Thanksgiving

We had a really great thanksgiving, my mom and dad were able to come out and here my mom is making the turkey Steve and I brought.

Heather taught a bunch of us girls how to crochet this super cute headband that Aubrey is wearing and if you look below it is my finished headband, I made it cream and brown. I liked the neutral colors so that I can wear it more often.

Here's mom and pops with Brooke

Here are the girlies crocheting our headbands, Heather is a great teacher!

Steve and Brooke

I am a slacker and never take pictures so I stole these from Heather's blog but I think this is the cutest picture!

The next day we were able to go up and see my moms family, and have a Thanksgiving dinnerwith my Grandma Wilkerson. It was really good to see her again.

And here we are at the church the day after thanksgiving eating and playing with some really cute nieces!

Gift Receipts: Who Wins and Who Loses?

I know that this is sort of a long post but please read it anyway because I think people should be aware of this scheme that I think some stores do. So I am super far behind in blogging, but I think what happened to me on Saturday people need to be aware of. I have always heard that when you give someone a gift receipt, they will get back the price you paid for it. I no longer think that this is the case everywhere. Stores know that you don't know how much someone paid for you, so they know they can bank on it. So before Christmas I bought a shirt for my husband Steve at Express, and when they asked if I wanted a gift receipt I said yes, because I figured that way I can put it on top of the shirt when I wrap it, then my husband will know that he can return it and I won't be offended or anything. So we decide to bring the shirt and the gift receipt to the mall the day after Christmas just to see if there is another shirt that he would like better. We go to Express, and he liked the shirt I got him best, but he said how much did you spend on it because I don't really need a new shirt. I said I think it is about $35, so he decides that he wants to return it. We go to return it and pull out the gift receipt, then the cashier asks for some help from the manager and the manager says before January 1st we can only give store credit or exchange, and I overheard something about $25 dollars. So Steve said he wants store credit even though there was nothing else he wanted to buy. So I ask the girl how much are we getting for our store credit and she says $25, so then I ask, is that how much it was purchased for? She replies yes. So we are walking out of the store and I am totally questioning the price, so I look through my wallet hoping that I kept my receipt. Fortunately I had, I check the price and it was $38. Express was about to make $13 off of us. Now that I would not stand for. So I go up to the manager and I show her the actual receipt and I said this is how much it was purchased for, and I want cash back since I have the actual receipt, and they did. They seemed really embarrassed and they should be. Does anyone else have an experience like this? Please share if you do. I kind of want to test this out at other stores now. I now question if when I have given gift receipts if people only get a portion back of what I actually paid for them. I now think I might want to give them the actual receipt for a possible return instead of a gift receipt.

The Best Sleep Ever!

So my husband got me this pillow for Christmas and he has been telling me for the last two weeks to open it early and start using it. I think it is because he wants to see if he wants one too! Well anyway I finally consented last night and it was awesome. I highly recommend it. I have had neck problems ever since junior high because I was less than 100 pounds and they wouldn't give us lockers so I had to carry a heavy backpack all day even during lunch isn't that crazy? And then when I was nineteen I got rearended by a teenager who didn't have a license so I got whiplash fortunately I worked at I chiropractic office at the time and so I got adjusted 15 minutes after the accident. Anyway so typically by the middle of work my neck hurts. And it is nice to have a pillow that finally gets rid of the pain and makes me feel relieved. The one downside to the pillow is that it feels so good that it is even harder to get out of the bed in the morning, which is why I went to work with wet hair that I put up in a bun because I didn't have time to blow dry it. But I think the pillow is worth it!

BYU vs. Wyoming

On Saturday, November 7th we had Steve's family over for the BYU game. It was so much fun to have them over and to finally just have a relaxed Saturday. Kathy made this wonderful cheese potato soup in soup bowls that was delicious, and then we had 4 types of dip, 7 layer, creamy salsa, Uncle Joe's dip and salsa. And we had brownie's and ice cream. We were all very full by the end of the day. If BYU is always going to win 52 to zip while we have a game day party then I think we should always have a game day party!

Steve and his dad wore matching shirts they looked like little twins, they even sit the same way check out their hands in this pic.

Kimber and Me

Rob and Kathy

Halloween!

We had a super fun Halloween this year. It was really nice having it on a Saturday. We had a relaxed morning, then we made visits to all of the nieces and nephews. First stop was to see JJ as a bumble bee. He looked really cute. And Cindy was so nice to feed our husbands dinner that evening.

Then we went to the Buells, and these 50's girls looked darling. My sister heather made these costumes isn't she incredible. Unfortunately I was not blessed with this talent like my sister. We even got to go trick-or-treating to a few doors with these cuties.

Then we headed over to Steve's brother Dan's house to see Katelyn and Drew dressed up as dora and boots. They looked really cute.

Then we headed over with Steve's parents and sister over to his brother Rob's new house, Rob just got married last night. And then they all came over to our place to watch the Dark Knight. All in all it was a good Halloween.

Grandma's Funeral

On Monday October 26th was my Grandma's funeral. It was a beautiful service. My dad had the idea to have the granddaughters to all of the talks and prayers since only the grandsons participated in my grandpa's funeral last year. Everyone did so well. It was so great being able to remember all of the great memories of my grandmother. And all of the girls did such a job on their talks.

This is my Dad (my grandma's only son placeing a flower on her coffin).

Here is all three of her daughters

Afterwards we had a luncheon with some great mexican food, and we watched videos of grandma's life. I am so grateful to have had such a wonderful example in my life.

Here is all of the granddaughters and some great granddaughters that came to the funeral, she had way more granddaughters than grandsons.

Minnie Hamilton Bagley

My Grandma Bagley peacefully past away this morning. She has always been such a wonderful example to me. She has always been very talented, she had a beautiful voice, she could play the piano, she could sew, and she was a wonderful cook, but most importantly she was the most loving virtueous woman. I have never heard a negative word come out of her mouth. She never criticized any of her grandkids but loved us with all her heart. Just on Monday night I was thinking about my weaknesses and how I need to be a better person, and I thought about my Grandma Bagley as an example of how I need to be better. And I told Steve that night I need to be more like my Grandma Bagley. I hope that when I am her age I can be at least half the woman she was. I hope that my Grandma and Grandpa had a sweet reunion this morning as they greeted each other in Heaven.

This is the last time I saw my Grandma before she past away, but I know that we will see each other again some day.

Calli Danielle Merris

October 10th was an eventful day because not only did Rob and Breanna get married but also Calli Danielle was born at the exact same time as their sealing. She is a beautiful little girl and we are glad to have her be apart of the family. I got to meet her on Sunday since we were up in Idaho for the wedding, Steve unfortunately was sick so I went to the hospital on Sunday afternoon and got to hold and meet her for the first time.

Rob and Breanna's Wedding

On Friday, October 9th Steve and I drove up to Idaho Falls for Steve's brother Rob's wedding. The night before his fiance Breanna went through the temple for the first time and Steve and I had the opportunity to attend. That was a really neat experience. The Idaho Falls Temple is beautiful. I was grateful to go do an endowment session because Steve and I didn't get to go through it three months ago when we were in Idaho because it was closed for cleaning.

On Saturday we got up and got ready and headed over to the temple for their sealing. The sealing was really beautiful, the sealers last name was Hinckley which I thought was really cool!

This is the happy couple when they first got out of the temple.

Here is Steve with all of his sibblings.

After the wedding Steve's parents did a luncheon, and then we went to their reception. I thought Breanna's mom did such a great job at decorating the cultural hall.

And then they were off on their honeymoon. Congratulations Rob and Breanna!

Joseph Smith: Campaign for President of the United States

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=ea469d9ff732f110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

I thought that this was a really cool article in the Ensign. I never realized that Joseph Smith came pretty close to becoming the President (or at least his enemies thought that he would become the President), and that was a huge reason why he was martyred. I would love to hear what all of you think of this article.

BYU vs. Utah State

I got to go to the Football game on Friday and it was so much fun. I hadn't been to a football game since 2007 for BYU. I decided going with Steve is the best way to go because he has bleacher chairs that are all cushioned and with a back, so that was nice. Sitting outside of the student section is also great because you don't have to stand the whole time. And last but not least, Steve brings binoculars and it is so cool to see the game up close like that. And the best part of it was BYU won but did we ever have any doubt? Oh and I got to see my Aunt Susan.

My Alabama Family

The other night I couldn't sleep and so I started thinking about my family in Alabama. I miss them so much and I wish that I could see them more often, so I would like to tell you about some of the great things about the Bagley's.

This is my oldest brother Dane. We are ten years apart and although for most of my growing up life we have lived far away from each other, I have always felt a special bond with Dane. He is an amazing person who is very close to the spirit, I can always look up to him as anexample. He is the reason that when I was 12 I quit doing homework on Sundays, and I am grateful to him for that.

Karen is more like a sister to me than a sister-in-law. I met her when I was 11 and Dane married her when I was 12. I remember the first time Dane brought her to our house in Thousand Oaks for a date, Esther and I admired her so much and we couldn't stop talking to her. We thought she was so cool and so pretty. I never forget the shirt she wore the day we met her it had little mirrors on it and we thought it was the coolest thing. She is so much fun, you know when you go to Alabama you are always in for a good laugh and a great time filled with games and fun!

This is my nephew Thomas he is 13 years old, and I can't believe how grown up he is! He is the one who gave me the title Aunt Summer, I was 12 almost 13 when he was born, and I was so excited to be an aunt. I remember taking pictures to my school and showing my friends how cute my nephew was. All of my friends were jealous that I was an aunt. He has always been very sweet natured. I remember when they came for Christmas when he was 3 and I was cutting the design for the ginger bread houses and he just watched me for a long time, and then he said in the sweetest most sincere voice, aunt Summer you are really good at that! He has always wanted to make people feel good about themselves. He also has such a strong testimony of the gospel, I know he will be a great missionary in a few years.

Kaylyn just turned 10, and she is my first neice. I remember when I went out to Alabama when she was 2 and Thomas came running up to me all excited and she was a lot more shy. But as soon as we got in the car and Thomas was chatting my ear off I guess she decided that I was okay so she decided to chat my ear off too! When they came out for Elliot and Katie's wedding I had an extra bed at my apartment and I was really hopeing that Kaylyn would stay the night with me, and when she told her parents that she wanted to I was really excited. We stayed up probably until 1 talking and laughing and playing games, she is so much fun, and she is very mature and a great help around the house which I am sure her parents love!

The word to describe Tyler is FUN! Tyler warmed up to me right away when I came home from my mission, which I was so glad about because I knew that Thomas and Kaylyn would remember me but I didn't know how Tyler would feel about me. But right away he wanted all my attention. My funniest moment with Tyler was when I was visiting in Alabama for his 4th birthday and I was pushing him in a swing in their back yard and he said Aunt Summer are you a boy or a girl? I about died of laughter. Karen's posts about Tyler always make me laugh harder than any other posts and I just love him to pieces.

Katie is a cutie-pie as you can see. I got to meet Katie when she was about 7 or 8 months old, and I fell in love with her right away. She had the cutest chubby cheeks and the longest eye lashes I have ever seen. The last time I saw Katie she was really scared of me, it was on my wedding day and she was really tired from her trip and she cried every time I got close to her. I guess she thought I was Cinderella and it was kind of scary to see cinderella in real life. I think out of all of my nieces and nephews she is the only one that looks a little like me, so I think that is pretty fun. I am glad that now when i call them on the phone she wants to talk to me and she has the cutest high pitch voice, last time I talked to her she said I want to play with you Aunt Summer, I wish I could play with them right now too.

I could go on for hours about the Bagley's and how much I love and miss them! I hope to see them soon, and I hope that Steve can meet Karen, Thomas and Tyler soon. I bet everyone out there reading this blog is jealous and wishes they had an Alabama family too!

Wasatch High School Hall of Fame

On Thursday, Septembe 17th, Steve and I drove up to Heber after work, to go to the Wasatch High School Hall of Fame. Steve and his dad have been on the committee for this and they have worked very hard.

My sister-in-law Ali received recognition at this event, because she designed the logo for the new high school. There was a lot of people that turned in logo's but hers was the best! She received a Wasatch High School blanket.

My father-in-law Ron was conducting the meeting. They inducted 4 individuals into the Hall of Fame this year. One of them is Lethe in that church movie the mail box, I love that film so that was pretty exciting. Great job Ron and Steve on the Hall of Fame!

One Year Anniversary & Labor Day Weekend

On September 5th it was Steve and my One Year Anniversay! I feel like the luckiest woman in the world to be married to such an amazing man. He is so sweet and caring to me, and always listens to me. We have so much fun together and we are always laughing. I can't believe we have been married for a year, it literally feels like yesterday and yet I feel like I have known him forever. I don't even want to know what life would be like without Steve.

To celebrate we decided to leave work early on Thursday and take Friday off and take a trip to Salt Lake since that was where we were married. On the 3rd we drove up to Salt Lake and at the Cheese Cake Factory. It was yummy! We ate their key lime pie cheese cake which was amazing. Then the first night we stayed in the Romeo and Juliet sweet at the Anniversary Inn unfortunately Steve got really sick after we ate, with a fever and he was shaking intensely so I had to go to the store and get him some medicine.

The bed was upstairs which was kind of fun.

I love King size beds Steve and I wish we would have bought a King Size bed for our house instead of our Queen. But we do love our memory foam mattress! Steve barely slept at all that night because he was so sick.

The next day he still was pretty weak, but since we were switching rooms at the Anniversary Inn we had to leave for awhile, so they could clean our next room. So we decided to take a tour of the Capital Building.

It was just redone on the inside and it is really pretty. Appearantly it is ranked the second nicest capital building, pretty cool huh?

This is the view when you first walk in they have these stairs on both ends of the building.

I thought that this room was beautiful this is where they meet with important people.

Then we checked into the Italian Gondola room, for the next night. Steve was feeling a little better, so we also took a tour at the Daughters of Utah Museum. And we went to temple square, where I got to see a sister I taught in the MTC, and we got to watch the Joseph Smith movie. I love that movie.

Then on Saturday we drove back to Utah, to see my parents who were in town and we went to Cindy's to watch the BYU game in her theater room. The boys loved that, and especially because BYU won!

On Sunday the 6th, Dan and Ali's baby Drew was blessed, and then we went to a luncheon at Ali's Aunt's house.

Then we went to Heather's house to hang out with my family. It was a fun and busy weekend, we were glad to just relax on Monday. Steve is feeling better now, luckily he didn't have the flu like we thought, he had some kind of virus that was going around.