Thanksgiving 2010

This year we went to the Sand Dunes for Thanksgiving weekend.  We had so much fun, but FROZE!!  It literally was freezing! 
We were cold and didn't care how we looked all bundled up.

YW In Excellence

For one of my value projects I put on this year's YW in Excellence.  I has so much fun planning and preparing for it!! 
Our theme was "Our YW Values Help Prepare us for the Temple" About a month ago, we had a mutual activity where the girls chose women in our ward who represented the different values.  Last week we took them a goodie plate and told them why we chose them.  We have some pretty amazing women in our ward. 
For the program, we asked a few of them to speak on the different values. 
For dessert we had Cheesecake with different toppings which were all the Young Women Value Colors:

Faith {white} = Whipped Cream
Divine Nature {blue} = Blueberries
Individual Worth {red} = Cherries
Knowledge {green} = Green Sprinkles (I had to get a bit creative!)
Choice and Accountability {orange} = Mandarin Oranges
Good Works {yellow} = Lemon Pudding
Integrity {purple} = Blackberries
Virtue  {gold} = Apples

Plus we had Wedding Slush...mmmm!  Its always a hit!

For the handout I made these temple blocks...I found the idea on this blog.  They turned out pretty cute and were perfect for our theme!

Now just a few shots of our adorable Young Women! :)

I have the best calling! :)

Murder Mystery

This year we were invited to a Murder Mystery Party.  It was sooooo much fun!!  A couple from our ward invited us over and it was a great way to get to know everyone!

The Torturous Dentist and the Mummy

The Prince of Dimness and The Wicked Witch of Depressed

 The Clairvoyant, and the Monster

 And then Howard was the Cannibal who turned out to be the murderer and I was the fiance of the guy who got murdered

Thanks Sarah and Jeremy it was a blast!

Vacation Time

We've decided that a cruise is the perfect vacation.  All the food you can eat, someone cleans up for you and then when you wake up you're at a new destination.  We went on the cruise with our good friends the Nally's. 

First shot of the ship...we were so excited!

Our first stop was Catalina Island.  I am in love with this Island.  Its so cute and quaint.

Dinners were the best food on the boat.  Fancy dining and good food. 

Our favorite dessert was the Chocolate Melting Cake.  They had it available everynight...mmm! 

 Next stop was Ensenada, Mexico.  We got off the ship and walked around and looked around the shops a bit.

Formal Night.  It was so fun to get dressed up! 

The night we left Ensenada there was alot of fog.  We thought it would be neat to watch the boat leave the dock.  Because of the fog we had to wait a long time for teh boat to leave.  Overall, it was so not worth waiting.

Friday morning after we got off the boat we went to Disneyland.  Disneyland really is the happiest place on earth.  We had a blast...it was so fun seeing all the Halloween decorations all over. 

 So excited! ;)

Howard at the Lego Store with Woody.

SIX YEARS!

We've been married for SIX YEARS!!  That's so crazy to me!  On one hand I feel like Howard and I have always been together, but 6 years seems like a looong time!  I am so lucky to have married my best friend and have him by my side through thick and thin. 

Six years ago...

We celebrated our anniversary at a funeral.  My cousin's wife passed away after suffering years with Lyme Disease.  I walked away from her funeral wanting to be better...to endure my trials better.   What a legacy she left.
Today was our Stake Conference and Elder Hales spoke.  How blessed we were to hear an apostle of the Lord speak to our stake.  He said something that really suck with me...that blessings will come after the trial of our faith, depending on how we endure. 
I've learned that the blessing of trials make us who we are and they build character.  I've been so uplifted this weekend, even if I spent most of it crying, its been a huge testimony builder, a resolve to do better, to be better.  I am grateful for all the examples I have in my life!

Welcome Home Frank!

Howard's brother, Frank returned from his mission last Friday.  He served in the Asuncion Paraguay Mission.  I'd never been to a missionary homecoming...it was pretty neat and very exciting!  He served a great mission and we are so proud of him!  Welcome home Frank!!

Here he comes!!

 

Siblings

 His shoes!!

 

And a couple pictures of my adorable nephews...

Brighton

 

and Tristan

Girls Camp!!

I had an amazing time at Girls Camp!! We have the best YW and they are so much fun to be with!! I learned a few things too: how to hear your 'real' laugh, how to play Mexican Horse Race (yes, I was the center of that joke!), and I even learned now to shoot a bow and arrow!

Our camp theme was VIP (very important princesses). I LOVED this theme. Each ward was given a Disney princess and our ward got the best one...Ariel. It was meant to be! Ariel is my favorite! It was so fun to play up the princess theme.

Picture oportunity with our princess, Ariel

And then one with just the leaders...notice our adorable socks!! ;)  I know everyone was jealous!

Archery...I need to do this again!

Our flag...we made Ariel dressing modestly.

All of the first year girls had to wear a princess tutus the first day...they all looked so cute!  (and yes, secretly I was jealous!)

Getting ready for our skit...

Amanda, Sister Maldonado and Lauren

Kyra had a birthday while at camp...we hope even with having to do a hike she had a great day! :)