Christmas Season

 Kati and I are both excited for our little Christmas presents--though they won't be coming until next year.

 I love the Christmas Season. It flew by this year, and I feel left behind, grasping for fragments.I was happy to have my parents back from Sand Diego so that we could have our traditional Christmas Eve at the Ranch. The Ranch is so festive at Christmas with greenery twined around every railing, Nativity sets placed in almost every available location, and the tall tree, covered in lights and decorations that each bring back a special memory.

 The performance of the Nativity is never more authentic than when it is performed down in the barn, amid the hay and the snow and the animals. Brian was the most angelic of the Shepherds.

 Even the littlest angel sang along.

 There's no place like home for the Holidays.

 The pinata is a newer tradition, started with our Christmases spent in Mexico on the mission. The little cousins really enjoyed themselves.

We spent Christmas day with the Porters, which was wonderful as always. It is just always over too soon. Families return home and go back to work, but there is always another Christmas around the corner. Hopefully it won't pass by so quickly next year.

November Update

 Life has been crazy. November and December are busy enough months...throw in our anniversary, Brian's birthday, pregnancy, looking at houses, offering on a house, parent teacher conferences, City Academy's book fair which I am in charge of, Sterling Scholar deadlines coming up (which I am also in charge of), musical numbers in church (really? I'm playing three musical numbers on the 23rd and singing in the choir? Does anyone really want to see or listen to me that much?) and it literally becomes a whirlwind. I don't think I've gone to the store in weeks....don't ask what we are surviving on.

 Amid all that, we have had some time to enjoy friends and family. Kati and Jeff took us to an amazing Jazz game in amazing seats. Jimmer even waved to me (or I like to think that). We then spent a fun evening with them up in Park City ...complete with a stay in a condo at The Canyons.

 

 I found time to make Brian his Birthday Breakfast, complete with the "You are Special" plate.

We also spent a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, though I didn't manage to capture any pictures of that. That wraps up November (I also cut myself some bangs, because I KNEW I wouldn't find time to make an actual hair appointment). December updates and more on houses and whatnot will be coming soon I'm sure.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary! It's been three years and already we both forgot that it was our anniversary today. I wouldn't have remembered it at all if Kati hadn't texted me while I was at the grocery store at 6:30 p.m. and wished me a Happy Anniversary. Wow. How embarrassing. Brian was out picking up a quick dinner for us. It consoles me that he didn't remember either. We spent out anniversary sitting on the couch eating calzones. We obviously think it is really important to keep the romance alive by doing something special.... 

All joking aside though I am grateful to be married to such a wonderful guy. He makes me laugh every day, sometimes so hard that I cry. I love the interesting conversations that we can have with each other about the world, politics, religion, our future, books, movies...anything really. We don't always agree, but that is what keeps the conversation interesting. I love that he will do the dishes and the wash (even if I take issue with how he does it sometimes). I love that he lets me be me, and that he understand how much I love him, even when I nag. It's been a wonderful, adventurous, stressful, beautiful three years and with an addition on the way I'm sure the adventure and beauty will only continue. I look forward to it. 

Drumroll....

I was right. As usual. We're excited to break the trend in our families of having boys first!

Fall

 No matter how hard I try, I feel like I can never capture the vibrant beauty of fall. Not in words. Not in photographs.

 How do you capture the myriad swathes of color threading the mountainsides?

 How do you capture the thrill of a change in the air? A cold edge to the sunlight? The smell of dried leaves crushed underfoot?

 How do you capture the unique beauty of each changing leaf?

 How do you describe the quiet atmosphere of a fall morning walk?

I'm still trying to find the answers. And I'll keep trying every year. Twenty-five falls have passed in my lifetime and the thrill of it never fades. I never tire of the beauty. I always feel a little sad as the trees finish shedding their bright fall wardrobes. It seems appropriate that a riot of colors precedes the blanket of white that is winter. As if we are getting a chance to store the colors away for those long winter months, like a squirrel his nuts.

Bryce Canyon

 Over Labor Day weekend we went with the Porters down to Bryce Canyon It was a gorgeous getaway.

Utah is an amazing place. So many different things to see, different climates to experience and state and national parks to explore.

Costa Rica Part 2 - Manuel Antonio

After a few days at Arenal Volcano National Park, we made the long drive down to the Pacific coast and stayed near Manuel Antonio National Park. It was so beautiful. We took a catamaran cruise out to see dolphins and sea turtles and even humpback whales. What was funny was that I was the least seasick out of everyone I think...amazing since I felt like throwing up pretty much the rest of the time I was on the trip (being 7 weeks pregnant didn't really agree with me).

This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. I love dolphins. In fact when I was in third grade I wanted to be a dolphin trainer when I grew up.

The dolphins loved to play along the sides and in front of the boat.

A mother and her baby.

This is about all we saw of the humpback whales but it was amazing nonetheless.

The view from our condo.

Our private lagoon.

One of the days we rode horses to the Nauyaca Waterfalls. It was a kick to see Brian on his horse. They got along ok at first.

brrrr....another chilly dip. Apparently the falls are usually not so high and you can actually swim in the pool and climb up on the fall, but it rained and rained the night before, so it was roaring down the next day.

Brian and Carmelo soon fell out with one another. I love the lady on the right...she wants to get as far away as possible. Smart too. Carmelo was a biter.

There were tons of sloths in Manuel Antonio park and it was fun to watch the ones who would actually move. They are generally so sedentary that moss grows on their fur.

The water was so warm it felt like a bathtub.

This little guy nearly climbed into my lap before I noticed him. He looks so much more innocent than the racoons around here.

The monkeys were hilarious, and quite the jokesters. In fact one thought it would be a real hoot if he peed on me from the tree above. Come to think of it now...it was pretty funny. They also stake out to watch for the people dumb enough to try and picnic at the beach. We were warned beforehand but saw others not so lucky who were barraged with sneaky capuchin monkeys.

There's nothing like reading a good book on the beach.

Funny video, but also a little gross. Ever wonder what monkeys do when they catch lizards? Watch to find out.