Bundle of Joy!

We found out a few weeks ago that we are having a baby! We are so excited, and cannot believe it. We've seen a heartbeat on the monitor, and we have an appointment to hear it on Jan 13th. So far, morning sickness has me down for the count, but it will pass.

Christmas busy vs Christmas Happy

I'm making a goal this year to love every part of the Christmas season. I mean, I always love Christmas, but I often let myself get a little too bogged down with Christmas "to-do" lists. I am going to enjoy the things I do this year!!!

What Stood Shall Stand

I LOVE this arrangement. The song is about the hope of a resurrection, and I cry every time I hear it.

What Stood Will Stand
PAUL HALLEY (b.1952)

What stood will stand, though all be fallen,
The good return that time has stolen.
Though creatures groan in misery,
Their flesh prefigures liberty
To end travail and bring to birth
Their new perfection in new earth.
At word of that enlivening
Let the trees of the wood all sing
And every field rejoice. Let praise
Rise up out of the ground like grass.
Alleluiah! Alleluiah!

What stood, whole, in ev’ry piecemeal
Thing that stood, will stand though all fall.
Field and woods and all in them
Rejoin the primal Sabbath’s hymn. – Wendell Berry, from “Sabbaths”

Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum.
(And I look for the resurrection of the dead)
Et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen. Alleluia.
(And the life of the world to come. Amen. Alleluia.) – Nicene Creed

Finished product

Pumpkin Carving!

Pumpkin Patch

Pictures from Sleepy Hollow

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Last night we attended an outdoor community theater production of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," up in American Fork. It was way cute! I was surprised at how professional everything was -- it's just a little town amphitheater next to the Mt. Timp temple! The 13th was the last night, but they perform it every year -- I would totally recommend it.

I love the story -- this is why I'm a gothic studies major. I love Halloween, and all things creepy (well...not ALL things, but many). The play was fun and spooky, and Icabod Crane was hilarious. They even had a real horse and rider for the famous Headless Horseman scene. It was awesome.

The air was very cold, and since it was outdoors, we had to be all bundled up. We brought blankets, but forgot the hot cocoa, which was probably for the best since I got spooked a couple of times and totally would have spilled it on myself.

Also, as an "opener," they had the American Fork Children's Choir sing Halloween songs. SO ADORABLE! My favorite was Dorothy on the end -- she was very enthusiastic!

Aussie Indoctrination

I have discovered that I am obsessed with taking pictures. I'll probably be posting several of my little cousins, since I am also obsessed with babies! :)

This week, I took my cousins to a pumpkin patch -- they had a ball. Three of them are from Australia, and we recently found out that they do not celebrate Halloween there. Where I come from, that's a crime. They'll be indoctrinated soon enough -- no worries!

It's Autumn! :)

Fall is my favorite time of year. There is nothing better than walking outside and having the air crisp and cool, and I love seeing the leave change. It's nice being in a place where we get the four seasons!

That said, September has been that in-between month where we've tried to squeeze in the last few summer activities.

I thought I'd post a few pictures from berry picking with my little cousins. Enjoy!

Alexis Dancing!

Canada

During the last weekend of June, we visited beautiful Waterton Park in Southern Alberta. Meg's Uncle Frank and Grandma were kind enough to lend us the cabin for four days. Very picturesque -- we didn't even mind being without cell phone reception for the week (very nice, actually).

Canadian activities are not for those with low energy levels! We kayaked up the lake, hiked in the mountains, played tennis, biked, golfed, walked all over the place... we had a great time.

The picture to the right just about sums it up. Diana took this one when we were all asleep from kayaking exhaustion!