Giving thanks

Our thanksgiving was a wonder. We had so much fun having the Facer side of our family up here. We did our traditional thanksgiving morning shooting session. Dave is one sharp shooter (thats attractive) and i got considerably better. Added bonus - this year we didn't miss thanksgiving dinner! As we were gathered around the table and had finished our meal we all took turns saying what we are grateful for this year. Here are a couple things on my list:
• Dave. Best friend. Confidant. Companion.
• Family. McAffees and Facers. My best friends. How did I get so lucky?
• Jesus Christ, a Father in Heaven, and a Church that teaches me how to live a good life and be happy.
• Utah. For the mountains, the seasons, the people, the education, the firsts, the experiences.
• California. For the family, the ocean, the surf, the weather, the peace, and the freeing feeling of cruising down pch.

Over the break we:
Bowled (Dave got a 221!), ate 9 pies, played Harry potter trivia (the best game ever), many more games, walked along the Heber creeper railroad, watched football, Charlie Chaplin, the snowman, and a charlie brown christmas, played ping pong, released white does (no not kidding), read books, talked, and laughed. Just the way a break should be. Mellow, and fun. Can't wait for Christmas!

ventura highway, in the suuunshine.

OK not Ventura Hwy, the Alpine Loop. This day was BEAUTIFUL. On a Sunday after church I suggested to Dave that we just go for a drive up the canyon to take in all the fall colors and smells before winter hits. I am so glad we did. This will be one of my favorite memories of the whole year. I could not believe how bright the aspens were. Not many reds and oranges...just bright BRIGHT yellow everywhere we looked. They were the kind of views that actually took my breath away.

We did a little exploring, a lot of good talking, and enjoyed just being in the moment. This is what I want my life to be like all the time.

halloween.

Dave and I are not the biggest fan of this holiday. I mean let's face it....I'm right with the department stores on this one...in fact, i beat them, I started listening to Christmas music back in September when we had two days of a chill.  I'm sure Halloween will be more fun when we have kids that fully enjoy the sugar high.

Considering what we did last year for halloween (nothing), this year was a serious upgrade. Even if our costumes were put together the same day and weren't all that original. Saturday before halloween was spent at a halloween party hosted by the Johansens. Dave was a lumberjack and I was a tree. I sewed my own "tree" skirt and hat outta felt in about an hour, it was great. We got to play games, have great food, and carve pumpkins, all the while enjoying some good times catching up with friends. Dave and I brought Wasail, and for the foam cups we drew pictures on all of them with a halloween joke, on the bottom of the cup was the answer. It made for some small laughs.

Dave's favorite joke is a little inappropriate...but it was a crowd favorite, so here goes..."Why can't boy ghosts have babies?"

Drum roll please......

"Because they have Hollow-Weenies!"

Sorry Dad, I know.... that was a little much. So for actual Halloween we kept it mellow and went to see some bands play at Velour (a local Provo music stop). Dave was a lumberjack (see a running theme here?), and I was a hippy. Classy. We enjoyed some musical stylings by The Campaign ---band mates included Tom Hall and Jay Tibbits -- some of our really good friends we grew up. They have some sick jammies. Then came out a Prince tribute band called Funky Violet....and they were pretty funky. We loved it. Probably the best Halloween I've had in a long time.

favorite halloween memory

:: This is an embarassing one. I was about 12 and my younger sister was probably 9. We were going trick or treating with my mom and I think my aunt and cousin Tiff were there. Anyways, we're walkin up this one hill  and these two guys came towards us wearing Scream masks carrying fake axes and stuff. I get REALLY spooked by stuff like that. They can tell I'm scared so they come up to me and are all breathing heavy and saying creepy stuff. I just freeze, and crouch down in a ball. They wouldn't stop. I don't know where my mom or aunt were...but next thing I know my YOUNGER sister comes over and starts smacking these guys with her candy-filled pillowcase and yelling "Leave my sister alone!!" Haha. She was swingin' homers, that candy bag was hitting them so hard, I'm surprised it didn't rip open! Then they start heading towards her so she goes up on some random person's lawn and yells, "You can't come up here...this is PRIVATE PROPERTY!" They were probably thinking what the heck, this crazy little girl is tough. So they finally peaced out. At the time I couldn't laugh about it, I was just thankful she was there. But now looking back, it is one of the funniest memories I have of us together. Good times.

Any of you who know my sister...she's a tough one. It's funny because my sister has always been like that to me. Very protective. And she's always been stronger! She could beat me in an arm wrestle any day. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Haha, love you Shan!!!