{Career Day...

This week is spirit week at CME and today was "Career Day." Jackson told me last week that he wanted to be an "army, jet flyer man" when he grew up so we made a little trip to Hobby Lobby! I was up until 12:30 sewing this little get-up for him and when he woke up this morning he was SO excited for school. I remember my mom staying up late sewing little costumes and picture day outfits (that weren't quite finished and when the photographer would re-position me I would get stuck with a pin!) for me. I woke up this morning thinking about her and being thankful for the sleepless nights that she had on my behalf! Speaking of my mom, it's her birthday today!

Happy Birthday Grammies...

{Merry Christmas... enjoy!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

{Thanksgiving weekend and my favorite soup recipe...

We had a whopper of a Thanksgiving weekend!

We hopped in the car and made our way over to Utah for a Thanksgiving with both the Hawker's and the Berry's. Liz, Anna and I ran the Utah Food Bank 5K Thanksgiving morning and then we made our way over to the stake center to watch the guys play football. We met up with our families at Northampton House for Thanksgiving dinner. It was a packed house! Todd's dad owns a reception center in American Fork Utah and that is typically where we have Thanksgiving. This year there were over 120 people! I usually prefer a quiet little family gathering, but there is something to be said of making a salad, showing up and having the rest done!

We managed to get in a little Black Friday shopping (at our favorite Utah stores), and of course attended the blessings of Max (on Sat.) and Stella (on Sun.).

We are home safe and sound and now I'm dying to get my tree up, listen to carols and everything else that goes with it!


Todd playing in a turkey bowl on Thanksgiving Day.


Stella.


Max.

Here's one of my VERY favorite (and SO easy) soup recipes:

Tortellini, Sausage Soup

1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1 c chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, sliced
5 c beef stock
2 c Italian style stewed tomatoes
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 large or 2 small zucchini, sliced
1 large or 2 small carrots, sliced
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
½ c dry red wine
3 T Italian seasoning
8-10 oz. fresh cheese tortellini
Fresh parmesan cheese

Sauté sausage in heavy Dutch oven over medium-high heat until cooked through, crumbling. Using a slotted spoon transfer sausage to a large bowl. Pour off all but 1 T drippings from Dutch oven. Add onion and garlic to DO and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Return sausage to DO. Add stock, tomatoes, sauce, zucchini, carrot, pepper, wine basil and Italian seasonings. Simmer until veggies are tender, about 30 minutes.

Add tortellini to soup and cook until tender (8 minutes). Season soup to taste with S&P. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Serve.

{Pay it forward...

There's just nothing like having a new family picture up on my wall to bring me a little joy... after Tina took our family shots, I was able to take a few pictures of some other families myself. The Olson's and the Baer's were so much fun to work with (let's face it, we live in Colorado and the surroundings couldn't be prettier and these families are gorgeous). Thanks guys!

Speaking of paying it forward, check out this website if you are even remotely interested in photography.

{Go Cougs!!

I love football games... and this one was a total blast! There had to have been almost as many BYU fans as there were Air Force fans at the game. My family came down for the game, Todd saw one of his old mission buddies and we saw a ton of friends from different wards we've lived in all over the state! I'll never miss another BYU football game in Colorado.

{Hollywood Halloween...

We had a ball at our annual couples Halloween party... The theme was Hollywood and everyone (I mean everyone) went all out! We had everything from a Sarah Palin look-a-like to Ozzy Osbourne to the paparazzi! Todd and I opted to go as Ike and Tina Turner and after a bottle of Revlon foundation we were well on our way! We ate dinner, talked, and played games but I think my favorite part of the evening was the "wig swap." I don't think Dan could look bad with any hair style!!! I'm already looking forward to next year's bash!

{Happy Halloween!!!

{Freezing our tail ends off...

What a crazy Friday night! We had planned to go to Moab with a few families this weekend, but with the Primary Program being Sunday and our Trunk or Treat activity today we opted to stay a little closer to home. Well, never again... at least not in October! Moab is completely "do-able" in October because it's at least 20 degrees warmer there. We drove up to Woodland Park yesterday afternoon, set up camp and literally laid in our sleeping bags and FROZE all night long. We came prepared with hand warmers, a tent heater and enough layers to keep anyone toasty, but it was no where near enough. I don't usually consider myself a wimp, but I can't count the number of times that I almost got up, got the keys to the Tahoe and cranked up the heater! It was enjoyable to get out and do a little camping with some good friends and I did have a good time when the sun was shining... so Baer's and Ronco's until next year!

{Girls Trip...

What a fun, fun weekend with some crazy fun girls! I think I've really only had a group of girlfriends like this one other time in my life (post college) and there were just 3 of us. I was talking to Julie (second from left) and if you would have asked us three years ago if we liked living in this part of Colorado Springs, I think we would have hesitated to say yes. We are surrounded by beauty, true. But we were sorely lacking in the girlfriend department! It seems like in just the last two years we have had some really fun, dynamic families move into our wards and neighborhoods. Thank heavens! I am such a social person, I just need good friends.

We started planning a 'girls trip' this summer and it went from the Oregon coast to Vegas, to San Diego and finally to Denver. It was perfect. Thanks to Dan and Julie we were completely pampered at the Aveda Institue and enjoyed facials, pedicures and hair cuts/color. We stayed at the Burnsley hotel in Denver (on the 13th floor). It was great, thanks Buffy! Leslie popped in for a quick hair cut and Alicia and Sara met us at Aveda Friday afternoon. That night Meghan and Valerie joined us. We went to Maggianos for dinner, the Secret Life of Bees (theater 13), and a rip roaring Haunted House (called the 13th floor haunted house). Notice the trend?? I am completely exhausted and trying to concentrate on a talk for church tomorrow but I had so much fun. Thanks girls (and grammies for taking the boys all weekend!) We missed those of you that couldn't make it but there's always next year!