Welcome to Our Blog! These are the stories of our crazy busy lives. We're an east coast met west coast stuck in the middle family who loves to cook, play games, and just have fun. We love our little boys, Jarhead and Lego! Enjoy and Leave us Comments!

11.26.2008

all done, for now



My girlfriends, des and ash, at home. I miss home. and I love PA and i'm grateful for them and the many others that helped shape my life.





and last, but definetly not least, my favorite person: Matthew. He is everything to me. I cannot even say the least bit of it. I have finally met my very best friend, the one who makes my heart skip a beat like nobody else. This is my true fairytale and I love every bit of it.
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My friends. This is Sarah. She's in SD now but she was my best girl friend here in utah before that. i miss her alot and I would've been lost with out her.










Good times, cousins, and kids. How can this not just make you smile?










This is my temple one. I love it. I love this temple, and all temples. I love that I was able to go her with Matthew and remember that this is where I first gained a bit of my testimony.
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part 2

The mountains. They are Majestic.(the temple is reallly pretty too, but i picked another picture for that one:) )









flowers. these are the ones from the wedding, but I love nature and the wonderful things God has given us to look at.










These are reallly yummy M&M's which are one of my favorites. but I am so grateful for all my favorite snacks that taste SO good.











The water. This is the SanFranscico coast( and someone's head) but how beautiful the world is. I love the scenery we get to look at all the time.
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Grateful in Pictures

I love Thanksgiving! i love the holidays and I love that it is full of love and happiness and families. Matt and I don't get to go see either side of our families for Thanksgiving but we are very excited to do our own thing, hopefully with his sister and her fiance. We got a HUGE turkey a bunch of potatoes and tons of cresent rolls. plus the pies and the drinks and yada yada yada. i'm so excited to spend the next couple days with a break from work and class and just be with my matthew.so, due to the season of "thanks" i decided to make a public post of just a few of the things I am thankful for. I only picked a few, because I would never be able to stop typing if I was to list theall, if I could. lol...and i love pictures<3 href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldV5tmfBZBprs-Mgyhy-k9_N_kyF8CjCihBofqs1qzMngybwZanLrYVUX_Gr_xSVcfR2MNQiYi90AUzeZ8gR0q8dAHN2zVdKPibYTelGNvS6GGT_7_zXq0ft2s0qlkdcDFvzYrFSblRE/s1600-h/September+064.jpg">










My family. New and Old and those that have been like family to me. Families are forever. They strengthen me. They love me. They support me. What else could I ask for?







My wedding. I was able to be married in the temple, for time and all eternity. There is nothing greater.
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11.21.2008

awwww... fridays<3

i'm so excited for this much needed weekend. now that matthew and i are "all grown up" and working or going to school at least 9 hours a day, we're pretty dead by the end of the week. tonight we will enjoy some christmas decoration shopping at the big Kohl's sale and then some video games, probably the Wii since we have sold it and will give it up tomorrow morning. Then tomorrow we have a busy morning with the Wii transaction and i have his sisters bridal shower. then maybe the ward service project? the game? homework? relax? ohhh, the choices..haha.. and we'll end the night with dinner at chilli's and twilight as a group date.. go us. i'm so excitd that Thanksgiving is next week. While it means, a final, and 3 papers and a project to do, at least I won't have to go to class too! yay! i'm soo ready for this semester to be over..
oh! and my brtoher had a good behavior weekend from the gaurd so he's with my mom. she went down to GA and I got to talk to him. made my day:)

this is a ramble but i am sooooo bored..lol.. yay! fridays <3

11.20.2008

Tagged Again, but i'm enjoying these:)

8 things I am passionate about
* family
* crafts
* organization
* my hubby
* traveling
* food ( esp. chips and cheese and pizza)
* journals ( even though i've been a slacker)
* relaxing

8 Words or Phrases I often Use
* ummm
* what are you thinking?
* tell me something
* HeLLo! <3
* What are they doing now? (usually to my gram about the rugrat cousins)
* i love you mostest infinity no battle!
* what would you like for dinner?
* i'm cold

8 Things I want to do before I die
* turn around in a police only turn around on the highway
* travel with my husband
* have our own home
* have little kiddies
* live each day, one at a time and enjoy it(had to keep this of Stacey's. this is my constant battle)
* lay in the four corners
* kiss my hubby in the kissing tower at Hershey ( this is an old dream, that now has a reality.lol)
* master my grandma's sauce and aunt Lucy's cookies

8 Things I want or need
how bout 4 wants and 4 needs
* our own home
* little babies <3
* money to travel and visit family
* Civilization for XBOX 360

* more time in my day
* a change from provo
* family to be closer
* more time with matthew



8 Things I have learned from the past
* live today for today and be okay with it
* school isn't everything
* i don't have to be perfect and neither does anyone else
* journal more
* video games are really fun!
* relaxing can be very enjoyable
* not to be so hard on people
* don't judge

8 Restaurants I love
* Costa Vida
* AppleBees
* Savos ( pizza place at home)
* Sabitinis( pizza place at home)
* Januzzi's ( pizza place at home)
* The CheeseCake Factory
* Panda Express
* Zupa's ( best sandwhichs ever!)
* Red Lobster
((oh man, there are soooo many more!))

8 shows I love to watch
((not too big into TV, so this is kinda TV and movies))
* Friends
* House
* Gilmore Girls
* Kung Fu Panda
* Step Up 1 &&2
* The Office
* Harry Potter
* HGTV
* Food Channel

yay.. i tag <3 you:)

11.18.2008

I was tagged

Okay, so I was tagged. I don't have anything that I can post right now that I wrote with both hands, maybe later. but i'll do the others.



2- list 5 of your 50/50's..

- Chocolate Chip Cookies or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

- Fall or Spring

- Pink or Yellow

- Staying Up Late or Getting Up Early ( I really don't like either. I get sick if I stay up late and I have a better day if I get up at a reasonable hour and get things done. But getting up early? That's why I chose 11-9 as the best sleeping schedule--ideally)

- California or the East Coast( this is the current dilemma, East being VA most likely.. but both have family, beautiful weather, nice coasts, fun cities, plenty of LDS ppl) ::SigH::

3- 5 pet peeves

- teachers who test on unimportant things

- bad drivers

- people who interrupt

- those that break "appointments"( for lack of a better word) basically, if you planned something with me, don't cancel unless it's something important ( if your sick or something that's chill, but if youre breaking plans with me to go hang out with someone else...ummmm no)

- Know- It- Alls ( you know those ones that think they know everything about everything and want to share it all with you evrey time you want to have a conversation) it's okay to know stuff, it's even okay to know a lot, but to shove it in my face all the time? come on people, manners.


4- 5 things that don't mix well.

- orange and red

- summer and jackets

- small apartments and a TON of stuff

- work and school

- saturday and waking up early

- this one was hard




So, tag list :



1- Show both hands in writing something,



2- list 5 of your 50/50's..



3- 5 pet peeves and



4- 5 things that don't mix well.




ready, set, go!

11.15.2008

i received this from a friend on facebook and wanted to pass it along.

Dear friends,

Tell Governor Schwarzenegger to defend the voters' decision on Proposition 8 (the California Marriage Amendment) and to publicly condemn the attacks on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their members.


E-mail Governor Schwarzenegger at: http://gov.ca.gov/interact
Call Governor Schwarzenegger at (916) 445-2841




See letter below from Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council: November 13, 2008

Dear Friends,

Please act immediately to defend the pro-family victory won in California last week when the people of California passed a constitutional amendment (Proposition 8) by a 52%-48% margin to protect marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

Since Election Day, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has made statements supporting demonstrations against Proposition 8, and urging California 's Supreme Court to block the amendment's enforcement.

Since Prop 8's passage there have been numerous, large, threatening demonstrations by those opposing traditional marriage. According to the Los Angeles Times, organizers planned to "have protesters congregate at or march to Catholic churches and Mormon sites." In fact, more than one thousand protesters targeted the Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Westwood. Anti-Prop 8 events planned across the country have targeted Mormon churches in places as far away from California as Kensington, Maryland.

The governor's post-election behavior has been completely inappropriate for the State's highest official. He has acted contrary to the rule of law and has helped foment an environment of lawlessness (one protest produced 15 arrests), intimidation, and racism. Condoning street protests and supporting judicial activist scams to overturn a popularly approved state constitutional amendment approaches advocacy of anarchy. Gov. Schwarzenegger is playing a dangerous game, and it needs to stop. Now.

Please express the following concerns when you contact Gov. Schwarzenegger directly:

Remind him that he is required to fulfill his oath of office which demands that he "support and defend" and "bear true faith and allegiance" to the California Constitution - which now defines marriage traditionally.

Suggest that he publicly accept the results of the ballot initiative as the will of the people even as he reminds Proposition 8 opponents that they can seek another outcome in the future by electoral means.

Tell the governor to publicly recant any suggestion that the California courts manipulate the law to reach his desired political outcome.

Finally, let Gov. Schwarzenegger know that he must condemn the recent assault on the First Amendment rights of California 's churchgoers - most notably Mormons, Catholics, and evangelicals - and use his law enforcement powers to protect parishioners and church facilities from trespassing, disruption, and violence."

Contact California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Urge Him to Fulfill His Oath of Office by Defending the People's Decision on Marriage

Sincerely,

Tony Perkins
President

EMAIL GOVERNOR SCWARZENEGGER AT: http://gov.ca.gov/interact
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger - Interact
Source: gov.ca.gov
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's state website includes biographies, newsroom, policy/issues, webcasts, videos, blogs, interactive video forum, email alerts, appointments, contact, Spanish
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11.11.2008

i think one of my favorite things about utah is that there is Costa Vida and i am ABOSOLUTLY in love with their food:) matthew loves it too, so it works out well for the both of us:)
(i had it for lunch and it was on my mind, so you know this wasn't completely random...)

11.07.2008

thought this was fun.My score is 50

you're suppose to bold what you've done but since mine's being stupid, i put a star in front:)

*1. Started your own blog
*2. Slept under the stars
*3. Played in a band
*4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
*7. Been to Disneyland
*8. Climbed a mountain...
9. Held a praying mantis
*10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
*12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
*14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
*19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
*20. Slept on an overnight train
*21. Had a pillow fight
*22. Hitch hiked
*23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
*24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
*30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
*32. Been on a cruise
*33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
*34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
*35. Seen an Amish community
*36. Taught yourself a new language( learned some spanish and ASL but don't remember much)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
*38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
*39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
*41. Sung karaoke
*42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
*45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
*46. Been transported in an ambulance
*47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
*50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
*51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
*52. Kissed in the rain
*53. Played in the mud
*54. Gone to a drive-in theater
*55. Been in a movie - only movies I made with my friends :)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
*61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
*62. Gone whale watching( kinda, on a whale looking cruise thing, we saw one farrr away.lol)
*63. Got flowers for no reason
*64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma -
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
*68. Flown in a helicopter
*69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
*70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
*72. Pieced a quilt
*73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
*77. Broken a bone
*78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
*79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
*84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
*86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
*93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
*98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

11.06.2008

some thoughts

i love to write. i love even more to journal and write of things that truely matter to me, and truely affect me. even more than writing, i love to read back through old journal entries. i love to reread of certain trials or certain stresses. and even to read back over certain boy stories and to see how much i thought i was in love and now realize how wrong i was. i love to look back and see how i've grown and see who i've trusted, and sometimes even to see what i wore that day. i read today of a blessing i received when i was set apart to a certain calling a few sememsters ago, i was amazed at the insights i had received to a simple phrase he had said. i read that at that time it was the perfect answer to my prayer. sometimes, often times, i forget about those instances. how grateful i am that i wrote that down, because ironically it was an answer to that same prayer many months later. i was able to remember that truth and remember that spirit.
i'm not very good at journaling now. every so often i'll write a little something, but i use to write everyday or at least every other. when i was a kid i use to write things like " today is wed. it is sunny(draw picture of sun). i had gym and i liked playing soccer. love, deanna" and now i write long drawn out thoughts that often have no point in the end. my thoughts are long and continuous. i have not yet learned how to shut off my mind. i try sometimes, but it hardly works. one day. and then one day i won't have to write everything. i'll realize that's it's okay to just write the big stuff at some points in our lives.
on another note. i'm not a big fan of politics. i listen enough to make educated decisions when i vote and to not be an uneducated american, but really it's not a passion of mine. this week though, even though i did not fully support either candidate, i am prepared to fully support our new president elect. in a few short months his decisions will affect everyone of us. many other decisions and laws will be made or try to be made that will affect us. one of these was prop 8 in ca and the ones in fl and az. i know i already stated my opinion, but i wanted to share an insight my D&C professor had today during class. He said " I have been teaching D&C for a while and been reading and learning from it even longer. I have not found a significant reason why D&C125 is in there. I have some opinions and ideas to some things it could teach us."(as do many people, he did clarify that he knows it is in there for a purpose he just has not found that purpose yet) he continued :
" D&C 125 tells the saints where they can dwell as directed by the prophet. The prophet is given the authority and can and should give us modern revelation for every matter, whether temporal,spiritual, or political"
i don't really want to write much on the topic, and since it passed i am very glad but did want to share that insight.
well, now that i've bored your poor eyes, i'm going to head to bed so i can get up early for work. i jsut had a lot on my mind, and want to get some of it off before i shut my eyes.
-good night.

11.02.2008

This has been the best year of my life! Matthew and I celebrated the anniversary of our first date on thursday last week. it was so fun! for our first date we went to the dollar theatre to see stardust and got slurpees, this year, we went to applebees for dinner and then played batman legos! AWESOME! we had so much fun. It seems like so much longer than a year has gone by, i think because so much has happened. we went on our first date pretty much as friends and then we were engaged, and got married, and moved, and went on a vacation. anyway, i'm not going to bore you with all of the many things that have happened, but it has been a lot and it has been the best ever. i love being married to my very best friend..

on a totally different note, i wanted to share a frustration about the sad state of many parents and children today. we live in a basement and so we didn't think we'd get trick or treaters. we were planning on going out but since i didn't feel well we stayed in and played more legos. we made sure our light was off just to be sure no trick or treaters would come. so(since we had no candy and wanted to avoid an akward moment), we decided not to answer the door when the one and only group came knocking to our door. would you believe these kids OPENED OUR DOOR! We just stayed where we were because we didn't want to yell at the little kiddies even though we were so frustrated! We know there was parent or older person of some sort by her voice. she was like "guess they're not home. close the door". Come on now, if the light is off, and noone answers the door, would you ever think of opening the door. I would have never done that as a child and i would never let my children do it when i'm a parent. i was appalled and just had to share.

anyway, hope everyone else's halloween was pleasant and hope your ready for a fun novemeber.. and don't forget to vote on tuesday!