Good Bye Fall, Hello Winter

I am sad to say that fall is gone and winter is here. We have had several snow storms, each of which has dropped about six inches of snow. For some reason the air quality gets really bad in between storms and people are advised to stay indoors. Between the bad air and freezing temperatures, I have come to realize that I really miss the fall.

Unwelcomed Guests Come To Visit

Andy thought it would be a good idea to bring the hose in for the winter (he said the hose would last longer if we brought it in). I wasn't so down with the idea of bringing the hose in because it was dirty. We came to an agreement, Andy could bring the hose in if he washed it off. So Andy brought the hose it and put it in the tub and there is sat for several weeks.

One night Andy walked down the hallway and said, "Come check out this huge spider." I had just walked down the hallway two minutes before and didn't see anything. I walked back into the hallway and to my surprise a black widow was climbing up my wall and I freaked. We suspected that the spider came out of the heat vent.

Exactly one week later I found another black widow in the tub with the hose. The mystery as to where the spiders had come from was instantly solved. The spiders had made their home in the hose reel. Andy put on some gloves and hauled the hose and hose reel outside with the spider hanging from it.

The next day, Andy called an exterminator to come spray and we haven't seen a spider since. It's a little unnerving not knowing if there are poisonous spiders lurking in your home. We learned a valuable lesson from this experience, the hose is best kept outside.

Black Friday

We spent some time on Black Friday shopping, we found some really awesome deals. After we had shopped to our hearts' content, we went home and decorated for Christmas. I love decorating for Christmas, it's pretty much the only holiday I decorate for.

Our Nativity

For me, Christmas isn't complete unless you have a real tree. The tree permits sold out really fast where we live, so we weren't able to go cut down one of our own this year. We had to settle with a pre-cut tree from the store. I think our looks beautiful with all the lights on it.

Our Tree

Thanksgiving

This year we spent Thanksgiving with our friends Serena and David, their two children Davide (age 4) and Siena (age 2), and Serena's brother Fabrizio. Serena made the most delicious turkey, it was so flavorful and moist. We thoroughly enjoyed stuffing our faces.

A photo of one of the place settings before we feasted.

After dinner we headed out to do a little Black Friday Shopping. While we were shopping, Davide kept asking me to hold his hand or to push the cart he was riding in, it was kind of comical. Everyone kept joking that he was my boyfriend.

Walks In The Fall

If there is one thing I love it is going on a walk, but one thing I love more than going on a walk is going on a walk in the fall. I was so happy that fall lasted so long this year in Utah. I am sure going to miss this sight. Until next year...

One of my favorite trails.

On the trail.

Graditude

I have been thinking a lot lately about gratitude. I firmly believe that everything we have is a gift from our Father in Heaven and that we need to constantly express gratitude for the blessing he has given us. It seems like all too often we forget to express thanks for our blessings.

I have often heard that one of the greatest sins of this generation is ingratitude. I have made it a point in my life to express thanks for everything I have. I'm not a perfect person and I know there have been times in my life where I have forgotten to express my thankfulness. If I have forgotten to express my thankfulness to you, please accept my apologies.

With thoughts of Thanksgiving in the air, I would like to express thanks for the things that I have been given.

• I am grateful for my husband, Andy. He is truly my best friend and I don't know where I would be without him.
• I am grateful to be alive. Earlier this year Andy and I almost died while climbing a mountain. It really is a miracle that we are still here. If you missed that story you can read it here, here, here, here and here. Sorry, it is kind of a long story.
• I am grateful for my family, they have taught me so much. I have really enjoyed making memories with them this year and look forward to many more years full of adventure. 
• I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. It seems like everything in life can change in the blink of an eye but the gospel is the one thing that is constant and unchanging- it really is my anchor in life.
• I am grateful for the job that Andy has. If he didn't have a job, I don't know how we would make ends meet.
• I am grateful that the temple is so close to my home. It is nice to be able to go some place quiet and sacred to ponder the questions of life.
• I am grateful for the place we have to live.
• I am grateful for the healthy food we have to eat. 
• I am grateful for our gym memberships.
• I am grateful for the simple things in life: sunshine, rain, flowers, wind, mountains. These things remind me that God is there and that he loves me.
• I am grateful for our good friends. There is nothing like a friend to brighten your day. 
• I am grateful for the car we have to get us around.
• I am grateful for my comfy bed. A good nights sleep really does make a difference.
• I am grateful for allergy shots. Getting shots every week isn't fun but they allow me to breath and sleep at night.
• I am grateful for laughter, it really is the best medicine.
• I am grateful for good running shoes, they keep my from getting injured when I exercise. 
• I am grateful for trials and hard times. I know that seems like a strange thing to say but it is through the hard times that I learn and grow the most.
• I am grateful for each day and that I get to try to be better than I was the day before. 
• I am grateful for music, it lifts my soul.
• I am grateful for the trails near my house that I can hike. I really enjoy getting outside and being in nature. 
• I am grateful for our health, we have been very blessed in this regard.

A Night Of Hockey

On November 11th we went to Salt Lake to watch the Utah Grizzlies hockey game. That night the Grizzlies played the Ontario Reign. This was the first hockey game I had been to in several years and I have to say I forgot how much fun hockey games can be. Growing up I played floor hockey and our family frequently went to watch the Spokane Chiefs play. It was good to be reminded of my love for hockey.

Both teams seemed to be about the same as far as skill level was concerns but the Reign were definitely the faster and more aggressive team. They scored a goal that seemed good but for some reason the refs did not count it, I am still confused as to why it didn't count. The coaches for the reign were not happy about this decision either.

The game ended in a tie, went to over time and ended in a shoot out. Unfortunately for me, the Reign lost. The Canadian part of me was hoping that the Canadian team would win.