Is there anywhere we can start a fire?

We welcomed the coming of Spring this last weekend by going camping. Yes, there is a distinct possibility that we are suffering from insanity. We didn't really have a plan at all, just camping. We had no destination, nothing. Brennan's brother Callan and his girlfriend Aubrie ended up coming with us, and suddenly we felt very lame for not having any sort of plan. So we drove south to Spanish Fork Canyon but the campsite we wanted to go to was gated off. Then we found a place that was open but unfortunately there were no fire pits, which would make for a extra cold, not to mention food-less, night. I was starting to get stressed, fearing that this would be the worst outing Callan and Aubrie had ever been on and feeling incredibly foolish for not having a better plan. So Brennan called a Parks and Rec number and was talking to a lady about different options. I reminded him to mention that we needed a place where we would be allowed to have a fire. He proceeds to blurt out, "Is there anywhere we can start a fire?!" Maybe it was my high stress level, but I really found this quite hilarious. Hearing my laughter, Brennan modified his question to "Where can we cook a fire?", igniting even more laughter from me. I seriously quoted these two questions for the rest of the trip. His first question just made him sound like a creeper who wanted to start a forest fire somewhere but for some crazy reason was asking for permission. And the second one...well I'm not sure why he would want to cook a fire. But I appreciate him for lightening the mood for me. :)
Here we are at our destination at last. It was cold, but we had a good time. It was actually warmer once the sun went down because the wind finally died down.
Here is Brennan enjoying a s'more after we had foil dinners. All ideas of eating more healthy went out the window on this trip. We had a little bit of dinner and then three desserts. S'mores, banana boats, and peach cobbler.
Here are our happy camping buddies. Callan introduced us all to banana boats. They were very delicious!!
Brothers.

Here I am in the morning. I slept in my jeans with sweatpants over them, two pairs of socks, a tshirt, a sweatshirt, a stocking hat, and then my sleeping bag over my face. It really wasn't bad, but I think I am the only one that would say that. I think I got more sleep than anyone else. Brennan said he kept getting worried about me and would have to check to make sure I was still breathing since I was wrapped up so tight. But I was. :) We woke up in the morning to frost all over the inside of our tent so if we hit the walls at all it was like it was snowing. Unfortunately, all of our firewood also got covered in frost so the boys were unable to get a fire going in the morning. It was SOOOOO cold. So we packed up without making breakfast and just headed home. Not the most exciting camping trip ever, but still more successful than it could have been. I certainly had a blast and it made me excited for lots more camping endeavors to come. In warmer weather of course.

St. Patrick's Day!

Recently I was talking with my sister Mara about holidays at home. We came to a mutual consensus that in a lot of ways the smaller holidays, like Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's day, were some of our favorites. Our mom would go all out for these holidays. For St. Patrick's day she would always make reuben sandwiches, green jello, and green juice. She also bought paper plates and napkins to match the holiday. For whatever reason we loved this. I think it was because these holidays were for the most part not celebrated or recognized. So we still had to go to school and all that junk, but it was still exciting because she still made it a special day. So pretty much what I'm trying to say is that I have the best mom in the world. :) I'm not nearly as good as her at these things, but on St. Patrick's day we did make reuben sandwiches, green jello, and some very unappetizing green kool-aid. Thanks mom for wonderful traditions for us to carry on!

A Weekend Full of Fish and Girls

Brennan and I welcomed four little additions to our family this weekend. And we have already had to say goodbye to three of them. It was a tough weekend. Don't worry, they were just fish. But our inability to keep them alive certainly made us realize we are NOT ready to be parents. I mean, we can't even handle fish!!

So we had my four little nieces over for a sleepover on Friday night. We decided to take them to Walmart to pick out some new fish since we only have one. Since they aren't too expensive we let each of them pick one that they could call their own. Of course, we had to have a lengthy conversation about how the fish would have to stay at our apartment. I didn't think their parents would be too happy if we returned them with four little pets. So that's how Swimmy, Nemo, Mario, and he-who-did-not-live-long-enough-to-receive-a-name came into our lives. The girls were SO excited about the new fish that they always wanted to touch them. I didn't figure it was the best thing for the fish, but I still allowed them to touch away. I think that probably contributed to their premature deaths. But the girls had fun and that's what matters! Libbie woke me up at 7:30 Saturday morning to inform me that her fish, Swimmy, left us during the night. It was sad, but since little Claire doesn't care if she has her own fish, Libbie was able to inherit hers and everyone was happy. However, when we came home Saturday afternoon after taking the girls home, we found Mario (Mallory's fish) and Claire's/Libbie's fish (who never got named) belly up. We couldn't believe it!! I guess the poking was just too traumatic for them. The good news is our first fish, Huck, as well as Mia's Nemo are still as healthy as can be. So we didn't completely fail.

Despite the depressing circumstances we still managed to have a great time this weekend. The sleepover was jam-packed with fun.

After pizza for dinner, we got to enjoy some yummy popcorn.

We got to rock out on the keyboard, and try to scare Aunt Rachel by making it sound like aliens.

We got to relax and enjoy a movie and some Wii playing, and Libbie got to get cozy in the giant love sac. She slept there all night and thought it was the greatest.

We got to "pet" the fish to our heart's content.

This video is pretty much the only evidence we have that Swimmy, Mario, and Nameless ever even existed.

We got to build awesome bugs out of K'nex with Uncle Brennan.

We got to make crazy videos with the video camera.

We also got to call Grandma and Papa on Skype, have pancakes for breakfast, and watch awesome cartoons. All-in-all I think we managed to have a pretty good time. It sure was fun to have these cute girls around for awhile. They are such a self-esteem boost! They certainly don't care if I'm worthless and can't even find a job. Mallory even said I am her favorite cousin. Nevermind the fact that I'm not actually her cousin, I'll still take the compliment!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Well we had a very fun Valentine's weekend. To begin the weekend I finally got to have my clean shaven husband back. His work was having a mustache competition so he hasn't shaved in a month. We had to get one final picture before he shaved Friday night.

He shaved it into this beauty just for the day of the competition. I was not sorry to see it go.

On Saturday we went up to Salt Lake for much of the day. We had dinner at Texas Roadhouse, ran a few errands, and got to spend some time with Caleb, Marci, Gavin, and Henry. That night we went to the Gallivan Center for some outdoor ice skating. We rode the TRAX from Caleb's place and I realized that I would not be good at taking public transportation by myself. I was glad to have Brennan with me. Ice skating was lots of fun. Neither of us fell so we consider it quite successful. They had a few games and free hot chocolate throughout the evening.

Brennan liked to think he had fancy moves.

Here we are taking a break and enjoying some yummy hot chocolate.

On Sunday the Valentine's festivities continued. We started the day with some pink heart shaped pancakes that Brennan made.

I got Brennan some candy and tickets to Brian Regan in March. He wasn't as excited about the tickets as I was hoping, but maybe as the date approaches that will change... Among other things, Brennan got me this fish for Valentine's.

For the time being we have chosen to name him Huck. That is subject to change. After all, he's just a fish, it's not as if he is going to be confused if we change his name. :)

To continue the heart shaped trend, and the long standing Cardon tradition, I made some heart shaped pizza for dinner. It was rather delicious if I must say so myself.

And we ended the day with some chocolate covered strawberries and grapes. They were delicious...and nutritious? Maybe not...but oh well.

All-in-all it was a fantastic weekend. Just nice to relax and enjoy some time together.

I just had to throw in this random picture. Last week we were at Nathan and Stacy's one night and Brennan was giving Mallory and Claire a double leg ride. It was just too cute so I had to take a picture...and post it here for your enjoyment. :)

On day one, he stumbled through hello...

...in the hallway at church. (not on fifth avenue :)). It is February 8th. One year ago today Brennan and I met at church. It is amazing to me how much life can change in such a short amount of time. I am so grateful that he decided to say hi to me and made the decision to spend his time with me everyday since. It has been a good year.

Our first picture together, one week after we met.

Trying to be a Glow Worm

Being happy is a skill...and I'm not always good at it. It is surprisingly difficult to be happy sometimes. I am sort of ashamed to say that given the fact that I have so much to be happy about. My life is pretty darn good and easy. And yet I can still find things to complain about and reasons to be unhappy.

In our institute class last week we talked a lot about being happy. It struck me that being happy is a choice I make every day. In my search for a job the last couple of weeks I have found myself feeling pretty down. Looking for a job is never fun. It was alarming how grumpy I could be by the time Brennan got home in the afternoon, even though he was the one at school and work all day. Since institute last week, however, I have been trying to focus more on being happy. I have been trying to use the extra time I have had to do other things besides ONLY looking for a job. So I've had time to make an entire scrapbook of our wedding, I've done some much needed deep cleaning around the apartment, and I've been able to read much more than I usually can. Focusing on the things I have been able to get done and the extra time I have had to spend with Brennan helps me stay happy. Why would I ever choose to focus on the negative things?

Well, here's a poem our institute director shared with us at the end of class. Brennan and I really liked it.

I'd like to be a glow worm
A glow worm's never glum
For how can you be gloomy
When the sun shines out your bum?

So...I'm trying to be a glow worm. :)

Our First Christmas

Before break, Brennan and I took a break from studying for finals to go see the lights at the temple in Salt Lake with Nathan and Stacy and Caleb and Marci and all the kids. I was a bit chilly but a fun time nonetheless.

Right after finishing up with finals Brennan and I made the long trek to Iowa for Christmas. Lucky for us the weather cooperated and we made it there in one piece. Every year for Christmas my family does the 12 days of Christmas for a couple of families where we leave things on their doorstep every night with a cheesy little poem. We got to participate in the last few days of these deliveries. Nothing too exciting happened during the nights we got to help, but it was still a good time.


Here is a picture of Caden and Brennan all disguised for the deliveries. Crazy boys. Caden knew two of the families pretty well and if they saw him he didn't want them to recognize him.

My sister's kids didn't get out of school until after we were back. So we got to go eat lunch with all three of them and got to enjoy two freezing cold elementary school recesses. The kids were great to invite us. Hopefully we didn't embarrass them too much. We also got to see 9-year-old Caden's school play. He was Santa. We couldn't have been a prouder aunt and uncle.


Here he is all decked out. He was the best Santa I have ever seen!

It was mine and Brennan's first Christmas together. I think I speak for both of us when I say it couldn't have been better. We had so much fun with my parents and my sisters and their families. It was just great to all be together. It was fun to see Brennan as part of my family as well. I'm glad to have him.


Here is our wonderful tree on Christmas morning. Plenty of gifts to go around that is for sure.


My beautiful mom. We had so much fun together. And that video camera in her hand....she and dad gave all of the couples one of those. We have already had tons of fun with it!


Opening presents.


Brennan opening the Wii I got him. I was pretty paranoid that he was going to find out and it wouldn't even be surprise. But this is the expression I captured as he was opening it...looks pretty genuine to me. :)

Rich, Crystal, Kelbie, Caden, and Macy came over after they finished opening their gifts at home. Brennan and I had Crystal and Rich in the gift rotation this year. Here is Rich opening one of the gifts we got him:


Mara and I got Dad some neat Crocs. He looks pretty excited doesn't he? haha.


My mom, being the awesome Grandma that she is, made all the grandkids Snuggies. She made her own pattern for them, however, and I think hers far surpasses the regular Snuggies. Although Kelbie wouldn't cooperate, we got Caden and Macy to model them for us.

Here are Brennan and Caden enjoying Brennan's gift together later on Christmas day.


In my home town there is a street they block off during the winter so kids can go sledding. It is only a few blocks from our house so we took a late night sledding trip. Or rather the boys did, and some of us girls went to watch. Unfortunately my camera was having issues so all of the pictures of the boys sledding didn't turn out. I did capture this moment, however, of Mara walking Duke. Their relationship has come so far.

Another adventure we had was getting liquid nitrogen from Dad's work. Ben wanted it to burn off some warts....Brennan wanted it so he could dip animal crackers in it and see vapor coming out of his mouth while he ate them. Here they are, both having their fun.


Last, but not least, I have a picture of my latest attempt at craftiness. My mom's Relief Society made these cute nativities that would be perfect to have when little kids are around. Although we don't have any little kids, we also don't have any nativities, so I took the opportunity to make our first one. I was pleased with the finished product.