Merry Christmas

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner at my parents house last night.  I brought a Green Bean Casserole and Rosemary Au Gratin Potatoes.  Yumm!

We had a wonderful evening watching the kids do the Nativity Story, playing a game that strained our brain to remember lyrics to old Christmas Carols and watching It's A Wonderful Life.


Howie and I had to still pick-up pies for today to take to his Dad's house so, we stopped by Village Inn on the way home because they were open until midnight.  We decided, since we were there, we might as well stop in for a cup of hot chocolate.  So, we did.  To be honest, there was something strangely romantic about it.  It was sweet.

We woke early this morning to attend church at our branch.  Even though it was early, and Christmas Day, we had a really nice turn out which surprised me.  I thought everyone would be out and about with their families.  A couple from one of our nearby wards came in and sang and played the flute for us.  It was wonderful.  Our branch members really enjoyed it.


After church we went back to my parents house for presents and an awesome breakfast/lunch.  My family made the most amazing sausage I have ever tasted.  It was brown sugar and honey sausage.  Oh.  My.  Gosh.  SO good.  We always open our presents that we got each other at my parents.  The biggest present we got ourselves was a little thing called an iPad 2.

Yup, totally stoked about that one!  We spent way too much on ourselves this year but, when you're a couple of D.I.N.K.'s that's what you do.  Some other things Howie got me: Brown boots, socks, my pearl from Hawaii mounted on a ring, new PJ's, car iPhone charger, and a U of U hoodie (Go Utes!).


Things I got him: Two new belts, Old Spice gift set, 32GB flash drive for his Xbox 360, new outfit, new PJ's, and the movie Thor.


After presents we headed to Howie's Dad's house for dinner and more present opening.  It was a great night and I love being able to sit around after dinner and talking with everyone.  We really enjoyed our Christmas and I hope all of you did, too!


Here is this years Christmas card wall (door).  I'm hoping the sending of Christmas cards never dies because I love to get them.  We've sent one out every year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Cute Neighbor Gifts

I'm so excited about our neighbor gifts this year.

Three rolls of wrapping paper (baby, birthday, and wedding themed) all bundled up with a note that says "We're wrapping up another year!"  So clever!  I wish I could take all the credit, but my Mom gave me the idea from one of her neighbors that did it for her last year.

Date Night iPhone Photos

Howie called me up at work one day last week and said "I'd like to go on a date this Saturday."  I said "Ok, do you know what you would like to do?"  "Yeah, I want to go to the temple since it's been a while since we've been.  Walk around and look at the lights, and then eat at The Roof."  Be still my heart.  Howie rarely plans things out so, you can imagine my amazement when he had a detailed itinerary of what he would like to go and do.  "Ok, I'll make the reservation!"

And so, we did sealings in the temple.

We walked around the new Deseret Book store.

Got warm in the JSM building.

And enjoyed the beautiful view from the 10th floor.

Here is a rose in glass that they had on display at The Roof.  Cool, huh?

Dinner was marvelous.  I've been to The Roof once before for a wedding dinner and I couldn't really remember what I thought of it.  But, this was really good.  I highly recommend the chicken cordon blue.

It was a great night to spend together.  I love all these little date nights that we've been having.  It's good we've been having them because I start school soon and who knows what kind of free time I'll have after that!

Zoo Lights

Last night we went to Zoo Lights!

This is the first year we've ever been.  We decided to do this instead of doing A Candelight Christmas.  We had a lot of fun and it wasn't too cold out for the activity.  (The hot chocolate helped with that!)

The tigers were out and more active than I have ever seen them.  They were playing for the crowd and growling at each other.  It was so awesome to see!  I could've sat and watched them all night.

We may have to start making this another annual tradition.  We really had a good time.  It was neat to see the animals when they are more active.  In the summer they are just lazy and sleeping.  Definitely an activity worth the $6 admission price.

Nostalgia

It's funny how much this album reminds me of Christmas when I was young...

I got it in the $5 CD bin at Walmart.  So worth it!  I don't remember ever thinking the cover of this CD was so peculiar, but it is peculiar, isn't it?  Very corny.  I love the addition of the reindeer.  I wonder who's idea that was.

I find it sad that Kenny and Dolly have gone from looking like this:

To this over the years:

Why does Hollywood think this looks better?!  It doesn't!  Look how handsome Kenny Rodgers used to be!  It's a shame.  A cryin' shame, I tell ya.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Christmas!

Aside from getting all of my Christmas decorations up this weekend, I also enjoyed a 12 hour day of shopping on Black Friday with my BFF.

It was a huge success!

I love this time of year!

Mimi's Cafe

This morning Howie and I treated ourselves to a marvelous Mimi's Cafe breakfast.

You must try their Pumpkin Spice Muffin.

*Yum*

Have a Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Compliments

Last Sunday, Howie and I attended a missionary homecoming for one of his cousins.  I had accidently set my alarm clock for 7pm instead of 7am that morning so, we ran a little late leaving the house to be there on time.  We sat through the entire meeting and when we were finally ready to get up and leave, a young girl (maybe 16 or 17?) jumped out of her seat, which was two rows behind us, just to come over and tell me "I love your hair!  I just had to tell you."  Because of running late that day, I didn't feel like my hair was really up to par.  Certainly not to a standard worthy of receiving compliments from random strangers.  I love receiving unexpected compliments like this, but I feel bad when I get them, too.  My whole entire life, I've always struggled with the small act of accepting a compliment.  I appear to accept it from the outside, but inside I always doubt them.  It's just part of my nature.

I remember once when I was around 15ish, I had complained to my Mom about what a bad hair day I was having.  Later that same day we went to a family Christmas party and one of my cousins came up to me and complimented me on my hair and said it was "Cute!".  I immediately turned around and said "Did my Mom tell you to say that to me??"  She looked at me all confused and said "No, I just wanted you to know I thought your hair looked cute today."

So, because of my insecurities and how I feel when I receive compliments, I find that I rarely ever give compliments.  It's sad, but true.  So, when this girl went so out of her way on Sunday to tell me she loved my curly red hair, I was taken back.  But, I've thought of it ever since!  I admire people that can go up to complete strangers and brighten their day with something as simple as a compliment.  I challenge you to compliment someone today.  They will appreciate it!

And just for fun, watch this video.  These two Purdue University students used to stand outside every Wednesday from 12:30 to 2pm and give out "Free Compliments" to people who walked by.  What an awesome idea!

I am a Ute.

I am very, very, proud and excited to finally announce that I have applied and been accepted into The David Eccles School of Business Program at the University of Utah!  It has been four years since I got my Associates degree and I am absolutely thrilled to be returning to school.  I'm also just a tad nervous.  I thought, for sure, I would be the oldest one in Orientation this past Tuesday, but I wasn't.  There were actually a number of people that seemed to be about my same age and older.  Of course, there were the younger kids there, too.  But I didn't feel out of place for one second.  I knew it's where I was supposed to be.  It was comforting to know that we were all there with one common goal in mind and that is to get an education.  I felt a sense of camaraderie with my fellow students even though we'd never met or spoken.  I'll be honest with you, I have struggled with this decision to return to school from the day I started to ponder it.  Is the timing right?  Is it wise to be starting such an endeavor when Howie and I are trying to start a family, too?  Can we afford it?  Can I keep my job AND go to school?  Will it take too long?  Which degree should I go for?  Or as my best friends Dad put it when he found out I was considering going back to school "Is it worth it?"  (I'm not quite sure if that was a jab at my age or just academics in general.  Either way, it got a confused reaction from me.)


This past Monday night, the night before Orientation, I laid awake in bed wondering if I was making the right decision.  It was then that I was prompted to go and read my Patriarchal Blessing.  When these types of promptings hit me, I act on them every single time because that's what my P.B. is for.  I'm continuously learning about it and it's meanings and in turn growing stronger in my faith in it.  It reconfirms my testimony every time.  I started to read it in it's entirety and I paused when I got to a section that said:

"Gain education that you may have the skills and the knowledge which will help you in your life to achieve and accomplish that work you shall be called to do."

I know that this is what my Father in Heaven wants me to be doing.  I know he will provide a way for it to happen if I just do my part and have faith in Him.

Bring on January 9th!

Pennsylvania and New Joy-see

Howie got to come along with me on a business trip to Pennsylvania.  He actually served his mission in Pittsburgh so, PA was nothing too new for him.  But, he had never been to Philly before so, we made it a point to go there...twice.

We wanted to try one of the best Philly Cheesesteaks in town so, we ventured over to Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks to see what all the fuss was about.  These two places (which are right across the street from each other) have been on just about every food show known to man.  The original plan was to get one sandwich from each place and split them, but once we got there Howie only wanted to try Pat's so, we both got one from Pat's.  Howie got disgusting cheesewhiz on his.  Ew.  Too rich for me.

I'm a Philly Cheesesteak with provolone and dill pickle kind of girl.  Mine was delicious.

Philly Hard Rock Cafe!

So, I'm a reality TV junkie and I love the show on Style called Jerseylicious.  I know, I know.  The cast is a tad on the dramatic side.  But, it's entertaining to me.  The show takes place in a salon called the "Gatsby Salon" and it's in Green Brook, NJ.  Since we were headed that way I decided to look to see how far away it was.  It was only an hour!  So, I booked an appointment in hopes to meet some of the cast.  Much to my excitement, Monday October 24th just happened to be a cast day!  They didn't have the whole cast there, just two of the main characters.  But, I was so excited!

Here is me, Doria (from the show) and Denise (she cut my hair).  Both cast members were fully booked so, I couldn't get in with them (shucks).  But Denise was really sweet and I was able to ask her a lot of questions about the show.  I'm sure she gets it ALL the time.

And here I am with Tracy!  She was the number one person I wanted to meet.  I was so happy she worked that day.  She is one of the shows main characters.

It was so fun to meet them.

The last day we were in PA we drove back to Philly again.  We didn't get to see enough of the city the first time we went.  We managed to fit in a lot of stuff.  First we stopped off at the Liberty Bell.

Swung by Benjamin Franklin's resting place.

And raced up the "Rocky Steps".

After that we were headed home.  The trip was short, but sweet.

Oh, and check out that Philly skyline from the top of The Rocky Steps.  Pretty cool.

Fall Is In The Air

I went up Millcreek Canyon today by myself while Howie slept.

It is absolutely gorgeous right now.


Tomorrow morning we leave for Pennsylvania.  Yet another business trip I get to take this year, but this time Howie gets to tag along.  I can't wait to see New England in the Fall.


I hear it's beautiful this time of year.