In-transit... sort of.

It is our table that is in transit. We had been thinking for some time that we want to change the colors on it to better fit with what we desired in our home. So though it was originally a nice wood finish with white as the base and accent, we decide to change all the white to black. So unfortunately we forgot to take a picture of it before we started but hopefully you get the idea.

Anyway we are about a little over half way done and hope to have the rest finished soon. We believe that it will turn out nicely and are super excited. But this gives you an idea at least of what it was and what it will be. I will post pictures again once it is all finished. :)

Project Finished!

Just thought I would share a quilt that I finished. I actually finished it awhile ago just haven't posted pictures or anything just yet. Better late then never I suppose. This is a quilt that I worked on and almost finished last summer in 2010, however it's completion was interupted by my wedding plans and the wedding and hustle afterward. But now it is finished and I am rather proud of it, and so thought I would share. It was originally going to be a twin size but that changed quickly and it is now closer to a queen size.

Catching Up

I haven't put anything on here for awhile and felt like I should probably update you all on the goings on here at the Francis house.

At the end of June, my dad, my sisters, and I all went on our annual father-daughter trip. This year we decided to go to bryce canyon. For me this was my third trip of going within the last 7 years. However the place is still very beautiful, and you always notice something new the next time around. Rather than camping in the regular manner we camped instead in a tipee. It was actually warm when it needed to be, and cool when most tents would be stifling hot, so it was a nice change. Our tipee was also the only one on the little pensula that we were on so we felt rather nicely isolated from our unknown neighbors.

On the first day we took was was to be only a three mile hike, that of course ended up being more like five with all the elevation changes and switchbacks, but most of it was under the rim and so we got to be up close and personal with the red rocks and the crazy formations that define Bryce canyon.

The last day of our trip we took an ATV ride to the rim of the canyon from near our campsite and back. At the rim we stopped at a waterfall that wasnt there until pioneers built a trench to start it to bring water to a certain part of the valley for growth, it still amazingly runs strong today. It also makes for a beautiful landscape. The trip was a lot of fun, and we wish that Lynette would have come with us.

One game that Brett and I play when we are on trips is a point system based on beetle buses and slug bugs. Basically you just count them. Buses are worth 10. Bugs are worth 1. Unless they are red, then Buses are 25 and bugs 5. This is only relevant as I saw a green beetle bus on one of the days and since I took a picture and sent it to him, I won, cause he never sent one back.

On our trip we also learned at least one piece of wisdom while looking around in a shop. This I thought would be a good idea to pass on to you. So please take it to heart. :)

Moving In

Currently, we have recently moved to a new apartment, and though we still are renting the other one and using it for laundry purposes for now, we have moved for all other intents and purposes. Our new place is much brighter, lighter, and newer. We like it lots. Another plus is we can actually have our cats with us now, so we have some extra entertainment I suppose. Anyway we like the new place and will post pictures later when we feel a little more settled in.

Memorial Day

We went horseback riding down at the house of a guy that Brett works with and is good friends with. It was fun. Came out with a few sore muscles and one nasty bruse on my leg from the saddle, but all was good. Brett looks much more comfortable on a horse if i do say so myself.

Kittens!

We got two little kittens that we have adopted into our family. They are about five or six weeks old. The kitties were found by Brett's sister's neighbor and we decided to take them in.

The darker one we named Shade, and the one with the strip on her nose we named Ash. They are both girls and very playful and small. They are lots of fun to have around, but a bit of work as well.

They are funny to watch as well, Shade it seems is consistantly hungry and always a complainer, she is often meowing about needing more food or cause she wants to be held. She also has a bit of a fat but which makes her look like she is waddling as she walks or runs around. Funny thing for Shade is that when she eats she can't just use her mouth, she has to have two feet and her whole face in the bowl, as a result she often has wet front paws and food on her face which looks like eyebrows and such.

Ash on the otherhand is more of a huntress, she eats nicely and only what she needs then starts chasing anything that moves. She is also quite the cuddler though, as you can just barely pet her and she will start to purr very loudly. She normally sits pretty quiet when you hold her and is content to stay put for the most part. She is also the quieter of the two, unless they are wrestling together.

So far we are enjoying having them around very much.

Just Us :)

Sara's Wedding

My best friend growing up was just married in the Bountiful Temple on April 30th, 2011 to her sweetheart Stephen Workman. This was such a special and beautiful occasion that we were privileged to be a part of. It was a wonderful experience to see her sealed to her spouse and to share her special day with her. It was also an opportunity to remember my own wedding day and to be able to spend some time with friends whom I hadn't seen in awhile. She looked beautiful and very happy and I look forward to seeing her that way always.

Coldness

So this is a little behind but I thought I should share anyway. Sometime in April Brett was talking to his sisters and some of them had recently gone to the zoo. It sounded quite fun and recently the weather had been rather nice so we decided we would go the next day.

That morning I had class and it was fairly cold but not too bad, however by the time class was over it was then windy and rainy and very cold, but thinking that maybe salt lake wouldn't be the same we decided to go anyway. As it turned out it was a very cold day. We would walk quickly from building to building to see the animals, as it was cold enough that only a few birds, the rhinos and elephants were outside. We probably should have just waited for a warm sunny day, but we still had fun even as we froze together.

A day or two later it was again one of those cold rainy days that you don't want to be outside it, so we made sugar cookies together using some of our many cookie cutters. It was quite fun and we enjoyed eating them over the coming days as well. :)

Just Some Fun

Pictures that I thought could be fun to share with everyone. :)

Quiet Moments

It seems that life is full of busy, busy, busy all the time. There is always something to be done, some deadline to meet, some place to be. It is so easy to get caught up in these moments and miss the small and quiet ones.

Recently I've been thinking and noticing them more. This last tuesday I was told that the only Grandfather I have ever known had passed away. It is heartbreaking to think about yet I know that it is for the best and that I will see him again. He was one of my heroes in life and such an example to me spiritually. He will be greatly missed.

It is because of this event that I have been thinking more about life and what is most important to me. Brett has been wonderful during the whole ordeal, even when he himself was in pain. I learn more of him everyday and am so grateful for such a wonderful man in my life. As I pay more attention to the small meaningful things, I can more fully enjoy the quiet moments of life. Brett is one of those for me.

Trip(s) North

So lately Brett and I have been traveling north to see our families and visit friends and a bunch of other what nots. Anyway on one particular trip we had a bit of a funny scare. See we are going down the highway and we see an interesing site. A semi - facing us! and apparently driving backward. However we soon discovered that it was one semi pulling another, but from the back it seemed as though we would very soon be crashing. On this same trip we bought a new toy that unfortunately we couldn't bring home with us due to the rainy weather.

Three days later however we decided that we could bring it home. So we headed north again. We voted to take the UTA system, so it took a grand total of three hours to make a normally hour and half trip, but it was well worth it and so much fun!

What you might ask would make us make such a crazy trip in the middle of the week? Well that would be a motorcycle. Also it was Brett's first time to use both the trax and the frontrunner and so it made quite a novel trip. We spent a good couple of hours up there and then drove home on the motorcycle. It was overall a blast and may sometime be repeated soon as the weather is warmer. And now Brett has a toy he can play with outside, so it all works out. :)

Valentine's

The famous day for all lovers, or dreaded for those without. This year for Brett and I we celebrated early due to our strange schedules not mixing so well. So on February 12th we had our valentines day. Brett gave me a beautiful necklace with earring to match and then we also went out to eat.... well sort of.

See I had to work that afternoon so when I got off work we went out, however it seems that a whole bunch of people decided to celebrate early as well or something because everywhere was full and busy with large waiting times. The BYU basketball game that had just ended didn't help much either. So we just got some pizza and went home where we then watched a movie while eating together. All in all it was a wonderful day.

As for the actual Valentines day I decided I wanted to surprise Brett, so sunday night I cut out a bunch of paper hearts, which I then proceeded to tape all around our bedroom and in some of the rest of the house.

I also made cookies. I was experimenting a bit and tried to cook some with kisses, as it turns out they don't bake in the oven so good. Its better to put them in right after the cookies come out of the oven instead, just a tip. Anyway I sort of gave up on the chocolate and used jam instead, which I think tasted better anyway, but I'm sure some would disagree.

Lastly I used kisses and wrote a note on the table for Brett when he came home the next morning. When he came home apparently they glowed in the dark which was a little strange for him, but he liked the surprise so it all worked out. :)

Night Out

Yesterday Brett and I attended what is known as the Y-Ball. Basically it was a dance for the married and engaged couples at BYU. It was held in the Hinkley Center and turned out wonderfully. We danced, had some cake, laughed, and even got to ride around the provo temple in a limo! At the end Brett gave me two roses out of some that were provided and then we left for home. It was a nice night out and will hopefully be repeated again sometime. :)

Newly Improved!

So a few new things have happened in the last month.

First being that I cut my hair. Its a bit short and wild but i like it, mostly.

Brett and I just about a week ago, decided it was time that we finally put up actual curtains in our apartment as opposed to hanging towels on the rods. So one night we laid out the fabric, measured the windows and cut to the desired length. I worked on the casings and the hems, while Brett cut them the the desired size. They turned out beautifully, although we both agree that it officially looks like we live in an old grandma's apartment now, even more than before that is.

We also bought ourselves a dresser, finally! It is also beautiful and should last for quite some time. One thing we hadn't taken into account when buying it was how much moving around of stuff we would have to do. The guys delivered the dresser around 11am one day and we took at least until 2pm or so to decide how to rearrange all of our furniture, and clean our apartment. We are however much happier with it and surprisingly have more space. Its nice.

We also of course continue to have fun. While visiting family Brett was tickling me at one point and i was trying to get away, the end result: I got stuck in a fairly strange position where i couldn't move, except my arms.