BIG NEWS

So now i guess its ok to tell everyone the big news. We're having a baby! I am about 10 weeks along as of now, and we couldn't be more excited. We saved the big news for Russells family until yesterday for Christmas. we wrapped up 2 onesies one saying "I love my grandma and grandpa." the other saying "newest Hawkins" and his parents opened them up to a great surprise. anyway just wanted to tell the world.

Halloween was fun. We went trick or treating with Audrey but we only went to about five houses. She got the flu and so we had to get her home pretty quick. It was still fun though, because the second door that we went to the lady there gave us some candy. Yumm! I love Halloween.



Jerusha used Russell's Ninja turtle pajamas and went as a ninja turtle because it was the one costume that she could stay warm in in the cold cold fall months in rexburg. After we went trick or treating, we went and saw the Caucasian Chalk Circle for Russell's class. It was okay.



A few days before Halloween Russell had the Halloween Concert. He wore that costume for Halloween, except he didn't have the black eye or mustache that he had for the Halloween concert. The concert was an awesome experience for both of us. We heard good things about it from others as well.


Jerusha made this shell herself. Isn't it amazing!

This is a picture of Russell in his jammies. When he was four or five, he had some ninja turtle pajamas and he missed them and always mentioned it, and Jerusha being the amazing wife that she is made him pajamas just like he had when he was little. Yes, I know Michelangelo doesn't usually have a Katana, but Russell forgot his nunchuks at Jerusha's parents house so he had to make do for the picture. Well, that's all for now. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Pumpkin Carving

We had a fun time on Friday night carving some pumpkins. We thought that it was getting about time, so we invited our families to join us. We did it at Jerusha's house. We wondered where we would find pumpkins for a cheap price, and at Broulims they had pumpkins they were selling by the pound, but we realized that we went there that the five dollar pumpkins at Walmart would be cheaper, at least for Russell, than buying them by the pound at Broulims. So, Jerusha got her pumpkin at broulims cause it was a little smaller and Russell got his at Walmart and it must have weighed at least 50 pounds.



We had a good time digging them out and getting Jerusha's parents kitchen all messy. Audrey was there and she enjoyed making her own unique pumpkins and Russell's sister joined us as well. Here are some pictures of Russell and Jerusha carving up their pumpkins.



Here are Russell and Jerusha's pumpkins. Russell decided to make and explosion from his pumpkin and Jerusha decided to do Zero from the nightmare before christmas. They both turned out pretty well actually, especially seen with the lights off, which unfortunately we couldn't photograph because it is so hard to hold the camera straight long enough to get a good picture. But here they are in the light.



Side story, russell's parents grew pumpkins in Colorado this year and they weighed them. They were so huge that some of them weighed up to 80 pounds. I know. Ginormous. Sadly, we have no pictures to show of them, because they were all stolen by someone at night, who will more than likely crush them on the road somewhere. Sad story. Still, those were some mighty big pumpkins.

Well, I figured we could put in a few pictures of our apartment and how things are going here. The first picture is of us and half of our kitchen. It is really great because everything that we have is in matching color red. At least, its read and white for our kitchen and living room, and then we have a pirate theme for the bathroom of turquoise and black. Its pretty cool.


This second one is of our living room. Check out our DVD collection. I know, its pretty impressive huh? And our couch and chair are the most comfortable things ever.


The last one is of the office. Well, playroom we could call it. And this picture isn't even showing the keyboard we have. Well, that's the apartment.

So, it has been one month and some days since our wedding and life is wonderful. Our wedding day was amazing. There were about 30-40 people from Russell's family there and Jerusha had her immediate family and Liz. We also had some friends join us that day. The experience was the greatest of our lives, and we will never forget that day. The spirit was so strong in the temple. After we were sealed for time and all eternity, went outside to do pictures. It would have been perfect if it wasn't for the downpour that started after we began. It didn't last the whole time though and we were able to continue without any problems. Our honeymoon was great. We went up into Alpine and stayed in a cabin for a night. We would have stayed longer but we were both excited to move into our new apartment, which looks amazing by the way. Jerusha started work at the Junior High soon after that helping and aiding some of the children. And Russell has started school since as well. He is enjoying classes and working at the theater.

well things have greatly changed over the last 5 weeks. Russell and I got married!!!!!!!!!!!! the day finally came. We headed down the day before the wedding , and i got to go through the Temple for the first time and it was truly amazing. sadly Russell's dad was not able to be there because you see Russell for got to pick up his tux the day before and so he stayed behind to pick it up right as it opened. the day started beautiful we started with the breakfast it was a little awkward because we were sitting up front so that everyone could look at us. but its ok.

Well The wedding is only two weeks away and two weeks has never seemed longer. But I'm Way excited. Another exciting thing is that Russell and I can move into our apartment this next Friday. as of right now all of our new stuff is stacked up in my bedroom and there is no room to move around so i will be glad when there is somewhere else to put it. I have to be fair and say that it is all my fault because I'm the one who wanted to get it all so far in advance but hey we got really good deals on ALL of it so how could you pass that up? my point exactly.

This coming week is dance festival and Dana is going to be here!!!!! it will be so great to see her. I miss that girl! well thats all for now! Love you all!


oh! and here are the pictures from rafting i promised Russell i would post them It was such a Blast!

Do I look scared here cause i think i was...

Awww we're so cute how does anybody stand us?

So, we went on a little hike up into the mountains when we were in Colorado. There was this really beautiful waterfall and all, and the weather was just perfect. Great for some pictures. This first picture is our favorite that my mom took of us when we were up there.



We also figured we would put our annoucement up for people who were curious about it. We are proud to announce that these announcements (no pun intended), were created by non other than Matt Baugh. We think they are amazing.




alright so here's the update the big day is 29 away and Russell and I are back in the 'burg i just got too home sick and dragged Russell with me the poor guy. today we just got our couch and a chair! so that is so exciting that i cant even stand it. they are amazing. also today we sent out our announcements so keep an eye out everyone who we care enough to send one to. plans for the wedding are all done so it is just "down hill from here" however it seems like Aug. 8th couldn't be farther away. why did none of you married folk tell us that it SUCKS to be engaged! any way, so our 4th of July was an exciting one indeed we went white water rafting and encountered class 5 rapids. Our guide was amazing and we made it through without any accident ok well maybe there was one but it was him that got thrown off of the raft at the Lunch Counter. It was intense, and i got to cross something off of my list of things to do before I die. Also our families meet for the first time we all drove 9 or more long hours to get here but it was a blast we all had dinner together on both the 3rd and the 4th.

And so it starts

So everyone else got a blog so we thought to ourselves "selfs, we need to be like everyone else." so here we are!!! so far wedding plans are going great we have the temple, (go Manti!) announcements are designed but not sent (we will be sending those out soon, we hope.) Aug. 8th is the big day so everyone remember we are accepting cash. ;) wink wink. life is pretty good, we are both in Colorado Russell is working and I, I'm not doing much of anything.