We are off....

I can't believe the semester is done and Christmas break is here! We could not be more excited!!! We all need the break desperately, and we CAN'T WAIT to be with all of our family the next few weeks.
We hope everyone has an amazing Christmas and New Year's....and for all those that we weren't able to send a Christmas Card to this year.....

Update coming soon, but for now....

My precious little boy. Photographed by Becky Earl.And...this adorable belly I was able to do a photo shoot with over Thanksgiving. I think this is one of my most favorite pictures!

Went to park city last weekend and shot this cute family. These poor little kids did really good considering how frigid it was that day!

One More Template for X-Mas Cards

Just finished the Hintze's card and thought I'd offer it as a template! The purple just looked dang cute for them, but if it's not your style it can easily be changed!

Last Call for X-Mas Cards

Alright so if you want Christmas Cards get those orders in! To ensure you have your cards out by Christmas, November 15th will be the last day I except an order. Click here to view my pre-made cards and pricing....remember a custom card is definitely an option too!

Precious Precious Precious

this is Clhoe...i think i want one of her. here is just an inkling of some of the pictures we got this afternoon...seriously so cute! look at those eyes!

A Wonka Halloween!

So our Halloween festivities started on Thursday at the law school. They throw a great Halloween party every year with a costume parade/competition and trick or treating at the carols (their desks...yet to figure out why they call them carols). We were really exciting for the competition because we knew the Oompa Loompa had it in the bag! Then for some reason they didn't announce a winner!! So sad. He loved the trick or treating though. I think we had 20 people ask if they could take his picture, it was really funny.
(Willy and the Oompa)

Kenny and I (Willy Wonka and Verooka) were more just Bennett's accessories. I am still shocked I got Kenny to wear the coat...it was from Saver's. If you know Kenny at all...well I don't need to say any more. I don't think most people figured out who I was. Next time I think I'll have to just be the Wonka Bar.Then Friday night we had our ward Trunk or Treat and Carnival. I got there at 5 to help set up and it was snowing and about 35 degrees. I asked one of the other leaders if they would move the trunk or treat inside...I was told that would defeat the pupose of a trunk or treat...it was a very cold and quick trunk or treat experience!

And this would be my favorite picture from the weekend. Kenny would do about anything for a donut. This was one of the games set up for the little kids! Hahaha...love that he's crossed eyed!Here's Bennett looking lost and confused as usual :). I think he got called a little girl about 50 times over these 2 days....is it the hair??? I just don't see girl.
After two straight days of face paint and green hair spray we decided to skip the dressing up on Halloween. We decided to still do something festive and went to a cornmaze/pumpkin patch.
Bennett loved the corn maze...
and the little animals...
but was SO not into the bounce houses!
We came to this one specifically for these. His favorite past time lately is jumping on the couch or from our coffee table to the chair. He didn't like them at all. So, being the good parents we are we made him do them anyways.
(notice the look of torture)
("daddy get me out of here")
here was the only 2 seconds of enjoyment!
(hahaha, this picture just makes me laugh...so typical of most of my pictures, Bennett staring blankly and Kenny smiling with his eyes closed!)
So, it was a really fun weekend...and now I'm ready to put up Christmas decorations! :)

Crazy Little Boy

What do you like to do in your kitchen sink?

Homecoming!

Saturday we were in the homecoming parade with the law school. (We really only went for the donuts and t-shirts. Like 3 people got donuts and like 5 people got t-shirts...missed out on both of those!) But it was actually really fun. After about a mile Bennett finally got the hang of throwing candy to the kids watching.

Hailey showing Bennett the tootsie roll in her teeth :)Hailey and Bennett

Just some good food...

Not into meat lately...don't know why. Especially red meat. Have any good vegetarian recipes???

Made these for dinner...yummo! Extremely tasty. Kenny liked it too, just wasn't way into the texture. I recommend making them thinner, I think I made ours too thick.

California Black Bean Burgers
1 can (15oz) black beans (recipe says undrained, i recommend draining)
1 can (4.5) oz chopped green chilies
1 t. chili powder
1 lg. egg, beaten
1/4 c. yellow cornmeal
2 T. veg. oil
1 c. plain dry bread crumbs
(I added some other seasonings like onion and garlic powder, some pepper, and cumin)

Blend beans until slightly mashed. Stir in chilies, bread crumbs, chili powder, egg. Shape into 6 patties (about 1/2 in. thick). Coat with cornmeal. In skillet, heat oil. Cook on medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes, turning once.

Ate these with chipotle mayo and homemade sweet potato fries.

These cookies are delicious as well! I added an extra 1/2 c. pumpkin and doubled the spices!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 cups (12-ounce bag) milk chocolate chips, not semisweet
• Nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper

Directions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line them with parchment paper.

Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool them on wire racks.