Christmas Time

We spent Christmas Eve with my family, like we do every year.  This year we went to Toad's in Ogden to play some mini golf.  Dave had to help me with my game.  I am absolutely terrible at mini golf (and all sports)  Dave did really well though.  He got two hole in ones which I can never do ha ha.  My whole family was able to come which was so nice.  We all took turns holding my niece so each person could take a turn playing, she was so good about it.

After playing some mini golf, Dave and our brother-in-law Mike played the arcades.  As you can tell shooting up aliens really made their day.  Dave's smile says it all.  They are so funny.

I also got to snuggle with my favorite kitty, Joe.  He is the best kitty snuggler ever!

One of the traditions we do on Christmas Eve is to make some type of eatable craft. This year we used peanut butter cups to make Christmas trees and then pipes green frosting on to them. The best part of this is to eat the goodies at the end 

I would say that Amber's tree was the best one made. She was able to pipe that frosting very well onto the peanut butter cups, thus making a very desirable eatable Christmas tree.

Temple Square

Last night Dave and I met my parents for dinner at Temple Square.  We had tried to get reservations for The Roof but they were already booked so we ended up going to The Garden.  Our table was right next to the window so we had a beautiful view of the temple and all of the Christmas lights.  It was so fun to be able to spend time with family.  

After dinner we went and walked around Temple Square and looked at the lights.  We also stopped by mine and my Mom's favorite part, the large nativity.  We stayed while the nativity story was told and then reminisced about years past when we have come to see the lights.  I'm so glad we were able to make it this year, it really helps us get in the Christmas spirit.  I am so grateful that the Savior was born and for all that he has done for me.  I know my happiness comes from having the gospel in my life. 

Nieces Ballet Recital

Every year our nieces have a ballet recital a couple weeks before Christmas.  Dave and I really enjoy going and supporting them.  They do so well and get so excited to have us there.  This year they did "The Wizard of Oz".  I would have to say that I think of all the years that we have been going, this year was my favorite.  Maybe it's just because I have always loved that show so it was fun to see it as a ballet but I really enjoyed it.  The girls did great, it is so fun to see how much they improve every year.  My nephew had to hop into the picture, he didn't want us taking a picture without him.

After the ballet we went back to my brother-in laws house and watched "Guardians of the Galaxy" and ate pizza.  My little buddy came and snuggled with me for a bit.  I love that!

Work Christmas Party

Every year Dave's work throws an amazing Christmas Party, this year was no different.  I am always surprised by all they do for their employees.  We had such a fun time sitting with Dave's friends that work in his lab.  They love to tease each other.  They are trying to get me to let Dave grow out his beard, which is never going to happen, no matter how manly they say he will look. 

We had a really fancy dinner, it was so delicious.  I don't usually like pork but it was really good.  They had put a yummy chutney sauce on it so I was sold.  After dinner came the entertainment.  David Osmond was the MC this year.  He performed a few songs and then a instrumental strings group called the Bellas performed.   After that they had an illusionist from Vegas put on a show for us.  It was fantastic!  I have watched Chris Angel and David Copperfield on TV and thought what they did was impossible but it was even more amazing to see a show like that in person.  The illusionist who performed was named Rick Thomas.  The things he did were unexplainable, it was so much fun to watch.  The illusions were he would cut the boxes and pull them apart when they had a person inside of them were unreal.  I think our favorite part though would have to be the end when he and an assistant levitated and he passed a ring around her to show that there were no strings.  I don't know how they did it but it was crazy!

Afternoon at the Museum

Dave's work is amazing and has passes to Thanksgiving Point for their employees to use, so a couple weeks ago we went with my best friend, Lindsey, and her family to the museum.  We had so much fun together.  I never feel like I get to see them enough.  They live an hour away from us so we don't get to see them as much as I would like.  Dave and I have been to the museum a few times now, but it never gets old.  I have always had this weird love of dinosaurs since I was little.  My parents used to take us to Dinosaur Land in Vernal when we were little and I just loved it.  I thought I was going to be a paleontologist when I grew up.  So needless to say I still have fun going and looking at dinosaur bones.  Dave and I both like the brontosaurus best.   Lindsey's kids were loving the area that has water and sand with toy dinosaurs so Lindsey and I got to catch up while Dave and Brian played with the kids in the water.  After the museum we tried a new restaurant in American Fork, The Wild Zucchini. It is like Cafe Rio only it is Italian food.  I had a salad and it was really delicious so I'm glad we tried it out.  

United for Adoption

Dave and I had the opportunity to attend United for Adoption's Second Annual Conference in November.  It was such a good experience and I am so glad we went.  It was so nice to meet and connect with people who are in our same situation and understand the ups and downs of the adoption process.  There were some really great classes and we learned so much.  We went to a class about communication and it just reinforced to me how much I want to have a good relationship with whoever becomes our birth mother.  A birth mother there talked about how talking to a birth mom was like talking to a human.  It was a funny thing to say but so true!  We all have fears and are in uncharted territory.  It was good to realize that she is probably just as nervous and scared as we are.  We also went to a class on positive parenting.  This was Dave's favorite class and I really enjoyed it as well.  The therapist teaching the class had actually been adopted when he was a teenager and it was so helpful to see things from a different perspective.  Lastly, we were able to attend a birth mother panel.  It was our first time attending one and it was so helpful to hear how things are from a birth mother's perspective.  Open adoption is amazing!  Adoption really is about love. 

Austin's Football Game

Last week we were able to go to our nephew's football game.  It was great to be able to watch him play.  His team has been doing really well and is going to be in the finals.  Austin plays center and is so much bigger than the other kids his age he has no problem tackling them.  He towers over them.  He is going to be a tall guy.  We love spending time with family.  While Austin was playing we chased around my younger niece and nephew.  They were being so funny.  They wanted me to roll them up in a blanket like a burrito and then they kept telling me, "Eat me, eat me".  They are adorable.

Austin's team won the game, so it was exciting to be able to celebrate with them.  So glad he is having fun.  After the game, we went back to Kelly and Katie's house and Dave's Mom came over.  It was nice to visit and play a bit more with the kids.  

"Dracula"- Desert Star Playhouse

To help get us in the Halloween mood, Dave and I went and saw "Dracula" at the Desert Star Playhouse.  It was a blast.  We laughed the whole way through.  At one point they were making a reference to Count Dracula on Sesame Street.  Dracula had a number 2 to hold up because he counted two doctors.  He then proceeded to go a little off script, which is always our favorite!  He asked one of the other cast members if they could discard of his big number two, then said "it has glitter all over it, that crap gets everywhere".  Dave and I were dying and the other cast member was giving a valiant effort at trying to keep it together.  It was a really fun night. 

Dave being silly.  I told him we had to redo this picture because it was rude of him to make that face.

Here is the redo.  Apparently he was in a silly mood...

Girl's Night

Every six months while the men are at the Priesthood session of General Conference the girls in my family get together to craft.  This has been such a fun tradition and I always look forward to it.  This year we painted and modge podged blocks that say fall.  I love how even though we all start out with the same blocks our finished crafts look so different from each other.  You can totally see each person's personality in their craft.  When the men get home from the Priesthood session we have a delicious treat.  This year we had chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream.  It was super yummy!  

"She Loves Me"- HCT

Well, Amber got me to do today's blog post... so who knows what will be written :) As you can see we went out on a good ol' fashion date. It was a good date because we both worked a half day and met up at lunch and had the rest of the day to be together. After lunch we had tickets for the the Hale Center Theatre to see "She Loves Me". The production was a musical and I've come to like musicals over the past few years, however, Amber has always been fond of them. The play was really good both in acting and song, and we both had a good laugh. The nice thing about this particular theatre is they have stadium seating and the stage in itself is able to move which allows to good prop and scene changes.

After the production we went to the Porters Place in Lehi, it was recommended to us by my twin brother. As you can see there is old Porter himself photo-bombing us. We both got burgers, but I was a little more adventurous since mine was made with an elk patty. We also got some good scones there too with some well prepared honey butter... one of Amber's favorites.

As always, time does fly by quickly when you're in good company and it was sure nice to get out with the wife and escape the typical day-to-day stuff for an afternoon. 

Bear Lake

Dave and I took off a few days in September for a little vacation and headed to Bear Lake.  Because it was after the normal season we had the lake to ourselves.  It was a beautiful day, the sun was out and the water was a vibrant color of blue.

We took our raft out onto the lake and just floated around and enjoyed the sunshine.  It was so relaxing.  It was nice to take a break from work and just be able to spend time together.  

We stayed at a hotel in Logan, and our first night there we ate at a little Italian place called LeNonne. It was so good.  It was a beautiful little home that they had turned into a restaurant so it had a really great ambiance.  I loved their bruschetta, it was delicious.  Dave had a seafood pasta which he really enjoyed.  It had clams, calamari, muscles, and shrimp.  He loves all that kind of stuff.  After, we returned to our hotel and warmed up in the hot tub.  It was a rainy night.  Then we grabbed a hot chocolate and watched "Clue" in our room.  I had never seen it before, neither had Dave.  It was really silly. 

Our last morning there we went to the duck pond at the mouth of Logan Canyon.  We tried to catch some fish but did not have any luck.  A couple of fish did take a bite, but they immediately spit out the lure.  So no fish for us.  Oh well, I'm not a big seafood fan anyway, not like Dave is.  

After going fishing we hiked to the Wind Tunnels.  They were aptly named, it was incredibly windy up there!  The formations in the rock from all of the wind was really interesting to see though.  It was also nice to get out and get a bit of exercise.  Dave and I had so much fun talking on the way to, and the way back from the tunnels.  We talked about our new house and all of our plans for decorating and for the yard.  We talked about where life has brought us, and all the things we are looking forward to in the future.  I loved being able to spend a few days with my best friend.

Demolition Derby

Dave and I went to our first Demolition Derby this summer.  We had so much fun!  I have been wanting to go to one for forever but tickets sell out so quickly we have never been able to make it in the past.  This year I made sure we bought tickets soon after they went on sale so that we would be able to make it.  It was so cute, Dave was so excited to go.  As we were walking to the fair grounds he told me, "I have been looking forward to this all day."  He was like a little kid, so excited.  Apparently boys never grow out of liking cars and destruction ha ha.  

There were some pretty awesome paint jobs, but I particularly like the Scooby Doo truck (on the left).  I thought it was so creative.  Everyone else seemed to like it too, it won best paint job.

This was one of the worst smash ups of the night.  They had to call everything to a halt to make sure the driver was okay.  It took them a while to get him out of the car but thankfully he was fine.  Dave and I had such a good time we want to go again next year too.  Maybe this will become a yearly thing for us.

Into the Woods-The Echo Theater

Dave and I went to see "Into the Woods" at the Echo Theater this past weekend.  It was our first time seeing a musical at The Echo, usually we go to see their Improv troup.  It was really fun.  My friend Jules and her husband own The Echo Theater and Jules was starring as The Baker's Wife so I wanted to see her.  She was fantastic, easily the best on the stage.  I had never seen "Into the Woods" before, it was not what I was expecting, talk about a sad ending, but I still really enjoyed it.  It definitely got Dave and I talking about what is important in life.  I love when a show that makes you stop and think.

They did a great job on the set.  I loved Rapunzel's tower made of books and all of the trees.

Jules and I after the show.  She did such a great job, I love watching her perform.  I am ready to come back for another show.  They will be doing "And then there were none" next year, which is one of my all time favorite murder mysteries, so I can't wait to see it live.

Work Pool Party

My work threw a summer party for staff and students last week.  We could bring a plus one so of course I brought my handsome man.  Dave likes to come and give my coworkers a hard time.  They all like when he comes because he is so easy to joke with.  It was fun to get to spend time with everyone outside of work.  We had hot dogs and everyone pitched in and brought salads and desserts. We were using the pool at Wolverine Crossing so some of the residents there came and joined our party.  At one point our students and some of the residents were having a dance off.  It was so fun to watch, we have some talented students.  

 

One of our students brought their new puppy.  I was dying.  She was so cute and fluffy I wanted to sneak her in my purse and take her home.  Her legs were so short she could hardly run, it was adorable.  She was so fun to play with.  Maybe someday we will get a puppy... 

Our Anniversay-7 Years Together

 For our Anniversary this year we went on a picnic up Hobble Creek Canyon at Jolley Ranch.  Our Anniversary landed on a Monday this year so we both took the day off from work to spend time together.  It was a perfect day to go to the park, we were the only ones there.  We stopped at Zubs on the way up and shared a sandwich when we got there.  It was so peaceful, the perfect summer day.  Just like our wedding day it was exceptionally hot.  It was fun to reminisce about our wedding day and what we were doing at that exact moment seven years ago.  I am so glad Dave and I found each other, he is my perfect match in every way.  After going on our picnic we had planned to go to the art museum in Springville.  Unfortunately, when we arrived we discovered that the museum is closed on Mondays.  Who would have though?  So instead Dave took me shopping.  Seriously, he is too good to me.  A girl will never say no to going shopping.

 

After spending the afternoon shopping we went out to dinner at Magleby's in Springville.  Dave and I discovered Magleby's a few years ago on a New Years Eve.  They had all you can eat crab legs and prime rib, some of Dave's favorites so we were hooked.  It is now one of our favorite places to go.  And while Dave enjoys the all you can eat crab legs I can't leave with out getting a slice of their delicious chocolate cake covered in raspberries and vanilla bean ice cream.  It is so good. It was fantastic to spend the day together.  So glad I get to spend eternity with this guy!

4th of July 2014

 For the 4th of July this year we celebrated with Dave's family.  We had a BBQ together and almost everyone was able to come.  It was so fun to get together and to laugh and have fun with each other.  We grilled hamburgers and enjoyed seven layer bean dip (a Jensen family tradition for the 4th). 

After enjoying the BBQ we went to Layton City's fireworks.  I have no idea why but I love fighting the crowds and laying out a blanket to watch the fireworks.  It is so fun to have our nieces and nephews around and spend time chatting with family. 

Amber's Birthday 2014

For my birthday this year we went to the zoo.  They just opened the Savannah exhibit and I wanted to go see it.  I would have to say my favorite part was the seals and the otters.  They were so playful!

My parents came with us and then took us to lunch after.  So glad they could come.

Here is Dave being silly.

And more of Dave being silly :)

Dave's Birthday 2014

For Dave's birthday this year we went to the new aquarium in Draper.  It was really nice.  They did a great job, I love having things like this not far from home.  When we first got there we went and watched them feed the sharks.  We thought it would be a feeding frenzy but the sharks did not seem too excited.  The sting rays on the other hand were all about stealing their fish.

After the sharks, we watched the penguins get fed.  They are so adorable.  They were swimming like crazy trying to get as many fish as they could.  Then they jumped out of the water so they could be hand fed.  I love their little waddles. 

Here is Dave being silly like usual.  He always keeps me laughing.

The Saturday after Dave's birthday we went out to dinner with his Mom and our sister in-law Katie and her kids.  We went to The Pie, it was delicious.  It had been years since we had been there.

Just outside of the restaurant was a wading pool.  Dave was kept very busy trying to keep Aiden from diving in.  He really loves the water.

After playing in the wading pool we went to Katie's house for birthday cake.  Aiden helped Dave blow out the candles.