All done.

It is finally over! Jake and I finished the rest of our finals today and it feels great! It is nice to have another semester done. We have both been looking forward to spending Christmas with our family, relaxing, and eat good food!

These are the stairs

That almost killed me this morning. I was leaving for work and they were icy but covered in snow and I took one step down and then rode the rest of the way down on my back. Everything went black for about 30 seconds, but I am okay. Just really sore.

No Shave November, or ever..

Jake decided this year he would participate in the "No Shave November." I don't think he knows it is the middle of December... He loves his beard. He thinks he looks awesome, I think he looks like a mountain man, and my brother think he looks like a cage fighter.

I told Jake that I would get involved next year and not shave my legs. :)

5

was the temperature when I got in my car this morning. Way too cold, but when I got out of class it had warmed up to 13 degrees.

I love this time of year

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love the reason we celebrate Christmas, because where would we be without our Savior? I love that this year it means going home to two weeks and being with family! I enjoy putting up Christmas decorations and lights, everything!
I put up our decorations a few days ago but finally got around to posting pictures. Jake is embarrased of our little tree and is insisting that we get a real tree next year.

Wreath I made last year for Enrichment. This is the Advent Calendar I made a few weeks ago at the Girls weekend. It is a mini muffin tin and I covered magnents that go over the hole. (not my idea but think it is brilliant) You can fill each day with a piece of candy. My sisters-in-law put a service or a fun activity to do with their kids which is a great way to remember the true meaning of Christmas.Close upI have been wanted to make cherry turnovers for a while now, and last night was the night. They turned out pretty good.

So ready..

for this semester to be over. I still have 5 exams left. I can't complain too much. I have loved being back in school and feeling like I am accompishing something. I love going to school and gratful that I have the opprotunity. It has been so fun having the same schedule as Jake. We get to see each other a lot, and have way too much fun together. I am gratful for Jake. He has checked my Econ homework everytime and has helped me study for tests. I know it is because of him I am doing well in my classes. He is wonderful and is so patient with me, even though I am sure I have been a burden on him. I need to take a page from him book and be more loving. I love you Jacob, thanks for all you do!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jake and I had a whole 11 days off of school for the Holiday, and we enjoyed every minute of it. It was nice spending a few days in Boise getting everything ready to go. We left on Wednesday afternoon and stayed in Twin Falls until Sunday night. We had fun being with the family. It is nice that my family and Jake's family live so close, that way we got to see everyone!
Before Jake and I left we thought we should bring a treat and let our families know how much we love them! So, I made Macaroons(and not because they are my favorite!)

I never knew what the big deal was about parchment paper, until now! It was love at first use!

I couldn't stop at just baking them...

So, I dipped them in chocoalte.

Everyone seemed to like the Marcaroons. Especially my mom she was trying to hide them in the cupboard so everyone would think they were gone.

Coleman and Pam thought it would be fun to run a 5K Thanksgiving morning. They race was in Burley at 9:00 am. It is a 45 minute drive from my parents house so we left about 7:30. We were all tired from staying up late the night before!

Cole and PamDerrick, Laci, and Dad

Everyone but mom

Everyone but Laci. And yes my dad did the race in jeans.

Jake, me, and dad.

We were complaining about the race because we were all so tired and it was FREEZING! We ended up having a great time. Jake came in first. Then Pam, me, Cole, Derrick, Dad, Mom Kenzie, and Laci. McKenzie was really sick with cold/cough but she was a great sport and walked it with Mom and Laci. I think everyone enjoyed it so much that we are planning on doing it again next year. The only one missing was Taylor, we all miss him so much!


We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast. My mom set this beautiful table, as always.

And who doesn't like getting a chocolate on their plate?

We had yummy pies!

McKenzie, Grandma Spaulding, Mom

Jake, Me, Grandma, and mom
Pam, McKenzie, Cole
Dad and Grandpa
Dad and Grandma
My Grandma and Grandpa Spaulding came from Rexburg to have Thanksgiving. It was so much fun to have them around. We don't get to see them that often but when we do it is so enjoyable.

Mom had a great idea to sew aprons. She is modeling mine! They were a lot of work but such a fun project. Thanks mom!

I also got up at 3:30 a.m. on Black Friday to go shopping. I found some great deals and had a blast. Jake and I got a new computer and I got a sewing machine because mine wasn't working anymore. I also got stocking stuffers for me and Jake. It was well worth getting up early!

Other Things we did during the week was...

* Went to New Moon (LOVED IT)

*Girls night at Shari's all night restraunt

I had a great Thanksgiving break. I have so much to be thankful for. 1. A wonderful Husband 2. Eternal Marriage 3. Scriptures 4. Prayer 5. Family(siblings, in-laws, grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins) 6. The Gospel 7. Joseph Smith 8.living Prophet 9. Missionaries especially Taylor and Katie! 10. My Savior/ the atonement 11. a roof over my head 12. food 13. a job 14. warm bed 15. a working car 16. nieces and nephews(they belong in family but I love them so much they deserved their own number) 17. Temples 18. Home and Visiting Teachers 19. feeling the spirit 20. good books 21. working computers 22. cameras 23. ped eggs 24. hot showers 25. hot chocolate 26. snow 27. rain 28. sunshine 29. dishwasher 30. washer and drier in my apartment 31. cell phones 32. shoes 33. shampoo and conditioner 34. make up 35. finger nail polish 36. babies 37. doctors 38. technology 39. hot tubs 40. Thrift Stores 41. golf/ all sports 42. Family Home Evening 43. good movies 44. freedom 45. sense of humor 46. naps 47. Education 48. diet coke 49. blankets 50. good friends.

Happy Birthday Teri!

Teri invited me and Jake over a couple Sunday's ago to celebrate her birthday. We thought it would be fun to make her a cake. I think it turned out pretty great!

New Moon

I need to see this movie. I wanted to go to the midnight movie but was too tired after my busy week. Maybe my sisters and sister-in-laws will see it with me when I am home for Thanksgiving?

2 down 6 to go..

I just finished my last 2 test before Thanksgiving break, and only have 6 more until the end of semester. This semester flew by so fast, and I have loved every minute of it!


I had a stressfull week getting everything done but my wonderful mother sent me this picture in an email.I had a good laugh...

How Pumpkin Pie is Made

Fender Bender

I was driving home from work today and I was sitting at the stop light minding my own business when I got hit from behind. It was a three car pile up, haha. The car behind me got hit and they hit me. There was no damage done to my car, I am not sure anything could hurt our car. I was a little shaken up but not hurt.
I got home and a little later Jake showed up. He then went on to tell me how someone had almost rammed the side of his car, and how scary it was. Luckily for him he didn't get in a wreck.

Also this weekend...

We had Laci and Derrick over for dinner this Saturday. They were in Boise this weeekend for the BSU v. Vandals game. (BSU won!) We had steak tacos and had so much fun. It was the first time we have hung out with them since they got married. It was nice to hang out with them for a couple hours. I didn't get pictures of our night but we had fun. Love you guys!

Date night!

Jake and I were going to go to a movie this weekend but decided to stay in and relax. Jake decided that since we were not going to go the movies that we should have an all night XBOX date.(whoo hoo, my favorite date idea!). I do enjoy playing with Jake but can only take so much. We played for a while and then his brother Chad got online and I convinced Jake I would not be mad if he would rather play with Chad. (it didn't take much convincing). While Jake had a "date" with his brother I had a great girls night watching chick flicks and doing crafts.

Girls Weekend

This last weekend I went to Twin Falls for a girls weekend. We all wanted to get together before Katie left on her mission. It was a blast. I got there Friday night. Teri came with me so the drive to Twin was so much fun. We were able to have girl talk the whole way there. We were the first ones there but everyone followed shortly after.
Sandy my mother-in-law made a delicious ham and potato dinner. We then went to the Craft Fair at the Expo Center. Where I found this beautiful hat. I saw it and fell in love with it!

After the craft fair we went shopping and the "Sharies" our favorite girls hang out for desserts and hot chocolate. We went back home and stayed up late having girl talk. It was so fun staying up with my sister-in-laws. They are all so great.
The next morning we were busy. Sandy had a lot of crafts for us to do. My father-in-law set up these two tables for us to do our crafts at...We made beaded watches. They were so much fun and they turned out great! I loved all of them.

It was hard to get a good picture. But I guess you get the idea.

All the girls went to dinner at Carinos. We had a blast.
Starting at the left and going around.. Katie, Sarah, Emily, Maren, Teri, little Katie, and me.

We also made these advent calendars made out of min muffin tins. It is supposed to go the long way but I didn't turn the picture. This is Teri's (I didn't get mine finished). They are super cute.
The girls weekend was so much fun. I hope that we make this a tradition. I hated leaving Jake but I think it was good for me. Pretty pathetic to be married 3 years and have only been away from each other for two nights total. Haha. Jake had a great time. His brother Austin came up and stayed with him. They played video games all night and ate out a ton and drank a lot of soda. All of their favorite things.

So Sick...

Last weekend I went to Twin Falls with my sister-in-law Teri. We met the rest of the family in Twin Falls and had a girls weekend. It was so much fun and I have pictures that I am going to post but I have been so sick with the flu. I just started feeling better today. But I came home and Jake was throwing up. Anyway, I will get pictures posted. It is just taking me a while.

Mysterious Halloween

Jake and I had a very busy but awesome Halloween weekend! We went to Twin Falls to be with Jake's Family. His sister Katie that I mentioned earlier that is going on a mission to Germany, went through the temple Halloween morning. It was so wonderful. It was the first time that Jake and I had done a session in the Twin Falls Temple. It was so beautiful! Katie is such a sweet person and I am so blessed to have her as my sister-in-law. I loved being in the temple with my in-laws. I love them all so much and being together in the Temple made me realize how greatful I am for eternal families and have married into such a great family! I love you all!

Some of my nieces and nephews watching a movie, sitting on the bannana chairs upside down

So many curls!So Cute! Playing in the basement at nana and papa's houseAll grown up!

The kids were so excited to dress up for Halloween and go trick-or-treating! They all had such good costumes. I didn't get pictures of them all but I tried!

There was a sheriff...

A Chef...A Witch...A Punpkin...Two Little Monkeys...Two Construction workers...A Fairy Princess...There was also a little hippie but my camera died before I got a picture but she was super cute!Waiting to go trick or treating...Papa drove them from house to house on his 4-wheelerPapa waiting for the grandkids...After they went trick or treating we also went trunk or treat at Jake's parents ward. We got to see so many people, and catch up. I was so much fun. But after the kids had there fun the adults had theres. Emily, my sister-in-law put together a murder mystery. It was so much fun, but I did not get a picture of me and Jake..so sad...The murder happened at a 20 year high school reunion. Everyone dressed in 80's attire. We had a blast!

The Jock(Ryan) and the class nerd (Chad)Prom King(Brett) and Class Pres(Jake) I guess I got one picture!The punk (Zach)The Lawyer (Austin)I wasn't able to get a picture of everyone there was too much going on. but we had a great time and would love to do it again sometime! Emily did a great job putting everything together!

On Sunday Brett and Maren (Jake's oldest brother) blessed their sweet baby Elyse. I did not get one picture of her but she is so beautiful! There were alot of people that wanted to hold her, so she was getting passed around a lot. I am sad a didn't get a picture. We had a great weekend and loved being with everyone!