Cardall Cousins...

One thing that I've loved about moving back to Utah is family!

these past 2 weeks I've been able to get together with cousins again,

we've lunched at Cafe' Rio,

we did the Twilight movie thing last Thursday night....

and

today we celebrated the soon-to-be-arrival of Jack!

and they are just as funny as they are cute!

(thanks Chrissy for the picture)

I've loved being able to reconnect with family and friends again.

it's been a month...

Oh, so much to document!!!

I finally found my camera cord, but for some reason it's not down loading my pictures,

and who can have a post without pictures!?!

but, I will get my pictures up and somehow downloaded....

I have a lot of good ones,

like, Halloween just for starters,

this year was one.of.thee best!!!

we've done a few fun things lately...

like winning the Chili Cookoff last Saturday night in our ward,

have I mentioned we have the best neighborhood and ward? hummm.

Caitlyn had her last Young Women In Excellence night,

it was nice as they had all the girls display things about themselves,

it was fun getting to know the girls and leaders just a little bit better and we had fun putting Caitlyn's display together.

she's an amazing girl, my Caitlyn and a great cookie baker!

(inside joke)

Just getting ready for Thanksgiving and feeling very blest to be able to see family and loved one again, that we only get a chance to see every blue moon!!!

so thankful to my dad who made it all possible.

although,

Candice is still in Texas for this holiday and so it's bittersweet,

but, we have a little surprise in store for her....

I love the holidays and I love traditions....

I'm going to be making "chop suey" candy which is a tradition that we can't live without,

started by my dear grandma Norma B.

in years past, I usually made one big batch,

but this year, I think I'll be up to my eyeballs in chop suey cuz so many of us will be together again,

without saying any names, I've been approached with making a whole batch for one particular person who said he'll even pay me for materials and time!

and that he would just eat chop suey instead of Thanksgiving dinner!!! ha!

bring on the chop suey!!!

a very good day...

Liz gave me a fabulous birthday gift....
(she always does)
a bath to cook my bottled peaches or what ever i desire,
and a little magnetic stick thingy to get the lids out of the boiling water without burning your little fingers!!!

I love her!

that sight is pure beautiful!

they all "popped" and sealed.....success!

I love Liz
we had fun bottling peaches,
it was fun and relaxing to sit and peel, drink propel, watch a movie with the kids with a fire in the fireplace and snow on the ground, just a little snowstorm!
we had so much fun,
where going to do it again next week and bottle potatoes!

#11

Lynzie's 11th birthday...

one of her biggest wishes every year is to be able to spend it with her "twin" cousin,

and this year she did!!!

another week...

I can't believe another week has flown by....

just last Saturday, we were in St. George watching a parade and partying,

and today we are watching the

181st semi-annual General Conference....

and next Saturday I'm going to be participating in a little neighborhood tri-athlon,

swimming, biking and running, oh my!

(did I mention we live in the best neighborhood!)

I love this time of year, there is an excitement in the air, and in the change of seasons,

yesterday, I decorated all day with my fall decor. it felt good to pull it out and put it up!

I love Conference weekends!!!

LOVE THEM....

I love the traditions that we've made as a family,

I love the good food to eat, I love the spirit that is felt in our home and in our hearts,

all through conference this morning I thought about Candice...

I love that we will get together with relatives on Kurt's side of the family,

that we don't get to see often enough,

and we'll eat soup bowls and watch the last session of conference tomorrow together.

I love that we live here in Utah again,

I love to be around family and after being away for so long, it's good to be back!

it's one thing that we don't take for granted.

I bought 3 boxes of peaches yesterday,

and this coming week mom and I will go up to Liz's and bottle peaches and make jam.

it doesn't get better than that!

I am so grateful for my parents...

sometimes saying "thank you" just doesn't seem like it's enough,

my point being is, being without them for 10 years while in Texas,

it's so nice to have them close and to see them a lot,

do you know what a joy it is for me to just have them sitting around my kitchen table.

my dad's day off is Thursday and they have been up every Thursday...

I am so grateful for there love and support.

my blessed mom has been imparting her food storage knowledge on us,

and I intend to learn everything I can from her, she has been a huge help to us!

thanks mom and dad.... WE LOVE YOU!