We signed up...

...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

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

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

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

...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'

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.

Puyallup Fair 2009

We went to the Puyallup Fair again this year with Brandon's parents. This time Lindsey and Brody joined us all the way from Texas. It was a lot of fun to have everyone here for a weekend.

Here we are eating elephant ears. Two very handsome boys...Brandon and Brody

Brody eyeing Granny's corn dog...

Listening to live infomercials

Check out all the crazy food people eat at the fair. I like the one that says, "Buffalo Chicken, Egg Rolls, and Pizza...ALL ON A STICK!" Can you say gross! But the one that takes the cake and my all time favorite is the Totally Fried stand where they serve deep fried twinkies, chocolate covered bacon, crispy creme chicken sandwiches, and deep fried cookie dough. Delicacies you can only find at a good country fair!

Until next year Puyallup!