Tradition Stealer

It's mine and Trevor's very first Christmas together, so we have had many discussions on what kind of traditions we want to have in our home. My sister Aleena and her husband Geoff have started the tradition that every time they have a new baby they make their Christmas Stocking. Well since Trev and I are the new additions to our family we decided to make our stockings as well. We went to the fabric store and picked out exactly what we want our stocking to be and came home to tackle the sewing machine.

Ruthie helped us draw up a pattern, Trev measured, I cut them out...

And we both sewed! Trev was a little nervous, but he did an excellent job!

Aren't you so proud of his very own stocking he made by himself!? His favorite part is the fur, can you tell?

MERRY CHISTMAS EVERYONE!

I love Christmas, it's a time for fun and festivities. For family and friends, food and frost.
It's also that time of year that you can get all gussied up and look your best!
Fortunately this year Trevor and I have had a few Christmas parties to go to.
We would like to thank Bryan, Trevor's dad, and Grandma Donna for these FABULOUS outfits!

We attended the "Tree Lighting Ceremony" at Brett and Ashley Bardsley Home. We had a great time making gingerbread houses, eating, and learning about the true origins of the Christmas Tree...

Love these girls!
You can't help but adore Jennie's party dress, and Ashley's sweater, made by the blood and sweat of her sweet husband.

This last week we had the traditional "Nog Fest" party hosted by our good friends The Salmons. I wish we had gotten a group photo, but alas you must settle for the picture of Trevor when it was announced that he had won the contest for the ugliest "sweater." Seriously it is the best award he could possibly ever want!
(this is his stance of victory)

We are full of Christmas Spirit. Don't you love the Moose head? It's real, and huge!

Thank you Troy and Jemaica for a wonderful party!

P.S. on a side note. I want to give a shout out to my wonderful husband and best friend. I have always been a big "dress-er up-er" and he very much indulges me. Here are a couple pictures from Halloween.
We were Michelangelo and April O'Neil from the Ninja Turtles.

We had a 50's murder mystery dinner hosted by our greatest friends and Cousins, Tyler and Callie Markus. So much fun!

Love you baby!
Actually looking through these pictures, maybe the only reason he dresses up with me is because I let him do ugly things with his facial hair....

VEGAS- the home of the loose and the free

I had a good friend get married in Vegas last month so Trev and I took a quick trip to
Sodom and Gomorrah :)

Trevor had never been to the Las Vegas Strip, so we ran down there between the wedding and the reception. Trev was a little overwhelmed with the experience...

Inside the Venetian. I worked here last year giving giving tours of the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum and architectural tours. It was one of the best jobs I have ever had.

Love this picture!

And here is the epitome of Vegas:
The Devil attacking you

Our Daughters Are Going To Be GORGEOUS!

One night Trevor and I were lying in bed quietly talking before we were taken into unconsciousness. As I kept looking into his eyes I couldn't stop thinking how lovely and long his eyelashes are. So at about midnight I decided I needed to see what his eyes would look like with mascara.... the facial hair really helps his femininity.

So Long Sweet Summer

We will anxiously be awaiting your return

Kirtland & Nauvoo: The Last Summer Chapter

We had the opportunity to attend the Nauvoo Temple as we passed through Illinois. This was a wonderful experience because a few years ago I was able to go through the Nauvoo Temple open house with my family. It was an incredible experience then but it was nothing to the experience of entering the Temple after its dedication.

We spent some time in the Relief Society Gardens

This is the visual to how Trevor feels about having children.... When are we getting pregnant?.....don't ask.

We spent some time visiting family members graves:

The upper room at the Red Brick Store:

The Kirtland Temple. I really enjoyed visiting this Temple. It helped me realize how hard it really was for the Saints to have had to leave it. It is a beautiful temple.

Time to go, Trevor is pointing our "covered wagon" westward.
If you look really closely you can see the Nauvoo Temple in the background.

It was a fantastic trip, I would highly recommend a church history sites vacation to anyone!

SUMMER RECAP: Part 2 The Palmyra Chapter

Oh Beautiful Palmyra!!!!

This is where our cross-country journey began....
Red Vines + Dr. Pepper = Crazy Delicious!

We were able to make it to Palmyra in time for the Hill Cumorah Pageant,
it was wonderful, until.....

There was a torrential downpour and a lightning storm and with about 30 minutes left in the show they canceled it! It was a total bummer but I guess it's a reason to go back.
But the storm was pretty fantastic.

At around 11:00 pm we had to find a camp ground. We went to the Palmyra fair grounds and set up camp in between two RVs on soggy ground, but at least we had a place to sleep and a good nights rest. Trevor is so pretty in the mornings.....

We got to go visit the sights the next day, here we are in front of the Smith farm house, where Moroni appeared to Joseph.

Taking in the Sacred Grove

There really is an incredible spirit there

We went to the place where they printed the first Books of Mormon. Trevor found one that was printed in his missions native tongue: Bishlama
Can you see how excited he is about it?

I think this was Trevor's favorite part of Palmyra....

The Hill Cumorah

I felt the need to twirl in the Hill Cumorah with our friend Josh
(Don't be hatin the outfit, reflectors are a necessity not a luxury)

Palmyra was wonderful!!! We highly recommend it, we are so grateful that it was so close and that we were able to go.

SUMMER RECAP: Part 1

Much has happened this Summer, Trevor and I have had way more adventures then we ever anticipated within the first couple months of our marriage.

First we had the AMAZING opportunity to go to Washington DC for the 4th of July. The fireworks show was incredible right behind the Washington Monument!! You can't help but feel patriotic.

This was after the show in front of the Washington Monument.

The next day we were able to go and see all the sights of DC
The Lincoln Memorial

We were so lucky that we were invited and able to go with our good friends, the Hardings! It was so fun! Thank you Meags and Cody!

Trevor and the Washington Monument.
I love this picture, it's so Trevor.

In front of the Capitol

Jefferson Memorial
The rotunda. I actually think this one was my favorite...

We are so glad we had the opportunity to go to DC while we were on the East Coast. We couldn't get over the fact that to drive from Philly to DC took 2.5 hours and we drove through 5 states!!!!!!

It was a wonderful and very memorable 4th of July!