The Spirit of Christmas

Well, I guess this is sort of an advertisement. Sort of. Just letting you all know that some of my friends and I are putting on a Christmas fireside this next Sunday - December 13, 2009 - that is going to be fantastic and anyone is welcome to attend. It will be held at the Pioneer Chapel in Provo (which is on the north-west corner of 900 W and 100 N) at 7:00PM. Let me know if you have any questions. We would love to see any of you there.

Celebrating Thanksgiving

So, I've been thinking the last couple of days about the holidays (obviously :). As I've been thinking, I've realized that I usually just kind of pass Thanksgiving by a little bit. Don't get me wrong. I totally love it, and I get very excited to hang out with my family and get some days off work, etc. :) But I'm usually kind of waiting for Christmas, or life just kind of goes on and then all of a sudden it's Thanksgiving and then it's over.
I want this, and the future years to be different. I want to "get in the mood" for Thanksgiving, if that makes any sense. I guess this was reiterated by a fabulous Stake Conference that I had this weekend where one of the things emphasized was the importance of being grateful.
So now I'm pondering on things I can do to both more fully recognize the many blessings I have been given and also to show my gratitude to my Heavenly Father. I've come up with a few things, but I'm wondering what you do.
How do you prepare yourself for Thankgsiving, or what do you do that makes it a little more special?

Let the holidays begin!!!

And I'm not just talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas. I believe that every day should be a celebration. And if you don't believe me, here's a list to prove I'm right. :)

Let's Start with Today -
Nov. 4th - National Use Your Common Sense Day (So please use it)

I hope you didn't miss the last couple days
Nov. 2nd is plan your epitaph day and Nov 3rd (yesterday) was Housewife's day, Sandwich day, and National Cliche Day.

If you missed those, there are still lots of events to celebrate coming up! (Side note, I did not include all holidays on this list. So there are others as well...)

Nov. 5 - Diwali
Nov. 6 - National Men Make Dinner Day (Who's going to come make it for me???)
Pumpkin Chunkin Days (the 6th-8th)
I Love Nachos Day
Nov. 7 - National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day
Nov. 8 - Cook something bold and pungent day
Nov. 9 - World Orphans Day
Nov. 10 - Area Code Day
Nov. 11 - Veterans Day
Nov. 12 - National Sundae Day
National Pizza with the works except anchovies Day
Nov. 13 - World Kindness Day
Nov. 14 - Loosen up, Lighten Up Day
National American Teddy Bear Day
Nov. 15 - I love to write Day
Nov. 16 - International Day for Tolerance
Nov. 17 - Homemade Bread Day
Nov. 18 - Mickey Mouse Day
Nov. 19 - Great American Smoke Out
Have a Bad Day Day
Use Less Stuff Day
World Toilet Day
Play Monopoly Day
Nov. 20 - Name Your PC Day
Nov. 21 - World Hello Day
Nov. 22 - Start your own country day
Go for a ride day
Nov. 23 - Fibonacci Day
National Cashew Day
Nov. 24 - Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day
What do you love about America Day
Nov. 26 - Thanksgiving Day
Nov. 27 - Black Friday
Buy Nothing Day (Hmmm.... which one do you celebrate???)
National Day of Listening
Pie in the Face Day
Nov. 28 - International Aura Awareness Day
National French Toast Day
Nov. 29 - Square Dance Day
National Chocolates Day
Nov. 30 - Computer Security Day

And if the days aren't enough, here are some things for us to be celebrating this month...

National Peanut Butter Lovers month (Yup, that's me!!!)
It's also Family Stories month - feel free to share
It is the National Month of the Pomegranate
As well as National Roasting Month, National Writing Month, National Sweet Potato Awareness Month, and National Healthy Skin Month.

Personally, aside from Thanksgiving, I very much look forward to celebrating peanut butter, homemade bread, Mickey Mouse, toilets, saying hello, and cooking some crazy things. I hope you all find something this month that you love, as well as something to celebrate each day. Enjoy the start of your holidays!!!!

My favorite time of year...

Yup, it's Fall! The air gets crisp and cool, sweatshirts are oh so comfortable, hot chocolate starts to be drinkable again, and the world gets more beautiful! Seeing the leaves change is one of my most favorite things, and one thing that almost makes me run away back East every year. However, Utah is putting up quite the fight this year and I've definitely enjoyed seeing what my ol' home state has to offer. I hope you enjoy too!

Smashing good start to the season...

That makes two.
Go cougars!!!

Proud New Owner

Well, I decided a while ago that it has come time to upgrade my car status. So, I've been searching around for quite a few weeks, deciding what I like, etc. Yesterday, I signed my life away, I mean I bought a car. :) (Okay, it really wasn't quite that bad.) Here it is!

I didn't ever think I would like a white car, but this one called out to me. :) It's proven to be really nice so far. It's a 2006, so a little bit used, but still really nice. Which also means I'm selling my blue mazda, so if anyone is aware of anyone looking for a not very expensive car (for kids going to school, teenagers, etc), let me know!

One of Life's Great Moments

When you wake up in the morning

and you just want to cry because morning shouldn't be here yet.

.

.

.

.
And then you realize that it's Saturday.

.

.

.

.
Ahhhhhh. Roll over and go back to sleep.

Family Campout

Well, Rowley Family Weekend came and went last weekend. It was a lot of fun because the whole family went down to Palisades to go camping for a few days. I didn't get lots of pictures, but enough to share some of the fun.

But first, it was also my oldest brother's birthday. So on Thursday we all surprised Greg at Tucano's so we could celebrate the big 40! Woo hoo. Of course he had to jam a little to celebrate.

Then we all met down at Palisades, set up the tents and had a good time!

Who needs water?

'Sup

Chillin'

Cute Girls

Hiking

Doing some crafts

Getting ready to hit the water

A little canoeing

The whole family in our awesome shirts!

Some new additions to life

Well, strange as it seems to be, I'm moving out of my current apartment and into another place. I've been in this complex for 3 years now, the longest I've ever been in a place since I left home actually. So it really has been my "home", and it's a little hard to leave, as much as I know it's time to move to something new.

In a seeming next step in growing up, I'm moving into an unfurnished apartment. Rather than getting used furniture that has had who knows what on it, I decided to just spend some money and get some good stuff that will last me for a while. So, I purchased a new living room set and a kitchen table and chairs. Thankfully my parents had furniture for the bedroom. It's a new place and a new adventure to come. So here are some pictures of my new fun stuff!

Here's the table. Thanks Dad and Darrell for putting it together!

A closer look at the loveseat and coffee table.

A look at the living room.

Happy Birthday America!

In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams told her of the actions of the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776. "The second day of July, 1776 [the actual day the Declaration was signed], will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever."

I know this is a few days after the fact, (after all, when am I ever right on top of posting things on time) but I just wanted to make a small note about the 4th of July. It's definitely one of my favorite holidays and I got to spend it in Richfield with my family, which is a big tradition. Lots of good times to be had! I'm grateful for the many blessings that I enjoy living in this country and the great country that it is!

Driving up the coast

Well it's a long and windy road up the coast, but definitely beautiful for most of it. After we left San Francisco we headed up the coast to see the Redwoods. We were able to see a couple lighthouses and a few other things along the way.
Happy cows from California. :)

Point Arena Lighthouse

Point Cabrillo Lighthouse

The Avenue of the Giants (Once again, can you find me in the picture?)

Driving through a tree!

Hanging out IN a tree. That's what I call a tree house!


And we even got to watch the sunset over the ocean.

More San Francisco

Our second day in San Francisco was definitely full and even exhausting. :) We were able to see a lot of the city and it was a lot of fun.
We started the morning walking around the Palace of Fine Arts. It's a very beautiful big park area.


Then hanging out at the Exploratorium for a little bit.


We took a trolley tour of the city

Lombard Street

We got to take a bay cruise underneath the Golden Gate Bridge

And of course, you can't go to San Francisco without riding a cable car!

We also went to the aquarium and the wax museum. This was one of my favorite pictures there. :)

San Francisco

The day after Yosemite, we headed up to the Bay area. We stopped first at the temple in Oakland and were able to do a session there.


We then spent the rest of the day in San Francisco, going to Alcatraz and exploring around the wharf and the pier.







Overlooking the Bay

Ghirardelli Square

Cable Car coming down Hyde Street