A Week of Thanks - Day 5

#21 - The Seasons


Although I think that Utah's winter is WAY too long, I am really grateful to live somewhere where I get to experience all 4 seasons. I love the winter and the chance to sit in front of the fireplace while the snow falls outside. I love the spring and when the trees start to blossom and the tulips poke their way out of the ground. I love the summer nights when it stays light late and when you can sit in the backyard and enjoy the sunset. I love the fall and the sound of the leaves crunching beneath your feet and the smell of jack-o-lanterns. How wonderful to be able to experience all of these!

#22 - Laughter

Abbi at about 7 months

I've always loved laughter, but never so much since Abbi came into my life. Her laughter is so infectious - it will brighten anyone's day!

#23 - Health


This has been a rough year with Josh's knee replacement, but what a blessing to have the modern medicine to be able to even fix his knee! I'm grateful for what the future brings and that he will be able to be close to pain free one day and that he will be able to function again. I'm grateful for a healthy daughter that came into this world easily.

#24 - Holidays


I love every holiday! But the Thanksgiving/Christmas season is so much fun, and you just can't help but get excited when this time of year rolls around. I especially love that during the holidays, I get to spend time with my family. Whether it's hunting Easter eggs or eating Thanksgiving pie, holidays are always better spent with family!

#25 - All the Little Things

There are a lot of things that fall into this category. The things that we take for granted on a daily basis - like transportation, indoor plumbing, fresh water to drink. If you think about it, we really are blessed by so many things around us!!

A Week of Thanks - Day 4

Today's items are what a friend called "simple pleasures"!

#16 - DVR



How did we live before DVR?? I seriously hardly ever watch "live" tv anymore. I love DVR for so many reasons:

• No commercials
• Pause button. SO helpful when you have a baby!
• Rewind button. I rely on this one so much that I find myself wishing I could rewind when I'm in the car listening to the radio!
• Can you remember the day of the video tapes to record something? Now I can record all my favorites and they are right at my fingertips!

#17 - Cell Phones

Ok, so I'm one of those people who used to say I didn't want a cell phone. But now, I - like probably 95% of people, can't live without mine. What a luxury to be able to call someone whenever you need to! We don't even have a home phone because it's just not worth it!

#18 - Internet

I probably waste too much time online, but I couldn't live without it! Although it is full of all kinds of bad things, there are also so many good things about it. Like blogging. I know some people probably see it as a waste of time, but this is my journal. I can already look back to a year ago and remember things that would have been forgotten otherwise.

#19 - Sonic



My guilty pleasure. It's a real treat for me when I can stop by and get a drink. I don't do it very often, but I love their drinks! Diet Coke with cherry and vanilla, please.

#20 - "Reality" TV



I'm almost embarrassed to mention this one!! But I do have my favorites! When the tv is on, it's tuned to one of these channels 80% of the time. I guess I shouldn't be too embarrassed, because although I have some trashy reality tv that I watch, (like all the Housewives), I do love to watch the good stuff too. Like House Hunters. Don't know why, but I'm totally addicted to that show lately!

A Week of Thanks - Day 3

#11 - My Religion

Draper, Utah LDS Temple
Photo Credit

This one really should have gone way up at the top. But it's one of those things that is hard to put into words. My beliefs, my testimony, and especially the temple. The one place where I can always find true peace. I would be lost without all of it, and I'm so grateful to have it in my life.

#12 - A House

Hmmm, seems I don't have any recent pictures of our house. This was from when we were first doing everything. So glad the hard parts are over!

In a time where people are losing their houses left and right, I'm so grateful for our home. I know I often complain that it is too small, on too busy of a street, and there is still so much left to do to finish it, but I really do love our home. This was the first home Josh & I owned together, the home we took our first born home to, and so many memories have been made here. One day when we do move on, I know I'll look back on this house with fond memories.

#13 - Books

My baby and her books

I love to read. I always have. I know that I don't do it nearly enough these days, and I'm wanting to change that. But I love that I love to read. And I want to share that with my daughter. I love that a book can transport you to a different place, and that your imagination is way better than any movie ever will be.

#14 - Music

I just love this song - never get sick of it!

I don't listen to music nearly as much as I used to, and I realized the other day just how much I miss it. Since I'm not sitting at a desk all day and not in my car very often, I just don't get to listen to it very often. But I do love how it can bring out emotions and feelings, and how it can bring back memories and create new ones. I was in the kitchen earlier today while the tv was on in the other room, and a song came on a tv show that brought back all kinds of memories from when Josh & I were dating - from the first moments when I realized that I loved him. I love that music can bring back those feelings so vividly.

#15 - My Camera

An oldie, but a goodie!

I know I already used photography as my passion, but there is another side of it that is even more important. The memories. Whether you take a fabulous picture or a horrible one, they are all important because of the memories that are captured. I often think about how grateful I am that I live in the day and age of the digital camera. You don't have to worry about the costs of film or developing and you can snap away until your heart is content. I hope that every moment of my children's lives are captured so that they will always have those memories. My camera is definitely not the newest and the greatest model, but the memories that are being captured are what really matters!

A Week of Thanks - Day 2

When I thought about doing this, I didn't really realize just how much I needed it. I had a really bad day today. And I really didn't want to sit down and think about 5 more things that I am thankful for, because frankly - I wasn't really in a "thankful" mood. But just sitting down and thinking really changed my attitude. So lesson learned - next time I am needing a pick-me-up - just think of all the things I am thankful for!!

I really had intentions of taking new pictures of all my thankful things, but that didn't happen today. Besides - it's been fun to go back through my old pictures!

#6 - Friends

Me & Michelle in Mexico (2003)

Near and far, old and new - I am so grateful for all of them! I've had some friends since high school, and some new ones that I've met in the past year, and they all really do mean so much to me. I am so thankful for all that they do for me and that they are all always there - whether it's for a shoulder to cry on or a friend to laugh with. I wish they all lived closer!!

#7 - The Beauty of the Earth

Early morning - Mt. Timpanogos

I consider myself very lucky to walk out to this view every morning. I've lived in Utah now for almost 12 years now, and I am still in awe of the mountains every time I look out. And I'm equally in awe when I go to the ocean. There are so many beautiful places on this earth, and I am so grateful that God created such an amazing place!

#8 - Those who have - and still are - sacrificing for us

Vietnam Vetrans Memorial Wall in Washington DC

I admire those who are so brave to fight for our rights and our freedoms. It is so sobering to me when I learn of and see things that people have had to go through so that we can have what we have today. One of the most sobering experiences of my life was on the D-day beaches in Normandy, France. Seeing the craters left from the bombs and weapons, and then moving over to the thousands of crosses for those who died. And I am so thankful for those that serve today and sacrifice so much for us.

#9 - Travel

Jamaica!! (2004)

I have been so lucky to have been able to travel to some amazing places. I have about 100 other places I'd love to go, and hopefully I'll be able to hit some of those on my list. But just having the opportunities I've had and continue to have is definitely something to be grateful for! There is just something about being able to visit a different environment and to experience new sights, sounds and tastes - it gives me such a rush! Whether close to home - like Vegas - or across the globe - like Paris, I love each location and can't wait to explore even more!

#10 - The love of cooking

Coconut Snowball Cupcakes

This one is both a curse and a blessing. I'm sure that if I didn't enjoy food so much, I'd probably not obsess about my weight so much, but food is just so good! I am so grateful that it is so fun for me to cook and bake. I know that for a lot of people, it is really a chore to get dinner on the table every night. But I love it!! And not only am I grateful that I enjoy cooking, but I'm also grateful for the means and resources to be able to cook and feed my family. That's something that I don't think of often, but I know a lot of people around the world don't have access to food like I do. And I'm so grateful for a family that also loves food - I think we will have more pies on Thursday than we are going to have people!!

A Week of Thanks - Day 1

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love the food, but I especially love the opportunity we have to really reflect on what we are thankful for. And whether times are good or times are bad, I know that I can always find so many ways to count my blessings.

I had intended to post something everyday this month that I am thankful for, but seeing that the month is already almost over, and Thanksgiving day is almost upon us, I'll do a crash course this week, and post 5 things each day that I am thankful for. Some of them will be big, and some of them will be small. Because there are so many things to be thankful for!

We'll start with the big ones:

#1 - My Husband

Josh & I on our wedding day just over 4 years ago

We celebrated our 4th anniversary just a couple of weeks ago. I feel so blessed to have him in my life. He tells me that he loves me multiple times a day, and I never realized how important that is in a relationship. In 4 short years, we have been through better and worse, richer or poorer, sickness and health - and we are still standing strong. I am so blessed to have this man in my life!

#2 - My Daughter

Abbi at about 7 months

Oh, how this little girl has changed our lives! I was laying on the floor tonight playing with her, and she was crawling all over me, laughing the whole time. I often find myself wondering how I lived before that laugh. Even on her worst days, I can still look down and her and my heart is filled with joy and love. She can always make me smile and gives meaning to my every day. I cannot imagine my life without her in it.

#3 - My Dog

Max when he was just a puppy

Ok, if you are not a dog person, this might not make sense. And 5 years ago, I might have made fun of someone who listed their dog as one of the things they are grateful for. But this little guy was our first child, and he will always be special to me. I love how excited he gets when you get home, even if you've only been gone for 10 minutes. I love how he loves to cuddle and how he keeps me warm in the winter. I love how he loves unconditionally. And I love how I can see him and Abbi becoming such good friends. I can tell there are lots of happy days with the two of them together in the future!

#4 - My Family

me & my sisters on my wedding day

I have the best family. They have stood by me through thick and thin, and have loved me and supported me even when I made decisions that they didn't agree with. My sisters are my best friends, are always there to give me advice, and are so much fun to be around. Every member of my family is such a good example to me, and I strive to be like them. And I've also been blessed with such great in-laws. They have always been there for us and have done so many things for us that I can't even count. I am a lucky girl!

#5 - A Passion

My beautiful niece Sydney - taken at a recent photo shoot

This might be a silly thing to add to the list, but until the last few years, I never really realized how important it is to have something that you are really passionate about. I have found that passion in photography. It is something that makes me excited, and brings something out in me. It is my escape, my way to keep myself sane. And I'm so grateful for those around me that have been so supportive.

I'll be back with 5 more tomorrow!!

Picture Catch Up

Wow - it's been a bit quiet around here. The funny thing is, after I caught up from Abbi's 9 months, then Halloween, I actually contemplated doing NaBloPoMo for November. Now the month is halfway over and I am finally posting! Good thing I decided against posting every day!

I don't really have anything big to even post about right now. But I have been trying to move all my photos off my computer onto an external hard drive, and I thought I'd share a few random pictures before I move them off and file them away.

No story for this one - just that I love my little girl and think she is the cutest thing EVER!!


Funny how playing in Max's toys is so much more entertaining than playing with her own toys. At first, I tried to keep her away from his toys, but it's just not happening. Besides, it keeps her occupied for quite some time!


Her other favorite game - playing in mommy's purse. She loves to pull everything out - one by one. Another game that keeps her occupied!


Just another shot of my cutie hanging out in her carseat while I was taking family pictures for my brother and his family.


A few from the family festivities before Halloween. We didn't carve pumpkins that night, but everyone else did. Abbi had fun just playing with the pumpkin. We also sang Happy Birthday to Kirra and Amy, and we ate WAY too much pie and cake!

Hopefully I'll be back to posting soon!!

Happy Halloween!

I was SO excited for Halloween this year - just for Abbi! I am extremely privileged to have a wonderful mother-in-law who sews beautiful things. Months before Halloween, Josh and I had already discussed what we wanted to dress Abbi up as for the holiday. Ever since she was born, we have nicknamed her "The Bug", so obviously, we wanted her to be a ladybug. We told my mother-in-law, and she really came through for us!! We had both looked online for some ideas, and both loved the idea of one that we saw with a tutu. But my MIL came up with the rest of the costume herself, and I couldn't have pictured a better costume. And surprisingly, the only thing Abbi tried to pull off was the hat!


We started off the day by going over to Josh's sister's house for lunch and for Abbi to get dressed up to show Josh's mom that all her hard work really paid off. We stuffed ourselves with tacos and Abbi had a wonderful time playing with her aunt and her cousin.


That night, we went down to my parent's house to show off her costume. I wasn't really planning on actually trick-or-treating because Abbi doesn't even eat candy, but we wanted to show people her costume because she was so stinkin' cute! One of my sisters - Janell - showed up with her husband and kids so we went with them around the cul-de-sac by my parent's house. We also saw my brother's wife and their kids as they came back from trick-or-treating. Then before heading home, we stopped by to visit my dad and brother, who unfortunately missed out on all the fun of the night because they had a deadline coming quickly for tile in my brother's new house.

(I tried to take a picture of the wings because they were amazing, but Abbi wasn't really cooperating!)

It was such a fun day - I can't wait until she is old enough to actually say "trick-or-treat!"