Looking back at the times I laughed...

A really popular quote my senior year was, " I always knew I would look back at the times I cried and laugh, but I never knew I would look back at the times I laughed and cry." While I'm not a big supporter of public crying... I viscerally felt the adage after reminiscing with some of my dearest friends. Here Sarah, Tamara and I are recreating a picture we took about three years ago.

Maddie (Sarah's oldest) wanted in on the action.

Curtis, Tamara' husband being Curty with Max. It's unfair to refer Curtis as Tamara's husband, as we were friends first...in fact, we all met in college while single, so we were all friends before any of us were married. That's something I've really cherished about these friends...with all of the sexual politics and proprieties, I don't think I really even know most of my current friends' spouses well enough to not need a buffer.

Here's my dad being silly...he put Max on the lazy Susan.

It was like old times...here we are before our amazing dinner.

Another night, we all went out with my brother and his fiance Kristina and her family...

It was so much good food...quality...that's one thing I really miss about California!

I'm not sure why people like to torture poor Max...but here he is in the trunk of my uncle's car...he was only in there for about 15 seconds...but it does make for a funny picture!

Since Eric and I had to leave Thanksgiving morning in order to make the Eldridge Thanksgiving...my parents made Thanksgiving the night before...my dad carving the turkey

...back in Utah..Max and Linzie...they were born one day apart...obviously fascinated with one another!

Carli and Chuck..oh, young love!!!

It was also Becky's birthday and Wendy made this AMAZING cake!

Thanksgiving was all I could have hoped for and more..it was filled with family,friends, food and fun times...everything that I am so thankful for!

Team Lautner

My brother's fiance noticed as we were going to see New Moon...that it was indeed a night of a new moon...

Me and Eric waiting in line...Eric was a good sport and came since my brother already pre-purchased four tickets.

Before

After

My brother Peter, his fiance Christina, Eric and I went to see New Moon on the opening night (Peter was awesome and bought them in advance online). In preparation, we watched Twilight before...I have to admit that my expectations were low (does that mean that I was not giddy like a preteen school girl- of course not?)...Christina went in team Jacob and I, of course, was team Edward (aside from this little indiscretion, I thoroughly support my brother marrying Christina!!!)...after the movie, I must pay tribute to that young Taylor Lautner...he made a supporter out of me!! I am so Team Lautner, now (note, I still reside firmly on team Edward, but as Team Edward and Team Lautner don't exist in the same world, one set in fantasy and the other in reality...actually, I guess both are quite clearly in the land of fantasy, but membership in 0ne does not preclude membership in the other)!!!!

Before

After

I think my conversion was aided by the hordes of teen girls giggling every time Taylor took off his shirt...even my brother admitted that it added something to the experience to be around all of those screaming teenage fans.

Is this a scene from New Moon? It looks like it doesn't it...it's actually Big Basin Park near Santa Cruz... That's me, trying to see if Max will sparkle when the sunlight hits him!

Here Eric and I are frolicking in our vampire wonderfulness...you'll get the mockery if you've seen New Moon.

Eric ode to Karate Kid!

Our little family in a tree hundreds of years old...

My mom and dad at the waterfall at the end of the trail...

Me, Max, Eric, Christina and my brother, Peter at the same spot.Peter & Christina showing their brute strength. Having some fun, under the boardwalk...boardwalk...tell me you're not singing it in your head!

This is also the spot where a lot of scenes from The Lost Boys were filmed.

This is Natural Bridges State Beach. The rocks behind us used to form a bridge...but erosion set in...but the name still stands.

Here we are enjoying some birthday cake, notice the beautiful flowers and balloons from Eric and his family!!! They were such a great surprise and reminder of how much I'm loved, THANKS!!!!...And Carli, I knew they were from you, too!!! :)

A walk by my parents' house.

Eric swinging on a rope...you can't tell, but he was really high!
More pictures to come...I just wanted to get it started before I got too behind!

Left over pictures...

We decided to go to the South Lincoln Hospital Halloween fair and were shocked at all of the wonderful functions! Not only was there a spectacular Haunted House, a Vampire to take pictures with...
...the best scones and honey butter...
scary monsters to torture your soul...
the best part was that it was all FREE!!! Let me tell you...it was great!!!
Max was pooped after all of the festivities...in this picture you can see the chocolate eye ball he grabbed upon arrival and never let go of until bath time that night (by that time it was more of a chocolate slime ball)!!!!
My mom took this picture...I love the random monkey above Max's head!
We went to visit my brother at his new office...I thought this was a funny (lame) radiology sticker.
Here's Peter's door...
Max wearing Peter's jacket! :) So far, I've been having a great time in California...but missing Eric! Even home isn't home when you don't have all of your family with you!

More Halloween Festivities!!

We put on a 1st Ward Halloween Carnival packed with a Halloween Costume contest,

A caramel apple bar (eerily similar to Carli's :) !!!! ), a cupcake walk...

"Homemade root beer (long story)",

Here are Max and Bella...both wearing skeleton costumes...

The skeleton family

Eric carving out his pumpkin...

Carli, Chuck and myself in front of our masterpieces!

Our pumpkins in all of their glory!
Eric's pumpkin. It was a great Halloween this year and we're excited for the holiday season to begin!!!

Our Halloween Party!!!

We had our third annual adults only Halloween Party...this year we happened to have ordered some leather dining chairs that came in a huge box...it was too good of an opportunity to pass up...

This first couple, Blake and Amanda (Paper and Plastic) are so cute...Blake figures it our pretty quickly, but doesn't ruin the gag for his wife!!!





Emily and Colton heard another couple screaming...so, they don't look that scared (on the outside)...but Colton later admitted that he let out a little tinkle



Here are the Hogans...I can't tell if Janelle is mocking us and pretending to be scared or if she really is scared!!! You decide for yourselves.




This is a new couple in our ward (Chase and Meagan)
...they were such good sports and were so fun!!!


This video is my personal favorite...Holly and Kasey!!

We wear this costume at least once during each Halloween season (and, yes, we consider it a season!!)

200720082009 We had a great night of Mafia, Cafe Rio and friends!!!!

This was Carli's amazing wedding cake that Jacquie Bryant took a chunk out of...we peeled off the fondant and re-frosted it and made a skeleton take a bloody bite out of it.

It was a great night, we were just sad that we couldn't invite all of our friends...this year we limited it to just our ward...When I was a Girls Scout, there was a song that we sang that I've often thought of, 'Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.' We hope our third ward friends know that they're platinum in our eyes!