Thanksgiving

 This year we had thanksgiving with my family. It was actually supposed to be the Porter side, but Blake just started his job at Costco and time wasn't on our side. Next time hopefully we won't miss it.

It's tradition in my family that we go Christmas tree hunting and then decorate for Christmas the day after thanksgiving.

On November 23rd it was Makell's birthday. We ate homemade apple pie, had a picnic in the park, and hiked Hickman bridge. Who knew the day was going to be so beautiful?! I am so grateful to have wonderful sisters who I can call my best friends. 

Blake found his spot..

Nike sponsor..

Nothing like doing yoga in the desert.

Enjoying the Journey

I'm still pregnant and it's getting pretty obvious now because a balloon animal guy made me this pregnant dog. I guess that's one way of saying, "Hey, lady your pregnant."

 32 weeks.. Time is flying by 

  Just recently my sister Makell and Chelsea did a baby shower for me.. I failed to get any pictures, but I know some were taken, but I don't have them to put on the blog :(. All of my sister-in-laws were able to come from Arizona. We tried to have as much fun as we possibly could. We took the kids to the dinosaur museum and I think they had a lot of fun. 

It wore my brother in law chase right out. 

 A little while back Blake and I made homemade grape juice. One day we went over to a neighbors house and I saw all these yummy grapes and I said how fun it would be to have grape vines She then offered her grape juice machine and it made for great memories. It was soooooo good. 

Carved pumpkins with Chase and Jessica. Blake's is on the top left and mine top right.

Another fun thing we did for Halloween was a murder mystery dinner with our friends. Blake's character was a complete jock and my character was a born to be cheerleader. We had a blast playing the characters and stepping back into the 50's. 

My little sister Lauren is a senior this year!!!!! It's freaking me out.. how did this happen?? I'm so proud of the young women she has become. In this picture she just got finished with state cross country and she received fourth place. 

 For six months Blake and I had the privilege of working with and mentoring two kids. I love spending time with these kids. They have completely changed Blake and I for the better. 

I just recently had an amazing experience and it's not something I would share on facebook or instagram and I even debated sharing it on here, but it is a picture and a story that I don't ever want to forget and a blog is more for us anyway right?? Blake and I have really been trying hard to save our money for this baby coming in January and it's been a bit challenging with money lately. I have been getting super stressed out about it. We have been trying really hard to do our best in praying, scripture study and attending the temple. Doing these things consistently I have felt closer to god than I have been in a while. Blake and I combined our money and I went to the bank by myself; as I was putting in all our hard working money I also needed to pull out tithing. We hadn't paid tithing for a little while so it was a lot of money for us to owe in tithing. I felt my faith shake a little as I pulled out the money, but I did it because my husband has always told me "we can't afford not to pay our tithing " and that saying is something I think about every time I pay it. As I went to work the next day I had a few minutes to spare so I went to the gas station and paid 54 dollars in gas and my stomach sank. Still having  ten minutes before work I pulled out my phone and started reading my scriptures for the day. I kept getting distracted thinking I should just go into work.. what if I am missing out on a good table. I decided I really needed to read my scriptures before going into work. I finished up the chapter and felt more calm about everything. As I was serving I kept running into bad luck with tables that either wouldn't tip great or didn't order that much. I began feeling a little stressed again. Until a young couple that looked a little older than Blake and I came into the restaurant and ordered not very much food. As I went to go clean up their table I looked at their bill last thinking it wasn't going to be very much and it turns out they tipped  me $100. My whole body went into shock and my eyes began to water as I just stared at this piece of paper. I felt almost immediately gods love for me and an impression to just keep trying to do what is right and heavenly father will take care of us. Overwhelmed by love I quickly sent a picture to Blake and testified that it pays to pay tithing. The money was sweet, but to be reminded that god is always watching out for us if we do his will was more powerful than I could have ever imagined. I'm so grateful for the couple who will never know how much it meant to me. I never got a chance to thank them, but I do know that god will bless them for listening. I hope that I can be like this young couple to be in tune enough to do gods errands here on earth.  

Summer Recap

 Summer has come to an end and I blogged once.. big surprise. This post is a recap on the highlights of our summer in 2012.

 Our baby Boy has been the biggest highlight of our summer. We found out in the month of May that I was pregnant. In July we heard the heartbeat and then told our families immediately after that. I am now twenty weeks pregnant and couldn't be happier to raise this baby boy. 

One of our funny announcements to the world that we were expecting. We watch way too many Disney movies...

We went to Lake Powell with my family for a day trip and had a blast. Summer wouldn't be complete if there wasn't a Lake Powell trip involved.

This trip down to Wayne was originally supposed to be another Lake Powell trip, but the winds were so bad and the pictures speak for themselves.. it was cold. We tried to make the most out of the trip and went fishing instead. 

Camping in American Fork canyon with friends. Even though the night didn't go as planned we still made it fun :)

LAS VEGAS!! Blake and I just recently took a spur of a moment trip to Las Vegas to go see the Phantom of the Opera. Best choice we ever made besides marrying each other. I have never had that much fun in Vegas. We stayed at the Flamingo hence the flamingos.

We had some time to kill before the play started so we went to all the free shows in Vegas that we could. I know this picture is blurry but this duo was amazing.

The wax museum was way too expensive... who pays thirty bucks to see that stuff?! We got pictures with the two wax figures that were on display because we wanted to be cool.

Going in to see the Phantom of the Opera.. Super excited

We tried to get a picture of the big chandler in the background, but we got yelled at for taking a picture.. so this is the best we got. 

This play seriously blew my mind. 

Met the joker on the streets.. he played the character a little too well.

Last picture in Vegas.. Man, my husbands hot.

Nickle City with our close friend Bryson and his girlfriend Mckenzie

Another highlight from the summer.. my brother grew a fancy beard. I never new this could happen and all I can say is I'm proud. RIP beard. Brock and Chayley left at the end of the summer to go to Washinton DC for Brocks internship. I miss them already, but excited for them to have this adventure. 

One sibling leaves another comes home. Makell and Jed are back from Texas. I failed at taking pictures of this night.. but Makell, my cousin Chelsea and I had a girls night. We had so much fun staying up til the wee hours of the night. Makell taught us how to make fancy necklaces and I must say they are pretty legit.

My summer post is coming to an end.. school is now back in session. I noticed this fad of everyone posting pictures on FB of first day of school pictures so just to be funny I took a picture of Blake's first day of senior year in college. Go get em tiger haha

One great thing about school starting is college football begins too. Rise and shout.. the cougars are out. 

Stewart Falls

Blake and I went to Stewart Falls last weekend and had a blast. I love being in the mountains. The weather and the company were perfect. Pictures don't do it justice for how beautiful it was up there. 

Catch Up

Wow has it been a long time or what? I haven't blogged forever. We have been really busy with school, work, and other things. School is now officially over, but for some reason our lives haven't slowed down. Blake is studying for the DAT (the pre-dental entry exam) and I am going to be working two jobs for the summer. The scheduled date for the test is June 28th so everyone keep him in your prayers. I know that he will do great and give it his all. 

Now to catch up on the past. My birthday was March 22nd and I turned 22 so it was my golden birthday. My siblings threw me a surprise birthday party at my parents home. Blake put a party together with some of our friends and then I went to the hunger games with some of my old roommates and friends from college. I  had a great birthday and I felt really loved. Blake even bought me tickets to the little mermaid play. I love the little mermaid and in fact it was the movie Blake used in his video when he proposed. 

 Our friend Deanna shares the same birthday as me so we invited them to come with us. Now the funny part is that Blake didn't realize that it was a BALLET and not an actual musical or play. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but the guys could say other wise. Right as soon as the show started we all started laughing. It was good culture for the men. 

My sweet sister Makell moved to Texas again. We all got together one last time before they headed out and  went to Pizza Pie cafe. Afterwards we went to their house to play games. I love when we all get together we always have a good time. We are going to miss them this summer. 

Lately the weather has been amazing and we have been taking full advantage. This past month we have been getting together with our friends to have a barbecue and  play volleyball. The Provo canyon is so beautiful this time of year. 

So last semester Blake took a Latin Ballroom class with me. Ladies I have no idea how I got him to do it with me other than he loves me that much. I think he secretly enjoyed it though.

 

The other day I came home and my sweet husband had bought me a waffle Iron. Waffles were a big thing in my home and I have been craving waffles like crazy so Blake surprised me. Is it okay if we bought a waffle iron before a microwave?!