Emma's 1st General Conference at the Conference Center

We thought you had to be 12 years old to go to conference.   But we found out that that wasn't the case.  Of course we found out after the October 2010 session  so the next session we could take Emma to was the April General Conference.  Unfortunately I was due about that time even though Aaron came almost a month early, but still it left me with a little baby that I couldn't leave.  So this October we finally were able to take Emma to her very first General Conference at Temple Square.  

Dusty's Valentine Dance

Bishop Guyman, Pres. Staker, Dusty(Bishop White), Bishop Sasser

Every year our stake puts on a Valentine's Dance/Dinner. We have gone every year since we moved to Roosevelt, so this is our 8th year. For the past 3 years it has been over the top awesome with decorations and food. The activity people plan this one night months before and put so much time into it. This year they had the youth come and serve us and then had a group come out to perform for us. Before one of the dances they said they needed audience participation. They asked for the stake president and while everyone was looking around for the Stakers, in they walk. Perfect timing, I thought that was so funny, until they called for all of the bishops and their wives. Shouldn't I be exempt because I am 34 weeks pregnant? I guess I was the only one that thought I shouldn't have to do it but we were good sports. We were on the floor and the boys were on the stage. They showed us what to do and us girls did a fantastic job so we got to go back to our seats. The boys on the other hand didn't do such a great job so they had to redo it. After I got to my seat our friends said that would be funny if I had my camera. By the time I finally got it out I only got 17 second but it was funny. They were great sports about it!

Dusty's 37th Birthday

Dusty turned 37 this year. His birthday was on Sunday so he was at church until 6pm, when I told him that he needed to be home before that because people were coming over. He made it home just in time to change his clothes. We had friends and some of his brother's family come over for cake and ice cream. It's always fun to have friends and family over!

Vegas Day 3

Vegas Day 2

Vegas Day 1

Dusty-our New Bishop

Dusty was sustained to be our new Bishop Halloween day. The week before he missed church because he was hunting with his dad and sister Manda. I had to go to the cabin and get him, but before he left to go I told him there was only 1 reason that I would come up to the cabin and that was if he had an interview. Well his hunting trip got cut short because we had to do a little shopping, he now has 2 new suits.

Fall Asleep At Your Own Risk

Dusty was tired from all of his hard work. Working full time at the hospital, working full time farming, and a full time dad(as you can see). He fell asleep in the library so Allie crawled all over him as Nathan tied him up.

Beet Juice into Candy?

Dusty pulling the taffy.

Halloween suckers

Christmas candies

Taffy

Dusty was making pickled beets. He got the beets into the pressure cooker and then started making the sugar/vinegar juice that goes into the cans. He read the directions and thought he was supposed to boil the juice for 30 minutes but instead he was supposed to bring it to a boil. When he was ready to use the juice he noticed it was really thick. He said it looked like candy so he tried it and it was really good. So he decided to make suckers, taffy, and candies out of it. How funny! I would have thrown it away. Now we have treats for Family Home Evening tonight.

Anniversary Inn

For our anniversary Dusty decided to surprise me with a reservation to the Anniversary Inn. The room he wanted was booked so he told me his plans and told me that I had to help him pick a room. We went through all of the choices. Choosing the room was so much fun! Finally we decided on Carriage Lane. We slept in the carriage with a large screen TV at our feet. When we arrived they had cheesecake and sparkling apple cider. They brought us breakfast in the morning, orange juice and milk, yogurt parfait, cinnamon roll, and a ham and cheese crescent. The first time we came to the Anniversary Inn was the night we got married and we went again for our 1st anniversary. Unfortunately it took us a decade to get back. We had a great time!

He also took me to Red Lobster. Yum!! We love seafood and it was so good!! We also went shopping at the outlets in Park City. He was a great sport about it. Dusty HATES to go shopping but he was patient while I tried on clothes and shopped. It was a great weekend!

11 YEARS!

These are some of the things I have learned in the past 11 years about being married:

6. No matter how much I want him to read my mind, he can't and won't ever be able to. I have to talk to him and let him know what is on my mind!

5. Going to the temple often helps to keep the spirit in our home and the eternal perspective I need each day to keep from getting bogged down by the little stuff.

4. Dates are a must! I need time with just him, no kids.

3. Compromise!! I can't always have my own way.

2. Admitting when I am wrong is a good thing.

And the most important thing I have learned,

1. Perspective! The time I am most happy is when I have a positive outlook on my marriage. When I look at all of the great things that Dusty does for me on a daily basis I can't help but smile! He doesn't always do everything perfect but when I am focused on all of the positives I am grateful for a fantastic husband and I can't help but feel as though I want to serve him! The times that I have focused on the things Dusty hasn't done or the things he didn't do right I feel negative. My situation is no different, just my perspective. The cool thing is that my marriage can grow or become damaged and it is in my control!

Thanks Dusty for being patient with me. I love you so much! I am excited to see what the next 11 + years has in store for us!

Altamont Longhorn 5K

I finally convinced Dusty to run a race with me. It was only a 5k not a half marathon like I wanted but I was happy anyways. We ran the Altamont Longhorn Days 5k. We ran together and did 3.1 miles in 27 minutes. We ran it in under 9 minute miles!

Fireworks at the Woodlands

We went to the Woodlands to the Anadarko's parking deck and watched the fireworks. It was a great show! They went all out!

MRC Saturday October 17

Saturday was an ocean day. We were on the boat headed back to L.A. So we headed down to the ice rink to do a little ice skating. We climbed the rock wall, hung out by the pool, and took a nap. It was so relaxing.

Dusty skating

Dusty & Cassie skating on the boat

Cassie & Dusty skating with Leslie right behind us.

Cassie & Dusty

Cassie

Cassie climbing the rock wall

Our dining room, it was so fancy and 3 stories high. The last night all of the staff sang to us.

Alec (drink boy), Misty, Juan(waiter), Cassie, and Liam(head waiter)

Our guys were so fun ! They made dinner each night very entertaining.

Dave the cruise director

Captain Johnny with staff from the ship

Cassie & Dusty after the closing show

Our dove towels in our cabin

Misty's spray on tattoo

Leslie, Misty, Cassie, & Dusty in the hottub.