its christmastime!

So... Samuel and I have been thinking about traditions we want to start in our family.  On Sunday we decided to come up with some fun activities to do during the Christmas season, and then try to do a few each day leading up to "the big one."   I'm excited to see how the list changes as our family changes.  Here are some things we came up with this year.  This is a personal invitation for YOU to join in on any that sound festive and appealing.

        Drink hot cider and put up Christmas decorations

        Bake cookies and deliver them to neighbors

        Go see the lights at temple square

        Pick out a Christmas tree and decorate it

        Watch It’s a Wonderful Life

        Open up new pajamas on Christmas eve

        Give service to a family member

        Find mistletoe, hang it in our house, and kiss under it

        Address and mail Christmas cards

        Go Christmas shopping for each other and for family

        Read the Christmas Story from the Bible and Book of Mormon

        Go to a cultural event like a play or concert

        Read the Polar Express and have hot chocolate

        Put up Christmas lights on the house

        Contribute to a Sub-For-Santa

        Make a homemade gift

        Dress up festive and go on a double date with friends

        Put together a Christmas playlist

        Host a party with friends

        Drive around and see the neighborhood lights

        Go skiing or snowshoeing or sledding… or all 3

        Get friends together to go caroling to neighbors

        Go to the temple together

feeling thankful

I know that Thanksgiving is technically over, but I have had so much gratitude in my heart these past few weeks, I decided I had better document a few things.

I am so thankful for a wonderful, supportive husband.  Samuel is a wonderful, hard working, sensitive guy.  I am so happy and grateful to be his wife, and to be working on life together.

I am thankful for the world's most incredible family.  Someone once told me that they were so jealous of my family because we all get along great and like to be with each other.  At the time I don't think I understood what a blessing that is, but as I grow older I realize what a rare and beautiful thing it is to love and be loved by amazing siblings and parents and in-laws.

I am thankful for my job.  I love my students and am grateful every day for the role that teaching plays in my life.  I learn so much.

I am thankful for the temple.  It was great to be there twice this week for Hilary's wedding.  Every time I go, I am reminded of God's love for all of his children, and that he knows and loves me personally.

I am thankful for our home.  Every night as my head hits the pillow--no matter what projects are left undone--I thank God for this opportunity to build our house into somewhere that we can start a family, help the Spirit to reside, and figure out what is truly important.

I am thankful for music! It helps me to feel things-- excitement, peace, silliness, hope.  I love discovering new-to-me songs, learning new chords on the guitar, or teaching my students new "lunchtime tunes."

As we head full-force into the Christmas season, I am reminded how grateful I am for the Savior and the joy he brings to my life.

the two more weeks club

We closed on our home on July 15th. I had grand ideas of getting the painting, woodwork, floor refinishing, and door painting done in two weeks--before we left on our Hebgen trip. Then we could move in, unpack, and start into the fun stuff--decorating!  It was a grand plan.  And we worked like crazy for two weeks, but it didn't happen the way I had imagined (surprise, surprise).  I resigned myself to the fact that it would probably take two more weeks.  We would get back from the cabin, keep working and THEN be able to move in.  Before school started, of course we could be "in."

Dad measuring for window sills.  Notice the periwinkle in the back ground, and the terra cotta wall in the foreground?  ...Two of the four different colored walls in the kitchen. 

New front door!  (Will soon be painted "moody blue.")

Nathan--sanding away!

Breanne helped us so much.

Sand. Mud. Vacuum. Repeat.

First coat of varnish.

 We got home from the cabin, and started working again.  Mom and Nana helped me with the garden.  Tom was our refinishing king.  My dad came and hung doors, knocked out walls, measured, ordered supplies, made our garage secure, and brought up issues and ideas that we would never have thought of otherwise.  Breanne, Nathan, and other friends and family members came and helped us sand, paint, caulk, putty, and prep.  Samuel was at the house every day after work, working his little tail off.  I pitched in where I could.  We told everyone at church that we would be finished enough to move in in just two more weeks.  

Sanding down doors.

Samuel's semi-permanent expression for the past 3 months.

So, we worked hard for another two weeks.  But we didn't get done.  We ended up needing new windows, getting the furnace and A/C replaced, needing another coat on the floors, and running into some lovely "gifts" from the previous owner (bless his soul).  We finally got a hold of the ever elusive electrician.  We made decisions, then changed our minds.  Sometimes we disagreed on things we envisioned.  We discussed, researched, and made decisions again.  We visited Ikea and Home Depot and Lowes several times.  People would ask, "When do you think you can move in?"  To which we would reply, "Oh two weeks.  Definitely.  Just two more."

Surprises left by the previous owner.

Primed walls!  This is before the new windows...

And so we continued. For two more weeks.  And then two more.  And here we are, three months later--October 14th--and I promise we will be moving in soon.  We are getting our counter tops in a week.  We get to go to Seattle to pick up some hand-me-down couches this weekend.  So we will finally be moving in!  Soon.  Probably in less than two weeks.

love this song

hoping to learn it-- perhaps for a friend's upcoming wedding?

so much to say

well.  it's been a while.

I have started several posts between the last one (may?!) and this one, but never finished any.  so today I'm just going to spill.  a lot has happened and there is a lot to say.  (I'll have to add pictures later).

summer was a dream and a whirlwind.  I loved going to the cabin, teaching a class at King's English, having friends over in the huge yard, and...

we bought a HOUSE.  it's a lovely little house on a corner (now) but it didn't start out that way.  Samuel and my dad--plus lots of other friends and family-- have spent eons of time over there building and sanding and ripping out and painting.  it has definitely been a learning process for me.  I have learned patience in a major way.  I have learned how to putty nail holes, refinish floors, and kill weeds.  I have learned how to stick to things that really matter, and let things that don't matter not bug me so much.  I'm still learning how to communicate my gratitude.  I'm still learning how to not care what other people think.  Samuel and I sometimes struggle with making decisions, but we've made some and it is finally all starting to come together.  hooray!  seriously. we are having a MAJOR party when this project is done.  pie for everyone.

school is back in session, and that part of my life is starting to take shape again.  my class is adorable.  I really love being a teacher-- every time I think of different career paths I considered, I always end up so happy that I stuck to my guns with education.  we all have our days (and I have many), but I think this is something that makes me happy and that I am good at-- and that's a great feeling in a career.

this time of year--fall--is my favorite.  with the start of school, it always makes me feel like making new goals and new beginnings.  Bryttin recently made her awesome goal list, and I've been thinking about goals I have for myself over the next few months.  that will have to be its own post, though.  there are still things mulling around in my head that I need to let simmer.  hopefully I can blog more regularly to keep myself reflecting on all of this stuff.

the air is crisp today-- a happy change of the seasons.  today is Dad's birthday.  what a guy!  and Bailey's birthday is on saturday.  I'm hoping we are to a point on our house project that I can go down and visit her. that would be another post in the works.  stay tuned... and thanks for not giving up on me (even though I haven't blogged since may).  LOVE.

it's coming...

This morning while we were getting ready for work, Samuel said, "Brynn.  It's May first! Guess what we get to do this month?"  And I said, "What?  Finish the school year?"  (Of course... I'm always thinking about school).  And he said, "No.  Memorial Day.  The CABIN."  And I said, "Yessssssssss."

the Madison Arm trading post

And then I started thinking about

• the books I want to read in front of the fire
• the delicious food we always enjoy
• will it rain?  will it snow?
• the smell of the trees
• the lake in the early morning before anything moves
• what projects will we do? what will we clean?
• should we go antiquing?
• it will be the twinners first time!
• should we bring our bikes?

Get ready.  It's May. (and you know what that means).

Home Work

After a lot of dreaming, planning, discussing and saving, Samuel and I are getting serious about buying a house.  Now, when I say "getting serious" I don't necessarily mean that we are packing our boxes and taking out loans... but rather, we have talked to an agent and are narrowing down lenders.  We are searching for hours online for homes for sale (but often coming up with the same 30 or so houses we can afford).  We are asking questions about short sales, home equity, and mortgage rates.  We are making lists of MLS numbers, budget strategies, and areas we would like to live in.  I'm perusing pinterest boards like crazy for home purchasing, renovating, and decorating ideas.

One part of me is elated.  I am thrilled to be taking this risk and making this step work for us.  I am proud of what we have been able to do financially in our marriage. I am looking forward to renovating and gardening and updating.  I think part of me also wants to feel settled, permanent, established.

On the other hand, I am terrified.  We don't have to move right now.  In fact, we rather like our little duplex and big yard.  We are in a good place with good landlords. We are close to my school and have very reasonable rent.  Perhaps I am going into this a little bit selfishly-- I want to be able to paint and screw things into walls and landscape and store things in a garage.  But it is so scary.  I know I am a little melodramatic, but it feels like this decision--where to live, and all that goes with it--could change the course of our immediate lives.  It will throw a wrench in our commute, our relationships/neighbors, our finances, and our future plans.  There are so many "unknowns"!  There are so many things to consider!  There are so many decisions!  It is a big risk, to buy a house, and that is scary to me.

During this whole process, however, I am constantly reminded that we are not going into this big decision unarmed.  We have a lot of hope that we will be guided to a place where we can serve others, start a family, and stay true to our financial goals.  I truly feel like God is helping us to build a "house of faith" as we look for a place to create our home.  That is the blessing.

Anyway, if you have any advice for a first-time home buyer-- neighborhoods in the Salt Lake area worth checking out, financial tips and tricks, homes we should drive by, etc.--I would love to hear.  I'm sure we will need all the help we can get.

around the house: spring break

 blurry lemons

 wheat grass in my window

 messy kitchen, pretty light

 I did not make my bed

seeds (hopefully) growing

Spring break week.  I have loved spending time with sisters and in-laws and nieces and nephews, going to lunch with friends, exercising in the mornings, ironing for hours, and generaly being lazy and satisfied.  I am also overjoyed with spring.  Looking forward to conference.

Happy life.

making me happy monday: resolutions and roasted potatoes

It's Monday and it's the middle of January.  Here are some things making me happy today:

I have really tried to get specific with my resolutions this year.  I mean really hone in on what I want to to and how I'm going to do it.  First, I am starting a book club!  We meet at my house on the third Tuesday of every month.  I am extremely excited about this because I will a) read more, b) reconnect with friends old and new, c) have motivation to clean my house-- though I make no guarantees, and d) try out some new dessert/treat recipes. Win, win, win, win.  If you would like to, please come.  First meeting on January 22 at 7:03 pm!

My next resolution is to make dinner at least 3 times a week.  For you domestic goddesses out there, this may seem like a cinch.  I like to cook, but I often find that when I get home from school the last thing I want to do is come up with something to make, start making it to find I am missing half of the ingredients, improvise with things I have, dirty several pots and pans, burn something while waiting for Samuel to get home, take ten minutes to shovel down whatever I've managed to salvage, and then still have a mountain of dishes to wash.  I may be exaggerating a little, but needless to say-- it's a goal.  My sister Bryttin (who actually is a domestic goddess) saved me these first couple weeks of the year by introducing me to the "Freezer Meal" concept, and let me tell you... it is amazing.  I just come home, pull something yummy out of the freezer (that I made a week ago at Bryttin's house under her watchful eye), throw it in the oven and 30 minutes later-- voila! Dinner.  Another saving grace has been the 2 week plan.  This was introduced to me by the Food Nanny. Have you ever seen that show on byu tv?  The lady is kind of annoying, but her methods are true!  Knowing what I'm going to make in advance (and shopping for those meals specifically) makes a big difference in my weekly dinner making record.

This is where the roasted potatoes come in.  Tonight I made yogurt parmaesan chicken and roasted potatoes... and it's only Monday.  Yes.

Another resolution I have is to use the space in our home for productivity.  Samuel and I have this infamous "back room."  It has been full of stuff for nearly 3 years.  It has been an embarassment for nearly 3 years.  It has been giving me anxiety for nearly 3 years.  It has been a source of contention in our home for nearly 3 years.  Well, no more!  We have spent some time going through things, rearranging, stacking boxes, and taking things to DI-- and the room is finally starting to look live-able.  Even though we still have a way to go, I am motivated to go through things, organize, and get rid of what I don't love/use.  I'm letting go of "stuff" and it feels good!  It also feels good to actually be using the space we have rather than whining about the space we don't have. (This has been a problem for me.  Tell me I'm not the only one?)

What resolutions have you made this year?

Have a happy week, everyone.