I go back to December all the time.

Yes, I am lame. I'm highly aware of the blogging promises I make and fail to keep. How am I ever going to have a popular blog and expect readers to be faithful followers when I, the writer, can never deliver.

Talk about self disappointment. 

Well, I guess I can't dwell on the past and complaining about it isn't going to make it better. New Year's is coming up so maybe a blog goal is in order?! I think so.

I absolutely let myself down (again) on the 30 days of Gratitude. Since I didn't complete the full 30 days I have decided to start this blog off with a list of 20 things (20 being the number of days I missed)  I am grateful for:

1. an incredible husband who loves me.

2. having the WHOLE family here for Thanksgiving.

3. doctors.

4. hot chocolate.

5. warm sweaters and scarfs.

5. beautiful holiday lights.

6. dates with the husband.

7. yummy holiday treats.

8. great friends.

9. Christmas cards

10. family photo's.

11. the gospel.

12. a warm house.

13. strawberry lemonade powerade

14. medicine.

15. an understanding job (with amazing work buddies)

16. holiday smells.

17. secrets. (that don't hurt anyone)

18. laughing.

19. Christmas tree's.

20. movie nights. 

November was great for us. We kept busy with work and preparing to have my parents and sisters come stay with us for Thanksgiving. It was a blast to have the 5 of them (and Max) stay with us for a few days. I miss the craziness of having a FULL house all the time. The noise, the mess, the amount of food you go through... all of it! 

It was lovely to be able to spend the holiday with the family up at Grandma and Grandpa Goold's house. It was also nice for it to be just our immediate family over the weekend. Lots of movie watching, cooking (especially sushi night put on by Aubrey and Daniel) and a visit to temple square (with 1st class parking) to see the gorgeous lights.

While we were all together my parents decided we should finally chose a headstone for Hunter. I am sure there are lots of reason's why it's been over a year and there is still only a small plaque above his grave site, but for me it was all so final. The final step in saying rest in peace to our dear brother. I was glad we could all be together for it and happy we were all apart of the process. It will be so wonderful to have that headstone honoring and remembering sweet Hunter Boy. (Mom and Dad will make another trip to Utah this month to pick up the headstone and take it back to California. I love Bonus visits :) 

After the family left things settled back down in the Ford household. 

I got really sick and missed an entire week of work. The first day isn't so bad lying around doing nothing all day. But day three and four and five are torture! I hate feeling so helpless and especially hate worrying about all the things I had to do at work that weren't getting done (luckily we have awesome people in my department who picked up my slack that week!!) 

Kevin was so great and patient with me while I was sick. Poor guy only had one cooked meal the whole week. He said it was almost as bad as when I went to California for five days and he ate frozen dinners the whole time. Guess I have a responsibility to make it up to him this week?!?

Kevin's brother Jeff and his wife Hayley brought a new little baby into the world last week. Mason Ford was born on November 30th and is just the cutest, chunkiest little baby I have ever seen. I am so excited we will get to spend Christmas with them so I can love on that little baby!

December is jam packed full of adventures for Kev and I.

This week we have work parties, dinner with friends, an early birthday surprise (I have no idea what it is but it's happening this Saturday so I'll make sure to blog about it). Then; my birthday, dentist and doctors appointments (my first trip to the dentist in 5 years, sick nasty I know, trust me I'm terrified), the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert, weekend getaway to the Anniversary Inn Hotel in Salt Lake, homecoming for my cousin Cameron, flying to Washington for Christmas, murder mystery dinner in Washington with the family (put on by my two amazing and creative sister in laws) and then I am sure we will wrap up twenty-eleven with an incredible New Years (I think Kev and I will keep to ourselves that night. Apparently I have to make up for the crappy kiss last New Years Eve).

As you can see our life is in full swing. It's a blast. We are still having so much fun and enjoying every moment of our lives together. Next week will be 9 months of marriage and I am still wondering when the "honeymoon" phase is gonna end? 

Seriously bliss EVERY DAY! 

Thanks for not giving up on me readers! 

I swear it that I will get better. 

Don't forget to remember those who lost their lives 70 years ago today at Pearl Harbor. Never Forget.

Temple Square Lights (round 1)

Of course, I probably left out a few details so here is the last three weeks in Photos. Enjoy!

Sisters @ Midnight for BlackFriday

Cool breadsticks at Pizza night.

Thanksgiving Jello and Stuffning

She was way good

Haley and her OWN burrito.

Haley Bop

Shooting

 

 

The Human Pickle

 

20lbs of burritos

Max Sleeping

Desi

 

McKenna making fun of Blain

McKenna's Shell casing art

Aubs

Dad

Utah Temple Square

more gratitude

day eight.

Snap shot of my phone in the middle of the night :/

I am so grateful for Sleep. The last week has been a really rough one for me when it comes to my beauty rest. I usually sleep like a rock and wake up refreshed and ready to face the day. This last week however, I have been waking up every hour to two hours for some unknown reason. I thought at first it was because I was freezing (Kevin is a blanket hogger) and then maybe bad dreams or hearing noises and then I discovered it wasn't just one of those things; It was ALL of them. I just have really recognized lately how much I love my sleep and how grateful I "usually" am for my full eight hours. 

day nine. 

I am grateful for my wife's dinner last night - She made pot roast, apple stuffing, potatoes, and veggies. So bomb. I pounded it. And I love how she cooks amazing dinners all the time. Keep up the good work babe! 

(Written By Kevin)

day ten. 

 

For day ten I decided I was grateful for good news. This week I've got a lot of great news. From a new cousin being born to an awesome bonus on my paycheck, I just love how good news makes me feel so happy.

Any good news bloggers??

day 3 thru day 7.

day three.

 Kev chose day three's thing to be grateful for.

We are both very grateful for our vehicles. We have good cars that Kev takes really good care of to make sure they last us at least another 5 years or so.

Plus we really love the heated leather seats both our cars have, especially as the temperature continues to rapidly decrease.

day four. 

I am so grateful for holiday music. I know, Thanksgiving hasn't even happened yet but I don't mind one bit that they have began playing Christmas music on the local radio stations. I absolutely love it.

day five. 

For day five I chose to list my in-laws for special people I am grateful for. The in-laws came to Utah this last weekend to visit on their way to California (to go to Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm... so jealous) and we were able to spend a few days with them. We don't get to see them very often because they live in Washington, but when we do get to see them it is always so much fun. They stayed at our place on Saturday night and the four of us all got in our PJ's and watched a movie. I love them both so much.

(Fun Fact: Saturday was exactly the one year mark from when I met Ken and Linda for the first time.Kev took me to Washington on November 5th. 2010 to introduce his future Mrs to his parents. Obviously that trip was a success ;)

day six.

I am very grateful for the snow. Not so much the cold and wet feature about it, or the driving in it, but I am in complete awe every time we get a fresh snowfall. I didn't get the beauty of the white snow in Sacramento growing up and I just love looking out my window at home or at work or while I'm out driving and seeing the whole Utah Valley just covered in white. I love the way the mountains and tree's and houses all look when they are covered in snow.

I also kind of like to imagine that a snow covered city is what heaven might look like. It's just so beautiful to have everything pure white and glistening in the sun.

day seven.

 

This week I am very grateful for growing families. On Sunday we were able to attend a baby shower for Kev's cousin Kim and her new daughter Brittney. It was a lovely blessing and we got to spend the afternoon with a lot of Kevin's extended family on the Ford side.

Today, my cousin Jordan and his lovely wife Jessica, had their first child. An adorable little baby, Daisy Smith became the newest member on my mother's side of the family. 

It is such a blessing that both Kevin and I have wonderful families that continue to grow. We are so grateful for their examples in raising children and extending our eternal family.

Are you keeping track of what you're grateful for Readers?

30 Days of Gratitude

"Gratitude is a divine principle. The Lord has declared through revelation: “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things. …" 

(GordonB. Hinckley August 1988)

In years past, when November comes around, I have kept a journal for the entire month of things that I am grateful for. I guess with it being the month of Thanksgiving, it was always easier to remember to be AWARE of all the things I am thankful for. 

When I was a young women, I had a church leader who pointed out we should be thankful everyday for the blessings in our lives, small or big. I've also been taught about a gratitude journal, in which for an entire YEAR, everyday you write down something you are grateful for. Maybe one day I will be able to accomplish such a task but for twenty-eleven I think it's going to be another 30 days. 

I hope that you will look at your life and give thanks for everything you have been blessed with.

Day One.

I am grateful for Temples.

Mount Timpanogos Temple

For the blessing it is to have one so close where the Mr. and I can attend often and for the sacred ordinances that are performed here.

Day Two.

I am grateful for Work.

The Mr. has signs all over Utah county with his name!

My New Desk as of 11.02.11. A Window Desk. Highly Desirable. So blessed.

 I am grateful that the Mr. and I both have work, especially during this time in our economy. I feel so blessed that the Mr. has a job that he loves, that he is good at and that will continue to provide for our family as it grows. I am thankful for my job that I love and for the blessing it is that I can be working and saving for our future.

What are you most grateful for this week? 

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from The Fords.

Hope you all had a lovely Halloween. Hope your kids looked adorable, everyone was safe and that you have a plan for all that candy you now have in your homes.

Kev and I decided we wanted to do something special for our neighborhood trick or treaters. We wanted it to be creative and fun; so instead of candy we had hot chocolate, cupcakes and rice krispie treats along with huge marshmallow's for everyone to roast. 

(You will notice we gave each treat a Halloween name to be festive of course) 

It was a huge success. Next year we are going to  need WAY more hot chocolate and maybe a scarier set up. Lots of idea's to think about and only 365 days to plan it! So exciting.

Does your family do anything fun for trick or treaters?

We had this Giant guy greeting the trick or treaters a few streets over! 

Halloween Eve and New Blog Name.

This evening I had......

 a little bit of a sweet tooth.

Good thing tomorrow is Halloween and I can get rid of it all.

I'm sure you've also noticed we changed the name of our blog. We wanted it to be a little more personal and what better way then for each of our readers to enroll in a "Ford-ology" class. Here you will most definitely learn everything you need to know about US. 

(Don't worry, this class isn't graded!)

Kevin and I went for a fall colours drive this afternoon. It was a lovely way to spend our Sunday. The colours are so beautiful here in Utah.

Safe trick or treating tomorrow readers! 

October is almost over....

And I haven't blogged anything this month. I won't try to list my excuses because I have none. So, here we are, October 27th and we are alive and well. I will write more this weekend but I wanted to give you a little glimpse of our October so far. I have absolutely been in love with this month and all of the wonderful things we have done.

Especially all of the lovely adventures that let us know the season is changing and our favorite holidays are right around the corner (which includes my Birthday of course) Eek!! 

Enjoy some Great October Photo's that include:

Trips Home for Del Campo's Homecoming 

Where this beautiful Sister won Homecoming QUEEN!!

And both beautiful sister's were the Belle's of the ball! 

Where the Hubby and I found FREE pumpkins and corn stalks to decorate our little home.

 

 

Where we made lots of October-ish foods to die for!

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Apple Bake with Ice Cream and Carmel

Where we took some Post Wedding Bridal's

 

 

 (See More at Brinnie Photography she did an amazing job!)

And finally, where I was able to finally finish a few DIY projects that were lying around the house unfinished.

Love you all.

What are some things you and your family do in October?