The holidays are coming!

Its been a while since I've updated so I'm going to try to compile a bunch into one.
First off you all know me, and you all know my mom. You know that I'm a little premature on the holiday cheer thing-- always. Can't help it, don't want to help it, won't help it. Thanks [:
So we put up our tree!!
We leave December 19th so we wanted it to be up for a full month since its our first holiday together. Trust me I'm a planner. I already know all the things we must do together and when for our full holiday experience as a married couple. Haha. [: my husband is so patient.

Garth set it all up for me

 And then like a man he put on the lights.

 Then he put on our star! But when we plugged it in... it didn't work haha

And a week later we fixed our star!

I love our first tree. Makes me pretty happy.
Then that night we had kyle and bailee over to watch Elf because Kyle has never seen it.
In the middle of Elf we got a text saying "Emergency C section happening now." From Anna.
We were all a little surprised because we hadn't heard anything about labor.
But then we received pictures of Paris and we loved her instantly.

She's the cutest thing you ever saw right? Wanna know why?
Because she looks like MEEEE [; haha
But seriously. Check me out on the left her on the right.

We love our Christmas quilt. Do you guys recognize it?

Its our guest book from our wedding. 

It adds to our ever decorated house.

 "Snow Place Like Home."

 My chalkboard.

Anyways. I love the holidays. AND the snow.
Garth and I are making our own feast this year. SO EXCITED. Then we are heading down to Logan to see the family and go black Friday shopping.
YIPPEE.
Happy holidays everyone!

No School Today

      

Today my classes were cancelled...again. They were cancelled last Thursday too. Gotta love it! 

This morning I slept in until 9 o'clock! I know..super lazy. But the night before I only got three hours of sleep, and that's actually happened twice this week so I was sleepy. I was hoping that I would open my eyes to a snow covered Rexburg... but no such luck.

This is what I woke up to last Thursday: 

But thats okay! Last Thursday I made the most of the snow and Garth and I went and took our Christmas card pictures. (early I KNOW) But I didn't want to have to wait for another good snow and it possibly be too late! I snapped this picture while we were out:

Beautiful right? The world is so much prettier when its painted white! I love it. While I was walking around in the snow I made Garth promise he'd never make me live somewhere it doesn't snow. He agreed. Snow makes me way too happy.


Anyways, back to the present.
Yesterday was halloween and I was a little sad to take down my cute decorations today. I felt so conflicted! I was trying to fill their spots with just some wintery things that aren't christmasy. But I found myself wishing I could just do Christmas decorating so it would be done and just how I want it! I will withstand for two weeks. (I want it to be up for a month before we leave town.. we leave for Colorado the 18th). People can judge all they want. I've always been this way [:
I wish Halloween was a little more exciting for me. I don't get all excited to dress up and do scary or silly things. I just wanted to make ghost shaped pancakes in the morning and a jack o lantern cake for the ward party. The ward party was lots of fun... I love our ward so much.

Here's my cake... It was a pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting but I forgot to take a picture before everyone started eating..   
I imagine Halloween is more exciting when you have children who care and like it. At least I hope so.

Today I flipped the whole house. I rearranged the living room and completely shifted the way it was set up. It opened the room up and looks really nice I think. It also left space for the spot I want the Christmas tree. I'm big into planning ahead.

I did a small craft today because I felt like it. The first thing I did was make a sweater tree. I saw them at target and they were spendy. So I took an old sweater and cut it into two triangles, cut out a circle bottom and sewed it all together. Then I took a 1$ thrift store pillow and used the stuffing to stuff the tree. It was cute and simple. Then I made two red trees to go in the other room. I just glued cardstock to make a cheap version of the cones that you can buy at craft stores for too much money. Then I covered it in scrap fabric I have from a pillow I made. I then painted a design on it.. and they're a little silly but I like them [: They were also free so I just can't beat that. Don't worry they're in the closet... my house isn't christmasy YET.

This weekend is going to be a STAY at home weekend. We have soooo much to do. We both have exams next week and big assignments to get completed this weekend. Next week is going to be one of those crock pot quick dinner weeks and we need this Saturday to prepare for it. 

It took me all day to rearrange the house and deep clean so Garth was a gem and made me dinner when he got home. YAY. We had tacos and some cake for dessert. LOVE him.Then we started reading the book that we want to read together. We have several we want to finish by Christmas.

But overall its been a good week. We had people over Monday night for FHE and to watch the 49ers game. It was fun, but of course we got no sleep. Then Tuesday night Garth had a basketball game at 10:15pm so again we got no sleep. (We wake at 3:15am for those of you who are confused). Then last night we had the ward party and our neighbors came over after for a little while. We love where we live and we love our ward. We've got great friends here and are excited for the good times ahead!!
LOVE married life. Its the way to go.


Oh ps Bath and Body works has some new scents and sales.

These were on sale for half off for buying 4. (Which is cheaper than buying 1 scent and a plugin and the plugin counts as one of the 4). Super great. And then they give you tons of coupons at the register. So naturally I am using a coupon to go back when they have their 2 for $20 on their $20 candles! Gotta get my Christmas scents. (I also had a gift card from my husband.. so they were free for me..).

My Mother

 Today the snow reminded me of the holidays, which always makes me miss my momma.
One of the main reasons is that she always makes the holidays so special. Anybody who knows her knows that she's the best decorator around. Her house is always looking good, and its always got that super "homey" feel that you can't just create. She made our house somewhere I loved to be and I miss it right now.
My mom is the funniest woman. My friends always loved her because of her sarcastic wit. She could instantly cheer you up because she always had a perfect sarcastic comment to make to the person who was rude to you. She would defend her kids to the death. I can't think of one time I needed her that she wasn't there for me. Whether it was a teacher who messed up my grade, or a girl at school who slashed my tires, my mom had my back. She had no problem marching into the school to make a scene if thats what her kid needed. She always made sure we were choiced into the best schools and that we were staying on top of our school work.
Parent teacher conferences with her she had no fear. If you were doing well she told you. If you had missing assignments she asked you why right then and there in front of the teacher.
I watched her "Kindly" inform my teacher exactly what she thought of her when she treated me unfairly. (She kicked me off all the DECA projects after I broke up with her assistant)
I've always known she'd have my back, so long as I was doing what was right. If I was doing something wrong or something she disagreed with she was quick to set me straight, and for that I'm grateful. She had no fear. She was there to be my mom, and because of that we've become best friends.
My mom is one of the least judgmental women you will ever meet. I know I brought home some friends that she could have easily judged. Instead, my mom showered everyone with kindness. Many of my friends still talk about how much they love the moments where my mom would come down in the basement and just talk with us. Everyone loved her, and all of the nonmembers were surprised to find a "mormon mom" who treated them so nicely.
I believe that it was partly her doing that so many of my friends were able to take the discussions at our house. They felt welcomed and accepted by my mother.
Besides all those great things my mom DOES for me, we just had some good times!
There were many long drives late at night to go get Sonic.
During the cold months her, kelsey, and I would go get starbucks and drive around looking at the lights. We would laugh and compete at guessing who the artist was on the Christmas station, and we're all reallllly good at it. (we listen to it a lot)
My mom would take us out of school sometimes to go shopping and spend the day with her. (Only if we had good grades and no missing assignments). These were the best days. Her kids are her best friends, and she definitely was good at making us feel that way.

I distinctly remember a day (i think in october) we drove to estes park. Kelsey and I had Christmas music playing because we so badly wanted the holidays. We wanted snow too. So my mom drove in the mountains until we hit snow. We got out and built a snowman and had a snowball fight before we drove back home. Its one of my favorite memories. Its something probably no other mom could say she's done for her kids, and no other kid could say there mom drove til she hit snow for them! Kelsey my Mom and I spent a lot of days like that. Shopping at little craft stores and old christmas shops. I miss those times, but I look forward to more this December.
I've watched my mom stress and worry and work to make Christmas the best for us every year. She always wants the perfect gifts and wants to see her children happy. I know it has gotten harder as we have all grown, but I have the fondest memories of Christmas. I mostly just remember things I got from "santa" and our traditions. I know where we all sit, I know how we open gifts, I know what my mom will give me on Christmas Eve, and I know our house will have three beautiful trees.
She's an extremely giving person. I've watched her give and give and give and lots of times get nothing back. I've seen her fulfill callings in church, volunteer at all of our schools, take care of the rental properties, keep an extremely clean beautiful house, and always look good herself. She's one of those women who always makes sure the house is nice and she looks good before her husband comes home. She bends over backwards for everyone, and for that I admire her. 

Point is she's awesome, and I miss her. Everyone always makes fun of me because I want to move back to Colorado more than anything. Most of the reason is to be closer to my mom. Miss her a lot, and I want to be able to repay her for all that she's done for me.