My personal "Dan in Real Life"

I had a wonderful night tonight. I was not able to go home to visit my family this Christmas and it has been eating at me as time goes on but tonight helped my pain. My extended family invited me over to their house for their Christmas party and it was wonderful. It was just like the movie, Dan in Real Life. If you have not seen it, I strongly recommend it! In the movie, they are this family that is so cute, everyone loves each other, they are a tad dysfunctional, and of course involved in everyones lives. There is also a scene in the movie were everyone is being goofy and they are putting on a talent show. Tonight, I had my own little version of the movie.

Tonight, the kids of my adult cousins put on a talent show that was pretty funny. I love being surrounded by kids because I never really had that growing up and I don't have that in my immediate family. I love the loud house and the millions of foot steps on the floor above us. Then we have an "ugliest christmas sweater contest" that was great. We first voted, then there was a dance off, and then a re-vote. I love that they have this tradition. It was so funny!!! They have another tradition where they do a roast, via a poem, to a family member. This was so funny and heartwarming. I really felt like I was in a movie tonight with all the appropriate goofiness and loving the family even more after I left.

The food was great, the company was refreshing and I just might stay home next Christmas as well to do this all over again. Just next time, I need to bring a camera.

The last couple months.

So I know it has been forever! Sorry to disappoint everyone....I know you wake up and the first thing you do is check our blog...but again....no new post. So here it is!!! I guess alot of little things have happened but not alot of big things except for Thanksgiving. I am still working at a job that is, well, a job, and I feel the guilt every night when I go to sleep that I am not looking for a better job for myself. Dustin just finished his semester (just one more to go) after a pretty easy going semester if you dont include the finals. Dont get me wrong, he worked hard, but he did not have as many credits which makes it easier. I have to be honest, I miss finals. I miss running around like crazy and memorizing too many things but still feeling like I was progressing and stimulating myself. I was one of those freaks who loved school and I really miss it now. It is going to be super weird when are are out of a college town in 4 months. Dustin is still doing his music website, but with the holidays, traffic has gone down. I really hope that activity goes back up because I have high hopes for this site.

So back to Thanksgiving, Dustin's family came to our house for the big day. Everything went well. All the food tasted great, the turkey was perfect (in my opinion) and we loved having company. Unfortunately, our little nephew was not doing to hot with our cold weather so he had to leave early but we got alot of good video of him. Also, we were able to take the family to see Temple square and of course it was beautiful.

Let me think....other news....well last night Dustin and I drove around for 2 hours looking at Christmas light, drinking hot chocolate, and listening to Josh Groban. That drive definitely got me in the Christmas mood. Also, my extended family extended us an invitation to come to their house this Sunday for a Christmas party. They are so sweet and it is going to be nice to be with family around the holiday. Also, we finally saw the new twilight movie which was good. A little cheesy but good. We also saw star trek, and yes, it was as good as everyone said. We have finally been able to catch up on movie now that the season of time off is vacation is upon us.

I have to be honest, this time of year is a tad hard for me. First off, Dustin and I have wanted a baby for over a year now since our molar pregnancy fiasco. I keep finding out that everyone who is younger, has been married for shorter time then I have, and some people I just dont like (gasp, I know) are pregnant. It is just not fair. I have to get my blood drawn in a couple weeks to check back up on my progress to make sure no little cancer has come back. Ohhhhhh maybe in a couple years we can have a kid. Also, Dustin is stressed about graduating in April because the economy still sucks and we are getting screwed because of it. I am just hoping and praying that something pops up for us. I dont care where we live....I just want Dustin to be happy with a job. Okay, thanks guys for letting me vent. I promise, I really am grateful around this time of year.

Also, Dustin and I got each other the same Christmas presents this year. We both got a Wii for each other! That probably sounds confusing....we just got 1 Wii, and we both went in on it. Yay, we are finally cool :) So we are playing alot of mario cart and getting pretty good at it. All we need now are to invite friends to come over and play. Also, my family was kind enough to send Christmas gifts ever though WE ASKED THEM NOT TOO!! That is what family is for right....to not listen and give you gifts :) We have had fun decorating this year. I love my 3 foot tree and I love Christmas decorations. We keep our Christmas tree lights on all the time....I am surprised we have not burned down the house.

Anyways, I hope everyone has had happy holidays and been able to spend time with family....whether immediate or extended. I truly am grateful for my Savior and for this time of year! I have been truly blessed with an amazing husband, the means to get an education, the gospel in my life, a roof over my head, and food on the table. Thank you friends and family for enriching my life.

October

I keep saying that I will get better at posting but I never do. Oh well. Guess I will just do it when I do it. So I should update you all on what has happened this past October. Nothing really to be honest (hence the lack of posts). Dustin was sick for most of the month....for about 3 weeks in a row. He was tired all the time, randomly ran a fever, and seemed to have a constant headache. I think that he is finally getting better! Thank goodness! He is a TA up at the law school and his professor/boss does have the swine flu and could have given it to Dustin but I dont think he has it. I think we dodged a bullet.

Dustin did start up a music website this month where he supplies information about the music industry, which is very useful for people who are just starting out in the music world. You all need to check it out at destinationundetermined.com He is interviewing artists and constantly finding the most relevant information to share. I have been having fun with this website as well because I have designed his logo and the intro to his videos. It fun to pop out old graphic desig skills. He loves the music industry and that is definitely where his passion lies! He is currently rejoining some old band mates and starting to play in a band here in Provo. I am glad that he is able to do what he loves again.

As for me, I am not doing much of anything. I go to work, come home, watch to much t.v., get too little sleep, and then start the day all over. If you don't mind me getting my violin out and letting me play my sad song, then here I go: my life seems so stagnant and depressing right now. I am in a job that is sucky and will not get me anywhere in life, I miss school and feel like I am not progressing, and I actually miss having my nights busy with too much homework. I also wish my life was no longer in the limbo state. I always say how hard Dustin works for our future so I wish that our future could already be planned out. I am tired of not knowing where I am going to be in 6 months and it is all the economies fault. Okay, thanks for listening to my pity story.

What I have been trying to do this last month is going out and taking pictures, which is something I enjoy. And then of course, we carved a pumpkin for this years halloween. He named our pumpkin jack jack and we loved him. For halloween we just stayed home and watched ghostbusters 1 and 2! Yes, we are party animals. But overall, life is fine....normal.....mundane. I just hope that Dustin's website can lead to some great contacts which will in turn lead to a great future. He deserves it. We deserve it. All I can say is that I am grateful for prayer and the spirit which comforts me in my times of uncertainty and freak outs. The gospel seems to be the only constant and dependable thing in my life right now, and for pete sake, I sure need it. Sorry, if this post had a solemn tone, but life is life, got to keep tugging along.

Here are some pictures from the last month! Enjoy!

September thus far

Okay, so I am going to try and be better at blogging since I now have no homework to preoccupy my nights. So since September has begun, I have received my first paycheck from work and that was soooo nice. I love knowing that I am earning money and contributing to my little family. We also are sad to announce that there is only 1 more episode of Wipeout left.....sad day. But for all of you who dont know, Dustin signed up to be a contestant on the show for their third season next summer. When he filled out the application he was being completely sarcastic and funny. We are hoping his quick wit will get him on the show. We will let you all know if we hear anything.

Also, we have been in Provo for 2 years and have never 1) eaten at Brick Oven and 2) hiked the Y. Let me rephrase.....I have never done these things. Dustin gets Brick Oven delivered to t

he law school and he has hiked the Y twice before he met me. So basically, since I am a BYU grad, I figured I should do these things. So we went to Brick Oven, thanks to a wonderful gift certificate, and got their famous pizza. Dustin loved it but I am not a pizza connoisseur so it just tasted like any other pizza. But I am glad I had the experience.

Then we decided to hike the Y which was a BIG mistake. I am the most out of shape person EVER!! I should be on the show "The Biggest Loser" simply because my insides are about as unhealthy as the contestants on the show....I swear I am so out of shape. I eat fairly normal but I never exercise and that was brought to my attention once again when I attempted to hike the Y. I know alot of you are probably laughing right now because some of you run this small, less then 3 mile hike often, and think my little story is pathetic but I know how pathetic it is.....I had 2 year old toddlers and 9 months along pregnant women pass me on the trail. It probably did

not help that about half way up the trail, paramedics were helping a hiker and were pumping them with liquids and I knew I would be next! I felt like I was going to pass out

but in my defense it was the hottest part of the day. Oh well....I made it to the top and here are some of the photos:

I am trying to make it a family tradition that we get photos taken every year for our anniversary. Last year we had a friend take some urban shots and we loved them. This year, we had a professional photographer in our ward take them for us and we decided that we would take the nature avenue. I dont have the photos yet but she put a sneek preview up if you would like to take a gander: http://www.victoriabainesharris.com/

Also, my dad sent my pictures from his trip to Utah from Dallas and I though I would share them but I dont have them uploaded yet so I will get those up soon! AND MY DIPLOMA CAME IN THE MAIL TODAY!! It is official now! Now I can delete all my school work from my computer and clear up some room for home videos. For all who dont know, I am putting my childhood videos from VHS to DVD. I love it....it is such a blast to look at old videos. Oh and might I add, I am so excited that Leno is coming on at 9 o'clock for us! I have been watching him for 10 years and now I dont have to loose sleep to watch him! yay!