9 Years Celebration

Jason and I celebrated 9 years!!! I got Jason and I our gifts this year, Jenna had a couple blankes with a flaw, which I don't care about a flaw in a Minky Blanket, so we got a deal on it, so he got a camo/brown one and I got the pink/black one that Brylee is all cuddled up in looking cute in the picture. Jason had to work on our actual anniversary, so a couple days later we went to dinner to my favorite Maddox. I had won a night at the Alaskan Inn, so we used that. Jason's parents were so good to take the kids for two nights, the kids of course had a blast!! We then woke up to a nice Breakfast that was delivered to the cabin. We ran some errands for Jason to get ready for his backpack trip with my brothers the following week, and then met up with our best friends the Wards at Fashion Place Mall in SL to eat at the yummy Cheesecake Factory, after that we headed up to Sundance to watch "Sound of Music" and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!!! It was raining on our drive to Sundance so we were all praying pretty hard it would not rain us out, we saw a beautiful rainbow. Amy said it rains on their anniversary every year, so it is their fault. Well right before the show started President Uchtdorf and his family walked in and sat in the section over from us and a couple of rows down. He can sure pull off pink, it was kindof wierd to see him when he was not in a suit. It was very late when the show got home, so I picked the kids up the next morning. Grandma and Grandpa Ray of course spoiled them by taking them to McDonalds, Chick Filet, Prizes from the store, and we even got a prize that Tanner picked out for us, a giant plastic Coke bottle Bank!! We decided and told the kids we can fill it up and it will be our Disneyland money. Tanner was cute to think of Jason when he saw that, and then talk Grandpa into buying it too, but Tanner seems to be able to talk Grandpa into about anything. I guess that is how it is when you are a Grandparent! It was a wonderful Celebration and a lot of Fun!! I love you Jason and am lucky to have you!!

The FORT

Tanner had been bugging me to build a fort upstairs, I didn't want it in my living room, but told him we would have a day that we could do it. We did it last Sunday night when he had his cousin Asher sleep over, and they had a blast. I did finally make them clean it up on Tuesday and told them they could not go to Lagoon until it was cleaned up. They had a blast in it and it worked out great as it was a rainy day, so what better to do on a rainy day then to build a fort and play in it.

Our Dog

Jason and I have pinkie swore that we will not have any pets. Well that doesn't include our fish. We don't need a pet, we got our own little pet Dogie Brylee. If you come to our house you will find around the house a couple of bowls one with water, and another with the snack of the day. Sometimes chips, crackers, candy, animal crackers, or whatever sounds good to our little dogie she gets for her self and then proceeds to pretend she is a dog. She has a dog costume or this little dog leash that she will put on it has a stuffed dog and harnesses to her and she will even hook it to a door knob sometimes too like she is chained up. She will scratch at the door to let her in a room, or even go outside and scratch at the door too. She is so funny. Jason said the other day maybe we should just get her a dog. I said "NO!" We will just keep the one we got. I also told him if he gets a dog, he will take care of it completely, I would not have anything to do with it, then started to say all the things like scratching at furniture and things in the house and ruins things; poops on the grass and you have to look for the poop when you walk on the lawn; you have to find someone to take care of it when you go out of town, and etc. He then said "we don't want a dog do we!" I am glad we again agree.

This is just a pretty picture I took of the sunset one night, love it!!

9 Years

WOW!!! OK not WOW I mean YIPPEE, HOORAY!!! Jason and I have now been married nine years, next year will be the big TEN. I can say it has been very much worth it and I am very much happy. If there is someone out there that marriage is easy and not work, I would like to know their secret. Well I can see for some people marriage being easy if you have two easy going people, but that is NOT Jason and I for sure. When we got married I was 26 and Jason was 31, we had both lived on our own, and kind of set in our ways, stubborn, strong willed, and opinionated. Combination of that we have butt heads a lot, but getting through all that has been work, but work that has made it worth it for sure.

The quote I am not sure who said it is true:
"Any Good Man and any good woman can make a good marriage!"

You have to work at it, look past the things that don't really matter and look at what is important and what is best for you and your family. Not compare yourself to other peoples families because you don't live with them and know what goes on in their home. What might be right and good for my family may not be right and good for another.

Jason and I have a lot of things in common, which I think was the biggest reason we were attracted to each other. He is a saver and very good with money, and I am pretty frugal myself. Jason is a very good looking guy and has the most amazing smile ever; he smiles a lot and I love that. He is a hard worker and gives it 110% at anything he does until it is perfect. We love to go camping, we got our kayaks and have enjoyed them together. We both like to snow ski even though I am so much more timid in my old age. I guess I have more at stake if I get hurt so I am more cautious now. He has always had a strong testimony, but Jason is amazing these past months he has been in the bishopric and we have been blessed in so many ways. He is out of his comfort zone in some ways in his calling, but he does so great and everyone loves him. I am so blessed to have a Jason as mine!! I love you!!

Favorite Breakfast

When we were on our way home from Iowa we spent a night in Denver with Spencer and Jami. The next morning Jami made some yummy waffles for us. They were so good, light and fluffy. I of course had to have the recipe and have made them many times since. They are even very good frozen. The extras I throw in the freezer and take out and pop in the toaster to heat, they are yummy. This has become one of my favorites, I think Jason will still say his favorite is still Breakfast Burrito's, but I am grateful he is not too picky of an eater. Here is the recipe if you would like to try them, or come on over one morning and we will make them.

Waffles
1 3/4 cup Flour (You can use all white flour, 1/2 white and 1/2 wheat, or all wheat)
1 T Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
Mix Together

Then add:
2 egg yolks (Save the egg whites in separate bowl)
1 3/4 cup Milk
1/2 cup Oil (you can substitute apple sauce for healthier waffle)

Mix with fork or spoon, don't over mix, they will be lumpy but that is preferred.

Beat egg whites until firm peaks and then fold into other mixture, again don't over stir, this is what makes them fluffy!

YUMMY!!! Thanks Jami!!!
I like to top it off with cut up fresh strawberries, a little syrup, & a little powdered sugar.

This is the Place

THIS IS THE PLACE

Brinley, Jenna, Dylan, Chandler, & Isabel Houston

Chandler Houston, Dylan Houston, Brinley Houston, Brylee Ray,
Betsy Ray, Jenna Houston, Tanner Ray, Isabel Houston, Carstin Peterson

Betsy, Tanner, & Brylee Ray
at the Native American Indian @ The Man Cave
(Men would leave from the main living area for the week the wife was having her menstruation
each month, as a respect to the woman to give her time and they would stay in there Man Cave)

Tanner Panning for gold
The train ride around the pond & you could see the valley too.

Dylan, Jenna & Chandler Chillin'
Me and My Best Friend/Sis, Jenna!

Tanner on the Pony*****Chandler givin' Hugs

Brylee & Dylan, Chan in the background*****At the petting farm

We made the trek down to "This is the Place" After going to Nauvoo it doesn't compare, but it was still really good and a lot of fun. We took a train ride, did some crafts, the kids panned for gold, rode a pony, pet the goats/sheep/pigs and Isabel's choice we stopped at In-n-Out Burger for lunch on the way home.