Greatest Gift Ever

I usually don't get too hung up on telling everyone how great and how much I love my husband on our blog.... but today is an exception.

Me and Brett aren't into buying lots of stuff for each other, but rather do fun things together. For our anniversary this year (it was in June) Brett didn't have a present but said he was having something made for me- a jewelry box (and he really stressed it was no ordinary jewelry box).

Well months turned into months and every now and again he would promise me someday I would have my present. To be honest I had actually kindof forgotten about it until he came home last weekend with it- AND IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT!

Brett talked a guy who has only made a few of these to make me one (he said it took months of coaxing because it takes a long time and he didn't want to build it). It took him over 60 hours and has over 72 pieces involved. It took Brett over 7 hours to finish it. It is the best gift anyone has ever given me by far and will definitely be something we hand down to our kids.

It is wormy maple and Brett did a clear finish with a little tint. Its almost two feet tall and is very heavy. My pictures don't do it justice, you have to see it to appreciate it.

This is with all the parts open. The top opens, the middle opens and is for my necklaces, and the bottom opens also

Just the top part open


All the detail

Thanks to Brett, I love him so much and feel very lucky to be with someone so awesome.

My New Thing...

For Anyone who knows me, I'm always thinking of new things to do, learn, read, etc. I feel like I always have to have a project or I'll go crazy. I'm currently taking a photography and advanced photoshop class (in hopes of someday being a professional photographer), finally finished my latest book (it took me about 2 months), started/came up with a really promising company/venture (but kinda gave it up after seeing the time involved and my job changed) earlier this year. It sometimes feels that Im always go, go, do, go (definitely comes from my family).

I have also been reading that some of my friends have been doing 1/2 marathons.... and now I want to do one also. I used to love working out and used to be in way good shape.... then came Brett. As my love did for him.... so did my waistline- and it hasn't stopped. Well that's (hopefully) over. I am learning the hardest thing about getting in shape is the DECISION to actually do it. I have been at the gym everyday for several weeks and am getting in better shape and my goal for 2010 is a 1/2 marathon (No date in particular, but hopefully somewhere in the spring?) I will keep you posted (hopefully that I've put that out there it will come true and I won't give up).

Anyway, another new goal is to try a new recipe each week. We both love to cook, but get limited with choices. My sister Becky is a great cook so I get a lot of recipes from her (so I will cheat because some of "MY" recipes are some that I actually get from her- but she never updates her blogs sooo....at least I will give her credit). I will post blogs from time to time on the good ones. And you must know if they are good they must be easy to make (cause that's how I roll...)

So to begin.... I have the BEST recipe for chili- and its actually somewhat healthy (this came from Becky).

HEARTY GROUND TURKEY CHILI

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 large white onion, finely diced

1 lb ground turkey

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 fresh ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon Lawry's garlic salt with parsely

4 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1 14 oz can chicken broth

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 small can tomato paste

3 cans beans of choice drained (I use chili beans, black beans, and pinto beans)

1 teaspoon tabasco hot sauce

3 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoons ground cumin

Heat oil into a large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat. Saute onion until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in turkey, salt, pepper and garlic salt; cook until browned and no longer pink. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, beans, hot sauce, chili powder and cumin. Reduce heat to low and simmer until ready to serve.

Serve with cornbread muffins (or whatever).

UMMMM, this is a big hit at our house, and takes no time to cook.

Halloween party

Mom had her annual Halloween/Pumpkin party and it was a lot of fun.

Reece is a bumble bee

Lorrie, Brian, and Brittany

Teryn

Maycee (she insisted that she NOT smile for the pictures because witches don't smile)

Becky and Reece

Boring us, we didn't dress up.

OH BROTHER!!!!!- It looks like Oreo might be staying a while. Brett made him a little shelter for the winter. He was only supposed to be at our house a little while to eat our weeds......

Green River

Last weekend was our final camping trip of the year and of course we went down by Green River (the BEST place to go). Brett had to stay home and take care of sick horses, so I went with my family and stayed with Bryan and Daniele (thanks guys). We had SOOO much fun. I was bummed because I had to work and didn't get there until Friday, so I missed a lot of the fun- oh well, there's always next year.

Little Reece

Me, Reece, Becky, Mom, and Teryn. This was Becky and the girls' first trip to Green River and I think they really liked it. Becky took their Ranger and did really good driving (considering some of the places we go)

Yep, like this place- among others

Waiting to get up a tricky spot

This is such a pretty place to go, there are sand dunes and slick rock- a little of everything!

Becky did great driving down the hill

All the Fox girls that were there.

Sunset from our camp

Dinner and roasting marshmallows Friday night.

Can't wait until next spring to start camping again, we have had a blast this year!

Random Pictures

It has been nice to slow down a bit this month.... Brett has been watching a lot of football and loving it! We have some fun things coming up in the next little bit and will post a lot of pictures.

Wanna travel????? ME TOO! I just barely got my passport and I am so excited.... now I wish I had lots of money to go somewhere!

We are going to Cancun for Christmas (actually leaving on the 23rd)- we are so excited! I have never spent Christmas away from home, and have never been to Cancun, so we're looking forward to it.

I have been off work quite a bit this month (Dr's been hunting), and have seen a few Rachael Ray's shows- she had this really yummy looking French Onion Soup I just had to try and make. Well.... 2.5 hrs later it didn't quite taste like Im sure hers did. (maybe I didn't "carmelize" my onions correctly (not even sure what that means!!!)

We have been golfing at Gladstan in Payson a few times and it is so pretty up there- I love it. This is looking north as a storm was coming in

Us at the Golf course

I recently joined some friends for Indian food (Bombay House) for the first time. I was very nervous I wasn't going to find something I would like, but I found a really great dish and loved it. Brett said he was certain I shouldn't bring home leftovers, but I did and he liked it too. We will definitely be going back.

Heather, Taylor, and Steph

Me, Amanda, and Brandy

Me and Brett's Birthdays are pretty close and Brett's parents got us a joint present... PATIO FURNITURE!!! Because it looks so good and it is starting to get colder outside we just set it up inside are are really LOVING it!!! It matches our floor perfectly- Thanks to the Christensen family, they are the best!

We recently went 4-wheeling around Genola in the mountains, here is the view of Genola from the top! We are really loving it here.

Well, that's about it.... for now anyway!

Camping again

We went camping again last weekend down by Manti and Sterling. Brett has been fishing a lot this year so that's been fun for him. I'm not much of a 'fisher', so I just usually hang out.

My perfect family

Brett and Brett with some of their fish they caught.

We went to three different places to fish, but only one of the places had a lot of fish.


Us at Ferron reservoir they day it rained very hard.

Brett fishing

We are starting to wind down and hopefully will be spending more time at home- it seems like we're always gone doing something.

I have updated our blog a little with Lake Powell pics.

Labor Day Lake Powell trip

We went to Lake Powell for Labor Day with my family for the last trip of the year. It was really fun and there is another post after this of our hike.

Me and Lorrie

Brett and Bryan fishing in their new "fishing" boat

Brett with his only fish he caught.

Us in the paddle boat

Lake Powell is the best

Brett went scuba diving to find "Big Red". (the jet ski that sunk last trip)

Us

Brett getting ropes ready

Me and Lacy

Look at my next post for pics of the hike at Lake Powell.