Christmas Par-Tay

So I am sitting in the lobby at our hotel in California waiting to see if my brothers can find the Phase 10 cards.  They went to go search in the car.  And I in the meantime decided I could spend my time wisely online.  So here is a picture from our Annual Girls Christmas Party.  Thank you to Alisse for hosting and planning along with Megan.  The soup bowls were amazing (thanks to Kelli) and the games were fun too.  I love watching Stacie play games especially the hat, gloves, wrapped present one. 

Christmas was great!  Steven's entire family of 29 came in town and he really does have such an awesome family.  I didn't take pictures and I am kicking myself right about now.  My family and his family had a barbecue Christmas Eve and we all had a good time.  My brother Dallin LOVES his family and thinks he now apart of the Jones Crew.

I am in California right now with my 2 bros and Mom and their friend Rick Hale.  We went to Six Flaggs and we will be leaving back to Arizona tomorrow morning.  Pictures will soon follow.

California is an hour ahead so even though it is 11:06pm here, it is midnight in Mesa and my eye lids are closing as I type these words.

Goodnight.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

I am OFFICIALLY on the hunt for the best chocolate chip cookie recipe.  It is no secret that these are my favorite cookies to make but I have made almost a dozen different recipes and am never fully satisfied.  I am looking for the perfect crispness and not that cake-like cookie.  I don't like that at all. And is the secret butter or crisco; brown sugar or white sugar or both?

 But then I know there is a certain way to make the recipe than mixing everything at once.  What is your method and if you have a recipe you would like to share with EXACT ingredients and directions, please share and I will announce which is the perfect chocolate chip recipe.


You can even leave your comment as "anonymous" if it is a secret family recipe or you are afraid I will ended up thinking they are absolutely horrible.  Just kidding!

Didn't Know I Would Be So Entertained...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Bring It Huskies!

I can't believe it!!  Mesa High actually made it to the state championship game.  We made it to the playoffs in the hardest region in Arizona which is a major feat in and of itself and then went on to beat Red Mountain, Brophy and Moutain Pointe in the playoffs when we were bet to lose all 3.  Take that you Arizona Republic football people!  I am so proud of Dallin and his cute little team.  Well they are not so little!!  Dallin decided to come play football after 2 years of swim and started as QB by the 2nd game and has dominated ever since.  But he has an amazing offensive line and a rock solid, tough defensive line.  Without those 2 things, this would not be happening and I couldn't be happier for him.

Back during the passing league in June and July, all the boys would wear a yellow shirt with the #7 on it.  I didn't understand what the heck the 7 meant so when I asked Dallin he said that the #7 is the exit number at the Arizona Cardinals Stadium where the State Championship Game is.  In my mind I was thinking, "well goodluck with that since Mesa High hasn't been to state since 1992."  And that is the year Dallin was born.  Kind of funny.  Anyahoo...wow was I a non-believer.  They not only made it to state, but they get to run through Exit #7 next week in the State Championship game vs. the Hamilton Huskies.  I may be a nervous wreck through the whole game.  Oh well.  Bring it!

Seattle Trip #2

Steven and I went to Seattle over the weekend because he had an interview.  And I of course decided to tag along.  It is funny because when Steven and I first started dating, he mentioned how he wasn't the biggest traveler...well this is like our 4th trip together in 6 months!!  You know how I love my vacations. 

And we had so much fun and I really do love Seattle.  What a clean and beautiful place!! 

Here we are at a pizza place in downtown Seattle.  We were trying to find a Quiznos but went the wrong direction and found this instead.  Nothing like little hole-in-the-wall places. 

Our sweet rental...

I seriously love the ice cream cones at McDonalds and then to have it dipped too is just amazing. 

At the Seattle Temple.  

Space Needle

Pike's Market Place

Seattle Aquarium

Steven met with the CEO the day before his interview for drinks.  I thought this was funny because "drinks" to us means water but for Steven possibly apple juice.

On the day of Steven's interview, I just cruised downtown Seattle.  And I love downtown Seattle.  It is so clean and busy and there is a lot to see and do. 

 The company loved Steven (of course) and has contacted him since we have been back in AZ but he just doesn't feel it is what he needs to take advantage of right now.  We were both kind of hoping he would love it but that's okay.  It still is a fun place to visit and there will always be more opportunities. 

Steven had flowers delivered for me to my room while he was gone at his interview.  Such a cute guy!!  I knew I couldn't take them on the plane so I carried them around everywhere until we had to leave.  

But we missed our flights because of an accident on the freeway and had to get 2 rooms at the Red Roof Inn.  I thought we were going to get shot while we were there.  But at least it wasn't the Seattle airport to sleep in so I was grateful.

But it was such an awesome trip and I realize more and more that even though I love my family dearly, I don't have to live in Mesa and raise a family in Mesa.  There are so many wonderful places to raise a family.  I was surprised while we were in Seattle because it never rained but was overcast 3 out of the 4 days we were there.  A couple at the ward we went to said that is a myth about Seattle.  Everyone thinks it rains constantly when really it doesn't.  It is overcast a lot but doesn't rain as much as you would think. Being from the valley of the sun, that is WAY different then Arizona but kind of a nice change of pace too.  The last day we were there it was bright and sunny and just beautiful.  

Can you tell I was hoping Steven would love this new company??  haha.  But He needs to love where he is. He is the one going to work everyday and running the business; not me so I am perfectly fine with visiting Seattle again.