holidays

It has been fun to decorate for the holidays in our little home.

It's nothing extravagant, but its cozy.

The tree, and below, our family room.

We had to make indoor snow cuz nothing is falling outside...

Let it SNOW!

We're so excited that Don & Lisa will be here today and can enjoy our holiday season with us.
We're ready for Christmas!

final...ly

Well folks its done.

I officially survived my first semester back at school.

Finals are over. Papers are written. Grades are set. 

Finally.

Its been so crazy. So fast. So Slow.

Now it's time to play!

Luckily we've played along the way to keep us sane.

A couple weeks ago we took a break to enjoy the true meaning of the season.

We went to a live nativity and it was an amazing and honestly a surprisingly spiritual experience.

Studying the New Testament in a class for the semester will make the Savior's life that much more important to you. It was so special.

We were really impressed by how elaborate it was. When we arrived we were greeted by Roman soldiers telling us that we needed go to be taxed. Then we started along the lighted path towards the star.

We passed by the shepherds in their fields... 

and all sorts of animals, including this cute donkey. It was crazy to think that Mary could have ridden one of these guys the distance she did.

Camels... 

and then the reason we came.

The manger scene. It was so precious. The baby Jesus was so sweet and everything was quiet and peaceful.

We loved being able to remember the true reason for celebration this time of year. 

23, phobias, and already a cougar

I turned 23.  Yesiree.

It was kind of a weird experience because in a way I feel like I skipped my 22nd birthday.  You see, my 22nd was different from all my other ones, warm, swimming pools and no daunting snow clouds to greet me when I woke up.  Still a special day, just different.  So this time it was back to the crunchy fall leaves, eventual snow clouds (later that week) and the whole Perucca clan to spoil me rotten. :)

Here we are at our house after dinner...minus Justin and Chantel who had YM/YW.

See that pile of napkins on the couch?...in the back?

Yeah well dear Nicholas decided it would be great to wrap my present entirely in napkins.  

Did I mention I have a semi-phobia of napkins because folks, I do.

I can touch them. But I hate it. Most of the time it induces my gagging reflex.

Gross.

But I was under strict orders to open it myself with no help.  And then what do I find when I get through the wrapping paper?...the box is stuffed full of crumpled napkins.  

Double whammy.  Thank you Nick.

It was certainly a night to remember.

I honestly did get spoiled so thank you one and all!  Specially family in Australia who managed to get me a gift.  Thank you!

Phil actually got me a special little gift of my own.

A MO-vember mustache.

I asked him if he'd always have a mustache on my birthday and he told me "as long as your birthday is in November, I will have a mustache on it."

I dubbed him Mario for the month.

Such love and dedication right? 

On another note, I am loving being back in Cougar Town.  We just went to the last home football game and yes, it was freezing.  I even sported my long johns but it was great and we love going with our friends.

23 and a cougar.  That's me! 

Cheesus

In my recent escapade to the local grocery store (yes, an I call it an escapade...makes grocery shopping so much more desirable) I found myself in the cheese aisle, fantasizing of Australia.

I wanted flavor; I wanted something that tasted like something more than yellow wax.

I wanted Australian tasty cheddar cheese.

You see, I do love me some good cheese. Always have, always will.  But it wasn't until Australia that good cheese became the norm.  That's when it all began. 

My palate loved that grocery store bought, home brand, tasty cheddar cheese.

Tasty is right!  I remember just eating slice after slice. 

Nachos. Sub sandwiches. Cheese & twiggy sticks. Grilled Cheese. Cheese and crackers...mmmm.

Ok ok, back to my escapade...so I picked me up some SHARP cheddar cheese in hopes that my palate would be deceived and decide I'm back in Australia.

So far, no luck.  Its a step up, but consider it a tiny one.  Like, real small.

All in all, I would be extremely grateful if my dear Australian friends would

#1: enjoy their cheese, dangit!

#2: send the recipe to Kraft...and then Kraft make it for me in America

#3: break the law by somehow getting my tasty cheese through customs and over to me

Is that too much to ask? :)

Yes, I just wrote a post about cheese.

Yes, I realize that is weird.

Yes, I'm still craving my tasty cheddar cheese.

Halloween

Oh jeez.  Time just creeps by.  I was completely frightened today when I was thinking, "next month..." and then I realized, that will be DECEMBER!  What the?

I'm afraid I've neglected my blogging duties so our dear Australian pals might think we've gone to the grave but fear not, we are here.  We're just super busy and leave early in the morning and don't get back until you can see the moon.

This Halloween was so much fun.  Poor Chantel woke up sick as a ghost Halloween morning so I got to trick-or-treat for her.  Phil, on the other hand, was trick-or-treating for himself...and let me tell you, everyone loved it.  First Halloween?  No problem!

They literally dumped candy in his bag.

Dr. Phil certainly wasn't complaining.  He loved it!

Trick-or-treating wasn't Phil's only first this holiday season.  He'd never been to a corn maze or anything like it. Our season passes to Cornbellys did just the trick.  

We definitely got our money's worth out of those passes!  Phil just looked at me with excitement at every new thing.  It usually went like this "Look Kaylee, PUMPKINS!...Look Kaylee, a CORN MAZE!...Look Kaylee, kids dressed up!...Look Kaylee, S'MORES!"  

Ha, I love seeing him experience it all.

 We were lucky enough to have Phil's parents come for a visit just in time to go with us as well.  

Definitely spent a good hour in the corn maze!

(Mum B. and Jocelyn)

 Here we are on the hayride.  Gotta love Autumn.

There was something that was all new for me too...bullriding.  It was such a monster.  I was definitely creaking and groaning the next day.  It was included with our season passes though so we all gave it a whirl.

n

In the night everything became haunted so we screamed til our voices were hoarse.  Every time we went back something new scared me.  BOO!

We also celebrated Phil's birthday, went to Phil's first American Football game and so much more.  In addition, we're trying to paint and do a little bit of home improvement on the side.  Certainly never a dull moment!

So that's our Sept/October in a nutshell...right now we're just trying to make it through til Thanksgiving Break without becoming zombies from all our fun + home improvements + schoolwork = lack of sleep.

Until next time...RIP.

xoxo

Vegas and a Wedding

Ok so Vegas and the wedding may not be entirely related.

Well I guess they are, but not in the way you're thinking!

Come on!

So our last leg of our voyage to America was a stop in Vegas.

We were hammered and carrying our heaviest items in our backpacks (to save luggage weight) so we were a bit...dead...but Phil loved seeing Vegas for the first time.

We snapped a few pics, but mostly just promised we'd be back again when we weren't...well, dead.

Fittingly, this was the fountain show at the Bellagio that day...

Welcome to America!!!

Then it was off to our final destination, Utah.

We were greeted by family and nice soft beds. :)

We had to get our beauty sleep because the following day was wedding time!

Shelley, one of my roommates from freshman year (from Vegas...see I told you they were related), got married the day after we arrived.

Thanks for waiting for us Shelley!

It was special to be be able to be there for one of my best friends, even though it was all a jet-lagged blur. :)

She looked beautiful, the wedding was special and the day was great. 

I loved being back with my friends who know me best...

Kami, the girl who put up with sharing a room with me our entire freshman year.

Such good memories.

And all together again!  The girls of Gates Hall 1912.

Kami, Heather, me, Shelley, Jessica, Kristina.

Love you girls!

So I know you all assumed as much, but we made it.

And now its documented on the blog.

1 couple, 5 suitcases, 7 days in Fiji, stop in Vegas, and ARRIVED.

Here we are!

Fiji Adventures

I know, I know...ya'll have heard about the Fijian trip Phil and I took but there is more!

Brace yourselves. :)

Last time was the place, now it's how spent our time...which was almost entirely out on the ocean.

Kayaking

Swimming

Snorkeling

Marveling

The world is a beautiful place and Fiji is just a taste.

Here's a smidgen of the beauty we found...enjoy...

The snorkeling was amazing. The water was actually warmer than it was outside at times.

The gondola approach, complete with singing and all.

This guy was a creeper! I couldn't come above water knowing he was swimming below me.

Had to keep an eye on him.

I don't know...those 'wings' just are a little frightening to me.

 

And this is what would greet us every time we returned.  Our beautiful private beach.

I can hear the waves crashing now...