Weddings are the best when you are friends with both the Bride and the Groom

Greg and I experienced something wonderful this year when my old roommate Sarah, and his old roommate Dan got married in September. They are both such incredible and beautiful people and we love them both. We were so sad we couldn't make it to their wedding in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple, so to make myself feel like I was there, I stalked every picture posted of their wedding on facebook. Not the same, but I did enjoy it.

Sarah was diagnosed with stage 4 Terminal cancer in June of this year. She was healthy and active, and an extremely positive person, so it was very unexpected. I can't imagine how difficult it has been for Dan and Sarah, but I'm so glad they have each other and I know a lot of prayers are being sent their way daily. She was featured on this segment http://www.mormontimes.com/tv/segment/17853/Episode-3-A-lesson-in-hope-and-happiness . 

I know that each year together will be so special for Dan and Sarah, and I wanted to send them something a little different for a wedding gift.

I decided to make miniature "Wedding Dan and Sarah" Christmas ornaments.  I couldn't decide if it was sweet or creepy, but I loved it.

Here is the lovely couple in original form-

And here they are in ornament form-

Love you Sarah, looking at your wedding pictures makes me cry every time. I hope you and Dan have many Christmas's together.

Advent Calendar

I can't speak, I have lost my voice. It started with a little cold, ended up in my chest and took over my voice box. This is a problem because I am a talker and I don't know what to do when I can't express myself. I can't sing to Thomas before bed and I can only stand to read a few books. I think I have exhausted phone conversations with my family, I have to yell for them to hear me, and it is difficult to say anything. And frankly it's just not working. It has been almost 3-weeks and I must find an outlet. I have heard many remedies, ginger, honey and lemon, lots of water, humidifier and my favorite, tomato juice with cayenne pepper. Honestly, I think time may be the only thing that is going to do me any favors.

Last week while Greg was out-of-town I wanted to see if I could keep the apartment clean if I opted not to do any projects the whole time. What did I discover??  I did projects anyway without really thinking about it. I suppose it was because they weren't the ones on my list, but I managed to find pictures online to print, frame, and hang, shoes to recover and other little things I didn't know I wanted to do. The house did stay cleaner, but I think I will always manage to mess it up again. It is just who I am.

Because I can't talk to anyone, I've decided to start another project. My favorite part of Christmas when I was young was the felt advent calendar my Mom had made. I was always so excited when it was my turn to pull out the ornament surprise from the pocket and hang it on the tree. Last year I made two (very similar to the one I grew up with) for my dear friend April and my sister-in-law Claire.  Now I'm jealous that I don't have one, and may have to recreate it for myself.

Sorry, the pictures aren't that clear, but I love this thing.

This ornament was made as a tribute to April's Mom, Eddie Kaye, she died of breast cancer almost 2-years ago. She had a classic supply of Christmas sweaters.

If you want to do a sew-along and make one similar you can follow Jill from homemade by jill.

It's a Taylor Halloween

Nothing says Halloween like leftover felt, scissors and a hot glue gun the night before your child needs a costume. This was a busy month for me so I didn't really have time to do much planning. I had to come up with this little number the night before Thomas's Halloween party. Thank you Dollar Store for the horse.

Sad

Happy   (Even cowboys like their pacifiers!!)

This was the first party Thomas has been formally invited to.  My friend Liesal did such a great job.

Thomas was a glutton for the yogurt melts.

Trunk or Treat and Ward Chili party

Thank you internet for providing quick, cute cupcake decorating ideas.

The highly anticipated costume parade around the gym.

I promise, when Thomas figured out that when he went up to people they would give him candy, he had a very different look on his face.

Happy Halloween!!

4-years

4 years ago today we took the plunge. It was a happy rainy day. Everyone I loved surrounded us and made it such a perfect event. I really don't think I would change a thing.

Ah marriage, tis a wonderful thing. I remember when I was single I would lay in my twin bed and imagine what it would be like to wake up next to someone I loved. At times it seemed so far away, but I was sure he was out there. I would try to imagine what he was doing at that exact moment and I'm not ashamed to admit that sometimes as I laid there, I would come up with my own personal dialog between my "dream husband" and myself. I was convinced we would have wonderful long talks, all the time.

Not long after that, I moved to Salt Lake and met an interesting, adorable, funny guy through one of my friends. Although I was at a point in my life when I was NOT interested in dating, I couldn't really escape the wonderful long conversations I had had with Greg. I remember before our first date I sat on the floor of the shower and cried and cried, I didn't want to go. My roommates had to remind/convince me that once I saw him, I would calm down and have a great time. They were right. I had a great time and felt at ease right away. We had many great dates and many long hours of talking and getting to know each other.

4-years later, I can't say that we have wonderful enlightening conversations and witty banter every day, and some days I would say our discussions resemble more of a friendly neighbor passing by then husband and wife. (In fact yesterday I timed how long we talked, 11 minutes, and I will add that the conversation was quite dull. But in our defense, Greg is out-of-town in Boston and he isn't a "phone person".) But then we have days that I laugh so hard I almost pee my pants, and we get to giggle at Thomas learning something new, or we talk about something in the scriptures, or just sit together and talk about nothing, and it is fun to me. Yes, I really like that I don't have to make up the conversations anymore, because they are way better in real life.

We have shared may things, 4-years, 5-states, multiple toothbrushes, one awesome little baby, countless episodes of America's Funniest Home Videos and plenty of good times. I love you Greg. Wish you were home today.