a sunday stroll.

Today after dinner, Zac and I took a walk around our neighborhood in the perfect early fall weather. Upon walking, we saw so many funny things, like kids running around on the roof of their house, and an old gentleman riding his three-wheeled bicycle. 

Orem's trees haven't quite changed for fall yet, but the weather is getting cooler and cooler by the day. On the way back to our apartment, I saw a front porch decked out in police tape, pumpkins, and hanging skeletons, all ready for Halloween. I can't believe tomorrow is October. Halloween is so soon, and I'm so ready for the holidays to begin.

Happy Sunday! 

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our third first date.

Last night we drove up the canyon to Sundance and rode the ski lift under the big, bright moon, like we did two years ago on our first date. We've made it into some sort of annual tradition, and I'm excited to keep it going with our kids.

Those two years ago, we arrived in our thin jackets, and held onto each other the whole ride, partly because it was freezing, and partly because we had a thing for each other. Zac asked me to be his girlfriend on the ski lift that night (which I said no to, because I was waiting for a missionary, but then said yes about a week later).

This time around, we bundled up and wore thermals under our pants, coats on top of jackets, scarves, and hats, and also brought some hot cocoa to drink as we made our way up that big mountain. It was still pretty cold. :)

Riding that ski lift last night made me feel like we were still just 20 and 22 years old, on our first date. The sights were the same, and we cuddled up the same way we did that first night. I love being married to this man.

Our first date, September 23, 2010.

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tuesday.

It seems like, since Autumn started, the weather knew just what to do, because this whole week has been in the chilly 50's and 60's, and it's done nothing but rain.

But I'm not complaining. I love the rain, and the storm clouds, and the chilly weather that makes you want to put some warm socks on.

Today was a beautiful fall day.

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fall bits + pieces.

Tonight we opened all the windows just as the rain started to fall outside on the trees and the sidewalk. It smelt like crisp, chilly, Autumn air, and felt just as nice. When it started to get dark, Zac and I sat on the couch and played the Newlywed Game for Family Home Evening (he won). 

Earlier, when we had just gotten home from work, Zac surprised me with flowers and a box of one of my favorites: Bottle Caps. In return, I made him a dinner of mushroom soup--one of the best fall soups, if you ask me.

By the time the sun was completely down, we started to make these cookies for a nighttime treat, all the while listening to Bon Iver and The Format. I willingly admit to eating at least five cookies already. 

Nothing really beats a great night in the Fall time with good food and the one you love.

(And when your "nice" pictures don't turn out, take stupid pictures of yourself instead.)

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chalk the block.

Zac and I headed up to the Shops at Riverwoods yesterday to see the chalk art in the parking lots there. When we went, I thought it was going to be little doodles made of sidewalk chalk. Nope, I was wrong. Once there, I learned that actual artists used pastels to create masterpieces! It was quite astounding. Above are some of my favorites.

We also walked around and saw all the booths with produce, handmade hair clips and tutus (ugh), and jewelry. We came home without spending a dime, and I was pretty impressed.

Next year, I really want to enter this Chalk the Block thing! It looks like it would be pretty fun.

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happy first day of autumn!

I woke up this morning before it was light outside, and looked out our bedroom window at the dark skies. It looked like it was stormy, and I felt pretty cozy snuggled up to my Zac.

It's officially autumn, my very favorite season of the year (which I share with so many of you--yay!). Today we plan to be outside for the majority of the day going to a fair up Provo Canyon, and a concert later tonight in the heart of Provo. 

It's also time to start shopping for fall clothes, right? :) It's a good thing I have a few girl friends for that.

For each season, I like to make a list of things to do. The Autumn Frolic List goes like this:

• Try to find our way out of a corn maze on a dark, October night.
• Visit all the witches at Gardner Village.
• Shop for Halloween costumes.
• Pick the best pumpkins from a pumpkin patch, and carve them.
• Pick some Gala apples from an orchard and make apple sauce and homemade apple crisp.
• Make our home look scary.
• Spend Conference Weekend at the Swensons' cabin.
• Go on a ski lift ride under the full moon (like we did for our first date!).
• Get some goods at the Farmer's Market.
• Go on an Autumn hike.
• Rake up some colored leaves and jump in them.
• Throw the best Halloween party ever.
• Make donuts, cookies, caramel apples and every other Halloween treat imaginable.
• Pick out some new records for our record player.

Happy Autumn!

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life lately.

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on being lds.

I saw this article today, and it got me thinking about my faith and everything so wonderful about it. You know, these days the LDS religion is beaten down and torn apart by people who don't really know how great it is. And yes, they may be going off of logic when they say that our religion is fake, but they don't realize that miracles happen (even today), and that every milestone that our religion was founded upon was, in fact, a miracle. Logic is good--so good. But sometimes faith is better. And that's what these people are missing.

All I can say is, You go, Brandon Flowers!

The church is true.

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bernz is married!

My bass player/roommate got herself married on Friday night. Everyone, meet Erica, and her husband, Wes. We call Erica "Bernz" around these parts, and Wes is just Wes. I've known Bernz since we were 16 (that's 6 years, people). We were in a high school band together, and she was my most recent college roommate until a month before I got married.

Bernz and I, we met our husbands on the same day. On September 8, 2010, as Bernz and I were riding the shuttle home from school, she complimented a guy on his shirt. This guy's name was Wes. On the way home, she told me how hot she thought he was, and that night, we made plans to visit him in Building A where he told her he lived. For dinner, Bernz made pasta, and I made caramel corn for dessert (that I totally messed up). After dinner, Bernz, Rachel and I walked all the way down to Building A, caramel corn in hand, and knocked on Wes's door.

Wes was in his room playing video games, and his roommate was there watching him play. We walked in and greeted them both. As Bernz was discretely checking out Wes, my eye was caught by the roommate and his thick-rimmed glasses. Little did I know that the roommate was my future husband.

After that, we all (Wes, Erica, me, Zac, Rachel, and sometimes Ryan and Nick) hung out every night and watched youtube videos, went to BYU campus to listen to music, went to museums and to the gas stations to get drinks. Soon enough, Bernz and I had boyfriends! And now, as of Friday, we've made husbands out of those boyfriends, and I could not be more happy!

Did I mention that Bernz and I now have the same last name? Apparently Zac and Wes are distant cousins, or something, which makes me and Bernz sisters, I think.

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the best day ever!

Today was one of them. Because...

...I went to the dentist this morning, and had absolutely no cavities. Not one.

...I listened to the radio on the way to work and back, and it almost felt like I was listening to Christmas music.

...I went to Hobby Lobby to buy a glass canister with my 40% off coupon, and they all ended up being on sale for 50% off, so I bought lots, and they're really pretty.

...Last night Zac and I had a talk and figured out what we'll do with our life in the next two or three years (and we totally changed plans, but we feel that it's right). Today we take the first step.

...I ate a microwaved cheese quesadilla when I got home from work today, and thought about my sweet husband (that's his snack of choice, besides pretzels and nutella).

...I found this awesome picture taken two years ago (from tomorrow) of me, Zac, Erica, and Wes the week we met. Notice our four-way spooning session. And yes, we are holding spoons. (Also admire how fat I was back then. You know it's a good picture when you still like it even after that.)

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