Our Christmas Card

Okay, so we actually didn't make a Christmas Card--didn't even think about making a Christmas Card. You can pretend that we sent some of these pictures to you!!!!





And of course our Christmas Card would include how we are doing! Dave and I have had a wonderful year. We went to Brazil, Lake Powell, and Zions. Dave has been teaching seminary at Amiddle school and loves teaching 9th graders--they are quirky and immature, but they don't feel like they are too cool for seminary yet. Dave has loved to learn from them. The past 4 months I taught 2 classes at BYU (which was awesome) and taught 4 classes for my sisters' studio (which was also awesome). This next semester I will still be teaching the same classes at my sisters' studio, but I'll be teaching 3 classes at BYU, and substitute teaching seminary. I am looking forward to the experiences I'll have! We hope that you (whoever might read this blog) are doing wonderfully well. Merry Christmas!

One of My Favorite Things

My best friends pre-marriage, and their wives. Dave and I had so much fun going to dinner and catching up with them--one of my favorite things we did during the month of October.

How Much Can You Do in a Weekend?

Dave's Fall Break was at the beginning of October. We had wanted to make our trip to Zion's longer but was only able to fit in one day because of all of the other things we already had planned that weekend. We drove down to Zion's Wednesday night, slept in our car and were on to our adventures Thursday morning.

 

 

That night we went to Tuachan and saw Aida. They did an excellent job.



(they didn't have an Aida board and I learned from my sister that you can't pass these up!)

Friday morning we played with my niece and nephew at a park in St. George area called the "dizzy" park. It was a blast. I have never seen a park like this. Dave may have had more fun than the kids. We then did sealings at the St. George temple. And ate at Brickoven in St. George. (Dave loves Brickoven and was excited to eat there.) We then drove back to Utah Valley and attended the BYU vs. Utah State football game.



After the game Friday night we drove to my parents house to spend the night.

Saturday we watched conference at my parents with a special visit from our good friends. Sunday we went to Dave's house and watched conference, ate a delicious meal, and had family pictures taken. Conference was wonderful. I appreciated all of the talks on receiving spiritual revelation and on loving others!

It was a fun weekend, but not very relaxing. I don't think we've relaxed on any vacation that we took. Even our honeymoon we were on a cruise but we ended up going on shore every day to go kayaking or biking or something! Oh well. We get to do and see a lot.

One Year

So it has been one year since we've lived in our townhome. When we first moved in everything was green! From the walls, ceilings, doors, and trim (well, the trim had been painted over with cream in some area--and poorly done at that!). So we spent the first 4 months painting EVERYTHING! Here are some before and after pictures. You can see the green in the pictures--not a bad green, but it was every where. We are slowly trying to put finishing touches in each of the rooms. It has been fun to play house.

 

 

Summer

Time flies by when you are having fun. Dave and I have had a lot of fun this summer. Here are just a few things.

After Dave and I got back from Brazil the beginning of July we were able to spend some good quality time with family for the 4th of July, as well as with the Jonas Brothers at the Stadium of Fire. (Ok, we didn't actually spend one-on-one time with them, but I think all of the people around us felt like they were best friends with the Jonas Brothers.) It was nice to be back in America to celebrate how much we love this wonderful country and all of it's freedoms.

My Grandpa Layton's health had been getting worse and worse. When Dave and I came home from Brazil we were amazed at how much he had changed. Within a couple of weeks, we were told he wasn't expected to live much longer. Dave and I went to Bountiful to visit him in the care center he'd been in for the past month.



We were so grateful that we went that night. He struggled to make sounds as he was trying to talk. We could understand very little of what he was saying. Some of things we did understand were his "good, boy" as we sang to him. It was a very special moment for both me and Dave. That was Thursday night and Grandpa died in the middle of the night of Friday. I have loved all of the time that I was able to spend with my grandparents. I used to go to their home twice a week and play the piano for them. My time spent with them was precious. We will miss grandpa but he'd been wanting to "go" for a while!

Conveniently enough, a Layton reunion was planned for the next weekend. The reunion turned into an opportunity for almost all of his grandkids to be at his funeral. We had a wonderful time remembering grandpa, doing service projects, playing games and singing! It waw wonderful to be witht the whole family. Here are some pictures of the group: grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins and kids.



And Mom and Dad's Family (aka my siblings and their kids)



It was a neat experience to be all together again and remember our grandpa.

The end of July Dave and I went to Lake Powell with his family! We were there Monday night through Saturday night. It was awesome. Dave's parents rented an RV so we had protection from the afternoon storms. We slept in tents, had campfires with smores and starbursts, and of course we boated. I had only been to Lake Powell a couple of times before so I didn't remember much about it. I remembered boating, camping, and getting sunburned. I didn't remember the absolutely incredible scenery. It was just as much fun to go explore the different canyons as it was to wakeboard or tube. We had an absolute blast. Thanks Mom and Dad!











We also sold this...



Dave got this...



(He got in a fight with a 5 year old little girl...you should've seen her!)

And finally we have officially been in our little townhome for a year! (Next post will be pictures of all the fixing up we've done). It has been a great summer.

Mormon Messages

So, I have never really taken the time to look at the Church's new efforts with Mormon Messages on Youtube. I guess I felt like didn't really need them. The other day was kind of rough on me, so Dave suggested I watch a couple of these Mormon Messages (he's been watching all of them recently to use in his seminary lessons). This one in particular really touched me. I was grateful for it and wanted to share with everyone else. I am so grateful for my knowledge of the gospel. It strengthens and comforts me more than anything else has power to do.

Dave's Mission in Brazil!

 

 

 

Iguacu Falls

 

 

SIGHTSEEING IN BRAZIL!!!

Much over due, but finally here. We took a ton of pictures so I tried to condense it a bit and have it easier to see what's going on. We absolutely loved our trip to Brazil. The people there, friends and strangers, are incredibly charitable. We hope to be able to go back soon!

 

 

 

 

Preview of Trip...

I don't have time right now, but hopefully tomorrow I will post about our Brazil trip. However, I told A friend that I would post within the day and times a tickin' so here's a preview.


Iguacu Falls

There are so many more pictures to come.

Catch Up!

This is what I have to do in my journal all the time too. But I have been having problems with my computer and camera. They are not cooperating. But I have got it figured out so...here it is. All that has been happening in the last month.

We went camping with some of the childless couples from our ward. It was fun to get to know these great couples better. Let's be honest you see people as their true selves when your camping.


Part of the Gang.


Dave's excited face. He'd go camping all the time if it weren't for my desire to be clean.


Beautiful weather.


The morning after.

End of May--Goodbye Timpview

Seeing that I was not going to teach at Timpview next year I had to take some pictures to remember my Dance Company and my classroom where I have been working the last 2 and a half years.


Me and Dave and the girls. Dave and I are really going to miss the wonderful frienships that we have made with my Dance Company. They are all incredible girls.


As you can see, they don't lack personality.


In October, the Dance Company went to New York and Dave was able to come with us. When we saw Mary Poppins the girls wanted to see Dave do the Supercalifragilistics...dance. Seven months later they were still trying to get him to do it. The girls call Dave, Papa Dave.

Timpview HIgh School Studio A (Timpview is amazing. There are 3 dance studios--one for my dance classes, one for the ballroom dance classes, and an extra one, because let's be honest who doesn't need an extra studio!


My office.


My classroom! (See the long line of mirrors, I had those put in this past year--it was the best thing I did with the departments money!)




My sad face.



End of May--Playing "KUB"

I might have spelled the name of the game wrong, but it doesn't mean that I don't love this game. The game was introduced to us by Devin who served his mission in Sweden. It is a Viking game and I love it. Devin and Mare are gone for the summer so we had on last hurrah before they left. What better way to seal our friendship than by playing a few games of "KUB."


The cool team.


The enemies!


The winning "shot." (Actually we lost 2 of the 3 games, but this picture makes us look good!)


The crew. Devin and Mare are wonderful! We will miss having them around this summer. But they left a legacy with me and Dave...they gave us our own game of "KUB"!!!!! I almost cried I was so happy. Thank you Devin and Mare. Good luck on your adventures.

Meanwhile, Dave and I are going to practice so we can beat you when you get back. Anyone want to play!?