The Perfect Christmas Tree

This year, we had our work cut out for us when looking for a Christmas Tree. We couldn't make it up to get permits for the place we normally go, so this year, we tried new terrain. We had no idea what to expect! So, we packed the pups, our snowshoes, a few saws, rope & lots of warm layers. We drove south for a little over an hour until we turned off plowed roads & continued in 4 wheel drive up the mountain. The pups were going crazy! They were so excited to get out in the snow! Well... Raven was pumped. Frank doesn't last very long but that doesn't keep him from getting excited! Finally, we turn off the road, park, & are off up this mountain in search for 2 perfectly lopsided trees.

My favorite part was watching Raven light up in the snow. She loved jumping around & running circles around us. Frank tried his hardest to keep up but when the snow is over your back, you get cold pretty quick. So we wrapped him in a blanket & stowed him in Michael's backpack. Although I don't think he enjoyed it,  he seemed grateful for the warmth.

Surprisingly, this year it didn't take us too long to find our trees! I was surprised/embarrassed by how quickly my parents were moving & how out of breath I was! They probably could have lapped me. It was rough. After finding our trees & dragging them back down, we loaded them, tied them then headed back down the mountain. My Mom is the sweetest person, by the way. She had hot chocolate & wassail waiting for us in the car! I hope I am that thoughtful when I have children!

Marine Corps Ball 2015

I'm We just found out that Michael will be getting out of the Marines August of 2016. That being said, I'm so grateful that even though this will be our last official Ball, I'm so glad we ended it on this one.


We decided to make this years Ball one to remember. We have met some amazing people through the Marine Corps. But Mitchall & Rae Bierma have got to be our greatest blessings.
This year, Rae came down from Idaho Falls for the weekend. While the boys were off doing their civic duty, we drove up to Park City & shopped till we dropped. They had just found out that they were having a boy so we may have gone a little overboard, but we sure had fun!


Then, we went back to our hotels to get ready.
I felt like I was back in high school getting ready to go to a dance! Rae came down to our room & let me curl her hair! I absolutely loved it!
Then, once the men were ready, we headed to the Marriott for the ceremony/dance party.
Honestly, my most favorite part of the entire evening is when they explain the table in the corner.
Obviously I'm paraphrasing, but it goes something like this...


"Every year at the Marine Corps Ball, a tbel is set with a black cloth draped over it. A single candle is let and the dinnerware is inverted. This table honors those Marines who have passed on defending our freedom."


Whenever they recite this, I think to myself how lucky we are to have men & women willing to put this great country first. I'm so proud to be a part of this! I love the Marine Corps family & more than anything, I love my Marine.

Sunday Funday

Generally, when Michael is at drill, I stay home from the first 2 hours of Church. Why? People know i'm married to Michael & when I go to church without him, I find people treat me different. It's like they automatically assume we are having problems. Which isn't true.

Anyway, that's my reasoning. This Sunday, I picked up the house, did the laundry, made Punkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, watched many a Disney movie, & snuggled with my pups. Sunday well spent if I do say so myself.

With our lives being so busy lately, it's been tough to take a moment to relax. Thankfully, we have Sundays. 

Disneyland 2015

I know, I know. Another Disneyland trip? 

This year, Michael were able to check a few things off our Disney Bucket list! 

First of all, normally, when we go on the Toy Story rides, Michael almost doubles my score. Not this time! I crushed Michael's score! 

W H A T ! ? 

This year, we tagged along with 2 other couples. Michael met Kevin at work & he sure loves that boy. So, meet Kevin & Ellie Burton. They are absolutely hilarious together! Plus, just look how adorable they are!

K E V I N  &  E L L I E   B U R T O N 

Michael also met Spencer while he worked at Wells Fargo for a short time.  These 2 are some of the most genuine people I've ever met. We were so lucky to have them along! They are just the cutest.

S P E N C E R   &   M A D I   H A R R I S

We hit 2 Birds with 1 stone on this trip.
 Not only did we make it for Disneyland's 60th Anniversary Diamond celebration, but we were able to see all of the beautiful Halloween decorations! Punkins everywhere, characters all dressed up, & everything was covered with the most beautiful fall colors!

How beautiful is this castle? At night, it lit up the sky! The last night we were in the park, we decided to stick around to watch the light parade & let me tell you, it was gorgeous!
Every child ( &  a d u l t ) felt the magic as the characters came out singing. 

Once Mickey made his appearance &
the parade was cleared away, we all filed in to watch the fireworks. 

I am not even lying 1 bit when I say their was something spiritual about it.  They played a collection of songs from the classics while projecting the corresponding movie onto the castle. When "Let it Go" came on, snow fell from the sky. It was like the heavens parted. I cried through pretty much the entire performance.
 Michael & I have just had a really hard year & it felt so good to get away. We are great, don't let those words scare you. We are more in love than ever & our spirits are high, we just have had a trial or a few come our way this year & sometimes it can get you down. They say what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. Lemme tell you, we feelin pretty strong!
That night, we felt anything was possible & we have tried to take that little bit of magic with us.

On Sunday, we decided to go to the beach. We left around noon, stopped by in & out for a quick bite, then spent our day chillin on the beach & relaxing all cool & all thowin some football/frisbee outside of the ocean... ( F R E S H   P R I N C E  ,   A N Y O N E ?   A N Y O N E ? )

They dug a hole. 

Before I left, I went & got my nails done. How cute are they!? Unfortunately, they didn't last very long, but I sure enjoyed them while I had them!

We grabbed dinner about a mile down the beach. We walked. It felt like forever, but the walk back was so worth it! Ellie, Kevin, Madi, & Spencer were quite a ways ahead of us. It was dark, the eclipse was going on, the houses along the boardwalk were gorgeous, & I had my arm hooked around my best friend. Life couldn't have gotten much better than at that moment.

The next day, it was back to the grind! Just kidding. It was back to the fun! 

All in all, it was a good group. 

An exhausting trip. 

A happy trip

We are counting down the minutes until we find ourselves back. 

Anyone wanna go next year?

X O X

K A T I E   G O O S E 

M Y   F A V O R I T E   M E M O R Y :  S O ,   K E V I N  I S   T E R R I F I E D   O F   B I R D S.   W E   W E R E   

S I T T I N G   A T   S O M E   T A B L E S  & T H E  C U T E S T  L I T T L E  B I R D Y   Y O U ' V E   E V E R

  S E E N   H O P S   O V E R   B E H I N D   E L L I E .    K E V I N   G R A B S   E L L I E ' S    A R M   & 

 S C R E A M S   " W A T C H   O U T ! "   L I K E    T H I S    S W E E T   L I T T L E    T H I N G    W A S    G O I N G  T O   M U R D E R   H E R !   W E   A L L   H A D    A   G O O D   L A U G H ! 

Susanville, CA

This year for our Anniversary, we were planning a week long trip to southern California to celebrate. Before we finalized our plans, some of Mike's friends from work brought up going on a trip to Disneyland together! Michael & I are suckers for anything Disney, so our week long anniversary trip turned into a short weekend. Not wanting to spend so much money before we went to Disneyland, we decided to go to Susanville, CA. 

What? What is in Susanville? 

Answer: Becky, BobbyJames, & Annalee Hubbard

We met the Hubbard's our first year of marriage living in the Marmalade district of Salt Lake City. They were the nursery leaders right before us & kind of took us under their wing. BobbyJames got called to be Young Mens President & called Michael to be his 2nd counselor & the rest is history! 

We left right after work on Friday & drove as far as we possibly could without falling asleep at the wheel. Around 3 in the morning, we pulled off the road & found a motel 6 to rest for a few hours before waking up to make the rest of the drive. 

( P R E T T Y   M U C H   T H E   E N T I R E   T R I P   T O   C A L I F O R N I A ,   W E   W E R E   A B L E   T O  

 W A T C H   T H E   C O O L E S T   L I G H T E N I N G   S T O R M !  W E   T H R O U G H L Y   E N J O Y E D 

W A T C H I N G   M O T H E R   N A T U R E   D O   H E R   T H A N G ! )

As soon as we arrived, Michael & BobbyJames wasted no time making up lost time & got right to work chopping wood, mowing the lawn, & checking out how high BobbyJames's new ladder can reach! Bless their hearts!

To save time & my fingers from typing all the juicy details, here's a list of things we did:

1. Cooked lots of nummy food

2. Watched American Ninja Warrior

3. Went to Antelope Lake. 

( M I C H A E L   &   B O B B Y J A M E S   J U M P E D   O F F   A   L A R G E   R O C K .  

B E C K Y   &   I   O P T E D   O U T . )

4. Michael & BobbyJames cut a lot of wood.

5. We watched Becky's friend play at the cutest little restaurant.

6. We went to church.

7. We went to Becky's parents house & played music with her family.

8. We were super sad to leave. 

Oh! & we celebrated 3 amazing years together! I am so lucky to have Michael Linley as my man. He is the Straw to my Berry!

X O X

K A T I E   G O O S E