Christmas Activities 2014

First of all let me just say it is SO overwhelming trying to catch up on blogging about everything. I have missed blogging about pretty much all of summer, lots of birthdays, the birth of my first niece, Halloween, Thanksgiving, a quick Vegas trip, and prepping for our baby. But I just decided I am going to just skip it and just do a quick recap of the past few months and just go on with the future.

Before Nixon was born it was a special time to be able to not only be prepping for our little one but also to be celebrating and experiencing all the Christmas festivities going on!

The weekend before Nixon was born we went to a friend's party!

Nixon kissing his cousin!

After having Nixon and before my crazy Christmas day we were able to squeeze in a few Christmas activities! Two days after getting home from the hospital my family wanted to get some quick Christmas pictures taken. My brother had just came in town for Christmas and so we headed down to Google Fiber where they had a photographer and little Christmas photo backdrop set up. Nixon was only 4 days old! I love these pictures because look how little he was!

Grandparents and the Grandkids 2014

My Family 2014

Our Family 2014

The weekend before Christmas my sister and sister in law wanted to have a little Christmas Pinterest idea photo shoot. My niece got some pretty dang cute ones of her in a box full of ornaments. Nixon's photoshoot on the other hand didn't turn out too great. But it was still fun!

On Little Christmas Eve. (a Danish holiday my family celebrates) we went and took pictures of Nixon and my niece with Santa Claus. It was freezing cold at the outside Santa at Riverwoods but we still went! We just dressed Nixon up in his little, fuzzy bear suit!

After the Santa pictures we went and looked at different lights around the Sandy/Draper area. There are a bunch of musical lights out there and we really wanted to go see the Tree of Life, which was amazing.

On Christmas Eve. my Grandma from Washington came into town. My family just spent time together. The guys watched a movie late while us ladies just talked and went to bed. 

My Grandma and Nixon

Christmas Eve Snoozin'

Halloween 2014

Halloween was fun this year! We didn't really have any parties or plans, so we just did whatever we wanted! A couple nights before Halloween we carved our pumpkins. Instead of doing two separate ones, we joined forces and made this little skeleton man! He turned out pretty good! And good thing we carved him only a couple days before Halloween because he literally fell apart the morning after Halloween. He was nice and soft...

This was our first year with a house on Halloween. Matson was very excited to answer the door for trick or treaters. We weren't home very long before we left to visit our family, but he still had fun answering the door. We were home less than an hour and had a good amount of trick or treaters! When we left, Matson thought it would be hilarious to leave candy on the porch. I thought it was dumb because one teenage kid would just take it all anyway, but Matson did it anyway. I was nice and left a sign on the door that said "Sorry we are out at a Halloween party!", so that a kid wouldn't just sit and ring the doorbell forever.

Matson and I get very into our costumes every year...well at least for a couple with no children and no big party to go to. This year was no exception. I started thinking about Halloween back in August and Matson told me that he wanted to choose what we were gonna be. He told me what he wanted and I started getting to work. After trying for some time to find what he wanted and to try and make my outfit that goes along with what he wanted to work...PLUS, I am prego. I don't think there will be that many Halloween's when I am 7 months pregnant.

So after my sister gave me a good prego costume idea, I gave up. It was so hard and I literally need like a whole year to prep for Matson's epic costume idea (look to next year's Halloween blog post to see what we end up being...I might give again but I think Matson would kill me so we will probably end up being what he wants). Anyway, we were Chuck Noland and Wilson the Volleyball from the movie Cast Away.

It was fun to make the costumes and then on Halloween we spent time with our little nephew trick or treating and then also eating my mama's homemade chili and watching Forensic Files with my sister, her husband, and my parents. My cute little niece was the most adorable scuba diver. It was the perfect costume for her because she loooooves her pacifier and so her pacifier was part of her costume as the thing scuba people breathe through (I have no idea what they are called...probably something as simple as a "mouth piece"). Our nephew was Thor and was the cutest little trick or treater. He would just drop his bucket on the porch, step back, and say thank you as he walked away.

Baby A* wouldn't look at the camera, so Matson mimicked her in this pick. All dress up in her cute scuba costume!

A Baby Shower for the Best Girl

My sis in law, N*, is having her baby soon! Therefore, we had to shower her and my first future niece with love. We planned for the shower to be outside but due to Utah's sketchy weather we moved things more inside. I loved everything about this shower. The food, the guests, the colors, the flowers, and everything about it. I am so happy for my sis in law and honestly can't wait to meet my little niece soon (and when I say soon I seriously mean soon).

Photos by Kimmy Ashworth of Pearl Pixels and Kristina Hyatt

Our 4th of July 2014

Our 4th of July was filled with family. We loved it. Thursday night (the 3rd) we went to the Freedom Festival booths with my sis and bro-in-law. We ate some pretty yummy food before walking around the booths.

After that I had to teach my gym class then we went to Matson's parent's house for some fireworks with his family. Our nephew was a bit scared of the fireworks but started warming up towards the end by shouting, "Green!" anytime a firework went off. He was getting his colors a little mixed up, everything was green.

We hurried home to bed because the morning of the 4th started with an alarm going off at 5:30 in the morning. Matson was exhausted so we snoozed until 6. Then we hurried and got up to head to the balloon festival with Matson's sister's family. We love going to this every year. No matter how early it is and no matter how crowded it is AND no matter how tired it makes us the rest of the day, it just has that 4th of July feeling. Plus, the 4th of July wouldn't be the same without PACKING it tight full of activities! We watched the balloons blow up and then go up into the sky.

After the balloons, we went to breakfast with Matson's family (everyone but his older sister and husband who were out of town sadly). We seemed to get to Magelby's Fresh right on time before the crowds started rolling in. Breakfast conversation was all about what we all thought our little one would be...boy or girl? K* thinks it is a girl, Mama C* thinks a boy, C* thinks a boy, and Matson's Dad never really said. They always ask us about what names we like and we usually change the subject. This time Matson didn't though. We told them some of our ideas, hoping that they don't all steal them for their own. Haha. Our top name combo they all seemed to like and Matson is 100% sure that will be our baby's name........unless it is a girl. Ha. If it's a girl...we are screwed. No name ideas there. We will take any suggestions.

After breakfast I headed to the parade with N* where we had reserved seats that Dad got from his work. The rest of my family rode their bikes down to the parade and met us there. Surprisingly the parking down by 800/900 east wasn't that bad! We all went to the freedom festival booths, shared some chips, and then N* and I walked back to our car. Which took like 30 minutes of sweat dripping down our backs and poor N* as she is in her last month of pregnancy. I wish someone would have  seen us both walking through someone's sprinklers who were going off. Haha so refreshing.

The family at the Provo 4th of July Parade

We headed to Hokulia and I got my FIRST shaved ice of the summer. My brother came into town from California. We then headed home to swim, play pickleball, and pool volleyball. The best, relaxing, and fun afternoon by the pool. Grandma and Grandpa came over for 4th of July dinner!

Lastly, we went to Stadium of Fire. It was quite the show. Carrie Underwood was amazing, of course. She has an unbelievable voice and is so personable. The firework show (and music that went along with it) were perfect! I loved it!

Our day was JAM PACKED. But that is the way the 4th should be. Matson and I got home around 1:00-ish and were exhausted!

Highlight Reel | August 2013 - May 2014

There is no way that I will ever be able to catch you up on everything that has happened during my blogging hiatus. So instead I am going to do this highlight post (think of it like a highlight reel - but BLOGGING STYLE). WARNING: It might get long and wordy so if you wanna just skip this post, that's all good. I will see you next time!

The last time I blogged was in early August of 2013 so just a quick catch up form then month by month.

August 2013 - Matson and I walked even though we both didn't really finish school until December of 2013. Went to Las Vegas for a quick trip with friends before school started. Best idea ever...it was our last taste of freedom.

September 2013 - I started my very last semester at BYU by teaching at Spring Creek Elementary in Provo School District for 6 weeks. I was in 6th grade which totally sucked (they really do need to wear some deodorant), but I learned so much which was the best. Matson and I also watched some of our favorite little kiddos for the last week in September while their parents went out of town. We had a blast with the kids and even had a "Drive In Movie Night" inside. It was the cutest, the kids loved it, and they literally sat in their cars (made from boxes) the whole movie. Their baby is just the sweetest, happiest, most perfect little baby...I wouldn't mind have a baby just like him! At the very end of the month, I think the last day, I started my student teaching at a school in Nebo School District named Mt. Loafer Elementary. I taught in 4th grade. Best thing ever! I also turned 23!

My last FIRST day of school

Inside Drive In Movie

BEST baby in the world!

October 2013 - We watched another one of our favorite families when their parents went out of town again. We always have a blast with the B* family kiddos. HALLOWEEN. Matson and I were Katniss and Gale (he didn't want to be Peeta...whatever) from The Hunger Games for Halloween. We both love the books and the movies, so we figured it would be fun and easy enough. But the very best was on Halloween for school I dressed up as an old lady. It was one of my best costumes EVER. No one recognized me and my students loved it.

Us (in our Hunger Games costumes) with the B* kiddos at a Halloween Party. 

My attractive Halloween costume. Definitely one of my best yet.

November 2013 - We watched my nanny family kiddos while their parents went out of town (I know we just love watching families, it is the best experience and practice for us).

STUDENT TEACHING/HOW I GOT MY JOB. Anyway, in November I was just sooo busy with my student teaching. I focused so much on them and I was fortunate enough to work with two teachers. One in the morning who taught all literacy and one in the afternoon who taught math, science, and social studies. They both are incredibly strong teachers because they focus on their subjects so I learned from the best of the best for every subject and was able to grow sooo much. In mid November I started looking for jobs that were opening up mid-year. I was mostly looking in Provo School District because that is where all the mid-year job openings were. A neighboring school in Nebo School District was apparently looking for a teacher to take the place of a 4th grade intern teacher who was quitting mid year. The school's facilitator, Leslie, came and watched me teach in my student teaching class and then told me she and the school's principal would love to meet with me! So later that week I met with them and that Friday night I got a call from the principal, Kali, and was offered the job! Matson and I were thrilled. As soon as I found out I got my job, I got right to work. BYU allowed me to end my student teaching early and somewhat graduate a month early kind of. That way I could focus on MY class not, someone else's class. I had lots to do - deciding what my classroom would need, look like, and all that jazz. My mom, Matson, and Leslie were so nice to help me over Thanksgiving Break to set up my class room.

December 2013 - And on December 2nd I started my first day of REAL teaching. I wasn't necessarily nervous, I just wanted the kids to like me. That sounds so nerdy, but honestly I just wanted them to love me and each other. I treated December 2nd like it was the first day of school back in August. The teacher that taught them before me was very different so I started over from scratch in December. Call me nuts, but I had to make sure that I was comfortable in my own classroom and that things would work me for the rest of the year so that the students could succeed. December was also full of fun holiday festivities. We had our annual Christmas party with friends and Mats and I made our best gingerbread house yet! We enjoyed the Christmas season so much and found out on Little Christmas Eve. that my brother and sister in law were pregnant. We were ecstatic! Another niece or nephew (which we now know is a niece!).

January 2014 - We took our nephew, B*, to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. He loved it and we loved taking him there. A good family friend and my dad's father figure throughout his life passed away. We will miss you Warren!

B* on a quest to get T-Rex!

February 2014 - Celebrated Matson's 26th birthday! He is feeling old! At the end of the month, we found out at my brother and sis in law's Gender Reveal party that they are having a girl! So excited for August (maybe late July) to come!

March 2014 - Our good friends from Texas came into town and we got to spend time with them! Matson and my brother's basketball team won the WHOLE city league tournament! It was so intense and fun to watch the games this year. Matson probably gets terribly embarrassed from all my screaming and cheering, but no one is worse than my dad cheering for them.

City League Champions!

April 2014 - We watched the B* family, which was so much fun. We only had the two youngest so we got to spoil them and just play, play, play! After years and even months of trying to convince my grandparents to move down to Utah from Oregon, they finally caved in! I spent my spring break off from school up there helping my mom get them all packed up and ready to move. And after DECADES of living there, there was a lot to got through. (I will write a post more about the move later...lots of funny stories).

Matson and the B* kiddos playing around at the grocery store!

May 2014 - I cut off 12 inches of my hair and donated it to Locks of Love (no tears), had a wonderful Memorial Day with my family and husband, enjoyed the last week of school, and sadly (with tears) said goodbye to my 4th grade class. My class was so sweet and decorated my car on the last day of school and brought me many gifts. Also, 2 minutes before the FINAL bell rang on the LAST day of school one of the boys in my class yelled, "Group Hug!" and my whole class ran into the center of our classroom and hugged each other. It was the sweetest thing and that's when the tears started. Man, I love those kids.

New haircut. So weird to get use to.

My class and I the last week of school.

DONE! Wellp, there you go. That is the best update I could get to you in like 30 minutes of writing!