Thanksgiving in Florida

We spent the week of Thanksgiving visiting Florida. We spent 4 days in Orlando and 4 days in Miami. John's brother lives in Miami so we spent some quality time with him, his girlfriend, and John's parents who also joined us on the trip. 

It was such a treat. We spent 2 days at Disney and 1 at Universal - it was so much fun. Disney is really a magical place, no matter what age you are. Harry Potter World was also great - but a little too crowded for my taste. 

In Miami we visited gardens, ate good food, spent a day on the beach and visited some cool historic 

Disney was as magical as ever!

Harry Potter World

Orlando, FL Temple

Thanksgiving Day on the Beach! It was fun to BBQ, and we still had pumpkin pie!

I love this man. 

Visiting a way cool butterfly garden. The butterflies loved my Father in law!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from your favorite potato pals!

The Turkey Dance - A Family Tradition Continues

My family has an awesome tradition for thanksgiving-- each year the turkey is featured in a song a dance. My dad has done this my entire life... as this is our first thanksgiving away from family and John is now the turkey man, he of course had to continue in the legacy. For your viewing pleasure, the respective turkey dances were captured this year.

Here is my dad's turkey dance:



Here is the inaugural McElderry turkey dance:



What fun traditions did you participate in this Thanksgiving?

Halloween Costumes the past few years

I love halloween. Fall is probably my favorite season. I love making caramel apple cider milkshakes, eating cinnamon donuts. I love carving pumpkins, baking all kinds of pumpkin yumminess. I love the smell of the crisp air, the beauty fo the color. AND I REALLY LOVE dressing up and creatively selecting a costume. In honor of the season, I thought I would show you all this beauty from two years ago. John and I were Peanut Butter & Jelly (we even did a PB&J dance for our singles ward talent night).


If only I had that filmed, it would be a You tube sensation my friends. What this pic doesnt show is that we had cardboard bread slices we could put on our backs easily and when we hugged we were a PB&J sandwich. Yes my friends, ridiculously obnoxiously cute.

We are still considering our costumes this year... but we are pretty sure what we are going to do. I will be a better blogger and give you the big reveal when we have them done. I love doing family costumes. Aren't these some fun ideas? In the spirit of this great holiday -- I thought I would highlight some of my halloween costumes I have done the past few years. Especially as I have not blogged on many of them. Here we go:

2010 - War & Peace (I was peace) We won best couple costume at our ward halloween party. (no pictures as I was a failure at documeting this time period). Imagine greek goddess of peace. Pale blue flowy fabric draped over white toga. With doves in my hair.

2008 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer


2007 - Dorothy (Wizard of Oz)

2006 - Zorro (or Zorra, whatever) WHY CAN'T I FIND THIS PIC?

2005 - Athena This year I threw the coolest party.



199? - Cute Pumpkin Had to throw this in.



Halloween is just fun for me. What do you like about halloween?

Oh! So Cute Easter Crafts

Hi Friends,
As I have been catching up on my google reader and searching the blog-o-sphere I have stumbled on a these two Easter projects that I can't help but share. I am scheming to try one or two of these these soon. Any partners in crime out there?

So Cute Easter Wreath & Matching Topiary



Simple & Fun Pillows



Hoorah for spring!!

Overview of the Holidays

Hey all! So instead of write an expose on each thing I did over break I thought I would highlight some of the greater moments since I got out of finals!)

The day of my last final, to celebrate I stayed up all night sewing a bag. Yep, dork.

While I was still in Michigan I convinced John to play hookie and go have a "christmas day" with me. We headed to Frankenmuth, and also hit a tree farm on the way.
We got our first ever Christmas tree together. And... we even decorated it! We only got to enjoy it for a few days, but it was so much fun!

I prepared and sang a song with John for my family (it was called Star Bright, and we sang in Spanish and in English!)

I gave my mom a homemade quilt (I even designed the top!) and my dad a decoupaged bird house. (pictures to come)

I went to midnight mass with my family, then woke up the next morning for presents and egg nog french toast (YUM).

John had a birthday, so I planned a party :)

I went bridesmaid dress shopping (yes, one of my BEST buds Jamie is getting married and chose me to be a bridesmaid!!!!!)

I went to Arkansas, hung with John's awesome fam and saw one of his nephews be baptized!

I went to the emergency room at 4 in the morning... yeah not being able to breathe is scary. (allergy attack-gah!)

I went to a church new years dance, and then hardly could stay up through the new year.

I had a wonderful, relaxing break where I cherished many loved ones and felt enriched by their love and the spirit. Oh what a joyous season! Christ is born!

And now, feeling prepared and ready to get going... it's back to the grind!

<3 Kristin

Halloween :)

Jen and Jody are so great!

Wanna bob for apples?

Brady and Kara were Mr. and Ms. Monster for our pageant ;)

So, this was just to emphasize the ingenuity of the lighting. Bball hoops do a LOT. ha!