Christmas in CA!

I am way too spoiled by my husband!

We've had such a wonderful time in California for Christmas this year. I thought that the lack of snow would damper my Christmas spirits, but the abundance of shopping and games played with the Jordans has just made the whole affair a blast. We leave tomorrow for Yakima and we are excited to see the Smartiepants. I guess its Christmas round #2. To show just how much fun we've had here, I will post 3 of the 3 pictures that I've taken since we've been here. I couldn't find my phone or my camera for the first 6 days we were here, so I will have to vow to take more pictures next year.

Overall, our first Christmas as a married couple was a huge success! Happy New year everyone!

New post on my headband blog.

lemignonbandeau.blogspot.com

FINALS WEEK

Studying for finals makes me feel like this lady is chasing me.

Finishing my finals makes me want to jump like this lady.

That wonderful time of year!

When you head out in the morning to school and find the air to be crisp and your windshield frozen over, then you know it can mean one thing and one thing only...snowboarding! When my wife met me, I had long hair that covered my eyes and ears and I had just finished being an instructor at one of the local resorts. I had injured my knee and had to finish the season early, which was sad, but looking back I must say it was the best job I have held in my life. Six days a week for five months straight I was on that beautiful mountain teaching everyone and everything how to board.

I learned many lessons during my time on the mountain. Dogs can get down the mountain just as fast as I can. Yelling "avalanche" is never to be taken lightly. Robert Redford can hold his own on a pair of straight skis, even with his face lift. Kids can fall hard and walk it off two minutes later. I on the other hand, while young at heart, do not possess the same rehabilitation abilities. But most importantly I learned that if you're not falling fairly often then you're not risking enough.

With the resorts beginning to open now here in Utah, I am beginning to get excited again for the wonderful season that potentially lays ahead, assuming the snow gods want to bless us in abundance. Sydney gets a little worried about me this time of year for good reasons including my safety, health and most importantly the order of my priorities. I assured her that she comes before everything and that is why she will just have to come with me on my snowboarding adventures. It must be stated that at the end of the season last year, Syd was a force to be reckoned with on the mountain. Not only could she keep up with my long-seasoned friends, she was trying jumps and tricks.

Here's to a great season about to begin this Friday.
*Sorry for the poor quality of compressed video files, but they are better than nothing.

Thankful

Nick and have been having a rough time returning to normal life after the thanksgiving we just had. Lets be real - who could go back to normal life after spending time with this? Look up and stare at how cute my niece and nephews are. Keep staring. Are you jealous? Cuz you should be.

I can't even begin to elaborate on how much fun the Jordans had back home at the Smarties. I feel left out because I didn't get to list what I'm thankful for on Thanksgiving because I was busy having the time of my life. So feel free to skip to the end if you don't want to read my most Thankful list. In no particular order... except for the first one.

1. This guy. No one in the world looks this good in lime green shorts. Thank Goodness I snatched him before some other BYU Co-ed.

2. The Super Smarts.

3. My new fam, the Jordans.

4. My Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. Hello roasted vegetable soup everyday for the rest of my life. Ina Garten might be my cooking idol if I didn't already have one. Which leads me to the next on my list.

5. Mama Smart and her out-of-this-world-palette-pleasing-goodness. No one does it like the SheWolf. If only I could learn how to cook like her I would die a happy girl.

6. My history classes. So much work, so much

reading, so many facts and dates. But holy cow do I love that stuff. It seriously thrills me. If only I could figure out how to go back in time and re-live it all for myself.

7. Baby Ally, Cole and Keith. They get their own spot on the list because they are cuter than everyone else.

8. Cheese. I could inhale an entire block of fresh mozzarella right now. Nick thinks its unfair that I get a whole drawer in our refrigerator for my cheese. Little does he know that the "vegetable drawer," is code for MORE CHEESE. Delicately placed under the carrots and the celery.

9. Temples. I love going with the hubby. It's seriously the best date ever.

10. My kitchen aid. Not only is it pretty, but oh-so-functional. If there were room in our bed besides Nick, me, and my brand new beach cruiser, I would let it sleep with me.

11. Celine Dion. Look her up on Wikipedia if you are ever bored. Not only is she a very intriguing person, but her music speaks to my soul.

12. Bounce dryer sheets. Possibly the best smell in the world. It reminds me so much of home and how much mom loved us enough to do our laundry for us.

13. Newport Beach Temple. I know I already mentioned temples generically, but this one is special. Grandpa Hague sealed Nick and I there 7 months and one day ago and I'm so thankful for that experience.

I love Thanksgiving and I'm so sad it's over, but we have Christmas to look forward too. And on an equally bright side, I just ate 9 pumpkin chocolate chip cookies by myself. I mine as well make it a dozen. Nick will be thankful for that I'm sure.