What Christmas Looks Like in AZ

"Puppy" Cakes

This is Jake

Monday was Jake's 2nd birthday

Jake loves doggies

So his mom and I took this stuff....

and turned it into these...

Bulldogs

Schnauzers

Westies

and Beagles

Happy Birthday Jakie!!

In honor of making cupcakes, you must watch this video

{this song has been stuck in my head for weeks}

Thanksgiving (times 2)

Garner Thanksgiving:
Held in a cultural hall {his family is that big}
Name tags
50 lbs. of mashed potatoes
5 lbs. carrots
15 pies

Beasley Thanksgiving:
My grandma's kitchen
8 people
3 pies

After eating our Thanksgiving meal twice in a row we headed over to the Bizjaks for more pie then back to the garners for Pumpkin Cheesecake and Black Friday scouting

By the time we got home we were exhausted - and a pound or two heavier

Yesterday I borrowed Maesyn and Jake to take some pictures of them {and so their mom and dad could go to the Temple}...
We headed out later than we should have and only had about 30 minutes of sun
The battery in my camera was dying

So quick as we could we snapped pictures...

...until the kids realized that playing with all the cool things was so much more fun than taking pictures.

So, I put my camera away and we ran around the Mesa art center...

...climbing all over the stairs...

... playing in water....

...and of course avoiding all the dog poop

{seriously, it was everywhere!}

Lions and Tigers and Bears

Oh My!
We went to the Phoenix Zoo today with Heidi {my sister-in-law} and her kids
We only got to stay for about an hour so we didn't see any lions, tigers or bears but we did see...

Some cute little monkeys

{My favorite}

Pink Flamingos

Ground squirrels

and a very tired Jake

The End

{happy weekend}

The new meaning of Saturday

Until about a month ago Saturday meant sleeping in, finishing homework, and running errands.

That was until Benson and I started working in the Temple.

At first when we committed to getting up so early I was worried that I would regret my decision , not to work in the Temple, but to choose the early shift and lose the one day I had to sleep in...

I am not a morning person by any means, and when the alarm rings at 4:30 I am not the happiest person alive...but as soon as I begin my shift at the Temple, I immediately remember why Benson drags me I drag myself out of bed so early. I have learned so much, met amazing people and had unforgettable experiences.

{and it's only been 3 weeks}

Now Saturday means getting up at 4:30 am to work our 6 hour shift.
Saturday means afternoon naps, having lunch together and catching up on The Office.

Now, our Saturday's are truly relaxing and more productive than ever before.

It's not any easier to wake up that early than I thought it would be - but it's so much more worth it.

Happy {Pumpkin-less} Halloween!

I can't believe it's already here, honestly.

We haven't even carved pumpkins yet

{or even bought any for that matter}

While it seemed to creep up on me it is sure hard to miss now...

Wednesday we went to our ward Halloween party.

oh.my.gosh.

I knew there was a reason we moved into this ward...they know how to do parties right!

At least half the ward dressed up

{even the adults}

It was in an amazing backyard and included TWO haunted houses, a graveyard...

and a dance to

THRILLER

Today at work a lot of people are dressed up.

One man is walking around

IN HIS UNDERWEAR

dressed as a viking.

And of course Obama, Biden, McCain, Palin and the secret service are present as well.

Tonight is our party.

A murder mystery party.

Western style.

But the best part of today?

I get my camera!

{does anyone want to sit at my house and wait for it?}

Fall

Just because it's October doesn't mean that the weather will cooperate.
{Although nights and mornings have been lovely}
But despite the weather, I can't get over the fall feeling. I have been baking a lot and am loving it. {Seriously - I have made 5 pies this month alone...}

This apple pie was SO GOOD

I need to make another

These apple peelers make pie amazingly easy

Jack

Next up on the baking menu:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

{My personal favorite!}

I love to see the Temple

Benson and I were excited to get a call from the Temple President's secretary asking us to come in for an interview with the Temple President. As of next Saturday we will be working in the Temple every Saturday morning. We are really happy to have this opportunity and were told by the Temple President that this will no doubt be one of the most spiritual experiences of our lives. We can't wait. Come see us sometime :)

Also, conference this weekend will be great!

Dear Fall,

Please come soon. It's been so long, and you didn't stay very last year since you decided to show up late {like after thanksgiving late - talk about lame}. I want Halloween, sweater weather and Thanksgiving. I would also like some colored leaves but yeah, I know you are too lazy to do much of that here in the valley, but I am willing to drive up north just to see them. Also, if you could stay a little longer this year I would be oh so happy.

Sincerely,

Sarah

{Your #1 fan}

Don't tell him I told you but...

Today is Benson's Birthday

{he hates having attention being drawn to him}

10 things that are Completely Awesome about Benson:

1. He is really handsome {when he wants to be}

2. He can always make me smile

3. He plays the guitar. He also plays the piano...better than me {me? 6 years of lessons... him? NONE - he's just that good}

4. He has a hilarious sense of humor

5. He speaks Spanish

6. He can grow a mean beard {see picture 3...and picture 6}

7. He is one of the most thoughtful people I know

8. He is extremely patriotic

9. He can make anything fun

10. He is incredibly intelligent

Seriously, I could go on and on {and on} but you all don't want to be here forever

so...

Please tell him

Happy Birthday

sneaky sneaky

Tuesday was my birthday. Benson decided on Monday night that he should

throw me a surprise party.

So, while he sat in the Library waiting for me to get out of class he called everyone we know and threw it all together.

My mom, friend Ashley and her mom took me to dinner that night {Oregano's - YUM!} then we headed back to my house so they could see all the new things I put up.

I am carrying 4 boxes of left over food and a gift bag, so I ring the doorbell.....and almost dropped everything - the house was pitch black and all I heard was million people {okay, maybe 30} all screaming "Surprise!!"

Benson was successful in throwing me a surprise party that was actually a surprise.

All of our friends and family were there and we had a ton of fun.
We just moved into our first house and are still decorating so everyone got me Halloween Decorations and it turned into a Halloween theme party

{I don't care that it's a month early - I love Halloween and so does Benson's mom- see cake below}

The Garner Birthday tradition: German chocolate cake

Benson's mom made me 2 {two!!} cakes

I was still surprised 15 minutes later

They even got matching candles




P.S. If anyone has a craving for chocolate cake - COME OVER... we have 2.

California Sun

So, here's the story... growing up I went to Disneyland a lot. Yes, I was spoiled in that respect.{we had a family friend who conducted computer seminars there and would so graciously let us crash in his Disneyland Hotel suite along with 4 other families}
So needless to say, Disneyland has a special little place in my heart - yes, I know I am like a little kid, I love the place okay?!
Benson, does not exactly feel the same way about Disneyland. While I have been at least 8 times{yes eight times} in my life, Benson has been 3 - once when he was young with his grandparents and twice with choir in high school.
Ever since I found this out I have been determined to change his mind - at least from hatred to tolerance.
Well we were lucky enough to get Disneyland tickets and some gas gift cards as a gift from my "boss" at work, so we decided we would plan a trip. I continued to save money I earned from different contests at work and soon enough we had enough to pay for the trip.
{yes, we are that awesome}
The trip was great and Benson actually enjoyed it.
I showed him the way cool people do Disneyland and he treated me to a lunch at the Blue Bayou Cafe {the one inside Pirate's and probably the only thing I have never done at Disneyland}

California Adventures

Seriously, the least blurry picture I have with us in it {inside the Tower of Terror}

Our favorite ride - we went on it 7 times in 2 days

Mater was the best part we saw of the parade

Maybe now it will be a little easier to convince him to go next time :)

the great outdoors

Camping this weekend was great. It was my first camping trip in probably over 10 years {and by camping I mean real camping - not girls camp or cabin camping}
The weather was beautiful - even when it rained all Saturday night.
We went with Benson's brother Nate and his family - watching their kids find all sorts of frogs and bugs was half the fun.

If you have never been to Mt. Lemmon in Tucson - you should go.

We will be again soon!

Benson & Nate chopped this firewood for us...shirtless.

They are so manly.

yes, green things can grow in arizona!

this little guy hung out on our tent while it was raining

Benson's camping attire

Maesyn's cute boots

this one was named Elizabeth

pretty little things

Jake loved this silly looking caterpillar!

These blue beetles are so pretty!