We're alive!!!!

To my two readers:

I am sorry I am such a slacker.  Life gets busy and blogging is on the top of my list of to do's anymore.

I will try to be better, but the next few (4 to be exact) will be extremely busy since I am planning a wedding and marring the man of my dreams...

WHAT!!!!  

4 months away... where did ALL that time go?

I am freaking out to say the least.

Well, since I haven't blogged for so long it's time to play a little catch up!

November 17th Kennedy (aka Miss) and I got to celebrate our birthday's together once again at 

DISNEY ON ICE... I say it's my gift to her, but secretly, I am glad I have a reason to get to go again.  

Our tickets were perfect!  We were so close to all of the action that it was hard to see everything on stage, not that I am complaining... it was AWESOME!  Here are some pictures from that event...

 This is a pic I took in the middle of the show... she kept smiling so big and was so excited to see every character that came on the ice.

NEXT: We bought a TRUCK!  Yup... WE.  Our first big purchase prior to marriage.  I love it, I would like to drive it way more than I am allowed.  This is our "investment".  

NEXT: Thanksgiving.  Surrounded by family x2!  We do it every year... 2 Thanksgivings in ONE day!  I always love it, but hate the stuffed gut feeling I have ALL day!  This year we went to Austin's Mom's house for the first session then out to my brother's house for round two.  Both meals were delish!  Mmm... I could go for another Thanksgiving dinner right NOW!

 NEXT:  For those who didn't hear; Austin's dad's wife passed away the beginning of December.  Was it sudden, kind of.  Expected, a little.  She had been ill her whole life, but around October her kidney (a 20 year old transplant) had began to fail, she was retaining so much water she was swollen from head to toe.  Things just got worse from there.  Her body just couldn't take it anymore.  She was young, just 49.  We miss her very much, but it still just doesn't seem real.  Some photos from that...

 All of "Jana's children" with Roland...

NEXT: On Christmas day (I have pictures, but of course I haven't downloaded them yet) we were in on a LITTLE surprise.  Alex, Austin's little brother, proposed to his girlfriend Amanda.  I think I was more nervous than he was!  We are super excited about the addition to the family!  

They will be tying the knot just a month after Austin and I!

 ... in addition to Christmas, it was great for both of us.  We really enjoy being around our families, and boy is it beginning to be a BIG BUNCH!  Both our Mom's have parties on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, along with Austin's dad's family on Christmas afternoon.  It was busy for us but we wouldn't want it any other way!  

Plus, between all the families, we both got everything we asked for and some!  SCORE!

NEXT: New Years.  Humm...   not much to say about that, not really into the holiday except the fact that I get a day off work because of it!  BUT 2011 is a BIG year for us!  Woot Woot!

NEXT:  Newport Beach?  Yes please!  Nate (my little brother) friend Tanner got married a few days after the new year... in none other then the Newport Temple... so why was I there?  I had the privilege to be their photographer!  It was A.MAZ.ING!  The weather was perfect, it was beautiful, I love it there and I really did(n't) want to come home!  I don't love the winter and while it was a measly 30 degrees here in Salt Lake, it was a fabulous 65 degrees in Newport!  It was almost funny to see people in coats because it wasn't cold.  I was able to bum a ride to see the beach and experience a little bit of where I'd like to call home.  Ahhhh... I'll go home any day! 

Me, Joe and Flint

 The BEACH!

 Of course I had to touch it!  Wasn't as cold as I thought it would be...

 Proof.

The Crab Cooker... suggested by every person I told I was going to Newport.

 I teaser of the wedding photos I took, super cute!

 Those are all of the past "highlights"...

Now we are working on prepping the condo for the whole fam damily to be under one roof...   Pictures will be taken of the progress... maybe... depending on the clutter.  We'll see.