Happy Birthday Derek!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!  I hope you know just how much I love and appreciate you each and everyday!  You are the greatest husband ever.  Thanks for loving me the way you do.  I'm so glad I have you FOREVER!  Happy 26th Birthday old man!  ;-)

Merry Christmas!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Input Needed

So I have a question to ask everyone. If you were going to choose your Financial Advisor based solely off the type of car they drove, what would it be? Would it be a nice expensive one or a more modestly priced one? Just curious. Feel free to comment or vote in the poll to the right, or both!

Oh the things people do for fun...

Sweet car video

So Kandis has been really good at posting, and seeing that I have never actually posted I thought I might as well try it. I used to have a car just like the one in this video, and since my current car is not at all a sports car... videos like this help me remember the good old sounds. I'm kind of a car nut for those of you who may not know...

I'm not making it up...it's a real allergy!

Christmas Survey

1) Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Kandis - wrapping paper
Derek - gift bags
2) Real tree or artificial?
Kandis - Real! All the way!
Derek - Fake. Real trees are a kind of a pain to put up and clean up after.
3) When do you put up the tree?
Kandis - The day after Thanksgiving
Derek - Whenever Kandis tells me to.
4) When do you take the tree down?
Kandis - Once with my roommates we left it up until March and redecorated the tree for Valentine’s and St. Patty’s day.
Derek - Whenever Kandis tells me too (which apparently will be sometime in March)…
5) Do you like eggnog?
Kandis - Eew
Derek - Oh yeah!
6) Favorite gift received as a child?
Kandis - My Troll Doll
Derek - I think I’m going to have to go with a mountain bike.
7) Hardest person to buy for?
Kandis - My sister
Derek - My Dad
8) Easiest person to buy for?
Kandis - Anyone who tells me what to get them.
Derek - I like that answer, ditto.
9) Do you have a nativity scene?
Kandis - Not yet
Derek - Guess not
10) Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?
Kandis - I’ve never sent out Christmas cards before but my goal is to do it this year.
Derek - Looks like it’s time to buy an envelope licker thing.
11) Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Kandis - Underwear that I had to unwrap in front of my brothers.
Derek - I can’t really think of anything.
12) Favorite Christmas movie?
Kandis - “Elf”
Derek - “It’s a Wonderful Life”
13) When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Kandis - Beginning to mid December
Derek - Don’t know if I want to admit this, but I have often found myself at the store on Christmas Eve day…
14) Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Kandis - Only white elephants
Derek - Not that I can remember
15) Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Kandis - More Turkey! It’s been a whole month since Thanksgiving.
Derek - I really like ham
16) Lights on the tree?
Kandis - Who doesn’t put lights on their tree
Derek - Yep. Light it up!
17) Favorite Christmas song?
Kandis - Silent Night
Derek - Any Finnish Christmas songs
18) Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Kandis - Home
Derek - Home
19) Can you name all of Santa's Reindeer?
Kandis - Heck yes!
Derek - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and of course the most famous reindeer of all… Rudolph.
Kandis - You forgot Olive… Olive the other reindeer
20) Angel on the tree top or a star?
Kandis - Star. The Angels are usually creepy looking.
Derek - Star
21) Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
Kandis - Christmas everything. I love this time of year
Derek - Peek on Christmas Eve and open them for real on Christmas day
22) Most annoying thing about Christmastime?
Kandis - Grumpy shoppers. Can anyone tell that I have worked retail at Christmas time before?
Derek - Spending money.
23) Favorite ornament/theme colors?
Kandis - Red and Green of course!
Derek - Red and green
24) Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Kandis - More turkey
Derek - More ham
25) What do you want for Christmas this year?
Kandis - My two front teeth
Derek - Snow, lots of it.

GO UTES!

So I was just sitting here checking my email and my brother sent me a message on facebook inviting me to some anti-red week event (in honor of the Utah vs. BYU game Saturday)  blah!  But ironically being me I was sitting here in my Utah sweatshirt with my Utah pajama pants on dressed in all red!  So we took a picture-it was funny to me!

Well its been a few weeks since we've posted-really boring weeks so there wasn't much to brag about.  I did get a new position at work-I'm now the assistant manager at my branch of the credit union-that was a big step for me but I'm loving it thus far.  Halloween was fun, we actually got to sport costumes at work.  I took complete advantage of not being forced to wear nylons (which yes I really do have to everyday)  I was a swimmer and wore my swim cap, goggles, swimsuit (under warmups)  and yes FLIPFLOPS!  Those of you who know me know I would wear flipflops every single day if I could so this was quite a fun day at work for me.  Derek dressed as a very professional AFCU employee-something about people not taking you too serious when you do  loan for them while wearing tights and dressed like superman.  We stayed home and had a cozy movie night and expected a few trick-or-treaters but our doorbell only rang once, so of course we ate all the candy ourselves-yummy!

If anyone is interested I am holding out my $30 photo opportunity through the end of the year.  I work all week but am available on Saturdays (and at the Credit Union we get the silly holidays all off to)so check out the photo blog (kjophoto.blogspot.com) and let me know if you are interested!

Photo-op!

Hey friends in Ogden, I am coming up on October 18th to do a photoshoot marathon. I would love to photography you and yours in preparation for the upcoming holidays.  Babies, children, families, couples...anyone!  I will do an hour and a CD of all the photos for you to print and use for $30.  If you would like to join me please let me know and I will reserve a time slot!

Salt Lake Folk...If I have enough interest I'll plan a whole day or do an appointment with you too so please let me know.  

I appreciate everyones support and hope to see you all soon!

Check out the photoblog... KJoPhoto.blogspot.com

***I've had a few responses from friends of friends but I need contact info for you, will everyone please email me your info at kandisesplin@yahoo.com-thanks! ***

Ladies Night...

So I hadn't seen most of my high school girl friends in quite some time, but a bunch of us were finally able to coordinate a fun night of reminiscing and catching up.  Thanks Carley for planning it!  I had so much fun catching up and seeing everyone again, heck I hadn't even met Kate's baby.  It means a lot to me that over the years and through marriage and children we have all managed to stay close and I still consider each one of you a dear friend.  You are all beautiful women who I look up to and feel fortunate to have in my life.

Some of us still have a hard time smiling for the camera!

Memories...

We were recently looking through some of our old yearbooks, back in the time when we first met. We liked the pictures so much that we decided to share them with everyone. Enjoy!

Kandis 1960

Derek 1960

Live your own memories at yearbookyourself.com

Scrapbooking...

So I went with Samantha and Anne to the Scrapbook expo last night, oh boy that was an over load of fun stuff to work on.  I think I like the blogging thing more though-less work.  No I really do love to scrapbook but still haven't done any since I was married, and  seeing how cute other people's scraping ideas I are I really need to get back into it.  So if anyone wants to come have a scraping party let me know when and I'm there! (Kas, mom, sam, jess...)

1 year!

So I put Derek in charge of planning our anniversary...and he did such a fabulous job that I think he may always be in charge of them!  It was really great to have a special weekend to just get away and be us...

We went and stayed in a cute bed and breakfast Sunday night, and relaxed while it rained all night long.  We woke up to what other than SNOW!  Yes one year ago we were toasty on our wedding day and this year sure enough its snowing, but if it had been my wedding day this year it would not have been pretty (I break out in hives when I get cold).  So we enjoyed the beautiful falling snow and relaxed until it cleared up later in the afternoon and we were able to go for a scenic drive and dinner at the Timbermine.  Oh and we stopped at the site where Derek proposed to me-isn't he so cute!

Thanks Derek for all your hard work, I am the luckiest ever.  I love you so very much!  Thanks for a wonderful first year.  

Turned out to be a cold but nice afternoon!

This is the very spot where we have a picture of Derek on his knee proposing to me-tender!

Our B & B

Morning blizzard-only in Utah do you use your AC and Heat in 24 hours

Our beautiful cake one year later-still looks pretty good and didn't taste half bad either.

special needs?!

Ok I'm an idiot or something cause I cant get this to work.  I tried the new blog looks and found some way cute ones but I cant get them to work!  I'm really frustrated with my computer right now and I don't know if my layout is different cause I'm on a mac or what but I'd love to have a cute blog some day.  Help!

Help...

Ok so I'm new to this blogging thing and everyone else's is super cute and ours is lame so I need help. How do I get the cute backgrounds and extra fun stuff?  Someone please train me in blogging 101!

Wii!

So we went to Jessica and Adams for a fun night of BBQ and playing on the Wii-being a first time gamer you can see i wasn't too good.  Thanks for a fun night guys!

Baby Grayson loves watching video games...

Monet to Picasso...

So the UMFA (Utah Museum of Fine Art at the U of U)  is hosting some very big artists works now through September, and I was fortunate enough to go see it today.  It was amazing and I recommend everyone goes before it leaves our state-chance of a lifetime for most of us!  I've always enjoyed art-historic and contemporary but seeing a Monet or Van Gogh in person is an entirely new experience.  You see Van Gogh's on postcards calendars and prints in peoples homes but unless you go to see it in real life you will never appreciate those brushstrokes and techniques like you should-absolutely amazing!

Graduation!

I finally did it!  I made it through school and now am an official photographer-and what do you ask do I do with it?  well work at the credit union still of course!  JK i'm still working on that.

But the entire fam was so supportive and came out to see me get the diploma (I think they all wanted proof that I really did it)

My and some fellow photo major friends!

Bees Game

Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd, buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks....

For my brother Allen's Birthday the whole fam went out to the Salt Lake Bees game. Go team go!

Easter...

So I know i am totally backtracking now but i'm on a roll.... This last easter Bryan and Catherine came over to decorate Easter eggs with us.  Little juvenile you may say but hey we're still young at heart!

Zoo!

Last month we took on the rugrats (my adorable nephews) and took them to the zoo!  Tons of fun and Brody did not want to leave he loved those animals so much!

Welcome!

Welcome to our blog!  I created a blog a few months ago for my photography but now you can find out what Derek and I have been up to in our personal lives.  These pictures are from the 24th of July Parade, before I turned into a tomato with my sunburn.  Cathy joined us and we all had fun cheering on the floats.  Our stake float (First Encampment Park) was looking pretty good and the young women and I had a hand in that beautiful masterpiece-yay!