Tradition

For the past I don't know how many years I have had the chance to either watch or be apart of a live nativity pageant during the christmas season. There's just something about being there with the live animals and people that makes it extra special to me. Last year Rope and I got to play Mary and Joseph in the live nativity for the Taber Stake. It was so nice to do with all my cousins, aunts and uncles and family. I even got to ride on a donkey! For the short amount of time that I had to be on the donkeys back it made me realize how extremely uncomfortable it is. Sitting sideway on its back there isn't a lot to hold on to, it makes it impossible to brace yourself so it takes a lot of balance to stay on it. I could not imagine travelling a long distance on it.. while also being pregnant! Knowing this makes me even more grateful that Mary was able to endure it all, and without complaining. She really must have know he was the Son of God.

Since we didn't get to watch or participate in a live nativity this year.. 

We watched This instead.

Merry Christmas 

a little something

I've been feeling guilty for the last couple days that I haven't posted anything in 2 1/2 weeks. {even though i'm pretty sure I have about 3 people that read this- but thats ok because I like to do it! And I don't want to get out of the habit}

Today while I was at the dollar store with Amy we were in the check out and we looked down at Trey and he was praying.. It was adorable. I don't know what triggered in his little head to say a prayer at that time but i thought it was so sweet to hear him going through his little prayer... after he noticed we were looking at him he did it a couple more times, because he could tell we thought it was cute, but even then it was even more precious.
I'm so happy that Rope and I get to be close to Trey and Claire and be apart of their little lives.. there's nothing sweeter then seeing Trey get excited to see Rote or calling out for Brookie when its time to leave.
One of the major things Rope and I have in common is the love we have for our families and that we LOVE to be around them doing whatever :)
We miss our other little nieces and nephews and can't wait to see them in a few weeks along with the rest of our family!

Well now its time to be with my little family and watch a Christmas movie while sleeping under the Christmas tree...

Confessions..

Rope and I have been married for over a year now and I can probably count on one hand the number of times we have had family home evening together.
Monday night usually goes something like this... I get home home from work around 6, then i sit and relax until about 6:30 when we decide on something to eat. Then we cook, eat and clean up and by that time its usually 8. Then I shower watch a T.V. show or two while Rope does homework and then its time for bed. - pretty boring right!
A few months ago we bought this book..

It's perfect!
It breaks down activity's into the the amount of time and prep that they take.
Last night Rope picked our first activity. It gave us a list of categories and we had to pick something from those categories that reminded us of each other and say why.
A couple of my favorites from Rope were:
Animal: Little bird because your a little chirper with funny jokes
Place: The Ocean because your calm and cool and incredibly breathtaking
It was so fun! I can't wait for next Monday to pick another activity- I think we'll be better at FHE now.

While I'm confessing I'd also just like to throw out there that I have been religiously watching the Bachelor Canada...
Even though it doesn't compare to the original Bachelor I'm still excited/nervous for the finale this week.. and I may or may not be watching Women tell all right now..

Also another confession...At work on Monday one of the patients asked if my boss was my aunt or something because we looked alike in a good way... I didn't know what to say other then to practically yell NO in her face. Unfortunately none of you know Eunice but lets just say that patient could have thought of a better compliment.

One Final Confession... This weekend with my family was the BEST :)

life takes bravery

The last couple days has had me thinking a lot about STRONG women.

I have been blessed in my life to have some amazing people around me..

Here are a couple I've been thinking about lately :)

My sister-in-law Lyndsay is AMAZING! To read about her story visit her blog... 
you won't regret it!

In short I am soooo impressed with how she has handled everything that has been put in her life this year and I continue to be impressed with her. Love ya Lynz!

My cousin Brynn is a little power house! She has recently been re-diagnosed with cancer. Brynn is the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful 13-year-old you would ever meet. She has the biggest heart and the biggest smile to go with it. I'm so grateful for her example of strength and determination! 

Go Team Brynn! 

{My sister Amy is running in the Santa Shuffle December 1, 2012 for a Childhood Cancer Canada Charity event, if you would like to support Brynn and all other Kids faced with Cancer you can make a Donation to Childhood Cancer Canada here}


And here's a happy thought..
"It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. … If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers." - Gordon B. Hinckley

pin there

A couple months ago I was feelIng especially guilty about not writing in a journal.. I always think about my "posterity" and how sad they will be when they don't know what was going on in my life...  I used to be very good at journaling and have loads of notebooks full of all my {silly} high school worries. One night while browsing pinterest I came across an idea that I though would give me motivation to get writing again.
It's a daily journal that can be reused each year and gets better the longer you use it.. sounds great right?!

I only wish mine could be as adorable as the original

I've been using cue card held together with a hair elastic.. but I'm hoping to find the perfect little box sometime soon. Each day you write the year and something that happened that day. I've been writing my favorite part of the day or anything positive that happened to me, in this was it also works as a kind of gratitude journal and has made me more aware of how great my life is and how lucky I am!

 I love associating specific dates with events that happen in my life, I love knowing the day that Rope and I first met and when we got engaged etc... This first year has been a little tricky for me to stay motivated to do it, but im already looking forward to when the days start repeating and getting to see what was going on a year ago. I'm just over two months in.. Wish me luck :)

I've been having a lot of luck with Pinterest lately- here are a few more of my pins that became a reality

Pilsbury Crescent rolls filled with pie
filling  dipped in cinnamon sugar. Tastes
just like apple pie:)

Spray Painted Wreath from Michaels with
flowers.. On our door even if not many people
come to it.. :P

Made this tonight.. It
was Delicious! I added
Parmesan cheese

On a side note my husband is the sweetest :)

thanks

It's Thanksgiving weekend and I have A LOT to be thankful for!

I'm thankful that we got to come back to Alberta this weekend.
I'm thankful that we could have thanksgiving dinner with both of our families.. We are so lucky!

I'm thankful that we were able to finally get to meet little Lane and also thankful for how healthy he is.

I'm thankful that I have a job.. even when I don't love every minute of it.

I'm thankful for my religion and the happiness it brings me.

I'm thankful that we could watch conference this weekend.
I'm thankful for Rope and that we have been married for 1 year! Time has flown by but at the same time I can hardly remember my life without Rope. We have both learned a lot this year about each other and about ourselves. He is so good to me and I appreciate all the little things he does. I'm also thankful for how motivated he is in school and that he sets his goals high. I'm excited to start year 2 and see what it has in store for us :)

This is one of my favorite quotes from conference this weekend

I love how motivated and uplifted I feel after listening :)

regina

Last Friday after work/school rope and I headed to REGINA

It was my first time there so I was excited for our little road trip! Since we don't get to go anywhere exciting too often I like to get excited about every little trip we get to go on :)

However after about 30 minutes in the car I was sooo bored and fell asleep for the rest of the drive!

{How will I ever make the trip back to Alberta!}

I was most excited for the chance it gave us to go to the Regina temple! It was exciting to see a new temple we hadn't been to before... so of course we had to take a picture in front of it.

I really do "love to see the temple" but even better then seeing it is being able to go inside! I love the peaceful feeling you get there and how it is an escape from everything. It really helps me to put things in perspective and not get overwhelmed with life and all the LITTLE things i worry about so much.
I can't wait to make another trip!
If you want to learn more about temples and why i LOVE them.. click here :)

Saturday Rope kept himself busy at the mall.. buying a movie, a new wallet, shoes, a shirt and a hoodie {and he thought i was bad} I got to spend the whole day at an orthodontic course becoming officially official in Saskatchewan... Yay!

Here are some pictures of the highlights of the trip :)

He thinks I'm funny..

We Love To Drive

Our Hotel room which was about the size of our house... :P

change

We have officially been in Saskatoon for 3 weeks! I feel like the time has flown by but a lot has changed! We officially have Saskatchewan drivers licenses, there are no boxes left in our house and I feel like I can get to most places {superstore,walmart, the mall and work} without needing a GPS.
We have really enjoyed living here so far and are excited to get more settled in the city and in our ward.

I am learning more everyday that change can be a good thing! 

We have LOVED having Brock and Amy and Family as well as 

Storm and Sloane and of course Oshi too! It's so nice to have family around!

And since i just figured out how to see the pictures from my iphone on ropes confusing mac.. here are a few of what we've been up to since we arrived :)

enjoying the nice weather while going on a bike ride to explore campus. The ride
turned out to be a little longer then i anticipated so there wasn't much exploring..

The U of S home opener. There were fireworks and a jet that flew over us.
They are pretty intense about there football here

A little face juggler.. good thing we have our own faces..

Trey having some uncle Rote time :)

a new adventure

well, here we are all grown up and with a blog. we've started a new chapter in Saskatoon and so far, so good {fingers crossed} so I thought this would be a good time to start documenting the happenings of our life...so stay tuned!