Thanksgiving Boise Style

A few days after getting home from Denver, I headed up to Boise to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Idaho Cosby's and my parentals.  It was a relaxing and fantastic weekend!  On my way up, I stopped in Brigham City to do a session at the newly opened temple.  It was so beautiful!  I have quite a few ancestors that settled in Brigham City and that are buried in the Brigham City cemetery.  I remember feeling a strong tie to this temple during the dedication a couple of months ago because of these ancestors.  They must be so happy to see a temple in their home town!

Shortly after arriving in Boise, we headed out to go bowling.  Isaac is in love with bowling these days.  It is very funny!  What is more funny is my bowling outfit.  I didn't have socks on, so I borrowed the socks that my mom was wearing.

Talking to the boy while bowling. I'm a multi-tasker!  I look like a polygamist!

Thanksgiving day was awesome!  I don't think I ever changed out of my pajamas!  We ate and ate and watched lots of football...the way Thanksgiving should be!

Decorating for Christmas!

On Saturday night, we took my parents to the airport and then ran some errands.  I had to get my Baja Fresh fix while I was there, but Ryan and Kara weren't feeling that.  Kara had a craving for Panda Express, so we stopped there, and Ryan really wanted Jimmy John's, so we stopped there too.  Isaac had a hotdog from Costco.  We all ate something different for dinner!  Haha!

I went to sacrament meeting with Kara and Ryan and then headed on my way home.  We Kara told Isaac that I was going bye, bye, he started to cry, and then I cried.  I hate saying goodbye to family!  Even though it is only for a month!  I just love that little kid, and we had such a fun time!

Miracles a Mile High!

Dear Fans,
My most sincere and deepest apologies for my long absence.  Blogger was causing me grief and saying I was over my size limit or some sort of nonsense.  I am back!  Prepare for blog post overload! 

In the middle of November, the most exciting thing happened!  My Aunt Staci and two cousins, Trevor and Rachel, were baptized!  It was just about the best thing ever and the result of years and years of prayers, fasts, and temple prayer rolling!  I had to go out a few days early to help with some work stuff, and then my family all arrived on Saturday morning (Nov. 17).  We got all checked into our hotel and grabbed some lunch.

 

As we were sitting in Jason's Deli eating lunch, I kept thinking how much I love all these people.  We were in tears laughing a couple of times.  My parents and siblings are seriously the best people on earth and I love them and love every minute I get to be with them.  After lunch we headed to the church for the baptism.  I haven't seem some of this extended family since my grandpa's funeral in 2008.  That is just simply unacceptable!

The baptism was beautiful and the Spirit was so strong.  The bishop baptized Staci and then Kendall baptized both Trevor and Rachel.  After the baptism we had a big party at Kendall and Staci's house and watched the BYU football game.

On Sunday, Staci, Trevor, and Rachel were all confirmed (Staci by the missionary that had taught them, Clint and Wyatt confirmed Trevor and Rachel) and Trevor was ordained as a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood by Kendall.

The whole weekend was amazing.  There was so much love!  I love this gospel and love my family.  I love that Kendall and Staci invited us all back to their home for Thanksgiving next year so we can all be there when they are sealed as an eternal family.  I can't wait for that!  I feel so blessed that I was able to be there!

3's A Crowd

Everything has been popping up in 3's lately.  A few days after returning home from Chicago, I ran my 3rd half marathon of 2012 with Amy, Heather, and Olivia.  It started up Provo Canyon at Sundance and ended at the Riverwoods.  It was not a pleasant experience for the most part.  We had to wait outside in the freezing cold for an hour waiting for the bus to take us to the race start.   

Freezing our booties off!

The one pleasant thing was this view...

We were looking forward to warming up in the heated tent at the race start.  The race tent was not nearly big enough to accommodate all the people who wanted to be in it.  We were like sardines in there, but we refused to wait outside any longer.  Then I should have gone pee again before we took off running, but I didn't.  I felt like I was going to wet myself the whole way, and every port-a-potty we passed had a line 10 people deep.

Yes, that is snow.  And yes it is hard to take a quality picture while running.

There are my girls!

We stuck together for the most part for the first 9ish miles, and then I just had to get finished.  I was freezing, starving, grumpy, and full of urine.  When I finished, I felt like I was going to pass out which has never happened before.  I think I didn't hydrate myself enough because it was so cold.  Basically, I was a mess!  Anywho, I was really glad that one was over.  Time to retire from half marathons for while!

Olivia's fiancee, Jake Schofield (who I call Scho for short), was so kind and brought us chocolate milk.  There is nothing better than some chocolate milk after a long run!  He's a keeper!  I supposed I can allow him to take one of my besties away from me.

It was sunny. But not warm, don't be fooled!

Doughnuts are also a good thing to consume after running 13 miles.  Thanks for those too, Scho!

Then we were knee-deep in Halloween-ness.  I'm not much of a Halloween celebrator, but it is more fun to have nephews and a niece to celebrate it with.  Jack was Captain America.

Sophie was Minnie Mouse.

Isaac was Elmo.  Someday I will be in Boise on Halloween to celebrate with little Iz!  I have the 3 cutest nephews and niece on the earth!
Then my 33rd birthday was hot on our tails.  Heather took me to dinner one night to celebrate.  I forgot to take a picture!  Hate when I do that! 
In the week leading up to my birthday, I decided to try and go to the temple 3 times.  It was not to try and be super righteous but mostly because I had been in Chicago and lazy the two weeks before, so I had some making up to do.  I love going to the temple!  Going 3 times in one week was definitely a first for me, but it was so great.  The Sunday before my birthday I had my temple recommend interview with a member of my bishopric, and the Sunday after my birthday, I had my interview with the Stake President.  I love temple recommend interviews.  For me it is way of bearing my testimony to myself and to my Heavenly Father.  It's such a blessing to have so many temples so close! I called my parents on the way to the temple on my birthday, and they were on their way to the temple as well.  I'm pretty sure I drove to the temple, did a session, and drove home all in the time it took them just to drive to the Los Angeles temple.  I'm so spoiled and my parents are so faithful!
I bought myself an iPhone 5 on my actual birthday, and a new jacket.  Tricia took me to lunch and bought me another to-die-for jacket, and I went to the gym.  I got flowers from my friend, Adam, who lives in Illinois.  So sweet and thoughtful!  The night of my birthday ended up being a huge bust.  I was supposed to have a date, but my date's dad ended up having some health problems, so my date had to raincheck.  I was bummed to say the least, especially because this boy had been on vacation for a week and I hadn't seen his face in a long time.  His dad is now fine, and he has some making up to do! :)  So I turned 33 on the 3rd watching some awesome college football games by myself and going to bed at 10pm.  Good thing I had a party with the Grossen's lined up for Sunday and another gathering planned for Monday. 

All dressed up and cute to watch football solo.  This is the smokin' hot jacket Tricia bought me.  Love it!

 I went to take pictures at my birthday party with Amy's fam on Sunday and came across these beauties on my camera...

Talk about making my day!  Tricia and Preston had some fun with my camera after I had gone to bed Saturday night.  That was a great surprise!
I headed to Amy's after church on Sunday and she had prepared a feast.  At my request she made tuna balls (which involve zero tuna and are mostly just meatballs of deliciousness - a childhood fav).  I got to have a dance party with Jack and Soph and eat the most delicious pumpkin cake ever.

These three video will make anyone smile especial this aunt!  I love my babies!

Please pay particular attention to Sophie's anticipation of blowing out the candles and the present she gives us with her candle extinguishing blow in the next one (and pardon the lack of clothing)...

This is the best gal on earth!  Thanks for such a great party, Ame!

And since no one had the pleasure of beholding me in my smokin' hot jacket the night before, you know I wore it to church the next day and to my family party.  The Grossen's got me these sparkly black heels and my parents got me some cute new clothes (which are featured in the next party).

On Monday, my roommates made a delicious dinner and we had a few friends over.  My birthday was mostly an excuse to see some friends over who we hadn't seen in a while.  Ok, it was mostly to have Brett over so I could meet his girlfriend (I approve!).  He made me a spectacular cake! 

New shirt and jeans (which you can't see) from my parentals.

I love these people!  Brett, Kim, O, Jake, Quade, T, Preston, and me.

That's right, baby!

So I'm 33 now.  How is it possible that I'm that old?  I still feel 23.  I like to think I'm still 23.  I have the make up birthday date with the boy tonight and lunch with former (sad day) coworker, Holly, on Thursday.  So birthday celebrations continue!  I'm so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life!  Special thanks to my roommates and Amy for pampering me!  Another year sexier!