Happy 2014

This year:

a new skill I'd like to learn: 

to crochet

a person I hope to be more like: 

the extremely happy cashier at Beverly's, she's always in a good mood and doesn't care what people think

a good deed I'm going to do: 

pay for a meal/drink for a random stranger

a place I'd like to visit: 

mount fuji

a book I'd like to read: 

lean in by Sheryl Sandberg

a letter I'm going to write: 

to the person who has quietly made my life better without even knowing it, just by them saying hello and taking an interest in my life; they may not know it, but they have made a difference.

a new food I'm going to try: 

anything I have never tried before

overall I will try to be a better person, measured by my own feelings and metrics of what better might constitute.

Happy 2014!

a day of blessings

Colten was blessed on Sunday 29 September by his grand-father, father, and 3 family friends.

blessed with joy and happiness, strength, health and an inspiration to his family and those he meets, and lastly that he would be able to enter the temple and find a worthy mate

 Family came and supported the event, it was really wonderful

 Afterwards we had a beautiful brunch prepared by my mom. Junior showed off his new aviator costume, and I finally coaxed a smile out of Colten.

A random flurry of happenings

It's been a while...a long, long while...

This weekend we went camping with some friends, left Friday evening, and came home Saturday afternoon. The guys went hunting Friday night and Saturday morning, didn't bring anything home this time, but it was fun. The only unfun part was the bugs. Millions of little gnats, flies, and mosquitoes constantly buzzing, which caused me to don this ridiculousness.

but at least I didn't get bitten on the head...just one bite on my hand...not bad

the fearless hunters geared up and ready to stalk some prey.

Last weekend (7/28) we went to the Gilroy Garlic Festival

We partook of some delicious fare: pepper steak sandwich, garlic bread, pesto pasta, and calamari

Brad found a garlic head in the garlic grab

I had some garlic ice cream (Brad had to finish it because it just wasn't my thing)

The garlic man stopped to say hey

We watched a part of the cookoff hosted by TV host Carla Hall from "The Chew"

Flame-ups by Gourmet Alley Pyro Chefs

It was fun to spend a few hours enjoying the food and entertainment involved in this production. It wasn't too terribly hot either this year which has been an issue in the past. 

We also went to a family BBQ (7/27)

We swam, ate, and visited with my family to celebrate my dad's birthday early and to celebrate the birth of Colten with my grandparents (his great-grandparents)

Brad brought his snorkel and mask to swim with and Junior found an old one from when I was younger to use himself. He was doing really well breathing with the snorkel, I think the mask was a bit too big though. 

Gambit had fun swimming again. We really need to get him a floaty so he doesn't have to work so hard at swimming, it tires him out quickly! 

The water was so warm it was like bathwater, I thought it was perfect but other disagreed and said it wasn't very "refreshing" I still think the water was perfect. 

This was my grandparent's first encounter with Colten since he was born. They had been out travelling the country when it all happened. He's such a cutie, so tiny and precious!

He looks even smaller in comparison to my grandfather's stature! I wish I would have taken a picture of Colten's hand in my grandfather's...maybe when they come back from their next adventure!

We made an investment...(7/19)

After practically 8 years of marriage we finally decided to buy a brand new couch. There wasn't really anything wrong with the couch we had, it was just time for something new and we love it!