Goodbyes and Hellos

December has been a very busy month! Dave and I said many goodbyes as we left Idaho and began the long trip to Texas. 

Here are a few of the highlights...

 We ate at the finest restaurant in Ashton, Idaho one more time. We will miss you BIG JUDS!

I stood by the ever growing trees one more time.*

Every year for the past 4 years I have stood by the same Ashton tree to measure its height. It has really grown!

 

 We stopped to say HELLO to LA & visit Jenny & Paul. It rained when we were there and did not get to fulfill my dream of visiting Disneyland. I guess this means we will have to go back this summer! I even got to hold Harley while I was there:) 

We made it back to El Paso safe and sound and began to get ready for the Holidays. 

We went to the mall and saw gingerbread displays. We thought we would try and match the competition...

                                 I think we might be in the running next year!

I made a snowball cake! This is what you have time for when you are unemployed and have no school:)

We made sugar cookies that were supposed to be for our neighbors.

    Dave managed to sneak one too many before this was possible! 

Maybe next year right?

This Christmas Dave & I stayed in El Paso & celebrated our first one away from family. It was hard, but we tried to make the best of it!

Christmas Eve...

Dave was suppose to go into work, but got put on call at the last minute! We made a nice Christmas Eve dinner filled with each of our favorites.

We made sure to put our stockings by the tree and read my favorite, "Twas The Night Before Christmas."

Sadly, Dave got called in during the wee hours of the morning and left me to make sure Santa came:)

 Somehow he managed to find us all the way in El Paso!Don't worry we know our tree is sad & small!

Convincing Dave to open presents before he went to sleep was difficult, but I won!

Dave framed this painting for me and did it all on his own!

                         Dave joined the real man's club as he now owns

                                                his own gun.

What a lucky girl! I got a key finder. I really do NOT know how Santa knew that I wanted this:)

His first bluray movie!

We finished the morning off by eating delicious homemade orange cinnamon rolls!

We are so grateful for our families at this holiday season & the love & support they send our way. We miss all of you, but were happy to make some of our own traditions this year!

OH & by the way I leave for home in the morning followed by Dave in a few days! I finally get to squeeze my little niece!

An Award for Myself...

I am writing this post mostly for my pure enjoyment and I want to be able to see it in writing. You are probably thinking that I am a loser! Ha I know, but just wait...

I am awarding myself a:

SUCCESSFUL WALMART EXPERIENCE AWARD

I only waited in the line at Walmart for FIVE minutes!!!!! I almost started to cry when I saw that there was only one person in front of me. If you have ever been to the Walmart by our apartments you will understand. It is usually a minimum of 20-30 minutes to check out! I was full of so much joy that I think I chatted the ear off my cashier and ended up leaving a bag of groceries there. When I went back I had to wait 25 minutes. This still did not discourage me from being oh so proud of my earlier experience!

Oh and a side note I am trying something new. I planned a month's worth of meals (stole the idea from my smart sister!) and went shopping for the next two weeks.

It was a heavy cart full of ingredients and of course I parked a mile away up a small hill. Needless to say I not only grocery shopped, but got a decent leg workout:)

To celebrate my successful day I was able to watch one of my favorite holiday movies, The Polar Express in peace because Dave was at work!

The Wait Is OVER...

Today is a very special day!! It will go down in the Michael Family history book as: "The Day the Great Depression Ended" Dave is coming to pick and pack me up! We are finally going to both be living not only in the same state, but apartment also! Who knew a girl could be so lucky:)

We are Disneyland bound for the next few days thanks to my nice sister Jenny and her husband Paul for letting us crash at their place!

Goodbye cold weather... I am sneaking out just in time!!!

So the next time I talk to you I just might respond with a y'all or howdy cause I'm a TEXAN!!!!

Happy Turkey Weekend Events...

This year Thanksgiving was spent in Idaho with Dave's family. Dave was able to fly up and spend the holiday with his family as well!

Before I do a replay of fun events I have to make a monumental note...

I finished my STUDENT TEACHING! That's right I am going to really be receiving a college degree. It was bittersweet to be honest. Looking back I didn't really think that I would ever be done with school so I am a little shell shocked!  Now I have to work on getting a BIG GIRL job:) Wish me luck with that new chapter...

Thanksgiving was full of lots of Delicious food making and some good quality family bonding.

In between all of this fun getting Dave from the blessed El Paso airport to here was an olympic event in itself. The reader's digest version is Dave received $1000 worth of Delta vouchers for more fun filled future flying.

Everyone was very busy...some more than others. Note the boys keeping themselves useful by playing video games:)

 

The weekend hit an exciting moment as Dave and I ventured out for our first Black Friday at the wee hours of the morning. Without losing any limbs we scored a nice early Christmas present for each other!

We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoyed being with their family and friends as much as we did!

Birthday Extravaganza...

I turned the big 23 this year and celebrated it just about 23 different times!

First, My friend Megan came up and visited me...

 

I was showered with fun gifts including HSM3 pencils!!

This celebration ended with my favorite leisurely activity of pedicures:)

Second, Dave was able to fly in a few weeks before the big day to celebrate with me. We got a hotel in Utah and he was put in charge of the weekend activities. He did a stellar job planning!

We went to Color Me Paint and put our mad painting skill to work on a chip n dip bowl.

He hit my ultimate sweet spot with a gift card to my sanctuary...DSW to buy a new pair of black boots! Waiting in a shoe store for two hours while I picked out the perfect pair was the best birthday present ever!!!

Aren't they beautiful!

The weekend ended perfectly with a corn maze and then sadly sending Dave off on an airplane.

Third, my Sistah K braved her way up to Idaho Falls to see me and celebrate my big day about a week before.

She brought me fun CUPCAKE tools from her and my Brother & Sister-in-law. Thank you guys!!

Fourth, I was treated by my in-laws to dinner at Texas Road House. It was yummy food and it was truly an experience...the waiter made me sit on the saddle and ride the horse. No pictures were allowed!

Fifth, and last which was actually the day of my birthday I received a million homemade cards and birthday songs from my students! Being around excited little kids can make anyone smile:) Then I got home from school to these...

They were so pretty! I am still not so sure who they are from because the card was signed Daniel:)

I then went up to Rexburg to my adopted family The Galers. Tricia spoiled me with a homemade delicious bake ziti and my favorite, carrot cake. Each of the kids gave me cute little presents and made me feel special on my birthday!

I even got a pretty snowfall on my birthday!

 The day ended with one last delivery from Megan of a Mrs. Fields Cookie Cake. It doesn't get any better than this!

I had a wonderful birthday extravaganza! Thank you to everyone who helped celebrate it with me and for all of the phone calls and cards!!! 

What A Weekend...

The weekend started out great! I got home and found that these beauties that arrived...

My first pair of big girl RED high heels!

As if the night couldn't get any better I went and saw NEW MOON!! Even though I was forced* to run into the theater like herds of cattle it was totally worth it!

Andrea accompanied me to the movie and spared Dave:)

* OK maybe I was the one that chose to run!

Saturday morning I headed down to Brigham City with the In Laws to help Grandma & Grandpa clean and move. I cleaned till my fingers pruned AND scored this awesome mirror I want to refinish...

We rushed back to celebrate Chris's big birthday at the yummy Jonny Carino's.

While at dinner someone broke into the house and found their way into my room. And this is what I found...

As a future teacher I will now accept the line...
"My DOG ate my homework!"

YES, Chubs the NAUGHTY NAUGHTY dog opened the door from the garage and made his way into my room. He ripped open a garage bag and ate my lesson plans for Monday! Along with my lesson plans he ate an entire box of unopened cookies I got from a little student. How RUDE!!!

What A Weekend!

Oh and somewhere in between all of this goodness I missed Dave:)