Craft Night

Last night, a few of my close girl friends got together at my house and made Christmas boards to hang our stockings on this holiday season. It was so great to get everyone together and just talk and laugh while we made a cute craft to hang in our houses.

(The girls that made Christmas boards from left to right are: Camille, Kim, Rhonda, Beth, Steph, and myself)

(Bev and her cute baby Kade stopped by to say hello.)

It is always so much fun for me to see Bev. I lived with her for so many years, and really miss not having her around more.

(Some of the girls working on their cute boards)
It is amazing how each board turned out completely different.
There was so much creative talent in the room...I wish I had a picture of each board to display.

(Me and my finished project)

We are all going to try to get together at one of our houses each month and make a craft. It allows us to get caught up and enjoy one anothers company. It is crazy how busy life gets, and then trying to find time for evryone to get together is near impossible at times. Hopefully we will all make this a monthly priority, and our husbands can all get together and go do their guy bonding as well.

Beautiful Colors of Fall

I just absolutely love fall. It is my favorite time of year. I think the colors are so beautiful, which means...that it is my favorite time to take pictures. -Lucky for Joel -

He is a good sport. We went for a walk after church last Sunday and took a few pictures with our self-timer (hence why the pictures are not very good).

It was fun just to walk around and view all the leaves turning color.

(These fire red bushes are my favorite!)

(This one was taken right after church at the Finch Arboretum)

Baking Apple Pies

(Delicious Apples from Greenbluff)

My grandma Joyal makes the best apple pie. She could win a blue ribbon every time she bakes one. Joel and I have had so many apples lately, either given to us or ones that we have bought, that we did not know what to do with them all. So, the other night Joel and I decided to call my grandmother and ask for her secret recipe. She graciously gave it to us...which put Joel on a mission.

I have been busy with a Christmas craft that I have been working on for days, and Joel was so bored a few nights ago, so he decided to make the apple pie all on his own. He did such a great job. It ended up just like my grandma's famous pies.

Hopefully Joel will continue to bake more pies in the future. I do not think I could have gotten the crust to look as good as he did. Wish you were all here to try it!


(Joel with his apple pie - It was soooo good!)

Update on the Shed Project...

(Joel and Jen painting one side of the new tool shed)

Joel has begun another project - as noted in previous blog post - to make a tool shed to go along the side of the house. His reasoning is to free up space in the garage, which I am sure that it will do, but I think it is really just because he loves to build things. We had fun painting this last weeked, but as you can see from my coat...it was freezing cold. I hope we get this project done before it starts to snow.

(Joel painting... don't worry...I painted the "I Love Joel" saying. I thought we should have left the saying on the side of the shed, but Joel quickly painted over it.)

(Joel and our neighbor, Mike Laycock, moving the sides of the shed to the side of the house)

(Putting the shed up)

I will put more pictures up of the final product once it is complete.

Autumn at Greenbluff

This past weekend Joel and I went to Greenbluff with some friends to enjoy the Autumn festivies and to get our annual Halloween pumpkins. Fall is my favorite season. The colors are absolutely gorgeous. It is always so beautiful at Greenbluff, no matter what the season.



Four of my close girlfriends were able to come with us. We always enjoy spending time together.
(Picture is of Kim, Beth, Myself, and Steph)


(Joel showing off our two pumpkins)

The weather and company were fantastic. If Joel and I were ever to move away from Spokane...Greenbluff would be one of the things we would really miss.

A Final Summer Project

Joel decided to build a shed for all the lawn supplies. He always needs to have a project around the house. I am lucky that I married such a handy husband, because all of his work always turns out wonderful. These are just a few pictures of our fun weekend project.

(Joel building one of the shed frames)

(Jen holding up the wall for Joel to screw on the siding)

(Joel working hard...like always)

(Jen hard at work)

OK...I really did not help much. But Joel always lets me feel like I am part of his construction team. We will show pictures of the final product in weeks to come.

The Hinckley Challenge...You can do it!

Back in 2005 President Hinckley gave us all a challenge to read the Book Of Mormon by the end of the year, and now they are starting a new challenge in honor of our past Prophet. This time the challenge is to read it in 97 days honoring Gordon B. Hinckley's 97 years on earth and it started Yesterday on October 1, 2008! I think it only averages to five and a half pages a day so I know we all can do it! Go to http://www.hinckleychallenge.com/ to create an account and track your progress.

Good Luck Everyone!