Holiday Greetings

Office Max offers some great fun this time of year...

The first clip has Riley Serafine, Riley Wilson, Allison, Katelyn and Annie.

The next clip stars Kelli, Brad, Mandy, Dad and Jane

and the last clip features Graham, Matt, Stacy, Mom and Jake.

I had too much fun...

warm things on cold days

I woke up to the sound of rain outside of my apartment. I couldn't bring myself to look...that means that our week of GORGEOUS weather is over. But, miraculously, I got up and ready for work anyway. I wore slippers to work today because I don't have any closed toed shoes other than boots. This is a serious problem! A problem that I don't have the energy (or resources) to fix. On my way out the door I grabbed leftover's for lunch. I didn't think much about it, but while sitting here I realized that the good potatoes sitting in my fridge will be the perfect thing to warm me up! Nothing fixes dreary weather like hearty, steamy, delicious potatoes.

Speaking of delicious potatoes.. I will tell you of Riley (Wilson) and I's adventures yesterday!

On Saturday, Riley called his Grandpa to see if we could bring Sunday dinner and visit for a while, he happily agreed! We ran to the grocery story that night to get some ingredients! We made marinade for bbq chicken so it would sit over night. On sunday morning, Riley boiled some potatoes before church. I had a meeting in the morning... Then Church, then I went to Riley's church. He was teaching the Preach My Gospel class. I don't mean to brag, but he's so good!! He taught a great lesson, one of those naturally gifted teachers. Which is semi-lame because I'm the one going into teaching. That's beside the point! We went back to his place and continued making dinner (and when I say make dinner, I mean that I talked on the phone with Mom while Riley worked the kitchen).

We made:
bbq chicken

good potatoes

rolls

salad

Chocolate pudding pie!

It was fast sunday so we were both pretty excited to eat. We drove to his Grandpa's (20 minutes) and when we got there he wasn't home. We called and he thought we were coming on Monday night! He was at his son's house (Riley's uncle) and invited us over. On the way Riley was so hungry that he ate one of the uncooked rolls. Which I think is disgusting (later he said his stomach felt like the roll had expanded 3 times it's original size). They had dinner all ready for us so we left all of our food in the car. They were such nice people! Oh they made homemade caramel for caramel apples. Then covered them in white chocolate and cinnamon/sugar. SO GOOD!! When we came out the uncooked rolls looked very wrinkly.

We cooked everything when we got home so it's all ready for tonight! Yay!

Oh and one more exciting thing, Riley and I skyped with a senior couple and a few members from his mission! It was so fun to talk to them. Riley had taught me some Russian phrases that I could say. One of the members was the sweetest Babooshka ever! Now I can say that I have spoken Russian to a real Russian.. So cool.

Dasvidanya! (for those of you who don't speak Russian, that means goodbye!)

HALLOWEEN WEEKEND IN WICHITA!!!

Mandy trying to bite off her donut on a string.

She said it was her very first time. Doesn't help

that Mandy doesn't like donuts to begin with!

I got to go to Kansas last weekend to visit Bradley,

Mandy, Jane, and Annie. What a treat. Many

of our activities had to do with Halloween. Jane

and I planned a little Halloween party for the rest
of the family. Jane did such a good job of keeping

the secret. Jane made a scary desert(above), helped me

set up the games and made some ghost decorations.

Bradley, Jane and Annie playing donut on a string.

The girls stacked Oreo cookies on their parents

foreheads. Jane stacked eight high on Bradley's head.

Annie eating her treat after popping her balloon.

Mandy and Bradley surprised at the Halloween party!

Annie and Jane at the park. I quickly learned

that Annie has no fear. She climbs up everything

in sight. She is a very determined little lady.

The girls look so peaceful playing a memory game,

but you really have to play very fast before

Annie "takes over "!

Dorothy and the Witch before leaving to go to

their ward trunk-or-treat. Adorable.

We ate at one of their favorite Italian places

one night. They give kids who come there a

ball of dough to play with while they wait

for their food. What a great idea.

The weather was so beautiful while I was there.

Perfect Autumn days. We enjoyed a leisurely

picnic lunch in their backyard. While we were

sitting there, Jane said,"I just love a good old

picnic lunch". Well, I just loved visiting good

old Kansas again. Thanks for such a pleasant

weekend! And thanks Gary for encouraging

me to go!

Family Halloween Party 2010

Saturday night was our annual Family Halloween
party and as you will see, it was a doozy!
First of all, the theme was Cowboys and Indians
and boy did we ever get an Indian...Sorry again
about the order of the pictures. I struggle!



Jim and Kerry...Jim looks a little bit too happy!
Maybe he stopped by the saloon on the way over.

They each had a kleenex box strapped to their
backs with six ping pong balls in the box. The first
person to get all of the balls out wins. Let's just say
we had to cover Garrett up for this one.

The games were all from the game show site of

Minute to Win it. We put everyone into teams

and they each had to complete a set of challenges

within a minute. The team names were, The

Dirty Bunch, The tumbling tumble weeds, The

Rangers, and The Naked Sacred Cows (Allison

and Riley, who came as Indians from India...so

cute and Nicole and Garrett, who came as Seminoles)

Party games!

They had to roll a jaw breaker onto a marked

square on a racquet.

Each contestant had to hold a spaghetti noodle in

their mouth and pick up five penne pasta noodles

without touching them.

These guys are not really dead, they were

balancing an oreo on their forehead and wiggling

it down to their mouths.

Nicole and Garrett. I promise he had nude tights

on under there, but for about the first five minutes

Dad was not sure and didn't know what to do or

where to look. He came in chanting the tomahawk

chop song. Let me go on record as saying Garrett

has no shame!

Mary and Steve... Steve didn't shave his lip

for two days.

Kelli and Jake...Thank you Jake for leaving your

guns at home! And Thank you Kelli for bringing

your delicious Artichoke dip!

Michael and Sharlan...didn't even have to search

to find their costumes!

Jamie and Judy...Cutest little cowgirl at the party!

Gary and Lori...The sheriff and his girl?

Allison and Riley...The REAL INDIANS...very clever!

Pumpkins Katelyn made to greet the party-goers!

Glenn and Paula...First cowboy and cowgirl sent

to jail.

Thank you all for coming and making it such a

fun night. I laughed so hard that I could hardly

sing at church today. Sorry to say, Grandpa and

Grandma did not make it this year. Dad was a

little under the weather.We really missed them,

but we have already started thinking of next

year...so get ready!

UEA at Park City

Dinner at Baja Cantina. Spicey Ribs!!

We tried to go on a good hike, but all the trails were closed.

The weather was spectacular and the colors were

even better. We enjoyed the kids who joined us, did a

little outlet shopping, had some good laughs, sat in the sun,

and played tennis.

Fancy Allison modeling the robe that

came with our room.

My sweet skills

Hey family! How is everyone doing? Hope all is going well. I figure that I have some time now to develop some skills before school starts in January. I'll tell you about what I've been doing lately.

1. Zumba. Has anyone else tried it? Does anyone know what it is? It is the best workout in the world. They have classes at all the rec centers around here (and I'm assuming everywhere across the U.S.) It is a latino/african dance class that works your entire core. I won't go on and on, but I've been enjoying this class.

2. Walktober. At UVU in October there is a stepping competition. This year I joined, basically I have to wear a pedometer everyday and keep track of my steps and other activities, turn in the amount of steps each week and at the end of the month there is a winner! The first week I had over 90,000 steps (thanks to Zumba) and last week I had just over 75,000- not as much thanks to Fall Break. Then on Sunday I lost my pedometer so I haven't kept track all week. So... I think I'm out of the competition. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

3. Food. I've decided to take up cooking. I've never been someone to try new meals or foods so this week I found a few new recipes that I want to try. I made Tortellini Soup last night, Nicole had the recipe posted on her blog and it looked delicious. It was delicious and it smelt even better! Inside the soup there was carrots, spinach and tomatoes. Now, I'm really not a vegetable person so all I really ate was the tortellini's and carrots. Luckily Riley (Wilson) was there and loves vegetables (thanks to his years in Russia). Then we tried to go running up at Bridal veil falls but we were too full so we ended up walking instead, which was much more enjoyable than running. Nevertheless, I have leftovers and will eat them for dinner tonight!

4. Costume making. This has taken up a large amount of my thinking time recently. This Saturday there is a party at Mom and Dad's for Halloween. Thinking up a costume and making it come to life is great. But it's a surprise what we are dressing up as... so you'll all have to wait.

5. Cleaning. So as some of you might know, there are cleaning checks once a months in BYU housing. I had the bathroom this week and I failed because the silver stuff wasn't shiny enough. I'm really not sure the people who check know that they are already disgusting and that I made them look their best. Those bathrooms are gross, just so everyone knows. I don't want to know how many people have used those things.

6. Soccer. I've never really been a fan of soccer but I joined an Intramural team with Becca and Nicole. It has actually been really fun, despite the fact that we have lost every single game, except one (the other team forfeited). And that last week was the first game we had refs there for! (The rest were forfeits)

Oh, I've got a whole list of books to read. Currently I'm working on the Bookseller of Kabul. (which is apparently pronounced kaw-bull, not cable). Here is my list of to do's:
1. Hunger Games

2. These is my words

3. Half Broke horses (I started this but then it was due at the library so I need to finish)

Oh and here is a picture of my Tortellini Soup! Looks fancy, right?

This could be OUR house

In just a few short months this could be our home. Jake and I put an offer in the other day for this home in Orem. There are not a ton of pictures, but if you'd like to see more you can click http://www.utahrealestate.com/970825. We're pretty excited! I just don't think I have the patience to wait months and months to find out if it's ours. I have to stop myself when I start thinking of paint colors and how I'll start to decorate. I guess I'll have it planned if we get it.

End of Summer....still not yet!

These are pictures of some of the things we accomplished at the house this summer.
I am really enjoying the house and the yard. I didn't take any pictures of the garden, but we have had delicious squashes, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers and we are still hoping for cantalope and watermelon. I learned a lot about the soil and water here and will hopefully improve next year. Who would have thought the soil and water could be so much different only six miles south of West Jordan. Now, all we ask is to get our trees and plants to grow!!! Bradley asked for close-ups of the new firepit.

The kids started the day at Nicole and Garrett's house for their semi-annual cousin conference breakfast. They all bring something something to add to the meal and have such a great time!

The kids got tickets to see the Saturday afternoon conference session. They said it didn't seem

like fall yet. I guess it wouldn't...it was in the high 80's. Yeah!