A few pictures of our winter

So, rather than give you lengthy, wordy updates I'll just post a few pictures. (Also, I can say that I've already checked off one thing on my list. #20 is done!)

No News is Good News

Well, unfortunately I don't feel like I have much to update on, but it's been more than a week, so it's definitely time.
I had a lovely birthday, and thank you to everyone for the well-wishes. I had to sleep through the morning so I'd be functional after having the night from hell at work (more on that later), but I was able to spend some time with family and have a romantic night out with my lovely hubby. We went to the Utah basketball game (so much fun, I love the people watching more than anything), and then Steve and I headed to Park City. I made my birthday dinner the reward to one of my first sticker charts so I'd feel justified in spending exorbitant amounts of money on it. We went to Snowed Inn Sleigh Company restaurant. If you're a connoisseur of Jon and Kate Plus 8 then you've probably seen this restaurant. It's the one they went to when they visited Park City. During the winter it's only reachable by horsedrawn sleigh. It was very romantic, despite the fact that we shared our sleigh with families from Maryland and Michigan. We had a lovely dinner, then headed home to hit the sack since we had church at 9. I've started working on my goals, and so far I'm doing pretty good. I think I'm going to have to make myself sticker charts to accomplish everything, but I'll make it happen.
Steve is still looking for a job, but his put in multiple applications. We're pretty much just waiting for some calls back at this point. We finally filed for unemployment this week, which we should have done the day he was laid off, but that would mean he'd have to (insert gasp and appropriately shocked face here) ask for help. Once our application goes through we'll get about $300 a week, which isn't bad at all. Some money is better than none, after all.
Other than that, our life is pretty much the same. I'm just trying to come up with new and creative ways to keep my primary kids entertained. They're not really big on singing, so keeping them focused is quite the chore. However, new tale from primary: I made posters with word helps for the song we're learning this month. One of the pictures was of Satan who has a (rockin', I must say) mullett, and a mean face. I was covering up pictures one at a time to test them on how well they were remembering the words. I asked them which one I should cover up next, and one of my little 6 or 7 year olds pipes up and says, "Cover up Satan, he's scary lookin', man!" Also, my favorite child of the week is Matteo (or Teo, if you will). He's one of the gaggle of sunbeams we just inherited. He likes to sit in the front row and wave his arm like he's leading the music. I see a chorister calling in his future.
Well, I think that's it for now. I hope everyone is having a fantastic week.

A big To-do

Ok, with my birthday looming imminently around the corner (24, hard to believe) I've decided to make a list of 25 things I'd like to do/accomplish before I turn 25. I'll periodically update the list as I complete items, change things, etc. So, in lieu of New Years resolutions, I bring you 25 before 25:

1. Lose 30 pounds. I know, lame and cliche, but for my health I really need to do it.
2. Get my concealed carry permit. (I know, me with a gun is a scary thought...)
3. Set up, and stick to, a monthly budget
4. Stop biting my nails... permanently
5. Save enough money for a down payment on a house
6. Apply for a job in the operating room
7. Start an etsy shop for my baby quilts
8. Spend more time being grateful for what I have, and less time wishing for things I don't
9. Smile more
10. Tell Steve that I love him everyday
11. Organize the spare room closet
12. Have singing time planned at least a week in advance
13. Write to Zach on a regular basis
14. Wash my car once a month
15. Plan weekly menus
16. Read the Book of Mormon
17. No caffeine
18. Read at least one "classic" a month
19. Complete the "block party" quilt
20. Get my engagement ring and wedding band soldered and properly sized
21. Sell my wedding dress
22. Go back to school for my Bachelor's Degree
23. Attend the temple at least once a month
24. Criticize less, compliment more
25. Have my Christmas quilt finish by December

We'll see how I do...

Happy Freakin' New Year

So, I've been the worst kind of blog slacker lately, but life has been a little wild. I hate to ring in the new year with bad news, but...

Steve got laid off this morning. If you could please keep us in your prayers we'd appreciate it.

We'll be ok. He got severance pay, and I make pretty good money, but it still sucks. We're keeping our eyes open for good opportunities and he's willing to work hard and find something new.

Otherwise, happy new year, everyone!

Christmas Letter, 2008

Dear Friends, Family, and Blog Followers,


As I sit here very early on the morning of Christmas Eve, I am filled with the need to put some thoughts down. 2008 has brought more change for my family and me than I ever could have imagined.

January found me living the life of a single career woman, and loving it. I had a job that I loved, good friends to keep me company, and a cute condo with Mr. B. I was content with where I was and not really looking for more.

Then February hit me like a ton of bricks and changed my life forever. After recieving my endowment in the Salt Lake Temple, I had several amazing experiences leading up to me dating the man who had become my best friend.

Even though we'd just begun our relationship in February, we decided in March that we were meant to be together forever.

With April showers came an engagment and plans for a summer (even though I'd always wanted fall) wedding.

May through July were spent fervently planning a wedding, house/apartment hunting, getting ready to share my life with someone else, and making decisions that I thought I'd never have to make... all while trying to have some fun and throwing in a few trips to exotic places like Panguitch and Logan.

August brought me the most life-changing day of all. On August 5th I had the wonderful opportunity to go to the Salt Lake temple with the love of my life and be sealed for time and all eternity. We took a fantastic honeymoon in Zion, and rounded it up with an okay trip to Vegas. Then it was back to the daily grind for awhile. Also, this was the month that Maddie moved home. I'm so glad she's back in Salt Lake and we've been able to spend some more time together.

September was another month of growth, just not for me. I had the awesome opportunity to watch Zach prepare for his mission. It was also the month of my best friend, Ally's, wedding. What a great thing it was to see her sealed to her companion for time and all eternity also.

October dawned with more mission plans than ever. On October 15th we took a trip to P-town to drop Zach off at the MTC. It was one of the hardest things we've ever done as a family, but also such a blessing.

With November we started sending and receiving regular mail from Hawaii, and we all loved to hear about Zach's mission adventures. Steve and I were still doing great, and trying out one of the new-found hardships of marriage: which family do we spend the holidays with? Ok, so I did more stressing about it than he did, but it was still a bit of a challenge working it all around my Holiday work schedule.

December has been a blast so far. I've enjoyed watching Steve become more a part of my own family through sharing some of our family Christmas traditions, and the bonding ties of college football. Unfortunately, it's my year to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at work, but we'll work around that and still have a great time celebrating with friends and family.

I'd just like to take a moment and let all of you know how grateful I am for your love and support throughout the past 12 months. They have been fun-filled, emotional, adventure-packed, and crazy... but I wouldn't trade them for any other year in all of time. I have grown so much, and it's because of the support and coaxing of those around me. I learn something new about myself everyday, and I love it!

I am especially grateful for my testimony of the gospel. I know that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me, and I know that he sent his son to atone for my sins. I am so in awe of the wonders that he has created, all out of love for us, his children. I love this Christmas season so much and am so grateful for the opportunity I have to think of Jesus maybe a little more often than I normally would. I am grateful for the love that is shown among the people of this earth at this time of year. I am especially grateful for all of the blessings that Steve and I enjoy personally.

This year has been such a journey, and I look forward to all of the new, fun, scary, and exciting adventures that 2009 will bring to me and my little family.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Love,
Annie

Thursday-mania

Thursday seems to be rolling around quicker every week. I'm not quite sure how it works, but there you have it. And now, your regularly scheduled 5...

1. Early Christmas Presents: Steve gave me one of my Christmas presents early this week. It was a beautiful pair of leather gloves lined with cashmere... No more rainbow stripe homeless man gloves. I'm ecstatic.

2. Down East: I bought a great pair of red candlesticks for $3.50 apiece. They're hot.

3. Sweater Dresses: I treated myself to a new dress last week, I've worn it twice since, and recieved multiple compliments every time. Gotta love new clothes.

4. 4-wheel drive: How can you not be grateful for it in the almost-constant dumping of snow we've recieved this week.

5. Christmas Cards: I want more to put on the back of our door. I love recieveing them and hearing about everyone's families.

I hope everyone has something to be thankful for this wonderful Thursday before Christmas.

Tales from Primary... and other stories

So, if you are a follower of this blog you will recall that I was recently called to be the primary chorister of our ward. Well, this past Sunday in church I went to primary to watch the current chorister, pick up some tips, and maybe learn a few names. I hope this Sunday is an omen of things to come in this ward, because I have a few awesome stories.
1. As the children were getting ready to leave primary the presidency announced that they had a little gift for each of the children. One little boy stands up, obviously thrilled and asks, "Is it a Wii?" Apparently they make comments like this all the time, so it's not hard to tell that our ward has money.
2. During sharing time once a month we do a special thing called "Sister Friendly". One of the older women from the ward comes in and shares stories from the Friend magazine with the children. Well, she asked if any of the children knew how to dance or enjoyed dancing. One boy, probably about 8 years old, announces that he can do the worm. Pure awesomeness.
3. During singing time we were letting the kids that were well behaved choose the next song we would sing. We were trying to prod them in the direction of Christmas songs, but that didn't always happen. There was one child who had done particularly well the song before, so he was chosen to pick the next song. He gets all excited and says, "Book of Mormon Stories, because the Book of Mormon is about Jesus!!" Well, we couldn't argue because he had a point, so we sang Book of Mormon stories.

I guess asking for callings was a good thing, because with in 2 weeks we've both received them. Yesterday at church Steve was called to be the assistant ward scout master. So, now that we both have callings with the youth I've figured that their either trying to use it as birth control to make us hold off on kids, or push us in the direction of getting started on a family.
I think I have an addiction to buying Christmas decorations. Everytime we go out to run errands I find a few more on sale and can't help but buy some. Between my need to get a good deal, and my wanting to have a festive house I'm quickly overrunning our little place. Steve doesn't seem to mind, though, so I guess I'll keep it up until he gets annoyed enough to stop me.
And now for some audience participation: Is it wrong to regift things we got for our wedding as Christmas gifts to other people?
I hope everyone is having a joyous holiday season!