The Halloween Festivities Begin

I clogged the sink today! We had a few eggs that had expired and so I figured I could put them down the drain and turn on the disposal. Wouldn’t you think? Anyway I definitely clogged it! Both sinks side by side we’re filling up. I turned off the water and kept the disposal going. Then turned that off. The water FINALLY went down. I then continued on with my day and forgot about it. Later when Rich and I came home I asked Rich to rinse off the pumpkins we were going to carve. The sink started filling up again! Rich finally took the toilet plunger and after plugging for awhile he seemed to fix the problem. I would have never thought of doing that. So far it's all good... some of the joys of living in an old home;-)

Rich worked so hard all day long! Just a few minutes ago he finished and turned in his proposal for an ORCA grant. One more item to check off the list. I am very impressed with how hard he has been working on his school work and research this semester. Anyway while he was working on campus I attended Kirsten’s baby shower! We went to Spain together and I absolutely love her! She is 34 weeks along with twins boys! She looks great! I have to mention though it was kind of crazy going to the baby shower. I didn’t know anyone there, BUT all the girls either had huge bellies, or a little one or two month old in their car seats. Boy, did I feel out of place... but it was all so cute! It was fun to see Kirsten! I am excited for her! She’ll be a wonderful mom! I also have to mention a conversation Rich and I had. Rich has a feeling we are going to have twins someday... haha I don’t know about that. But his dad is a twin and so I said if we have twins we can name them Rich and Ron. Boy did his face light up!! He is so excited to someday have a little Rich and Ronny in the family;-)

Kirsten & Me

After the baby shower Steph and Manual came over. We carved awesome pumpkins. It’s been a tradition of theirs since they met and we joined them this year. It was a lot of fun! I think they turned out pretty good. We then watched the second Harry Potter. They love the Harry Potter movies and Rich and I have never seen them before. So last week we watched the first Harry Potter and tonight the second. We enjoyed it.

Group photo

The pumpkins!

Rich & Me

Stephi & Manuel

Silly faces ;-)

Horseback riding in Highland

This past weekend has just gone by too fast! I can't believe I have class, work and a test again tomorrow... it never stops ;-) BUT this weekend was a lot of fun! On Friday my good friend Steph and her hubby came over and we had delicious food, hung out and watched a movie. It was a fun relaxing night! It seems to be a rare occasion when we spend a night at home to just relax and enjoy an evening. We spend most our days and nights on campus just to get home right in time for bed. Or else when we have a free night we usually spend it else where. It was fun to have friends over at our place! Thanks guys!

Then Saturday after working and taking a PDBio test we headed up to Highland. I have been wanting to ride horses for a long time now and we finally got the chance. Thank you Rodger! I used to ride a ton when I was little, but it has been about ten years. I was surprised how uncomfortable I felt. I thought it would just naturally come back... but that was not the case. I felt like I had no balance at all. It was a lot of fun though! I was impressed with Rich and Miranda, it seemed like it was pretty natural to them. After riding, we went out, got some food and rented a movie. We got the weirdest movie... well I only watched a few minutes before falling asleep... but everyone agreed it was STRANGE!

Giddy Up!

Birthday Boy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOLAN!! Today is Nolan's Birthday! He is now 3 years old! Fall is sure packed with a ton of family birthdays... It's so fun! I just wanted to let Nolan know how much I love him! Nolan is the smartest and most sneaky 3 year old I know. I love it... my sister not so much at times;-) Nolan is so handsome and only has gotten more handsome as time goes by! I am grateful for Nolan and how much fun he adds to our family! I look forward to talking to him on the phone most everyday and love how he always asks Rich and I to come to his house. I wish it was just that easy to go home all the time!

I think this is a cute photo of Rich and Nolan... they totally match!

Nolan's Birthday... cool cake Mar!

Happy Birthday Eileen!

Thank you so much Keegan... I just want to watch it over and over again!
Sunday October 12th was my 22nd birthday! On Saturday I went to work, to the BYU football game, then after the game Rich took me out for some yummy Chinese food! I love Chinese food! He also got me just what I ask for... a book called the Mormon Scientist: The Life and Faith of Henry Eyring. I have been wanting to read this for awhile now, so I'm excited to finally get the chance. My best friend Stephi and her hubby came over after that!

Then on Sunday, my actual Birthday, we went to church and then after church we headed up to Highland for Garrett's Eagle Court of Honor. Mara made a yummy dinner and we had a joint celebration for Garrett and I. Alyssa also made a Funfetti cake... the Curran favorite! I had a lot of fun and got some great gifts. I sure am lucky to have such good family and friends! My awesome gifts included: the O Jerusalem painting my Mommy gave us, a canvas of one of our wedding photos from Boyd and Mary, the Mama Mia soundtrack from Abby (which I have listened to a bunch already, I love it!), a cookbook and a bunch of fun candles and great lotions from my best friend Stephi, cutest Anne Taylor shirt from Julie, a lotion and chocolate from Alyssa, and movie tickets from Mara & Roger. Miranda also gave me a box full of See's Chocolates and Mom and Dad were very generous as well with some cash! Thank you so much for the gifts!! I also got the best home made cards from my nephews: Josh, Keegan, & Nolan. I was spoiled! BUT I have to say my favorite gift is the one shown above! Keegan learned Happy Birthday on the violin for me and the boys sung along! They also called me Sunday morning and performed it over the phone a few times! Nolan then continued to sing me Happy Birthday another 10 times or so... I loved it!

Here are some photos from when I was young to now! Rich scanned these photos before we got married for a quick wedding video we half attempted to make. Anyway I love to look at them of course... I wish I was still a cute little girl;-)
I didn't have any hair until I was about 2 years old :-)

Backyard in Virginia Beach


Now I'm all grown up and married to the best man of earth!


Miranda also had her birthday this week! Her birthday was yesterday October 14th. Rich and I went to go visit her for a awhile (A much needed break between school, work, and STUDYING!)... and she shared possibly the most delicious gift EVER! Justin spoiled her with some great gifts... one including a whole Godiva Chocolate cheesecake from the Cheesecake factory! O man... that is by far MY FAVORITE! It's incredibly rich and next time anyone goes to the Cheesecake Factory it's a must have! I forgot to take my camera last night... so no birthday photos:-( But HAPPY BIRTHDAY Miranda!

I think this is a gorgeous photo of Miranda and Justin at our reception!

She's the best!

I also have to mention some of the traits I really admire about Miranda! She is a great example to me on some of the things I drastically need to improve on... especially the first two!
1. She is a cleaning machine. She doesn't just keep her place looking nice... she is the epitome of cleanliness.
2. Great cook! She can quickly pull a great tasting meal together for a crowd!
3. Generous! She is a great example of generosity. She has given and helped Rich and I out so much! (ex. a place to do laundry, food, furniture, decor, help cleaning, & the list goes on)
4. I can always trust she is being sincere and truthful. Miranda speaks her mind and never puts up a facade and I think it's great!

I also have to share a quick funny story about Miranda. Miranda has been telling everyone Rich and I are studying for our GED... haha. I sure am glad that's not the case. Rich and I are going to be taking the GRE on the 28th of this month... so we've been studying for that! Man if we were working on a GED we would have a very long way to go! I guess that's one thing to be grateful for... we won't be in school too much longer;-)

Victory!!!

Saturday's football game was a fun game. We played New Mexico and won 21-3! Right now we are ranked #9 in the AP poll and #8 for the USA Today Poll! Our next game is this Thursday October 16th against TCU. Go Cougars!

Scoreboard!

Morgan, Jeff, Wyatt, Rich, Devin, Matt, Scott, & Eric

Rich & Me

Date Night with Julie and Ryan Townsend

On Friday Rich and I went out to Salt Lake to spend some time with one of my best friends from junior high and high school! She ate lunch with me on my first day of school when I moved to Oregon. I thought that was so nice of her. It was... BUT last night I came to find out the teacher asked her if she'd be willing to eat lunch with the new girl. Haha! I guess I have my teacher to thank;-) It was so much fun going out to dinner and a movie and then heading up to their condo at the Gateway to just chat and hang out! Julie is such a great friend of mine and I am glad I got to spend some time with her! Julie and her husband Ryan are in Utah for an internship he is doing at LDS Hospital... he is applying to med schools! I wish them all the luck! Hopefully we'll get to spend some more time with them before they head back to the Northwest!

Ryan & Julie, Me & Rich right outside the movies

Miriam... or should I say Sister Walther!

This past week Miriam finally entered the MTC! She got her call on June 5th (the day I got endowed!) so she has had to wait FOREVER. I am so excited for her and I am going to miss her tons! Miriam has a strong testimony of the gospel and love for the Savior. I know she will be so successful down in Peru! I am also excited she will be learning Spainsh... she'll be a pro before she knows it! She's a great example to me. I promised her I'd run a marathon while she's gone. I am behind now. I didn't run one this year! Miriam and I made a goal freshman year to run a marathon each year... she has stuck with it! Now that she's on a mission I have an opportunity to catch up!

This photo was taken on the Oregon coast after swimming in the ocean!

GLBRM Reunion

The Great Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission! Rich's 4th reunion... can you believe that?! I can't... he's been home almost 3 1/2 years now! The way he talks it seems like he just got home. I love hearing his mission stories. They are all great and are such a big part of who he is today. It was fun to watch him talk to old companions. They were all so excited to see one another and they like each other so much! It's funny too... all these guys are so different! They probably would not have ever become friends in any other situation... but alas serving the Lord they grew to know each other and have a blast together. All in all it was a great night... Oh I also have to mention... we were there for 4 hours! Rich wanted to leave at 4:30pm so we wouldn't be late... we got there at 5:30pm. There was no traffic at all... rare for mission reunion night in Utah county/ Salt Lake areas. Well, after we were there for a while we realized it didn't start until 7pm! Time went by fast though... Rich could have stayed there even longer. Anyway I can't wait until Rich and I go on a mission... SEVERAL I hope! I so desire that we will be blessed with many opportunities to serve in our lives... and I am very excited for it all!

OLD MISSION PHOTOS

We missed President & Sister Borgquist! President Borgquist was called to serve as the Temple President in the Newport Temple! We love them, and will keep them in our prayers.

Michie, Curran, & Hill at a cemetery in New Orleans

Curran, Sarah Oliver, McCracken

Michie, Curran, White

Elder Curran in Bogalusa

Ma & Pa still call Rich every week or two;-)

REUNION PHOTOS

Brother and Sister Williams... they served in the office.

Rich & Sam Michie

Chase Gerona & Rich

Rich & Tyler Anderson

Andrew McCracken, Rich, and Aaron Brown

Rich & Darrel Wolfe