Christmas is Coming...

It's almost here...We hope you all have a GREAT Christmas Eve!!!!

NICE SWEATER!!

Zach and I decided that we needed to have a CHRISTMAS PARTY this year with some of our best HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS, so that's exactly what we did. It was SOOO much FUN making all the food, finding tacky Christmas clothes, and getting everything ready. We got rave reviews, and decided to make it another TRADITION of ours...We already can't wait for the party next year!! 

Zach and I enjoying some yummy BREADSTICKS after a day full of cooking and baking...

Zach and the boys looking STUNNING in their Christmas attire!! 

Just two guys, having a GOOD time...

Kin chowing down on a breadstick in her SNUGGIE she got at the gift exchange...WORK it!!

The Fogg's and the Waltman's...Winston won the award for BEST HOLIDAY WEAR!!

Doug and his TWIN...

Playing the "S" game...SO much fun!!

Enjoying some HOT CHOCOLATE in our adorable MUGS

Jake and Doug roasting mallows and warming up by the FIRE!!

Our high school/PLATINUM friends...

Nick and Kin love Christmas CUDDLING!!

Ali and I showing our holiday SPIRIT...She made her own sweater, talk about TALENT!!

These girls have been my friends since 2nd grade, and we're still going strong!! 

It wouldn't have been a party without THESE girls...I love them all to pieces

Zach and I in our classy THRIFT TOWN holiday finds!! Thanks for all your help Zachary...I must say, you can frost one mean sugar cookie

tRaDiTiOnS...

This time of year seems to have lots of fun TRADITIONS that go along with it. Ever since I was about 4 years old, my family has had a fun tradition of going up into the mountains and cutting down our CHRISTMAS TREE. We have a great group of about 8 families that we share this tradition with. Over Thanksgiving weekend we go up, cut our own christmas trees, and have a fun cookout in the snow. Zach and I decided that this is one tradition that we want to carry on with our own FAMILY. This was our second year cutting down our own tree, and I must say we got a GOOD one!! 

Lucy, My Sister Elsha and I enjoying the sunshine...It was such a BEAUTIFUL day this year!!

The SERVICE family with one of our trees

LUMBERJACK ZACH and our tree...

All the GUYS from each of the FAMILIES with their TREES!! (notice how small mine and Zach's tree is compared to all the others haha)

Zach and I with our TREE!! Now all we need to do is put it up in our apartment...It's only been about a month ;)

YUMMMMM

Don't you just love getting new recipes? Well it's even better when they are absolutely DELICIOUS, and EASY!!!! Here's my recipe of the week...ENJOY!!

Tortilla Soup

2 cans cream of potato soup

1 can black beans

1 can pinto beans

1 can kidney beans

Drain the beans and add 3 cans of water

add: 1 8oz. can tomatoe sauce

1/2 package of taco seasoning

Add cooked hamburger or about 3 grilled chicken breasts cut into strips

1 can carrots (or fresh sliced)

1- 4 oz. can diced green chilis(mild)

cilantro (optional)

Top with:

chips, guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes, and cheese

1 1/2 years!!

.May.10.2008.

Is it just me, or is it CRAZY to anyone else that we have already been married for A YEAR AND A HALF...

{It's good to be in love}

10.31.09

Our ADORABLE niece and nephew Will and Lucy just about to head out TRICK-OR-TREATING!!

Cute Will in his CAPTAIN HOOK costume, and PUMPKIN that we helped him carve...Don't worry, he was a "nice" pirate!!

Lucy was Will's PARROT...how stinking CUTE is she?!

Us at the Utah vs. Wyoming BLACKOUT game...The Utes won 22-10!!!!

This year we had a not so TRADITIONAL but eventful HALLOWEEN!! We of course had to see our cute niece and nephew in their COSTUMES. I got to tag along with them, and watch them do a little trick-or-treating, which was SO much fun. There is nothing BETTER than trick-or-treating to a 3 year old, just as Will. Zach and I decided that it would be lots of FUN to go to the Utah BLACKOUT GAME, and spend our Halloween night cheering on the UTES. We had a blast at the game, and what made it even better that the Utes WON!! After the game we walked to the PIE to get some delicious PIZZA, then walked home...It's SO nice how close we live to the U, and it definitely comes in handy when there is a game. Anyways, we ended the night watching an old black and white "SCARY MOVIE" with our friends Doug and Alex. Like I said, we had quite an EVENTFUL day. We hope you all had a great HALLOWEEN...I just can't believe it's already NOVEMBER. Bring on the HOLIDAYS!!!!

Oct. 31

hApPy HaLlOwEen!!

MLH

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY MADELINE!!!!

My dear friend Madeline Hales passed away on February 14, 2005. Madeline was the best friend that anyone could ask for. She was an amazing example to all, and made everyone around her feel like you were the most special person in her life. Madeline had the greatest laugh, and was always SO much fun to be around. October 25th is Madeline's Birthday...and this year is her big 21st. Happy Birthday Mads!! Love ya!!

BAM TROIS... Brooke, Me and Mads!!

"Madeline, Madeline, I love ya Madeline!!!!"

I Left My Heart...In SAN FRANCISCO!!

My cute parents decided that it would be fun to start a new tradition and give the kids a trip for our birthdays each year...such a fun idea! We all decided that it would be fun to spend a few days in San Francisco since none of us had been there in years. So, Zach, my sister Elsha, her husband Ross and I spent a long weekend in San Fran. It was definitely a fun-filled, jam-packed weekend exploring the different sites this exciting city has to offer... 

Of course we had to see the HEART of San Francisco down in UNION SQUARE. We stayed one block away from here at the J.W. Marriott, which was an awesome hotel in a great location!!

We rode the classic TROLLEY CARS all over the city...

Zach and I got to stand on the outside of the trolley...took me back to my "Full House" days!!

We found the infamous "SILVER MAN" down at the Wharf along with all the other STREET PERFORMERS!!

I forgot how crazy PIER 39 is. These SEALS lay all over each other, and SMELL terrible...Yuck!!

We spent lots of time exploring FISHERMAN'S WHARF.

Of course we had to visit GHIRADELLI SQUARE and get some yummy treats...PEANUT BUTTER filled CHOCOLATE was our favorite!!

We had breakfast at SEARS CAFE and had to try the famous PANCAKES...

We made a trip out to ALCATRAZ and toured the old PRISON...Such an interesting place with so much history.

Zach looks terrified!!

A trip to San Francisco wouldn't be complete without a visit to the beautiful GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE...

We made the WINDY walk across the BRIDGE and got an awesome view of the entire CITY...

This is such a neat BRIDGE!! Zach is a pretty good photographer huh?

We spent our nights down in UNION SQUARE, and even ran into a USC pep rally for their game against CAL STATE.

While we were there Zach turned the big 2-4...HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY ZACHARY!!

I took Zach to the 49ers game for his birthday, which was SO much FUN. They played the Rams and WON!! Zach said this was the best birthday he has ever had...

We had such a GREAT time in SAN FRANCISCO!! We are SO thankful that my parents sent us on this great adventure where we were able to make so many MEMORIES. We can't wait until next year around our birthdays to see where we all go next...