The joy of Fall

October has been a month full of surprises. It started out with us being able to enjoy General Conference and spend time with some of our family members. Then, later in that first week, I had the wonderful opportunity to be pulled over by a woman Provo cop and was given a ticket. I don't think I am supposed to drive in Utah... I was supposedly speeding through one of the 2 school zones that are within 50 feet of each other. I was not a happy camper. I don't know if I talked about this in the other post or what, but Landon was promoted at his work and we were both extremely happy! That means we will now have health insurance. WOO HOO! So we thought things were looking up when we found that out and knew that he would be starting soon. School bombarded both of us and we haven't had time to even think about sleeping! It was crazy. Anyway, things were slowing down a bit and we were able to go and watch Mom and dad's house in Highland while they went out of town. That was pretty fun because we were able to have a ton of people over. We got back on Monday, only to find in the mail that my parking ticket I got at school was not waved and we have to pay for that too. I have traffic school this Saturday and it was not cheap to pay for that either. Like I said, I don't think I am supposed to drive in Utah. I am really hoping that the rest of this month will get much much better.

So we had people over while we were watching the house and boy it was fun! On Friday night, we had Landon's mission buddies over for an Argentine night. Landon's trainer, Owen, married a wonderful Argentine woman and she was just recently able to come to the states. When we went to Landon's mission reunion the weekend of conference, we were able to meet her and catch up with some of his other mission buddies. They thought it would be really awesome if Owen's wife, her name is Amanda, would cook some of their favorite Argentine dishes for them. It was empanadas and guiso. Oh man, that stuff was so so good, but extremely fattening! I was watching her cook that and I just knew somebody was going to have a heart attack. They use so much oil and salt! But hey, it was really good. We were also drinking mate all night as well..by the end of the night I was so full, and I felt sick to my stomach. The next day I didn't want to even think about eating. Saturday, we had the wonderful blessing of going to the Salt Lake Temple and doing an endowment session with one of my EFY girls from last year. She is getting married this weekend and wanted us there for her endowment session. I was so proud of her and it was so beautiful in the temple. It made such a good night. Sunday we made dinner and had Andrew, Sophie, and their adorable little girl Kennedy over. After dinner we went driving through the canyon and then played games afterward. The canyon was so beautiful! I wish I would have known to go two weeks ago because that's when the colors are magnificent. It was still beautiful but I wanted to see more colors. It was a busy weekend but it was really fun.

This week has been nothing but work and school. Landon started his job this week. So far, I think he likes it. He hasn't complained. I was so busy with school! Thank goodness for this fall break right now. We don't have school today or tomorrow. I can't believe it is already October. This year has some by so fast it is unbelievable. Tonight we are going back up in the canyon and having tinfoil dinners with Andrew and Sophie. I am going to freeze, but it will be fun!

Here are some pictures from the Argentine night and from the canyon drive we took on Sunday.

Weeks of fun!

Wow I have been a blog slacker. Our weeks have been super busy though! On Monday, the 21st, Landon just worked and I was working at home like crazy trying to cram for my first biology test that I had to take that week. We both worked on the 22nd, and it was a really long day. We were completely worn out. Wednesday we both worked, except I had to help set up sale at work that night and we didn't get out of there until 12. I was so incredibly tired and I hated not seeing my husband for such a long time. Thursday we both worked again. Amongst all the working, let me remind you that we were also going to school. I took my biology test thursday morning before I went to work. I am proud to say that I made a 97 on my test! Well I technically made an 87 but she gave the class a 10 pt. curve so my grade was a 97. I was so happy. I didn't really get to study as much as I wanted to so that grade really suprised me. In 3 days, I had 21 hours at work. By Friday I was completely worn out. Thank goodness it was my birthday on Friday, the 25th, so I didn't have to work. I am now 21 years old. That whole day was so special for me. I completely skipped all my classes, just because I felt like it, and was with my husband ALL day. I was able to sit and chat with one of my good friends from Denton who moved here this last summer and that was so much fun to catch up. Then Landon and I went to the Mt. Timpanogas temple with his parents and aunt and uncle to do some family sealings. That was so special and just really set the mood for my birthday. After the temple, Landon took me to The Cheesecake Factory up in Salt Lake for dinner!We were able to sit outside which made it really nice because it wasn't so noisy and the weather was so nice and cool!
Landon thought it would be cool to order this ENORMOUS burger...and he ate it all!

They came out and sang to me for my birthday with the cheesecake that I ordered. It was wild blueberry with white chocolate mousse ontop..you definately need to try it! Landon got the Snickers cheesecake and that was really good too.

As we were leaving, we had this beautiful sunset! I couldn't get a good picture because we were in the car, but it was so wonderful. I just love the sunsets here. After our dinner, we went back to our apartment and watched 17 Again. It was an interesting movie...let's just say that. On Saturday, the 26th, we had the Relief Society Broadcast. I went with Alyssa, my sis-in-law, mom kingston and Aunt Carolyn up to the conference center for the broadcast and had such a wonderful time.

Alyssa and I didn't plan this one at all...it just happened that we were matching!

Sunday was so much fun. Landon and I went to church and then went to the parent's house to have my birthday dinner. Mom kingston made this yellow cake with chocolate icing and her famous Cafe Rio salads. They are so good! Anyway, right when we were getting ready to bring the cake in, Mom kingston realized that she doesn't have any candles. Well Chad and Alyssa, my sibling-in-laws, got really creative and this is what they came up with:haha talk about creative! It was pretty tough to blow out too! ha

The next week was just another week of school and work and less time together. The coolest part of this week had to do with Landon and his job. First, he won tickets to the Jazz game on Thursday night. They were playing the Nuggets.

We got to sit 2nd row and even have dinner before hand.

It was all paid for, which made it even more fun! We even got Kenyon Martin to pose for us. He is from the Nuggets. We were sitting right behind them. We had a really great time. Then, on Friday, Landon found out that he got the promotion that he applied for! He will be working full time now, will be getting a pay raise, and will also be able to get benifits, meaning we will have health insurance! I am so happy and proud of him! He has worked so hard and definately deserves this position. It will be tough though having to work full time and go to school full time but I know we will both manage and he will do just fine.

This weekend was just so amazing. We had conference! From Saturday on we were at the parent's house. We watched conference on their big screen all Saturday and today, with the joy of being with the family. Lenae and Nate and the girls came down for this weekend so we were able to enjoy their company and spend time with them. We had girls night Saturday night and went out to eat at Texas Roadhouse...that's my kind of place! I loved being able to be with part of my family during such a spiritual weekend.

Landon and I are home now and feeling a little stressed about this next week. However, I know that we will be able to get through it if we manage our time wisely and do what we are supposed to do spiritually before anything else. Our Heavenly Father has blessed us in so many ways and we are indeed very grateful! Well the bed is calling my name. I will try and not be such a blog slacker this next week...lets see if that will really happen..