A Wonderful Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year. Santa sent Elena a letter telling her he knew she had been good, that his elves had made something special for her, and that she needed to remind Chanel to be good, too.

The Eve of Christmas Eve we went with our friends, The Olsen's to the Grand America to see the ABC's of Christmas window displays and at the end they gave us a cookie from La Bonne Vie. Then we went to Temple Square and dinner...thanks guys!

Then Christmas Eve we made gingerbread cookies for Santa and read the story of The Nativity.

The girls just before bed!






This is what Santa brought!

Christmas morning...Bug woke us up at 7! Then she woke up Chanellie and she could tell something excited was going on cause they both were very giddy for that early in the am.




On their way to see what Santa left:)

After playing with toys and opening presents, we visited family and opened more gifts. It was a wonderful Christmas. We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, too!

The Lights

For Family Home Evening we went to see the lights at Temple Square. I love this time of year and this is one of the traditions we have to keep. I am so excited that Elena is old enough to understand the reason that we celebrate Christmas is to remember the birth of Christ. Of course she is still so excited for Santa but while we were at Temple Square I was able to realize how much she really knew and understood about the birth of the Savior. I'm a proud momma!
(my photoshop knowledge isn't advanced enough to fix a poorly taken picture...so this is the pic you get:)



We had a fun Christmas party at my parents last weekend kicking it off with a birthday party for my dad. He turned 50! Not all of my sisters could be there and we missed them but we still had a good time with yummy food and great company!

A few quick family shots before opening presents.

Josh, Jess, and Kaden

The Nearly Empty Nesters-- Mom, Dad, and Dallen

Every year my hometown puts on a live Nativity. It is so neat because it takes place outside of town on a farm. They have Ceasar Agustus, Taxpayers, Merchants, Inns with the Innkeeper, Wisemen, Shepherds, and live animals. And of course a real little baby representing the Baby Jesus in a tiny stall. This year my dad was a Shepherd. It was fun to take the kids out and show them what it was really like that special night.

It's a Love Story

I've had a few friends post their love story on their blog and it's been fun to read how their happily ever after began, and since Austin and I just celebrated our 6th Anniversary on December 4th, I've decided now would be a good time to blog about our love story...
(Warning: This is a LONG Post!)


In July of 2004, Austin's brother and my cousin had just started dating and they both had talked about setting us up to double with them. I was a little hesitant to go on another "blind date" since the few previous ones had been a disaster and I wanted to take a break from the dating scene. I was finishing up work for the week and was getting ready to head out to meet my family for our annual Flaming Gorge trip the next day when my cousin called and asked if I wanted to go out with this guy and double with them that night. I was home alone by myself, had everything packed, and had nothing else to do the rest of the night, so I agreed. I met up with her at her sister's house in Nephi and waited for the guys to show up. They walked in the door and right away I thought this guy was good looking. He introduced himself to me and I could tell he was really shy. We then went over to his grandma's where he had been living (he had just moved to Nephi from AZ a few weeks prior so that he could work and get ready to start school at the U)and I was able to meet his sister, brother-in-law, and of course his grandma Lois. I have to point out that just as we arrived, I quickly told my cousin that I didn't even know this guys last name, she said "It's Brough, Austin Brough" and as soon as she said that I felt this tiny spark inside...sounds incredibly cheesy, I know, but little did I know that it was confirmation that this little "blind date" was a pretty big deal...anyway, back to the story. We all hung around just talking and setting off fireworks. Then we hung out in the garage playing music and the guys played their guitars. It was so much fun. All the recent dates I had been on, the guy had tried hard to impress, but being around Austin just totally being himself and laid back had won me over imediately. He was shy so I had to work hard to get him to talk much so I could get to know him but what I did learn was that there was something about him I already felt like I had known forever. We gave each other a hug at the end of the night and I tried to assure him that I had a fun time so that he would eventually ask me out again. He went on to tell his brother that he felt like he didn't have a chance with me, which I thought was so funny since he had already won me over. I went on my vacation the next few days and he was all I could think about. When I got home he called me up so that we could go out again. We were pretty much inseperable after that. Then on October 9th, we took a four-wheeler ride up the red cliffs near Nephi where he had laid out a blanket with his guitar and some sparkling cider and brownies. At first when I saw it set up I thought some hunter had left their crap lying around until I realized what it was. I was so impressed...and then, it happened...he pulled out his guitar and sang to me a song he had written to propose. The lyrics went like this:

Goodbye Gilbert Arizona

Hello Nephi Utah,

I think it's the best thing I've done

since I first yelled "Yee-haw:

I'll have to say lots has gone down

Since I moved to this hick town

I met a little country chick

And boy, what a pick

I was a nerd in high school

And never missed a math class

She was the head cheerleader

And she has a really nice butt

She has the most beautiful hazel eyes

That anyone has ever seen

Sometimes they match the blue of the sky

Other times they can be green

When she got back from Flaming Gorge

We hit it off just straight

It only took me two more dates

To know it had to be fate

Every night I thank the Lord

For sending me someone so perfect and sweet

Now I know the one of my dreams

Is a girl from North Sanpete

We've been dating for two months now

And there are some things I gotta say

Kara, I love you with all of my heart

Will you marry me someday?

So obviously I swooned and it took me a minute to say yes, but I did! We set the date for December 4, 2004. We were married in the Manti LDS Temple and it was one of the best days of my life!

Love you Gust-can't wait for eternity!

-A Tale of a Holiday Headache-

Our Thanksgiving Holiday was very relaxing and stress-free (at least for me anyway). We went to my parents for dinner and enjoyed visiting with family and eating really yummy food! Then we stopped by to visit Austin's parents. We decided to have them spend the night at our house so Austin and his dad could get up super early and hit up the Home Depot for Black Friday. After we put the girls to bed, we stayed up looking through all the Black Friday ads that had come in the paper. I really needed a new computer and Austin found an amazing deal at Best Buy. So he and his dad decided they better head out to get in line. They left at 12:30 since the store hands out tickets for items two hours prior to opening. Austin was worried that he wouldn't make it to Home Depot in time so his mom and I decided to load up the girls, drive by Best Buy to check on the guys, then headed to Home Depot at 3 am...yeah crazy, I know. I've NEVER been a fan of the Black Friday crowd or cared to stand in line in the freezing cold for a sale, but since Austin was doing that exact thing for me, I figured I could do it for him. When we got to home depot, there wasn't ANYONE around--including employees. The parking lot was empty. So we made sure we had enough gas to just idle for a few hours. The line started to form so I joined the 'too perky for that early in the morning shoppers' and waited for the store to open. Austin got the ticket for the computer we wanted and joined us at home depot since he wouldn't need to pick it up until later that morning. I guess the most stressful part was that I was in charge of getting what Austin needed and was worried I wouldn't be bold enough to put up a fight for what I needed...luckily it didn't come down to that. I'm soooo suprised at how nice and calm everyone was, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. And my wonderful children slept through the WHOLE thing! I'm just shocked we were even there in the first place!!! Later in the day after we rested up, Elena got to see santa at Tai Pan!

Family Photos-Fall 2010

We just recently had our family pictures taken...it was SOOOO windy, therefore; red cheeks, blue lips, and runny noses(and of course uncooperative hair!:) We still got some good ones! Thanks Jill!

~Lady A~

Austin's good friend B Jay hooked us up with some free tickets to see Lady Antebellum at the Rail Events Center. We have never been there...and it was SO FUN!!! The place was packed-standing room only. And of course I didn't wear comfortable shoes, so after dancing and standing for 3 hours, my feet were KILLING me...but it was so worth it! The opening act was a new country artist- David Nail. He was really good and his voice was soooo good live. I LOVED his opening song "Clouds". Beautiful.

Lady A definately know how to put on a good show. And I can't belive how good they were live, as well. They really interacted with the crowd and seemed to get so excited that the crowd new all the lyrics to their songs. Austin's favorite part was the encore when they sang several cover songs. It was an awesome show and a fun date night!

This is a video of "Need You Now". The crowd was singing louder than Lady A but you can still kind of hear them. Enjoy!

Eeek!!!

Our Halloween was so much fun and very eventful this year. Our Trick-or-Treating was rained out so we only stopped by a few houses but the girls were just excited to be able to wear their costumes. This year Austin and I had totally been occupied by other things and completely forgot to get a pumpkin to carve...I know, I know, we are terrible parents! So the night before Halloween at 9pm we drove around frantically looking to buy a pumpkin and the ONLY place that wasn't sold out of them was Harmon's(probablay cause they were charging .79 a pound!!!!) What!?! Our pumpkin ended up costing $13! Seriously. Then- when we got home to carve it, it was hard as a rock and our only option was to paint a face. Never again will we procrastinate getting a pumpkin! Elena still thought the face was cool!Then, since our theme this year was spiders, Elena helped me make spider-web cupcakes. We used food coloring to turn the cake batter orange, then used sparkly gel to create the webs. They turned out pretty yummy!

Our house was full of cobwebs and spider decorations!

Austin and I were punk rockers. I don't know why Austin didn't paint his face...he was planning on it but I guess he just didn't get around to it?:) Elena was a dragon and Chanel a spider.

We were visited by some VERY interesting creatures. Witches, Dracula, Frankenstein, Elmo, a Fireman, and a very energetic man with a cane. (Not sure what your official name was, Boompa:)

We also had a mummy friend stop by, but for some reason, he kept trying to get out the window!

A photo of our house on All Hallows Eve and some of our very dedicated Trick-or-Treaters braving the rain and cold.

The girls in their cute costumes. Even Chanel liked to wear hers!

I love this one because of Chanels face, hehe.We hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween!

I Love...

I've been thinking alot lately about how blessed I am and some of the things that I love in my life right now...

~A beautiful sunset.

~When I can hear the girls giggling at each other in the next room.

~Laughing for an hour when Austin makes up his own lyrics to a song.

~The excitement of starting a new DIY project and the relief of finally finishing it.

~Getting cozy during a thunderstorm.

~When my children discover something new, seeing their faces and experiencing it with them.

~The change of the seasons and decorating the house with the girls for each upcoming holiday.

~Creative craft ideas that come to me and actually turn out cute!

~ The sound of the ocean and the feeling of sand in my feet on a much needed getaway.

~The look Austin gives me when he knows exactly what I'm thinking...at any given moment.

~All of our "inside jokes" and never forgetting a single one.

~The feeling of how truly blessed I am.

What do you love?

-It's FALL!!!-

For Conference weekend, Austin had to work the first part so we weren't able to plan a getaway. Instead, after he got off work saturday night, we headed to Nephi to spend time with Nona and Boompa. Sunday we took a drive up Levan canyon. I was hoping to get some pictures of the girls in the fall leaves but we didn't really find a good spot...

...until four hours later when we made it all the way down Wales canyon and on our way back decided to ride up the loop a little way. The leaves were gorgeous!!!

The Brough family has a cabin up the Nebo Loop so we had to stop and check it out! It was little and quaint, perfect for fun get-togethers and family parties. And of course the surroundings were BEAUTIFUL!

Of course we had to look for some deer! Elena was just excited to use the binoculars. She had to use them to watch the fish jump in the pond.

Since the beginning of October, Nephi has turned into Halloween Town. All of the Businesses on Main have added ghostly gouls, witches, and other fun characters to the Main Street decor adding a fun spooky feel to the towns atmosphere. Elena was pretty nervous to sit and get pictures at first but obviously she warmed up pretty quick to the spooky townfolk:o)

It was a nice relaxing weekend being spiritually uplifted by conference and getting to spend time with family and seeing things we haven't been able to see for a while.