Far too long

Hello Friends! It has been far, far too long since I have posted. I attribute it to having not one, but two broken computers, and no way of posting with out having it be a pain. Our main computer's screen broke, and our other small netbook got a virus. Yeah, that's our fault for not installing proper anti viral software. Oops. So I finally got around to hooking up the big computer (which is ancient and soooooo slow) up to our TV screen so that I can actually see what I am doing, and that is how I am posting now.

WARNING: THIS COULD BE THE LONGEST POST IN HISTORY!

We celebrated our 4th, yes 4th wedding anniversary on August 19th. I can't believe it has been so long already. Dan surprised me with tickets to The Lion King at Capital Theater and dinner at The Melting Pot. It was amazing! We had such a fun night.

We got some family pictures taken for Danny's family. I'm not posting the whole family because it is going to be a gift to his parents (they already know, since they had to be there) but they don't know which picture we are giving them, and they haven't seen them yet. I think they turned out pretty cute. Thanks Meg!
October was a fun filled month. We were busy as bees and I can't believe it's November already! Dan started his new job in Salt Lake. He absolutely loves it there. The drive is a bit long and tedious what with all the construction, but it's worth it. He got a bus pass so we won't be wasting so much money in gas and that is actually quite nice.

We got a new car. After 31/2 years of being a one car family and carpooling everywhere, we finally decided that with Dan commuting to SLC every day it was probably about time for us to purchase a new car. We got a 2004 Honda Pilot, and we LOVE it!!

On Dan's FIRST Saturday off we went to Cascade Springs up Provo Canyon. It was lovely. the leaves were changing and it was a beautiful day. It was so nice to be able to spend some time together. We haven't had a day off together (besides Sunday) since we've been married. We are most excited about this aspect of his new job.

We are masters with our tripod!!!

We went up to Park City with Dan's parents for a night out. They wanted to take Dan out for a special birthday dinner. He turned 26 on October 19th. I can't believe how OLD he is! He is officially mid-LATE 20s now. We went to this little southwestern place that I can't remember the name of at the moment. It was really good and pretty fancy. Dan got ribs, and I got this chicken nacho meal. Yum.
I threw Dan a party for his birthday. Nothing big, but I am a birthday girl, and I think that everyone deserves to be spoiled and celebrated on their birthday. I made a cake, and cupcakes. The cupcakes turned out much cuter than the cake. I am no baker as you can tell.We carved pumpkins with our very best friends. I was pretty proud of my pumpkin this year. I actually did a good job. I have never been impressed with ANY pumpkin I have carved until now. I found a template on line and I was pleasantly surprised with the results. Danny decided to gut every one's pumpkins and harvest the seeds, so he didn't carve one. We STILL have pumpkin seeds. He's practically obsessed with them.It SNOWED!!!!!
We threw our annual Halloween Party the week before Halloween. It was a blast. This party is Danny's baby. He loves planning for it, making the food, and decorating - so I just sit back and let him have at it! He baked all day on Saturday in preparation. He make pumpkin tarts, candied nuts, homemade butter beer (the Hogwarts recipe), cookies, and of course, pumpkin seeds. He was Voldemort, and I was Bellatrix. His costume turned out better than mine. :)

Von & Ash
Jeff & Katt
Neal & Sarah
Beau & Leslie
Mark & MichelleI got my mole removed. After 22 long years with this thing on my face, I decided it was time for it to go. I am so excited to have it gone...but until it is healed, I have a bandade on my face.Well world, I think that just about concludes our month. Hopefully I'll be able to fix one or both of the computers so I'll be able to say in touch better....but until then, at least you know we're not dead!!

Finally

After almost 2 years of rejection, something good has FIANLLY happened in our life!! Dan got a very prestigious job at....

We couldn't be more excited. He had 4 interviews, and a language test, but FINALLY got the offer. He starts October 11.

Here's the run down: They wanted someone who had graduated in the last year...which he did. They wanted someone who spoke German...which he does. They wanted someone with a language/English background...which is what his degree was in. He is pretty much perfect for the job. He will be working in the E compliance department as an analyst monitoring all of the communication going into and out of the company.

He is still planning on Law School, and Goldman Sachs has a tuition reimbursement program for people going to school...so if he gets in this year he could keep the job and get school paid for!!

PS...the LSAT is October 9th...hopefully 3rd time's the charm!

In Loving Memory.....

My grandmother, Geneve Taft Smith Cornell Deuel Henderson passed away on Sunday August 22, exactly one week shy of her 89th birthday. My grandma Nene as we all called her was a truly remarkable woman. There are not enough words to adequately describe her. She had such a wonderful way of reaching people, of loving them, and of making them feel that they were the most important person in the world. Everyone that knew her would say that they were her favorite friend, daughter, son, grandchild, etc. The love of her life died almost 30 years ago. I wish I could have been a witness to their reunion. She talked a lot about him before she died, it was obvious that she missed him, and was excited to be with him again. It had been far too long.

She was always very invovled with her community, politics, and history. She was awarded many things including Freedom Foundation Award, Valley Forge Honor Certificate for the Spirit of America Speaks in 1974, George Washington Honor Medal Administration Award in 1990, Valley Forge Teachers Medal in 1990, Daughters of American Revolution Award of Excellence for Outstanding Teacher of American History in Utah in 1988, awarded Who's Who in American Teachers 1990 and 1992, awarded Who's Who Among Outstanding Americans in 1995. She was fondly known as Mrs. Columbus and was President of the Republican Women's organization in Utah County just to name a few.

She was a brilliant individual. She compiled many books full of the stories of her life, and the lives of her 10 children. She also compiled a book of quotes, and thoughts. This is one such thought I found and thought fit perfectly with who she was.

(Paraphrased) I am the foundation of all wisdom and buisness, I am the fount of all prosperity. I am the parent of genius. I have laid the groundwork for every fortune. I must be loved before I can bestow my greatest blessing and achieve my greatest ends. Loved, I make life purposeful and fruitful. I can do more to advance a youth than his own parents, be they ever so rich. Fools hate me, wise men love me and I am represented in every loaf of bread and every train and newspaper. I am the mother of democracy. Who am I? What am I? I am work! (B.C. Forbes)

Grandma and 9 of her 10 kids

The whole Cornell Clan (minus Charles)

I had the very sweet experience of spending many hours with her during the last week of her life. The memories that were made will be forever in my heart. Never once, in all of her pain did she utter a sour phrase, or an unkind word. She always greeted everyone with love and genuine happiness. I have never heard her speak badly of another. She was a remarkable woman. Beautiful, strong, smart, stubborn, kind, loving, gracious, compassionate and sweet. She always knew how to make me feel like a million bucks. In fact, my brother said, "now who's going to make me feel special for doing absolutely nothing?" Any time I left her house, my self esteem was always a million times higher. She just had a way about her that made everyone feel loved. She left behind a great legacy. 10 children, 41 grandchildren, 64 great grandchildren, and so far, 2 great-great grandchildren.

Most of the 64 grandchildren

The Ralph Cornell Family Us with Grandma on her wedding day (Getting married to Francis at age 83) I will ever be grateful for her unconditional love, for her example, and for the person she is. She has had such a profound effect on my life, and I am so grateful that she was my grandma. Greatful that I was able to feel her love, and grateful that I have some of her in me. The most I can hope for is that I will someday be 1/10 of the person she was. I am so sad to see her go, but so grateful that I was able to have her in my life for so many years.As she quoted in one of our last visits, "time flies on wings of lightning, and we cannot call it back..." The world has lost one of its most valuable citizens, and she will ever be missed. I love you grandma Nene, you will forever be in my heart.

In our own backyard

This Pioneer Day, Dan had the day off!! It was a wonderful day. First of all, he let me sleep in, and by the time I woke up he had the kitchen cleaned, the floors mopped, the rugs washed and the family room cleaned. Ahhhh....what a wonderful feeling. We decided that since we don't usually get to do a lot of hiking due to him never being home on Saturdays, that we would take advantage of the beauty in our own backyard...so we headed to Provo Canyon.

We did the Steward Falls hike, which was great. We took Chloe along with us, and she absolutely loved it. The hike was really good. Not too hard, not too easy, and lots of shade made it not too hot. MMM HMM. The trail was pretty dusty, and this is what our feet looked like by the time we got to the falls.

Dan and his baby. Seriously. He treats her like she is a baby. Sometimes I have to remind him that she is a dog.

Ok: Story time. Dan can't stand to not do everything when we go somewhere. He needed to run through these freezing cold falls, and he needed to take Chloe with him. He just did. He couldn't stand not doing it. So this is the process: Waiting to go through...Realizing Chloe is shocked from the cold and stopping to pick her up and carry her through...Grabbing her and making a run for it because it is breathtakingly cold...Poor, wet, rat looking Chloe....

Ok, my story. I didn't want to run through the falls because they were cold, and I was feeling great just playing in the water and feeling the mist. But of course, Dan likes a challenge and he dares me to do it. DARES me. Well, obviously I can't resist that. So I made a run for it.

It was a beautiful day. We had tons of fun hiking and being able to enjoy the great outdoors. We are lucky to live in such a beautiful place, with such great canyons and trails available to us so close. Love it. And of course we ended the day with the traditional bbq with great friends, and fireworks. A perfect end to a perfect day.