From: US To: YOU

may your heart be filled with the 

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

this holiday & throughout the new year

I am very sorry to say that none of you are getting Christmas cards from us. Please, be not offended!
I may not have much to show for it but I've been pretty busy. I did make a Christmas card to send out but it deleted/ disappeared on my computer and at that point I decided it just wasn't going to happen.
We don't love you any less! And I know you're keeping tabs on us. So we send our LOVE and Christmas Spirit through the WORLD WIDE WEB this year. We have a lot to look forward to in 2011. So stay tuned. We love you and appreciate your friendship & support!

Loves & Hugs,
Derek, Hillary & Jocelyn Williams

My Aloha Icon

Mark Lee did a beautiful job, to no surprise, capturing this gorgeous temple. Just looking at it warms my heart. For the majority of my married life I was right there... next to this temple. This was my home. And it's so dear to my heart. I thought I would miss Hawaii a LOT. Most of my friends that had left before me would talk about all the things they missed or wished they'd done more of. So I tried to make sure I did all I would want myself to have done! I haven't felt like I missed out on anything, really. I do miss the people. My dear friends that were my only family for so long! Cheesey? Well, you try being stranded on an island where you know of no one and see if you cling to dear people that love you, once stranger but love you like a sibling! :> I love my OHANA from Hawaii! 

I'm in the MiaMaids now {and i LOVE IT}! This last Sunday as they set the new MiaMaid presidency apart Elena, a Hawaiian girl, had to word by word repeat her full Hawaiian name to the man giving her the blessing it made me smile, warmed my heart, and a tear to my eye to hear the language again! She has a beautiful name. But most of all it just filled me with Aloha. I realized that there is one thing I miss from Hawaii... the Aloha Spirit! So Kim, Angie, anyone in paradise... can you bottle that up for me and send it over! I need a heavy dose :D xox

Thank you Hawaii for adopting me for a few years! For harboring so many dear and precious memories! My child's birth and first year and a half of life. For forcing me to grow up. To branch out. To make me rely on my Relief Society sisters. To love so many people from around the world! And for so many other heart felt reasons. I love you and Mahalo Nui Loa

Laie Hawaii Temple Rededicated

Don't have a case of the Monday's!

How Do I Love Thee?

Happy Halloween! ROOOOOAAAARRR

Auntie LaLa designed some more clothes! Jocelyn gets to sport em! I LOVED this skirt & shirt! so FUN!

 Jocelyn loved Aladdin. And she loves tigers. So she loves Raja, Jasmines pet. She always growls at people! WHO DOES THAT hahaha Jocelyn does. So it just seems fitting that she be Raja for Halloween.

 Yes, there is a tail back there! This tiger has got attitude!

 ROOOOAAR (she's still growling. out of costume. i'm beginning to get embarrassed!)

 So JoJo & I went to my friend's ward party on Friday night! It was made for kids! And of course it was fun seeing some friends! JoJo had a BLAST. She got to trick or treat the classroom doors... some where "Scary mommy, scary!" too cute After that fun event we met my parents at their Young Single Adult Halloween dance. My Dad hadn't seen our costumes so we were there for a few minutes.... then went home to go to SLEEP! But being a dance, as it was, with loud music she got DOWN! hahahaha This girl has got MOVES! She started the party for sure!

 See?!

 a blind ref

 my mom was SHOCKED! from us showing up at her door... hahaha ok, she was electrified.

"What's worse, what's worse?" "BEING ELECTROCUTED!" "..... ok, and?" "No just being electrocuted, that would be awful." -So I Married An Axe Murderer haha

ok.

SHE should have been Cruella!

I love YOSEMITE

 ...and going home! Yup! Jocelyn & I surprised my Mom for her birthday! BOY was she surprised and thrilled! Derek is nice and is letting us stay a couple weeks in Cali. We have been having a blast! Some fun busy days and the others are chill- just relaxing with great company :D Jocelyn got a Tinkerbell costume for dress up (not Halloween) and so she loves wearing her wings!

My Dad had the TOUGH, PAINFUL assignment to film Yosemite for work! haha So we were able to tag along! Here are some of my favorite shots! Maybe you got to see Oprah's trip to Yosemite? But I welled with pride that this beautiful land is in "our backyard."  It's a must see before you die!

 Artist in action... videography

 isn't that a crazy tree?

 Jocelyn must be a Hawaii girl... she loves the outdoors. Rain or shine! Beach or Mountains! She is always happy if we are OUT.

 But after a lil hike to the base of Bridal veil falls, she didn't wanna walk anymore so I thought I'd throw her on my shoulders... it was fun...

 .. for the most part HAHAHA

 grabbing some more breathtaking shots!

 ... photo credits... me AND my mom! she captured some amazing shots! way to go mom!

 "Where's Papa?" THERE HE IS! I love my girl!

a cry for freedom! hee hee

We of course have Halloween pictures to show you but be prepared for DISNEYLAND & Grandma Christy & Co. in southern California! YAY! Here we come!

LOVE & MISS YOU DEREK! Wish you could be here! Thanks for working so hard for us! xoxox loves&hugs

All Aboard!

 Jocelyn LOOOOOOVES trains! And train RIDES even more! This was around the Zoo!

 We had a blast with Liz & Abby! XOXOX So fun! Mommy Daughter Dates for LIFE

We be JAMMiN'

Meet GrannyB!

This is my mother's mother... she lives here in Utah 

so it's nice to have some family close to keep an eye on us! 

Especially since I grew up in California & only saw them once a year. :( 

FACT: My GrannyB makes THEE best homemade strawberry jam! 

FICTION: I'm a pro at being a homemaker & jam all the time!

FACT: This was my first time gettin my JAM on! 

FICTION: I'll share the recipe with you! HAHAHA 

{ sorry family secret } jk

So I finally fit in with the "Utah Mom"

I have jammed. 

I do NOT mean this in a bad way.. AT ALL! 

I went to a Relief Society activity where they talked about canning, jamming, 

making a million loaves of homemade bread, 

growing your own garden, ways to make your veggies/ homegrown produce last longer...

and when I got home I looked at Derek and told him I'm sorry for being so inadequate! hahaha 

I really could have cared less 4 years ago about all those things, and that is why I never asked my mom to teach me those things. But I officially think that people, in Utah and everywhere, 

who do this are pretty flippin cool! 

To be able to provide for yourself and make the most of food on a budget! 

WISE.

To say the least, I begged my GrannyB to let me come learn 

how she makes her amazing jam. And being the saint of a lady that she is, she let me!

 Grandpa helps too! He's one awesome man! 

{total understatement}

 WHIP IT! WHIP IT GOOD

 They have quite the system! :> I'm so glad I know the secret now!

SECRET: It's made with LOVE.

a touch of this. a touch of that.

 before:

 AFTER: I bet you want some!

 Jocelyn enjoys this jam on her waffles! She likes to just lick it off... 

so we're working on eating the jam WITH the food. hahaha 

Thanks again, BrownOnes, for letting us come JAM with you!