Look What I Did

And before you start to think I'm really talented, I must confess I didn't actually make the gingerbread house, just decorate it. For a Young Women activity, my mom's Laurels decorated houses and I invited myself along since I love to do it. There is a lady in our ward who is a pro at making them and has even taught classes at candy making shops etc...She made all the houses and had so much fun food/candy for us to decorate with.



Front view of "Casa DelHoyo"



Side view --isn't the rock candy adorable???



All lit up. That's right, this lady leaves a little hole in the bottom so you can put a string of lights through it to light it up. It also makes the gingerbread smell permeate through the house. Our house is smelling really good right now.

Our Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a fantastic holiday weekend. Quinn was able to fly in on Wednesday night. Thursday, we enjoyed a fabulous meal with my family, Aunt Candy, Uncle Lance, Jantzen and Bonnie. My family hadn't been all together for a Thanksgiving in 6 years. It was a lot of fun and delicious too!



Here we are anticipating a delicious Thanksgiving meal.

Thursday night about 20 Arnett's headed out for the traditional post-meal movie. We saw Enchanted. Loved it!

Friday Quinn, Cameron, Jaxson and I went and picked out a Christmas tree. I think they boys didn't appreciate that I made them walk through the entire lot before we made a decision.

Saturday we had the opportunity to attend my friend Elise's dinner reception up in Sundance. So beautiful.



Here is the happy couple being announced as husband and wife!

At the reception, the original BFF's (Amy, Elise, Melissa and I) were all reunited (with our husbands).



Here is a pic of Amy and Melissa.

Oh, I forgot to mention that Friday, Quinn paid a visit to Lexi, my cousin and hair stylist extraordinaire. He went in for a trim and came out with his first hair coloring experience.




Can you tell? When the sun hits it, I love the depth that it has added. He says he wants to try to go even darker when he comes back over Christmas. I think I may have created a monster.

Today, sadly Quinn fly back to Dallas to begin school again tomorrow. But he only has three weeks to go and then he gets almost a full month break. Yeah!!

Where have I been?

Well, mainly sick and in bed. Oh, and I discovered this little device in the process. I have to say, it may have changed my life. After one day of cleansing three times, I noticed a significant improvement in my breathing capabilities.

Finally, today I can say I am all better. I can breathe, I'm not coughing nearly as much and I have my energy back. Just in time for Thanksgiving.

Lars and the Real Girl

Last night I met Kim and Emily at Jordan Commons to watch the movie Lars and the Real Girl.



The premise of the movie had piqued my curiousity and so we went. I was a little afraid going into the movie, but this movie was quirky, funny and in the end very heart-warming. I really enjoyed it. Check out the trailer below.

Day 2 of Fitness

Today the running part of the gym was less horrible then it was on Monday. Don't get me wrong, it was still horrible, just slightly less. But I have Dana's example to aspire to. She has worked up to running for 1 HOUR!!! I can't even imagine. But she loaned me her book with the training regimen that she credits for this feat so I am feeling a little more confident that I too can achieve something similar. For now I'm just happy to walk/run my two miles.

Next up, I must go purchase a snorkel so Lindsay and I can start our adventures in the lap pool. Good times!

Gratitude

Sunday during testimony a man bore his testimony regarding gratitude. He quoted the line from Sheryl Crowe's "Soak Up The Sun: --"It's not having what you want It's wanting what you've got." The basic premise of his testimony was that if we are not grateful for what we already have, how can we expect the Lord to bless us with more. His words have stuck with me over the last 24 hours. I think I've been so busy wanted to be blessed with certain things that I want, that I am neglecting being grateful for the things I have already been blessed with. I would like to go ahead and repent now.

I'm grateful for the following blessings in my life:

1. The love, companionship, support and understanding of my wonderful husband, Quinn. He has loved me absolutely unconditionally during a very difficult time.

2. The support of the Arnett and DelHoyo families, in particular, our parents. We could not have made it through the last year without them. Over the last 18 months, we have made a lot of important decisions and I've felt nothing but support from them. Their support has enabled Quinn to focus on school and for me to tackle the depression and other things that I've been dealing with lately.

3. My mother who has let me be "her particular companion" these last few months. It has made all the difference.

4. My father who gave me an early Christmas present and got me a gym membership because he knows that exercise will help to relieve the stress and help me feel better. And also because he wants me to be in shape for when Quinn and I have an opportunity to start a family.

5. Health. We've been sans health insurance for almost a year now and have been blessed to not have any major illness that would require expensive trips to doctors.

6. My friends who didn't give up on me. I'm thankful that they didn't desert me when I didn't return emails or phone calls.

7. My Savior, Jesus Christ. I know He walks beside me in this journey. However, I have not been the most faithful companion. I often leave Him and wonder off, but He has never left me and always welcomes me back with open arms. For this, I will be eternally grateful.

Joseph Transforming

I've been wanting to post video of Joseph doing his best Optimus Prime impersonation for Quinn to enjoy. After several tries, this was the best I could do. Sadie kept coming up to the camera and saying "cheese." She definitely knows how to pose for the camera.

Traditions

As a newly created family you have the opportunity to continue the traditions that you grew up with as well as creating new ones together. I'm really looking forward to being able to create our own DelHoyo family traditions. The other night I asked Quinn about which Christmas traditions that he grew up with did he most want to see continued with our own family in the coming years. Number 1 on his list was the advent calendar. He went on to say how much he loved the anticipation of counting down to Christmas and guessing which ornament everyone was going to pick to put on the calendar as well as who would get the honor of putting on the star. So tonight while I was out shopping with Lindsay for our cousin Meghan's bridal shower, I found the following advent calendar. Since it was relatively inexpensive I had to make it mine.



I think the possibilities are endless with all the little cubbies and I'm excited to come up with little things to fill the cubbies so Quinn for now--and our future kids--can still have the magic of the Christmas advent calendar.