I haven't forgotten you

It has now been six days since I last posted a "picture-of-the-day." When I undertook the task of posting a picture every day, I was starting an experiment that has ended. I can no longer keep up with it every day. (Sorry Kristine and mom, I know you check almost daily.)

But I will still post pictures often. Just not every day. So now this is Braden's Picture-of-the-Whenever-I-Feel-Like-it blog.

I anticipate that I will start to take pictures more often closer to Christmas when I am with friends and family, and will have pictures to post on an almost daily basis. But until then, just wait. I'm sure it will be worth the wait.

Mmm Pie!

Classics

I'm a slacker. I haven't actually posted a picture here since Sunday. But I backdated some pictures for each day I missed. These were all classics from our trip to northern California.

It was one beautiful morning when we went on a short hike through a grove of very old redwood trees. We took lots of pictures on the hike, but my favorites were the ones with the rays of light in between the trees.

Winding Roads

It was a fun road trip to California, but there were A LOT of winding roads!

Car sickness is never fun, so we were extra careful in driving.

Coastal fog

There wasn't much of a view off this lookout, except the fog.

Beach Dreaming

Katie and I wish we were at the beach today instead of buried in snow! We will keep dreaming. Beach Dreaming!

After

This is a winter tree, decorated in blue, silver, and white. Now we're ready for Christmas.

Before

Now that November is coming to a close, we're getting ready for the Christmas tree by moving our dining room table from the center of the room to the side of the room. This empty space will become our Christmas area.

Thanksgiving meal

Those of us that were working on Thanksgiving decided to create a meal together. It was quite delicious but not a real family meal.

Hot Chocolate

It was a good day for hot chocolate!

Advent calendars

We're ready for Christmas countdowns!

Trinidad beach

Smiles

Katie

My beautiful wife.

We were on a metallic elevator, which made an excellent background.

Friday Night

We are some good-lookin' people

Leaf tracing

art?

Chess

Katie doesn't know how to play chess. I do. I want to teach her.

I set this up on my dining room table about a week ago. But we haven't had much time together to actually play. Maybe some time this week I'll get to teach her chess.

I haven't played it in a long time. But I do know how the players move and all the rules. Katie usually thinks three or four steps ahead of me anyways, so she'll probably be really good at chess and beat me.

Rat

The family Katie nannied have a rat named Oreo. They don't mind letting it climb all over them.

Old Hard Juice

This is some frozen concentrate orange juice that we have in the freezer. But as it sits in the shelf, part of the logo is cut off from view.

Old Orchard Orange Juice looks like Old Hard Juice, which is what it really is, since its frozen solid, or hard!

Happily ever after

We got married over two and a half years ago, and yet I still feel like newlyweds. I love my Katie more than ever!

Pineapple Fried Rice

Mmmmm! Pineapple and fried rice go well together. I made this Thai dish for dinner tonight. It is served in a carved out pineapple.

I also made a Thai dessert - fried bananas. I chose chocolate sauce and whipped cream to go with it but next time it will be ice cream.

Crosswalking

Katie's clasroom

Shorter haircut

Earlier this summer Katie decided to cut off 11 inches of her beautiful brown hair and donate it to Locks of Love. I loved it long, especially when it was curled. But I love it even more now that it is shorter. Plus, it's easier for her to do in the morning now.

The kids she used to nanny were used to her with long hair, and so when we visited earlier this week, it was a big change for them. The youngest one was in the next room and we could hear him tell his mom we were there:

"Mom! Katie is here! And her hair is in they style of someone... from a movie!"

Not every day someone thinks you look like a movie star. It made her really happy. Quite the compliment from a five-year-old.

Kids grow up

Earlier this week we went to visit these kids and give Sofi a birthday gift. Katie was their nanny for a very long time, and the family has been such a large part of her life that they are basically family.

This photo was taken over a year ago when we went with them to Canada. I can't believe how much kids grow up in a year! And yet, they are just the same as they were a year ago.

Temple issue of the Ensign magazine

Window shopping a catalog

(Katie took this photo)

I got this catalog in the mail, and I was trying to tell Katie about something I was reading, but she was more interested in taking my picture instead

Trans America

Rio Grande Game TransAmerica is one of our favorite games to play. You can play with 2 - 6 players.

We also have another railroad themed game called Ticket to Ride which is a lot of fun.

Laundry day

Today I am doing laundry.

I've discovered that if you add some baking soda to each load with the laundry detergent, it fights the stains odors better than using a detergent with baking soda in it.

High Voltage

The city did a good job disguising this local power substation behind the nice stone walls. But the large DANGER High Voltage Keep Out signs every 20 feet ruin the disguise.

Flower power

I don't know why someone would want to paint their car this way.

Mailbox

How is the United States Postal Service going to stay relevant in the digital age?

I use one of these boxes occasionally to send a Netflix DVD back.   I still receive plenty of mail, but I don't send much. I have opted for paperless billing in most cases and only get email or online statements and bills rather than through the regular mail. Once in a while I may receive a wedding announcement or personal note, but usually my mailbox gets filled with ads, so easy to throw away.

I guess the same goes for my email box. I get plenty of junk email that I delete without opening. But I'm not killing any trees in the process.

Changing colors

The leaves have been changing colors again. But I won't post all of the pictures this time.

Homemade bread

My mother-in-law is an amazing cook! And bread is one of her specialties. So good.

Happy Halloween!

Refrigerator Magnets

The best magnets are always just out of reach.

New windshield

I will need to renew my car registration in December, but it had a large crack across the front windshield. So I had it replaced.

They put this blue tape on new windshields. I think it's just so everyone knows it's new. It doesn't seem to be holding anything down or in place. If it was tape that held a windshield in place I might be a little worried.

Library Card

Today I went down to the Main Library and got me a new library card. I think the last time I used a library card was more than ten years ago. I don't read much, at least not books, so I never felt like I needed one.

But now I have one. And I even used it today to check out some books.

Happy pumpkin

Katie's pumpkin carving is very happy

Pumpkin carving

Katie and I carved pumpkins. This is what mine looked like. It's supposed to be Frankenstein's monster.

Fun Tea Set

Driving through a tree

Nobody goes to California to see the redwoods without driving through a tree while there.

Jazz Basketball

The view from the suite level at Energy Solutions Arena

The other favorite

(Katie took this picture)

My favorite sister

She's probably the only one that reads this blog.

Happy Birthday

June birthdays are awesome because you can have the party outside!

Teamwork

lovers

July 4th Sugarhouse park

WinCo bulk bins

Buying in bulk saves you money ... sometimes.

Special Talent

(Katie took this picture)

This is my little brother, Kory, showing off his special talent.

Yes, ladies, he's single!