Thinking about things

First, conference was really incredible.  I always walk away feeling ready to make some changes in my life.  All to often there are things that I think are not "that bad."  But you know what, they are.  I just admitted to myself that it was "bad" but not "that bad."  Well, when it comes to the gospel there isn't room for any grey area.  This conference was a little different for me.  When it was so I felt a different sense of rejuvenation.  I felt like I had just attended a spiritual pep rally for my life, and you know what, I am ready to go out there and give Satan all I've got and I am ready to win.  I am excited and pumped up and he is not going to know what hit him.  

After each conference Colby and I like to take some time and evaluate our lives and say, "ya know, we really need to do better with this."  I believe that there is always room for improvement.  If you don't think there is, that is proof enough.  We always have something that we could do better with.  

So right after the last session Colby and I drove down the road where they are starting a new housing development.  These homes are incredible!  They are all million dollar homes as we have looked at the for sale signs.  But we drove over and parked the car and walked around the neighbor hood.  IT was a beautiful afternoon with just a slight chill in the air.  We got Eden all bundled up and strolled down the lane. 

Here are a few picture of our beautiful scenery.

It was so peaceful and it got Colby and I talking about the ideal home.  I don't mean, the style of house I want, with these type of windows and this kind of floor plan.  I mean, the feeling inside our home.  We decided that we have a lot of distractions that take away from the spirit truly being in our home.  There are so many movies that don't need to be there, TV shows that we just don't need to watch, and behavior that really needs improvement.  Colby and I from the beginning decided we never wanted TV because there was nothing but inappropriate shows on anymore.  Thought I do miss watching football games and seeing the news every once in a while.  But then we thought was it worth it to be tempted by the other shows.  The funny thing is we have a TV but no cable or satellite, but yet we can still get to the shows online!  You just can't get away.  But we decided that we didn't like the TV being the focal point of our home.  So we are moving it out.  We think so many more productive things can be done, many more memories could be made.  

I cannot wait for tonight, for FHE we are sitting down and setting specific goals of how we can be more like how our Savior wants us to be.

I really love the gospel. And I have decided to raise my title of liberty, to remind me 

what I am fighting for, what I am living for!

Summer Vacation

We took a little vacation at the end of August to visit Colby's family.  So we flew in to Denver and were greeted by Colby's sister, Kelsey.  She just returned from her mission in the Philippines Bacolod Mission.

She just couldn't get enough of this little girl. 

She had a little competition with her brother, Riley. He is the youngest of Colby's siblings.  He tried stealing Eden at church so that the girls would sit next to him.  Smart man

While we were in Denver we gave Eden her first dose of Vegetables, peas!!  She actually like them, despite her mother who absolutely despises them.  Yuck!! 

As we were in Denver Kelsey had created a power point presentation of her mission and Colby's mom had compiled all the picture from when they went and picked her up.  We spent a few hours hearing story after story.   We loved it and it brought back many happy memories for Colby and I of our own missions.

And of course she had to make us some Philippino food!  It was so yummy!!!!  But don't ask me what they were because I cannot remember the names.

A big bonus of going to Denver is that my best friend Jess and her family moved to Denver from Seattle.  Her husband graduated from dental school a year ago and has been in practice for just under a year.  They just bought their first home and it is so beautiful!! I must say I am very jealous.  I have mentioned before that I am sick of the apartment/school scene.  Well, this didn't help.  Her home is incredible and there are just a couple of picture below.  Of course the only picture of the inside of the home is the most important room in my opinion, the KITCHEN!!!  The other is their backyard.  All completely landscape and has a little play ground and every thing.  I cannot wait to join their ranks someday.  I am begging Colby to set up shop in Denver.  I can't stand being away from Jess.  I feel I have missed so much because we have been so far apart since we graduated high school and we decided that we are going to be next door neighbors so our kids can grow up together.  I am always keeping my fingers crossed!  

Nearly the entire time in Denver I was outside.  NO HUMIDITY!!!  Gosh it made me love that place even more.  I would sit outside on their swing nearly every time I fed Eden.  They recently just relandscaped the yard and it looks incredible!  So i had to be out and enjoy it.  Colby and I would sit out on the swing and stare up into the sky and talk about what it will be like to have our own home and a backyard with our own swing where we can make tons of memories with our own children.  Can you tell I'm "home" sick.

After being in Denver for about a week we drove to SLC.  Gosh I miss having the mountains right outside your front door.  

Here is Eden with Colby's mom.  Looks at those cherubic cheeks!!

There Eden met many of her great Aunts and Uncles.  He she is with Julie and Riley again.

  

I couldn't come all the way to SLC without visiting my ol stomping grounds (especially after hearing Kelsey talk about hers).  

It was amazing to be back on the square and feeling the spirit of that magnificent place.  Funny, I actually ran into Jess's Mother-in-law as well as a sister that I had served with.  We saw the new display, that I am so jealous of.  What an amazing teaching tool!  I wish I would have had that.  I talked with many of the sisters and it has had a great response.  The operation of the the mission has changed quite a bit. I think I like the changes and it would have been interesting to try it out the way they do it now.  

What a good return missionary Kelsey was.  She took the time to teach Eden about the Savior while looking at the Christus.

This is Colby's cousin Brianne with her two little ones and one on the way.  Due this month!

Her little guy Jace is about the cutest little boy I have every seen!

He was soo cute and brought Eden all of her toys.

Eden was in for a very special treat.  She was able to meet her two great-grandma's,  

Gerri

This is Majorie.  This woman is amazing!  She had 7 boys, she is 92 and still kicking!!!

Our trip was wonderful and well worth it.  I needed it and it was so nice to be with so much family.  I am jealous of Colby in that way.  He has always been close with his aunts and uncles and cousins and I feel I have hardly seen mine.  His family gets together for all the holidays and birthdays.  It is so much fun, but I know all of his extended family and he only knows a few of mine.  I really hope that we end up living close to family.  I cannot wait until finally some day we settle down and have a place to call home.    

On August 23 Colby and I celebrated our 3rd Anniversary.  We were in Denver with Colby's family at the time and we were planning on going up to Vail and staying in a friends cabin.  However, that kind of fell through.  But that is okay because I was still nervous about leaving my little girl for a night.  I know she would be okay, but i'm sure some of you can relate.

Instead Colby took me to Maggiano's (Italian).  It is a place I have always wanted to try and it was yummy.  Then we went and saw a the new "Karate Kid" movie which we loved.  Then we headed home and Colby's mom made us a Banana Blueberry cream pie!  It was so yummy!  Thank you Susan and thank you for watching Eden for the night!

So here are some pics to celebrate the the few years we have shared together

August 23, 2007

 (2008)  In-laws treated me to Disneyland for my college graduation present.  It was my first time!

(2009) One of our many times in Nauvoo

(2010)

Here's to another year!!! I love you Babe!