the Holidays

Christmas for us was wonderful (& busy) this year! My parents came out from NC for 2 whole weeks during the Christmas break and we had a great time together. They stayed at my sister's house in West Jordan so Justin and I were making daily trips up there to hang out with everyone. We played the wii, decorated gingerbread houses, saw a couple movies, had a great Christmas Eve together and spent the night that night for Christmas day. Justin and I woke up around 6 a.m. and waited a little while before waking everyone else up. There were so many presents under the tree and having so many of our family members there it took quite a while to open all our presents! Justin's got his big gift, a blu-ray player (though he's been using it since Thanksgiving), brown shoes, shirts, emergency preparedness supplies, some movies...and a few other things. Justin got me a beautiful right-hand pearl/diamond ring & a black jacket, I also got some exercise pants, really cute ugg boots, jeans, and some other things. It was a great (& white) Christmas and we were truly blessed with how many blessings we enjoyed over the Holidays.

After Christms, my oldest sister and her family drove out West and we were able to spend New Year's Eve with them in West Jordan. We played games and had food but Justin and I left to come home in time to see the ball drop and sip some sparkling cider in the comforts of our own home. So Happy 2009 everyone! Sorry it's so late!

Since then Justin has started back at the ol' job routine and I have begun my Student Teaching at Draper Elementary in 3rd grade. Commuting there so far has been a pretty hairy situation. On a clear day the drive would take around 30 minutes but because of winter weather and accidents the drive has taken around 1.5 hrs-2 hrs. Ah! My day is much longer now than it usually is. But so far I am loving working with these 3rd graders (though they could pass as 6th graders in my book). I can't wait to be a college grad and teaching full-time!

The snow has been so much fun (though hard to drive in!) and so beautiful. Tuesday night Justin went out to scrape his car off for the next morning and recruited me in the effort. There had to be over a foot of snow on his car! A snowball fight insued then came the desire to make a snowman. I began to make one and Justin decided to help, however after he smashed my perfectly round snowball I strongly encouraged him to make his own snowman while I made mine...haha. Here are the end products!:

Mine:
Justin's:


Last night Justin and I went on a triple date to Salt Lake for dinner at Stone Ground then ice skating downtown. We had so much fun with our friends and chasing each other around the rink. I'm proud to admit that neither of us fell, though I did some pro-skating manuevers while I was in the process of nearly falling. Justin was impressed ;-)

Anyway, that's whats been going on in our lives lately! Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas break!