Provo City Center Temple

I went to the Provo City Center Open House last week, and guys, I am in love. Walking through the temple is one of my favorite things. This temple is special in so many ways. First off, the story is incredible. And I love the quote that Elder Holland said about this temple being a phoenix rising from the ashes. That statement gives me chills every time I heard it. One thing I love about this temple is that it reminds me of Nauvoo. Which makes sense considering who built it. It really brings the idea of doing work for the dead in a different light. 

If you get a chance to go, please go.

Plus, I got to go with some of my favorite people.

So bonus.

Mom, Jen, & Heidi

Read the story about the Provo City Center temple here.

Get an inside look and timeline here.

Valentine's Day

Happy day after Valentine's Day everyone!

I know many people don't like the holiday, and for most of my life, I didn't. But then I met Shaelee. Valentine's Day is Shaelee's favorite holiday. When she first told me that, I made fun of her. But now, I love Valentine's Day too. It isn't my favorite holiday, because Christmas (duh), but I now appreciate the 'idea' behind the holiday.

Last year, Valentine's Day fell on a Saturday. It was the last Saturday that I would work with Shaelee. We made epic music videos, but that is another blog post. Later that day, I hung out with Marnie. We made heart shaped pizza, that was cut into a broken heart, and watched a chick flick. This was so much fun. It was the first time that Marnie and I hung out with out Shaelee. 

Because of my pleasant encounter with Valentine's Day, I am starting to understand the purpose. Now, I don't have a 'lover' (hahahaha) and so I have to be creative when celebrating V-day. This year I decided to celebrate my friendships and here is why. In the past, I had a 9-month streak with friendships. After 9-months the friendship would self destruct. I warned Marnie and Shaelee about this streak and I can proudly say we made it past the 9-months. So now, I am showing them how much I appreciate their presence in my life with presents!

 

My gifts were simple but thoughtful. I got Dr. Pepper because life isn't complete without caffeine. Nail polish to remember all those late nights doing our nails. Their favorite candy, red velvet cakes (obviously). And of course crayons.

It was so much fun putting these gift bags together. Now to think of ideas for next year.

Contemplation on the Previous Year

BEWARE: Sappy end of 2015 beginning 2016 post ahead.

A year ago my best friends and I made an amazing video.

This video makes me feel all the feelings. 

I laugh, I cry (typically from laughing too much), and I feel sad. 

I feel sad because a year ago, I didn't know what 2015 was going to throw at me. Of course life is hard, but I didn't know it was going to be that hard. I went through stuff-doesn't everyone?- but I think the hardest trial I had was watching my favorite people go through their trials. Watching people go through experience is hard because I want to take away their pain. I want to through the trial so that they don't have to. Living through 2015 taught me that the only way I could help my friends was to be there for them. 

So to all my friends and family who read this blog, we did it. I know it is cheesy but we made it through 2015 in one piece.. I think. So good luck with 2016. I hope all your wildest dreams come true.

Utah vs. BYU Gymnastics

Over The Hill

Tyler, Christina, Heidi, Meme, Brandt, Jennie, Mom, Dad, Joe, & Keshia

Heidi & Mom

Happy Birthday Mom!

This post is a few days late but that is because we celebrated a few days late.

Mom got a selfie stick, so you know more 'family photos' are in the future. ha.

To celebrate Mom's big birthday we ate dinner at Tres Hombres.

Then we came back to the house to play games.

We played Hollywood Game night. It was fun playing different games and seeing who understood the weird clues given. We also played telastrations. It would be safe to say that none of us are artists.  

It was a night full of laughter and memories.

Unusual Holiday Week

Hi Ramblers.

I feel like I haven't blogged in weeks but that is just because so much 'stuff' has happened. 

First off, Christmas was great. I read the Nativity scene for the Anderson Family Nativity. This was a role I have never played before. I only messed up a few times. Shhh. 

Christmas morning went by quickly with only two children at home.

I took pictures before we opened presents. I haven't loaded them to my computer so this phone snap shot will have to do. 

We did all of the Christmas traditions that I have written about before. It was a dream weekend. Plus, I had four days off of work. That hasn't happened since I took a weekend off to go to Flaming Gorge. 

After Christmas it was back to work and reality. 

The Anderson's did our annual get-together with the Gregory's. We eat pizza and play games. Always a good time with all the hooligans. 

To top off the week, I got my wisdom teeth out. 

Yes, this happened New Year's Eve.

I had a two pictures to pick from. This is my best option... sadly. 

Turns out that I become a blubbering child when under heavy medications.

I have been bedridden for a few days. Slowly adding more solid foods to my diet. Going back to work and school is going to be the most interesting.

Christmas Eve Eve

Shaelee, Heidi & Marnie

 The day before Christmas Eve is one of my favorite days.

I spend this day with Marnie and Shaelee. We started this tradition last year, in our first year of friendship. Our tradition includes an expensive dinner, temple square lights, and City Creek.

This year, we decided to eat at the Cheesecake Factory. We knew it would be busy but that is just part of the holiday. We started our reservation and then explored the lights on temple square. Can you say cold? haha. There was a chilly wind and so we made our way quickly to City Creek. Re-created our picture from last year. Played in the Disney Store. Walked around Macy's. Basically passing the time till we could order our food. Once we were seated at Cheesecake Factory we quickly ordered, ate our food, and ordered cheesecake to go. I ordered Parmesan-Herb Crusted Chicken with mashed potatoes. Oh my goodness, it was heaven. I would definitely recommend it to a friend. Once we paid, we headed home. We were all excited to give gifts. You could tell that we really knew each other this year compared to last year. It would be safe to say that we all left happy campers. 

I love Christmas.

Traditions, Traditions, TRRRAAADDDIITTIIONNSSS

If you didn't sing the title like the song from Fiddler on the Roof, you may need to reevaluate your life. Lately I have been trying to think of blog posts that I could write.  It is difficult to "blog about my life" when my life rarely changes. I wish that I was more exciting and I had more to share. But I don't. So for now, I will just make things up and we will see where this takes us.

I was reading on some blog that I found on Pinterest that an enticing post could be to write about traditions. 

This seems fitting considering the time of year. 

My family traditions are 'bizarre' or so I have been told. Just kidding. They are fairly normal. Bizarre is just my favorite world to describe my family because that is the world my sister-in-law used at her first Thanksgiving with us. Memorable moments. ha. Anyways, my Christmas typically spans over three days. 

CHRISTMAS EVE:

It starts on Christmas Eve when we go to my Grandparents on the Anderson side. The basement is always decorated and everyone brings lots of food. We have ham or roast. It's a surprise. We all gather. We pray. We eat. It's always a good time with the cousins. Once everyone is finished we clean up. Many hands makes light work. It is insane how quick that downstairs is transformed. After dinner we do a pinata. I know. We are white. Get over it. On a general rule you have to be under the age of 12 to even attempt the pinata. I think the best part is watching the pinata almost hit people. Never sit by the counter if you come to the Anderson Christmas Eve Party. Next up, presents. We do draw names in two groups. One for the children and one for the adults. Yours truly has been in the adult drawing for two years. That's right, I'm an a-dult. The last round of the Christmas Eve Party is the Nativity. I was always an angel. Obviously. The last few years I have been 'directing' or singing also known as getting out of the acting thing. At the conclusion of the Nativity the family sings Silent Night together. By this time it is usually 10:00 and so everyone heads home and anxiously awaits the arrival of the man in the suit.

CHRISTMAS:

 Since all the kids sleep downstairs, Santa leaves the gifts upstairs. Every year, us kids would gather together and we would sneak upstairs into the living room. If you know our house you know that to get to the living room you know we have to walk past the family room which is off limits for obvious reasons. Once we are in the living room, one brother would play Christmas songs as we all sang along: 'caroling' if you will. Once we felt like the parentals knew we were upstairs we would go and convince to come out of their room. They always try to tell us Santa didn't come and that the presents aren't as good as we think they will be. Once we go to the family room, we are always blown away by the sight. Christmas morning really is magical. The kids open presents one by one so we can all see what everyone got. Well that and to make the Christmas magic last just a little longer. Once all the presents are open I always want to go back to bed because I am overwhelmed. That is just how I feel after receiving so many gifts. But going back to bed isn't exactly an option. The day has just begun. We head off to the Grandparents on the Larrabee side. We eat yummy food all day. Sausage fondue anyone? Visiting, naps, testing the new gadgets, and more gift giving is how the typical day goes. Since I'm not married the day is pretty lax. The poor married siblings have to juggle so much more than I do. After the party is over, we head home and watch some Christmas movie. (and by we, I usually mean me and any other individual who wants to join.) 

DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS:

This day is practically as religious as Christmas. Believe me. I worked the 26th last year and I was deeply missed. This is the day we celebrate Christmas with the Anderson family. This day we travel to each house of the cousins and we 'show' our Christmas. It is an easy way to tell everyone what you got in one large sweep. If you know how big my Anderson Family is you will understand how repetitive it can become. This tradition comes from years before I was born when all the older cousins were young. It was a time for the cousins to basically play with the toys that they other cousins got. I love the day after Christmas because we spend many hours with the cousins. 

So that is an outline of my Christmas. And I am pretty excited to Celebrate fully this year.

Meme, Brandt, Jennie, Joe, Keshia & Heidi
Christmas 2014

This Was Something Devine (see what I did there?)

I still can't believe that I met Hailey Devine.

I have been following her on social media since I moved to college.

I feel like Hailey is one of my friends.

She is inspirational, talented, and not to mention, her daughter is the cutest.

I apologize for my squinty eyes but that is what happens when I am extremely happy. And this was an extremely happy moment.

If you don't follow the Devines, you need to get to it, right now.

You won't regret it. And if you do, are we even friends?

Follow Hailey here.