Krysta's Baby Shower

I threw a shower for my cute friend Krysta Crane last month. It was so easy because I had so many people help! Basically they made all the food (everyone knows I am not the best cook) and I organized and decorated (which is my favorite thing to do!)

Everything went so well!

And most importantly Krysta had the party she deserved.

The yummy food. Thanks ladies!

We played "pin the baseball on the boy"

Krysta Crane herself. I love this face.

We also played guess the candy bar smooched in the diaper...

I am grateful for such good girl friends out here.

Newest Project

My mom asked to see what I ended up doing with the old window frame I bought at Lucketts a couple of months ago. I first painted it green, but wasn't in love with it. Then...

I painted it black, distressed it so the green could come through a bit, then put inside the window panels the pictures that our good friends John and Melissa Smith took of us last November. It was a fun and easy little project. And now we have a place to display the pictures that we love (we will post some of the pictures John and Melissa took up on our blog once I get caught up in life!)

Stolen and Heartbroken

Lincoln and I decided this past summer that we wanted to save up for a nice camera. For more than six months we saved and I waited very patiently. We bought the camera for Christmas through Lincoln's sister since she works at Inkleys and could give us a one time major discount.

The camera (Nikon D90) was delivered to her apartment, and she was planning to get it to us.

But sadly, shortly after it was delivered to her apartment, someone broke into her house, went through all her things and stole not only her camera, but ours as well.

When she called us to tell us the news she was devastated and felt horrible for what happened. We were just happy that she was safe and ok.

It somehow makes it a little easier that we never actually saw the camera before it was stolen. But now, two weeks later I all the sudden got really heart broken about it.

Why do people have to steal things that are not theirs?

Dan Rather Reports...

Dan Rather came into our office today to interview the Congressman.

But the Congressman was running late so I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Mr. Rather to keep him company while we waited.

He was such a nice man!

He asked some questions about the Congressman and what he was working on right now. I let him know about a few major bills we are getting ready to introduce.

We talked about how expensive political campaigns are now-a-days, and how much better off America would be if we could just donate that money towards our national debt, or even give it to charity.

Then he began to ask me about my life. He asked if I have kids, and I said, "No, I have only been married about a year and a half." He replied, "That's plenty of time!" I laughed. (I can now add Dan Rather to our long list of those asking when we will have kids.)

We talked about Utah and my job. After a while he said, "You know, it is going to be you next sitting in the Congressman's spot. You should run for Congress some day. Does Utah have many women in political office?" I laughed at that one too and told him a little about some women who have held political offices in Utah.

I then asked him about his family. He talked about his children and how they love what they do. We both agreed about the importance of loving your job.

Then the Congressman came into the office and they started the interview.

It is days like this (and many others) that I really do love my job and the opportunities it has given me to enhance my life and learn from many wise individuals, such as Mr. Dan Rather.

Number 40: Be at Times Square on New Years Eve

Lincoln and I both have seperate lists of 100 things we want to do before we die. Number 40 on my list is to "be at Times Square on New Years Eve." This year, we decided we would check that one off the list.

Thanks to our wonderful friends Allison and Noah Riley, we were able to have a place to stay that night, plus a "home base" at their office, which was a block away from Times Square. It was great to go and warm up when we couldn't feel our toes after the hours of waiting outside.

View from Allison and Noah's office. Great location right?

These two are rock stars in the PR business.

Lincoln was really cold. Yes he did wear this. And yes he did embarrass me... slightly. At least until he bought a scarf.

We got to Times Square at 3:00pm and started the long wait!!

Just 7 hours, 28 minutes and 27 seconds to go!!

The Crowd

Yes, that sign says 6 hours to go!!

And that was after already waiting for 3 hours!

Luckily there was plenty of room to hang out and wait. NYC is amazing at crowd control. They split everyone into groups and then corralled us all in with gates. There was a lot more room than we had expected. People even brought mini chairs and DVD players.

It was cold. But we got free hats and chapstick from NIVEA.

We got pretty boared waiting, so we played CONNECT FOUR on Lincoln's blackberry for two hours. I LOVE that game!

MTV Stage. We were right by them most of the time.

And here comes the countdown to the ball

lifting ceremony that they have at 6pm!!

Yeah that is right, they have fireworks and a countdown to when they

LIFT the ball.

Then the concerts and party begins!

After 5 hours of waiting, and around 8pm it started to rain. Since we didn't have an umbrella and we knew that the Riley's had food and a bathroom in their office--and we could still catch a glimpse of Times Square, so we decided to leave our spot and head over to a warm place.

We ate yummy food and watched 30-Rock for a couple of hours. A little before midnight we ran back downstairs and down to Central Park, and celebrated the New Year with everyone. Then we got to see an amazing firework show that lasted almost a half hour!

Welcome 2010!!

Christmas in Utah 2009

Christmas Eve at Temple Square

On Christmas morning Ali found out that Santa gave her an EASY BAKE OVEN.

(that is what she wanted when she was 10... Santa was just a little late)

(I may or may not have already taken it back to Wal-Mart)

Lincoln got the Bible on Audio CD!!!

(We both about died laughing at our gifts Christmas morning)

My little brothers were happily playing with their new toys

EARLY Christmas morning (6am to be exact)

Christmas Dinner at the Abegg's

Shauna's birthday lunch with the Essigs

Essig Family Breakfast at Doug and Emey's

It was a great Christmas. Christmas Day was one of the best I can remember. As my mom said, there are some things about difficult years that make you really recognize and appreciate all your blessings around Christmas time.

And of course it was really nice to spend time with our families.

(Even though it was a bit stressful as all trips to Utah tend to be...Too many people to see, not enough time!)