Crunch Time

NOTE: (I know it is now nearly winter, but when I started this post, it was still fall)

My favorite time of the year. Autumn puts me in a mood where I want to create. Plus, you get to wear scarves.

The beauty of Autumn 2012 in Utah met, if not exceeded my expectations. If I could bottle it up and carry this season around in my pocket all the time, I would. I love all seasons, winter included, but something about fall just feels so precious and rare. It is is kind of like the excitement I get every time I see a vibrant rainbow, or hear/feel a boom of thunder that shakes the earth. It's unique and exciting, and Mother Nature is just doing her thing. If you don't enjoy it fast enough, it is gone in the blink of an eye, so you just have to soak it all in while it lasts. Fall is a season of reflection and appreciation, and one that I get excited for every year.

Despite the negativity of the entire 2012 Presidential Election, this fall was enjoyable. Below are some pictures Vance and I took in September, from a hike we enjoyed in Logan with our sister-in-law, Tereza. I was in colorful heaven, and collected at least 2 dozen leaves which I pressed and need to turn into bookmarks at some point.

Below are a few highlights of the months of September, October, and November:

Ladies night with the in-laws (Live session of Relief Sociey Broadcast  in SLC).

Vance and I just being silly. 

Walked into Gap and noticed the mannequin was my twinner.

Vance and I celebrated our 2nd Anniversary! Time flies when you're having fun with your best friend. This year we spent 2 nights at The Raddison Hotel in Salt Lake. We shopped at the Gateway, enjoyed a comedy show at Trolley Square, devoured an AMAZING dinner at Z'Tejas, and of course, went to a haunted house. Nothing says romance quite like getting chased by insane clowns and rabid zombies!

Can you tell Vance didn't know where the camera was? ;)

I got Vance a gift card to Dick's Sporting Goods (he's been eyeing all sorts of loot ever since the store near our house opened up, so I figured he could just find something he liked there.) Vance's gift to me was Snow White and the Huntsman on Blu-Ray. The movie didn't get very good ratings, but when we saw it in the theaters, I LOVED it. I watched the trailer months before it came out, and could hardly wait to watch it in theater. I thought the music, mood, and especially the graphics were masterfully done, and loved how dark and eery the tale was told. The entire film was total eye candy. I'm glad I own it now, and have a feeling it will be my "go-to" movie when I wanna snuggle on the couch on dreary days.

We had a fun Halloween. October is just about my favorite month, after all. I decorated our apartment, made lots of pumpkin bread, season 3 of The Walking Dead started back up, and we had some fun Halloween movie nights with our neighbors. A new personal favorite? ParaNorman. It is cute, hilarious, AND scary!

Halloween craft I made this year.

Batman and Catwoman at a family Halloween Party. Vance even won best costume at his work Halloween party, and his prize was movie tickets, which we used to see the new James Bond movie. Which, of course, was awesome!

Work Halloween Party at the The Pizza Pie Cafe. I was Minnie.

We voted! (and lost, but oh well....life goes on)

I ran a 5k! Yes, me :) 

The 5k was called The Provo Escape, and the object of the race was to outrun the fast zombies.

Vance survived!

However, Peggy and I were not so lucky...

V and I sporting our different shirts.

We enjoyed 2 sets of Thanksgiving feasts- one with my family, and one with his. As always, the food was amazing and the company was great. And don't worry, I fell into a food coma after both sets of meals, and the pie just about sent me over the edge. Love this time of year! There is so much to be grateful for, and November is a great time of year to count your blessings. I truly am so happy with life and love all the people in it.

The Perks of Working From Home

The perks of working from home   
I only need to wake up or get out of bed 30 seconds before I show up to work. I stay in my pajamas and need not wear make-up or do my hair.

The downfall of working from home  
I look like this:

My husband is one lucky man.

Summer Re-Cap

Before I can allow myself to express in great detail just how excited I am that October (my favorite month) is here, I feel as though I should quickly recap the events that took over the course of the summer months (other than what I've already discussed).

Starting with...............

I opened my time capsule I made in the 4th grade, with my 2 life-long best friends Lindsey and Alicia! I found it in my parents basement, wiped off the dust, and pulled out the can opener.

We were all in Mrs. Kinsel's 4th grade class when it was Utah's Centennial. Lindsey, Alicia, and I and vowed we would open them together someday, and that someday was this summer!  Every student in the school made a time capsule, or sealed up a bunch of memories that were relevant to us at that time in our life. We even made predictions about the future. Best of all, I had a sealed, hand written letter from my mom, waiting for me 16 and 1/2 years after it was written. In the letter, there was  a photo of Lindsey, Alicia, and I. I nearly cried when I saw it! (I'll post it up soon).

Alicia made a delicious picnic lunch for us (I wish I had taken photos of her hard work!), and we ate on the playground of our elementary school. We laughed so much, and it was a happy, reminiscent day.

We each have our own separate lives, but we'll always be there for each other. 

Vance and I went to the Manti Pageant with the members of our Singles Ward and the bishopric. It was beautiful! 

Bishopric wives!

The wives and Vance, no he's not a polygamist! 

After the Jazz lost in the playoffs, Vance started cheering for the Oklahoma City Thunder. We went out to eat one evening when the Thunder were playing, and Vance took the writing on the bottom of the water glass as a sign that the Thunder would win that night. Sadly, they lost, haha.

It's hard to see, but it says it was made in OKC..

We enjoyed a picnic dinner and leisure hike up Bridal Veil Falls with some friends...

Were guests at a pretty wedding reception....

 Hosted a sleepover for these cuties...

Enjoyed an annual Happy 4th of July with the DeCastro Family...

Nephew Cael :) 

Nephew Bronson :)

Sweet Coraline :) 

The Fam Damily (Except for Scott and Ter)

Painted ceramics at Color-Me-Mine, just for fun. You can't tell, but mine is a pink elephant. Vance painted a gecko that looks like the Gieco gecko....

BBQed on our patio a time or 2....

 Enjoyed a double rainbow at a local baseball game...

Said goodbye to Vance's little bro who left on his mission to Missouri. Good luck Elder Brown!

Enjoyed the Heber Derby with my BFF Lindsey and her husband Mike....

I had just received a horrible hair cut job on my bangs. Don't judge :) 

Acted like a daredevil on the zipline!

Come on in, the water is great!

I surprised Vance with tickets to the ultimate metal concert of the summer! Iron Maiden (and our second time seeing Coheed and Cambria together).

Instagram at it's finest

Vance with one of his besties, Blakus

Cowboyed it up at the Heber Rodeo, again with Lindsey and Mike.

Watched many a sunset....

Celebrated my turning 26! (I'm getting old...)

Made cool T-shirts at Neen Camp! (Vance's mom throws an overnight camp at her place for the little kids in their family)

Vance's is the very middle one

Anni's is the very middle one as well :)

Went to Swiss Days with the fam. My brother Scott and his wife Tereza joined us, all the way from the Czech Republic! Okay, so that wasn't the real reason they flew out here, but it was awesome non-the-less.

And last but certainly not least, we had one last summer BBQ hurrah before Scott flew back to the Czech Republic.

Also, Vance and I were released from our one year calling in the Singles Ward. It was bitter sweet. We loved the bishopric, and all of the amazing people we got to meet and work with in our callings. It was a life changing, life building experience for us that we are so grateful we were able to have. 

I don't know how my face was the only one that managed to become blurry, but I love this picture of everyone. It captures how goofy and fun we all really were together. This was taken at the wedding of one of the girl's (love you Kristen!), who got married just after we were released.  Left to right: Brother (Bob) Richards, Sister (Kim) Richards, Brother Brown (Vance), Sister Brown (me!), Bishop (Rob) Brems, and Sister (Laurie) Brems.

Whew! That's it, I'm all caught up with the summer folks :) Feels good!