Miracles do happen

BRETT FINALLY WENT SNOWBOARDING WITH ME!!!!

Brett has been promising me since we first started dating that he would go skiing/snowboarding with me every winter, and he always finds a way to weasel out of going.

Lucky for him I just went ahead and planned the trip and told him there was no "out" this year!

AND WOULD YOU GUESS THAT HE ACTUALLY HAD A GREAT TIME?

Brett before we started thinking this must be the worst day of his life....

Me and Crystal (she joined us for her first time). I am very sad because Crystal is moving to Colorado soon :( Me and Crystal have been great friends for a long time and I will miss her so much.

Brett giving two thumbs up! We had so much fun and now he can't wait to go back-


Crystal needed help from my nephews getting strapped in her snowboard. I have only been snowboarding once before (last year with Shalice) and it was the first time for everyone else (except for my nephews who of course are really good and ditched us... lol)

Me, Brett, and Crystal

Becky and Jake

This is the year we are going to get a land line at our house. Brett gets so mad because talking on the phone at our house is nearly impossible. You literally have to find a spot and not move in order to talk to someone- which I must admit is a little nice...

At my Mom and Fred's for Dinner

Tyson and Brady- the great snowboarders

Bryan and little Reece- she is so dang cute.

Brett's dad Clay does awesome work with leather, horse hair, braiding, etc. and has been featured in several magazines, newspapers, etc.

We are lucky enough to start collecting some of his items- he is always working on cool stuff.

This is a stingray headstall. He also just gave us one with ostrich leg that is awesome!

Thanks Clay, we love you!

That's it for now, we are trying to survive the winter! Can't wait for our little weekend getaway to St. George, where hopefully it will be warmer!

Cancun Trip

Ok, where to begin...

We had a wonderful trip to Cancun and had a hard time coming back to reality.

Of course I took several hundred photos and tried to narrow it down to a few.... well this post is much longer than I thought.

De-icing in Denver on the way there.... brrrr.

There were plenty of Santa sightings

On the beach Christmas Eve

The beach at our hotel

Me with Santa Christmas Eve

Laying around Christmas Day. I was so homesick Christmas. We want to go again next year (somewhere else warm), but will definitely be going right AFTER Christmas.

(Notice our "King Size" Bed- what a ripoff)

Beach at Tulum

We went to the Mayan Ruins (Tulum) and it was so much fun, but very crowded. It was so pretty there.

These things were everywhere, we kept seeing them

Tulum

Tulum

Beach at Tulum

Sunset at Cozumel

Cozumel

On our plane going home- view of Cancun

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

We have been very busy this holiday season, spending fun times with family and friends. We consider ourselves very lucky this time of year.

I haven't taken many pictures this month- so here are the few I have taken.

My Christmas tree (it has a few more ornaments than last years.... :) ) oh, and in case your wondering, we have almost got our new blinds hung (obviously not the ones by the tree.)

My Christmas village- I am so thankful Brian hasn't tore it to shreds.

We are leaving Wed morning for CANCUN!!!! Yay- anyway we celebrated Christmas yesterday with our families.
Here is a picture of Brett with his two sisters, Jennifer and Stacie.

Brett's parents christmas tree- I love real trees (but mine is fake)

Brett's sisters always give the best gifts..... even to Brian. Here he is with his new bed.

We love to go to Salem Pond to see the lights- they do such a good job. Coincidentally we were there at the right time to catch the parade that they do, it was so much fun to see.

Here is the last part with Santa.

Ok- now to the 1/2 marathon news..... I have still been "trying" to train (dec is the worst). I finally hit my 6 miles!!!!! Yay, but to think Im not even half way there yet is a bit daunting- (not to mention the treadmill stops after 60 min- restarting it to keep going is the WORST!!!!! ). I have been very terrible eating this month (Dental offices are terrible and we have had a lot of treats), so here's to a healthier January and 2010.

MERRY CHISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE- BE SAFE!!!!!

Randomness

We have been staying pretty busy lately with all sorts of random stuff.

Brett always thinks he needs a new gun and is constantly looking. He has wanted a new 223 for a while now, and found one on KSL that was perfect, and for a good price. We have been shooting a few times since then. He is getting quite the collection of guns, and I am really enjoying shooting with him. We want to get our concealed weapons permit, so hopefully soon we will.

Me with his new 223 and my 22 pistol.

For Thanksgiving we were at my Mom and Fred's first (with loads of people), then went to Brett's Parents where it was pretty quiet. I love Thanksgiving, the food is sooo good, everyone goes all out with the cooking, and everything is made from "scratch". Who wouldn't love that?

We got together with a few friends from hygiene school that we don't see often (living farther away puts a damper on our social life). We had a great time and its fun to see them- I miss them all the time.

These are all the crazy girls I went to school with.

Me, Steph, Taylor, Amanda (aka "Dr Gallegos"), Heather.

On to the 1/2 marathon news....

Becky, Lorrie, and I ran a 5K on Thanksgiving morning in Draper. I was very nervous because I left my house in 16 degree weather and was ready to back out. I didn't, and I finished the race.

I have been working out like crazy (every single day at the gym) and seem to be getting in better shape. 1/2 marathons are 13 miles (a LONG way for me), and the farthest so far I can run at one time is 5 miles (before I feel like I will die). So I guess its coming along, but kinda slow. I got brand new really nice running shoes, which really makes it easier.

I'm aiming for a spring 1/2 marathon, and we've heard of some in San Diego, Vegas, and there's one in Malibu in March (that sounds the funnest). Hopefully my sisters will do it with me!

Greatest Gift Ever

I usually don't get too hung up on telling everyone how great and how much I love my husband on our blog.... but today is an exception.

Me and Brett aren't into buying lots of stuff for each other, but rather do fun things together. For our anniversary this year (it was in June) Brett didn't have a present but said he was having something made for me- a jewelry box (and he really stressed it was no ordinary jewelry box).

Well months turned into months and every now and again he would promise me someday I would have my present. To be honest I had actually kindof forgotten about it until he came home last weekend with it- AND IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT!

Brett talked a guy who has only made a few of these to make me one (he said it took months of coaxing because it takes a long time and he didn't want to build it). It took him over 60 hours and has over 72 pieces involved. It took Brett over 7 hours to finish it. It is the best gift anyone has ever given me by far and will definitely be something we hand down to our kids.

It is wormy maple and Brett did a clear finish with a little tint. Its almost two feet tall and is very heavy. My pictures don't do it justice, you have to see it to appreciate it.

This is with all the parts open. The top opens, the middle opens and is for my necklaces, and the bottom opens also

Just the top part open


All the detail

Thanks to Brett, I love him so much and feel very lucky to be with someone so awesome.

My New Thing...

For Anyone who knows me, I'm always thinking of new things to do, learn, read, etc. I feel like I always have to have a project or I'll go crazy. I'm currently taking a photography and advanced photoshop class (in hopes of someday being a professional photographer), finally finished my latest book (it took me about 2 months), started/came up with a really promising company/venture (but kinda gave it up after seeing the time involved and my job changed) earlier this year. It sometimes feels that Im always go, go, do, go (definitely comes from my family).

I have also been reading that some of my friends have been doing 1/2 marathons.... and now I want to do one also. I used to love working out and used to be in way good shape.... then came Brett. As my love did for him.... so did my waistline- and it hasn't stopped. Well that's (hopefully) over. I am learning the hardest thing about getting in shape is the DECISION to actually do it. I have been at the gym everyday for several weeks and am getting in better shape and my goal for 2010 is a 1/2 marathon (No date in particular, but hopefully somewhere in the spring?) I will keep you posted (hopefully that I've put that out there it will come true and I won't give up).

Anyway, another new goal is to try a new recipe each week. We both love to cook, but get limited with choices. My sister Becky is a great cook so I get a lot of recipes from her (so I will cheat because some of "MY" recipes are some that I actually get from her- but she never updates her blogs sooo....at least I will give her credit). I will post blogs from time to time on the good ones. And you must know if they are good they must be easy to make (cause that's how I roll...)

So to begin.... I have the BEST recipe for chili- and its actually somewhat healthy (this came from Becky).

HEARTY GROUND TURKEY CHILI

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 large white onion, finely diced

1 lb ground turkey

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 fresh ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon Lawry's garlic salt with parsely

4 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1 14 oz can chicken broth

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 small can tomato paste

3 cans beans of choice drained (I use chili beans, black beans, and pinto beans)

1 teaspoon tabasco hot sauce

3 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoons ground cumin

Heat oil into a large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat. Saute onion until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in turkey, salt, pepper and garlic salt; cook until browned and no longer pink. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, beans, hot sauce, chili powder and cumin. Reduce heat to low and simmer until ready to serve.

Serve with cornbread muffins (or whatever).

UMMMM, this is a big hit at our house, and takes no time to cook.

Halloween party

Mom had her annual Halloween/Pumpkin party and it was a lot of fun.

Reece is a bumble bee

Lorrie, Brian, and Brittany

Teryn

Maycee (she insisted that she NOT smile for the pictures because witches don't smile)

Becky and Reece

Boring us, we didn't dress up.

OH BROTHER!!!!!- It looks like Oreo might be staying a while. Brett made him a little shelter for the winter. He was only supposed to be at our house a little while to eat our weeds......