Thanksgiving

Towards the middle of the month, I started inquiring about Thanksgiving so I could plan accordingly. Nobody really said anything. About a week before the big celebration, my baby brother called to plan something and I told him I would host Thanksgiving at our house.

I started planning all kinds of dishes. Mashed potatoes, funeral potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, rolls, gravy, 1 baked turkey and 1 deep fried. I was stoked! For appetizers I planned mini quiche - vegetarian ones and bacon ones, salsa and tortilla chips, potato chips and green onion dip. It was going to be a feast like none other! Well, there were some pretty awesome ones, but this was going to be my first Thanksgiving, awesome event.

As I was cooking and baking, there were so many things that looked great. The vegetarian quiche were so pretty. Even just the chopped up onion and zucchini were beautiful.


The bacon cooking in the pot was absolutely divine! Though by the time I got to taking a pic, it was really bubbly.
Mom made the oven baked turkey since Jason and I weren't home in time to put it in the oven. It was beautiful.

The deep fried turkey made me a little nervous. Jason had checked it after about 20 minutes and it was a pretty golden brown color. I was thinking it would be so delicious!

When he pulled it out of the deep fryer, it was crunchy and crusty and black. Jason, Mike and Bobby assured me it was just fine, but I was nervous. I hate burnt stuff.

They brought it inside and there it was. Absolutely moist and juicy on the inside. The taste was so incredible!

I don't know if it's the pregnancy hormones, but I have grown to have a deep appreciation for beautiful food, or food that is presented beautifully.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!

Mainly cause:

• it's almost Christmas
• there's always good food
• Mt Charleston Lodge trips for Hot Chocolate
• it's cold
• snuggling
• eggnog
• Christmas light spectaculars
• baked goods
• "special" decorating

just to name a few.

Happy Holidays, my friends.

It's the most....

WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!!!

At work we got our order of candy canes (instead of suckers) in.

At home, the A/C isn't on, neither is the heat. It's snuggle time and warming my feet up on Jason.

In the neighborhood, leaves have fallen off trees, it's cold outside, I get to wear a hoodie (almost a coat), I get to drink hot chocolate and make holiday candy.

Spiritually, I have an amazing, wonderful, supportive husband, whose child I am carrying through this wonderful time of year.

New Calling

A few Sundays ago I was told that if I choose to accept my new calling, the other callings I have will be taken away. I liked my callings I had, but I will say I was ready for a new one. I was Music Committee Chairman and Ward Missionary. When they told me I would be a cub scout den leader, working alongside Jason, I WAS STOKED!

I love BSA. I love what they can do for boys and how they help them learn survival and how to be civilized respectable kids.

Tonight was our first night. I don't think it went too bad. Jason wasn't able to make it. He didn't get home from work til 730. Scouts was already over by then. It's definitely a new calling. I've never been in a scout calling. However, I feel it's gonna be so much fun.

It's too much!!!

I am teetering on breakdown. Not a bad one, just a mild, take a few deep breaths, and stretch breakdown.

So, I am taking 3 classes this semester. I had it all planned out so I would have my Associate Degree in May '11. I took 3 classes during summer and it seemed easy enough. However, with getting pregnant and fall "stuff", such as canning and quilting and the holidays, I am worn out. Not to mention that work has me working 30+ hours a week. I went part time so I could focus more on school and now, I am so overwhelmed.

I'm trying to take it a day at a time, and luckily my Accounting teacher is lenient. I thought about dropping the accounting classes, but that means delaying other classes and my degree. I seem to be focusing on things that need to be done asap, such as canning tomatoes before they spoil. Doing one class homework/quizzes that the teacher is in no way lenient. Crafts and cleaning around the house have sadly been ignored. We finally have a new kid in training, but it's still gonna be a few weeks before my hours are cut.

Anyone have any ideas for remaining calm and collected?

Most latest, exciting news

Yes, I know fellow bloggers, I haven't shared my Denver trip info, but this takes some precedence... I'm pregnant!

I'm about 7 weeks along. The baby is the size of a blueberry this week. I've already bombarded myself with information from the internet and from books I've bought. According to all the online calendars and old wives' tricks, My due date is May 13. Our first Dr Appt is Oct 11. We will definitely have a lot more info for everyone after that.

I have started a new blog all about the pregnancy. How I'm feeling. What's going on. What will be going on. Etc. I suggest if you want to be informed, go to that blog and follow it. I have personal reasons that I don't want to post every single detail on Facebook. The website is http://graffamilyextension.blogspot.com if you want to follow.

St George Temple

First off, I am so bummed that I couldn't find my camera today! We have a goal that we want to get a map of the US and maybe have it be North America. Every time we go to a temple, take our pic outside it and post it on our temple wall. Well, I quickly got over being bummed cause I looked like crap and it's a close temple so we will be able to go again soon.

The reason I'm blogging...
Saturdays of the month. The temple has been closed since July 19 and won't open again until the 2As most of you know, Jason and I volunteer at the Las Vegas Temple on the 4th and 5thnd of August. I don't think we've missed a month since getting our endowments and getting sealed so when we heard that we wouldn't be working this month, I tried to make time for us at the beginning of the month, but it didn't work out.

I worked today. I was off at 230. I kept hoping all week that if Jason got off in time, we could maybe go to the St George temple and get our "monthly" tradition in. Jason left his phone at home today and I kept stressing about his day (he had no clue what I was planning) thinking he wouldn't be home til 5 or something and then we wouldn't be able to go. As I was leaving work, I called his phone to see if for some chance he was home and it went to voice mail. Bummer.

As I was walking out to the car, my phone started ringing and it was JASON!!! He was home! I told him my plan and he jumped in the shower. I got home, checked times for sessions and we got on the road about 4 (5 UT time). We arrived about 7 UT time and I had the greatest feeling of accomplishment, peace and comfort. It was definitely interesting walking in the Endowed side instead of the Baptistry side.

I've been to the St George temple a few times for baptism purposes. The St George temple is the oldest operating temple we have. I think it is so beautiful. Big, sharp corners, neat, castle like. It's amazing from the outside. OH!! AND, it has a stinking revolving door!!! I vaguely remember the Baptistry. It was nearly 10 years ago that I went there last. And, I wasn't as big into history as I am now.

Everyone was so nice, as always. I must have had a sign on my forehead saying, "I've never been here. Please direct me in the right direction." Everyone was so friendly in telling me where the ladies dressing room is. Let me tell you... I love the dressing room!!! It was so orderly, personal and wonderful.

So, I get changed and as I try not to look around too aimlessly, there were some nice ladies there to give me my info and send me in the right direction. As I sat in the chapel, waiting on Jason and the session to start, I looked at the worn pews around me. How old are they? Looking around the room, everything had a classic feel to it. I then started pretending like I was in the Jane Austen times because everything surrounding me fit her to a tee!

The room was a little muggy. I'm sure the AC ducts aren't 100%. It felt like we were being cooled my swamp coolers. I was excited when we finally got to go into the veil room. What an awesome room! Much cooler too. LOL

The curtains, the carpet, how tiny the chairs were. I could definitely feel the history surrounding me. It was an incredible feeling. Then, as we went into the Celestial room, it definitely does not compare to the sparkliness of the Vegas temple, but it was perfect all the same. It felt like I was in a "formal sitting room" that meant sooo much more than that! When I see rooms like that, I think of the old days, and I mean OLD days when people had balls (as in dances/balls). The Jane Austen days. Sitting rooms, and organized appropriate dancing, manners, etiquette. I think if it were to be sparkly like the Vegas temple it would take away from the romanticism that thrives there.

We made our way back out the revolving door and home by 1030. Yes, it was a long evening, but it was something we needed.