It's the Annual Super Hero Assembly. It's a...

...Murder Mystery Party.


My friend and I hosted a Murder Mystery Party. And it was so much fun. And it was a lot of work. And it was worth it.

Once we decided on a Murder Mystery Party theme of Superheros, we sent out the the Save the Dates. Basically it's the invitation with the R.S.V.Ps. We needed to know who was going to be there before we started casting friends to their assigned roles. Once we got the R.S.V.Ps, we moved onto these:


...the character assignments. Don't they look cute? They were fun to make and fulfilled my "crafty" quota for the week. jk. The character assignments basically let the person know their character, some costume suggestions, and a few pre-party emailing assignments.

The day of the party we spent a few hours decorating my house. We were trying to make it look like a cave with many crevaices and paths to travel. I love the bats. The Superhero Assembly location was in a cave in Mount Super.


Here is our table:

Top row: Blue Blaze, Shiver, Stingmata, The Wisher

Bottom row: Animalia, and Electra (me).

Red Wonder, The General, Jester (Steve), Vampo Man, Nerdon (looking like a ghost - he was the one murdered) and Mr. Fabulous

Jester and Blue Blaze reading clues before Round 1 to get the game underway.













This picture of us cracks me up! Steve is selling it a lot better then I am.


I thought it was a great night. A perfect pre-Halloween party.

The Black Door (post 3 of 3 for today)

Here is what I came home too:

When I left the door was white. It looked okay. But, wow! I LOVE the black door. Such an improvement. Thanks Steve for doing this and having the vision.

What's your next project?

Maryland, My Maryland

I was able to go home last week with my family to surprise my mother for her birthday.

This is the first fall I have seen in Maryland in 15 years.

I was reminded why I have such an affinity for Maryland in my heart.

It was absolutely spectacular and gorgeous! I mean really spectacular and gorgeous!!

We started our trip by traveling to Deep Creek Lake on the western side of Maryland for my mom's birthday celebration. She didn't know we were coming. One of my favorite things about my mom is her laugh and the reaction you can get from her when you do manage to surprise her. And she didn't disappoint.

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Deep Creek:

Paige and Tiercy

These are the people I call family.

The cake Steve and I made. It had 8 layers.

Us.

Our next adventure was to Washington D.C. It was a perfect day to sightsee in our Nation's capital. I love that city! It's so hard to believe how much I took it for granted when I lived there. When I worked downtown, I would walk right by the White House to get to the Dept. of Commerce where one of my friends worked, and I would think nothing of it.

Ethan, Alayna, and Tyler in front of The Washington Monument.

The World War II memorial which opened to the public in April 2004. I loved it! The states are listed in order of designation according to when each state ratified the U.S. Constitution. The States are followed by U.S. Territories, again in the order by which they became such.
(I know this isn't a stellar picture, but I like it anyway. I wish I could remember what Ty and I were discussing.)

I had to put this one in here.


Standing in front of The Lincoln Memorial.

Sitting on the steps of The Lincoln Memorial looking across the reflecting pond.

We love the Smithsonian. We went to the Natural History Museum.

Although this was a fun day of discovery there were some hard elements in there; the biggest two being complete exhaustion from late nights and early mornings at the lake and then a day of walking around D.C. If you want to see how this day ended, read DC Doozy posted by Steve on his blog. He is able to place a humorous spin on a not so funny situation.

We spent another day enjoying the fall splendor:


...a night at Mom Mom's being spoiled:

After raking leaves and drinking hot cocoa, we settled in for a night of watching a Scooby Doo movie. Mom Mom's house was fun!

...and a final night of playing before we left on a jet plane the next day.

Out of 13 grandchildren, these are the only girls. One daughter from each of the triplets. Julianna, Brenna, and Alayna.

Uncle Buff brought these yummy treats to the party.

Alayna with Uncle Todd.

Ethan and Jake: cousins.

Being Buoyed Up

Look at these beautiful women I call my friends.

When it was announced in our ward that there were tickets available to attend the General Relief Society Meeting, I knew I wanted to go. And, I knew just who to ask to go with me.

Turns out that there were enough tickets that we turned it into a group and a GNO.

We left the children with the husbands and headed up to Salt Lake.

First we headed to Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano in the Gateway. Dinner was delicious. Company was great. Laughter was heard.

Then we headed here:

...to the beautiful Conference Center.

I was completely enthralled with President Eyring's talk on the Enduring Legacy of Relief Society. He spoke on charity which I feel is a weakness of mine. President Eyring taught me that there is no salvation without compassionate service; and he reassured that by the Atonement our Savior made it possible for us to plead for and receive the gift of charity.

That's Totally My Daughter.

So yesterday was Sunday.

That means...church.

While I was teaching Sunday School, my darling daughter was in her Nursery class. She absolutley loves Nursery. And it's even better since the ward split because now her best friend is in her class.

Yesterday, during her lesson, her teacher was sharing about the commandment that the Lord gave to Nephi to build a ship; and how Nehpi fulfilled that commandement by getting lumber and banging with a hammer.

Laney's teacher then asked what they did next looking for the answer that they sailed towards the promised land.

When my little daughter pipped up that: You put the hammer away.

So funny!

If One Thing had Been Different...

...I wouldn't have married Steve.

...I wouldn't have Tyler, Ethan, and Alayna.

...I wouldn't be living happily ever after.

It's hard to believe that 11 years ago today Steve proposed to me in a very romantic proposal by a cascading waterfall, on a wooden bridge, in the majestic mountains.

But, it always blows me away that if one thing had been different...

• both of us dated tons and if one of those relationships had worked out for either of us, Steve and Tiercy wouldn't be a we.
• if Steve hadn't served a mission.
• if I hadn't joined the church; then I would never have moved to Utah.
• if Steve had gone to a college other then BYU.
• if I hadn't been so homesick and stayed at East Carolina University instead of transferring to the University of Maryland.
  
• if Steve choose "her" instead of me?

But, all of these ifs didn't happen.

I am grateful.

I would say "Yes" to Steve all over again.

Happy Engagement Anniversary!

I love being your wife!

These Little Things Make Me Happy

Steve spoils me rotten!

Luckily for me, it's just a part of who he is.

I have come to recognize that is how he shows love towards me.

Here are a few of my favorite things he has bought for me lately.


I had been looking for a fruit stand for a very long time. I had seen one that I thought I "must have" but it was pretty pricey, more then I was willing to pay. I was getting ready to settle for something less then what I wanted. Then Steve brought this one home. I loved it immediately. I loved it even better then the one I had found that I thought I "must have."

Here are a few more of my favorite things: a bracelet and ring.









Steve and I had been watching the American Idol season finale, and there was a quick flash on one of the audience members. I immediately fell in love with her ring and said outloud, "I want that ring!"

The next day, I promptly forgot about it.

A few days later after I came in from a long run, Steve says to me: I found the cutest website. (He had been looking for that ring for me.) I also ordered you some stuff. These were among the things he ordered for me. Do I have the best husband or what?

Aren't they so cute?

I love them.