Too fast!

I can't believe that Christmas is already over!

I can honestly say that I am really sad...

Usually I feel like the timing was enough and get excited for a new year, but I wasn't ready for the Christmas season to be over.

BUT, I don't have a choice but to move on...haha.

For Christmas I told Jeff I wanted a thoughtful, planned out date night and that's exactly what I got (and so much more.) He planned a really sweet "walk down memory lane" date night revisiting some of our favorite dates in our history. I love this sweet husband of mine and I love our love story.

How did I get so lucky?

 Date night selfie!

After our date night we headed home where I heard an excited knock on the door to find my Aunt jumping around saying, "We're going to Justin Bieber, we're going to Justin Bieber..." 

YAYAYAYAYAY!!! Her Hot Mess Fitness group all pitched in and bought her two Justin Bieber concert tickets as a thank you gift for another great session of Hot Mess! And my nice Aunt decided to take me with her, YAYAYAYAYAY! I love the special relationship we share, she is my aunt, sister, best friend, coach, boss, neighbor, visiting teaching companion, dance teacher, example, and role model. How many other people can say that about their Aunt??? 

I am seriously so blessed and often catch myself asking, "How did I get so lucky? Like seriously, I feel like I'm living a dream with so many amazing people and opportunities."

Anyway, we are going to JUSTIN BIEBER on March 25th in Vegas!!!

 Last Wednesday we woke up to the most fog I've seen in a while, and it lasted for a good part of the day. Fog of course means pictures. Thanks Syd for being my fog model hahaha. I'm so proud of her and the good girl that she is! I'm constantly impressed with how she handles hard times in high school and friendships and how she never waivers in what she knows is right. I love you Syd!

 Christmas Eve we went to Jeff's family annual Christmas Eve party and it was great. This year they did it a little differently, they decided to have a bonfire up on Dixie rock!

 We roasted hot dogs, had smores, looked at the full moon, talked, and listened to beautiful music from my love.

 I captured this photo through the telescope with my camera! It's fun to think about how amazing God's creations are, looking at this moon I can't help but think about space and time and the moon's history. (Look at all those cool spots.)

 After the party we headed to my parent's house for our Christmas Eve traditions. To start it all off we all hung out in the hot tub! It was so nice and relaxing!

 Then we did Christmas pajamas! My mom did something new for pajamas this year, she got us nighty shirt/dresses and I LOVE IT!

 After pajamas we sat and talked, read the Christmas story, then sang along with Jeff to some Christmas songs!

 Then we woke up EARLY and opened presents! These were stocking stuffers for the guys!

My thoughtful parents got me gardening gear so I can work in style with all the tools I need!

 Then we rand over to the Hauck's to do Christmas with them and talk with sweet Amy!

 Amy was so cute and it was just really great to see her adorable face!

 Emmeline Elsa got the green Elsa dress from the short birthday clip and was SO excited, if you couldn't tell haha.

She kept calling me her Anna and I was completely fine with that. "Come on my Anna..." she is the cutest.

 Then we ran over to my parent's house to talk to Trevor!!! It was so good to see his cute face, he was even more hilarious than I remember hahaha.

I couldn't get over how cute he is, it was so good to hear his voice and see his cute face! 

I love skype days with our sweet missionaries!!!

 After skyping we headed to our family Christmas day party where we ate lots of good food! We were missing Grandma, Aunty Irene's family, Uncle Adam's family, and Aunty Tia's family.

 It was freezing cold and the clouds were heavy with snow. Although it melted before it even hit the ground, it was still beautiful!

 My uncles and cousins got these cool hover board, segway thingys and we all took turns learning to ride it. However, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE MY MOM RIDING IT!!! So, of course I had to take a picture. She was actually riding it without holding on to them for a while too. Impressive!

 Then we had some fun with the camera and the sunset. This one is a work of art titled, "Down Wind Delight" hahaha. We were laughing forever about this picture hahaha.

Then I took a turn and we jumped around!

We celebrated this wonderful lady's 50th birthday Sunday and it was a special evening. Jeff had the idea of putting together a video for his mom and so he gathered all the videos from other people then I helped him put it together and I think she loved it!

She is a wonderful lady that has truly blessed so many lives and I am grateful for her and the great example she is to me. I'm especially grateful she raised such a wonderful son that treats me like a queen!

I love you Mom!

It was a wonderful Christmas season and it went way too fast! I guess that's why I don't want it to end. However, I am looking to the future and excited for what 2016 will bring!!!!

Make it the best one yet!

I can't even believe that it's Christmas week already!!!

Here's what's been going on around here, plus some things I've forgotten over the last couple weeks.

 We set up a tripod and took some family pictures to capture the stage of life we are in!

 Don't worry, we didn't forget our Trevor!!! BUT, he didn't get the outfit memo!

 I love this man, he is so handsome and sweet and funny and crazy and energetic and amazing and thoughtful, the list goes on and on!

 These were the adorable ornaments my mom got us this year, I love our ornament tradition! My favorite part is looking at the tree and reminiscing on all the fun memories made throughout the years.  The guitar was for Jeff (obviously) and the chandelier was for me (my decorating and artsy obsession.)

 Then Cec and I had this ornament made for my mom because she is a true, die hard, amazing "Missionary Mom" and I wanted her to remember this stage of life! 

She had one made of Trevor last year so I had the same lady make one of her to match!

 Last Monday night was a night of banquets, Jeff's football banquet (pictured above).

 And Kalamity and Kaos's end of year banquet! This year I got the 200% award (that's two years in a row) and I feel so honored to have gotten that award. I love Kalamity and Kaos and I truly believe in everything they do and stand for!

 Here's my fam bam!

 I found this picture in my phone from our Saturday practice before the show and I had to share this gem. I am so blessed to be able to have a close friendship and relationship with my two Aunts and to be able to learn and dance along side them. They are amazing women and I love their vibrant examples!

 This last week I went and made Christmas goody plates with my mom! I love being able to hang out with her on a weekly basis and just chill and talk like friends. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful mom that is always wanting to do stuff with me!

 Sunday night Cec asked if she could try a hairstyle on me and I eagerly obliged! Here are some fingerwave curls with a fancy S swirl detail. She is amazing at what she does and I am so proud of her. If you want to stay tuned into all the fancy stuff she is doing with hair follow her on Instagram @hairschoolwithcec

My grandparents asked my mom, Cec, and I to buy presents for some of their close friends that just suffered a tragedy and to drop them off Christmas Eve. I had TOO MUCH fun shopping for them (I almost bought myself a doll because they were so cute hahaha) and then my mom helped me wrap them all up. I'm excited to play "ding dong ditch" Christmas Eve and sneak to see their reaction. 

I hope everyone is ready for Christmas but most importantly, I hope we all remember the reason for the season! I'm so proud of my little brother and he has helped me to remember the reason for the season all month long. We got this picture from him, some members gave them this mini pink Christmas tree and the treats, he bought the Santa face and hung it on their cupboards, and then him and his companion each hung on of their socks as stockings (hahaha). How cute is he??? 

We sent him a package earlier this month and the mission home accidentally sent it to the other Elder T. Horlacher in the mission, so he still hasn't gotten it. We are bummed, but extremely grateful they have some kind of Christmas in their apartment.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Make it the best one yet!

I can breathe...

Well I can finally breathe and it feels GREAT!!!

These last couples weeks have been the most stressful for me in a long time. 

Planning and being in charge of my ward's Evening of Excellence, 4:00 am practicing getting ready for the show, all the prep work that goes with putting together the benefit concerts, final projects and papers, and now I'm finally to finals! 

Like I said, I CAN BREATHE!

 So I got this calling around August and so I didn't know that I was in charge of Evening of Excellence until beginning of November. 

So I got on Pinterest and found this cute theme and ideas (thank goodness for Pinterest.)

 Also, thank goodness for Cecilee's cute wedding decorations.

This is just for my record...but here is the program for the evening!

SEEK THE SWEET NIGHT OF EXCELLENCE

Conducting - Torey Schweitzer

Opening Hymn- “Sweet Hour Of Prayer”

Chorister- Addie Morgan

Pianist- Dantzel Miner

Opening Prayer- Allena Kelleher

Young Women Theme- Izzy Hymas, Cassie Osness & Ally 

2015 Year Theme- Ashley Frost & Trinity Bawden

Opening remarks - “Live It By Seeking The Sweet”- Cambria Hauck

“Importance of Personal Progress” - Tia Stokes

"The Sweetness of Faith” - April Frost

"The Sweetness of Divine Nature” - Camille Miner

"The Sweetness of Individual Worth” - Mariam McDonald

"The Sweetness of Knowledge” - Joslyn Bundy

Musical Number - “LIVE IT” All young women

"The Sweetness of Choice and Accountability” - Dantzel Miner

"The Sweetness of Good Works” - Baylen Johnson

"The Sweetness of “Integrity" - Emily Lemke

"The Sweetness of “Virtue" - Carli Paul

Testimony of Personal Progress - Pamela Jensen

2015 Young Women Recognition Award Recipients - Carli Paul, Dantzel Miner, Joslyn Bundy & Pamela Jensen

Closing Remarks - President Deja Schweitzer

Closing Hymn - “Nearer my God to Thee”

Chorister - Katelyn Larsen

Pianist- Dantzel Miner

Closing Prayer- Kaylene Spears

Seek yourself some sweets and enjoy the sweet young women’s displays!

 Right before the evening was supposed to start it felt like everything was falling apart. Our pianist was no longer coming and she was playing the piano for the musical number and both opening and closing hymns, she was also receiving an award so she was speaking for that, and it just felt like nothing was going smooth. However, the Lord saw all the hard work that was put into the evening by so many and he blessed us tremendously.

After the program that turned out perfectly, everyone went and seeked the sweets.

You can't have a bunch of sweets without milk!

 On Monday, December 7th we were able to take part in the live Nativity at Tuacahn again. We were supposed to be Mary and Joseph again this year, but Jeff didn't get off in time and so we ended up being townspeople. It was a fun night spent with family and friends; it was a treat to have my whole family (minus Trev) and Jeff's parent's there as well.

So this semester I took a drawing class, my first one ever, and it was really hard but also calming and relaxing at the same time. The picture on the left is where I started and the picture on the right is where I ended. The first day of class we had to hold a mirror and draw ourselves so our teacher could see our starting point, then for our final we had to draw an ending self portrait. 

The improvement is just amazing to me! It just goes to show that hard work and good instruction really do pay off. I have a long way to go still, but at least I'm recognizable in the ending drawing (I hope I don't look like the first drawing haha.)

 After getting in 5 final projects, it was show time! Being the studio manager this semester was a real treat, I got to know more of the kids and see ALL the behind the scenes work that takes place. I've always seen it but being one of the people that makes sure it all happens really is humbling. 

First night was great and we were able to raise about $8,000 in the first night with about $5,000 of that from ticket pre-sales.

 Saturday morning, instead of practice, we went to Denny's as a Kalamity family. It was so fun to just sit and talk about the show, what people thought, our feelings on everything and just laugh. I love my whole team and I'm glad that all of them stuck out the year because we have grown so much and learned so much from each other. Throughout the night the "triplets" kept trying to win a stuffed animal from the claw dispenser thingy and before we left they finally did it. You would have thought they just won the olympics with how they were screaming and jumping on the benches hahaha. They won a panda and because EVERYONE knows that Cora loves pandas, they gave it to her!

 Later that morning we headed out to Ivins for a birthday breakfast for my Dad! He turned 47 this year!!! Every time I drive out to Ivins I miss it. I miss this big red mountain and the beautiful breathtaking scenery. My ending goal is to end up in Ivins in my parent's neighborhood!!! ONE DAY!!!!

 As a surprise, my mom coordinated for one of my dad's best friends from high school (Danny) come and stay with them. My dad had a blast taking him around St. George and catching up with him.

Happy 47th birthday to my amazing, funny, sweet dad!!! He is the best dad I could have ever asked for! Thanks for always loving me unconditionally and making me always feel special! Oh and thanks for sharing your birthday with Jeff and I!!! I love you and I'm so grateful for you!!! 

 Saturday night was amazing! The crowd was energetic, the community was giving, the dancers were leaving all they had on the stage, and the feeling of love was there!

 We were able to raise about $11,000 in two nights for Byron with a total of over $13,000 for the year (since August when he became our cause.)

 Oh, did I mention it was also our 3rd anniversary??? Cause it was! 

This man is so amazing! He is so supportive and always has a good attitude. Last year the concert fell on our anniversary too and although he was bummed it was again this year, he was supportive and helped out. I love him and I feel so lucky to have him for eternity! I can honestly say that there isn't anything that I don't love about him, and these last three years have been the best! 

 To get a little celebrating in, we went to Olive Garden after the show for a late dinner. We started with some zeppoli first and it was AMAZING!!!! I'd had it once before but didn't remember how amazing it was. (I've been craving it ever since haha.)

 I love this handsome, sweet, funny, kind, hard working, thoughtful, playful, loyal, amazing husband of mine, beard and all.

This morning this was my view while reading scriptures and it just made me want to take a picture. I love my life, I love my home, I love my husband, I love my family, I love this holiday season, and I really love Christmas lights. I am so blessed!

Then this morning I heard a little knock on my screen door and opened to find Legend standing there with this little note and treat. He is such a sweetie and this totally made my day. I love having them as neighbors and getting sweet little notes.

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful week! I know I will, as I wrap up school and soak in the holiday season!