Was it you?

I just wanted to say thanks to the annonymous individual who left a late Christmas gift at our door last night.

I was too frightened to open the unidentifiable package on my own, so it wasn't until Jake got home later that night and I made him open it, that we learned that the top of the box said

 "Merry Christmas. Fragile, do not shake" ha ha ha!

As we slowly and carefully opened up the newspaper filled box,

we were surprised to find THIS:

A pair of goldfish!

Now the question is.... WAS IT YOU??!

Farewell 2011

As I look back over this year, I think of 2011 as a year of growth.
Not just in the waistline, either!

We had trials sent our way that made us stronger as a couple,
 as well as individuals.

But it wasn't all trials--2011 gave us so many fun memories to cherish, too!

Here's a recap of the year's events:

In January, we were called to the nursery and thoroughly enjoyed our time there!

In the month of February, once the "sorry we're late" wedding gifts stopped coming in, and we really felt the meaning of "poor newleyweds," we entertained ourselves by staying in and watching shows together on Hulu.
(Okay...not much has changed... ha ha)



Here is a picture of the hole in the wall we used to call home:

Notice the cardboard-box-TV-stand and make-shift couch. Priceless!

March and April were filled with friends and family

and gratitude to finally have finished up the year of school.

May through August were some of the best months of our marriage so far. Because we got married in August and started school only 2 days after we got home from our honeymoon, we really never got a chance to just enjoy being married without the stress and strain of working and going to school full-time. The summer was just what we needed to settle in to our lives and really enjoy all the good things that life has to offer.

We ran a few 5ks,

*Photo courtesy of SL Tribune

spent some time vacationing out of state,

and moved to our current location,

 which couldn't have been a bigger blessing in our lives!

In September, Jake started his new job at Convergys, which he still loves, despite the late-night shifts.

In October, we enjoyed Halloween parties with family and friends

and November and December

brought trials and blessings which have helped us to grow...

one of which involved our new callings--

Jake as ward mission leader and me as a ward missionary.

 Let's just say I'm being pushed out of my comfort zone!

I love looking at a year of accomplishments

and I can't wait to see what 2012 brings.

Ready or not, here we come!

The name's Roll. Cinnamon Roll.

Since this holiday season began, I've had an undying itch to try my hand at making cinnamon rolls.

But....I have been TERRIFIED!

For some reason, I've gotten it into my head that bread is 'intimidating.'
Which it is. (See? I'm still convinced...)

I made dinner rolls for the first time a few weeks ago and I was dumb-struck that they even turned out looking identifiable, so you can imagine how I felt about undertaking the daunting task of baking not just a roll, but a  CINNAMON roll!

Well today was the day that I decided to take on the challenge, and it turned out to be quite the adventure!

I had my trusty side-kick, aka: the husband helping me, and for the record, I would never have gotten everything done if it wasn't for him!
We made 40 cinnamon rolls and 40 sugar cookies. (Crazy. I know.)

It was so much fun getting to spend the entire day doing three of my favorite things: baking and hangin' with my best friend, while listening to Christmas tunes. Yay!

While I mixed,

and rolled,

 and cut,

and raised,

and baked,

the dough for the rolls,

Jake rolled out

 and shaped,

and baked,

 and frosted,

ALL of the cookies. What a gem!

We had such a blast making all of the Christmas treats. And, I can proudly admit that I am no longer intimidated by cinnamon rolls. 
(Okay, maybe just a little...). 

Oh well. 
Intimidating or not, they sure are DELICIOUS!

Click here for the original PW recipe!

a mustache series

I love my in-laws for a handful of reasons. 

These next few pics will give you a glimpse as to why:

 

 

On being adopted... and other things like that

Today is adoption day.

But not just any adoption day.

My adoption day.

Let me tell you a story.

It goes a little something like this...

On the twelfth day of December, six days after I was born,

 my parents received an early Christmas gift.

It came in the form of a little angel

(toot toot...that's the sound of me tooting my own horn...)

 bundled in a stocking.

And I was a pret-ty cute gift if I do say so myself! (toot. toot.)

I can't even imagine how excited my parents must have felt after a few long years of not ever knowing when their baby days would come.

Now here is another story.

And this one is truly dear to my heart.

My Grandma, the sweetheart that she is

(She's on the right...the guy on the left is an entirely different story...)

plays a special role in my life.

You see...not only is she the mother of my mama, the grandmother of me,

and many other wonderful things,

she was one of the nurses in the hospital room on December 6,

the day I was born.

Yeah.

She was there on the day I was born.

And....though she didn't know yet that I was me, she knew I was something special and had a little feeling in her heart.

I'm so grateful for my grandma and her constant trust in the Lord.

Her prayers were a guiding force in the life of my parents and myself.

Aren't grandma's just the best?



A birthday of sorts

Okay, I know that it's sort of wrong to be so excited about your own birthday, but I am here to confess the one thing that I know all the rest of you out there are thinking...

(except maybe a few select people...but I won't name you. You're welcome.)

...I love birthdays!

What other day can you feel totally and completely okay with people showering you in gifts and compliments?

I mean really.

If you haven't admitted this to yourself already

(you can save admitting it to the open public for strange people like me),

just do it now. It will be therapeutic.

Now. Although I would love to be telling you that I got this adorable, must-have outfit for my birthday
(hey honey...here's one of those secret hints I was telling you about...)

(Pinterest has turned me into an eternal coveting queen!!)

...I am here to tell you that I got something EVEN better!

First, the husband surprised me by getting the night off of work.

That in and of itself was worth a birthday gift for every year of our marriage here on out!

(Okay. maybe not every year...)

Then, not only did he get the night off, he took me out to a fancy dinner.

Yes.

And then. As if all of this wasn't enough, 

he totally and completely spoiled me with gifts.

The best of which was this one...

A 3-hour SUSHI MAKING CLASS!

Could he have gotten any more thoughtful??

One of our favorite things to do when we're really feeling spendy and up for a great time is go out to sushi,

but let's be honest here...when you're on a budget, what's better than spending $50 at dinner?

 Making it at home for half the price!

Congratulations to my hubby, for winning best gift of the year!

Though my mother-in-law came in at a close second 
with this lovely book of joy...

And just for kicks, I want to share with you a picture of one of my new favorite individuals in this world...

Meet Pip.

I love her! She's just SO cute!!

(And by she, I do not mean the second chin underneath my first. I was just leaving that in there for a visual as to how much this pup loves snuggling!)

An Aggie Christmas

Dear fellow blogees,

The husband has decided to enter a contest. 

The objective is to create a Christmas card, and recieve the most votes. 

The 1st place winner receives 500 big ones!

If you would be so kind as to go to the website and vote,

we would love you forever!

 And just for your info, you can vote once every 24 hour period.

Please vote as many times as possible!

We may or may not take you out to dinner the next time we see you

to compensate for your time... ;)

To vote, click here.

THANK YOU!!

And just for a little sneak peak at what you're voting for,

 here's the card:

Clever, eh?

Thanks for your vote.

Have a happy December 5!

Hello, Christmas. Nice to have you back!

My favorite part about Christmas, you ask?

You're lookin' at it!