Family at Christmas time!

The best part about Christmas . . . by far being with family. Here are just a few pictures of some of my most favorite people in the world during my favorite time of year!

Jared and Emmett

Mary (Olivia) and Joseph (Savannah)

The donkey (Brett)

Jared squishing Emmett, I don't think Emmett minds.

Our little Christmas corner

The Kindle Fire that Jared spoiled me with. He had it in mind for months apparently. He was so excited for me to open it. Needless to say, I LOVE IT!

If I wasn't already spoiled enough, Jared also got me the Silhouette Cameo!!

Jared and Emmett playing with what we got him for Christmas

Wendy and Trevor

My mom and Abuelita

Everyone gathered around to talk with Elder Madsen

Me with the love of my life waiting for our turn to talk to Elder Madsen

Jared opening his secret Santa gift

Judith, me and my mommy with our new crock pots!

My parents opening up the gift Jared and I got them (from On the Avenue)

Temple Square

As always, we made it a point to go to Salt Lake to Temple Square this year to see the lights. It's one of my favorite Christmas traditions. Four years ago was the first time I went with Jared and it was the first time I met his family. I love this tradition. We invited two of my friends from my program and their families to come with us this year. It's great being able to share it with people I care about. We spent about two, two and a half hours showing them around and we still didn't get to see everything. There's just so much to see!

Gateway Mall Christmas Tree and warming fire

Jared at Temple Square

The Tabernacle

Salt Lake Temple

The Nativity in the Reflecting Pool

Christmas Crafts

I wish I could say I made all these, but I didn't. I did make some of them though! Christmas is by far my most favorite holiday to decorate for.

I made this for Christmas gifts

Hm . . . what are we watching?

Christmas Countdown (On the Avenue)

Believe (On the Avenue)

Rachelle made these for me last Christmas!

Christmas Trees (On the Avenue)

I made these for me! Christmas and Thanksgiving.

I got this mantle for Christmas! (On the Avenue)

And finally, I learned how to make bows. I will never buy bows again!

Grad School is . . .

I am done with my first semester of graduate school. What!? I cannot believe how fast it went by. Good thing because if it was dragging along I'm pretty sure I would give up and die. I remember in the summer the second year students were telling us how hard it was but after the first couple weeks I didn't understand what they were talking about. Then about a month in I realized . . . yeah it's hard. Especially when waking up at 5 am every morning so that I could get my hours in at work. I actually think if it wasn't for that it wouldn't be as hard because at least I wouldn't be as tired all the time. 

We'll see how next semester goes because I'll actually be teaching an online class on top of everything else that I'll still be doing. Man. What was I thinking? I just have to keep in mind that in the end, it will all be worth it. For one of my classes I actually had to go and shadow a school psychologist and for the past two or so years I've been so worried that maybe I'm not going to like it. That I've wasted all this time, money, effort, and I've picked something I'm going to hate. Thank goodness for that shadow because of that's what school psychology is . . . bring it on! I loved it! So yes, in the end . . . it will definitely be worth it.

One semester down. 5 more to go!

Forgotten Carols

Jared and I went on a double date to the Forgotten Carols 20th anniversary show at Kent Concert Hall. We went with a friend of mine in my grad school program, Emilee and her date Mike. The Forgotten Carols is one of my very most favorite Christmas cd's so I was really stoked about going. It was a lot of fun! The live show doesn't sound as good to me as the cd, but it's still fun to go and see the show live.