Saturday, October 29, 2011

Family Pictures

Here's one of the family pictures that our wonderful friend Jill took after a church activity last week. It's not an easy task to get a 5 1/2 month old to look at the camera. But we finally have a recent family photo! I think the last family photo we took was when Emerson about a month old!

Halloween Party


Our ward had a Halloween party on Wednesday and of course we had to dress Emerson up! Can you guess what he was?! A monkey! You can't see it very well but he has a curly tail and the bottom of his feet say "Cheeky Monkey." He wasn't so sure about the costume or the Halloween party. He mostly had his head on my shoulder and stared wide eyed at everything that was going on. Bryson and I were going to be zoo keepers but then we got sick and making our costumes went right out the window. Don't worry, we are for sure dressing up next year!


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Kindred Spirits

So I'm not the best at keeping in touch with my friends. I admit it. I'm an independent person and when I get busy with life and my family I forget to keep up those relations with friends. Now don't think I don't care. I love my friends and I am fiercely loyal to them, but life can be hectic and with these dear people in my life living all over the United States it can be hard to keep that constant contact. Some people in the past haven't understood that about me and unfortunately taken offence, and I feel terrible about that because my close friends become like family to me.

With Halloween coming up and it being Emerson's first, I was thinking about how I've spent past Halloweens. Immediately I thought of the Halloween right after I graduated from College. Bryson and I were just beginning our relationship. He was in Illinois and I was in Provo. I was unsuccessfully trying to find a job and treading water in what my next step was in life. Then enters my wonderful dear Siamese twin, Amy. I walked over to her house and hung out with her while she carved Mona (she carved the Mona Lisa into a pumpkin..It was so cool!) It was a wonderful night filled with candy, sweets, and wonderful conversation.

Amy moved to my home town when we were in high school. We knew each other but really didn't become close till she came to BYU and we reconnected. We were in the same choirs and became attached at the hip, which is a pretty funny sight because I'm 4 foot 11 inches and she's 6 foot. We were together so much that I friend of ours dubbed us the siamese twins. We cried a little, laughed a lot and had a wonderful time together. The amazing thing about our relationship is that although we don't see each other often, when we get the chance to talk, it's like we saw each other yesterday! And then we talk a mile a minute, catching up on each other's lives. Amy is so sweet, kind, generous, a wonderful mother, wive and friend, and I could go on and on. She is the sister I never had and I love my Siamese twin!

Now there is one more person who joined our merry little band a little later but is my other dear friend. The year Amy and I got into Concert Choir at BYU, I had the wonderful opportunity to stand by Aubrey. In the words of Ann of Green Gables, we were kindred spirits from the beginning. She is thoughtful, kind, funny, caring and again, I could go on and on. (These are amazing women!) She is another person that, although we don't see each other often, when we get to talk it's like we saw each other yesterday! I love that! So put the three of us together and we became fast friends and had so much fun together! I remember both Amy and Aubrey came with me when I needed more practice on the freeway (I hadn't done a lot of freeway driving at that point in my life. Now the freeway and I are good friends). We would drive from Provo to American Fork on the freeway and then drive back on State street. We got together for birthdays. I introduced Aubrey to her husband, and when they began dating we all triple dated. I love these two incredible women and am so blessed and privileged to call them my friends. I know that while we live far away (Utah, Wisconsin, and Texas), these are life long friendships and I am so grateful for that. Thank you dear friends and I love you both!

Amy and I on Halloween cleaning out Mona.

Us at Amy's bridal shower.

Aubrey and I after our first concert in Concert Choir.

Aubrey and I at the Strawberry Days Rodeo. One of our triple dates!

The three of us after a concert.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Fall in Janesville

A few weeks ago Bryson, Emerson and I took a walk down to the Frosty Freeze. It was closing for the winter and we wanted to grab one last candy freeze. So good!! On the way I took some pictures of the fall foliage. Here are some of the beautiful trees we saw along the way and our favorite dessert place. See you next spring Frosty Freeze!

Fall flowering plant in our backyard. I did a little research and I'm pretty sure this is an Aster Amellus.

Next door neighbor's tree

I love all the different colors in this tree.

This picture doesn't do the tree justice. It was so vibrant and almost had a glow to it.

Close up of the tree above.

So good!

Cute!

Just some cute photos of Emerson from the last couple of weeks. Enjoy!

Emerson loves his saucer!

Daddy's little buddy.
How cute is he?!