20 weeks! "Halfway"

We'll see how true that statement holds!

18 Weeks

Here, but only because it was requested! :)

(ignore the date stamp, my camera is dumb)

Visit

This past week I had the chance to go home for a visit. The last month or so has been super stressful for me, and it was the perfect opportunity for me to relax and let go of a lot of anxiety that had been building up. Brandon and I drove to LaGrande, Oregon (halfway)  and met my mom and sister last Sunday. I spent the week lounging, sleeping, eating at my favorite mexican restaurant- Casa Mexicana (thanks for taking me twice mom!) and spent lots of good time with the fam. Tuesday night I got to visit my in-laws, had dinner and a good visit! Thursday we had a girls day and went to the tri-cities, met up with Clare and the boys and did some shopping. I got spoiled and came home with lots of goodies. :) Friday Brit and I went to the pumpkin patch in town, it was so much fun! Lucy had fun wandering through the rows and rows of pumpkins-and so did Brit and I. She wanted to bring home the lovely 37lb-er pictured below, but settled for a perfect 13lb instead. I found twin baby pumpkins for Brandon and I and had fun picking them out. Saturday we lounged some more, Levi, Clare the boys and Mikey came over for a visit, I took a nap, crafted a little bit and called it a night. Sunday we went to church and then drove to LaGrande again to meet Brandon. I'm glad to be home, but I had a good time visit and being lazy! Thanks again Mom! 

17 weeks!

I think I'm finally starting to pop! (ignore the dumb look on my face...) :D

It's a...Baby!

Baby Harvill is due to arrive in mid March, and we couldn't be more excited! ;)

Recently

Marissa says I need an update......so I guess I'll give ya one ;) Brandon and I are just plugging along, working and trying to catch each other on days off and such. I'll be transferring to a new department at Macy's in a few weeks, which I'm looking forward to. Brandon started his new schedule this week, and looks like we can finally go to all 3 hours of church! (He can, I can at least 2 weeks...) He works during the week at the outpatient imaging center, and Saturday's at St. Al's hospital. He loves his job!! We haven't had a lot of time to explore Boise much, but recently we stopped by the hot air balloon festival, which was pretty neat. Last week my Mom and sister came down and we went to Art in the Park, and had dinner with my Aunt. So we've had a few good adventures. I am looking forward to October, Boise has lots of harvest festivals and pumpkin patches that I am excited to visit. :D I'm ready to wear sweaters and have some hot cocoa. Hopefully we will have more adventures to share soon, and hopefully pictures too...I'm bad at that recently. But here are the few I have! (by the way it was hard to get a picture of the balloons in the dark!)

Two Year Anniversary

Brandon and I have been through a lot in our first 2 years of marriage, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. We've moved 4 times, held 7 different jobs and 6 different church callings, attended 3 different schools and wards, lost a baby, gained a niece, and a nephew-had sufficient money for our needs, and have been dead broke, moved in with my parents, (which we are eternally grateful for) jumped blindly into a new place, and started all over again. Our life is not -I repeat- not perfect, but we are happy. If I've learned one thing this whole time, it's that being happy is what matters most. Not where we are, whether or not we have money, and whether or not we have all the desires of our hearts. We've had our rough patches, and we've had our blissful moments-we chose this life together, and we are eternally dedicated to continue choosing each other. It's hard work, but we look forward to working on it every day of our eternal lives. I love Brandon, and I know that he loves me-and that's all we need. Happy Anniversary babe.

Boise Idaho Temple

Brandon and I first visited in the Summer of 2007

We later returned in June of 2010

Boise Idaho Temple

27th Operating Temple of the Church

Dedicated May 25th-30th 1984

Dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley

Located in Boise, Idaho

Exterior is Marble and Slate

2 1/2 years after it's dedication, the Boise Temple was closed, and an addition was added to accommodate it's high level of use.

The addition was dedicated May 29th 1987 by James E. Faust

The Temple was dedicated in 24 sessions, more than any other Temple since the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple in 1893

Seattle Washington Temple

Brandon and I visited April 17th 2010

Seattle Washington Temple

19th Operating Temple of the Church

Dedicated November 17th-21st 1980

Dedicated by President Spencer W. Kimball

Located in Bellevue, Washington

Exterior is White Marble

One of 5 Temples featuring the Angel Moroni holding the Brass Plates

Honey Glazed Baked Salmon (Aunt Irenie)

This is one of my new favorites. We love this dish! I had it one day when I went over to my Aunt and Uncles unannounced. I didn't really get the recipe, I just watched her make it :) This dish is also very versatile, you can adjust things to how you want/need them. Here is our version:

2 salmon fillets, boneless
salt & pepper
honey
rice (Aunt Irenie used brown rice, which I love-but all we have is white-they're both good!)
spinach

Preheat your oven to 375*, cover a baking sheet in tin foil, and lay out your thawed fillets.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper...

Spread your honey on the salmon, (it helps if it's a little warm-the cold salmon clumps it up)

Put it in the oven, and bake for 20 minutes, in the meantime, get your rice ready-we use 1 cup

Add 1 1/3 cups of water, bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes (usually takes a little less)

About 10 minutes before the salmon is done, put 1/4 cup of water in a skillet or wok and add your spinach

Cook your spinach down, until all the water is absorbed, or to your desired consistency (p.s. I'm jealous if you have a wok...)

Pile some rice on a plate, followed by spinach, and then your salmon. Enjoy!