Festival of Trees

Last week we went with some of our friends to the Festival of Trees. If you don't know what that is, it is a big huge convention center filled with hundreds or really cool crazy decorated trees. Then people buy the trees for lots of money and all the money made goes to some sort of Charity. So for a few days they have the trees on display for people to go see. The Hicks family introduced me to it 3 years ago and I have gone every year since. We also went to Pei Wei! YUM

First Christmas

This is our first Christmas season as a new family. And this is our first Christmas Tree!

And Matt hanging our first ornament.

Dana is getting MARRIED!

My cousin Dana spent a lot of time at our house growing up. My sister and I were able to become really close with her. I am happy to say she has found a great guy to spend her life with.

Over Thanksgiving weekend we were able to through her a bridal shower. It was fun to get together with the family that was able to be there.

Let's Go Jazz!

Matt finally bought his first Jazz shirt. Yay.

A couple weeks ago we had a lucky day. First we got a call from our Jazz Rep asking if we wanted to upgrade for FREE to a box seat to the Trailblazers game on Nov. 28th. Then Matt got a text from a guy in our ward saying he had an extra ticket to the BYU vs Utah game. It was the same day as my cousin Dana's bridal shower. So while I was having a good time with the Ladies in the family, Matt took my grandpa to meet my uncle Mike and go for a ride in his 4 person plane. He said it was really great! Then when he was on his way home I got a text asking if I wanted my friends extra ticket to the BYU game. So we went to the BYU game that was very very exciting! BYU won in a close game. Then right after that we headed to sit in our box seats at the Jazz game. Usually I wear my jazz apparel to the games but that day I wore my BYU shirt because there are lots of hard core Utah fans that go to the Jazz games. :) It was fun... Sorry Dad.

This is the Jazz vs Bulls game that was on thanksgiving. Matt wore a Bulls coat because he likes the Bulls because he served his mission in Chicago and because of Michael Jordan. But he cheered for the jazz most the time anyway.

This picture if from our seats. They are pretty far up, but I love it anyway!

I am the X-Factor!

Torch Relay

As many of you know, because I sent out emails for donations, I participated in a 5k walk for the Children's Miracle Network. There were over 400 people that participated in raising money. The cool thing about this event is that all the money went to the local children's hospital. So for here in went to LDS Children's Hospital. The event was great we all got matching t shirts and walked though the streets of down town Salt Lake. At the end there was a big event with donated food and activities. It was really rewarding to know that it was for a great cause and thanks so much for everyone that donated.

Another Season

Another NBA basketball season has started. WooHoo Go Jazz!

October

Sorry its been so long but here is what we were up to in October.

Every year in the fall I love to drive the Alpine Loop because the trees are so beautiful

when the leaves change. So we drove the Alpine Loop and stopped to take some pictures.

I also really love Halloween. It is just such a fun time of year.

Of course we had to carve pumpkins and dress up for Halloween.

As you can see Matt and I were Mario and Peach. We hosted a

Halloween party at my Hotel.

Hogle Zoo

This weekend Brandy came to visit us. Friday night we had dinner with my Dad, Val and Syd and we picked our Jazz tickets. Then we went and met some friends in Provo Canyon and camped. Matt Brandy and I all shared the Aero Bed. Then finally Saturday we went to the Hogle Zoo to see the new baby elephant.

There was also a baby giraffe you can see there in the back ground



Then we ended our fun weekend with Sunday dinner at my Aunt Pam's with the cousins! What a great weekend!

Flow Rider

This was Matt's favorite thing to do this summer. Here are some pictures of him and some of our friends riding.

Weekend getaway!

The end of August we decided to take a quick weekend trip to Las Vegas. I got a great deal that the Marriott Vacation Club that is right on the strip called the Grand Chateau. This first picture is a view from the top of our hotel. It was also nice to stay in a Marriott because it is probably the only hotel in Vegas that doesn't have a casino or that does not allow smoking.

The Venetian Hotel

Caesar's Palace

M&M factory

The Bellagio



Paris

breakfast @ Paris

We pretty much did all the free stuff that there is to do in Vegas and it was so much fun! It was perfect for a quick weekend getaway.