Remember....

Christ is the Reason for the Season!

Why does winter always seem so busy?

I can't believe that it is already December 8th. This year has really just flown by. I remember being a kid and the month of December would just drag by. Every day I would open the date on my Advent Calendar and take out a chocolate, I'd cut one of my paper rings off the chain, I'd cross one more day off the calendar....and it seemed like forever! Now it seems like Christmas will be here before I know it and I'm not even close to ready! We haven't gotten our tree, we haven't put out Christmas decorations, I haven't done ANY shopping, watched any Christmas movies...I'm so busy that I haven't had any time to enjoy the season. Until tonight.

Tonight, Brett & I went and saw "A Christmas Carol" at the Hale Center Theater. It was wonderful. I've always enjoyed the story, but there was something about slowing down our lives for a second to take the time to go see it tonight that I really understood the message and meaning behind it. I need to slow down and enjoy every moment before all I have are past regrets that I never took the time to enjoy the season while I still can. Merry Christmas!

By the way, I still think "Mickey's Christmas Carol" is my favorite version of this classic story! 

It's Official!

Melanie is 6 months old, and that means she is officially a member of the Kramer Klan! We had the adoption finalization on Thursday. Even though Dad & Angela are officially her parents now, we really have all felt that she was meant to be in our family the whole time. She is the sweetest, happiest little girl and we are so blessed to have her in our family. Love you Melly!! (Pictures to come...)

Pun'kin Fun

The other night we went to Dad and Angela's to carve pumpkins. I must say, I was impressed with everyone's creativity. Here are some highlights.
Brett carved Dwight...he looks a bit sinister as a pumpkin.

David carved Jack, the Pumpkin King.

Michael and Bryttan carved these beauties.

Dad's masterpiece creation.

Angela's--you can't tell from this picture, but hers has these ugly rats poking out the holes.

And my witch's shoes... All in all, a fun night!

Donut Again!

Yesterday we went on a fall hike up to Donut Falls. It was so nice to get away and really appreciate nature and what a wonderful world we live in. It was really fun going with Brett. It was quite a scramble to the top, climbing on boulders and crossing streams and he was always looking back and offering me his hand and encouraging me the whole way. It was a really good opportunity for us to work together and it was totally worth it because the view from the top is awesome. And then we saw this guy, or should I say lady. A  HUGE cow Moose. It was so scary. We ended up bushwhacking through the forest in order to go around her because she was right in the trail. Amazing.

Itching for a Vay-cay

I'm getting cabin fever. I really want to get out of town. I would like to go here

or perhaps Here

or even Here

I wish I could just go, but it seems like we have so much more responsibility these days. We're trying to save our money so we can pay for grad school, but every time we start to build a little up, I want to spend it on vacation! I can't help it if I want to see the world. *sigh*

I'm baaack!

Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted---it's been a busy summer! Or at least it feels like it. I never posted pictures about London....but I will. It's still on my to-do list. Highlights of the summer: Brett and I conquered Mt. Olympus. Literally---it was a death hike. My sister in law Lindsey had the most adorable baby boy Luke on August 4, making me a first time aunt! Brett and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary on August 10th by "sightseeing" in SLC. Brett got a new job as a Loan Workout Officer in Credit Management at Zion's and is still studying hard for the GMAT and hopefully grad school next fall. We just moved (again!) into the Millcreek area and we love it. The ward has been really great and we feel so welcome.
Last weekend Brett and I took a few days off of work to enjoy the last few days of summer...and lucky we did because the day we went back to work it dropped 20 degrees and started raining/snowing. Anyway, here are a few of the highlights.
Fishing at Strawberry.

I'm so proud of myself for not only catching the fish, but touching it with BARE HANDS for the picture :)

Hiking Grandeur Peak--the pictures do not even do justice to the colors up there. You just have to use your imagination.