THANKFUL

Has it seriously been 3 weeks since I last updated? I remember a time when that was a sin. Now...I just don't care. Much has been going on which has left little time for blogging. However, with only a few more weeks of 2009 left I feel I need to get one more post in. This will be a post with more pictures than words, but let's not lie to each other...that's really how we like it, right?!

I have had much to be thankful for in the last 3 weeks, which I will recap. But, first as I reminisce about 2009 I would feel very ungrateful if I didn't mention the two most important things in my life. Both of which my testimony was strengthened of this past year.

I am THANKFUL for my Savior. I have always had a testimony, however my testimony of his love and his awareness of my needs has significantly increased this year. Because of this change I would go through any trial again. This relationship is priceless to me. One that I know will continue to grow. I am THANKFUL for my wonderful, sweet, loving, hardworking husband who continues to make me laugh day in and day out. I love him more and more with each passing day. 2009 has brought many trials for us, but it has also brought many blessings. Because we had to sacrifice for each other and rely on each other we have grow deeper and deeper in love. I would have never imagined that everything we have gone through together would have brought about a love so big, a love so strong. I love that I married my best friend and that I can spend eternity with him.

I am THANKFUL that BYU beat the Utes.
I am THANKFUL for the Event Staff guy in section ii who shook his "grove thing" and kept us entertained during the entire football season. Especially gave us something to smile about during the Florida State and TCU games. I bet this kid tears up the floor at church dances.

(I purposely cut his head out of this picture to preserve his identity)

I am THANKFUL for Temples. We are so lucky to have so many close by that we can sometimes venture to other ones around the state.

(Us at the Jordan River Temple)

I am THANKFUL that I have a husband who likes to eat as much as I do and likes to try new things.

Lamb's Grill in SLC. Food Bucket List item. Suggested food item was the Lentil soup. Not to shabby. Actually really good. The rest of the food was just ok. Service was fast...but that might have been because we told our waitress that we were in a hurry (worried about car getting towed). Atmosphere reminded me of the BlueBird in Logan.

I am THANKFUL for the waitress at the Lamb's Grill who took our picture with "Santa" in front of the Christmas Tree TWICE. (I have a blinking problem).

I am THANKFUL for Thanksgiving. We had a great day with Clayton's family. Good food. Good family. What more could you ask for!?! (Seriously not sure why my camera happy fingers did not take a SINGLE picture this day.)

I am THANKFUL for the lights at Temple Square. Beautiful!

I am THANKFUL for Grandma Spencer for giving me her awesome...I mean AWESOME Indian Nativity set. It is displayed proudly on top of our TV stand. I might cry more when I take it down than when I take the Christmas Tree down. Eat your heart out Candy!!!

I am also THANKFUL for this same sweet Grandma who gives us Swiss Colony cakes each year at Christmas time. I would have posted a picture of them like I was planning, but last Friday night we devoured all of them in the span of 3 minutes. The link for Swiss Colony and all their deliciousness is here.

I am THANKFUL for Tin Angel (another Food Bucket List place) who feed us wonderful food (including Pumpkin Hazelnut soup and Carmel Apple Bread Pudding) in the cutest little atmosphere. However, I wasn't thrilled with the price vs. food quantity ratio. Overall we gave it a 7.

I am THANKFUL for a Grandma (yes the same one that was mentioned two times above) that puts in so much work each year for her Christmas Party. Always turns out to be a success.

I am THANKFUL that Kace didn't kill anyone as he tried to hit the pinata.

I am THANKFUL that Ty didn't poke Clayton's eye out with his blow thingy.

I am also THANKFUL that Grandma changed the date of the Christmas Party this year so Clayton and I could be there. Wouldn't feel like Christmas without the Spencer Christmas Party. Thanks Gram. We love you.

I am THANKFUL that I drew Kami's gift. However I'm still wondering where the 3rd HO is. As in what Santa says not the hooker. Don't be getting all Tiger Woods on me.

I am THANKFUL for Santa.

I have so much to be THANKFUL for!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!!

LIFE IS GOOD

Life is GOOD!
yes, yes it is!

BYU 26

U of U 23

WE EAT FOOD

Welcome to another addition of "What did Clayton and Heidi eat this weekend"

Our first stop was the BYU vs. Air Force game where we partook of the Cougar Tail (is that one word or two???). We enjoyed dipping our breaded donut of wonderfulness in hot chocolate while watching the ref's call penalties on BYU for "intentions to deceive." Huh? What? Seriously? Interesting. Luckily our cougar tail was much better than the refs calls. BYU won 38-21. Oh and in case you are wondering we snuck our hot chocolate into the game. There was no way I was going to pay $6 for 8oz of hot chocolate. That stuff better be pure gold.

Our next stop was Moochie's in SLC. Unbeknownst to us we were in Utah Ute territory. It was our first time to this sandwich joint where they specialize in an awesome Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich and a glorious Meatball Sandwich. Moochie's was also on our food bucket list and the only downfall was the abundance of Utah Ute fans. Clayton covered his hat up so that they wouldn't spit in our sandwich while they were making it. I'm all about loud and proud for my team, but I'm not about eating someones big 'ol loogie for dinner. sick.


We gave Moochie's a 10. Service was mucho fast. Got our food in about 2.5 minutes after they closed the cash registrar on our payment.

Oh and all those who want to see part of the food bucket list I have added it to the sidebar under "Crap we like, or things we love..."

Had to add this picture in for fun.

Isn't it precious <insert somewhat mocking, somewhat serious tone>

PUMPKIN BLOW

1. stabbing

2. ripping of unborn babies (seeds) from their still warm bodies.

3. lighting their insides on fire

4. displaying their tortured bodies for all the neighbors to see

Just when you thought the persecution of pumpkins had ended...

you realized how wrong you were.

Saturday we headed out to Weston, ID for our friend Jessie's family's pumpkin blow. Apparently this is a tradition that gets bigger every year. I can't believe how many people were there. I'm goin' to guesstimate and say there were close to 208 people in attendance.

Basically they pile a ton of pumpkins (ours were the deflated-carved-charred ones in the top picture) on top of dynamite. Then the "chosen one" (this year was Jessie's brother...next year Jess YOU need to fight for the spot) shoots a gun at the pile of pumpkins causing the dynamite to explode which in turn causes pumpkin pieces to hurl their torn bodies at the "innocent" spectators. It. Was. Awesome.

Pumpkin was everywhere! Clayton and I went down to the scene of the crime to check out the hole left by the dynamite.

Check out the video on Mike and Jessie's blog here

(NOTE: this video, although amazing does not do the experience justice)

Thanks guys! We will be back next year!

HALLOWEEN

New Year,

Same Tradition

but before all the pumpkin/carving/gasoline/fire hype, I present unto you ...

Mr. Grim Reaper and Mr. Dragon (and don't you dare try to call him a Dinosaur...made that mistake at least 8 or 9 times).

These little guys came trick-or-treating to us on Friday night. Not sure if it was them or Brandon who depleted our candy supply, but had to buy more "goods" the next day. Thanks for coming to our house guys!!!

Victims

Surgery.
I'm so original and carve the same pumpkin year after year after year after...
Clayton thinks it looks like Grand Pumpkin from the Simpson's Treehouse of Horror episode a few years back.
Traditional "pumpkin as a head picture pose"
or ... "Heidi hasn't washed her hair in 3 days and doesn't want to show her grease monkey head to the www picture pose".
The goods!
can you see the excitement in his eyes? He was born to burn pumpkins!

Light 'er up

The GRAND finale!

Burn baby burn.

Naturally (and/or sadly) almost a week later and I am still recovering from my sugar high. However, Halloween did bring about some new tasty treats (besides the fun-sized kind). We decided to have a pumpkin theme and made pumpkin oatmeal muffins (very healthy and because of that very b-l-a-n-d) and pumpkin smoothie (freaking awesome! Seriously!!!). We also made beef stew in the crockpot for the first time (thank you Brenda!) and may I say...SUCCESS!

CALIFORNIA

ok so get ready for picture overload. You will soon realize that I'm not kidding.

Our BYU away game/family vacation this year was to southern California to watch BYU play SDSU. The first night was pretty rough (delayed flights, car rental problems, hungry family=impatient family, etc). After we sorted through the car rental problems (only got one HHR this year - SCORE) we stopped by the San Diego Temple where some of us did sealings and others did baptisms. Clayton and I have done ordinance work here before and believe you me inside is just as beautiful the second time around. I love this Temple. I also loved doing sealings with my family. It was pretty special. CLAYTON: Humidity makes me feel chubby.

CORTNEY: Humidity makes me feel sexy.

Oh yes he did! Here is the picture to prove it. Ladies last time I checked he was still single. Our hotel was in Oceanside, super nice and right on the beach. Can't ask for anything better than that. On Friday, everyone but Clayton, Cort, and myself went to Sea World. Yes we are the party poopers (who are poor). Cort went to visit a mission friend while Clayton and I hit up (what else) the beach.

Later we met up with everyone at La Jolla Coves where we saw these... ... and lots of these. The boys (Cort, Brandon, and Clayton) pondering how they were so lucky to have me as a sister/wife. They must have done something right in their previous life.

One of my goals on this trip was to convert the family to the "overly mentioned, but definitely not mentioned enough on this blog" YogurtLand. This mission was a SUCCESS! They loved it! I couldn't have been happier. They loved it so much that we went everyday. I hope that when I get a franchise in Utah you all will come support me.

Clayton need to use the restroom at YogurtLand and come to find out you have to pay to go to the bathroom. Strange...

After YogurtLand some of us hit the pool/hot tub. Kace found new love in my goggles. Stunning isn't he!?!

The next day we hit the beach. Kace loved running away from the waves.

Clayton loved burying Brandon in the sand making him look like a mermaid. Pretty sure Brandon loved being a mermaid...

Clayton took down Brandon and then...

...Cortney.

Don't you just love the flailing arms!?!

Rachel and Kace played some volleyball

The whole fam (except mom and dad who were stuck in a stupid meeting).

After the beach and before the game we hit up YogurtLand again.

Us at Qualcomm Stadium

The fam watching the game.

Which by the way BYU won. Wasn't a pretty win, but I'll take any win from them these days.

Next morning we headed home. sigh...

THANKS MOM AND DAD FOR A GREAT TRIP.

BRING ON FLORIDA STATE/BYU 2010!