A New Year

Happy New Year everyone. Here are some of my favorite memories from this year.

New Year's Eve and New Years Day last year were spent moving into our new apartment. I can't believe we've been here a whole year. It's nice to have our place. Things just keep falling apart though. First the dishwasher and now a leak in the wall behind the shower. We're hoping in May this year to be able to move out and rent a bigger place, with at least three bedrooms and lots more storage.

Going on a random Sunday roadtrip with Martin up to Meridian Idaho, just for the heck of it.

The scrapbooking weekend with Gayla and Sara. We always have so much fun at those.

Having Monika and Kevin come to America. It was so wonderful to be able to spend time with them. I can't wait for Kevin and Whitney's wedding this year, so we can see Joe and Monika again, and that Kevin will be in America for good, and Martin will have family here.

Being able to spend so much time with my neices and nephews over the summer. I still owe the younger three their own special days.

Going down to St. George with the girls to see the Tuachan plays. That's one of my very favorite vacations to go on every year.

Our family camping trip up in Mantua.

Working as a ballot clerk for the election with my Mom.

All of the many many many family parties this year. Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the monthly family home evenings. I love my family very much and am very thankful for them and their support in my life.


So for resolution time. My goals for this year:

1-Lose weight. I've actually already lost ten pounds so I'm off to a good start. Yeah this one is boring and very common, but it's for a purpose. (see goal 2)
2-Start a family. I think we're ready, or getting close to being ready anyway.
3-Go to England.

I can't think of any more right now.

...the Christmas rush is through

Christmas Eve we met all the family up at my Dad's cemetary. We sang, and ate cherry chocolates like we always do and then it was off to Mom and Doug's house for Christmas dinner. I wish I would have taken more pictures, it's just when I know other people have their cameras I don't think I need to take pictures. I had Martin take this picture of the kids table, and then my camera was put away for the rest of the night. Sara and Gayla have pictures though.

We did Christmas a little different this year. We drew names and did a food storage Christmas. Sam drew my name and got me cream of chicken soup, rice, and egg noodles. Then we did a one dollar gift and she got me a Strawberry Shortcake poster. She was SOO excited about it because she picked it out herself. It was really cute! Brandon got Martin bread, cheese and pop. (that's all he eats I swear.) and a big mug for his dollar gift. The food came in handy on Christmas when we had no food in the house and everywhere was closed.

For Mom and Doug's gifts for us this year, Mom had put together an emergency kit for all of us. We all got a big bucket with our names on them, with water and a packaged 72 hours kit with meals and everything and then she passed out lots of other things to go in it. Crank flashlights, two way radios for each family, first aid kits, extra bandaids, ponchos, emergency blanket, glow sticks, hand and feet warmers, survival whistle, nylon cord, hand sanitizer, cups, paper, pencils. She also gave small toys and games for the kids, and activity books, dice and cards to the adults. I loved this gift, I haven't made a 72 hour kit for us so it's really nice to have. She put so much planning into it. It has to be one of my favorite gifts ever. She also gave everyone a nice illustrated hymn book, a glass pie plate with our last name etched onto it, and a can organizer.

This is what Puck got me for Christmas thanking me for going over to Seth's house and checking on him when Seth is at work.

This was the first Christmas for Martin and I alone in our own place. It was really nice. We got up and opened presents at 7:30. We look a little sleepy in these pictures in our Christmas pajamas.Abbi wasn't wanting to cooperate.
Martin's presents. His favorite gift--Nintendo DS. He's been playing it a ton!
My presents. My favorite gift--My Ipod! I can't stop playing with it. I also loved Mamma Mia. I hadn't seen it yet, and I love it. I put the soundtrack on my Ipod and have been playing it almost nonstop. (I loved Martin's handwritten gift cards. "Martin's wonderful presents company. May redeem in Apple Ipod store." I laughed pretty hard.)

After we opened presents I went and had breakfast at Mom and Doug's while Martin waited for his family to call. A bunch of his family got together this year, and he got to talk to most of them on the phone. He was really upset that he missed out and couldn't be there. We're going to make it over there this year.

I hope you all had a great Christmas. I'll end now with a few random Abbi pictures that make me laugh.

Christmas is coming...

...the goose is getting fat...

(and by goose I mean me)

I am very excited for Christmas. A few days ago Martin and I watched a bunch of old Christmas movies. He was very sweet to watch them with me and let me relive childhood memories. We watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" "The Leprechan's Christmas Gold" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." I love those shows. It definately put me in the Christmas mood.

Most of my Christmas shopping got done yesterday in the middle of the snow storm. It was so crazy. My little car does pretty good in the snow though. I need to have Martin put my new windshield wipers on. We bought them the other day, but it's so cold neither of us want to be outside to get them changed out.

Abbi has been so funny out in the snow. She runs all over and eats the snow. I need to buy her some boots. I think the salt hurts her paws. I had to carry her up the last flight of stairs today because she was limping and wouldn't walk on her back paws.

Martin and I started to watch the first season of NCIS. My whole family has been talking about them for months. We watched the first episode and Martin was hooked. I knew he would be.

Lately I've been DVR-ing The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross. I love that show. He makes it look so easy. I think next month I'm going to buy the supplies and everything to start painting. I'm pretty excited about it.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my random thought post. The end.

...Star of Light

Today was the little star party. This year it was at my Uncle John's house. I made oreo truffles to take to the party. I made two kinds mint and regular. Click here for the original recipe from Bakerella. There are step by step pictures too.
The chocolate I use you can get at Walmart (almond bark) or Target (candy coating) both in the baking aisle. A couple things I do different: I don't use all of the cream cheese. It makes it a little too oily. Just use enough that you can roll them into a ball and it stays. Also if you use the Double stuff oreos, use even less cream cheese.

Here are a couple pictures of our Christmas Dog.

Easy Silence

I've done one of these before but they're really fun, try it!

Have an iPOD or iTUNES? This is kind of a fun way to pass the time...

1. Put your iTunes on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY? "Angel" by the Corrs

WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? "Incomplete" by Alanis Morissette (that fits)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX? "Bad Horse Chorus" from Doctor Horrible (I like me a bad boy I guess.)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? "Home" by Michael Buble (Aww this one is cool!)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? "Mama Mia" by Abba (funny)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? "So They Say" from Doctor Horrible

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? "Sad But True" Metallica

WHAT IS 2 +2? "I Knew I Loved You" by Savage Garden

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? "Straitjacket" by Alanis Morissette (sometimes...)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? "Mr. Lonely" by Akon

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? "I Am a Rock" by Simon and Garfunkel (not really true)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? "Keep Breathing" by Ingrid Michaelson (that's all, just breathing)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? "Oh Darling" from Across the Universe Soundtrack

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? "I Need You" Tim Mcgraw and Faith Hill (aww)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? "The Blessing" by Celtic Women

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon and Garfunkel (lol)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? "Complicated" by Avril Lavign (funny, but I still have that song on my IPOD?!)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? "Believe" by Cher (I seriously need to update my Ipod!)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? "It's Been a Summer" by New Found Glory

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? "Happy Working Song" from Enchanted Soundtrack (too true!)

HOW WILL YOU DIE? "Mama I'm Coming Home" by Ozzy Osbourne (sad)

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET? "Don't Forget to Remember Me" Carrie Underwood

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?"Wide Open Spaces" by Dixie Chicks

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED? "Once Upon a December" from the Anastasia soundtrack (no, February actually.)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? "The Bells of Notre Dame" from the Hunchback of Notre Dame Soundtrack

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU? "Thank U" by Alanis Morissette

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? "Shut Up" by Simple Plan

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW? "Another Day" from the Rent sountrack (Another work day maybe)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? "Easy Silence" by the Dixie Chicks (one of my very very favorite songs)

Making Christmas, Making Christmas

Black Friday was crazy at work of course. I worked 16 hours, my manager worked 12....go figure. I was SO mad at her, but I'm mostly over it now. I'm just glad it's over with. I have the next two days off I'm so excited I don't know what to do with myself. Anyway I thought I would post some pictures of our christmas decorations.

I put up our Christmas tree too. I'm so excited because after 3 years I've finally found a tree topper that I love.

random pictures of our ornaments.

A picture from under the tree.

My Chrismas teddy bear from when I was little.

So Martin sold one of his old computers, and bought a mini laptop. He's wanted one for a while now and finally got one. Here are a couple pictures showing the size difference.

It's really cute. I almost want one, but I think I want an IPOD touch more.

Here are a couple pictures of Abbi from last month. She's so dang cute. I'm taking her to the vet tomorrow for a check up and shots. I hope she's good and doesn't eat any little dogs.