Christmas Festivities

We had a great Christmas this year! I have to admit that I feel a little spoiled with all the love that has been thrown our way. Thanks to everyone who made our Christmas special!

I had a very busy month. As I have said in the past, Christmas time at Great Harvest is very busy and this year was no exception! I think my longest day this year was 13 hours, but most of the others ranged from 9 to 11 hours each day. But it only last for 2-3 weeks. I just want to express a big THANK YOU to my husband, for all that he did around here without even being asked. I came home every night to: the dishes washed, the laundry done and folded, the walks shoveled, the tree watered, the house spotless, and sometimes dinner waiting. I love Briant so much, and I truly appreciate him always helping out with house work on top of the responsibilities he has at his own job. Briant, you're the best!!

My family had a little Christmas Eve feast at my parents house, but we weren't able to go until a little later because I didn't get off work until 4pm. After I felt good about my appearance, we headed over. Thanks to my Mom for saving us a plate, we had some yummy ham, mashed potatoes, corn, and to wrap it up, apple pie! Love apple pie! We had a great time visiting with family and playing Pictionary! My aunt Pam gave me some canning bottles for Christmas so now I can get started this summer learning how to can!

This was really our first Christmas that Briant and I had in our home. It was nice to just be together and share each others company.

For Christmas this year, we got ourselves a new computer. Which we absolutely love! I am still learning all there is to know about burning DVDs and Blu-Ray, but we are excited that we finally have that option and that our computer is fast! Now, I have a lot of projects to do that I previously put off because we didn't have the speed/technology.

One of my favorite gifts I got this year was the strand of pearls and pearl earrings Briant got for me. Pearls are my birth stone, and I absolutely love them!

I gave Briant another 'That's How I Roll' t-shirt. He has quite a few of them with different pictures, but this one has a pizza cutter, since he LOVES pizza!

I'm really excited about the outdoor cooking stove and the bike rack we got from family... now we can really go camping and take our bikes too!

We received lots of cards and newsletters from friends and family this year. It's been fun reading them and looking at pictures. I'm trying to keep all the address so I can be better about our cards next year... there were a lot of people I missed!

Since we both had a couple days off Briant and I spent some of our time at the movies. We went to see Blindside and Avator in 3D. They were both really awesome movies and I recommend them to all of you!

We are so grateful for this time of year. We love that it is a time to spend with friends, family and most of all each other. We are grateful for the Savior and his example, the role that he plays in our lives, and the most important gift that he gave us all. It is no wonder that this is my favorite time of year, with that special Spirit that is around us. We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

P.S. Cindy I need your peppermint bark recipe... assuming you made it. It was delish!

Cool Christmas Lights

Has anyone ever seen this place?

I was shown this place a few years ago (I'd never seen anything like it before). I took Briant there our first Christmas, and we've gone every year since.

You can find this place in Iona, ID on Barnes street. They have a station on the radio that you tune into (I think it was 88.5 or somewhere around there) and the lights are syncronized! They have several songs and some great messages. Overall I think it is a pretty good show.

Here is their WEBSITE (also has a map).

Enjoy the show!

Giles Annual Christmas Newsletter 2009

I'm very excited this year to sit down and write our very first annual Christmas newsletter. Briant and I have stayed busy all year. Here is what we have been up to...

Briant continues to work for Melaleuca. He works in Marketing on the vitamins/supplements/nutritional foods side of the business, which he really enjoys. He went to Orlando, FL for their convention this year... too bad he was working too hard to have any fun. Briant also serves with the Teacher's Quorum in our ward as the Varsity Scout Coach. They biked and hiked in Sun Valley in August for their High Adventure trip. I think Briant had just as much, if not more fun, than the boys did. I was happy because he returned having had a "positive experience" camping! Now maybe he'll want to go with me!?! I am so grateful for Briant in our home and in my life. He is very smart and on top of everything he does. He has always had great ambition and drive to go forward and plan for 'our' future, and is taking those necessary steps to do so. I am so thankful for all the help he gives around our house and I love him so much.

I have now passed the six year mark for working at Great Harvest Bread Co. I started baking sweets again in the summer and am now spending much of this holiday season making their yummy Pumpkin Rolls. I was put in as the Young Women's Camp Director this summer and then as Young Women Secretary shortly after. I had a great experience at camp and continue to enjoy working with the Young Women. I had the opportunity to volunteer again this year for Camp Magical Moments as a camp counselor. I also planted a garden this year, and it was a huge success! I learned so much and was in constant awe at how fast it grew! Thanks to those who answered all of my MANY questions!

Briant and I took many fun trips this year, short and long. We went to Pennsylvania to visit Briant's family in May and had a blast! We were able to do a lot during that week, but some of the highlights were watching BYU's ballroom dance team perform, seeing historical sites in Washington DC and Gettysburg, and hiking along the Appalachian Trail. It was a great visit, and we can't wait to go back for more! Thanks to his parents again for their good company and wonderful hospitality!

We also took the opportunity to go to Yellowstone National Park for a day in August. We saw a lot of beautiful scenery, the Lower Falls in Yellowstone's Grand Canyon, Old Faithful, and many other spectacular geysers and wildlife! We saw a golden eagle, herds of buffalo (from a distance and up close) and even heard elk bugling.

We are very grateful for the times that we have been able to spend with family this year. It's fun getting together with all of the family that we live close to. Most of the my family lives close, so we are able to see them often. We went to Jackson Hole with the Baldwin's early in the year and had a great time swimming at the recreation center. We were also able to spend a night or two with them at the Barn in Ashton and had a lot of fun playing Sardines! We have been able to get together with all the Baldwin's several times, whether it is for a birthday or just for fun.

Briant's family came to Idaho in September to help his little brother get situated for college at BYUI. They were able to spend some time with us, and it was good to see them again! It really is too bad they don't live closer! It has been really fun having Spencer so close and getting to have him down to spend time with us every now and again. We also enjoyed the times we went to Utah to visit friends and family and even to watch a BYU football game.

We are especially grateful for the Christmas season that is upon us. We have been able to create a few of our own Christmas traditions, along with setting up our very first 'real' tree as a married couple (I never had a real one growing up). We are grateful for Jesus Christ, whose humble birth we celebrate during this season. We are thankful to him for the sacrifice he made for each one of us and for the things he has taught us. By remembering him this season and doing as he would, we know that the true Spirit of Christmas can touch each of us.

We wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! May peace and happiness be in your home always along with the joy that only the Prince of Peace can bring.

Love,

Briant and Melissa

Deck the Halls

Christmas time is here again, and it is really beginnning to show. Great Harvest has started picking up this last week, which means I have spent alot of time working. I've been making Pumpking Rolls, taking care of the basket orders, and helping bake sweets occasionally. This means I have been leaving home early and getting home alot later than normal (sometimes after Briant) and therefore not blogging about all the events that have been going on around here.

You haven't missed much. I'll give you the highlights from the last two weeks. There are really only a few.

We put up the tree!!!

This is my very first "real" Christmas tree! My mom was allergic growing up. The smell is incredible! I'm really loving it.

I made caramels for the very first time!!!

They turned out so good! I absolutely love caramels and I am so impressed that they turned out so well on my very first attemt! Thanks Julie for that website, it was awesome.

Here is my RECIPE for all who want a really easy, step by step (with pictures) way to make caramels.

We got our new computer!!!

I love it, and it runs smooth.... a best of all.... it's fast! Enough said. Thanks Briant!

Thanksgiving Fun!

I know, I know, Thanksgiving is past and gone, but well, I haven't had the time to do my posting about it. So here goes.

Devin, Julie and Anna came up from Orem, and Spencer came down from Rexburg to stay with us this year, so we had a full house. It was so much fun! This first night everyone was there we all played a little miniature golf in the house (very inexpensive and tons of fun)!

Little Anna is growing up so fast! She is so curious and full of energy... I wish I had some of that still. She is walking everywhere and learning so much. We had so much fun with her. She found out how to work our "SINGING KISS" and loved to dance to the songs it plays, or rather tap her foot... SO CUTE! It was so fun to watch...

The Baldwin Thanksgiving Feast was amazing! I married the perfect man, Briant like the white meat, which means... more dark meat for me! Mom always makes great Turkey and stuffing, Cindy and Mahon made some great potatoes and Banana cream pie, Julie and Devin made awesome Pumpkin Cheesecake, and Chantelle (and Chris?) made wonderful rolls! I made a salad, which I thought turned out really good!
I loved that we sat down as a family and said what we were all thankful for, it really brought the Spirit into our day. Thank you to everyone for the happiness you bring into our lives!

After we stuff ourselves and our bellies are bulging, we like to go out and get some exercise to work off some of the meal. The greenbelt was the place to go this year...
As you can see, there is Chris, Chantelle and Esau in the back, Devin Julie and Anna in the middle and Briant, Spencer and me in the front.
Briant and I have a good time goofing off as always...After that we of coarse go and search through the Black Friday ads that we have already looked at to figure out what to do the next morning. We found out this year that you can get the same deals online that you get at 3 am. That makes things much easier! It is kinda fun to go early... except the part where you have to get up, then stand in line for HOURS! Some of it can be worth it, but not always...

Beside, I did have that day off from work originally, but a girl that I work with was very ill, so I worked at 6am for her. I didn't really want to get up even earlier if I couldn't come home after and kick it. Oh well, there wasn't really anything we needed or wanted, so no harm done. I did miss going out and having a little quality time with Julie though.

After I got off work, we went to see the New Moon movie! I have mixed feelings, since I read the books, but over all it was pretty good, and much better than the first.

After a little Christmas shopping at the mall, we head up to Heise to soak it up. AWWW, it felt so good to just relax. The only thing I don't like about the hot springs up there is the smell of sulfur... it make me think I'm going to get skin poisoning or something.

The weekend really did go too fast! Devin and Julie left on Saturday to go spend some time up in
Ashton with Kyle, Kat and the girls. It is always hard to say goodbye, but Anna does it so cute...

She blows you kisses!

Oops!

Can you really tell...

...that I forgot 1 cup of flour in some of my cookies?

SLC Trip

We've been wanting to go the the Salt Lake City temple for a long time. Since Devin and Julie are always inviting us to go to the temple with them we thought this would be a good opportunity.

We had a great time with them while we were there, and Anna is growing up so fast! We are grateful to D & J for their hospitality and the good times they share with us!

We all went to the Salt Lake City Temple on Saturday afternoon and it was absolutely beautiful! No wonder it took so long to build! I always enjoy the peace I feel in the temple and the things I learn too. While we were there I couldn't help but think of the Saints who built that temple and the sacrifices they endured before they even reached Utah. They bore those burdens because they had a testimony of God and his plan, because they knew of the blessings of His temple and that they could be with their families forever, and because they knew that the truth had been restored to the earth. That is why they sacrificed so much. How grateful I am to them... my ancestors, because without them I would not have my testimony of those same doctrines! Because of them I can be with my family, and my sweet Briant forever, and know of God and his plan! I am most grateful for the temple and for all the happiness it brings to me.

(sorry these pictures aren't the best, it was dark when we got out)

I always wanted to stand here...

A guy showed us around a bit inside and we were
able to stand on the other side of this door :-)
I'm so glad we finally got to go to the temple with these guys! It was a great experience!

Briant had a cousin get married that same day. They happened to have their reception in the Joseph Smith Memorial building, so we went to see them and the extended Giles family. It was nice to finally meet and visit with some of his family I've never met before!

Congratulations Lisa and Brett!
Lisa has been commenting on my blog... it was good to finally meet her!
Grandpa Giles and his kids (minus Briant's dad)
Briant stood in for his family...

It was great to visit with family we haven't seen for a while. We can't wait for the Giles family reunion in June!

Bowtie Pasta Recipe

So it was just the Bowtie Paste Recipe that you all wanted right? Okay well, grab your paper and pencils...

Creamy Chicken Bowtie Pasta

4 Chicken Breasts
1 pkg. Italian salad dressing mix
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. Italian seasoning (spice)
1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
2 tsp. Italian seasoning (spice)
7-8 cups bowtie pasta (dry)

Clean chicken. Melt butter (in microwave... or with hair dryer, which ever you prefer-- dryer takes longer though). Pour into crockpot. Add water, Italian salad dressing mix, and 1 tsp. Italian seasoning. Mix well. Add chicken and coat with mixture. Put lid on and cook on low for 2-3 hours or until done. Remove chicken and cut into bite-size pieces. Set chicken aside.

Soften cream cheese (I just left it out while the chicken was cooking). Mix in soup, milk, and 2 tsp. Italian seasoning. Stir until smooth. Warm in microwave-- hair dryer won't work for this one, for 2 minutes to help get mixture smooth.) Add to the sauce that is in the crockpot and mix well. Add chicken and stir. Cook 1 hour on low.

Cook pasta according to directions on package. Serve with the chicken sauce. Mmmmmm...

Bowtie Pasta

Briant loves his Aunt Lisa's famous Bowtie Pasta. He is always talking about how good it is and how nobody makes it like Aunt Lisa.
Well, we've had the recipe for a while so, today I decided to make it. I told Briant I would make it, but he decided he needed to start it with out me. I walked in to see him with the 'melted butter' it called for, only halfway melted, and being poured into the crockpot. I said to him, "That's not all the way melted, you should put it in a little longer." To which he replied, "Oh, it will be fine." A few minutes I heard him mumbling something like, "Hmmm, maybe I should have put this in a little longer... where's the hair dryer?"

This would be my husband finishing the
butter melting process with a hair dryer:

Usually, when we return from church, this is where you will find Briant until dinner is ready to eat. Staring at the contents in the crockpot, licking his lips and talking about how he can't wait.

YUMMY! The finished product. I might I say, it was absolutely delicious!

Briant is very happy that there are plenty of leftovers!

I decided after dinner that I wanted to make a white cake... FROM SCRATCH. I've never done that before, and it turned out pretty good, for my first attempt. Of coarse there are always things to learn for the next time. After I frosted, Briant got really excited and insisted on putting on the sprinkles. I think he said something like, "Step away from the cake...".

This is how Briant rolls... with cake. Let me know if you want the recipe.

A Happening Halloween

Ah yes, we just celebrated Halloween, definitely my favorite holiday!And little did I know that I would be working for a company that dedicates an entire day to Halloween festivities. This year my department decided on an Outer Space theme. Unfortunately, my most favorite costumes of all time, The Pope and Lil Jon, would not work for this theme. I had a difficult time deciding what I would be, but at last the idea came:

I give you Balloon Boy!
This time, it wasn't a hoax! Ha!

Remember a few weeks ago when the world was captivated by the story of a run away, UFO-like, silver balloon flying in the skies above Denver?A 6 year old boy, Falcon Heene, was missing, and his parents who had built the balloon, thought he was inside. Well, it turns out the kid was hiding in the attic the whole time because, well, he "did it for the show!"

So I decided I would be Falcon. I made the costume out of a box, an emergency blanket, silver wrapping paper, and 16 helium balloons. I made suspenders inside of it so it would be easy to carry around on my shoulders. The coolest part was that I could see through the blanket, but nobody could see in. I didn't even have to cut eye holes! Oh, and I had better mention that I did wear a Colorado shirt with a "Falcon" name tag (can't forget details). So here I am below, on the far left, with the rest of the Marketing group.
I got some good laughs from some people, but not as many as the Yip-Yips from Sesame Street though. They looked great.
We had a good time that day. Our department won the award for most creative group. That stems from our room at work that we turned into a space ship and outer space.

On Halloween night we had a party (which was very fun and hilarious!) at our house with some couples from our ward, so I did get to dress up as Lil Jon after all. I gave my brother my Pope costume to wear to his parties, and he became an instant celebrity! Until next year everybody!

Annual Pumpkin Carving

The big family carving night was last night, but we missed it because we were driving back from Utah. So we went over tonight for FHE and carved our pumpkins. Mom, saved hers and carved one tonight too.
We are very proud of our pumpkins...
But, I always think they look way better in the dark.
Mom didn't do her traditional pumpkin, it was fun to see her do something different.

We had so much fun! This is one of my very favorite parts of the Halloween season so I'm very glad we didn't miss out on the carving this year. I'm kinda bummed that we didn't get to do it with everyone else though. Oh well, next year.

Football, Skating, Family... what more could we ask for?

We've had tickets for a while now to the game that took place this past weekend between BYU and TCU in Provo. Unfortunately the game didn't turn out the way we all wanted... but we still had a great weekend in Utah.
We stayed at our Aunt Lisa's house in Orem. It's always good to visit with family and catch up. Lisa and her family are always very hospitable and we really appreciate them! Thanks again guys!

Saturday morning, we got to spend some time with Devin, Julie and Anna at Classic Skating. We always have so much fun with those guys! They busted out the hockey nets and sticks and we all had ourselves a little game. I'm sure glad we didn't keep score. Spencer even came too, despite his late night, or shall I say early morning. I think it's been a while since Briant and Spencer have played together, and it was really fun to watch their teamwork. Julie's got skills. Need I say more? Devin and I had a big run in, that I'm sure was fun to watch, but left me with a few bruises.
All the time, Anna and Julie's mom played along the side lines. I couldn't help but get a little distracted once in a while from our game.

It was fun to see her drive this little toy car. She was even shifting!
They put her in a little walker and she had a good time cruising around the rink. Check out this VIDEO OF ANNA (it's at the bottom of the post).
Anna is really starting to get the hang of walking. She is growing up so fast!
Later, we went and had lunch with Briant's Grandpa Giles. He is so funny, and we just love spending time with him.

The football game was a little disappointing but there were some positive points during the night. #1 - We were some of the only BYU fans sitting in the TCU section (they were the best seats we could get), and we didn't get beat up!

#2 - It stopped raining an hour or so before the game and it didn't rain at all during the game.

#3 - We stayed warm!
#4 - Briant got his glasses back so he was able to see everything very clearly.
It's always fun spending time in Utah! There is so much to do! I kinda feel like we don't get in everything we want to, but there is always next time!