the week before finals in 3 snap shots

All I Can say is I survived this week and I think the worst is over. Hallelujah. 

I haven't been home to make dinner once this week. 

I'm stressed to my maxx.

I have a few new zits on my chin to prove it. (tmi?)

I've worn a hat almost every day. Looking a little like a hobo.

I accidentally wore my moccasins to work yesterday.

I.am.a.case. 

our thanksgivin'

Thanksgiving was the best this year. I loved every minute of it. I woke up bright and early to head to Cross-Fit because let's face it, I kinda like that place. Then Nate and I ran all around the park and practiced sprints to make up for the loads and loads of turkey we would later be consuming. Totally worth it. We ate dinner with Nate's fam who I just love more and more everyday. Everything tasted delicious and instead of taking a nap after stuffing our faces everyone headed out to the gun range. (aka the backyard) perks of living in West Corinne I guess. ha ha  We had such a blast and I have even improved on my shooting skills!! big deal. So naturally, Nate thinks I need my OWN for Christmas. Um I think I'm more of a new clothes girl than a new gun girl but we'll see what he decides. 

Thanksgiving night we got to go over to my parents and eat pie and play with the fam. It was such a perfect day I never wanted it to end. 

 Um how do I work this thing again?? 

Thanksgiving Eve shoppin with my favorite side kick. It was CRAY-ZY.

Our little apartment is looking quite cozy and I love it. Even if we still haven't gotten around to decorating the tree. 

These marks are from  my jump rope whipping me this morning. multiple times. I.HATE.DOUBLE-UNDERS. 

Now it's back to real life and I'm telling you this week has already been a whirlwind. Yesterday I didn't get home until 9:30 at night (after being gone all day) I was literally pooped. Like I'm talking too tired to even pick out cowgirl boots that Nate so graciously offered to purchase for me right then before the sale ended. What is wrong with me??
 But after next week I'm FREE! As I was looking through my planner (nerd alert) I realized pretty much every hour of every day this week is occupied. Yikes. I'll be glad when the weekend rolls around again! 

Thanksgiving 'n stuff

Okay where in the world did November go?? Suddenly it's almost over and I feel like it has just FLOWN by.It has been busy but so wonderful! I just want the next month to go by so SLOW. So I can enjoy it all.

I'm so stinkin' excited for Turkey Day. It is my 2nd most absolute favorite holiday (next to the Fourth of July.)
It's crazy that last year at this time we were in sunny Mexico livin' it up on a huge ship! But I'm excited to be HOME this year and be with fam. I'm planning on doing a KILLER workout Thursday morning so I can stuff my face. (without feeling TOO guilty ;)

Some weird thing I'm grateful for:
+money to pay the gas bill. (otherwise we'd literally freeze)
+broad shoulders (that sometimes make the seam in my shirt rip)
+water. to drink, to shower, to clean. I know i take it for granted.
+cowgirl boots
+homework (because even though I hate it, it means I'm getting  an education)
+banana breakfast smoothies. I would be lost without them.
+bruises on my shins and collar bone.  (because they are proof  that I am pushing myself)
+my beautiful opal wedding ring that I have never ONCE regretted.
+marriage. because it is better than I ever could have imagined
+WHITE chocolate. hold the brown stuff please.
+being able to teach the YW in our ward.
+eyebrow wax. mine are forests.
+feeling free
+Nate's blue semi truck. when I see it through the window at shop I can't help but jump for joy.
+FAMILY. on both sides that can always put a smile on my face.


So here's a little trip down memory lane.

Ann and me. Thanksgiving 2007. I remember being so excited she was HOME! 

Thanksgiving 2010. My first year of college and I had never been so grateful to spend turkey day with MY fam. and so.many.babies. 

Thanksgiving 2012. I had just barely gotten back from Ghana. Hence the tan skin and blondie hair. I couldn't get enough of that baby Lowell. 

Last year on Thanksgiving day. we swam and layed in the sun all day. perfection.

Oh and don't worry. Here is a selfie from this morning I took while waiting atthedamn train.
I really do have SO MUCH to be GRATEFUL for. 

random october

when a baby is as cute as him, its hard not to want to take a million photos. LOVE that baby B. 

Girl time at the cabin :)

Her shirt isn't very convincing. ha! She's the cutest. 

Pumpkin Patch Pickin' at it's finest. 

I was quite picky about finding the perfect pumpkin. 

Grandmas J's 92nd b-day celebration. She will always be the young, fun grandma in my eyes.

I sure do love this lady. 

Corinne can be kinda pretty i guess..

baby muscles. (ignore the sweaty tank and messy room) BUT after doing about 100 thrusters I felt like I needed proof that something was happening! 

cowgirl boots and blue jeans. my kinda day 

It's not too early to be sending Nate  Christmas gifts hints is it??   ( Call me a granny but i could reallllly use a robe) 

Last weekend was too hectic so we had to squeeze in a Saturday afternoon lunch date to make up for missing our weekly date night. 

I love when Nate makes a Peruvian dish for Sunday dinner. 

I sure do love that Indian of mine though 

I can't believe I'm really saying this but I am pretty sad to see October come to an end. It has been one of my favorites... ever. Not to mention the WARMEST!!  I love that we have been able to do so many fun things outside-it makes me feel like I'll be able to bare the winter cold a little better.Well, Hopefully.
 School is hectic as usual but its crazy to think that this will be my last fall EVER that I'll be going to school. (or will it be??)  I'm trying to just enjoy it all and not wish away time. This life is pretty dang good.

cow heads and babies

We spent a (small) fortune on this gem for our home. It is huge in real life and I love it. Nate thinks it's a little creepy. 

Sometimes I get weird and tell Nate we should probably have a baby soon. Then I look at his photos and think yep, We DEFINITELY need a baby soon. Then we stay out way late and I sleep as long as I want and I think, We should probably wait on the baby. BUT LOOK AT HIM!

This will be going up somewhere in our home :)

Perfect fall evening spent out in the country. Complete with a fire and all. 

We had a little couples get together this weekend and I haven't laughed that hard in a LONG time. The kinda laughing where you are afraid you will pee a little. That kind. These people are prime dimes and I'm glad we have so much fun. (Also notice the 7 month pregnant lady, is she a trooper or what?) 

perfect fall weekend.

  I love fall. There, I said it. Especially this one.
I love our night time walks in the cool air. I love getting out of class at 9 o clock and it's already DARK outside. I love wearing a jacket for our warm ups in the morning. I love that the leaves are starting to change. Our world is seriously beautiful.

one of my favs. from family pics. I sure do love this guy. 

So fun to catch up with this lady who I hadn't seen in AGES. Plenty of reminiscing and talks of future plans. 

We (barely) made it to the temple on the  very last day of September. (procrastinate much??) Everything that could possibly go wrong, did. But we made it! So it counts. 

This little lady is too much fun. She kept me laughing all weekend. She is sweet and sassy. *don't know where on EARTH she got the sassy part ;)

The scenery was so Beautiful on our 4-wheeler ride I honestly could have taken a million photos. 

Conference Cuddles. Suz and I fought over this chair all day until finally, we decided to compromise. 

The little rat dog that literally sat at my feet begging for popcorn on multiple occasions. He kinda grows on ya though.

Even the ornery face looks dashing on him.

& now for a monotonous update. I swear I'm not turning into one of those psychos but this blog is for me and someday I want to look back and see the progress I've made. I am killin' it with the no grain diet. I am learning to be more and more creative in what I cook and in what I pack for lunch each day. Don't get me wrong, this weekend was TOUGH when my grandma whipped out her killer homemade rolls, and of course I didn't want to offend her by not having one.But I thought of how far I've come and I just couldn't sacrifice it on one roll. When the rolls got to me I politely passed them on without looking twice. (afraid I would surrender on the second look) ha ha  I feel in control. I have made it 2 1/2 weeks and only have 3 1/2 more go. nbd. I love that the girls on my team send me recipe ideas or text me when they need encouragement not to eat the cake their neighbor brought them. We all have a common goal and support each other at our work outs AND with our food intake. I really like that.

  

This face shows just how much I love my morning smoothies. They are practically the best thing ever. I'm a breakfast girl through and through and these just really hit the spot. I've tried a variety of recipes but this one is my favorite at the moment.

1 frozen banana

1 scoop protein (or meal replacement of some sort)

1 spoonful of peanut butter

4-5 ice cubes

& a touch of milk just so it's not too thick

 I sip on this all morning at work and don't even get hungry until lunch time.