This one is for Pinhead

This blog post is for Jessica Pinhead.

Friends since we were in the womb.

I love and miss you dearly.

Meet our amazing pup, Sobi.

James served his mission in Ukraine

and always wanted to name a dog Sobaka,

which mean dog in Ukrainian.

So we are calling our dog, dog...

July 2010

James and I in beautiful St. Lucia, August 2010

Bowling with the family at Christmas, December 2010

Breakfast with one of the most incredible

men this world has known, Doug Campbell.

Snowshoeing with the Clissolds, December 2010

My niece, Molli's first birthday...

My amazing sisters created a Molli Moo Cow Party.

Too cute!

Hello...everyone. Whenever I find myself blogging I constantly feel the need for an introduction because it has been so long since the last post. I also have tried not to look at blogs as much because they make me sad, wishing I had a baby... but after reading Brooklyn's blog today I thought I will blog for me. I constantly see funny things throughout the day and think to myself, I would love to share that with people. Or want to show off a fancy meal I made, a fun project I did, or show off my cute husband and dog. Silly, perhaps, but as many have said, it is a great way to remember what I have done and for one who remembers nothing this will be great.

New Crib

Here it is... the photos are not the greatest, James has been too busy to help me take some good ones so I decided I would try, but you get the idea. It is very small but we LOVE it! It is amazing what nice carpet and being able to hang pictures will do for you. So far I really like Henderson. It is a nice area and there are a lot of good people. Just going to the store people are nice and friendly. Perhaps that is only because I have Sobi in my hands.

Another huge plus is that we have every store I would need to go to in a 5-10 mile radius. I use to have to drive 30 minutes from the Avenues to get anywhere. Not any more!

Our ward is awesome, same with the stake. We had stake conference on Sunday and it was wonderful. Such a wonderful spirit. I look forward to meeting all the wonderful saints down here. There are a lot.

Call me silly but I didn't think to much about the heat when I thought of us moving to Vegas. Can you say HOT!!! I went on a bike ride the other day, we left at 6:30 to try and beat the heat, didn't work when we arrived to the place we were going to ride at 7:00 AM... it was 96 degrees. That is madness. I know I complain now but come October, November...DECEMBER. You are all going to be wishing you were here with my beside our pool sipping on a dc with lemon or are you a lime? Although I love the snow. Just trying to make you jealous. Working?

I have had a nice two weeks off. Here is a day for me in my new place. I try to wake up with James at 6 or 7 am and make James breakfast, consisting of a box of cereal, milk, bowl and spoon...complicating I know, and a lunch for the day. See you at 6-7 tonight. Then Sobi and I play for a little bit and watch the Today Show. Good show but too many commercials. Sometimes go on a walk around the complex but it is hard to do with the heat. I joined 24 hour fitness which is 1 minute away from my house. I go to the 9 o'clock class which ranges from weight lifting to Zumba cycling or yoga. They are great classes! It is nice to be able to work out again. Let me quickly give a shout out to Zumba. If you haven't done it I think you should. If you can do as my instructor suggested and put your ego in the back seat then you will love it. I know I looked like a total fool but there were several times I just wanted to start freaking out to the good beats she had playing. So after the work out I shower and get ready for the day. Then run errands with Sobi, if he can come. We got kicked out of Target our first day here...I had a bad taste in my mouth but because I love Target as much as I do, I suppose I will go back. Then we come home and watch some tv or read our puppy training book or eat, pray, love. I am stuck in the India portion and can't seem to get out of it. I love her writing and wish I had her talent. Maybe in another life! Then we take a nap which are truly a glorious thing. Sobi and I take them together, well not in the same place because he likes to bite my flesh more then sleep but at the same time. We then find things to do around the house and start making dinner. I love cooking. It has been so nice to be able to make James dinners. I will be the first to say I did not do this at home. Usually because we were never there. Also because we didn't have AC and the kitchen was as hot as it is down here. I was wanting to keep a list of the meals I have made so all of you can see them too...

Meatloaf, au gratin potatoes, green beans

Coconut Curry Chicken, grape and orange salad

Portobello mushroom, eggplant sandwich, fresh strawberries

Balsamic Chicken, green beans, focaccia, poppy seed cake with fresh strawberries

Roast beef, goat cheese salad, grapes and strawberries, focaccia

Tonight...not sure yet. Probably a Mexican Dish I got from Erin. Thanks! I will let you know how it goes.

So there you have it. As for the rest of this week, my mom and hopefully my sister, Rach, are coming down. We are going to have a total blast. I am going to make them go to Zumba, the Hoover Dam, maybe see a show, the outlets, and eat lots of treats... Anyone have any other suggestions? Let me know.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

VIVA LAS VEGAS

Viva Las Vegas!!! So tonight is our last night in Salt Lake City... a bittersweet feeling. I have absolutely loved living in the avenues. I would recommend this place to everyone. It is so diverse and so many great homes and fun local restaurants such as Sawadee, Cucina, Wine Grape (we never actually went there but I hear it is great). It is also so close to down town without the "I hate the city" feeling you might get. I continue to tell James I would love to move back here after our law school adventure. That was a long tangent, we are moving to Vegas because James is attending UNLV's Law School. I am so excited for him. As for me I think I will be nannying for a family but would love to try and get a teaching job down there. I am going to miss my job as much as anything. Because of the move I am wanting to be better about blogging and making my life public to the world... no not really just to family and friends and blog stalkers of course. Please join us on our journey to Sin City!!!

what is up

so i have been getting some flack about not having an "up to date" blog. so here is the update. . . nothing is really new. sorry for those of you that are blogging like crazy. we are not, and we probably never will.

in the mean time go check out www.dreamphotodesign.com

i have updated the site. it is time to take it back to the basics and just keep it simple. that is my new theme and mantra for 2010. so. . . if you know of anyone that needs some photographs taken, please pass on my name and info. it is much appreciated. maybe there is someone you know that is getting married or has just had a child. tell them to check out www.dreamphotodesign.com and to enjoy!

thanks and maybe we will talk again in another 5 months!

Road King Classic

Hummdingers

Sittin' on top of the world!

Trent rocking the surf board!

Sunrise

Nothing like waking up at 5:15 to rock some early morning skiing!

If all my tee shots looked like this.

Par 3 at Mtn. Dell. You can see my divot from the ball just to the
back left. I thought it was going to be a hole in one. I was happy to
settle for the birdie though.

Grandma

Helen Ridges Okelberry 1910 ~ 2009 

Helen Ridges Okelberry passed away peacefully on Pioneer Day, July 24, 2009 in Las Cruces, NM where she had been residing with her daughter, Jean Hill. She was born May 30, 1910 to Alfred Joseph Ridges and Edna Hyde Ridges. She was the great-granddaughter of Pres. John Taylor and Orson Hyde. She married Alfred Moyle Okelberry on September 2, 1932 in the Salt Lake Temple. She was devoted to this gentle, kind-hearted, brilliant surgeon. While he was away caring for others, she occupied herself with quilt-making and beautiful needlework projects. Her hand knit Christmas stockings are treasured by each child and grandchild. Helen had a spirit of loving kindness and was known for her ready smile, pleasant disposition and willingness to serve others. She loved gathering her family together and was famous for her tart lemon pies and homemade ice cream. She had a wide range of interests-from basketball to ballet, football to fugues, swimming to symphony. She was the first to reach the 500-mile goal at the Deseret Gym Pool and was often seen bicycling on her three-wheeler along the Avenues. In her earlier years she rode in the Silver Spurs horseback riding club. She loved tending her beautiful rose gardens which are still blooming. She lived a happy, contented life. Helen was a member of the DUP, Ladies Literary Club, and officer in the County and State Medical Auxiliary groups, a 24+ year volunteer at Primary Children's Medical Center and a expert bridge player. She was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in a variety of callings. Along with her husband, she served a mission at the visitor center in Nauvoo, Illinois in 1972-73. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband and son, Carl. She is survived by her daughters, Joan Clissold and Jean Hill (R. Dean), her daughter-in-law, Doreen Maxfield, 12 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 17th at 12 noon at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple. Family and friends may call from 10:30-11:45 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. We are grateful to our wonderful mother who has left us with a legacy of testimony, service and love. 

Video from the derby

Coalville demolition derby!

Thanks to Matt and Mary for snagging these tickets months back. It was
a riot!

Dannon Light and Fit

One of the best yogurts on the market!

Happy Birthday Lincoln!

My nephew, Lincoln, turned 4 last week.  I was lucky enough to make his cake!  It was pretty good too, if I may say so.  James, my lovely assistant, did the lines...I didn't want to mess it up! Thanks Babe. I think Linc loved it.  Happy Birthday Cowboy!

Food Co-op

So I don't know if you have heard about a little thing called the Food Co-op but it is freakin' awesome!  I know this is totally geeky but I took of picture of all the food I got for $19, yes, you read right, $19.  Now, I am not much of a bargainer but that is a whole lot of food.  You  must check this thing out.  There website is foodco-op.net.  You do have to volunteer 2 hours a month but it can be for anything (other than family).  Think about church callings!!!  You pick up the food at a location near to you...they have a whole bunch of locations.  Oh, and you pick it up the last Saturday of the month.  Hope someone gets some use out of this information.  One more thing, the produce and meat is super good.  Not yucky meat!  Really! 

I took this picture.  My husband is teaching me some of his photography skills...You like? 

Concert fun!

Cutest girl in the world!

Oakley Rodeo

Strawberry days rodeo show

Another day at the lake

Morning at the lake

We were the only ski boat on the water this morning. Thanks to stu and
eric for the good times!

Lake Powell

We had so much fun in Lake Powell with the Long and Linton Family!  We arrived late Monday night and slept under the stars (in the parking lot).  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday was spent water skiing, tubbing, and eating!  Kay is one of the best cooks around which only added to the greatness of the trip.  Stuart, James, and Greg all did such a great job skiing!  Melissa has got some mad skills too.  Thanks for the wonderful trip!  

The Gang!

Whit and Miss

Lookin' Good, Stu!

Whit doing what she does best!  

Miss, James, and Stuart

{caitlin - bridal video} from amb on Vimeo.

Saturday morning sesh!