Game Night

Sunday nights we started having game night at our house. It has been so much fun and such a great way for Brittani and I to get to know the people in our ward. Most of all I love it because we play the card game NURTZ, my favorite! It takes me back to my Thatcher days!






Daniel Brodie Me Jaron Steven Yoo Aaron Adam Chris
Amanda Layne Rebecca Brittani Kyler

First Class Here I Come!

When I flew back to Salt Lake I flew Delta. Somehow I ended up in first class... it wasn't a bad set up at ALL! Since my flight was a 7 in the morning I slept practically the whole way in my big chair. Occasionally, I would wake up and take pictures out my window to pass the time. I absolutely LoVe my camera. How did I ever take pictures without it?

Chloe and Sophie

These girls are SO fun! When I went home last week I got to spend a lot of time with them! Sophie is smiling and staying awake for longer periods of time now! Chloe is one little ball of energy! She is ALWAYS talking and bossing someone around. It is cute to see my little brother and sister with them, Brittany will alWaYs volunteer to watch whichever kid is sleeping! Rocky gets annoyed with Chloe because she says his name over and over and over, but it is so cute. He is her absolute favorite person, I don't know why because he isn't the sweetest thing to her... but she doesn't care! Rocky will volunteer to hold Sophie anytime though... maybe because she doesn't talk yet? I can't wait to go home again in a couple of weeks and see them!

PS the Pictures at the top and Sophie's little announcement were taken in January right after Sophie was born. My mom, Brittany and I kidnapped the kids and told Sarah we were taking them for a surprise she would like. It was so fun dressing them up! We loved it and the pictures turned out great. Thanks Sarah for always letting me borrow your children! I love them!

Happy Birthday Kendal

Kendal turned 24! It was fun for us all to get together
again and remember the good 'ol days at EA!

dancEnsemble

A couple of weeks ago Layne and I took pictures for Michelle's dance team. It was really fun. Here are some of my favorites:





































































































PS: these girls are AmAzing. They are so flexible!

The Back Mountain

I am loving snowboarding! I don't ever want to stop! It kills me to miss a day on the slopes after a good snowstorm! AND I started going on the back mountain last week. That's a huge improvement! It's so fun now. I do feel a little dorky wearing my new HELMET. haha good thing they are very common here in Utah (they were in Aspen too!) and they are super warm. and protective. Kendal and Sonya came up wednesday. It was Sonya's first time. She liked it!

postscript: I am going on a black diamond run tuesday! I can't wait.

Sprinkles

Saturday Amanda and I made Sprinkles cupcakes from the mix at Williams-Sonoma. They were SO good. I can't wait to go home and get the real thing at the new store opening this month in Scottsdale! I highly recommend Red Velvet!






















It was so good to see her!

Snowman

We FINALLY built a snowman. It has been snowing like crazy every single day and all I have wanted to do is build a snowman... since October! I whined and complained enough that adam, brodie and aaron agreed to make one with
Britt and I. It was so fun and everyday mr. snowman was there to greet me at my front door!

The 12 Step Program

That's right... I am addicted! So is Layne! We eat chips and salsa for every meal almost! It's getting bad- but it is like the easiest, tastiest, most filling thing! We keep saying we're going to quit buying them... but it never happens! haha someday. maybe!

So, Layne and I are pretty much connected at the hip these days. It's so fun! Here we are showing off our boots(ya we wore our dresses and boots to watch the superbowl! haha... good times, good times!

President Hinckley

This is my most favorite picture of the prophet! I will miss him so much. He's been the only prophet I have ever known. I grew up with him. I never really realized how much i would miss him until I watched his funeral and saw the slide show. He was so loved; he visited so many countries and touched the lives of so many people. Just as I feel like I was personally affected by this man's selfless example, hundreds of thousands of people around the world feel the same way. I loved going to conference and standing as he entered and exited, the spirit was always so strong! He spoke here at BYU last semester in a devotional; as he was leaving he waved his cane at all of us, which became his trademark, we all laughed. I will never forget sitting in the conference center last October with my family and watching him "knight" President Eyring after his calling to 2nd counselor in the First Presidency! He had such a sense of humor and was loved by all that came in to contact with him. Glen Beck gave an amazing tribute to him on his talk show. Here is the link:

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/200/5127/.

You should watch it, it's so good. I am just so amazed at his impact. I know he loved his calling, the people he served and I know he loved the Lord. I am so happy he is able to be reunited with his wife, Marjorie Pay Hinckley, I know he missed her. However, I will miss him in the future. Seeing him and hearing him talk always made me feel safe and he always made me feel like everything will be ok, it will all work out! He will be missed by all!


“You are wonderful. I think you are the best generation we have ever had in this Church. We have never had one as good as you are. I have great confidence in you. I think you can perform in any way that you wish to perform. I believe that with all my heart. And you can accomplish anything you wish to accomplish. It is a great and difficult world out there that lies ahead of you. It is filled with all kinds of traps, all kinds of traps to try to pull you down. But if you just keep your eye on the gospel, it will not pull you down, and you will come through, smiling, in a wonderful way.” -President Hinckley

Today

Today was quite a day. Fridays are my best days because I only have 1 class: la clase de español. I planned on spending the day snowboarding today, but I was practicing my carving on Wednesday and took a serious tumble. The result: WhiPlAsh. I won't be boarding again 'til tuesday.

When I woke up this morning it was snowing and the walk in front of our house had a good 3-4 inches covering it. You'd think that I would be used to it by now, but I am still so shocked when it snows. It has snowed everyday for like a week now. I love waking up to fresh snow! When it snows it feels like time just stands still and makes me want to stay inside, drink hot chocolate and watch a good movie!

However even the snow couldn't distract me today; all I have thought about is how I want to go home! I want to see Chloe and Sophie & Bobby and Sarah. I want to visit with my grandparents. I want to go out to dinner with my parents. I want to play guitar hero with Rocky and go shopping with Brittany. I want to be in sunny, warm weather. I want to sleep in my bed and wake up to the sun coming through the three little windows on the east wall and the sound of the birds chirping in the big pine tree and oleanders. I have only been away for like 4 weeks and it is already killing me! I can't wait to go home for easter and see everyone!