Christmas Week

Dang I wish I would have kept up on last week and all of our fun events. I always have a hard time paying attention to long blogs so i will try and keep it short but make sure to include details!! I was lucky enough to only have to work Monday last week. I showed up for work on Tuesday and it was slow as can be. My family and Jake were going up to Snowbird so at 9:00 I ditched out and went snowboarding. If any of you remember it was quite a blizzard that day so it was an interesting riding day for me. To be honest I have never snowboarded so terrible in my life. I got so frustrated because there was so much fresh powder and on slopes you are not familiar with its hard to know when to pick up speed and when not to so I spent most of the day clipped out which sucked but i definitely got a good leg work out and was sore the next day. Jake had a blast and so did my family. It was great to be able to be up there with them and we got some AWESOME pictures. Here they are.

The Snow Family

Me and My sistersCute Parents

Christmas Eve was kinda a crazy day and night for us. We learned that Missy and her kids were going to try and make it home for Christmas. So we decided to try and go to both of our family Christmas parties so we could see everyone. Unfortunately they weren't able to get on the plane they were flying stand by and just happened to be a crazy day for everyone especially with the storm so they drove home and arrived on Saturday! They had a late Christmas but we are so excited they finally moved home for good and now we can see them as much as we would like. We still made it to both Christmas parties and in bed by 1:00.

Christmas Morning Jake and I got up at pretty early and opened our gifts from each other. It was fun to spend our first Christmas morning together and find out how much we have learned about each other from last years Christmas. For the most part it was a hit and we both did great jobs shopping for each other. We then went to my parents house for Christmas breakfast and to open gifts they gave to us! I am so stoked we are going to WICKED!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been wanting to go ever since we went to New York sophomore year and am absolutely shocked we are going in April! Christmas day is my favorite especially one like this year when its dark outside all day because of a Huge snow storm. We always lay around in our Christmas Jammies all day and play games eat junk and just relax! I am sad it is over but at the same time relieved. Its time to get back into the working schedule and start saving money! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!! and Happy New Year!!!

Soldier Hollow

We had such a fun getaway this weekend. The Shaw Family reunion was this Saturday. We decided to take advantage of an excuse to get away and decided to stay in midway Friday and Saturday night. It was a blast. For the family reunion we went sledding at soldier hollow. I have always loved tubing. It brings out the little girl in me. I love the feeling of flying down the hill so fast that you have tears streaming down your face. The best thing about it was the lift that pulled you and your tube up so there was no work needed. It was the laziest form of tubing i have ever done. It was great to get to know that side of the family better. They are all very busy and only get together once a year at Christmas time. This was a great way to get to know everyone in an environment where everyone was having a good time and trying to figure out strategies of what would make us fly down the hill faster. We ended up linking about 30 of us and cruised down the hill. It was a blast and a perfect day to sled it wasn't snowing and i didn't get cold at all.

Getting Ready for the Pool!

Sunday night we had the Snow Christmas party. Every year Santa comes and we get to sing Christmas carols and welcome him into my grandparents house. My grandparents are so sweet they have started so many traditions for our family which make the Holidays exciting. Our family is huge there is 8 kids and each have at least 3 kids my parents have over 20 grand kids. There was over 30 people crammed around all opening presents. I have to say that Christmas is becoming my favorite Holiday. i never thought i would enjoy it more as an adult and getting excited to see peoples reactions when they see the gift i thought of to give to them. I have developed a whole new meaning of Christmas this year and am sad to see it almost be over! Anyways Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Shopping

Friday was the first day I have had off since Thanksgiving! It was such a nice day and I got all of my Christmas shopping done I am stoked now i can relax the next couple of weeks before Christmas and not have to worry about making sure I have the right gifts. The hard part now is keeping it all such a secret. I have such a loud mouth and suck and keeping secrets with things i am excited about! I think Jake already has an idea of what is coming his way but he is such a sweet heart and will act surprised no matter what! Paige was lucky enough to come to the mall with my mom and I the line was short so she sat on Santa's lap and asked for a new Nintendo DS game. The lady told me that i could not take pictures but i snuck one in, she was not happy and i saw the dirtiest look ever but hear ya go! My cute little sister with Santa Claus!

Merry Christmas!

Engagement

I love weekends when it snows. It gives me an excuse to stay inside and be lazy all day long. Its the best time to watch movies in your pajamas next to the fire. Or wrap Christmas presents! That's what I did most of the weekend until Sunday night came around it was exactly one year from the night Jake proposed to me! I cant believe its been a full year since the night we got engaged and to think that our 1 year mark is just around the corner blows me away. It feels like we have been together forever but when you think about it in days we are still considered newlyweds and i LOVE IT! gives us an excuse to kiss in public and show people how madly in love we are. ha ha k that sounds kind of cheesy. Anyway Jake proposed at Temple Square my favorite place during Christmas time. So of course we had to go to the same spot and take a picture at the place he proposed. I think its a great tradition to start we both decided that from here on out when Dec 14Th comes around we will be at Temple Square! I love looking back on how much has happened in one year and talking about how we felt that night. Jake and I are so close and keep getting closer everyday we were talking about how nervous he was to ask me I could tell he was nervous he forgot to get on his knee! But I think it wasn't nerves it was anxiety we were both so ready for that day to come we had waited long enough! Jake is my best friend and everyday i wake up next to him and feel like the luckiest girl to have found such an amazing husband! He is the perfect match for me and makes me want to be perfect for him. I love you honey! Thanks for everything!

Christmas Tree

I finally took pictures of my christmas tree. I kept thinking i was going to put a cute tree skirt and a star on the tree but after a week and not doing it i decided it probably was never going to happen! So here ya go its kinda a Charlie Brown christmas tree but it sure has put me in the spirit of Christmas. I also have started collecting the Willow Tree Nativity so here is a picture of it all decorated its small i still have many pieces to collect but its definately a start.

This weekend i was kind of lame I just cleaned all day on saturday. Jake was working so i decided it was time to make the place spick and span and I love having a clean house. I just got my sentsy and i have a christmas tree smell so i enjoyed listening to christmas music and spending time in a clean house. Today is my Dads birthday so last night we went to my grandpa and grandmas house for dinner! It was delicious and was so fun to spend time with them. I have the greatest grandparents in the world. These last couple of years i have grown so close to them they are the best. Well my grandpa decided to show off his Polish magic tricks. It was the funniest thing i have ever seen i was laughing so hard i was crying. I will try and post the video, last time i tried the file was to big to download so hopefully i can figure it out this time. But it was a blast and put a topper on my weekend!

Grandpa Russell

This week Grandpa's Headstone was finally installed! We have been waiting for so long to be able to finally see this in place. It came at the perfect time, Grandma's request was to at least have it before it was covered with snow and to be able to see it there under the big tree it is absolulty beautiful. Its a great reminder of Grandpa and what a wonderful man he was. There is not very many gravestones that tell a story but by looking at grandpas you can learn so much about him. Everyday we think about Grandpa and what a hero he was in our eyes. During the holidays we have found ourselves missing his presence, his stories and silly jokes that take a couple minutes to understand. We miss his love and his charming personality. We will forever remember Grandpa Russell and miss him everyday!