2012 Recap

2012 was a pretty stable year for us - probably the most stable one since we've been married. We didn't move, Kyle was in school the whole time, and I had the same job (well, with some changes) the whole year. And it's been nice. But that's not to say it wasn't busy! Here's a quick recap, which may or may not include some pictures.

January: 
I started at Seasons of Hope.
I also started my calling as the YW secretary.

February: 
Celebrated our 4th Valentine's Day together

March: 
Kyle turned 26!
Spent a weekend with all the Hanson's for Claire's blessing

April: 
Threw BFF Dani a bridal shower
YW Taco Bar
BFF Dani got married

May: 
Celebrated our 2 year anniversary
Britt got her first car a cute Suzuki hatchback

June: 
Baby sister turned 9!

July: 
Girl's Camp
Yellowstone

August: 
I turned 23!
Kyle did a triathlon!
Spent a week in California with the Hanson family

September: 
Spent a weekend in Hailey, ID

I ran a 5k!

October: 
BFF Lexi got married

Dad came to town

November: 
Thanksgiving

December: 
BFF Sarah got married

Celebrated our 4th Christmas together

*****
Yes, 2012 was a good year, but hello 2013! This is going to be our year! It will be a year of change for us, and we are so excited! Here are somethings we are looking forward to in 2013.
-Kyle graduating with his Masters Degree
-Kyle interviewing and (hopefully) getting accepted into a PhD program
-Possibly moving (?)

Like I said! We're looking forward to some changes this year!

Also

The Friday before Christmas we had a work retreat.

All the clinicians and office staff from all 7 of our offices got together for a day of workshops and good food and good company. It was a lot of fun to finally meet some of the employees from the other offices and spend time together. It was also great to get some time with the CEO and owner of the company. Work can be busy, and it's nice to have the contact with him and re-catch the vision of why we do what we do.

And also, during the retreat, they gave out awards. 

And this happened.

I was surprised and very happy and grateful.
After all my hard work this year, it was nice to be appreciated. 

Christmas 2012

Another Christmas, come and gone.

Can you believe it's the 5th Christmas K and I have known each other, the 4th we've been together, and the 3rd since we've been married? Time sure flies!

We had a great, albeit short, Christmas vacation.

We drove down Friday night to Nate and Mel's. 

Saturday was spent doing some last minute shopping, and having our Hanson family Christmas dinner and sibling gift exchange. 

Sunday we went to church together, and then K and I drove to my mom's. (And we also visited Ish on our way down!)

Monday was spent watching Christmas movies and relaxing. We had Christmas dinner as well.

Tuesday (Christmas!) we spent opening presents, and then Kyle and I drove back to Nate and Mel's for a few hours to open gifts there, and eat dinner. We got back to Poky around 8 pm, I think.

We both got some clothes, some new shoes, and movies and treats. Kyle also got me a new dock for my iPod, so we can listen to music around the house. 

We had a great Christmas and are so lucky and blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful family and friends. 

We were so spoiled this year, and we are so grateful to everyone.

But especially our Savior, Jesus Christ.

He is the reason for the season, and the One who gives us all we have.

And now, some pictures from our Christmas!

Look of pure joy opening up her crayon maker.

Present from my dad.

Christmas morning. So hot right now.

My momma's pretty tree.

Sisters :)

So much love!

Liam got Angry Birds Star Wars Jenga and he loves it! He's showing it to his guinea pig Snickers, who is enjoying her new ball.

 Baby Claire enjoying Avery's new play tent.

Avery and I had a picnic with her new set.

Whitney loves reading with Uncle Kyle.

Avery still had a mouth full of dinner, haha.

Such a cutie.

Merry Christmas from us!

I Just Wanted to Say....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Some More Deets and Pix

^ I'm really good at abbreviations.

Here's a quick outline of my weekend in Utah.

Friday: got off work early, drove to Utah, joined Mel at her RS Christmas Party

Saturday: Got up early and drove to Kaitlin's house where I met 7 of my closest internet friends in real life. You all know about my MG's. These are my second group of MG's and I love them. We did a white elephant gift exchange and it was hilarious.

Top: Kaitlin, Katie, Kristin, Lara, Melissa
Bottom: Me, Michelle, Heather

Kaitlin in her sweater - I got her gift in the white elephant exchange -  a matching sweater! Loved it.

Then I went and visited my good friend's Matt and Milanne and their baby Ayla!

Then I went to Claire's 1st Birthday Party at the Aquarium!

Me holding Claire and watching the penguins!

Holding Claire and watching the rays and the fish.

Then I went to the MG Christmas Party at Lindsay's apartment. We had a favorite things gift exchange, which was the best idea ever, and just chatted before leaving to drive home in scary snow.

Top: Leanna, Adrianne, Annika, Danielle
Bottom: Me, Steph, Natali and Lindsay

Sunday was church time and nap time and dinner with the family time.

Monday was Sarah's wedding (which I already posted pictures from) and then I went to lunch with Mel and Jess (and Avery and Claire and neighbor girl Lily) at Olive Garden. And then I drove home.

I have the best family and friends ever.

DECEMBER

Is anyone else shocked that it's practically half way through December already?? Where does the time go? I for one am excited about Christmas in a few weeks.

And before I go on and tell you about my weekend, here are a few pictures you've been missing.

K and I. Yes, that is the result of me doing my hair and Kyle shaving at the end of no-shave November.

Our pretty Christmas tree!

My snowmen craft! Love them!

 And now, let me show you pictures of my weekend down in Utah. I went down for lovely Sarah's wedding. Oh how I love that girl. And Tyler. He's pretty great too :) I spent a lot of time with friends and family and loved every second of it! (Except for maybe that scary hour long drive from downtown SLC to West Jordan in a snowstorm at 11 pm. But you know. Other than that....) 

Me and the Avery!

Claire turned 1!

Enjoying her cake :)

That smile! So mischievous. 

Claire loves her cousin Liam.

Playtime!

Can't get enough of this cutie.

Claire and her adorable smile. Love this little one.

The color turned out weird in this one, but I love it anyway.

Sarah and Tyler got married :)

It was snowing and cold but you can't even tell. Sarah was a champ and looked beautiful!

Me and Niccole and Stefanie - love these two!

Me and my BFF the bride!

And again.

It was cold!

I couldn't leave without taking a picture of the Temple in the snow!

 A funny thing to note. After the ceremony, the sealer handed the marriage certificate to Sarah and said, "here's the deed to your property". I started cracking up, it was so funny! 

 Stay tuned for some more details and pictures from my weekend in Utah!

Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving! One of my favorite holidays. The family, the food, the atmosphere. It's all pretty fantastic. I was able to have both Thursday and Friday off, and we had a great weekend down in Utah.

Fun things included lounging around my mom's, eating a wonderful and delicious Thanksgiving meal prepared by my momma, Black Friday shopping (the clothes! the CD's! the movies!) with Ayisha, eating Chick Fil A, visiting Grandma Hanson in Price, checking out the new Gap Outlet in Lehi, hanging out with Nate, Mel and their kiddos and Alan and Jess and Claire, eating In N Out, and just relaxing and being together.

We didn't take any pictures.

But we had a great weekend.

Happy (belated) Thanskgiving, everyone.

I am thankful for my life, the Gospel, my family, and my amazing Kyle.

I am so blessed, and God is good.

My life is great.

The Monthly Update

(where monthly really means whenever-I-decide-I-want-to-update)

We are busy.
I know everyone is busy.
But we are busy.


Kyle: A over half way through the semester. He is enjoying his classes, mostly, but it's definitely not his favorite semester class wise. He is still interning at one site two days a week for about 5-6 hours each day, is doing one hour of intern at SOH, is working 10 hours a week at SOH, is busy planning activities for CSI, is busy in his calling as a counselor in the Elder's Quorom, and is always being awesome. He generally leaves the house around 8 or 9, and gets back between 6:30 and 9, depending on the day. He is the hardest worker ever. He is currently looking into different schools' PhD programs.... And other options..... So we'll let you know how that goes.

Me: I got a promotion/change in my job last week - and it came into effect on two Mondays ago. They decided to merge the front office and the billing office, and I am now the manager of the new combined department. My desk has moved over to the front desk area, and one of my billing employees was promoted to be my assistant manager, and she moved into my office in the billing department. She is going to keep the billing portion afloat while I take hold of the front office and learn all the policies up there. This week went by pretty fast, and I think things went pretty well. I am enjoying it. The majority of my work experience has been in front office and customer service type settings, so this is not too new to me. Other than that, I am still loving my calling of being in YW. And of course there is always the never ending list of things to clean in my house.

********

I typed that up last week. And never posted it. I feel like there is more I should blog about, but I can't think of anything. I worked 50 hours this week. That was.... ok. Although I came home on Friday with a sore neck/shoulder, and it's gotten worse :(

But what else have we been up to outside of the above mentioned things? I guess I can update what we did for Halloween. Neither K nor I are big lovers of Halloween. Two Friday's ago was the Counseling Department's Halloween party, which we went to, and was a lot of fun. We love our friends there. Kyle made his famous sugar cookies, and I helped chase around our friend Kasi's little boy, Enzo, who we just love. On actually Halloween we went and grabbed Costa Vida, then watched the Jazz season opener on TV (basketball season already, what?!).
Yesterday I went to Super Saturday, which was a bunch of fun. We had two women in the ward talk about the spirit of Christmas, family traditions, and we learned how to make chocolates. We had a delicious lunch of meatball marinara subs, with some salads and desserts. Then it was craft time. I didn't finish all my crafts (a menu board, three varying sizes of wooden snowmen blocks, coasters) but I will post pictures later when I do finish them. I love our ward so much, and the friends I/we have made there.

And with that little update.... That is the end. I'm so sorry for the boring state of my blog.

Craters of the Moon

When Kyle and I drove back from our weekend in Hailey/Sun Valley, we stopped by Craters of the Moon Monument. I haven't posted the pictures yet, so here they are!