Christmas

Christmas was awesome. Its so hard to come back to reality after being on vacation. Back to work, back to callings, back to school, back to figuring out what to have for dinner, and having it not be near as good as what you ate with mom and dad. Anyways, enough of my complaining. How bout I do some reminicing? It'll at least make me feel better.

We went to Butte for Christmas and spent 5 days there, to sum it up we did a lot of the following: movies, food, sleep and games. Not in that order. Christmas was fun. Mike gave me the iPod I wanted so much. Kindof in a funny way though. I opened up my gift and there sitting in my lap was a Harry Potter book (#7 to be exact). I thought..."hmm I already have this book, there's got to be more to it". So I opened the front cover and there on the inside was an autograph by JK Rowling herself. Mike then proceeded to tell me that there was a deal on the internet he found that JK Rowling was signing books and selling them. So he got me one. I was surprised, and pretty excited. I mean, who wouldn't want a signature from the creator of Harry Potter? Well, I continued to fiddle with the book and then saw a big fat hole cut out of the middle of the book with my lovely iPod Touch inside. That was the real present. My mom was the "JK Rowling signature". haha. Oh and if you're wondering if he really tore apart an actual Harry Potter book, don't worry, he didn't. It was an old crappy book laying around, he just put the Harry Potter jacket on the outside of it. I don't know where he gets his ideas?

After Butte we all went to my parents cabin in Island Park, Idaho and spent 3 days there. Unfortunatley this part of the trip was quite a blur to me as I got really sick from skiing in Butte. So me and my mom pretty much hung out inside the whole time while everyone else enjoyed the snowmobiles. Oh well, there's always next time. Here's some pics...

Me and my mom sitting in her kayak that my dad got her for Christmas.

Mike opening up his present.

My dad buried in his new stuff.

Just being goofy with Krista and Mike.

After a freezing cold day of skiing.

A cozy cabin in the woods.

Mike enjoying the snowmobile.

Gifts

Homemade carmel apples. I wish you were all my neighbors so I could give you one!

Tagged

Well both of my Michelle friends just happened to tag me at the same time. So think I'm going to have to go with the easier of the 2 tags, because I honestly have a hard time thinking of things that people don't know about me. (Sorry M!) I like to think I'm pretty easy to read. Although my husband might beg to differ. Maybe he should do that tag for me?

Five things I was doing 10 years ago:

1. I was 15 years old, and I was pretty obsessed with going to Stake dances. Especially the Tri-stake ones when Ephrata and Othello were invited. It gave some variety of the boys. I used to get so bummed when my YW leaders wouldn't announce the carpooling arrangements because I thought they wanted to get out of going. (Now as a YW leader, I know why).

2. I was working my summer vacation in the Baker beet fields pulling weeds. I think I made a whole $4.95/hr working 6am-12. I made some great friends and even blossomed a few crushes as I worked up and down those rows...

3. I was clogging to the beat of Gloria Estefan and Cuban Pete.

4. My mom told me I had to start buying my own clothes because I wanted more than what was "needed". I think I definately took advantage of this freedom and my baby-sitting money.

5. I would run next door to my friends house pretty much every single day after I got home from school. We would listen to music and I would read articles from Seventeen magazine because my mom wouldn't let me get them. My favorite was the "most embarrasing moments" articles.

Five things (that was) on my to-do list today:

1. Get up and go to work. Sometimes thats a hard one to accomplish.
2. Go to Costco.
3. Go to Mutual, and don't forget to bring the pies.
4. Go to bed early, which isn't happening the more I type.
5. Try and sell my book back at school, which didn't happen. I hate it when they decide to conveniently not use the same textbooks next semester.

Five things I would do if I were a millionaire:

1. Sell our house and buy different one, then pay it off and enjoy my dream home.
2. This is Mike's answer: INVEST!
3. Tour the world, specifically Europe, Australia, and Africa
4. Go on missions with Mike
5. I really like my car, but in all reality I would probably buy a new one. Probably a Volvo or an Acura.

Five things I will never wear again:

1. My clogging shoes. I don't care how much Mike begs me, it will never happen.
2. Bodysuits
3. Addidas coats. The ones with the 3 stripes going down the sleeves. I think everyone in Jr. High had one.
4. Socks that I fold down 1/2 way.
5. Brightly colored and glittery Christmas sweaters

Five of my favorite toys:

1. The i-Pod I'm hoping to get for Christmas
2. The game 'Ticket To Ride'
3. My 'Cocoa-motion'. An automatic hot chocolate maker.
4. Laptop
5. My dishwasher!

Three people to tag:

1. Angela
2. Laura
3. Jensens

Calvin and Hobbs

I know that you have seen them all, but it’s like watching the Christmas Story, you have to do it at least once every holiday season.

December is off with a BANG

We woke up this morning and saw that we were welcomed with a huge snowstorm. We got about 6-8 inches on the ground. I love snow anytime before Christmas, as long as I don't have to drive in it. After Jan 1 though, I'm ready to say goodbye. Here's some pictures of the pretty white stuff.

Dont' mind the pj's

My sweet husband shoveling the old lady's driveway across the street

Wreath

For our Friday night plans this week, we decided to gather up the scraps from our Christmastree and attempt at making a wreath and a bough to go over the top of the front door. I was pretty proud with the way it turned out. Although I can't give myself full credit, as Mike helped a lot too.

As you can see, it tended to sag a lot at first. It took A LOT of wire to get that sucker to be tight.

Now we don't have to be the only 'bah humbug' house on the street. We finally have something festive to put up on the outside. Because this is our first Christmas in a house, we're lacking in the Christmas lights department. Maybe next year, after I buy some 1/2 off at Wal Mart on the 26th of December.

My other bible.

A Wyoming weekend

For Thanksgiving we headed up to Wyoming where Mike is from. If I ever feel the need to see my husband in his happiest moment, all I have to do is suggest a trip up there. His bags are packed and usually in the trunk of the car before I even begin to decide what to bring. And by the time we're back home again, he acts like he's punished and doomed to remain in the city for the rest of his life. We had a good time with his family. I had my first experience of actually going to the mountains to pick out our Christmas tree and cutting it down, instead of going to a grocery store parking lot and finding one, or even pulling out the old fake one from the basement. It was freezing cold, (which is why I didn't bother with a camera) and as soon as I found one that would fit the part that thing was chopped down and in the back of the pickup before I knew it. We also cut off the boughs from the bottom of the tree, so I'm going to attempt making my own wreath for the front door. I'll post pictures if it turns out halfway decent! I should add one more thing to my thankful list: Wyoming- for making my husband SO happy.

Thankful

Lately, I see a lot of people who've been 'tagged' and post random things about themselves that people may or may not know about them. Well, I'm putting my own little twist on that idea, and I'm going to talk about a few random things that I'm thankful for. And if you feeling like doing the same thing, consider yourself tagged.

1. Dick's bakery bread. There is a small grocery store up the street from where I live in Bountiful. Their bakery bread is amazing. They bake it fresh in the store, and slice it up and put it in their own little bread bags. I don't think I will every be able to go back to WonderBread, or any other brand. Someday, when Mike and I leave our Bountiful home, this is one thing that will devastate me leaving behind.

2. Healthy cars! Its a record! We bought both of our used cars 2 years ago (Mike's going on 18yrs), and we've gone 2 years without a single problem, and without a single experience of being stranded on the side of the road. With my luck, 2 years is a miracle. Thank you Toyota.

3. Slippers. I hate walking barefoot. I hate the feeling of a cold hard floor, crums, or even the feeling of carpet beneath my feet. I love my slippers and I pack them for roadtrips and vacations. Where ever I go, they go.

4. I'm thankful I "jumped". For our first date, Mike called me up and asked me to go snowshoeing. We went up Big Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake and he showed me how to hike with showshoes. As we were hiking, we came to a cliff probably 20 feet high. Mike ran past me, flew off the cliff, and slid the whole way down and landed a soft landing at the bottom. Afterwards, he looked up at me and spread his arms out and said "JUMP!" I remember thinking to myself "is he INSANE?" I was scared to death and I really didn't want to jump. But, after a few minutes gathering up enough courage, I jumped. (and made a fool of myself to go with it). Weeks later after we were seriously dating, Mike told me his standard 1st date was snowshoeing, and he never took a girl out again who wouldn't jump because he wanted someone he could have fun with. I'm grateful I married someone I could have fun with. He's made my life better than I could ever have imagined.

I LOVE house projects

One of my favorite things about owning a house is the projects. I remember all too well the ugly brown carpet, and the plain-white walls of our old apartment and wishing SO bad I could tear out the carpet and splash a little color on the walls. But of course I couldn't because it wasn't mine to change. This weekend, Mike and I finally finished our latest project on our house...the front door! Because of our busy schedules, it took us about 2 months total to finish about a 2 days job. But we finally put the hinges back on the door for the last time. I know our house isn't the newest by any means, in fact it was built in 1955, but there's something about taking something thats a little outdated, and not in the best of shape, then fixing it up and taking a step back and admiring your work. I know I may not have these thoughts forever, but I am honestly grateful that I have a older home, because what fun would a brand new home be without any projects to work on?

I took this picture this summer, our front door had a storm door on it that I couldn't stand. It wouldn't open up all the way, and it would always slam into your butt on your way in. (Especially when you're carrying groceries)

I know the door frame looks finished in the picture, but I was actually putting on the 2nd of 3 coats of paint on it.

Finished product. This is actually the same old door that was hidden behind the storm door. It just needed a little paint and a new doorknob and voila'. Its amazing how something so simple can give the whole house a facelift. Now we just have to decide what we're going to do next....?

Yo hablo Espanol

We had a fabulous time in Mexico. We went on a cruise and stopped in 4 cities along the Mexican Riviera. Acapulco, Zihuantenajo, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas. What an eye opener! I have never been out of the US before, and it was amazing the difference our two countries are. Mexico is BEAUTIFUL in nature, but horribly ugly in buildings, stores, streets, ect. Everyone drives insane, and all the cars are a hunk of junk. The mexican food was awesome, and thats suprised me because I'm not a huge fan of Americanized Mexican food. Mike loved speaking spanish with the locals. And I think they were relieved to find an American that they could communicate with. (Most of them being because they could sell their stuff easier). Here are a few pictures to show of some of the highlights.

This is us on the beach in Cabo San Lucas. I have never been in ocean water so warm before! We went snorkeling, which made us both sick to our stomachs, and Mike actually lost his breakfast over. The water that day was really choppy, which made our bodies (stomachs) move up and down with the motion of the waves. I think the next time I go snorkeling its going to have to be in a quiet little bay.

On the Beach in Acapulco. You can see our cruise ship in the background.

Looking at the ocean on the ship.

We went zip lining in Puerto Vallarta. There were 10 lines. The highest being 500 feet up, the longest being almost 1/2 mile long. Knowing me, I was a little wary at first, thinking "Okay we are in Mexico, how reliable are these lines?" But it was awesome and no one got hurt. :)

One of Acapulco's famous sight-seeing stop's is the Acapulco divers. They dive 135 feet into the ocean. Here's a picture with them.
Here's a video to give you an idea of what they did. CRAZY.

Time to get out of Utah

Yes, as of tomorrow and counting, Mike and I will be in Mexico. For the first time in our marriage, (3 years) we're taking a vacation that doesn't include pine trees, squirrels, cold rivers, tents, elk, and dirt. I could go on but I think you get the picture. We've never been anywhere tropical or to the ocean for that matter. Mike is a major home-body. He loves the country and I do too...to a point. But a change of scenery and weather will be so nice! It has been a long year for both of us so we are in need of a good vacation! I will post pictures when we get back! Adios amigos!

Back in the saddle again

After taking 3 years off of school, I decided to go back and try to learn another thing or two this fall. I'm only taking 6 credits, but with working full time, my calling being another part-time job, and trying to keep my husband happy by cooking for him ONCE in awhile so we don't have to constantly eat canned soup or frozen chimichanga's, I'm beginning to wonder why I decided to commit myself to a non-stop life?! (And here I am now starting a blog, I think I'm going crazy). My degree is in Health Promotion and Education. Someday I'd really like to work in the healthcare field, maybe at the University Hospital as a nutritionist, or a health couselor. We'll see, at this rate of only 6 credits per semester it's a ways down the road! School is a lot of work, but no matter what I finish, or don't finish, (or I should say...pass or don't pass) one thing I've learned is that school is not for wooses! Go Utes!