, he's usually better than me at most things but I never thought it would extend to music.
Why should anyone else have to endure the ugly part of music? I have come to the conclusion that this is the reason why most people don't practice. All anyone wants is the performance part of music, the part that comes with adrenaline, lights, and a stage.
As a result since moving to Texas I have become a closet performer. I have a shelf cleared in my closet where my keyboard sits. I have found a way to plug the keyboard in by fishing the wire underneath the door to the plug outside. Once I am in the closet I reach up to the top shelf where the towels are located and stuff one in the opening between the door and the floor. At this point I am committed to at least an hour of practice. The acoustics are terrible....a lot of dead space, and my voice doesn't carry beyond the shelf in front of me. The closet seems to work for now, but I still find myself hitting the walls when I stretch my arms back to help me hit a high note. Sometimes it gets a little boring when I've been staring at my cleaning products for a solid hour proclaiming my love or disgust for them.
I just keep telling myself that at sometime in the future I will have a house where I can make all the ugly music I want while Paul is away at work. Until then...I fear the closet and I continue to grow closer.

Ghetto Boarding

My brother and I wanted to go the beach to do some boogie boarding, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find a store that sold them. Really? So being the kind of people we are, we tried to make our own...out of noodles and duct tape.



My brother was a little more ambitious than I was.





It really didn’t work out. However, I don’t think it was due to a lack of engineering. I think the waves just weren’t big enough. Water’s fault, not ours.



Paul

Photography

I've been thinking a lot lately about learning more about photography. I spend hours and hours looking at photography blogs. Some good and some not so good, but I'm always excited to tell Paul when I find a good one. My sister after taking Nicole's class showed me her website. Her photos are beautiful...let's just say it's a very distant dream of mine. Check out her website at www.nicholev.com

Inspired by a Spad XIII

I really like building things, and since I get board sometimes my brother got me this card building set. You can pretty much build anything you want. Inside there was a picture of this weak-sauce airplane. I said to myself, “that’s weak-sauce, I’m gonna build me a good one.” I went at it and made this thing. I tried to get it to fly, but the center of gravity was a little off. Other than that I think it could glide.
Thanks again bro!

Paul

Happy Birthday Dean!

We have all been waiting for this great occasion. Paul has said many times that my nieces and nephews truly weren't enough. While he adores those little girls and that one little boy...he has always wanted one of his own. November 3rd it happened! Beautiful little Dean was born, and we were here waiting when he arrived home. We are so grateful that we get to bask in this cuteness everyday, listen to his little voice, and watch him make faces at his parents. While I am truly jealous of Jenny and can't wait for my own , I am truly proud to call little Dean my nephew.

Here are a few pictures of Paul and I and our latest nephew!





Congratulations James and Jenny!

All Hallows Eve

When I was in high school I did my best to scare myself. I watched horror movie after horror movie...never being truly horrified. I guess that's what intrigues me about Halloween, aside from the free candy I get to be the lead role on the stage of my own horror.
Unfortunately, kids don't usually come to apartments. But I have a vision of someday having the most horrific house on the block. Every Halloween there will be rumors exchanged in the halls of the local elementary school...real monsters lurk inside that house.
My goal will be to scare, I will be the most real scariest looking witch that ever roamed this side of the earth. I may have to make my own costume to get the real effect I'm looking for, but here are a few things I found on the Internet...love the shoes!





This Halloween we didn't do much, but we had a great time carving pumpkins, watching horror movies, and participating in the ward trunk or treat.







I've been trying to think of something terribly frightening for Paul to be...any suggestions?