as of late

Alright, are you ready for an update?

Because it's comin' at ya, right, now.

For Valentine's Day I got John tickets to Monster Jam (we've been ever Valentine's Day since we've been together, romantic right?)

This  year it didn't fall ON Valentine's day, but two weeks after.

John loved it, as always.

I feel like I've seen it before. (Weird)

John, and everyone's, favorite; Grave Digger.

It was the 30th anniversary of this car/driver.

Kind of crazy! 

I thought this part was cool, because he rolled his car.

Oh, and he is from Utah.

My Uncle whom I haven't seen in TEN years was in town last week!

Unfortunately, it is because my grandmother is in the hospital, but don't worry, she's doing much better and should be home after a couple week of rehab.

It was so good to see him, he looks the exact same.

Me, Kate, Steve, Stacey 

He called me his "Little Child of Light", seeing as that was the last time I was here, when I was in the Olympic Ceremonies.

Everyone and anyone who could was invited to dinner to celebrate him being here. 

This is everyone at the Grub, of course.

This last Monday, John and I went to a Jazz game with Daniel and Mandy.

Groupon was having a deal on tickets for this game only, so we figured why not!

The Jazz won, which is always nice, and even though we sat in the upper bowl, I still got some cool pictures.

My man Millsap. 

Big Al with the dunk! 

Had to get one of John's man crush Gordon Hayward. 

And this is the "shot of the night".

I just liked how it turned out!

And finally! Last night we met little Kennedy, Eric and Tanya's brand new baby girl.

She is the cutest! I think she looks like a little Eskimo and I love it.

Holding her made me baby hungry.

Eek.

valentine's day

My least favorite holiday.

Really, I don't like it at all.

And this year really wasn't any different.

I went to work at 7AM, and John disappeared.

Not kidding.

I tried to get a hold of him for over four hours, and before I went to class I decided I had to go make sure he wasn't dead.

As I was driving to our house (this is after noon), he calls me.

He was asleep.

I had a panic attack for no reason.

I was kind of livid.

We both got off about six, came home, and the dinner I had in the crock-pot was ruined. 

Burned, nasty, NOT orange, chicken.

So we went to sushi. And that was actually delicious.

Then we came home and John started cleaning.

So I started making chocolate covered strawberries with cheese cake (pictured below).

By the time I was done with them, it was ten, and of course, we got a call from a tenant who had locked herself out.

Really?

Dumb holiday.

There isn't a picture of flowers in this collage...that's because I didn't get any.

Someone drop a hint. 

I made these fun treats for our Valentine exchange at the Lawrence's on Sunday. They are so easy, and they tasted so yummy!!

Anyway, we will be attending Monster Jam (monster truck rally) next weekend. That was John's gift.

I'm so thrilled. I just have to keep reminding myself it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for my husband to enjoy himself.

we were social

It's true.

Usually it's just Daniel and Mandy, but we went out with all four couples this weekend!

Yes, it was to welcome Austin and celebrate him and Marianne getting ENGAGED, 

but, it still happened.

We ventured to Red Robin, and then went and hung out at the Baucom's.

Marianne, Mel, and Mandy 

Of course we had to get one of the whole group!

And of course Daniel and Bryan were so cooperative!

crafts

So, I've always wanted to be crafty, I just have never done it.

But, thanks to Pinterest, I get all these fun ideas, and have learned how easier they are to make!

And it doesn't hurt that I have to build a website for class, and DIY is my subject.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

This is the first project.

It's going to be a key holder.

We lose keys on the daily in our house. 

Obviously not quite done yet, but it will look like what I made for Kate for Christmas.

Which is this.

Next project was for V-Day, figured I could decorate.

I just bought wood hearts form Michael's 

Painted them different colors, just with acrylic craft paint. 

Used the handy-dandy Cricut to make our names. 

Connected the ribbon with the hot glue gun. 

And, ta-da! 

It is now hanging on our wall. 

I made this during the Superbowl. 

I honestly didn't care enough to just watch it, so I made this while I watched.

I didn't have my camera so I don't have step by step, I will though. I will have to make Kate's or my mom's. 

It's simple though, styrofoam heart, felt circles (hardest part), and push pins.

Done.

New Year's!

We spent New Year's Eve with some friends up at the Hawker's lodge cabin.

Thanks to Ben and Emily for letting us tag along!

Doing Dr. Pepper "Saki" bombs.

Brayden's face is the best. 

 Prepping for midnight!

Counting down... 

And Daniel going crazy with the poppers.

Happy New Year! 

The Sorensen's.

And John. 

Everybody! 

Raise your glass! 

I guess I will make this post into our reflecting on 2011.

2011 was a good year.

We celebrated lots of birthdays for family and friends

Welcomed new little ones to both families

 Attended a record number of weddings over the summer

Bought new scooters

Travelled to Jackson Hole, Bear Lake, and North Carolina

Celebrated out two year anniversary

I did my first, and second family photo shoot

We moved into a new home

John got into his program for school

We LET Matt and Millysa move to New Mexico, and miss them every day

Welcomed home David

and most importantly, loved each other more and more each day

2012 will be another great year

Riley comes home in April (3 MONTHS)

I graduate in December

And who knows what else, there are so many different things that are possible.

Here's to 2012

Christmas Chaos

I'm sure most people's Christmas is chaotic, but I swear mine like tripled in chaos when we got married. I feel like we have a thousand more places to go now, when really I've only added one house.

Christmas Eve is spent at my parent's house with really, anyone who feels like coming over. This year it was mostly just the Roos'.

Only the cutest girl in the entire world.

I'm obsessed. 

Avery and Auntie Kate. 

At first glance, it looks like she's flipping off the camera.

But no, she's just squeezing my chin fat. 

Myself and Avery-Lou 

Christmas morning before church John and I opened one present each.

To trick me, John went to Build-a-Bear and got just the box, then he wrapped my iPad smart cover, my watchband for my iPod, and...something else. I honestly don't remember the third thing.

John opened his pair of new temple shoes.

He said he was over the slippers.

Ha.

The look on his face...apparently he had a mission companion who had a pair of shoes made by this company and he said that they were the ugliest pair of shoes he's ever seen.

So, he was nervous. 

But, he like them.

Phew. 

Kati, John and myself bought Dad a RC Helicopter.

Kid at heart, that man. 

I got an Easy Bake!

Okay, so here's the story.

When we were little, Kati got TWO easy bake ovens, and I always wanted one.

I never got one.

It scarred me for life.

And being the person I am, I bring it up a lot.

So, sissy bought me one for Christmas.

It was fantastic. 

This was probably John's favorite gift. 

They're HER Muddy-Buddies 

Dad got a new laptop, he loves it. 

John bought me us an iPad! 

For years Mom has a wanted a Kitchen Aid, but there has been some dispute on if she would have anywhere to put it, and she made it clear that if she got one, she wanted industrial, top of the line Kitchen Aid. Well, this year, once again, us children were stumped as to what to get her. 

Luckily, a girl I work with mentioned she bought her mom a Kitchen Aid, and a light bulb came on.

When she was getting ready to open it, she mentioned that she thought she might know what it is but didn't want to say because she didn't want us to feel bad.

No pressure. 

As soon as she opened it,

"IT'S WHAT I THOUGHT! IT'S WHAT I WANTED!" 

Mission accomplished.

We did spend time with the Lawrence's on Christmas, even though I have no pictures to prove so.

Christmas night we went up to the house and had the annual sea food dinner. Always so good.

Then we opened presents and played games, followed by me falling asleep on the couch.

What else is new?