O Christmas Tree

So Ben and I are obsessed with Christmas trees. As soon as December 1 hitI begged him every day if we could please get a Christmas tree. Finally after we got paid Ben agreed and we went and picked out a Christmas tree. I love real trees, it makes the house smell so good. Growing up in Washington it's just not acceptable to have a fake tree. So one Sunday afternoon we took a break from studying for finals and decorated our tree. Here are some pictures from that happy time :)

Shannon's Wedding

Two days after Thanksgiving my sister got married. It was a perfect day with no rain (which is a miracle in Oregon that time of the year). She was absolutely beautiful and her and Will seemed so happy. We were able to go home for the wedding which was so much fun to be part of the festivities and see our families. Here are some pics from that day at the Portland, Oregon temple:

Turkey Trot & Tri

So at the beginning of November, I participated in what is called the Turkey Trot and Tri, better known as a sprint triathlon. I didn't do this by choice as I am not an avid runner and my knee does not allow me to be. However for my Practicum it was required because we did it with our alternative high school students we were teaching. Luckily my teacher let us do the triathlon as a relay. I did the bike leg of the relay. It was a 10 mile bike ride and I completed it in good time, about 35 minutes. Which considering I didn't do an ounce of training makes me feel pretty good about that time. I would like you to notice my attire. I'm participating in a triahlon wearing my basketball shorts and high school basketball sweatshirt, while riding a mountain bike with road tires, and wearing Ben's longboarding helmet. So random...

I finished!!!
Me approaching the finish line :)

Yep, with my shiny silver helmet you could see me coming from a mile away

Getting reaady to race.

Halloween!!!

So, what's a better way to celebrate the new year than by posting pictures from Halloween? I felt like that's a great idea. So here are pictures from the Halloween parties Ben and I attended during the week of Halloween. We decided to be The Incredibles. I guess while Ben was on his mission in Argentina all the Argentines told him he looked like Mr. Incredible and called him Elder Incredible so it was only fitting that we made that a reality. Oh, on a side note, I tried to dye my hair red like Mrs. Incredible but the pkg said that it may permanently make blond hair red...and I just wasn't ready for that kind of change so I was a blond Mrs. Incredible. Enjoy :)

There was a donut eating contest and no girls participated so I felt like I had to represent. I lost horribly...
Ben was a close 2nd in the donut eating contest. He had frosting all over his face by the time it was done.

Horseback Riding

So just to set the record straight. I hate animals. I hate how they smell, how they shed, and how they drool. It doesn't help that I'm allergic to them. Yet Ben is always trying to get me to do new and exciting things. Our bishop lives on a ranch and is your stereotypical cowboy. He owns about 10 horses and constinently encourages us to get up to his house in Elk Ridge and ride them. So Ben decided to take the bishop up on his offer and schedule a time to go for a horse ride. I was not excited for this at all. We get there and I'm terrified of the horses and terrified I'm gonna end up being kicked up or that the horse if gonna run off somewhere. I struggle getting on the horse and feel really uncomfortable on it. We get situated and start trotting. I have a hard time trying to figure out how to steer my horse and it keeps wandering off to eat hay. After a few lessons from the bishops wife I finally take charge of my horse and we start trotting up a mountain. After we got going and started to see the amazing views on top of the mountain I started to enjoy myself a little. It ended up being a fun trip and I actually got on top of a horse. Not something I ever thought I would do.

Yeah, probably a once in a lifetime picture right here.

Our horses kept eating...they are very determined animals when they eat and hard to control

Stewart Falls Round Two

So when I was going through my pictures on my computer the other day I stumbled upon these. These were taken in July, about a week before I got my wisdom teeth out to be exact. Ben planned an elder's quarum activity to hike up to Stewart Falls one Saturday afternoon. Here are some pictures from that day.

Here Ben is underneath the actual waterfall itself. He ended up getting soaked!

Stewart Falls

At the base of the waterfall

Our close up :)

Me leading the pack.

Baker Beach Day

A little over a month ago Ben & I had the chance to go back to Washington to visit our families for the first time in about 8 months. It felt so good to be back home and be around friends and family. I love Washington and miss it so much when I'm not there. I love the low-key lifestyle there and all the trees, lakes, and rivers everywhere. It was so good to be with our families too. Ben's brother Ryan came home from his mission to Jamaica so it was really good to see him after two years. My sister got engaged while I was away so I got to spend time with her and her fiance Will.

One of the funnest things we did was go to Seaside, Oregon. It is my favorite place in the whole world. When I was younger my family would go camping there on the beach multiple times every summer. I feel like I almost grew up there we were there so much so I absolutely love going back. My Mom had her birthday while we were home and she wanted to go on a family day trip to the beach. Here are some pictures:

So I absolutely love the Tilt-A-Whirl. Everytime I get on it I laugh non-stop and I can't help it. Here is me, Ben, and Kyle (my brother) in motion. I really am laughing but it's kinda hard to tell.

My brother had always wanted to go boogy boarding but never had so Ben taught him. He is now addicted and has already been a couple more times since we were home.

Kyle decided to dig a giant hole. It was like 3 feet deep. So my Mom and I jumped in for a picture.


Family Picture!!! Except for my Dad because he was taking the picture. From left to right: Will, me, Ben, Mom, Shannon, and Kyle is buried. He didn't like being buried so much and it took awhile to get him out of there.

Ok, this is one of my all time favorite pictures. This is taken at my favorite spot in the entire world. It's the South Jetty in Astoria, Oregon but I call it the rocks. These are massive boulders that jut out into the ocean to change the water current and tide so ships can sail closer to land. It was used in WWII. I like to sit on the rocks and stare out in the ocean. Here there is nothing but the ocean and you and it's the most peaceful feeling and beautiful sight I've ever seen. So this is Ben & I sitting on The Rocks at sunset.

Smith Family Reunion

Well, this post is about 2 months late, but better late than never I guess. Over the 4th of July week and weekend, Ben's extended family, his Mom's side, had their annual family reunion. This year it was at the KOA at Bear Lake in northern Utah. It was a lot of fun. We made family reunion t-shirts, rode wave-runners, played all kinds of games, went swimming, and ate lots and lots and lots of food.

My favorite part though was one afternoon we drove to southern Idaho and visited the Minnetonka Cave. It was a guided tour through a sweet cave about two miles into the side of a mountain. It was crazy to think how much rock we were under. I've never been inside a deep cave before and I love anything geologic so I had a blast. Also, another highlight happened the very last night of the reunion when I wanted smores. You can't go camping without some smores. But a massive thunder & lightening storm came with hail. It was a pretty intense storm. After it passed over, Ben wanted to make me a fire so I could have my smores. I told him he didn't have to but he wanted to anyway. Everything was completely soaked so he spent two hours buidling a fire so I could have my smores. It was the nicest & cutest thing ever. It really made me happy :) Anyway, the reunion was tons of fun. I LOVE camping and grew up spending my summers camping at KOA so I loved being there. Also Ben's family is super nice and very welcoming of me. Here are some pics from the trip:

Cindy & Aubrey's KOA Kamping Kabin

Ben & me at the end of the Minnetonka Cave....this is my favorite picture.

Me with Ben's cousins, Maddy & Jessica, waiting to go into the Minnetonka Cave

Family Portrait...my shirt is way too big on me :(

Ben's family going into the Minnetonka Cave...I'm at the end there