Autumn is finally here!

"If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then Autumn would be the magic hour"

-Victoria Erickson

Everyone has a favorite season or if not then something about all the seasons brings little bits of joy. For me autumn is my season as it seems to be for many. The crisp autumn colors painted over the mountainscape, the anticipation for the coming holidays, the cool fresh air in the mornings that seems to blow in over night are just a few things that seem to bring a new breath to life.

 Jay would say I love all the season and holidays (which is true - i just love a chance to celebrate) but this week I think he has learned that Fall is my "spirit" season. 

My parents have grown a pumpkin patch in their yard for as long as I can remember. I thought as a kid they did this in order to teach us character or some such life lesson because pumpkins take lots and lots of water, time, and care in order to turn out as they should. 

This year my mom and dad were not able to take care of the yard during the month that it was most vital. My mom was in the hospital at this time so it was up to my siblings and I to do so. There were some days I felt so helpless in taking care of my parents. I just didn't know what to do or say. It was those days I would swing by and just water the pumpkins because I knew how much my mom loved having pumpkins for the grandkids to come and pick and carve. 

Now my mom is doing amazing and astounding her doctors by her recovery. And it is now time to pick the pumpkins that some how survived August. 

There is a particular autumnish quote that has resonated with me this week

"Autumn, the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful"

To put it short and sweet I got laid off from work on Tuesday. My company was acquired by a company from England. It was very unexpected by most everyone in the company as it literally happened over night. 2/3rd of the customer service/sales teem walked in on Tuesday with jobs and left without one. 

But you know what - my heart if filled with gratitude, gratitude that Jay was able to find a great job last week, that we have school paid off for both of us, that we live so close to family and friends, and that I've had a week to focus more on Jay and on school. 

"Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be"

Just another quote I absolutely love. 

Plus one more thing to be grateful for this week. We have a crazy cat that makes us laugh everyday. 

(This video only shows a little of how hyper she gets in the morning. Jay took this at about 6am which is her prime play time.)

Before you get to see Sharyti's recipe, I thought I would add a bit of my own. As Shar said, I was able to pick up a good job right before she got laid off. I don't think that it was a coincidence. I know that God is there looking out for us and helping us to live as much a self reliant life as possible. I am forever grateful for His tender mercies. 

This post has kind of a somber feel too it, so to help with that I've included that motion graphic video I finished up for one of my classes. It was my first experience with Adobe After Effects. So just know that I'm no J.J. Abrams lol.

Recipe for the week: "Smash 'em with a fork" Cookies

(What my nephew, Tagg, called Peanut Butter Cookies when he was little)

1/2  cup butter, softened
1/2  cup peanut butter
1/2  cup granulated sugar
1/2  cup brown sugar or 1/4 cup honey (I used sugar)
1/2  teaspoon baking soda
1/2  teaspoon baking powder
1  egg
1/2  teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 
Granulated sugar (for rolling cookies in)

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl combine butter and peanut butter.  Beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.  Add the 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, and baking powder.  Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally.  Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. If necessary, cover and chill about half an hour or until dough is easy to handle. I just stuck it in the freezer for about 10 minutes.

2. Place additional granulated sugar in a small bowl.  Shape dough into 1-inch balls.  Roll balls in sugar to coat.  Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Using the tines of a fork, flatten balls by making crisscross marks on top. 

3. Bake in a preheated oven for 7 to 9 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly browned.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.  Makes about 36 cookies.

Jay has an announcement. . .

We had a fairly normalish week, but not really. Lots of school with shorts bursts of panic and what not. At least for me. Sharyti was lazy this week and hardly did any homework at all. Hey now, I worked, cleaned, aannd did homework. . .  I was just smart and got it done at school. . . ;)I felt like I was up to my ears in it haha. One of the few breaks from the madness of homework was Monday when we went to see Comedy Sports at the Central Utah Gardens. We had to reserve free tickets and then there was a man sitting in the entrance that had a clipboard with names of the welcome guests. We felt so sophisticated having our names on a list to get into a party haha. Here are a few pictures of us while we waited for it to start. 

It was good fun! 

On Tuesday I got a call from one of the interviews I had on Friday. They offered me a job (yaaaaay - prayers answered) and I took it! I am no longer freeloading off Sharyti! Ya dork, you weren't a freeloader. Someone had to do the dishes, make dinner, and take care of the kitty litter box. I now work for a company called Audrey's Bear. They make blankets, sheets, car seat covers, hats, and other such things for babies. They hired me on to print the designs onto the material, and will also incorporate me into helping with some of the design, and studio photography work. I started Friday. It will be a good job :). 

Since school started I have been working on a motion graphic project. I made some great headway this week and am kinda proud of what I have come up with. The project is due next weekend and I think I will share it with y'all so you can have a taste of what I've been working on the last few weeks.

I don't really have much else, maybe Sharyti will.  Nope, that about sums up our uber exciting week = two college students in love and living the dream. 

TTFN

We thought of a witty title. . but now we can't remember it. . .

This week wasn't too crazy as far as school or other engagements went. 

Jason had a couple job interviews (yay!) that went really good. Crossing our fingers that one of these will work out. With school and finances poking us with their pointy little fingers it's times like these where the feelings of stress and anxiety can quickly come in. But you know what, we both have had a feeling of peace about the uncertainty's that are ahead of us knowing that God is in charge and all we can do is our best. I have a tendency to get stressed out way too easily but have had sweet tender reminders (often from Jay) about the beauty in God's timing and that life really is good and ok because we have each other. Sharyti isn't the only one getting those reminders.  A few other reminders can be seen below.

Timmy is liking us more and more . . we think. She comes out during the day now and follows us around the apartment begging to be petted. Her worst enemies are the dishwasher and the vacuum and heaven forbid if you don't warn her that you're walking into the room. Poor Jason has to deal with living with two hormonal girls. (Its a good thing we're cute) ;)

My sweet niece, Faith, was blessed on Sunday last and was so cute in the little dress that her older sister also wore when she was blessed. Jay and I are so lucky to be the Aunt and Uncle of such cute, talented, and funny kids (all 42 to be exact!)

This Weeks Adventures:

Nothing screams labor day more then a little shoot out among family and friends right? 

Jay got out his 12 gauge and .22 and we went out shooting with our friend, Jay's Dad, brother-in law, and our niece. They all had their own guns as well and I was in high heaven getting to shoot all of them. I know, not your typical girl some would say, but you've never had fun till you've shot a 223 and blown a rock off a mountain = pure satisfaction I tell you. 

(This is my favorite gun, and one I hope to own someday.. . far into the future as it costs more then I want to admit. How is it I like more expensive guns then Jay) Just because I am satisfied by more inexpensive guns does not mean that I don't like really expensive ones lol Aww I see. ;)

We had been meaning to go camping for a good while these past few weeks but every weekend just didn't seem to work out. That is until this weekend. Thank goodness. School has already gotten a bit overwhelming, and we both needed a break from the world. Amen to that, we were finally able to leave the cares of adult life and go up into the mountains. The first temples ever created in my mind. There is a peace and serenity that come into the soul when you're able to breathe the crisp mountain air and just soak up the view around you. Just thinking back to being there makes me think very strongly "God is good and we are very blessed".

We decided to go up Payson Canyon as neither of us had been camping up there before. . this also meant neither of us knew how to get there. After a couple turn arounds, and stopping by a church parking lot for wifi (a neat trick for those of you who don't have any data for your phones aka us) we were able to make our way up the canyon and onward to success. 

free campsite, seclusion, colors changing, husband making fire = priceless

Bless all the fat cows in the surrounding area of Payson Canyon that keep the local campers on their toes with their large bodies romping through the forest at night. o.O

So fun fact - this is up Payson Canyon. Yes, thats right, this. Its called Devil's kitchen or little Bryce Canyon. Such a cool little stop and hike. Its the little discoveries like this that cause me to fall more and more in love with Utah. 

THIS WEEK'S CREATION/EXPERIMENT: Pumpkin Bread

So I have never made pumpkin Bread before and felt super Autumny this week so I figured I would give it a go. I had everything all mixed in until I realized I didn't have any nutmeg. I figured I could still make it without. Wrong, it needs nutmeg. Definitely add the nutmeg. 

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup water
• 3 cups white sugar
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
3. Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Education is a blessing (repeat 3 X's daily)

Two weeks ago school started for Jason and if you were to rate his level of excitement it was comparable to a kid eating their dreaded veggies. When I said we should take "first day school" pictures he response was a enthusiastic no. Instead he opted for posting this picture . . . 

His caption "Where I wish I was".. . I will agree with him on this one. 

School started this week for me and I have to admit that I wasn't too excited either. I had been working on my internship all summer so it felt like my summer didn't really happen at all. Plus I'm taking a Law class this semester as one of my capstone classes. . . . (audible groaning). But I do have to admit that I only have this semester and then 2 more classes and I'm DONE! GRADUATEO, FINIS, DAS ENDE. So I can't really complain (as Jason puts it). 

Don't get me wrong I am a firm believer that education is a major blessing and should be treated as such. Like the post title says, I just need to remind myself of this. But then when you throw law into it  . ...

... anyways GO COUGARS! Bahahaha Trogdor strikes again!! (Jay is going to love seeing that I wrote that)

What do you guys do for your date nights? We like to wander aimlessly with no purpose whats so ever around the local DI stores. Often times we'll walk away with a random book or two or like on our last rampage, a potato peeler. (We buy these things of course)

DI is a magical place. Really it is. The outdoor section is the best!  A lot of our apartment has DI touches to it and you would never know. . . well maybe you would but it works for us. 

If you've never been to DI for date night you're missing out. 

View from Grove Creek Canyon

For those of you who don't know, there is a plethora of hikes in the local area. Grove Creek being one, Battle Creek, Dry Canyon, etc. We were only able to go about 2 miles up into Grove Creek before we had to turn around, aka I about died from exhaustion, but as you get farther up it takes you more onto Timp and you can hike in and camp there. There are really pretty meadows and rivers up in there.  Whats really neat is that a lot of these hikes inter-connect with each other as well. 

If you are feeling the Hiking itch and want to go try one of the hikes let us know and we'd love to come with you! Its always fun to hike with friends. 

Now onto our fur baby. She is a pill, but she's really cute. I have never seen a cat poop so much. With my last cat I cleaned out her litter about every week. Timmy makes enough deposits that her litter needs cleaning about every 3 days... Anyways Timmy has started to warm up to us and will come out when we get up in the morning, come out during the day (sometimes), and will follow you around the apt meowing for attention and to be petted. Then when you try and pet her, she runs away. Typical woman... can't make up her mind. ps sharyti said it was ok for me to leave this in the blog. She's nice. I'll keep her. Oh gosh.

She has a habit though of hiding under the bed or couch whenever there are loud noises or if Jason looks at her wrong. We're making progress with her slowly and we're pretty sure she doesn't think we're big scary giants that are going to eat her any more. 

Food Love/Experimentation #1 - Ginger Snaps

I was feeling excited for fall this past week so I decided to make some form of spice treat. What better treat for a Ginger to make then ginger snaps right? So I used a recipe I have used for the past few years and have loved. I know it works because when I make them the balls of dough magically disappear off the cookie sheet when I turn around. . . 

Recipe:

3/4 cup butter               2 tsp Baking soda

1 cup sugar                  1/2 tsp salt

1 egg                        1 1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/4 cup molasses (yum)       3/4 tsp cinnamon

2 cups flour                 1/2 tsp cloves

Cream butter, add sugar gradually. Beat until Fluffy. Add egg and molasses: blend. Stir or sift together flour, soda, salt, and spices; blend into butter mixture. Roll small portions of dough into balls, roll in granulated sugar. Bake for 8-10 min or till their fluffy and melted at 350 degrees.

That one time we didn't update for three weeks. .

The last week of July concluded our adventure in the Beaver mountains. Halle-stinkin-lujah All in all it was a success. A lot of ups and downs, but overall a memorable experience. I would say memorable is a choice word to use but it works. Nah, we definitely learned a lot and grew closer together because of the struggles we got to face this summer so it could therefore be declared a success.

Pictured below was after one of the many ATV rides with the scouts. We didn't get much rain this season so all the trails were overwhelmingly dusty. Like, you're running around as Pig Pen from Peanuts for the next 24 hours or at least until you can get a shower. I had a good time with all my biking groups. I had a lot more injuries this year than last, but luckily I didn't have to send anyone to the ER. As camp commissioner I learned a lot and had fun getting to interact more with the participants and the leaders. It was stressful at times but theres nothing quite like helping boys to push beyond their limits and do hard things and walk away from the experience wanting to do more. 

We are happy to be back in the real world however. I have to say I was pretty ecstatic for running water and not having to sleep on an air mattress any more. Its the little things you really become more grateful for when living in the mountains in a tent for 2 months. We spent one night at Mom and Pop Williams's then headed up to our new apartment. Sharyti was slightly happy to be back, as you can see lol. 

We got everything moved into our apartment the week following camp. I think we are going to be happy here. It's a one bed one bath basement apartment under Sharyti's grandma's house. We also got our new car registered. . . finally. Our house may be slightly dark (to be expected with a basement apartment) and spider infested but we love it :) It sure beats a tent! I agree with everything that he said but I do have to let you know that if we disappear and can not be found it is because the spiders have taken us for all of their family members we have murdered these past few weeks. . . Spiders .. lots of them o.O

While in the process of moving in, we found out Sharyti's mom was in a bad bike accident, but I'll let her tell you about that. I will say that it was a busy and scary week full of stress and trying to get moved in along with visiting Debany in the hospital and helping out around their house.

These past two weeks have been the hardest two weeks of my life next to some of the experiences I've had on my mission. No child should ever had to see their parents go through something like this to be honest. Like Jay said my mom was in a severe biking accident on August 1st. She fractured her skull and ripped the membrane around her brain, broke her collar bone, broke 4 ribs, and some other medical injuries. We were in and out of the hospital staying with her so my dad could go home, get things done, and shower. My siblings and i traded on and off through out the week. As well as working with my siblings to try and keep their garden and yard alive. She's been in and out of the ICU and the ER since but things are finally beginning to look up. The power of prayer and love is real. My mother is absolute proof of that. I have to say Jay was absolutely amazing these past few weeks with helping his poor wife. Her, my, emotions were like a roller coaster. He deserves a big round of applause. 

On the second Tuesday after getting back from camp we decided to go to look at some cats. We had been talking about adopting a cat for quite some time but never had the chance up till now. And we were both just a little excited to bring home a fury friend. We found one that we really liked and we and got her the next day. She is a beautiful calico that is about 16 months old. She was super freaked out with the whole experience of bring her home to a new and strange place, and has been taking her time getting comfortable with her new surroundings. (Aka she hides under the couch all day and only comes out at night. BUT! She uses the litter Box - big bonus on her end) Because of this, we decided to name her Timid, or Timmy for short. She will come out from under the couch at night when we are in bed, or sometimes we can coax her out while we are there. Once we get her out, she will play with us a bit and let us pet her, so I think she will warm up to us before too long. Jay and I are absolutely smitten with her and may have already begun spoiling her like the newbie wanna be parents that we are. So yup, we have a new member to our family and its a cat. 

Back to "Normality" soon. .

 Jason is currently passed out on the bed next to me as I write this. In short, that's how we both feel right now - tired and sore. This next week is our last week at camp and then its back to "normality" or what may seem like normal. I have to admit I'm "kid with ice cream" excited to have in door plumbing and squirrel proof walls. Don't get me wrong I love camping and being in the mountains. But "living" in the mountains in a tent is a whole new story. 

 We're finally going to be moving into the apt in Lindon and I'll be back at my old job while Jay has the fun time of trying to find a new job that will work with his school schedule. 

Pictured below is what we've been up to the past little bit since we've slacked on writing new posts. 

One thing I'll miss the most other then the sunsets at Beaver is the opportunity to shoot almost everyday. I'm afraid I'll loose my "Brave" (Merida) skills. This is probably what Jason is going to miss the most too. No, not me looking awesome while I do archery but the time he's had to practice doing Arial Archery. (Someone's addicted to it) 

 Fun fact: The past couple of weeks I kept getting these bites that would swell up really really big and hurt and itch like no body's business. Turns out we think I'm allergic to Horse Fly's. . . yaaay. The only comfort I have is knowing that the ones that bit me are probably dead because of how stinky we get up at camp. 

 This is the newest addition to our family. Ain't she a beauty! Its a 2005 Honda CR-V. 

 We went to the Rodeo for Nephi Days last weekend and Jason surprised me with a ride on the Ferris wheel after. Ferris wheels are my favorite and he had never been on one turns out so it was a must. 

Just a few things I love about the place where we live - Rodeos and sunsets. 

Jason has been on point when its come to our weekend "recuperating after a crazy week at camp" dates. Yesterday he took me up the Mona Pole trail to Salamander Pond and it was absolutely AMAZING! Definitely a new favorite and I hope we can do it again in the fall when all the colors are changing. I highly suggest going up this trail if you haven't done it before. 

 Now onto our last week of camp and another week full of adventure. 

Car troubles and Jay's birthday

Jason: These last few weeks have been an adventure! This picture is one of the best activities at BHAB. It is like shooting clay pigeons with shotguns but instead with bows and arrows. The targets are foam disks thrown by this huge machine. I usually spend a lot of the free time we have doing this. Sharyti: Yes, yes he does. He's one of the best shots up at camp and the scouts love watching him. I'm just sitting there thinking "yup that's my husband" ;) You use flu-flu arrows so they don't go very far, but even still, its kinda scary sometimes when the scouts are doing it because they can be kinda wild with it haha. (Below Sharyti shooting with a scout leader)

 2 weekends ago we went to Manti to see the Manti Pageant. We got to spend some time at one of our friends from camps house. His brother had a little pit bike that Sharyti looooved. I don't think saying "loved" is even strong enough. I told Jason we need to get one . . . just bigger. It was her first time driving a motorcycle and she did fantastic! Fantastic is a little of an overstatement Jay, it was an automatic. It wasn't an automatic, you still have to shift it just didn't have a clutch. Well a monkey could have driven it.  He also had a part of an American Ninja Warrior course set up. It was fun but I am not strong enough to do much of it. Jay did better then he lets on.

This same weekend we were having problems with the battery in our car. The beginning of our car nightmare. . We had to jump start it numerous times before we were able to get a new battery. Then when we got back to camp we got a flat tire. We had time Monday evening to run down to Beaver to get it fixed and we ended up getting all new tires, cuz we needed them bad. (Fun side note I got super sick that week up at camp and Jason was really sweet in taking care of me and going to the doctor down in Beaver with me. Lets just say when trials come it rains. All I can say is thank goodness for priesthood power)

 The next weekend we headed down to St. George for my birthday weekend. PARTY!!!!! While there we had to get our transmission flushed, making it almost $1000 that we spent in a week on our car (yesterday we started having problems with the starter motor. The car starts but it sounds like a cat giving birth to a t-rex when you turn the key. . . yay!) There goes our paycheck. We still had a great weekend hanging out with Skyler and Brandy and their two kids. Sharyti and I also got to stay in a hotel Saturday night for my birthday. It had a shower! This magnificent thing is what I was the most excited for, lets be real. And a real bed!! This video is at Skylers in-laws house. There was a birthday party going on for Brandys brother and we crashed it and played on the bouncy house obstacle course they had. Sharyti dominated. I didn't dominate, I DESTROYED! ;)

 This is a reservoir that you drive past to get to the camp. It is absolutely beautiful! Beaver canyon is pretty amazing. I hope to get more pictures of the actual camp because it is just as amazing. I just never think to while we are there.

 This weekend marks 1 year of me and Sharyti being together! We started dating on July 3rd last year. Best day ever (minus the day we got hitched). Amen. This year I recreated our first date. It involved not getting into an archery store, walking around Dick's Sporting Good Store, eating at In-N-Out (this is when the date last year actually began, the before stuff was just hanging out), ice skating, and going to a movie. It was good times this weekend. Fun side note, the shirt I'm wearing in this picture was the one I bought last year at Dick's.

 Sharyti's friends are out of town this weekend and let us house sit for them. Another real shower and bed!! After church today we went to the Provo City Center Temple, and currently we are at Sharyti's sisters house. 

In short these past few weeks have helped us realize just how lucky we are to have each other and to be surrounded and supported by good friends and family. Also I hate cars. . .yup.