Vegas Baby!!!!

I know I'm a little late for putting my Thanksgiving pictures on here but I just got these from my sis-in-law and they were too cute, so I had to add them! We were lucky enough to get to go to Vegas with Riley's brother Greg, Laura (sis-in-law) and our nephews Payton & Jantsen for Thanksgiving. Payton was playing in a football tournament down there. We had a ton of fun hanging out with them.

This is a picture of all of us at the Coke store! My Mom is a coke-fanatic so we had to go there to buy her some things for Christmas! It's a tradition for me to get a picture taken with Coke Bear every time we are there.

This is all of the boys waiting for me to finish shopping. (They look a little bored don't they?) Yeah I took awhile, but hey I was spending Daddy's money so it's okay! =)

And this would be my handsome little NAUGHTY Nephews at the M&M store! They got in trouble so they were sent to the REJECT pile. (just kidding but we couldn't help but get their picture taken under this sign it was too cute!)

Elf Yourself...

I saw this on my cousins blog and thought it was pretty cute so I decided to make one of me and Riley. Just click on the link below and watch us get Elf'd.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1266150661

Festival Of Trees!!!!

Every year Riley's family donates to a charity of some kind for Christmas. This year we decided to do 3 trees in the Festival of Trees, in remembrance of Riley's Grandfather (Ruel Crandall), his aunt (Julie) and uncle (Eric), who were all killed in a train accident many years ago.

We started off in quit the mess! But it was all worth it to see the smile and tears on Grandma's face, and the turn-out of all the trees was Amazing!

This is a picture of all our boxes stacked up when we first got the cars unloaded. My mother-in-law (Chris) and Riley's Grandma (Leah)!
We were in charge of Julie's tree "Old Fashion School Girl". Chris (Riley's mom), Laura (sis-in-law), Lesa (Aunt), Me, Grandma, Jane (sis-in-law)! Not pictured: Melanie (sis-in-law) and Lynsie & Randi (Cousins). They did a lot of work but couldn't make it to decorate. The next tree was Grandpa's "Grandpa's Farm". Aunt Mels Family was in charge of this one. Grandma, McKell (cousin), Janelle (cousin), Mel (Aunt), Julie (cousin).
The third tree was Eric's "Little Cowboy". This one Aunt Linda's Family was in charge of. Linda (Aunt), Grandma, Natilee (cousin), Callie (cousin & my Best Friend), Abbie (cousin), Michelle (cousin). Not pictured is: Kelsey (cousin).

They all turned out really well. If anyone is headed up and wants to see them they are on Isle M!

It's Official....

WE'RE APPROVED!!!!

We got a call from our caseworker at LDS Family Services today telling us we are approved. So now it's just a waiting game, relying on our Father in Heaven to guide that special loving person to us, to raise her baby in a loving, caring family. It's been a long time waiting and we are so excited to be approved. So please keep us in your thoughts and prayers and if you know anyone who is thinking about placing their baby for adoption have them look us up. They can look at our complete profile at LDS Family Services, just ask for Riley and Savannah! Thanks everyone for your love and support during these emotional times!!!

Updated Photo Pages for our Adoption!!!

Family Fun!!!

Sunday night we had a little family fun. It all started during dinner. I was telling my family about how whenever we eat baked potatoes with Riley's family it always turns into a war with the the tin foil. So Riley and Josh thought it would be funny to start that with me. After awhile the 3 of us were throwing them at each other. Then Riley and I went up to the game room and found the dart guns. So then we started that war. I gave my gun to my dad cause he was getting attacked by the boys.

After we got sick of the dart guns dad and I took the boys on in a game of Foosball. We won 3 out of 3 so the boys were sore losers and decided to move to playing pool. We didn't do as good in pool. We were taking turns with mom. The loser that "sold the farm" had to take over her painting the model train track she was working on and she took their place in the game. We then continued to play a tournament in darts. It was a really fun night, we all had some good laughs.

Jeffery's Wedding!!!

Dylan, Riley, Jeffery & Kelly

One of our Best Friends got married in Mesquite this weekend. It was a fun vacation. We rode down with Dylan and Carly. Friday night we hung out in the Casino.

Saturday the guys headed to the gun club, and us girls went to the spa. It was really relaxing. I wasn't going to go I wanted to go to the Gun Club, but I'm glad I went to the spa. We had massage appointments for 7:30 a.m. Then we hung out in the Sauna, and the mineral pool.

Savannah, Carly, Lacey, Jeffery, Riley & Dylan

The wedding was Saturday afternoon at the

Casa Blanca. It was a nice ceremony. Afterwards we took pictures by the pool. Then went to the Eureka for dinner. Then Dylan, Carly, Riley and myself headed to the Oasis and raced the go-carts. We had a lot of fun, you would have thought we were a bunch of young teenagers with the way we were acting. Riley was bumping into all of us and spinning us out. After the go-carts we headed back to our hotel and hung out in the casino some more. It was just an overall fun weekend. We wish it could have been longer.

Kelly, Sara, Riley, Savannah, Lacey, Jeffery Carly & Dylan

We got up early Sunday, got some breakfast and headed home. Carly had to be home to work and we came home to babysit our niece Gracie all week. (getting a taste of being parents, we are staying at Jeff & Jane's, getting up early to get her and myself ready for school and work. Then running her to her Piano and dance lessons. We're excited to spend some time with her.

Happy Halloween!!!!

Katie brought my cute little nieces over to see us tonight. Kaylee was (I'm guessing) a vampire, and Joslyn a cute little Kitten. Here they are with Grandma Maxine and daddy Josh.

Here they are with their Halloween Pillows and coloring books we all gave them, aren't they cute. Joslyn was pretending to be asleep.

Here's Mom and I in our little crowns we bought. Mom and her girls at work all wore them today, and me and a couple of my friends at work also wore them.

Here are a couple of my friends that I work with! Aimee, Carol and myself.

Halloween Cookies!!!!

Every year around Halloween we get together at Riley's parents and the kids decorate cookies. This year Chris (Riley's mom) had made 3 different kinds of soup and bread sticks. It was so yummy. And the kids had a blast decorating their cookies.

Jantsen, Porter, Nick, Ryann, Gracie, Brooks & Laura (helping out). Payton was at a friends birthday party.

Here is how some of the cookies turned out. They sure look fun, but I don't know how well some of them will taste. I like my cookies with just frosting, but it was fun.

Here is the mess after the kids decided they were done and went outside to play. The floor looked about the same. But it was all worth it to see how much fun the kids had, and how happy they were with their cookies they got to take home and eat.

Homemade Chocolates!

Every year the girls from Riley's family get together every Sunday night starting right before Halloween and hoping to be done by Thanksgiving, to make homemade chocolates to give away to friends and family for the holidays.

Pictured above is Riley's cousin's Abbey & Natalie, our sis-in-law Jane, and our niece Gracie. Not pictured from this night is: Riley's aunts Linda & Lesa, his grandmother Leah, Our sis-in-law Laura, and his cousins, Kelsey & Randie. Hopefully next time those that couldn't make it will be there.
We started this year with the peanut-butter cups. My job now is to figure out where to hide them when I take them home so Riley, Josh and My Parents don't get a hold of them. This is a fun tradition that has been in the family for many years, and hopefully will keep going for years to come.

2nd Place Football Champs!!!!

Star Quarterback our nephew Payton #15.

Payton and his football team "The Eagles" played in the Accelerated Championship Game on Saturday. They only lost by 1 point. But it should have been their win, they defiantly played the better game.

This is Payton (Quarterback Sneak) making the final touchdown that should have won the game. It was an awesome play on the 4th down.

Payton #15 and some of his team-mates holding their trophy.

I only know a few of his friends: #32 Karson, #84 Hummer, #1 Kayden

Spiritual Hunger

The search for peace is one of the ultimate quests of the human soul. We all have highs and lows, but such times come and they usually always go. Kind neighbors assist. Beautiful sunshine brings encouragement. A good night's sleep usually works wonders. But there are times in all of our lives when deep sorrow or suffering or fear or loneliness makes us cry out for the peace which only God Himself can bring. These are times of piercing spiritual hunger when even the dearest friends cannot fully come to our aid.

Jeffrey R. Holland (Wisdom of the Prophets)

Our Mighty Hunters...

I was hoping to have a really cool photo of the big 4 point Riley shot this weekend. But our Mighty Hunters were unsuccessful. They saw a nice one but he was 300 yards away and on the run so Riley only got one shot off before he was in the trees. Then they saw another 3 x 4 but Dad (silly dad) couldn't find his license this weekend so Riley was the only one with a license and this deer was running away from him towards my dad. Dad tried to scare it back but it didn't work. Bummer I was really looking forward to having a nice trophy to mount on the wall. Maybe next year.

On another note, Mom and I were a lot more successful. We decided to stay home from the hunt and have a girls weekend. Friday night we went to the mall, did some shopping, went to dinner and then to a movie. Saturday morning we got up and went to my sis-in-law's who was having a gift-boutique at her house. Then we went to the Barn-Boutique in Mapleton. We found some really cute things at both. I even bought a couple of Christmas presents. (It's nice to get that started.) Then we went to lunch at our favorite restaurant, LaCasita. Then came home and watched a couple movies and hung out. It was a fun weekend, just the girls.

But now dad is gone on business, but will be back tomorrow night. And Riley leaves tomorrow afternoon to go to San Antonio for work and won't be back until next Saturday. I'm really sad about that, it's going to be a long week.

Rainy Saturday!!!

While the boys were out in the rain building a shed at the farm for the Camp Trailer, Mom and I decided to make some homemade soup and bread.

We had the best little helper we could ask for. Joslyn had to have her hands in everything!!!!

Mom and Joslyn kneading the dough. Joslyn didn't like the feeling of the dough on her hands.

She was really interested in buttering the bread pans. Although she didn't like the feeling of the butter on her hands either. **But we got it all made and the outcome was really really nummy!!!

Weekend @ the Cabin!!!!

We snuck away for the weekend and headed to our cabins. Friday night we were with Savannah's family in Scofield. Saturday Riley helped with some of the electrical work that Robert (Savannah's dad) & Josh (brother) had started the weekend before. We didn't want the cabin to burn down, so Riley checked everything and hooked up the switches and outlets! =) It snowed on and off all day on Saturday, but about 5:00 it really started coming down so we thought we should head to Fairview before the roads got to ugly. When we got to the cabin in Fairview it was only 24 degrees outside and 43 inside. So we hurried to get the fire started. After the fire was going and we just got settled in and started a movie Riley's brother Greg and his family came up. We were excited to have the company. They actually brought dinner with them so that was great we didn't have to cook. The potato soup Laura had made was a lot better then the Ramen Noodles we were going to have. After dinner we watched the movie "We are Marshall". I highly recommend it to everyone, it's a really good movie.
Sunday morning we got up and Riley and I cooked breakfast, and we ate while watching Conference. Then the boys were aching to go to the zip line so we bundled up and headed down!
LOOK AT ALL THAT SNOW!!! It was cold but we still had a good time.



Laura, Brooks & Nick









Payton riding the zip line







Riley & Jantsen waiting their turn.





When we all had our share of turns we decided to get warm and headed back to the cabin. I think Greg and Laura were thinking they had 6 kids this weekend instead of 4 because Riley and I spent the afternoon wrestling with the boys.

Nick & Riley

"Doggie Pile on Payton" Payton, Savannah
Jantsen, Nick & Brooks!!!









Greg tried to take a nap but it didn't work, Laura was teasing him and we we're all a little noisy!!! We had a fun time. Before heading home we had Sunday dinner that was so yummy and took one more trip to the zip line. We can't wait to go back!!!

Our Many Memories!!!

Packing out over "Elephant Hill"!!!

Riley had to make 2 trips on the way to the campground, we weren't about to do it on the way back so we packed the Jeeps as full as we could and we tied our bed rolls to the top of ours. It made for a very long, weighted down trip back over Elephant Hill.

This picture doesn't do "Elephant Hill" justice but this is coming up the back side, I got blisters on my hands from holding on so tight!!!

This is Riley's Dad and Mom on the front side of Elephant Hill on the top half of the switch back we were right below them headed down.

This is another picture I took from the passenger side of our Jeep on our way down the front side of Elephant Hill, again I don't think this picture does the hill justice.

This is a look back up on Elephant Hill from the parking lot. One wrong move and we could have rolled down it! What an Adventure we had!!! We Can't wait to go back next year and hopefully try some new trails!

Day #2 Moab!!!

This is Riley Cooking Breakfast Saturday Morning. We had a feast! Left over Dutch Oven Potatoes, Scrambled Eggs, Hot Cocoa, Orange Juice, Bacon, Sausage, and Pancakes. It was so yummy! Also in the Picture with Riley is his Brother Greg, and his Mother Chris.

We had to stop for a Family Kodak moment after surviving the "Silver Steps." Actually they aren't that bad us Girls have driven down them both years we've been down there. That's me standing by "The Black Sheep" Riley's nephew Jantsen, and his mom.

Family Picture after our hike to the Confluence. (that's where the Green & Colorado Rivers meet).
Pictured: (back row) Greg (Riley's Bro), Rich (Riley's dad), Chris (Riley's mom), Riley, Me, Kelly (Riley's Bro) Melanie (sis-in-law) Jeff (Riley's Bro); (front row) Laura (sis-in-law) Greg & Laura's boys: Payton, Brooks, Jantsen, & Nick. Kelly and Melanie's kids: Porter and Ryann!!! We missed you Jane & Gracie!!!!

Riley and I posing for a Kodak Moment!!!