your wedding day!

How much time, thought, energy, etc did you put into planning your wedding? Think about it. You and yours spent quite a bit of time thinking of every little detail and then executing it, right? I loved it though! It was a lot I will admit while trying to keep my job at the same time but I loved it. I was so looking forward to the day and thinking about every detail made me giddy!

Friday we went to the Northern Utah Marriage Celebration held at Weber State. There were 4 workshops and at the end of the evening the keynote speakers were John and Kim Bytheway. Gosh, we had a great time! We learned some good stuff too. Zach missed his Elders Quorum b-ball game for it. This is HUGE I want you to know! :) (I think he was secretly embarrassed to be going to this instead of to his ball game, but in the end he was glad he went-don't tell him I said that!)

Quoting from John-"it has been said that most people spend more time planning their wedding day than they do their marriage."

Yes, I realize that planning ahead means being proactive and thinking about the future. But I will also point out that even though it is crazy planning a wedding, we still found time to do that!

So, what kind of life do you want? No, I am not asking what about the vacations you want to take together or what you want to do when you are 50 exactly. I am asking what you want the day to day to be like. Those decisions shape the future. Do you want to have a happy home filled with fun and laughter? Do you want to be loving, kind and romantic? Do you want to be adventurous together by trying new things or enjoying hobbies or outdoor recreation together? Do you want to be faithful, attending church, Temple and holding regular FHE, scripture study and prayer?

There are probably a host of other questions I could spout but this has really gotten me thinking. I was picky about certain things when I was the bride to be. I thought about details and I wanted things a specific way. I made lists, discussed them with Zach and so on.

Life, if we are going to have it as close to the way we want it, then we are going to have to plan for it. This discussion might just be more important than a favorite T.V. show. Just sayin'. :)

Well, that's more like a fruit basket than AN APPLE :)

First date of the year!

Are you one of those couples who thinks about your beginnings and giggles? If it is a fun idea to do something you did when you were dating, then do it!

Some of mine and Zach's first dates were:

* playing a basketball game, making homemade pizza and smoothies.

* dinner at Wingers'

* a Recycle Percussion concert

* studying at the library

* making art...for our gen ed. art class

If it isn't a fun idea to repeat some of your first dates. Then recreate. Do something you wish you had done.

* most guys wish they could have gone swimming...

* most girls would have loved to go dancing...

* most everybody loves a good dinner...

Have to stay home...

have dinner, dance and then have a shower...

dance, shower, have dinner...

Oh, you figure out the order! :)

These would be some sweet conversation starters...

*why did you ask me out?

*why did you say yes?

*why did you keep asking me out?

*why did you keep saying yes?

*why did you ask me to marry you?

*why did you say yes?

Christmas is Cozy!

I don't know about you but for me this time of year can be sort of crazy! I hope that amidst the craziness we can find time to get cozy!

Last night and Sunday night I sang in a community Christmas concert. I came home sort of wiped out from lack of sleep and then from the anxiety of performing. Zach stayed home last night with the sick kids (he came to Sundays concert). When I walked in he was making hot chocolate, we sat on the couch in front of the fire and the Christmas tree and enjoyed a cup of cocoa and a nice conversation.

Getting cozy and chatting doesn't have to take long. Just turn down the lights and enjoy the lights from your tree and warm cup of wassail or cocoa. Sometimes when we take the time to slow down, the Spirit of the Season can be felt a little easier.

I hope you will try this apple.

12 days....

I have seriously dropped the ball this last week! What bums we out too is I had some fun things to post! Don't worry, I'll still do them...

My kids have been so super sick this last, like month! But the last week has been the pits. Zach and I haven't gotten much sleep and it seems I have been doing good to keep things functioning here at home and Zach staying a wake at work!

Next year I am either celebrating Christmas in July or I will at least be ready by then!

Enough about me! Today the 12 days til' Christmas starts! I've got to do something!

Because I am already up to my ears in "things" to get ready, make and so on, I think I will celebrate with dinner time conversations.

Tonight- name 12 things you love about Christmas

11-name 11 Christmas songs (you could even do, name that song!)

10-tell about 10 things you would like to do for others

9- talk about the meaning of Christmas symbols, which is your favorite

8- what do you think about as you fall asleep Christmas Eve

7- what Christmas stories have you read and would like to read again...stories you haven't and would like to read

6-favorite holiday foods

5-say five things you are grateful for at this time of year

4-favorite Christmas memory

3-go around the table and say three things you like about each person...including yourself!

2-what is your favorite thing you have done so far, this Christmas season

1-tell about the gift you are going to give to Jesus throughout the next year

If this is too much for you to remember and still want to do something around the table. Growing up we read Christmas scriptures by candle light around the table. It keeps my kids attention and they love that they get to blow out the candle! Here are some from my Primary lesson Sunday:

Micah 5:2, Isaiah 7 :14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Alma 7:9-10, Helaman 14:1-6, 1 Nephi 11:18-21

So, there ya go! Do you like to do anything to count down to Christmas? What have you done? What questions did you think of when you read my list? Hope your preparations are going well and you're able to do lots of fun things as a family!

um, a date huh.

If you haven't already noticed, I post some sort of date idea every Thursday. Well, it is Thursday and I don't really have anything clever. It is Halloween weekend. You probably have plans.

What do you like to do for Halloween?

If you don't have plans and you are staying home. Make some soup. Talk about your favorite Halloween traditions and tell stories.

Conversation starters:

*favorite Halloween costume?

*who took you trick-or-treating when you were little?

*when did you stop going trick-or-treating?

*did you ever get lost?

*what did you do with your candy when you got home?

dinner date...

If you don't already have plans you can refer to last weeks post for some festive ideas OR

do a dinner date. Make something cute for dinner or just set the table cute. :)

Eat dinner on the floor on a blanket or at the table by candlelight.

During dinner ask your spouse about a certain time in their life. Get them talking about their mission, college, a certain summer job or trips they took with their friends. Ask them about the details and enjoy letting them relive this time through conversation!

I know I have heard a lot of stories from Zach's mission. I might not have heard all of them though. And besides, it is always fun to hear stories again...especially if they enjoy telling them!

Happy dates to you! mmm. I heart date night. :)

Fun.......WAY fun!!!

Today.....or tonight - take a few minutes and talk with your wife or husband about the night you got engaged. It may turn into 15 minutes of wonderful conversation, and you will probably get a good laugh about it too. That's the apple of the day!

"An apple a day"

Be Smart

Check out a book or Google something that interests you. Talk to your spouse about it. Better yet, check out a book or Google something that interests your spouse.

If you can't think of anything then read about some current events and discuss that.

What are some other ways "Be Smart" can be applied in your marriage? Do share.