the Brigham City Temple

 Three years ago, I was at work when they annoced that a Temple would be built in my hometown! We were all so excited, it's all we talked about the whole day! I called Ryan and told him, he was working as well, so we could share our excitment together! Looking back at it now, so much has happened from then to now. Good times and bad times. I remember passing the constrution site of the temple and staring at the 4 corner posts being contructed, as we drove in a limo, Ryan holding our son's tiny casket in his lap, heading toward the cemtary to his funeral. This memory is one that I will always remember, even the tiniest of details. I remember that even though our hearts were aching, seeing the construcion of the temple reminded us that all is not lost, we will be together again. I can't help but think that the Brigham city temple is ours, our special temple. We love it and recieved many blessings while it was being built. As the Temple grew, each brick shaping it into a beautiful strong building, where many go for comfort and peace, we grew along side it. We grew stronger together and we feel deeper. I am far from feeling complete, but I hope that one day I will be like our Temple. Strong, beautiful, and help comfort others when they need it.

Forever.

My mom reserved like 20 tickets for the temple open house, so we could all go together. I can't believe how crowded it was!! We were kinda rushed through it and I wanted to see more! But since then, I've been able to attend a session there, and we got to take our time afterwards and look at all the details we missed. They even let us see the Brides room, which we weren't able to see in the open house. I absolutely loved it! It was too pretty for words! Perfect for a bride on her wedding day!

Our little booties....

I love to see the temple!

For the dedication, we went with my parents, to their stake center. And why wouldn't we take pictures of that day? We take pictures of almost every day. =0)

my best friends

And my beloved eternal companion! Forever with him is my happily ever after!

The End of Summer.

This summer has been so fun filled and it's sad to see it come to a end.

But I am READY for it to end.

BRING ON THE FALL!

I am ready to put away my summer clothes and bring out the warmer ones! I love my hoodies and boots! I find myself looking at the daily forecast and getting excited that the weather is getting cooler. I hate being cold, and I feel like I always am (they tease me at work) but I do love sweaters and my house is loaded with lots of blankets. And hot chocolate, I keep that stuff stocked piled high in my pantry! So I'm set. The only downside with this weather change is that we need a new furnace. Boo. They are expensive.

I  absolutely love Utah's seasons. I love the change. I know by the time Fall and Winter are over, I'll be complaining about how sick  I am of the cold and am so ready for Summer. That's just how it goes, every single year of my life. At least it's something I can count on. For our family, we always know that fall is just around the corner when 3 events happen. First, the Jones Reunion, then the county fair, and then Peach days.

Reunions are kinda funny. Of course I know my family......but who are all those other people there? Apparently I'm related to them. If I have seen them in a store or at work, I'd wouldn't know them from the next person in line. Just a thought. Anyways.... of course I had  fun with my family, the ones I know that is, and I most certainly enjoyed the dessert table as well.

We love Bear Lake! So much that we just had to go again. But this time we went with the Arnolds! The whole family came up, it was quite the party! 

Can't go to Beak Lake without getting a shake!

Isn't she the CUTEST ever!

Lazy doggins! We had a full house of pooches! We didn't bring our Elles bells, but everyone else brought their dog! But I love doggies, so it was heaven for me.

Beach day!Yay!!

She's a mermaid.....

"Trying" to get a tan. It didn't work. Ryan coated like 5 layers of sunblock on me, he keeps telling me I'll thank him one day when I don't have skin cancer.

This is another reason I love him so. He is my big kid. He is going to be the best daddy in the world! Our kids will have the funnest time with him. Or is it the other way around? I really can't wait for a good excuse to buy and play with G.I. Joe's or Barbies again! =0)

Sand is pretty awesome, you pretty much can make anything! We had turtles, dolphins, castles and forts, snakes, and even the Grinch's mt. Crumpit.

                     Mt Crumpit --------------------->

It's a lot of work playing in the sun.

More doggies! They're everywhere!

The County fair was a huge event when I was in High School. It was the last week of summer before school started, I loved the rides, and there was lots and lots of boys there! haha! Now-a-days, it's not even close to a huge event. It almost feels like we don't fit in. The whole place is chuck full of teenagers and families with kids. Good thing there's craft booths and scones with honey butter! Otherwise I don't know if we'd go again until we have our kiddos.

Yummy!

I do love the bunnies, I kinda want one, but Ellie would probably eat it for dinner.

And last of all....Peach Days.

I actually didn't get any pictures during any of the usual peach day celebrations, 

but I did get this one:

This year was my 10 YEAR High School Reunion!!!

Holy crap, I'm getting so old!! How was it, you ask? It was okay. Not the best time of my life and not the worse either. I don't know what it is about High School, but it brings out the shy Karen. After 10 years, I can't get rid of her, she'll probably haunt me till the day I die! But even though I felt like the Karen back in High School again, I was able to talk to some old friends, and it was nice to see them. I don't know if I'll got to the next one....I guess we'll see when the time comes. It all depends who I can bribe to come with me =P

Good bye Summer, we'll see you next year!