Prim & Proper

For Thanksgiving we went to Arizona to see Matthew's family in Snowflake. We had a great time with the Peterson family at Thanksgiving, doing crafts with Mandi, seeing lots of movies, and Matthew enjoyed working with his dad on projects at home. We were also able to visit my sister and brother's family in the Thatcher/ Safford area. And meet our new neice Lynlee.

It was sad to leave our families after the long weekend in Arizona but we brought back a new addition to our family. We brought home our new baby, Prim. My brother-in-law, Ben, had adopted a 5 year old Australian Labradoodle from New York. Prim was a breeding dog that was being retired and needed a loving family. After having Prim for a month, he decided having a dog wasn't right for his growing family. We graciously took her to live with us. We had been thinking about getting a dog already so it all worked out.

Prim has been a good, sweet, and mellow dog. Because she is an older dog potty training has been an easier task than with a puppy (although I wouldn't say it is perfect. :) She is a cuddly dog that can't get enough loving. She is trained well, never barks, sleeps all day, doesn't chew, and follows Matthew around like a puppy dog. We have loved having her around the home and hope she is finding a happy and loving home with us.

Halloween

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I like the month of corn mazes, haunted houses, dressing up, scary movies, and carving pumpkins. Unfortunately this year we really failed on celebrating it to it's full extent. We never made it to a haunted house but instead we tried the Provo Halloween Cruise with our friends, Kati and Danny. I wouldn't say it is the scariest thing ever and possibly not even the most entertaining but with the right company anything can be fun.

This year Matthew and I bypassed the gutting and carving for our pumpkin. Instead we painted it into a scary spider............doesn't it look scary???? ;)

This year was the first time that my work allowed us to dress up for at work. This year I was cleaning out my closet and came across an old business suit. As I was about to through it out, Matthew gave me an idea for a costume. I currently work for a company that sells aircraft parts to airlines which I thought would be clever for dressing up as a flight attendent. Although all day I got lots of comments about the new "Pan Am" show which I have never watched.

Look what I have learned to do!!!

I gave Matthew a haircut. I wouldn't say I am a professional but practice makes perfect. Hopefully Matthew just trusts me to do it again after this. :)

Our First Gardening Season

We loved having a garden this year. It was a fun new experience for us. We spent 1-2 days a week there watering, weeding, and picking. And it was fun because it was close enough that we rode our new bikes there and got lots of use out of them. We felt like we were really successful with all of our plants. And at sometimes too successful and got more produce than we knew what to do with. We out did ourselves on zucchini bread, had more fresh salsa than we could eat alone, enjoyed our sweet delicious watermelons, and enjoyed our tasty garden carrots that were quite deformed.

Our full grown 10x15 garden.

Our 1st of MANY zucchinis.

Our forgotten green pepper that could have won the fair for being the biggest ever.

One of three of our watermelons.

Boise Girl's Craft Weekend

In August I was able to have a slumber party with my Boise friends, Kristi & Heather. We all live fairly close in Utah but it still is a task to get us all together. This weekend we were even able to plan it while our friend Annika was in town too. The four of us had a great time eating, chatting, pampering, and making a craft. We had a good time doing it. And now that I posted about it so late, it is already time for us to start thinking about having another one. :)

Don't we look so good in the morning without showers? :)

My completed "Fall" blocks

Matthew's 24th Birthday

Matthew's birthday was on a Sunday this year so we celebrated all weekend. Saturday we started the day with Matthew's favorite breakfast of Cornbeef Hash and Grits. Then we spent our afternoon by taking our bikes to the canyon. The Storytelling Festival was also going on that weekend at the Provo Canyon so we also checked that out. We went to dinner at Matthew's pick of Zupa's. And we finished the Saturday evening with a Jon Schmit concert at Thanksgiving Pointe. The day turned out great.

But the celebrating wasn't over. For Sunday we invited Matthew's two sister and brother's family over for Tostada dinner and cake and ice cream. And Matthew got to show off his new present from me of a Ruger LCP 380 handgun. His birthday was a success and lots of fun.

The first German Chocolate Cake I have made and not the last....it is Matthew's favorite.

Happy 24th Birthday Matthew Wayne Davis!!!

It is Matthew’s birthday today and I am so lucky to have him as a husband. I didn’t know life could be this good, easy, and blissfully happy until he came into my life. I am so grateful for Matthew because of so many of his amazing attributes. Here are just some of the many. 

Mature
When I saw Matthew for the first time I had no idea how young he was. Matthew looks older than he is which is good because most people don’t suspect that we have such an age gap. But most of the time even when someone looks older they don’t act older. Matthew surprised me from the very beginning because is much more mature than someone his age. I don’t even think of him as 6 years younger than me until we start talking about “when I started kindergarten, you were in 6th grade.”  

Ambitious
Matthew is more ambitious than I have ever thought of being. When I went to school in Business I always stayed as far away from Entrepreneur classes. I never had the desire to take on the stress of owning my own business. But Matthew has this drive to be his own boss which scared me at first. But I see in him everyday how much drive and desire he has and even more the confidence that he can make it work. Those fears have slowly diminished as I realize, I also knows he has the determination and drive that so few of us possess.  

Testimony
During our scripture reading and daily study together, I am always taken off guard by the insights and ample amount of knowledge he has of the gospel. When he talks about his mission it is very apparent what a faithful and diligent missionary he was. I am so grateful he is a worthy priesthood holder that can preside over our family.

Tender
I know guys don’t really love being referred to as tender but I can’t help it. That is just what Matthew is (along with very masculine too J) He is always considerate of mine and others feelings. He has helped me through a very hard time in my life of loosing my brother and I know it is hard for him to know what to say to me during these times but he always knows that I just need to be held. I know he tries to understand even though he might not have his own life experiences to refer back to. And is so good to just listen when I am wanting to talk and share feelings. He makes my trials easier to bare with him by my side. 

Hard-Working
In every job that Matthew has he goes above and beyond the expectations. He not only does a job but he does a job right and thorough. His current employers noticed very quickly that Matthew superseded his duties. I think with this attribute , those that he works with and for gain so much more trust for his finished product and responsibilities. 

Entertaining
I realize more and more every day how much Matthew likes to entertain people and especially me. He has such a good sense of humor that is contagious. He is always finding ways to make me smile and laugh. He often uses what I like to call “old man” jokes, the newest humorous YouTube video, or even his own personal dance performance while cleaning on Saturday mornings. Cleaning had never been so fun until doing it with Matthew!!!

Win Over
Matthew’s personality is so magnetic. I wasn’t concerned at all about introducing Matthew to family and friends when we first started dating. I know that the moment any of them met him they would love him as quickly as I loved him. He charms every woman, impresses every guy, and gains friends easily. 

Matthew I love you so much and I am so glad that we will be husband and wife for time and eternity. Happy Birthday!!!

Spanish Fork Demolition Derby

We love Demolition Derbies!!! Our friend's, Marie & Ian, also are very seasoned in Demolition Derby. We had heard that the Spanish Fork event was the BEST. We jumped on buying tickets. And it didn't disappoint us. We had a great time watching car crashes, engines on fire, and cars being flipped over. What more can you ask for????

 

Newest Home Projects

Of course Matthew and I needed more projects to work on at our condo. This project of refinishing the dresser was a necessary evil. We had already started with our night stands and need to paint it to match. It was much easier this time since we are well practiced. We are loving having a finished bedroom set now.

Before

After

After

Another project that was Matthew's brilliant idea is wall sconces. As Matthew always says "lighting makes a room." I would have never thought of it on our own but we love it. And it was an easy one day project that I didn't even see the holes while he was doing it.

Before

After............I love the dimmers too.

24th of July

Spontaneously our friends Kati and Danny called us up to ask if we wanted to meet in SLC for the 24th of July parade float display. Neither of us knew what to expect from this event because we have never made it to the Pioneer Parade before. This was more fun than I would have ever expected. The floats were amazing, had so much detail, and took these wards/ stakes over one year of work. We are so glad Kati and Danny invited us. We had a blast with them like we always do. (So sad we didn't get a picture with you though.)

My favorite pick.

This float is animals protrayed as the MoTab Choir. It was amazing.

This was Matthew's fav pick from all 30 floats

This was a huge fisherman that moved.

4th of July

This year for the 4th of July Matthew and I had our second annual Davis Family celebrations. Matthew's sisters, Talie and Lisa, have had this tradition long before we joined them. But we are glad they are letting us be part of the fun every July.

We start the celebrations with decorating matching shirts a couple days before the 4th of July. This year we did bleach shirts, which was soo easy. Talie planned the project. It just took us bringing a colored shirt, wooden/ foam stencils, and a spray bottle of bleach. It was a very fun family activity.

What a great team we make???

We love to dress alike.

Everyone joining in the bleach fun.

The Partiotic celebrations always continue to a picnic at BYU. And then watching the Stadium of Fire fireworks from outside the football stadium. The festives were complete with our matching shirts, bubbles, and glow sticks. And staying late to dance in the streets.

Matthew, Trent, Talie, Austin, Emily, Gavin, Brevin, Lisa, Noah, Breyla, Bella, Graclyn, Jenny and Olivia.

FIREWORKS!!!

Shelton's in Sunny California

Coming from a family of 8 kids and all of us living so far away from each other, my family has to have yearly reunions in order to guarantee we will see each other. Unfortunately last year we had plans to vacation together in California but because of Marcus's cancer treatments we postponed it by a year. With each reunion, my siblings rotate taking turns to plan all family arrangements. This California trip was originally Marcus's request and turn to plan. Unfortunately when Marcus passed away, my family nominated me to take over for him. I had a hard time doing this and getting excited about this trip without Marcus but the trip was exactly what our family needed after this hard year.

Anyone knows that coordinating 16 adults and 13 kids can be very difficult; finding ways to make everyone happy, getting a large group moving together, and trying to spend as much time all together. Unfortunately besides missing Marcus, we were sad that his wife Colleen wasn't able to come at the last minute either because of medical problems. The family wasn't complete without them but we managed to have fun at all of the hot spots of Southern California; Disneyland, the beach, Seaworld, and San Diego Old Town. And even found time for some girl time for a baby shower for Nikki and pedicures and attending a session at the beautiful San Diego temple

This is probably one of the few times we were all together at Disneyland!!!

Doesn't Matthew look so happy at the "Happiest Place on Earth"?

This is before Matthew got a TERRIBLE sunburn, he has learned his lesson now.

Matthew was the favorite uncle after he let them all the neices/ nephews bury him.

My favorite part of Sea World was the shows espcecially the dolphin show.

How many people can you fit in a Mormon Battallion pioneer wagon?

The babies were loving the water on this hot Cali day.

Can you guess which foot is mine? (My fav color right now is lime green)

Cinderella's castle has nothing on this castle.

PG Strawberry Days

PG is a town known for their rural atmosphere and STRAWBERRIES. So what do you get when you put those together???? Strawberry Day's Rodeo. When I moved to my condo 2 years ago, I remember one of the first night here and hearing the load roar of the fairgrounds nearby. I learned then that PG was good at putting together a rodeo. This year we convinced our friends, Rob and Abby, to come with us for the true PG experience. We had a great time with the cowboys, horses, and to make it complete.............strawberries and cream. (Thanks Rob again for the loan!!!)

July Craft

For the month of July I needed a fun patriotic decoration for our entry table. Here is the results. I was very proud of the end creation. Thank you Matthew for all your help on them and my neighbor Erika for putting up with me for an evening and letting me use your cricket and talent.

A Little Piece of Earth

We live in an area of mostly condos, townhouses, and apartments. Our stake realizes that because of our living situations, we don't have any land to enjoy as our own for a garden. They have resolved this by providing anyone in the stake that is interested with a 10' x 15' garden plot located next to the church. When Matthew and I heard about this opportunity, we knew we would be the first to sign up. Neither of us had planted a garden of our own but were very excited about trying it together.With all the crazy weather this year, it took us a while to get our plants into the ground and decided to start things off right with starter plants. We planted 2 Roma Tomatoes, 1 Whopper Tomato, 1 Grape Tomato, Cucumbers, Carrots, 2 Bell Peppers, 4 Red Peppers, Peas, Watermelon, and Zucchini. We are loving taking care of our plants, watching them grow, and seeing the results.

Matthew's Business Trip

The week of Memorial Day Matthew was hired by my brother Richard to do some handyman work for him on his house in Indianapolis, Indiana. And the best part, my brother flew me, my mom, and dad out with Matthew to come "help." During our 5 day stay, the guys worked on repairing broken tiles, restoring drywall from water damage, replacing light fixtures, and installing a floor in their attic.

But of course, Richard and Becca showed us a good time while we were visiting. And lucky for us it was the weekend of the Indy 500. We were able to visit the famous racetrack, see the past winning cars, and even drive around the track!!!

Besides the Indy track, there is a lot more to Indiapolis. Becca and Richard showed us around the fun downtown complete with a 4 person bike and canal paths. We had a great time on our vacation...............I mean business trip!! Thanks Rich, Becca, and Nike for showing us Indiana.