this guy

In honor of the holiday this week, and his birthday next week, I'd like to dedicate this post to my Valentine. 

Warning: serious cheese ahead!

One of my favorite pictures of Christian. Seriously stop it with the sexiness right now.

Man, words can't even begin to cover all the things I love and appreciate about Christian. I feel like my marriage to him has been the biggest gift ever (it probably has!), because I've been able to grown and learn from one of the best people I've ever known! Let me tell you about him:

- Christian is smart. So so smart you guys, like seriously. Like, he read a Stephen Hawking book over Christmas break for FUN. His version of browsing the internet actually means reading Wikipedia, and then he can remember literally everything he reads! This is something I love so much about him. 

- Christian is a talented athlete. He swam all through high school, he's a super great runner, and he's got a ton of speed and power on a bike. He gives my water polo-playing brothers a run for their money any time they are together ha! This is one reason why I love going to the gym so much... it's fun to be there with him!

- Christian is a BIG sweetheart. He tells me every day that he loves me. He also talks to our little guy through my stomach all the time, and it kills me. I know that not everyone gets to hear or feel expressions of love every day, and it makes me feel very lucky that Christian does that for me. I need to be better about that!

- Christian is literally the hardest working person I've ever known in my life. He will sometimes go a whole day without eating because he's been working so hard that he just doesn't think about it. He motivates me to be so much better in this regard!

- Christian always wants to be better. I rarely, if ever, feel like he is just stagnant in ANY area of his life. He always wants to run faster, get better grades, be a kinder husband, attend the temple more, eat healthier... Sometimes it's exhausting because I'm lazy ha, but I'm thankful for his drive because I need it!

- Christian will be such a good dad! I'm thrilled that we are having a boy first, because he will get to learn from the best. Little man is very lucky.

- Christian is hilarious. He seriously makes me laugh so hard that I cry at least once a week. He's also great about using his humor to diffuse frustration (a RARE occurrence in our marriage! ;) ), and it's such a blessing for our relationship.

- And finally, Christian is a great kisser. I'm sorry but I had to. He makes me weak in the knees sometimes!

Aaaaaand before I keep blabbing and embarrass my poor husband more than I probably already have, there's my semi short list of the reasons why he's AWESOME and my favorite valentine in the world. Happy early V-day and birthday, schmoozie poo.

another bumpdate

Oh man you guys. The crap really hit the fan this week. Thankfully Christmas break was amazing, and I'm hanging on to it..... the happy memories, the sunshine, the good food the people we love....

But we hardly made it out of Florida before life was like:

 "I'M ABOUT TO WRECK YOU!!!!" 

I will update more later, but I'm so mentally and emotionally exhausted by it all that I'm choosing not to think about it today. It's funny, none of it is school related either... for once in our lives. It's always something though, which I'm learning the hard way! Thankfully we've got our little guy to be happy about, which is why I thought it was time for another pregnancy update!

How far along? 22 weeks. Cruising right along!

Weight gain: I weighed myself a few days before we left Florida, and I had finally gained! About 5 pounds! Obviously Christmas break was good to me ha.

Sleep: Thankfully I'm doing pretty good in this department! I've adjusted to side sleeping, which was seriously my biggest worry. Now I just need to figure out how to make myself wake up in the middle of the night to pee and we're good!

Best moment of the week: While watching White Collar in bed last night, little man was seriously flipping out. Christian was able to put his hand on my belly and feel him move more than he ever has before. It was really awesome. 

Weird pregnancy moment: All the crazy aches and pains. I swear I wake up with a new one every day, and each time I'm like "how is there a muscle there?!"

Also, we had to sprint through the airport earlier this week, and I think I pulled every imaginable muscle in my abdomen, groin (TMI?!), and legs in a matter of 5 minutes. I'm serious, I was in so much pain all week long. Who knew that could wreck you so bad?! This sciatica thing is weird too. Pregnancy does some crazy ish to your body, that's for sure.

Movement: I'm feeling him move all day, every day. I can actually see my belly moving as I type ha. It's really simple, but I'm amazed at the connection I feel to him through his movements. I can't wait to hold his wiggly little body for real!

Cravings: The cravings have abated a bit, but one things that's tasted AMAZING to me this week is vegetables (specifically avocados). I never thought I'd be able to stomach veggies again after the first trimester, but I can't get enough of them right now. I'm not complaining! I'm also loving orange juice/citrus (nothing new), and chocolate milk.

Anything making you queasy? NO!!!! I'm so thrilled about it! The only times I ever start feeling even close to queasy is when I don't eat enough, which happens fairly often, but it's manageable. I'm beyond grateful that the last few weeks have been kind to me, and I'm hoping I've got more to come. I have an unreal amount of energy right now, and my mental and emotional state feels better than ever. It's a HUGE contrast to how the first 4 1/2 months went and I'm SO thankful.

Gender? A sweet little boy! We've got some good names picked out so far, and I can't wait until we actually settle on one (which probably won't happen until the delivery, but you never know!). Also don't bother asking, because we aren't spilling the beans to anyone but our families! Surprises are way more fun!

What I'm looking forward to: Surprisingly, I'm looking forward to getting bigger! I already feel pretty largeandincharge, but I guess I associate getting bigger with getting closer to the due date which I'm obviously thrilled about. I'm also looking forward to working with my wardrobe now that things are fitting differently. It's a bit of a challenge, but I've got a great stash of maternity clothes (THANK YOU MOM!!) which helps a ton, and it's sort of fun "dressing the bump". Basically pregnancy is great right now. I'm feeling thankful and blessed to be out of the nightmare that was the first trimester, and really enjoying things now. Hopefully we are smooth sailing from here!

musica!

Let's talk about Christmas music, because seriously it's all we listen to these days!
(Maybe I'm a freak, but it feels like a crime when we dance to reggaton instead of jingle bells in Zumba, but we don't have to go there.)

Here are some of my favorite Christmas tunes this year:

Pentatonix- Little Drummer Boy

Stop it with the chills right now! So good!

Eric Whitacre- Glow

Eric Whitacre does it again. LOVE this song. 

NSYNC- I Don't Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You

Did you know about this song?! I still love their original Christmas album, but this is just so good. You can take the girls outta the boy band (har har) but you can't take the boy band outta the girl!! Speaking of NSYNC....

NSYNC- Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

I'm as obsessed with this song now as I was 15 years ago 

(ACK can you believe it's been that long?!)

Also, Christian has this thing lately where he walks around the house singing this song, but instead of singing "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas..."

he says "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna...".

I think it's hilarious. And we are idiots.

Michael Buble- All I Want For Christmas

AHHHH. THIS SONG. 

Total theme of my life before Christian and I got engaged two years ago. Thankfully he proposed 2 days before Christmas, so I got my wish and he definitely got his ;)

I hope you are all enjoying the holidays, and especially reveling in the wonderful music!

peace

Did you watch the Christmas Devotional on Sunday?

We actually got to physically be there, and although I'm still unthawing (it was SO COLD!), my heart is still so full of warmth.

I loved Elder Nelson's talk. Everything he had to say really resonated with me because it's something I've been thinking a lot about lately. This semester, Christian and I have frequently discussed our difficulties, and my desire for them to feel a little easier. Not necessarily for them to be taken away, but for us (or mostly me) to have the capacity to bear them a little better, to feel happy and content even when things are HARD. What I didn't realize until last night, which Elder Nelson so beautifully reminded me, is that I've really been seeking peace. And the Savior is absolutely key to that. He can help us feel that peace, whether we are sick or lonely or experiencing loss or anything else in life. He is the Prince of Peace, and the only one who can truly give that to us. I've been longing for more of this in my life, so starting at the beginning of December, Christian and I started doing the most awesome advent calendar, solely for the purpose of seeking Christ more this season.

(find it here) 

Being short on time and money, we aren't doing anything fancy with the calendar. It's just printed and hanging on our fridge. The simplicity of it is awesome though, and although we aren't very far into it, I can already tell it's molding my heart in a way I so desperately need.

 I'm thankful for the reminder that no matter the circumstance we are in, the Savior is the Prince of Peace for EACH OF US. He is in control of our lives, and He can gives us what we need. Even if it's simply just peace. It's up to us to seek Him out and ask for it. 

We may be 10 days into December, but I encourage you to listen to Elder Nelson's talk, and print the calendar and use it for the 15 days until Christmas. If you are looking for a way to invite Christ more into your life this season, this is a wonderful way to do so!

8 times grateful

This year has been a weird one. Compared to the last several, it's felt surprisingly mellow. 

I guess that is just mostly because we haven't moved at all, and I can't even remember the last time I went a whole 12 months without doing that. Anyways, as I've reflected over the year, I realize that along with NOT moving a bunch, I'm really thankful for a lot of things. In the spirit of the season, well.... 

You know what comes next. 

(Incoming cliche and frivolous gratitude list!)

1. I'm thankful for my family. When things get shaken up, as the inevitably do, family is always an anchor. Even if it's just me and Christian and our tiny bun for now! 

2. I'm thankful for the gospel. Now that I have a brother on a mission, it's really put things in perspective and reminded me how much I truly cherish it. It's the only thing that keeps me going sometimes!

3. I'm thankful for this guy. 

He's just way too cute for his own good., and I'm not even going to try to describe how grateful I am for Christian!

4. I'm thankful for good t.v. shows. There's something so awesome about getting lost in someone else's drama for an hour a week (I'm looking at you, Parenthood!). And can we all agree that Bachelor season can't get here fast enough?! I mean really.

5. I'm thankful to be pregnant. This is something I've had to remind myself of every day for the last 4 months. With every dizzy spell, trip to the toilet, episode of heart burn (this is new!), wave of exhaustion, and twinge of pain as my body continues to expand, I'm reminded that I'm CREATING A LIFE. It's truly miraculous, and I know there are a lot of people who don't get to experience this. So I'm trying to enjoy it and be as thankful as possible, barfing included. Plus, pregnancy has done wonders for the girls (moms, you feel me?!) and for my hair, so I can't complain that much ;)

6. I'm thankful for the holidays. They fill me with so much happiness and love for people. This is such a wonderful time of year! Now if it would just snow already, everything would feel right in the world.
(I will probably kick myself for saying that in 3 months but right now I look at snow and I'm like "come at me bro!". Or something like that)

7. I'm thankful for flannel sheets. Although they make our bed a little too warm, they make everything feel so cozy, which is very fitting given the season. Our little apartment feels very much like a cabin, and this time of year just begs for flannel accents. So sheets it is!

8. Finally, as my culminating "thankful", I'm thankful for nail polish. Yes. Nail polish. Nothing makes me feel quite as pulled together as a fresh manicure. And if I can't BE pulled together, I might as well feel it for 5 or 6 days at a time!

***

Seriously though, one thing I love about this season is being thankful for the little things. Whether it's nail polish, or flannel sheets, a tasty dinner, or that stranger who smiled at you at the store. That's what it's about. And with that....

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

holiday hangover, how 'bout you?

I love the 4th of July like any normal person, but sometimes it just feels like a holiday where we are expected to run ourselves ragged, eat too much potato salad, and get stuck in traffic jams. 3 things which I'm normally NOT all about. (Read: that's exactly what we did yesterday and I vow to never do it again!)

I'm not ready to let the party stop however 

(Look at me just a-eatin my words....)

and tonight we are going to a FREE. OUTDOOR. CONCERT. 

Those are 3 of my favorite words, aside from "puppies", "cheesecake" and "fofo", which is the Spanish word for squishy, which I think is hilarious. Also my darling lover will be at said concert with me so.... win win. Maybe we will kiss a little bit. (False. That's not a maybe, that's a definite.) And then I will officially be the happiest camper in the world, despite my post-independence-day-hangover.

(Although I'm thinking Will Smith officially wins the award for "worst-independence-day-hangover-in-the-whole-entire-world-also-universe-also-I'm-Will-Smith-sodon'teventry".)

Anyways, this post is obviously on the fast track to nowhere, so......

Here is a version of the national anthem by one of my most favoritest bands in the history of ever never ever never land. Enjoy. 'Murica.

a valentines birthday mashup

So as the general populace is aware, today is

VALENTINES DAY.

I've never been a hater of the holiday, but having a husband definitely makes the day a WAY better than when I was single!
(For more than one reason, wink!)

Oh this dear sweet man!

His birthday is also coming up on Saturday the 23rd, and instead of doing two mushy gushy posts about why I'm so in love with him, and forever will be, etc etc etc

I decided to combine them into one and spare you the sap fest.

Y'WELCOME.

Over the course of knowing Christian

(almost 5 years! HOW?!)

and especially since getting married to him, he has taught me A LOT.

From him, I've learned to enjoy simple things in life.

Like the pleasure of eating a piece of toast and cookie butter together after a long day.

To suck it up and do hard things, even if you don't want to.

To constantly ask for forgiveness, and seek to be forgiving.

Even when the other person doesn't neccessarily deserve it.

*cough* me *cough*

To LOVE learning. 

That humor can make almost every situation better.

See? 

He (and his many facial expressions) make me laugh so hard it gives me double chins!

That's good humor folks.

To be open to new ideas and activities, even if they don't initially thrill you.

To constantly pursue improvement, in EVERY aspect of life.

The blessings of frugality.

And the value of good, HARD work.

 Ladies and gentlemen, Christian is a champion at every single one of these things, 

and so many more!

 This basically sums up how I feel about you, dearest.
You light up my world, like all those little orbs around our heads ;)

Happy Birthday/Valentines Day/Almost 10 month anniversary!!!!

I love you, sugar plum twinkle toes lover boy!!!!

cranberry relish and a life lesson

So I'm just going to get right to the point and tell you that what I'm about to share is the literal BEST thing you will ever eat at Thanksgiving. 

Also maybe in your entire life.

I give you my mom's most famous and delicious holiday recipe:

CRANBERRY RELISH

• INGREDIENTS
• 2 cups fresh or defrosted frozen cranberries
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 1 large jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 blood oranges, or navel oranges, peeled, sectioned, and cut into 1/4-inch pieces, juices reserved
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 stalks celery, peeled to remove strings, cut in 1/4-inch dice
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, coarsely chopped
• 
  

DIRECTIONS

1. Place cranberries in food processor, and pulse to chop coarsely, about five pulses. Transfer to a medium bowl.
2. Add onion, jalapeno, lime juice, orange sections and juice, ginger, sugar, and celery; mix gently. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days. Just before serving, add mint and toss to combine.

I doubled the recipe, and it fed about 25 people, with leftovers.

(So Christian and I could eat spoonful after spoonful, of course!)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

And now I have some words of wisdom to impart.

Notice how the recipe calls for jalapenos.

Well this girl doesn't work with those bad boys enough to remember not to touch the seeds.

So there I am, ripping them out with my bare fingers, and COUGHING because the peppers were so hot that they were asphyxiating me.

And about 20 minutes later, I'm like:

"MOTHER THERESA! THERE MUST BE LITERAL LAVA COMING OUT MY FINGERTIPS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO DIE!"

Seriously I started crying.

(Christian doesn't know this because he was at the grocery store. So there you go.

The embarassment is out)

So then he gets home and I'm all:

"I NEED A REMEDY IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS BECAUSE SATAN IS NOW LIVING IN MY FINGERS!"

So I tried washing my hands about 20 times.

(Which only made it horrifically worse)

Then I tried rubbing lime juice all over my fingers, which helped for a hot *pun intended* 4 seconds.

Then I tried SOAKING my fingers in the lime juice, which only helped for a slightly longer period.

Then I tried using rubbing alcohol, which failed miserably.

Then I resorted to soaking my fingers in milk, and thankfully it worked some amazing magic.

And THEN, I mixed the lime juice with the milk, which turned it into a bad version of sour cream and it was unbelievably gross because it was sort of sticking to my fingers, but it was nice because then I didn't have to just leave my fingers sitting in a bowl of milk. 

Which is like my worst nightmare because I ABHOR milk.

And so, about 3 hours, 2 tylenol, lots of grumpies, and 1/4 gallon of milk later, the pain was finally subsiding.

And I went to bed with wrinkly milk-soaked fingers that smelled like I had been eating mexican food and ice cream for a week straight.

NOT A GOOD COMBINATION.

Lesson?

Next time, wear gloves.

happy weekend from ours to yours

Thanksgiving always fills my heart to the brim.

I was worried this year would be different, as it was my first one away from my family

(except for my darling husband of course)

but was pleasantly surprised.

This is what our day looked like:

I had a little moment while we were eating dinner that opened my eyes and made me so thankful to just be alive.

There Christian and I were,

surrounded by a throng of people so similar and yet so different from us.

All from different walks of life, 

here together in Washington D.C. for this 3 1/2 month period of time.

Everyone made and brought food to share, 

and with it came so much LOVE!

So much happiness and so much love.

Honestly, it felt just like I was there with my family, and I couldn't have been more grateful to be with the people from the Washington seminar program. 

That's what is so wonderful about this time of year. 

With the spirit of Christ that is so prevalent, I end up feeling a MUCH deeper love and connection with people. Some who are complete strangers, and others I've known for forever. 

And so, I'm making a goal to take the happiness I felt on Thanksgiving and channel it into my daily actions for the next month.

Because everyone deserves to feel that!

*thank you to Matthew Martin for the amazing video!*

thanksgiving, of the blissed out sort

As I've mentioned before, Christian and I met our freshman year at BYU.

Through the years of our friendship, brief dating, all the mission letters, my family was WELL aware who he was before meeting him.

(Let's be real, I've never been one to keep my feelings for someone a secret... especially where my family is concerned!)

Well, when he got home last summer and we started dating FOR REAL, I knew he was going to have to meet my family eventually. 

Queue Thanksgiving. 

the one picture we took ha!

My family was living in Arizona at the time, so our trip was just a 12 hour drive south.

By this point, Christian and I were head over heels for each other and I knew he was going to have

"the talk" with my dad while we were there

*Squeeeeee*

Poor Christian was so nervous! 

And admittedly the first few days at home were ROUGH.

Fitting in with a new family in a high stakes situation certainly isn't easy. 

Thankfully the trip came and went, he had a nice long discussion with my dad, and I learned a few amazing things:

Seeing Christian mesh with my family made me fall even more in love with him than I could have imagined.

(I used to think phrases like that were SO cliche... and they are. But they're cliche for a reason...)

And knowing that he loved me enough to ask my dad if he could marry me was just unbelievable.

Let's just say our drive back to Utah was one filled with lots of hand-holding, cheek smooches and MEGA mushy discussion. Honestly, my heart had NEVER been so full.

Full of love and admiration.

Full of happiness. 

And mostly full of "HOLYCRAPICAN'TBELIEVETHISISHAPPENINGIMGETTINGMARRIEDWEEE"

So basically this time of year holds a special place in my heart. 

A proverbial "beginning of the rest of my life" 

With my one and only darling dearest sweetie sweetest sugar plum toes!

And so, to quote my favorite movie EVER....

Happy Thanksgiving, back!

happy halloween!

Love the one and only Black Eyed Peas.

Har har har.

fall in the district

I figure I should probably document all this beauty before FRANKESTORM comes this weekend and ruins everything with cold weather and rain.
(I swear to you I saw a headline in which they gave that misnomer to hurricane Sandy.)

So when cooler weather started setting in a few weeks ago, I was gushing to a friend here about how much I love fall, and how much I miss being in Provo right now, as all things autumn are befalling that little city.

I mean hello, those glorious mountains?! Kill me!

THEN she went on to say that fall here in DC is way better than in Utah!

My initial reaction to such an audacious statement:, and I quote:

"PSSSSSHHHH"

However, I might have to eat my words a bit.

Because fall here IS beautiful.

It certainly doesn't compare to the majestic beauty of Provo canyon, 

but it lasts WAY longer here than in Utah! 

I mean, more than 2 weeks of legit autumn weather?!

It's awesome!

I mean, it's still pushing 70 degrees here most days, but all of the leaves are still glorious!
(Plus, it DID snow in Utah today so.... we win.)

So let's just say, I could never stop loving fall in Utah.

But fall in DC has not been disappointing in the least.

hooky spooky

Keepin' Halloween real....

.... since 1989.

And since it's only a week away,
H a p p y   H a u n t i n g!
Now get in the spirit and go listen to Thriller or something.

halloween lovin' granola girl

So yesterday I went to the national arboretum....

And the granola girl in me near went insane.

(This is a big deal. Normally she's rather reserved. Something about abhorring sweat and bugs??)

YOU GUYS. 

It was so unbelievably beautiful!

And there was this precious garden that had the most aesthetically pleasing arrangements and colors....

I just had to take a million pictures.

Sorry about the following onslaught, 

but humor me and appreciate this gem of wilderness in the middle of our nation's capitol.

In other news, I am so freaking excited for Halloween I can't even stand it. 

I'm not even going to lie and tell you I haven't been listening to Thriller at least 4 or 5 times a day.

Because I totally have.

Here's the thing about that song. 

It was the first music video I ever saw. 

Fall/Halloween is kind of a big deal at my house, and at the impressionable age of 9, that song has since immortalizes a lot of my halloween-ish memories.

And let's not forget that my birthday is the day after halloween, which is awesome too.

So basically I'm spending the next few weeks getting pumped for the month of October by listening to Thriller because it's about the only Halloween song out there other than Monster Mash.

And who's trying to listen to Monster Mash more than once a year, amiright?

so long, so long

So obviously it's been a long time since our last update. 

All I have to say is oh well. 

This summer has been a doozy, and I'm barely getting by just LIVING life sometimes.... let alone writing about all of it!

Here are some things that have been going on:

- Fun fourth of July. 

Barbeques, beach, family, baseball, and fireworks. Pretty standard!

*Notice how my eyelashes have grown back nicely since the fiasco after the wedding. I'm so proud of my little babies!*

Also a side note.... I ate a hamburger literally everyday that week. 

We take summer very seriously around here.

- My family has officially Florida-fied themselves.
So far, Christian and I have spent several weekends soaking up some good beach time with them. Life has such a wonderful and weird way of working out.
Aka I still can't believe that by some stroke of luck, they ended up moving here, right where my husbands family is from. And also where we ended up being for the summer.
The Lord works in mysterious wonderful ways, let me tell you.

- So remember how we spent a month in New Jersey, and I was jobless and desperate for work?
With lots of interviews and NO results?
 Well last week, a job opportunity just fell into my lap (or email rather) and after days of phone calls,
I HAVE A JOB IN DC THIS FALL. I didn't even have to look! It's been the biggest blessing... And made that tearful and crazy month totally worth it. Plus I will get to ride my bike everyday, right past all the cool monuments. Amazing, amazing, amazing.

- Reminded myself and everyone else how awesome my art skills are by drawing these Crayon gems everyday at work.

One of my kids said to me the other day "Why are teachers always so good at drawing?!"
(also how good I am at taking pictures that end up sideways on the blog?!)

Haha what a jokester.

- Christian and I celebrate our 3 month anniversary next week. That's about as long as we were engaged.
I cannot believe that, seeing as winter semester was excruciating for many reason and seemed to DRAAAAAG on and on.
I guess things are just better and more bearable when you are married to the love of your life.
Go fig.
Also we go on lots of cool dates together to celebrate this wonderful union of ours.
First stop last weekend, World Market. 
In case anyone ever wonders why I love that place, it's because you find cool things like this here.




And that's all she had to say about that.

a veces... it's spanish for "sometimes"

Sometimes when your b-friend's family is coming into town this weekend, you are charged with the duty of putting up a last-minute Christmas tree.

And sometimes you find one for 50% off at Target (!!!!)

And then you buy lots of fun decorations, and spend the remainder of the evening getting your Yuletide on.

 Always a stud muffin.

Sometimes days that start off really "blahhhhhh" end up really "awwwwww".

And sometimes you are really thankful for that.

ding dong, merrily on high

2 things about that song.

First, it always reminds me of Little Women.

How great is that movie? Oh wait, I know. 

IT'S THE BEST. 

Second, things are just ding dong merrily on high today, because Christmas break is here!!!!

*queue standing ovation*

So here's been the business over the last few days.

I had to take 3 tests on the last day of finals last week. 

I KNOW, I KNOW.

Sometimes I question my sanity... or maybe stupidity is a better word.

Regardless, I survived.

And it's probably for the following reason:

I had the Rocky theme song and Eye of the Tiger stuck in my head literally the WHOLE day. 

Imagine how epic my walk out of the testing center was.

 Following a stress-free Friday night, I spent all day Saturday doing cool things, like such as:

*Running. OUTSIDE. I was feeling brave. And by the end, I was also feeling very very cold.

*"Helping" Christian move into his new apartment.

Which is in my complex, BY THE WAY. Big step, people. Big step :)

Also, I say "helping" because all I did was unload a few bags of food. 

The rest of the time, I provide the entertainment and HE provides the muscle, folks.

*Creamery visiting with old roommate Liv.

Have you ever had their sundae of the month?

NO WORDS.

Sunday was blissed-out, filled with LOTS of family time. 

Spent the afternoon in Alpine with Christian's g-parents, followed by a crazy evening in Provo with my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. 

It's so nice to have family in Utah, we both feel very lucky, especially this time of year.

Look how happy we were, enjoying the festivities!

Basically the weekend was nice, 

and I'm a very grateful lady at the moment.

ode to thanksgiving... and other things

Howdy. 

Notice the bloggy change? 

I was getting tired of the fake Spanish name "la vida es"... and it's a good thing Christian didn't know about it, otherwise I would have been chastised for my poor grammar. 

Such is the life of a non-latina and her fluent-in-Spanish boyfriend.

So Thanksgiving break was the ultimate. 

Seriously, best 5 days EVER.

Christian meshed perfectly with the family, and even Maggie loved him. 

Hugely important, obviously.

Among gorging on Thanksgiving food for days, we enjoyed movies, a rousing game of Horse, lots of Bananagrams, a trip to the zoo, decorating for Christmas and wonderful late night talks.

All in all, a break for the books. 

Now we just need to make it through the next three week of torture...

I mean school....

And we will be on to bigger, and better, and more shiny things.

If you get my drift ;)

*SAP ALERT*

We love the zoo. Also aquariums.

But mostly each other. 

Happy last week of November, peeps!

the most wonderful time of the year

Slightly premature, I know.

But I can't help but be filled with ultimate holiday cheer right now. 

The mono monster has almost fully disappeared, 

*Rejoice, body!*

They are "lighting" the Riverwoods tonight,

*Santa AND Jon Schmidt will be there, EEP!*

There are so many wonderful Christmas albums out right now,

*Matt Wertz, Lower Lights, Michael Buble........ be still my heart!*

Thanksgiving is next week,

*Bringing Christian home to meet the family, holy wow!*

And it's the weekend

*This speaks for itself*

Happy Friday.

p.s. look how presh

Grainy, but cute. Real Cute.

hi family. and christmas break. i miss you.

It's 11:30 and I am tired of graphing polynomial functions. 

And I may or may not be missing my bedroom, dog, parents and siblings as well. So here we go. 

Eye candy for the heart

Viva Arizona. I miss you Boo.