Let the Holidays BEGIN!

Last night we kicked off the holiday season at the Shops at the Riverwoods. They turned on their Christmas lights (which are quite impressive), Santa was there, as well as free cookies and carriage rides. Jon Schmidt performed a mini concert (he is amazing!) just as he was finishing his last song it began to snow, the first snow of the season! They couldn't have timed that any better you really felt the magic of Christmas :)

Afterwards we drove to the Thanksgiving Point theater to see...

My sisters and Nick's youngest sister came, along with my BFF Julie. Nick was one of only 4 guys in the entire theater (he's been watching football all day today to make up for loosing his "man card") If you're a twilight fan, you'll love the movie. This book was my least favorite of the series but they did a pretty good job translating it onto the big screen. It is a little steamy and kinda werid (demon vampire baby) but then again so was the book. I will admit I am a bit of a nerd (ok a HUGE nerd but a closet nerd) I love Harry Potter too (saw that on opening day) still think HP 7.2 was better that BD p1........don't judge me :)

Pumpkin Carving

I know Halloween is over but I have one last post before we move onto the next holiday (CHRISTMAS!!) ok ok Thanksgiving first. Nick won't let me put up any Christmas decorations until Nov 25th. Sunday night we went to my parents house and carved pumpkins. It's been a couple years since Nick and I carved pumpkins, I think the last time we were dating.

 We decided to go old school and carve traditional 

Jack-o-Lantern faces

Highway to Hale

Yesterday we ran the HIGHWAY TO HALE, a fundraising race for the Hale Center Theater in Orem.  I had to take a 6 week break from running the last half of summer due to a leg injury, once that recovered I was out hitting the pavement running with my friend Connie, Nick or even going by myself. One of the girls I work with told me about this race and I made a goal to run the 10k (6.2 miles!)

Waiting for the gun to fire

 Cute Jana and her hubby dressed up like M&Ms

Since it was a Halloween race, costumes were encouraged. 

I had a few good ideas for us: 

Nick could be a hot dog and I could be a bottle of mustard 

Nick a banana and I would be a monkey

My personal favorite: bacon and eggs

Needless to say, I couldn't convince Nick into dressing up. He did have a good point, running 6 miles in a costume would get annoying (and he was concerned about chaffing). And what would people think seeing a 6'4" banana or hot dog running through the streets of Orem   

The first 3 miles I ran in about 28 minutes but with any run what goes down must come up AND the last 2 miles were all up hill (some parts were even really steep) Around mile 4 I was really wishing we had just done the 5k. Nick was (as always) patient and a good support and we finished the race. Not sure what our official times are but Nick finished in 1:00 and I was just behind him 1:02  My parents were at the finish line and it was nice to have their support. Overall, it was fun to feel that sense of accomplishment and it's motivated me to keep running so I can improve my time.

Go Cougars!

Last night we went to BYU's homecoming football game vs San Jose St.  When we bought the tickets the time was still TBA, I was thinking that since it was a Saturday game it would be at 2:00 maybe 4:00 at the latest, nope it didn't start until 8:15!  AND of course this was the week that the Fall weather decided to turn cold and wet. Fortunately the weather was dry for the game but it was still 45 degrees  BRRRRRRR!  I bundled up in lots and lots of layers (running spandex under my jeans, 3 shirts, a sweatshirt AND a jacket)

 Hot Chocolate so I could endure the second half

 I should get some sort of wife brownie points for sitting through the ENTIRE game in the COLD and not complaining :)  We both had a really fun time and BYU played a good game (finally!)

Final score BYU 29 San Jose St 16

GO COUGARS!

Mr Domestic

Saturday I came home from work to find the dishes done, kitchen cleaned, house dusted and vacuumed and the bathroom clean. Then Sunday morning Nick decided to bake cookies since we don't have church until 2:00! ( I'm very much looking forward to 9:00 church next year)

 I think the apron is a nice touch

yummy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies! What a great way to welcome FALL!

Whting Family Camp Out

Last weekend Nick's family went camping, it's was 3 days and 2 nights of good ol fashion outdoor fun! We camped on some private property (with permission of coarse) above Schofield, it was a beautiful area in the mountains.

Off to a great start! Darren's camping trailer got a flat tire 

(fortunately this was the worst thing that happened the entire trip)

 RIP little tire

Breakfast of Champions

 Darren enjoying the SPORT-BRELLA

it's not JUST a chair!

 Darren and Hyrum riding dirt bikes

 Jason and Susie

 Hyrum, Grandpa and Nick playing ball

Lacee and Sami

first time EVER shooting a gun (ok it was just a pellet gun)

 Grandpa caught a chipmunk!

 Cute little Hugh

Oh Susie.......  :)

Dutch Oven Cobbler 

 Happy Birthday Uncle Jason!

in 9 months.....

Nick will graduate in April and if I don't have a

then in May 2012 we're going to

DISNEY WORLD &

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

and we might even hop on one of these

If we're going to fly to Florida we might as well see and do A LOT!

I'm always planning our next vacation and this one will be EPIC. I have 9 months to plan and save (cause it's gonna be mega $$) but I'm sooooooo excited :)