Our First Christmas!!!

We had such a wonderful Christmas. Things could not have been better. We exchanged our gifts Christmas Eve and Bruce got me a beautiful necklace, and I got him a bow for hunting and The Office seasons 2 & 3. Oh Christmas Eve we went over to my Grandparents house and exchanged gifts there. It is a big tradition in our family. Then we went home and got some sleep. On Christmas morning we woke up at like 5:15 cause we had to be at Bruce's parents house at 6 (crazy I know!) and they called us at 5:30 to see why we were not there yet haha. But we had an awesome Christmas with his parents. Then at 8 we headed over to my parents to open gifts. Both of our parents did too much for us and we are so grateful for them. Then we went over to my other grandparents and had breakfast and opened gifts. At about 12:00 we were able to come home and have a quick nap and then we went with his parents to see the movie National Treasure. We loved it!!! It was a busy day but we had so much fun. Our first Christmas could not have been better. I have a funny story! So on Christmas Eve we both went to the store to get stocking stuffers for each other. Well when we got back we were so excited that we exchanged and to our surprise we both got each other a card game, a movie, a card for each other, and gum! Luckily they were all different but we laughed so hard!

Now we want to list 10 things we are THANKFUL for this Christmas. (this is not in order)
1. Our love for each other.
2. The gospel that we are able to be apart of.
3. Our families and all they do for us.
4. Our Father in Heaven, and his son Jesus Christ.
5. The roof we have over our heads.
6. The food we have to eat.
7. Our health.
8. Our jobs.
9. The opportunity we have to be sealed for time and all eternity.
10. Our friends.

We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and that it was as memorable as ours!

December Festivities

Since the last time we posted ALOT has happened. We have had lots of birthdays and lots of Christmas parties. Since I have lots of pictures to post I'll just put them all in one instead of making a bunch of different ones! December 7th my work had their Christmas party and it was fun! My boss payed for all the girls to go to a resort and get pampered the whole day (I didn't get to go because I was only there for a week...but next year!) Then that night we went to City Hall Mastros Stakehouse in Scottsdale. It was amazing! We had so much fun. Then December 8th it was my Grandmas Elaine's Birthday so we were able to celebrate that! On the 12th it was my dad's birthday so we went over to my parents for a party and it was so much fun! We are so grateful to have him in our lives. On the 17th we had my dad's big Christmas Family Home Evening. We have it every year and its with all his cousins and family. There was over 100 people there. On the 20th Gunnar had his 2nd Birthday! He is growing up so fast and we love him so much! Then tonight we had my Grandma Sue's big Christmas Home Evening. She plans it all year long and she always comes up with the best story and then we play games. We look forward to it every year... Well here goes the pictures. They aren't in order so I will just explain as I go...

Christmas Survey!

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy and change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you... 'Tis the Season to be NICE

!1. Wrapping paper or gift bag? Wrapping paper, a bag is too easy!

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial, real ones die.

3. When do you put up your tree? Thanksgiving night!

4. When do you take down your tree? After the new year

5. Do you like eggnog? Mmmm yes!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Good question... The snow globes my dad gives me. He gives me a new one every single year so I have a big collection! I love them.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? yes, I have the willow set.

8. Hardest person to buy for? our parents!

9. Easiest person to buy for? Bruce

10. Worst Christmas gift you've ever received? I'm not sure

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail I love getting the pictures

12. Favorite Christmas movie? Santa Clause, and Santa Clause 2...I haven't seen the 3rd one. But I LOVE all Christmas movies...They are the best!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? It just depends...If I see something I know someone will love I'll get it no matter how soon it is.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Haha probably!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? all the yummy goodies we make to give away!

16. White or colored lights? I love any lights

17. Favorite Christmas song? Mary did you know by Clay Aiken. His whole Christmas CD is amazing.

18. Traveling for Christmas or stay home? Stay home. All our family is here

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes... Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner & Blitzen...I can't forget Rudolf!

20. Angel or Star on top of tree? Star

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or Morning? Christmas morning! But we always go to my Grandparents (the Lamb's) Christmas Eve and open gifts from them.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Shopping

23. Favorite Holiday Traditions? I love Traditions! There are too many to pick a favorite

24. What I love most about Christmas? I love the spirit of Christmas! I love what Christmas means and how everyone is so much sweeter!

Christmas is coming!!!

I love Christmas! I love everything about it. I love the decorations, music, and I absolutely love the spirit that comes with Christmas. Since this is our first Christmas as a married couple I am a little over excited... Like 2 months ago I started getting excited and then about 2 weeks before Thanksgiving I tried to put our Christmas Tree up and Bruce pretty much told me I was crazy. I felt bad because Thanksgiving is such an incredible holiday but I was just ready for it to come and go so I could start playing Christmas music without Bruce looking at me funny. Well Thanksgiving night I finally got Bruce to put the tree up, and while he was doing that I was putting all the other decorations out (we don't have very many since we are just newlyweds!) Once the tree was up I realized we didn't have any lights, ornaments or a star so the day after Christmas I went and got everything for our tree! Right after I left Target I hurried home so I could decorate our tree! I decided to go with the red, gold, and lime green theme on our tree and it turned out really cute! I know you are probably all thinking what!!! Lime green ornaments, but honestly if you know me at all you know that fits me perfect! Now that my decorations are up, and the Christmas music is playing I love it! I can't believe Christmas is in 19 days!!! I just can't wait to spend such an important and meaningful Holiday with Bruce as husband and wife! I am so grateful that we are able to celebrate our saviors birth every year and for all the sacrifices he makes for me every day!

Here is my Christmas craft for now... My sweet Mother-in-law had her Super Saturday and she saw this and got one for me, Brookie, and her! We all got together and had such a fun time putting it together! It turned out so cute. I am suppose to put a chunky black frame around it, but Bruce told me it looked fine without it. haha so I don't have a frame! But it is so neat...each day has a little envelope and each envelope has a scripture about Christmas!!!

Happy Birthday Stacey!!!

My Sister-in-law Stacey (Rocky's wife) had a Birthday on the 23rd! She has been in Utah with her family so we finally got to celebrate last night! I love you Stacey...I am so grateful to have you as my sister and thank you for being such an amazing wife to my brother!!! I hope you had an awesome birthday!

Thanksgiving!!!

Since I was so busy yesterday I thought I would take a minute and let everyone know of all the things I am thankful for. 1. MY FAMILY!!! I have the most amazing husband in this world. He is the one person I seriously could not live without. He puts up with me and makes me laugh more times then I can count and I have never felt so blessed to be with someone in my life. He makes me want to be a better person and has such a strong testimony. My parents are two of the most incredible people in this world. My mom is my best friend and she has always been my support system. She has laughed with me, cried with me, and she has always been there to know all that I have gone through. I would honestly be lost without her. My dad has always been my hero. I can depend on my dad for anything and know that he will always be there for me to take care of me and support me (even when I'm old and married.) My brothers have played such an important part in my life, I love them so much. They have been there for me no matter what and have always been so protective, life wouldn't be the same without my brothers. My sister-in-laws have become my best friends. I am so grateful to have 2 sisters that I never had growing up, I am so grateful they put up with my brothers!!! My in-laws. I seriously have the best in-laws, they are awesome! They have been so welcoming and supportive of Bruce and I and I am so grateful to have them in my life. Bruce's brother, sisters, and brother-in-law. They are all awesome and I have so much fun with them! I am so grateful to have them as a part of my family. My grandparents...I have the best grandparents! I am so grateful to have them in my life and I cherish the time I get to spend with them. 2. THE GOSPEL- I am so grateful for this amazing gospel. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be sealed to my family for time and all eternity. That is the best filling in this world. I am grateful for my testimony and for the opportunities I have to share it with those around me. I am grateful that I am able to go to the temple and to church often, and for the sweet spirit I feel there. MY HOME- I am grateful that Bruce and I are able to have a roof over our heads (even if it is an apartment) and for everything we have in it. and finally MY HEAVENLY FATHER & JESUS CHRIST- words can not explain the gratitude I have for my Heavenly Father & his son Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for all the sacrifices they have made for me and for the opportunity that I will have to live with them again someday. I am grateful that they are there for me and watching over me 24/7 and all I have to do is get down on my knees and pray.

This has been such an awesome Thanksgiving and I am so grateful for many things that I have not named. But, I just had to list a few!

Happy Birthday Dakota!!!

Dakota turned 4 today!!! I picked a cowboy birthday cake because he had his first "friends birthday party" this year and he wanted the theme to be cowboys! Dakota is seriously the smartest and most well behaved kid I know, I love him to death! He has been "my baby" since he was born and I have always had a close bond with him. I am so grateful to have him as a part of my life. I love you Koda!!! You are such a big boy and Bruce and I are so glad to have you as a nephew! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, your FOUR!!!

The pictures are finally here!!!

Okay so I know these are like 3 months late... But I figure better late then never right? I tried to put them in order from the first one we saw to the last. On the way there we stopped at Kirtland first, then Palmyra. Then on the way home we stopped at the Joseph Smith Memorial, Palmyra, Kirtland, Nauvoo, and then Carthage. It was such a fun trip and we felt the spirit so strong at every place we stopped. It just testified to us how amazing and true this church is that we belong to and we are so grateful to be a part of it. If any of you have the chance to go on any church tours, GO! You will not regret it.

Kirtland, Ohio

Kirtland was a cool place to be. It was such a cool feeling the be in the same place that some of the first settlers from our church lived. We were able to feel the spirit so strong in Kirtland. There were so many revelations and visions in Kirtland and when he hear about them while you are there it just makes it feel so real. It's not just a story you hear, you are there where it actually happened. We were able to go to Kirtland one our was to Massachusetts and on our way home... We loved it!

Palmyra, New York

Palymra was awesome! Being in the Sacred Grove, where the Book of Mormon was published, and at Hill Cumorah was amazing... Palmyra was such a sacred town. We had the opportunity to go to Palmyra on our way to Boston (when it was not very pretty and there were no leaves) and on our was home (when it was gorgeous!) The Palmyra Temple was so pretty too! If you have not been to Palmyra it is a must see! You will walk away with such a strong testimony of this gospel. We were able to see where Joseph put the plates in the Cooper shed, and then they had the same bricks in the fire place that he used to hide them again... It was awesome! The Hill Cumorah was so pretty. When we went there the first time we decided to walk up it, oh my goodness was that hard!!! That hill was so steep and we were worn out by the time we got to the top, so the second time we went we decided to drive our car up the back. While we were walking through the sacred grove I stepped on a snake and freaked out, but other than that it was such a spiritual experience. We had such a good time in Palmyra!

Book of Mormon printing press

Hill Cumorah

Sacred Grove

The Cooper Shed (where he put the plates)

Sharron, Vermont

Since we were already in Massachusetts and Vermont was only an hour away Bruce wanted to stop. His dad served part of his mission in Sharon, Vermont (where the Joseph Smith Memorial is.) Vermont was gorgeous!!! It was probably my favorite state that we were able to go through. The Joseph Smith Memorial was awesome.... It was cool to be able to see where my father-in-law served his mission!

Nauvoo, Illinois

Okay so the Nauvoo Temple is AMAZING! I seriously could not stop taking pictures of it. We were driving and out of no where it just popped out at us and it seriously took my breath away. It has seriously Made my top 5 favorite temples. I just wish we would have had enough time to go through...We didn't have time to go on any of the tours either because we were running out of time. The statue of Joseph and Hyrum on their last ride was really cool too! But I loved that town, it had such a good feeling...You just felt safe there. We were able to stay in a little hotel that was just so cozy, it was our favorite! Seriously, if you have not been to Nauvoo, you need to go...It's such an incredible place.

Carthage, Illinois

The Last stop we made was Carthage. I LOVED Carthage. It was such a spiritual experience. Being in the room where Joseph Smith was killed was so amazing. You could almost feel him there. The door to that room was the original door and has the original bullet holes that killed Hyrum. Words can next explain the spirit you feel in this sacred place...

New Job!

Well I officially have a new job. For those of you who do not know I stopped working at Red Mountain Endodontics about 2 weeks ago. He wanted me to commit to working for him for 3 years and I couldn't and there were a couple other things going on so i just quit... It was hard but, I felt good about it. Well about a week after I quit, a dental office called me and said that Dr. Hamberlin recommended me so I went in for an interview. This office is ALOT less key and not so stressful so we will see how it goes. I guess I will keep you all updated!

The Trade Fair

So this weekend (well Friday night and Saturday morning) Bruce and I went with my parents, and brother & sister-in-law to my dads business trade fair. There is a group of companies that trade services and instead of paying each other they build up trade money and can use that money to get services from people in the group throughout the year or save it for the big Christmas event that we were at... Every year right before Christmas they have a big event where they have an auction Friday night and then a fun event on Saturday morning. It was our first year to go but my parents have done if for a few years now and they bought us a hotel room at the Marriott in Mesa. The hotel room alone was awesome!!! But we ended up going to the auction and eating a big dinner Friday night then woke up bright and early Saturday and went to that event. It was a fun time and Bruce and I got some cool things. Bruce got a guitar and I got a aqua beach cruiser bike with Hawaiian flowers on it! We also got a cool clock for our house. We sure can't wait until next year!

Bruce got a deer!!!

So Bruce and my dad left on Thursday for a hunt in Colorado. He was suppose to go with his dad but some things came up and his dad was not able to go so my dad went in his place. It was a bitter sweet time, because Bruce and his dad have been planning this hunt for a year now and just 2 days before the hunt we found out his dad couldn't go so Bruce was really bummed, but he was happy and excited that my dad was able to go with him and he would still be able to go on the hunt. Well on Saturday around 4:30 or 5ish Bruce got his first deer! I was at a bridal shower and when it was over I checked my phone and had a missed call from him and I couldn't call him back because he never has reception and calls me the second he gets reception. Then when I was calling my sister-in-law, Katrina a thing popped up on my phone saying I had a new voicemail. when I got that I about died because I knew it had to be from Bruce and I was so bummed I missed it. Well I check my message and it said... Hey Sweetie, I just wanted to let you know I am no longer a virgin deer killer! Then it cut out so I was freaking out. I called my father-in-law to see if he had heard anything and he said Benson got a text saying he got one. So I kept all my excitement in and I waited...and waited...and waited some more then FINALLY he called me!!! He was so excited. It is a really big three point. He said it is an awesome deer for his first one. He sent me a picture on my phone, so I can't post it but I will post some pictures when he gets home from the hunt. I am so proud of my amazing hunter!!!

Katrina is PREGNANT!

We found out last night my sister-in-law is pregnant again!!! We are so excited. She is about 6 weeks along and her due date is the end of June. Dakota & Gunnar are so excited for a new baby. It will be so exciting to have a new addition to the family! Congratulations Katrina, I love you!!!

Our Halloween!!

Well we had a pretty good Halloween. We started it by going over to my Brothers in-laws. My family goes over there every year for a little Halloween party. They make yummy soup and have lots of food to eat and then we go pass out candy. So we went over there so we could see Dakota and Gunnar and then we went over to Bruce's parents house so Bruce could pack for his hunt and I scrapbooked with his mom. It was a really fun night!

Gunnar's Game...

So tonight Gunnar and Bruce were playing a little game. With my new camera I can have it makes lots of noises when I take a picture and one of those noises is a dog barking. Well Gunnar heard that and went crazy... He loved it! Any time it would go off he would go, " haha...dog!" It was funny. So he kept coming up to me and saying dog so I would have to take a picture. Well we sat down and I taught him how to press the button and take a picture and he loved it. So we sat there for awhile and took lots of pictures of Bruce and he was getting really into it! I was laughing so hard. Gunnar would be laughing because the camera would bark, and then Bruce would make a funny face and Gunnar would laugh even harder. It was the funniest thing. So here are some of the pictures of Bruce that Gunnar took.