The Plaster Family

New Blog

2011-04-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

We have a new blog! And we are going to make it private so if you want an invite please leave me your email address in the comments! Thanks!

brandonandkarenplaster.blogspot.com

Here we go again....

2011-01-21T14:25:00.000-08:00

I signed up for the Rock n' Roll Seattle Marathon again! This year I am only doing the 1/2 marathon and Brandon is not doing it with me. I couldn't convince him to do it again. :( Oh well...it is still fun to have a race to look forward to. Wish me luck (especially since I have only run 1 mile since marathon day last year!)

Mexico Trip 2010

2010-12-15T07:15:00.001-08:00

Here is a photo entry of our recent cruise to Mexico with my family. Here is my mom and dad on the tender going to Cabo San Lucas.

Me and Brandon

Josh and Clint Brigham, Jacob, and Alicia

I love this picture of my dad. This is what he is doing anytime we are together.

The whole gang at Cabo!

In Cabo there were those people painted all gold that acted like statues until you gave them some money. Here is Josh with a pirate.

Here is Isaac with GI Joe.

At Cabo, Clint, Brigham, Brandon, and I went on a sea kayaking/snorkling adventure. We started by taking a water taxi to another beach. Here is a sign onboard our water taxi. 'Live Chakets' were under our seats if we needed them.

Here are the boys on the water taxi.

After kayaking across the bay to Pelican Beach we then boarded a glass bottom boat to go around the famous Cabo arch.

While we were on the glass bottom boat we passed by Lovers Beach where the rest of the crew was playing in the waves.

Brandon and me at the arch.

The next day we went to Mazatlan. Here are Alicia and Jacob with Senor Frog.

We went to a great resort and used their beach chairs/umbrellas. Here is Isaac, Brandon, Alicia, and Josh.

Me and my mom (photo taken by Josh)

Brandon and me (photo taken by Josh)

Brandon's sand creation.

Josh's castle

The men showing their muscles.

My mom

My mom, Suzy, and Scott

The kids had 'mud fights.' Here is Isaac showing off.

Clint and Brandon went parasailing. This is Clint right after take off waving to everyone on the beach.

Brandon just before take off.

The ship was beautiful. It was probably my favorite ship I've been on. In the center there was a huge open promenade with shops and cafes. At night they would have parades down the promenade. One night the kids did a pirate parade. Here are the spectators.

Isaac and Josh, the pirates!

Last stop was Puerto Vallarta. Here are Suzy, Isaac, Scott, Jacob, Alicia, and Brigham by the flea market.

Brandon on the beach.

Alicia, me, Isaac, Brandon, and Jake.

We played on the beach for a little while. Clint also rented a wave runner that the kids and Clint and Brandon went on. After we were done with the beach everyone raided the nearby resorts awesome pool. There was a checkers board where the guys played a few games.

The fam in Puerto Vallarta.

Brandon and me

Like I said the ship was amazing. There were a lot of activities to do on our days at sea. Here is Isaac and Brandon on the climbing wall. Isaac was like spiderman. Once he climbed the wall he would get off and get right back in line to go up again. He probably climbed it 8 or 10 times.

Here is Alicia, Grandpa, and Isaac at the ice skating rink. They had an ice skate show we got to watch one night. I'm impressed they could do so many crazy tricks with the boat swaying.

Scott, Clint, and Brandon played in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

Another evening the kids were in a circus. Here are Jacob and Isaac as clowns.

At one end of the promenade there was a huge Christmas tree. The last night we took some family pictures in front of it. Here is the Plaster Family.

The originial Cannon family (except for Chris and Janae--we sure missed having you all there!)

The Halverson Family (except Jake--he got a little sea sick the last day)

Mom and Dad

The Morris Family

It was a great week!! We ate a lot of food and played a lot of games. I think I was more tired on this trip than when I am in my routine at home. I love spending so much time with my family. It was hard to come back to reality and the rainy weather in Seattle. Thanks Mom and Dad for a great week!

Brandon's birthday and Halloween

2010-12-15T06:59:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from Brandon's birthday dinner. We had some good friends come up from Redmond. It was a fun night. Lindsey and her kids were here for the weekend. This is little Evie. We got to meet her for the first time. This is Brody. He got to go out Trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. I love this picture of him because it shows how happy he was to be in his costume, answer the door, and pass out candy.

Birthday Boy

2010-10-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

Ten more things you may not know about this Birthday Boy!

1. He is turning 28 today. I can only say two words: Old Man!

2. Hiking is one of his favorite pastimes. Unfortunately we are both too busy we can't get out there as much as we would like.

3. He loves doing yard work. I don't mow the lawn on purposes because I know he would be sad if he got home and saw it was done.

4. He is a great neighbor. The other night our neighbor's garage door was open when we were on our way to bed. He called them and left a message. But he couldn't go to bed knowing it was open. He ended up going over there to shut it but they got his message and closed it.

5. Some of the things on his wish list include a truck and a gun. I told him I would buy him a gun but he hasn't taken me up on my offer. :)

6. He owns about 30 ties. That's a lot, right? Or is that pretty typical?

7. He bought boat shoes the other day and now really wants linen pants. Does that scream Old Man to anyone else? Don't worry everyone; I said NO to the linen pants.

8. He is still a perfect gentleman. He hasn't missed opening the car door for me in over two years.

9. He would be an excellent game show contestant. He knows all the puzzles on Wheel of Fortune before I do and can answer random questions on Jeopardy. I really need to get him on one of these shows.

10. He gives great foot and back rubs. And he does them all the time without me asking. I love it!!

These are just ten more of the hundreds of reasons I love this Birthday Boy!

Happy Birthday Brandon!!

Fall City Farms

2010-10-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we made our yearly trip to the Fall City Farms to pick pumpkins. We walked around the pumpkin patch and finally picked our pumpkins. This year we got bigger ones so I made Brandon carry both of them to the car. We also sat and ate their homemade doughnuts and drank hot apple cider as we listened to the live Cuban Salsa band. This year they added an air cannon and would shoot small pumpkins and squash about 100 yards across an empty field. Here we are sitting at the mini concert.

This is Brandon's pumpkin.This is my pumpkin.And here is the finished product. Sunday afternoon we carved them for our 2nd Annual Plaster Pumpkin Carving Contest!! Please cast your vote in the comments: Jack or the haunted house.

Happy Halloween everyone!!

What we've been up to

2010-10-04T17:34:00.001-07:00

PUYALLUP FAIR:We went to the Puyallup Fair again this year. We ate at Longhorn BBQ and then walked through all the vendor booths. We were suckered into buying 'Purple Polish' which cleans stainless steel appliances (it works alright). And you can't go to the fair without getting your picture taken by the big carrot. WALLACE FALLS:
Friday afternoon we went on a short hike up to Wallace Falls. It was a beautiful day and a fun, easy hike. Here are the lower falls.

This is the view from the Middle Falls.

Here is my handsome husband.GARDENING:

Saturday afternoon Brandon and I worked in our yard as we listened to conference. We planted 50 tulip bulbs and 100 crocus bulbs. It is kind of sad to work so hard all day and then not have any flowers right there to show for it! But come spring it will look amazing! We also replaced three dead bushes in our backyard and planted three viola plants in the front. And we planted a peach and pear tree out front. So excited for those! :) And look at our sad lawn. It has officially seen better days. Our backyard doesn't get direct sunlight so the grass never dries out. It has been a constant swamp back there and this is the result. We re-seeded it but it probably won't come around until spring (if at all).

GENERAL CONFERENCE:

Sunday we watched conference via the internet! We had peach and banana crepes in honor of the Cannon family tradition. We sure missed being with family! Conference was amazing! If you missed it you can listen here.

Utah Trip 2010

2010-09-02T16:44:00.000-07:00

The main reason for our adventure to Utah this summer was to see two very good friends FINALLY tie the knot. Marcy and Johnny-- CONGRATULATIONS on being married in the temple. It was an absolutely beautiful day and we couldn't be happier for you.
Marcy was a beautiful bride! They had LOTS of family and friends there to help celebrate!This is Jana and me waiting outside the temple for the bride and groom to come out! Marcy, Jana, and I were roommates in the Enclave 2+ years ago. We were all dating our future hubbies! We have tons of crazy/funny memories together! Next time we are all together we will play Bocce! ;)Isn't my husband HANDSOME!?!The first 2 days were in Utah were dedicated to the wedding but after the bride and groom left on their honeymoon Brandon and I were able to spend some time with my family. Saturday my parents took us to the Mayan Restaurant and Inception on the IMAX. The Mayan has a fun atmosphere and while you eat there is a diving show. And for anyone who hasn't seen Inception...you really need to. It is the best movie I've seen in a long time.

Sunday was the day we got all of the family together (except the Shamos who are still in CT) for a big dinner and fun. It was great to see everyone. Here is Brandon and Brigham throwing the football. (Brig and Jake just started their 1st season of contact football!)

Kail showed us how to play baseball. He is a good hitter and throws a wicked curve ball!Kalvin found this feather. He would chase (and scream) after it whenever the wind would blow it away!The kids flew kites. The wind was touch and go so it required a lot of FAST running!Watch out Isaac...

And of course a kite ended up in a neighbors tree. Here is Clint getting it down (Clint is SO tall!)

And most importantly I got to meet this guy! Nathan Grant Brown was born in July! He is a very special and beautiful baby! Congrats again Chris and Greg on the new addition!

I thought this was a really cute one of Nate and his mom!

And here I am with little Nathan! So tiny!Brandon and the kids. This picture is strangely familiar. (Check out this post) I don't know what it is but kids love to pile on top of this guy!Monday I went golfing for the first time in my life. I shot a 129! I can only describe my skills in one word: AWFUL!!! I'm glad we only counted the swings were I actually hit the ball. My score might have been over 200 if we included all my 'strikes!' For Family Night my parents took us to a Bees game. It was a close game but the Bees came out victorious!

Tuesday morning we got up extra early so Brandon and Clint could go golfing before Clint went to work. School started Monday and because I was there early in the morning I got to walk the Halverson kids to their brand new elementary school. The special treat of the day was that Brigham was in the school assembly. He is a member of student council and they did a skit to introduce the school rules. Brig's performance was OUT OF THIS WORLD!

That night Brandon and I went on a date. He took me to Costa Vida...our favorite Mexican place that is no where near Washington State. It is always a must on our list of things to do when we come to Utah. After dinner we went to the Drive-in. We watched Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me. It was a perfectly warm summer night and a fun night out!

Wednesday I had a lunch date with all my beautiful high school friends! I really wish I would have taken a picture. I loved sitting, snacking, and catching up on each others lives. I miss you girls! That night we went to dinner at the Market Street Grill.

Thursday we spent the morning visiting my sweet Grandma Cannon. We sure love her and still think about Grandpa Cannon every day! Then Brandon was off to Provo to go to lunch with some friends and then participate in a EY recruiting event at BYU. I went to Kaysville to go shopping for home decorations with mom and this lovely lady! Lisa has a great eye for cute stuff at a great deal so I was happy to have her as my personal consultant for the entire day!

That was it for our time in Utah. Friday morning we packed up and headed to Boise! We spent the weekend hanging out with the Meyer family. We got a private tour around Boise, saw Bronco stadium, played at a few beautiful parks, and had lunch at Fuddruckers! Thanks for letting us crash on your living room floor for a few nights. It was great seeing you guys!

My parents visit

2010-07-28T17:36:00.001-07:00

My folks came to visit last weekend. They wanted to check up on us and see our new home. Brandon and I picked them up from the airport Friday night and then came home and gave them the grand tour. Sorry I still haven't taken any pictures of the house since we moved in. We haven't really decorated or hung any pictures so it doesn't look like our home yet. I promise I'll post some soon.

The next morning we woke up and Brandon and my dad worked around the house while my mom and I talked and cooked lunch. That evening we went downtown. After all, what would a trip to Seattle be without going to Pike's Market? We ate dinner at this delicious crepe place and then headed to Safeco Field to watch the Mariners and Red Sox game. Miraculously the Mariners won! It was a great game and perfect weather.

Sunday we went to church, went on a walk around the neighborhood, had a BBQ, and played some games. Early Monday morning I took my parents back to the airport. It was great to have them here even if it was just for a couple days. I'm so happy they would take the time to make the trip. Thanks Mom and Dad and we'll see you in August!**Here is my dad buying post cards. He does this everywhere he travels and sends them to all the family. My dad has been traveling a lot lately so we have quiet a collection.**

Rock n' Roll Seattle Marathon 2010

2010-07-01T09:18:00.001-07:00

We did it! We finished the Rock n' Roll Seattle Marathon! It was so much fun and such a beautiful course.

The night before the big race we went down to Qwest field to pick up our bib numbers and goodies bag. We then shopped at the huge Expo where we bought shirts, fleeces, and running socks...and of course ate all the free samples of power bars, granola, etc. Jim and Debby were over this way because of some work meetings and decided to stay the weekend to help cheer us on at the race. After the Expo, we all went to The Old Spaghetti Factory to carb load!! Then it was off to bed. Brandon and I had decided we wanted to get a hotel downtown the night before because we didn't want to wake up extra early to fight traffic and parking. We stayed at the Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle and had the most awesome view overlooking the city and Sound.
The next morning we woke up at 4:30am to catch the 5am shuttle to the start line in Tukwila. The shuttle pick up was right outside our hotel lobby (soooo great). Once we got to the start line we sat and waited with the other 27,000 runners for the race to start. Finally we were all off and running around 7:30am.

The course was beautiful and the weather was perfect. We made our way along Lake Washington and Seward Park. We even got to run on the I-90 floating bridge. We then went up by Lake Union and the Space Needle. All along the way were local rock bands and cheer teams to pump us up and keep us going. I loved the energy of this run. It felt so much bigger than St. George and the time seemed to pass by much faster.

We finally made it back to Qwest Field in 4 hours 30 minutes and enjoyed all the free food and rock concert by Tonic! It was so much fun to run this race with Brandon! He was a rock star! The longest run he had done before the marathon was 14 or 15 miles. That's a big jump to go from that to 26.2 miles. He did get sick to his stomach afterward but by the next day he was fine. And then within a couple days he wasn't even sore anymore! He left for Alaska again Monday morning and the other night when we were talking on the phone he said he wanted to do another marathon! ;) Now we are getting ready to move on Saturday! I have been slowly packing up the apartment over the last couple weeks. I can't wait to be done with transition and just be in our new home. We are so excited for this change but so sad to leave our good friends in Redmond!

Tulum 2010

2010-05-30T16:59:00.000-07:00

For Valentine's Day and our Anniversary, Brandon took me to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. This year we went to Tulum which is about an hour and a half drive south of Cancun. The weather was PERFECT....90 degrees and sunny! The resort was great! A little more crowded than last year when there was the swine flu epidemic scaring everyone away. We really didn't do much. We pretty much sat on the beach and read books and soaked up the sun! It was SOOO RELAXING!! One day we went to the Mayan ruins of Tulum. We walked around the ruins and then went swimming at the gorgeous Tulum Beach which had warm crystal clear waters.

This is Tulum Beach...

The Tulum Ruins...

The entrance to the ruins...

At our resort...

We drank a lot of Pina Coladas and Daiquiris...

This is our view as we sat on the beach...

The only down part of the trip was coming home to 50 degree weather and rain! Thanks for the wonderful trip Brandon!! I loved spending the entire week with you!

San Juan Islands

2010-05-09T18:15:00.001-07:00

We went to the San Juan Islands this weekend with some friends and had oh so much fun! The weather was perfect and Lummi Island was gorgeous!

Friday afternoon we drove to Bellingham and took this ferry! It only held 15 or 20 cars and the ride lasted about 10 minutes.
This is the house we rented.We could see this from the front porch...We walked along this rocky beach...

...And skipped a lot of rocks.

We saw cool sea life. Everyone touched the purple starfish...

We roasted marshmallows...But mostly we just RELAXED!!

Thanks Babbitts and Millars for a great time! We love Lummi Island!

Sold!!

2010-05-01T22:24:00.001-07:00

We bought a house and couldn't be more excited! We just went up to see it again today and it looks great. It is a new development in Mill Creek, Washington called Broadview Heights. They just put in the carpet and finished the hardwood floors this week. It is almost move in ready for us. Too bad we don't close until June 18th. I think this is the first time I am actually excited to move. Here are some pictures... Front door...Front hall...1/2 bath on main floor...Family Room...Kitchen/Dining Room...Stairs... Master Bedroom... Backyard...

The happy owners...

Spokane

2010-04-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

Over Easter and Conference weekend all of the Plaster family gathered in Spokane. Everyone was there except for Peter, who we really missed. You can see more pictures on Lindsey's blog.

Here's the whole gang together.

Here is the original Plaster 7!

Saturday morning the kids woke up to discover the Easter bunny had come a day early. They had a little easter egg hunt around the house. They were very proud of all their loot.Here is Uncle B playing with some of the neices and nephews. I don't know exactly what they are playing?!Saturday night we had a little watch party. Here is everyone modeling the watches they picked.

Sunday afternoon all the little girls made bracelets.

I admit I didn't hear a lot of conference and am excited to get next month's Ensign. But I am proud to say I finally learn how to crochet...thanks to Lindsey and Angie's patiences! And I also turned 26...man I'm getting old. It was a fun weekend! Thanks for everything Debby and Jim! We were so glad to be able to spend time with the fam!

My 2 favorite things right now...

2010-04-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

First this... Then these...

Surprisingly I have never owned or really listened to a lot of Taylor Swift until Brandon got me this CD for my birthday. I soon discovered I LOVE her! I also just picked up these shoes for the marathon at a steal of a deal. Only paid $9 for them when they usually cost $125 (I love coupons and gift cards). And they are absolute heaven to run in! You never really know how worn out your running shoes are until you go for a run in new ones. Together these two make for happy training!

Poll

2010-03-24T12:28:00.001-07:00

Lisa and I are starting up a small jewelry business and need your help deciding on a name. We mostly make beaded watches but also make necklaces, earrings, and a few other miscellaneous things. We've come up with a couple names but just can't decide. So take a second and vote for your favorite in the poll on my sidebar or leave a comment with your own suggestion! THANKS!

2010-02-14T15:13:00.000-08:00

HaPpY V.A.L.E.N.T.I.N.E.'.S DaY!!!
I love you Brandon! Thanks for making me laugh everyday!

Mexico

2010-01-25T15:43:00.001-08:00

Last week my family and I went on a vacation to Mexico! My Mom, Dad, Halverson Family, and Brown Family were all there. We missed the Shamo Family, Morris Family, and Brandon! Hopefully next time we will all be together. It was a lot of fun and I thought I would share some of the pictures I took on the trip.

For the first couple days we hung out on the boat. We ate lots of ice cream and pizza. On Wednesday we made it to Puerto Vallarta. Clint, Brigham, Dad, and I went on an outdoor adventure where we ziplined and repelled in the jungle. We did this a few years ago and it was a lot of fun. They added a few new lines and obstacles. We had a good time! I got eight bug bites on one of my legs. And those crazy Mexican mosquito bites itch like crazy!!

By the time we got back to the boat everyone was ready to go to the beach! This beach had big strong waves which the kids loved to body surf.

One of the main attractions on the boat was a huge waterslide for the older kids and a slash pad for all the little kiddos! Here are some pictures of the kids playing around on the ship.

The next day we were in Mazatlan! This was our big BEACH DAY!! We took a taxi to a hotel which had access to the main beach. They had chairs and an umbrella for us. The waves were not quite as impressive as the day before but we had a lot of fun in the sand.

Crazy Isaac loved to play in the sand and even put it all over his face. Josh was completely covered in sand except for his finger nails which wouldn't let the sand stick.

Here is the big hole and burying Isaac and Josh. Josh jumped right out after we were done. Isaac had to be pulled out by his dad.

Josh is such a cutie even when he is covered in sand.

After the beach we went SHOPPING! The girls bought some beautiful swim suit coverups. Kail got a T-shirt. I think the beach and shopping wore Grandpa out and he slept on the bench as we waited for everyone to make their purchases.

Here are some random pictures of us around the ship. Every night we would come back from dinner and find a towel animal on our beds. We had a lobster, frog, dog, and flower. And look at poor Alicia's burned back...ouch!!

Friday we went to Cabo San Lucas! We didn't go to the beach that day. Instead we just went walking around the docks and shopping at the flea market.

To get to Cabo we had to take a tender. Here are Greg, Lisa, Dad, and Mom on the tender.

Here are Grandma and Grandpa with most of the Grandkids at the flea market.

All of the Halverson boys bought Mexican wrestling masks. One night while I was watching the kids for Lisa and Clint we had a wrestling match. Alicia was the referee and called the match. It was hilarious! I probably shouldn't show these pictures because then Lisa and Clint will never let me watch their kids again.

On Carnival they had a kids program. It was a big hit and all the kids loved going to 'GROUP.' They would come home everyday with T-shirts, artwork, pens, hats, bags, or FACE PAINT. Here is Josh as a tiger and Isaac as a rock star!

This is the only picture I have of me on the trip. I had to include it to prove I was there. (Thanks for posing with me Brig!)

After Cabo we headed back to California. Because of all the crazy weather in Southern California last week the seas were a bit rough. This made the captain slow down quite a bit which made us a couple hours late getting into Long Beach. I had an 11:15 flight and was already going to be cutting it close before we were delayed. They didn't let anyone off the ship until 10:20 and I was booking it to the airport. I honestly felt like I was on the Amazing Race! I barely made it on the plane but everything went smoothly from there.

Brandon picked me up from the airport and I was so excited to see him. When I walked in the door I saw this huge bouquet of red roses on our kitchen table. Brandon is so sweet. It was a fun week but I was definitely happy to see my handsome hubby!

Thanks for the great vacation Dad! I'm so happy I was able to go and spend time with the family!

Luck of the draw!

2010-01-12T15:00:00.001-08:00

I can't believe it but I won this ipod shuffle at a work meeting today! I NEVER win anything and was shocked when they picked my number for the raffle.

Looks like 2010 is going to be a lucky year!

We signed up...

2010-01-11T07:43:00.000-08:00

...and we are 100% committed! Wish us luck as we train for the full marathon in June!

Brandon really is the inspiration for us running this race. He's been talking about running a marathon together ever since we got married. He's the one that signed us up and I couldn't be more excited. I need a race to look forward to and make me run. I honestly haven't run even one day in the past few months so this should be interesting. But it will be a lot of fun to train and run this race with my best friend.

The course looks amazing. We will run from Tukwila to Seattle along Lake Washington, Lake Union, and the Sound! At every mile along the course there is a different band playing. Then at the end of the race there is a huge concert for the runners. It should be a lot of fun! I just pray for a nice sunny day with no rain!

Christmas in Utah

2010-01-04T11:14:00.001-08:00

We had a FABULOUS Christmas in Utah this year! It was packed full of fun activities and being with family and friends. To start off the week we went up to the Cannon cabin in Brighton. We had a little surprise when we arrived and found the water pipes had frozen. The kids loved to 'cook' snow for us to wash our hands and flush toilets. I think Brigham stood at the stove for hours on end boiling buckets and buckets of snow. He loved it for some reason! Monday we went skiing/snowboarding at Brighton. Brigham and Jacob are expert snowboarders and would cruise down the Explorer hill. Alicia had her first skiing lesson and loved the speed!
After skiing we came back to the cabin and went sledding before it got dark!
The next couple nights we made our way up to Kaysville to watch the BYU and Utah bowl games. This is Brigham's shirt he wore on Christmas day...I LOVE it!!
Christmas Eve we went over to my Grandma Cannon's house for food, a program, and a white elephant game.
Christmas morning we slept in and then opened presents until everyone got to my parents. My mom and dad gave us Rock Band which Brandon has been wanting for months. (Thanks again!)
When everyone arrived we opened more presents and had a delicious dinner.
Here's a picture of all the grandkids minus Wyatt and Owen (we sure missed you guys but were glad we could see you on Skype!)

The day after Christmas we went to a brunch with all my high school friends. It was so fun to see everyone and catch up. I sure miss all you girls! Thanks again Katie for hosting!

We had a great time in Utah! We are so lucky to have these fun times with family and friends! The only thing that could have made this holiday season better would have been if we were able to spend some time with Brandon's family.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It's that time of year

2009-12-18T13:38:00.000-08:00

Here is our Christmas tree! My sister, Lisa, showed me this great idea many years ago. I cut up grapefruit, oranges, and limes and then dried them in the oven (if you have a food dehydrator it works much better). Then you string them together and hang them as garland. I love how the white lights shine through the citrus and make them glow different colors.

Last weekend Jim and Debby came to visit. We had a lot of fun going out to eat, going to the movies, playing golf, talking, and of course....working (at least the boys did)!

This is what Brandon and Jim did Friday night while Debby and I sat on the couch talking.

...Like father like son...

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Connecticut

2009-11-18T12:01:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a 2 week vacation in Hartford, Connecticut! I went to visit my sister Janae and help her get ready for the arrival of her little Baby Owen. Brandon was in Alaska for those two weeks working on a new client. It was the perfect time to go!

Most of the time I got to hang out with this super hero. Most of you know him as Wyatt and I think he is pretty cute (I mean cool!).

This is the Staked Coin Quilt I made for baby Owen. Wyatt still uses the one I made him when he was born! Hopefully Owen will like this one just as much.Janae was definitely looking like she was ready to have this baby. Her last ultrasound said the baby was 8lbs 7oz. They were pretty close.I was also there for Wyatt's first day of Pre-school. Janae has more pictures on her blog.I think he is so funny! I love his cross eyes!

We went to many museums while I was there. This is the New England Air Museum.

We played a lot of Rock Band at night!

Baby Owen finally made is debut Friday Nov. 13 at 11:05am. He was 8lbs 9oz and 21.5 inches long. He is very cute and I am so happy he arrived before I had to go back to Seattle. Congrats to Rick, Janae, and Wyatt and Welcome Owen!

Since we've been back, I have been a little sick with off and on fevers, headaches, and congestion since. I blame it on the guy I was sitting next to on the plane (we call him 'the cougher'). Other news is that I got a new calling in my ward. They released me from Cub Scouts and put me in as Mia Maid advisor. I am so excited...and a little nervous. So many things have changed since I was in Young Womens (man... I'm getting old)! Other exciting news is that we are getting the internet on Thursday. It has been four months since we moved into this apartment and we have been 'borrowing' the internet from the coffee shop across the street. It's getting too cold to sit out on the balcony and blog! Our next post will be from the comfort of my warm apartment! Hooray!

One Year Older

2009-11-09T15:41:00.001-08:00

...and wiser too!! Brandon turned 27! To celebrate we went to Chipotle for dinner and bowling with some friends. Happy Birthday Brandon! Thanks for all you do for us!
This is Brandon's Halloween costume. I made it the night before his work Halloween party. Can you guess what he is? He is a 10-key. (Pretty funny accountant costume, huh?...well it's the best I could come up with at 10:30 the night before)

OH...and thanks to those who voted for their favorite pumpkin carving! The winner was the bat. I carved the bat and Brandon did the spider. Looks like Brandon is doing dishes for a week. Thanks everybody!

Pumpkin Pickin'

2009-10-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I got called off work so Brandon took me to Fall City Farms to go pumpkin picking. I don't think I have ever been real pumpkin picking before. I can only remember getting pumpkins from Albertsons or Smiths growing up. So this was a totally new experience for me.

It was a really cool farm and it was pretty busy with lots of little families getting pumpkins. It was fun to watch everyone decide on which pumpkin was "the one" and even more fun to watch them load up their wheel barrows and make the long trek back to the barn in the mud (it has been very rainy over here!)Some of the guys were demonstrating how to make apple cider. There was also a live country band (banjo and all) that we got to sit and listen too. While we listened we drank hot apple cider and munched on homemade doughnuts. I had a lot of fun!

Here is my pumpkin

And here is Brandon's pumpkin

We had a lot of fun picking them....

...and even more fun carving them.

Now we need your help. We thought it might be fun to have a friendly carving competition. Best pumpkin carving wins. (I don't think we ever settled on a prize...but I was thinking loser gets dish duty for a week!) So vote for your favorite and then we will let you know who did which one: bat or spider.