It's Halloween already!?

                                     The Big Bad Wolf & Little Red Riding Hood
                                            MY!...What big teeth you have!

                 Out of the hundreds of people, Jake was the only one with a giant mask, it was pretty funny!  Watching him dance was hilarious, poor guy couldn't even see where he was going.

                                              Ooops repeat. Sorry!
                          Big Bad and Little Red out on the back porch.  This house was pretty amazing.
                                         Water break from dancing!
                The Boys: Jake, Kyle (Barney Rubble), and Chris (Mexican)
                                Chris' wife Jen was Border Patrol...so fun!

So Jake and I went to a Halloween Party Friday night.  This millionaire guy asked Kyle's girlfriend Lindy to plan a party for him at his beautiful house behind the capitol.  I doubt he even knew anyone at his own house!  But hey, we got to party at a mansion and see some crazy costumes so I was glad he did it!  I was stoked to go dressed up with Jake because we haven't ever done that in the past.  He was The Big Bad Wolf and I was Little Red Riding Hood.  Haha Jake's costume makes me fall down laughing every time he wears it!  That mask and gloves were at Savers, as well as the nighty.   

Let me tell ya, it has been a while since we have been to a party like this.  It was the typical party with a DJ/dancing, and everything else you would expect.  It was a blast and I think we stayed out later than we have in a while! It was way cool to be up above the Capitol and look out over the city! 

I really have started to love Halloween.  Not only the holiday/costumes/pumpkin carving/candy.  But it also brings a great time of year.  I love the leaves, the crisp air, and the impending feeling of Christmas.  Everything is so cozy and warm.  It seems like in our second year of marriage we have more time to prepare for holidays.  Maybe because we are completely settled.  No matter the reason, I am lovin it!

Tagged!...Serious Stuff, in no particular order

8 Things I am Passionate About:

1. My marriage/husband and all that emcompasses

2. The gospel/my calling (Beehive Advisor)

3. Family

4. Friends

5. Teaching kindergartners

6. Running

7. Being healthy

8. Learning and progressing in everything I am involved in, from being a wife to being a teacher to just plain being me!

8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die/Wish List:

1. Have children/work hard to be an excellent mother and wife (working on it!)

2. Go to Ecuador/Peru with Jake

3. Skydive (you and me Ashley!)

4. Teach my children to love the gospel

5. PSYCH! (inside joke)

6. Take Jake to NY (everyone needs that experience!)

7. Have a really cute home with a cute porch and backyard (I don't really care if it is a cute backyard :-)

8. Stay healthy and fit...run my whole life (haha I will be one of those nasty wrinkly grandmas running my critchety body down Holladay Blvd)

8 Things I have Learned in My Life:

1. You are most happy when you are serving/helping others

2. Be kind to everyone you meet and interact with.  View them at their full potential and think highly and positively about them..and treat them that way!

3. Forgive always, and quickly. Do not hold grudges.

4. Be patient

5. Enjoy the journey! No matter how much you look forward to the next thing (graduating/marriage/kids) you need to enjoy life at the present and enjoy your journey!

6. Develop solid Hope/Faith

7. THINK about all possibilities to solve a problem (I am honestly retarded when it comes to common sense solutions)-- and no I still can't do this.  I think I am mentally slow.

8. Laugh and be goofy every day!

8 Things I Currently Want/Need:

1. The "Party Shake" (chocolate ice cream with Recees Peanutbutter Cups and cookie dough)-want

2. More time in the day -need

3. A teaching license -want

4. A car that is not the Jetta -want

5. Jake to be done with school -want

6. Someone else to fill out the 44 report cards that I have to do -need!

7. More dinner recipes! -need (any help here ladies?!)

8. Long hair again -want

8 Places I Want to See/Visit:

1. Oregon/Washington Coast

2. Ecuador/Peru (Jake's mission and the other is a long story)

3. Mexico again, and lots of times

4. Hawaii

5. New York again

6. Virginia

7. Somewhere in Europe (Jake wants to go someday)

8. Ummmm I guess just random little trips all around this region (Moab, Zion, Cali)

8 Favorite Restaurants:

1. Robintinos

2. Red Iguana

3. Macaroni Grill

4. Morelia

5. Biaggis

6. Spencer's

7. Yogurt Stop..yes that qualifies as a restaurant!

8. Porcupine

8 TV Shows I Can't Live Without:

1. The news (after producing it, you just can't really kick the habit of watching it everyday)

2. The Office

3. The Hills

4. Good Things Utah (when I am off track)..I know I know, guilty pleasure

5. Seinfeld

6. Rob and Big

7. The Office

8. The Office

8 Things I Look Forward To:

1. Seeing Jake after work

2. Going home from work on Fridays (it's the beginning of the best part of the week!)

3. The holiday season

4. Having kids!

5. Vacation to Mexico

6. Owning a home someday

7. Seeing my mom, dad, and sister

8. The high I get from running (mostly after)

8 People I Tag: (sorry if you have already done it, just don't do it again)

Meg

Kat

Chels

Courtney

Ali

Brittani

Tori

Angie

 

Aahh the Memories...

  This is where you go to wait for the rain to stop so you can take pics!
I was looking at some pictures and came across these... I cannot believe this was over a year and a half ago! That day was surreal.  There is my sweet sweet dad, all dressed up.  I love him!  And yes it was POURING, nay...HAILING when we came out of the temple.  Jake's dad says it's a sign of good luck. I have no choice but to agree, since Jake and I as happy as can be.  But honestly when we stepped out onto those steps, I saw the weather and didn't even care.  I just felt so terrible for our "fans" standing in the freezing temps waiting to see us.  And in case you  are wondering, it costs over $100 to get a muddy wedding dress dry cleaned.  Thank you mother!

OH and PS Yes I am wearing pink flip flops.

I Love Fall!

Isn't this one of the best times of the year?  I just love fall.  Jake and I drove up to Guardsman's Pass on Sunday and WOW it was breathtaking.  I have never seen such gleaming gold leaves!  It was drizzling on and off too, and the smell of rain mixed with mountain fall air made me feel so good!  It was that same feeling I get when Jake tickles my back whenever we are sitting next to each other.  I am so mad we didn't bring our camera but we will be back up there soon.  

Also, this is such a fun date idea:  Last night Jake and I went to the Zoo after hours.  My mom had tickets for us.  We got there at 7:15 right when it was getting dark.  It was SO fun!  The Zoo is totally creepy at night.  We got to see all the animals, mostly in the dark.   It was weird because we were the only ones there and the animals were eating dinner and going to sleep. (There was some conference and BBQ there for the Health Association, and everyone was at the BBQ, so Jake and I were the only ones walking around to see the animals) So it was just me and Jake and these huge animals just enjoying each other's presence.  Jake and I were running around like kids!  Seriously we had a blast.  The gorillas were falling asleep against the glass and we looked them straight in the eye.  This experience was really cool; we realized how peaceful these animals really are.  They sleep, love, and play just like us!  The Zoo is a totally different (and thrilling) place in the dark!  Thanks mom, for such a fun date for Jake and I during the week!!

As I walk to my classroom each morning, I pass the gym.  Well, I know it's October but the kids choir is practicing christmas songs!  That's right, I get to hear children voices singing christmas songs.  Some may think this is totally annoying, but I really love it.  Not only is is Christmas songs, but they are kid's voices!  It really gets me excited for the next few months.

Anyways, Jake and I are just chugging along in life, agreeing it goes way too fast.  I cannot believe we have been married 17 months.  I couldn't ask for anything better than to live/eat/sleep/play with my best friend.  I honestly don't know what I would do without him.  I don't even want to talk about it so I won't.  

But I will say (this is out of nowhere..just popped into my head) I am still amazed and so happy that I got baptized!  I LOVE all my friends who were preparing me starting way back in elementary/middle/high school for November 19, 2005 (the day I got dunked).  You may not have known it then, but you were preparing me for that important decision!!  You know who you are!  You are a huge part in all my conversion talks, you each have a special place in my heart (and testimony) and I love you all.  I can never say thank you enough.