Christmas

For Christmas this year I told my Mom that I wanted her to make me an apron.  I love to cook and have wanted one for a long time but just never got around to getting one.

   

Not only did she sew me a really cute apron but the polk a dot material is from an old dress from my childhood!  I got a little choked up when she told me.  It made a simple apron into something that is now going to be an heirloom for me and my children.  I love it!! 

She also made these table runners which I also love.

Game day table runner

Summer/Fourth of July table runner

Macco Bowl Las Vegas 2011

Jordan drove to Las Vegas to watch the Boise State Broncos play against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the 2011 Macco Bowl.

I had to work and wasn't able to go with Jordan so he met up with my Dad, Clay, my Uncle Doug and cousin Tyler who had come down from Idaho.

Here are a few pictures from the game...

Broncos won 56-24   

Go Orange! Go Big Blue!!  Fight!! Fight!!  BSU!!!

Mesa Temple Christmas lights

Thanksgiving Jordan and I were invited to have dinner with one of his coworkers family.  We had so much fun.  We sat outside around the campfire talking, ate dinner, spent time with friends and then Jordan and I went home.  I wasn't feeling well and wanted to get some rest before black Friday at work.

Work has been really busy and stressful but they have been really good about keeping us happy.  On black Friday and cyber Monday they brought us breakfast, lunch and dinner.  They also had hourly prizes for being there and we were paid holiday pay.   

I have been working on getting all of my projects that I started completed.  Here is a picture frame that Jordan and I picked up at goodwill a few years ago.

I sanded it, spray painted it white and then antiqued it.  Jordan made the magnetic chalkboard by cutting and painting a magnetic sheet with chalkboard paint.

 This week was my company Christmas party.  We dressed up, they had dancing, food, prizes and gift bags.  We had a lot of fun.  There were so many people there that I didn't see very many people that I work with, but Jordan was able to meet a few of them. 

We didn't stay too long because I had to work in the morning and it was turning into a late night.  I also didn't win any of the big prizes but did win movie tickets, which I was thrilled about since Jordan and I love going to movies.  I work for a great company. 

For family night we bought our Christmas tree.  We decided to buy a nicer tree this year and it is beautiful!  It is small but smells and looks amazing. 

Every year after the holidays I have been buying a few ornaments to put on the tree the following year.  Last year I bought the red beaded sprays and glittered bulbs.  I LOVE how festive it makes the tree look.  I think this year I may have to buy some more. 

Boise

Saturday morning Jordan and I flew to Boise to spend a few days visiting with my family and to meet the newest member of our family Dakota Caroline!!

She is beautiful and perfect!!

Jordan and I stayed to watch the Boise State vs TCU game with Kylee and Shane while my Mom, Amber and Ella went to run some errands.  

Well...Jordan and Shane watched the game while I snuggled with Kota and talked with Kylee. 

Kota was not too happy about Boise State losing to TCU, especially by a missed field goal.

 After church on Sunday Clay and Kresimir stopped by for family dinner. Afterward we played fencing on the wii.  

Ella and Kresimir

 Brook and Kresimir  

Monday I got up to help get Ella ready for kindergarten.  Usually my Dad walks her to the bus stop but instead we drove her so that she could show me where her class was, all the tricks she knows how to do on the parallel bars and then I stayed until the bell rang for school to start.  She was so proud to show me her school.  It was pretty cute. 

We spent the rest of the day running errands with my Mom and working on sewing projects.  She helped me to finish the pillow covers I was working on for my couch and Jordan picked up the Boise State decals he needed for the bags game he is building.  That night we played don't eat Pete for family home evening and then watched TV, read and relaxed.

Tuesday after we got Ella off to school my Dad took Jordan and I to the park to take some family pictures.  Jordan and I are not the most photogenic people and so it was quite the funny experience.  In the end we got some good pictures.  Afterward we took my Dad out to lunch as a way to say thank you.  That night I met up with some of the girls that I used to work with for dinner.  I love being able to see them and we had such a fun time catching up.  

It was a very fast trip.  We were sad that we couldn't visit everyone and the next time we visit we want to rent a car to make it a little easier. We are very grateful for the time that we did have in Boise and hope that the next time we visit will be soon.      

Brad and Lindsey got married!!

On Thursday Jordan, Brad, Lindsey and I flew to Salt Lake together for the wedding.  Jordan and I rented a car and so once we arrived in Utah we took Lindsey to her hotel and then dropped Brad off at his parents house.  On the drive to Brad's family I got a text from Caitlin saying that she was in the hospital.  She had to have emergency surgery and would call when she could.  Brad's family was so gracious and offered to let us stay with them instead of at Caitlin and Ryan's so that they wouldn't have to have one more thing to worry about with her in the hospital.  We were so thankful and took them up on their offer.  

Thursday night we went to see the Sorenson family and brought them pizza for dinner.  We ate and caught up with each other before going back to Brad's home. We visited and watched the movie 'Invincible' with Brad and his sisters before going to bed.  

Friday morning Jordan and I got up, had breakfast with Brad's family and then went to the hospital to see Caitlin.  Her uterus had twisted and her doctor wanted her to have emergency surgery to remove a cyst that was causing her problems in her pregnancy and was the cause of the twisting.  I was glad we could see her but wished it was under better circumstances.  She looked good, the baby was fine and was hoping to be released from the hospital soon.

We then went to grab a quick lunch and changed for the wedding which ended up being in the restaurant bathrooms.  Not our original plan, a little awkward, but it turned out OK.       

Waiting for the wedding to begin at the Salt Lake City Temple

The wedding was beautiful and we are so happy for our dear friends.

After the wedding we went to Caitlin and Ryan's to see Maya.  She is getting so big!  She was just waking up and was really snuggly, which according to Caitlin and Ryan is a rarity.  I held her, read her a book and then played blocks with her for a little while.  We couldn't stay long since we had to get to the wedding reception but loved having a chance to see her.

Burgess, one Lindsey's best friends and I at the reception   

Lindsey and Brook

Jordan and Brad

We had so much fun at the reception. 

They had barbacoa salad, chips and salsa for dinner, (which was amazing) almond sugar cookies, smore and Reece's peanut butter cupcakes for dessert.  We danced all night, visited with friends and ended the night with hot chocolate and sparklers!  

Brad and Lindsey are married!!

Family pictures

I am changing my blog URL and why.

Jordan and I are thrilled to announce that we are starting the adoption process! We are so excited about the process of finding the right baby that will be joining our family. 

I will be (finally) updating the URL on my blog to brookandjordan.blogspot.com 

We love all of the friends and family who follow our lives online. 

Thank you for your continual prayers and support!!  I am so excited about what lies ahead for our little family and the journey we are about to start.     

Superstition Peak

Friday night Jordan went camping with Jonathan and Chris.  Their plan was to wake up and hike an easy trail to superstition peak. 

It turned out that their easy trail was more of a mountain climb.  They barely had enough water and the climb ended up being three miles farther then expected. Still they made it home safely and in great time.

 

After a shower and watching the end of the Boise State game, Jordan and I went to a BBQ with all of Jordan's climbing buddies and their families.  It was so much fun. 

We had amazing food, carnitas, rice and beans.  It was a night filled with a lot of laughter and noise from all the little kids running around.  I loved it!