Happy 27 to me!!!

I've had a hard time looking forward to my birthday this year. 27 just seems so old... especially when you don't have any kids yet. I just pray I have them before I'm 30 :)
As some may know, I have 2 birthdays :) One is the actual day of my birth (Nov 26) and the other my birth certificate date (Nov 27). When I was born the Dr. forgot to look at the clock to see what time I was delivered. It was a good half hour or so later when they relized it so the Dr. just said 12:01 on Nov 27. Well my Aunt Sue was there filming and I was really born just before midnight on the 26th. So I'm spoiled and get phone calls and text messages 2 days in a row :)
After our long weekend of shopping and wrapping gifts, Jeff and I had planned to go to a friends house for game night. We had arranged this night the week prior. Well Jeff got sneaky and text everyone during the week to plan a surprise party for me. So here I am thinking we were just going to go hang out with 1 set of friends but when I walked in their house all our friends in Alaska were there hiding in the kitchen. I had no idea. I'm so thankful for an amazing husband who tried so hard this year to make it the perfect birthday (last year was hard to beat cuz he got me luggage and in every pocket was a new activity we had to do through the day). He ordered pizza, we had cake and ice cream and played games and laughed super hard that my cheeks were hurting driving home. We have been blessed with such amazing friends and I'm so thankful for all they do for us. I'm especially greatful Jaime brought her camera knowing I probably wouldn't have mine with me to capture all the fun with everyone around.











On Sunday, Jeff woke up and made me some amazing french toast for breakfast. We then went to church and then came home and literally vegged on the couch all day. We skyped with my family for a good hour or so (was so nice to see everyone minus Jonny) I got tons of phone calls from the in-laws singing me their various renditions of Happy Birthday. I took a 3 hour nap and then we had thanksgiving left overs. Jeff had me open 2 presents the night before but I had to wait til today to open the other 5. Wow, did he spoil me. I got a couple beanies and headbands (so I can actually go outside in the freezing temps and not have my hair frozen or ears fall off), a super cute pea coat, some socks and comfy pants, tons of my favorite treats/snacks, a shirt and last but not least a new Sony Cypershot camera (he is so tired of me complaining about how crappy my point and shoot camera is.) I'm so excited to learn how to use it. So far it has been so fun to play with. It is perfect for someone like me who isn't a photographer but would love to learn so I can take some amazing pics while living her in Alaska. Thanks honey for spoiling me and doing everything you did to make my weekend incredible. I'm so lucky to have you and can't wait to spoil you on your special day next week :)

Traditions!

First off we had a fantastic Thanksgiving. This was the first year I tackled Thanksgiving dinner alone at home with no mom to help. Last year, we went to a friends families house so all I had to do was bring potatoes and a pie. This year me and my friend Jaime split the menu. I cooked my first turkey, homemade rolls, an amazing asparagus dish, and 2 homemade apple pies. Jaime (and Mac) did the potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin chocolate chip bread and I had her cook up a ham we got (my next house WILL have multiple ovens, thanks Jaime for letting me use yours :) We had Ken over as well as the missionaries. There isn't one thing I would've changed about our Thanksgiving. It was fun, full of laughs, EXCELLENT food, and so very relaxing. I'm proud to say Jeff loved my turkey and hasn't stop complementing me... YEAH!!!

I really regret not getting a pic of our table setting and the beautiful looking turkey... but the pies turned out amazing. Thanks mom for your help... I was on the phone all morning with her to make sure I didn't screw things up... I really didn't want to turn to plan B (Golden Coral) if the meal was botched.

So In my previous post I mentioned how thankful I am for Traditions. I'm so glad I have a husband who is so willing and open to many ideas we can start as our own traditions as well as carry some over into our lives from our parents. And just a side note, I'm looking forward to Christmas but I'll be glad when all the holiday traditions are behind us cuz ever since going to Fiddler on the Roof a few weeks ago, Jeff hasn't stopped singing the song "Traditions" and dancing like Tevia around the house!!!
Our first holiday tradition is Black Friday. This year it started at 10 pm on Thursday (not really black friday if you ask me) But we headed out and tackled the Walmart crowd. We walked away with some great gifts for ourselves, family, friends and our secret santa family. We were out 2 hour and then headed home to sleep 4 hours before we hit the stores again at 6 am. We took off then to Sportsmans, Sports Authority, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart again. We did take time to stop off at Village Inn for some breakfast (another tradition). So after 7 hours of shopping on friday, making it 9 hours total we came home took a much needed 4 hour nap and then got ready for the day (at 6 pm:)





That evening we headed out to The Nutcracker. Jeff has never seen it... for me it brought back so many memories of being in it at BYU. Well, lets just say Jeff will NEVER go see the Nutcracker again... and to be honest I wasn't as impressed either. It had a lot of humor in it, different dances and even a new random song. The characters were terrible, but the music as always was amazing. It was fun to get out though and just be with eachother after a long day out.

Random picture, but I'm obsessed with Horse Carriages.

So some super hilarious quotes from my husband while we were at the Nutracker...
Refering to the pic below: We were at intermission when Jeff points to the top of the stage and says, "What is up with the guy with the mustache... I have yet to see him." Ha ha, um Jeff that is the Nutcracker.

And another quote, "I'm not impressed with the dancers. I can do every move they are doing. There is nothing to them, all they are doing is throwing their arms in the air... how 3rd gradish" My response, "Ok babe I have tights at home, go put them on and reinact the dances for me and I'll tell you if you can dance like them" What a dork!!!
Last one, "I don't even get the whole play, it's so dumb. What does it have to do with Christmas." Me, "Um Jeff, they go to a Christmas party and she gets a Nutcracker and then has dreams of her and her Nutcracker." Sorry did I miss something, I thought Nutcrackers were only a Christmas thing, does anyone have any sitting in the house 365 days a year?
Overall, a great day and an ok way to end the night!!!

On saturday, we slept in (had to recooperate after our black friday shopping and Jeff headed out running errands while I decorated for Christmas. Another tradition is we listen to christmas music and wrap all the presents we got and put them under the tree. So yes... it is November and we already have all our presents wrapped... going to be a long month waiting to open them :)


Last thanksgiving break tradition is heading to Lowe's to buy a new house for our Christmas Village. Jeff bought me 4 our first year of marriage, and then we plan to get a new one every year... so someday we will have a whole room to display our Village in. A few pics from the last 2 years villages...




And this years addition, an Animal Shelter...

They all look so cool lite up at night. Jeff is already talking about going and buying another one this year. If he does we may have to buy a table or something to start displaying all of them. Can't wait to get a place of our own, hopefully buy next year cuz we are out growing our apartment.

10 more reasons for Thankfulness

In preparation for thankgiving this week I want to continue with my reasons for thankfulness...

11- I'm thankful for my calling as a the Sunbeam teacher. Although not easy to go and teach 8-10 4 yr olds all by myself every week, I sure have fallen in love with them all and it breaks my heart to have to loose them next month. I love having their parents tell me how much they love me and even re-inact primary at home pretending to be "Sis. Harris" I hope someday they can look back just as I have and be thankful for all their primary teachers.


12- I'm thankful for technology. Living so far away from family, I rely on the internet to skype and cell phone to call and text. It truly is a blessing to live in this era where so much is available to us. I don't know what I would do without skyping. Today I skyped with my favorite little nephew Jaxon. Gosh I miss him and my sister Kim so much, I'm greatful they took time out to say hi and sing a song to me, even if it was just a five min skype date :)

13- I'm thankful for my neices and nephews on both sides of the family. I live for these kids and when I'm around them I just can't get enough of them all. All I do when I see them is hug and kiss them and tell them how much I love them.











14- I'm thankful for my all my brothers and sisters in law. I have so much love for each of them and I'm so greatful for all their love and support for Jeff and I. It's been hard living so far away from them all. It's hard to think we will never end up in St. George again close to Jeff's brothers... we miss how convenient it was to go and see everyone and to laugh and play games together. I'm thankful for my sisters Husbands and for how much they love and respect my sisters. I'm so thankful they married men that provide for their families and who are incredible fathers.





15- I'm thankful for my incredible in-laws. I truly have been blessed with the best in-laws ever... I don't think anyone is as lucky as I am. And despite always living away from them and seeing them ever so often I feel so close them, as if I have always been apart of their family. They are the most generous and thoughtful people ever. And I appreciate all they have done for Jeff. You can tell they are incredible parents by how much Jeff loves and respects them.



16-I'm thankful for service. Jeff and I agreed that when we moved here to Alaska we would find every possible way to serve others around us. We have had the opportunity to serve in our ward, to our friends and to many others without them knowing. Charity truly is the pure love of Christ... and Jeff and I have both felt it. Just yesterday we had the opportunity to volunteer from our ward to go and unload food to hopefully feed 500-600 families in the Anchorage area. Our stake does a project called, Thanksgiving Blessing where we have the opportunity to donate some money to purchase food for those not able to have a thanksgiving meal and then we give a few hours of our time unloading and delivering the food. It was so neat to see all who volunteered to help. and the amount of food delivered was remarkable. It was below zero out and we were all working together with frozen fingers, toes and running noses to get all the food prepared for this week. It was a long 2 hours in the cold but such an amazing opportunity to be a part of.

Jeff eating a popsicle in -10 degree weather

The numberous bags of apples that was the culprit for our freezing!!!


17- I'm thankful for such amazing friends... both old and new. I'm thankful for the friends we have back in Utah who we continue to keep in touch with ever so often and I'm thankful for the friends we have made here in Alaska that have really become our family. I don't know what we would do without such great friends to keep us entertained and laughing in life.

18- I'm thankful for HEAT!!! You don't realize how incredibly cold it can get until you live in a land that gets below zero for not just a day or two... but for weeks. Our first winter in Alaska was very mild and pretty tolerable. Granted my wardrobe had to change a bit but the fur boots, coats and many layers is very fashionable here :)This winter... not so enjoyable. It is only November and we have had more snow fall already this year than all of last winter combined... and it's only November, winter lasts til April here!!! This past week we have broke records since 1969 with temps below zero. We still have yet to turn our heat on in our house only due to the fact that he heats the bedrooms first and then the living room. We hate having a hot bedroom and in fact still sleep with a fan on... under 2 comforters of course :) We have a fantastic floor heater that keeps us warm while we cuddle under blankets on the couch... But we will see how long we can keep that up. Waking up to 50 degrees in your house is never a fun thing!

19- I'm thankful for laughter and how easy it turns a bad day around! There is never a dull moment being married to my husband!



20- I'm thankful for traditions. Jeff and I like to share our memories of traditions from growing up but we have loved starting our own. We love getting up early to do black friday (except this year everything open up at midnight... I'm not happy bout that, kinda ruins the whole black friday) then we set up Christmas. We also go to Lowes every year to buy a new house for our Christmas village. Jeff started this tradition with our first chritmas when he surprised me with 4 new ones and our house decorated. We also are fortunate to help a family out for christmas. This truly invites the Christmas spirit. I remember when I was younger, knowing my family was not the richest family on the block, but our parents made us go under the tree and grab a wrapped gift with our name on it to go give to a family. We would drive in our van, with the sliding door open and the inside lights unplugged so no one would see us and we would run and knock and drop off a giant black garbage sack with gifts intended for us, but knowing others would appreciate far more than we would. I hope with Jeff and I starting this tradition as a couple, we will continue it with our kids. This year Jeff and I will be spending Christmas with just the 2 of us... as hard as it is to not be home with family for the holidays, I look forward to coming up with many other traditions. But we look forward to seeing all our family in January