My Christmas Cards are OUT!

Front Design #1: Front Design #2:

The Inside:

It is tradition that Brandon and I drop our Christmas cards in the mail on Thanksgiving day. This can become especially difficult because we both come from somewhat large families (I think we sent about 100 this year to family and a few friends). Then we always write a letter, send a picture of us, and write a more personal message in the card. And this year I even took on the challenge to design homemade cards. Wow was a I crazy or what! Thanks to Brandon, I was able to get everything put together on time!

The Taming of the Shrew

Brandon and I had the opportunity to go see my brother Tom perform in The Taming of the Shrew at the Walla Walla High School last weekend. He played the part of Lucento and did such an amazing job! He really is such an actor and I love watching him. I'm so glad we got to go!

So Proud of Myself

A few of our good friends just got married yesterday. It was a beautiful sealing in the Idaho Falls, ID temple and I am so glad we got to go! Just last weekend I had my friend Lacey get me a board and cut the vinyl for their gift. I am pretty proud of it since I sanded, painted, applied the vinyl and picked out the ribbon all by myself! Thank you Katelyn for the ribbon idea. I think it turned out wonderful!

What Is Your Biggest Pet Peeve?

This is Peeves. He wants to know your biggest pet peeve. My biggest pet peeve lately when I get left out or when someone tries to hide the fact that they may be going to hang out with other people and they are afraid to invite me to come along. Sometimes I will hear about stuff going on (after it went on, that is) and I wish that I could have been there. I love hanging out with people... so... when I miss out on something it makes me sad and that is my latest biggest pet peeve. For those of you who may think I could have left you out on something, never hesitate to ask to come along! You are always welcome. Now it is your turn to share...

No Sweets Diet

So I am on a no sweets diet right now. That means I eat a moderate amount of sweets only on the weekends. However, I have learned one thing from this and that is that it is very easy for your brain to sweet talk you into just having one piece of a candy that is not a really bad candy for you. I have a candy jar at my work. Right now there is mostly hard candy in it. The sad thing is that hard candy is not really that bad for you.. like not as bad as a cinnamon roll or something gooey like that and full of lots of fat. However, I still have to tell my mind "no" like twenty times a day. The good news is, I have already lost a pound or two and I hope to continue so that I can beat my husband in the amazing weight loss race. I have to lose 5 pounds and he has to lose 10! Whoever loses their pounds first, wins the choosing of a $20 date night and the other person has to go along with whatever it is. We started about a week and a half ago. I diligently worked out last week. This week I have not been feeling so well so I have not exercised much but I am staying away from the sweets and that is a BIG accomplishment for me!

1 Rose, Lots of Kisses, and 1 Amazing Husband

Friday afternoon I came home from work in a super bad mood! I told Brandon it had been a really long day and that it was just that I needed some time. So I took off and went to the gym. Little did I know while I was at the gym with the car, he walked to the grocery store form our house to by me this long stemmed red rose. The next morning I woke up and he had scattered kisses all over the table with the long stemmed rose in the center. What a sweet husband I thought and so I just had to take a picture. He really does know how to cheer me up!

Couples Night Out

This last weekend we had a few of our friends come over to play some games. This one was the shaving cream game (a classic). I am not sure who won but it was fun anyway!

11-8-08 Photo Shoot (courtesy of Katelyn Fouch)

Which Do You Like Best?

#1 #2

#3

Which of these pictures do you like best? Let me know because we are trying to decide on which one to send out with our Christmas cards!!!!! Thanks guys!

A Little Bit Late... But Yes, We Did Vote!

This was actually my first year voting (even though I could have last time there was an election). I was more into this campaign than I was the last one. It felt great to actually feel like a part of the process and at least mark down on paper who I felt was most qualified to be our President. We are so blessed to have the freedoms that we do in this country.

Immitation Pedicure

So the weekend before last, I took my friend Rachel Goodwin to get a pedicure with me. When I got home, I was telling Brandon all about how amazing it was and I think there were two sets of little ears listening well because they both got all excited. So last weekend when we were babysitting my siblings in Walla Walla, I thought I would get creative and give my two little sisters pedicures. They seriously grinned from ear to ear the whole time. I think they were in seventh heaven. So now I know if they are ever grumpy that a pedicure will make them cheery.

Kid Art

This is a playground painted by Crystal Rowley

It was so fun to do fingerpainting with my two little sisters last weekend... mostly because it helped me to realize that sometimes we just have to let go and be kids ourselves. I love the way kids think and I sure love these two!

Halloween with the Rowley Clan

Last weekend we babysat my siblings... So that meant we got to take them to the ward trunk-or-treat. My mom made the BYU cheerleader costume that my sister Rachel is in on the right. I was way impressed. Way to go mom! You are amazing! My brother Steward is in the middle and my youngest sibling Crystal is on the far right. Those are just the youngest three of the nine siblings I have.

Family Pictures - I Love You Brandon

These are just a few of some of the family pictures we took last weekend... I am a little behind on my posts... As you can tell.

It's Autumn Time, It's Autumn Time...

Now who are these crazy lookin' girls?!

This last weekend Brandon and I had the opportunity to go to Walla Walla and babysit my younger siblings. We got there on Halloween and amidst the craziness of getting ready for the ward trunk-or-treat, we actually got to play in the leaves! I had to grab my camera and take a few shots. The colors were amazing!

Catching Up

This past weekend while we were in Walla Walla babysitting my siblings, I managed to sneak away and finally sew my heat pack. I also made a super soft "pillowcase" for it. That way if the nice "pillowcase" ever gets dirty or gross, I can just pull it off and wash it. Pretty clever, huh?