Happy Halloween!

This weekend we got to celebrate Halloween by going to a barn costume party in Provo with the Mootes on Saturday. Then on Sunday we were able to carry on the tradition of the Jones family "Spook Dinner"  celebrating not only Halloween but also my brother Travis' 25th Birthday!  I got him a copy of "The Hunger Games"  so that he can read it before we all go see the movie in March.  We also decorated pumpkins!  Thanks Whitney and Alex for having us all over!

Tonight, Brian and I are going to sit back, relax, and watch some of this in honor of Halloween.

One Wedding and a Football Game

This weekend was filled to the brim with good times.  Thursday and Friday were dedicated to the wedding of one of my best friends Kim.  Thursday - we got our nails done, rehearsed the wedding ceremony, and enjoyed a delicious rehearsal dinner.  Later that night we put together flowers and decorated cupcakes until Kim, Renae, and I had all become delirious. :)  But in the end all our efforts were rewarded.  Kim made an absolutely gorgeous bride!  As can be seen in the following pictures.

In other exciting news, after a mini miracle, Amy and Lorrin were able to make it to Utah, and Amy was able to be a bridesmaid with Renae and I.  We had so much fun together and loved seeing Amy's definite baby bump.  Hooray for babies!

Former roommates Jenny and Cherish also made it to the wedding.  Weddings tend to make great reunions.  Cherish is also expecting a healthy baby boy!

Saturday, we met up with Renae and Robert again for the BYU vs. Idaho State football game in Provo.  I haven't been to a game in SO LONG!  It was a lot of fun.  We won. And it made me feel like a young college student again. 

Today was our regional Stake Conference, and it was such a spiritual boost.  Elder Bednar spoke about testimony and conversion and the character of Christ in such a powerful, clear, and simplistic way.  Testimony is the knowledge we know to be true as witnessed by the spirit, but it is not enough for us to endure.  We have to be converted to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Conversion is CONSISTENTLY living what we know to be true.  As we gain a testimony and become converted, we are promised that we will never fall away because living a converted life helps align our character with the character of Christ.  Pretty amazing doctrine!  So basically it was a great, but exhausting weekend.  UEA break went way too fast, and now I'm a little bit bummed that I have to go back to work tomorrow.  It's ok though because wonderful memories were made and shared with good people.

Kim's Bridal Shower

Last Saturday, Renae and I through a bridal shower for Kim with the theme: I've Fallen For You.  It was a lot of fun, and I wish I had found time to take pictures (Kim took a lot, but she's kind of busy these days...so I'm probably not going to see them any time soon.)  Kim is going to make such a beautiful bride!  I can't wait for the wedding on Friday!

Here are some of Kim and James' Engagement Pics

I'm kind of really proud of this invitation...

I don't get much more creative than this! 

(The cards on the favors say James and Kim: The Perfect Mix)

And thank you pinterest for this idea!

Now it's time to start planning baby showers...

benifits of the stay-at-home-husband

This week Brian is on fall break.  At first I was incredibly jealous that he would be able to sleep in and relax and do whatever he wanted all day long, while I had to slave away all day at work.  But I have since grown to appreciate the many benefits of my stay-at-home man....

1.  Who wouldn't love to come home to a homemade meal like the one above?
2.  My apartment has never been cleaner.
3.  Yesterday when I came home, all the laundry was finished and folded.
4.  The sink faucet and bathroom door have been fixed.
5.  I have a super relaxed husband who isn't stressed out about homework all the time.
6.  I've got 2 back massages so far and it's only Wednesday. :)

Hooorrrayyy for the stay-at-home man!!!!!!  Too bad it ends on Friday...

running update...

As promised, here are some pics from my last run!  We got our new running watch too, and it's pretty legit. So some of the pics are actually from my camera, and some of them are thanks to Garmin's amazing GPS technology combined with the powers of Google Earth.  I'm not going to lie, this new watch is basically 99% of my motivation to go running right now.  I'm kind of in love...

Where my back yard meets the trail.

2 miles in +

500 ft incline +

and 2 miles down =

4 miles!

The latest Moote family project...

Our landlord told us we could paint if we wanted to and not have to worry about painting anything back when we someday move out.  Exciting, right?!?  Anyway we decided to start (probably finish) with our little bathroom.  Here are the final results...

We painted the walls light blue and the baseboards a cream color.

Brian and I had a lot of fun putting it all together...but we are mostly just happy that it is all done!

fridays, fall, and fondue...

Friday: The farther we get into the school year, the most I love and cherish my Fridays.  I just love them!  Seriously, sometimes I get giddy thinking that I'm almost there...It's almost Friday, and I can just leave work at work and spend my glorious weekend at home with Brian doing whatever I want.  This weekend is especially exciting because it's General Conference and we get to see parts of both our families (hopefully,) listen to a living prophet speak (live on Sunday,) and get the spiritual boost I need to last me another 6 months until April. 

Fall: I'm also loving right now the fall colors in Park City.  That's one thing about Georgia that didn't ever measure up.  There's just too many pine trees that stay green all year long.  We are really lucky to have a trail system right behind our house, and now that I'm training to run a half marathon again, I've been taking advantage of running it.  Nature is awesome.  The colors and scenery are gorgeous and even saw a snake on the path!  I need to take my camera with me on my next run, but in the mean time...here is a picture of my view just from school so you can get an idea.

Yes, I get to enjoy this view everyday at lunch.  No wonder the P.E department does a hiking unit this time of year!

Fondue: And last but not least, yesterday was a first for the Moote's.  One of our wedding gifts that we've been over the moon for is our fondue maker.  Over the past several months, we have enjoyed many chocolate fondue nights...such a delicious and romantic desert. :)  But last night for the first time, we branched out and tried our first cheese fondue recipe.  It was awesome!  I don't know how often we'll do it as after participating in the grocery shopping, Brian is now a little disillusioned at the cost of cheese, but hey...it's still a heck of a lot cheaper than The Melting Pot.  I give the whole meal an A+.  I mean how can you go wrong with melted cheese?  Here are some pics of the experience. Yum....

Happy Conference Weekend!

Did I really just do what I think I just did?

Yes.
Yes I did.
That's right I just signed Brian and myself up for our second Salt Lake City Half Marathon.

Fool me once right?  Well I guess they got me again.  Maybe it was Lyndsey training for the Atlanta half. Maybe it was the fact that my best friend Amy can no longer run one because she is pregnant (yay!), and I want her to be able to live vicariously through me.  Maybe it's because on Sunday at church we learned that accomplishing goals together is one of the most important tools in strengthening your marriage.  Maybe it's simply because I really, really need something to motivate me to lose the 10+ lbs I've gained since married bliss.  Maybe, it really is "the hard that makes it great." (A League of Their Own)

I guess it doesn't really matter in the end, because I've already paid, and there are No Refunds.  There's no turning back now.  I really can't believe, I paid money...again...to run...?!?!


Anyway,  come April expect to see some new pictures like the ones below...

Anyone want to run with me? Whitney? Renae? Lyndsey want to fly out? Click here if you do!

Welcome to my world, I mean my Classroom...

Sometimes I really feel like this pretty much sums up my whole world.  :)  I spend 9 hours here Mon-Fri.  It changes a little bit everyday, but this is my room!  It feels good having a whole room to myself this year (after sharing with 2 other people last year,) and even though it was incredibly stressful putting it all together, I am now reaping the rewards of having my own space. 

Can't you just feel the positive, engaging, safe, interactive, welcoming learning environment I've created?!?!

It's the little things that count...

This week has been SUCH a long week for both Brian and I.  Brian started midterms, and I just had an overwhelming week at work.  TGIF, right?!?!  But coming home to this, just seemed to make everything better...

Roses, snickers, and 2 red boxes I know I'd rather see than Brian.  I have the best husband ever!  Now, I'm off to snuggle up on the futon with a movie, my hubbie, chocolate fondue, and strawberries.

P.S.  Congrats to my amazing sister Whitney on getting her new job working with Autistic kids!  And as for tomorrow....GO BYU!

Happy Weekend!