VOTE

Ok, so I usually don't like to use my blog as a soapbox but I just wanted to encourage everyone out there to vote in this election. TC and I voted early yesterday and I just feel a sense of satisfication knowing that I have contributed my opinion to the future of our country. I feel it is important to vote even if you are not thrilled with the candidates-pick who you feel is the best choice. That's it. I won't go off any further and I will still like you if you choose otherwise!-Lol. Oh, and Happy Halloween! I am sure I will post more pics later. We are going to a Halloween party tonight.

Festive Weekend

We had a fun weekend doing festive activities celebrating fall and Halloween! On Friday night TC, Savanna and I went to the corn maze at Thanksgiving Point. We missed the ward activity to the corn maze the weekend before because Savanna and I were out of town. We had a fun time though we did end up taking the emergency exit out of the corn maze because we were tired of wandering around. Then we walked around some of the other activities. We rented a wagon and Savanna loved being pulled around in that. Then on Saturday night we went to our ward Halloween party. We had so much fun dressing up! A big thanks to TC's sister, Marisha, who helped us get ready and braided my hair! Savanna was The Cowardly Lion, TC was The Scarecrow, and I was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz! We enjoyed a variety of soups at the party and visiting with friends. Unfortunately I meant to get more pictures of other ward member's costumes and then forgot. Maybe I'll get a later chance on Halloween. Sorry, also some of these pictures are kind of blurry.

Savanna & Dad bundled up for the corn maze

Playing on the playground

TC & Savanna on the cow train

Follow the yellow brick road!

Our friends, Bryan and Aleta, dressed up as the Wicked Witch of the West and the flying monkey from the Wizard of OZ so we got some fun pictures with them!

Our friends, Ashley and Chris, dressed up as a bowling ball and pin

Texas Trip

Savanna and I were able to go to Texas this past weekend (October 17th-21st) to visit our great friends-Candace, Nate, and Garrett. Candace and I met my freshman year of college and have been close friends ever since. She is expecting a baby girl in March and we are very excited for their family! A big thank you to Nate's mom, Claretta, who works for Southwest and allowed me to use a free pass to go out there. We had a wonderful visit though we did miss TC while we were gone. I am hoping that Garrett and Savanna will maybe get married one day! Savanna did really well on the plane and the trip wasn't half as stressful as I was anticipating! Thanks again to the Haydens for such a wonderful trip! Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Young love blossoming! It was the cutest thing I looked back on the way home from the airport and Garrett and Savanna were holding hands! Then of course I explained to Savanna that she is way too young to be holding hands with boys!

Giving each other a hug

Savanna loved sitting on Garrett's fire truck

Candace and Savanna hanging out

Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

Savanna and I at Main Event: This is a place where there are arcade games, bowling, food, etc. We had a fun time playing air hockey and bowling.

Savanna and Garrett at the mall

10 month update

Savanna is officially ten months old today. She is of course as always getting cuter and cuter every day. Savanna had a good ninth month though she managed to get two colds and so did I but we are finally over those. Neither one of us has ever gotten sick that close together! Savanna also appears to be teething. I think she is about to get a tooth on the bottom. Her gum is red and a bit swollen. Savanna started to crawl sort of last week. She will do one or two little crawls and then fall onto her belly. She also gets up on her feet and pushes herself farther along. So progress in that department but not quite there. Savanna started to clap a lot this month and took a couple of steps on her own. She also sounds like she says hi. She definitely has developed her own unique personality and has her own likes and dislikes. We are so happy to have her in our family!

Girl Time

I am a big advocate of one on one girl time. I think it is important for us as women to be able to talk about our feelings and do "estrogen boosting" activities that the men in our lives may not appreciate as much. This Friday TC was nice enough to babysit Savanna while my friends from my Master's program, Joyce, Cassie and I went out for Cassie's birthday. We went to The Cheesecake Factory and had a great time though the wait was almost two hours long and they told us it was only going to be an hour! Oh well it just gave us more time to talk. It was so good to talk up with each other. We always end up laughing hysterically by the end of the night. Thanks for a wonderful night girls! I love you guys! I tried putting our picture up and then had a difficult time. Sorry Yesterday, I also got a surprise phone call from my friend Grace who came and visited with her daughter Evie. We had a good time just visiting and catching up with each other. She is heading back to CA tonight. Hope you enjoy the pictures of the babies together. I have been thinking this past weekend how grateful I am for the friendships in my life. Each one means so much to me and is specigetal and unique in its own way. So I just wanted to tell all my friends thanks for everything you do for me and I am grateful to have you in my life!

Conference weekend

So we had a nice weekend with TC's parents and brother ,James, who came down to visit us and TC's two sisters ,April and Marisha, and April's husband, George who also live in Utah. We started off the weekend on Friday by spending the evening at The Gateway. On Saturday we watched conference, hung out, and played games. Sunday we went to TC's cousins' house for lunch in between sessions and then after the second session we ate dinner at George's parents' house where we had a wonderful time visiting and playing more games! (TC's family really loves games as do I so it works out well!) TC's family headed home Monday morning. Although it was a short trip we had a great time and always enjoy seeing them! We are grateful for all they do for us (I'm not just trying to earn brownie points with my in-laws! I really do love when they visit!) This weekend my brother, Spenser, also came back from some of his military training. It is great for him to be back! He is living with us right now. Although this weekend was very fun for us it was not quite as fun for Savanna. We really noticed this weekend that Savanna has developed stranger anxiety! She would cry often whenever others picked her up and would always be looking for me. I don't know if she was just overwhelmed by how many people were around but she usually loves being around large groups of people! She also just got over a cold and now has another one so maybe she was feeling under the weather. She warmed up to TC's mom by the end of the weekend-thank goodness! I hope that this stage doesn't last too long. It makes me feel good that she loves me but at the same time I want her to be able to be comfortable around others and get to know her family members. She doesn't usually cry around our friends and family that lives here. I guess she is used to them. Anyway, enough about that. Whenever Savanna develops a new behavior, I am always analyzing it and trying to figure it out especially if it is unwelcomed! Here are some pictures from this weekend!

Savanna with her Aunts and Grandma

Aunt April and Savanna

Aunt Marisha, Grandma and Savanna

Savanna loved being pushed around in this laundry bin!

Daddy and daughter enjoying conference together

Savanna with her cousins, Julianne, and her son Perry

Savanna loves standing against tables!

Family picture

Savanna is often the center of attention!

Savanna loved playing with these apples at George's parents' house

October 1st!

So many of you are probably wondering what is so significant about October 1st? Am I missing some important holiday? No, it is just an ordinary day for many but not for me! For me it is the start of my three most favorite months of the year-October, November, and December! I just finished putting up my fall decorations and I am already feeling the excitement of the holiday season! I am always excited and very cheery on October 1st because of all there is to anticipate over the next few months! Here are a few of the reasons why I love these three months!!

1. Fall!-That is obvious enough. I love the change of the leaves, the smell in the air and the cool weather. I love everything about fall and am looking forward to the weather getting cooler!

2.General conference- I love beginning this time by hearing from the prophets and apostles. It leaves me feeling happy and spiritually renewed!

3. Halloween!-We love dressing up, going to parties, eating candy, and I love orange and everything is orange during Halloween!

4. My Birthday!-It is in November and it is always fun to celebrate it

5. Thanksgiving-I love this holiday where we can gather as family and friends and remember what we have to be thankful for.

6. Savanna's birthday!-This a new celebration to add to our list since Savanna was born on December 22nd!

7. Christmas!-Of course this is obvious, most people love Christmas. I love everything about it. The music, the decorations, the shopping, the time with friends and family, the caroling, and the chance to reflect on the birth of the Savior. 8. The New Year-Although I am always a bit sad when December comes to a close, I am grateful for the opportunity to start a new year. It is always beneficial to review the past year and also look to the future. Also, American Idol starts in January...and you all know that makes me happy!

Thanks for listening to all my gushy talk about this time of year. I just can't help it-it makes me too excited. I wish you all a Happy October 1st!!