Happenings

Are you surprised that I'm posting?  I know I sure am!  I guess this is what happens when you have two weeks off of work (!!!!) and you just don't want to clean the house, again.
Clint and I have been having so much fun going to work, sleeping and the occasional trip to see family.  For Halloween we stayed home and handed out candy to our cute neighbors.  There were some pretty cute costumes!  I think my all time favorite was a family dressed up like the Incredibles (yes, I'm talking about you Patrice!).  Amazing...or should I say incredible? :)  Clint and I carved pumpkins, which I haven't done in ages!  Sure was fun, but oh so messy!

(Mine is the ghost...Clint found an Angry Bird pattern online that he just had to do!)

For the holidays we switch off whose family we go to each year.  However, our families live about 5 minutes away from each other, so really we are just switching off who we spend more time with (so far, it has worked very well!).  Well, this year was my family's turn to endure us for Thanksgiving!  My Grandma was able to be there, which was so nice.  It had been awhile since I had seen her.  We had turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, jello (can't live in Utah and not have Jello!), rolls, corn, green beans, and red cabbage (it's a German thing?  Tastes a lot like pickles...).  Oh, and don't forget the pies...I think we had a pie for each person!  On Friday, Jessica and I braved the crowds and went shopping.  It actually wasn't that bad.  I think a lot of people had already gone the night before, so it was just like a busy Saturday.  That night we went up to Temple Square to see the lights.  Gorgeous as always.

(Clint really needed a hair cut in this picture!  Don't worry, he got one last week...)

On Saturday my Grandma taught us how to make Liebkuchen, which is a German honey cake.  I have been wanting to learn for years how to make this!  I'm glad my Dad was so persistent on us making it.  For those of you who haven't heard of it, it's very similar to gingerbread, but better.  I wish I would have taken pictures, but I was too busy helping Grandma!  I have already eaten all of ours.  Don't worry, I gave a few pieces to Clint.

Work is going great.  I love my schedule this year.  Because I'm only part time I only work in the mornings.  I have two classes each day, and I wouldn't have it any other way!  I am slowly getting the hang of my Chemistry class.  It's one thing to know the information and another to actually teach it.  The nice thing about it is I only have 17 kids in that class!  They are an awesome class.  I still love what I do, but I don't always like doing it.  Does that make sense? 

We will be with Clint's family for Christmas this year.  Christmas is one of my favorite holidays.  This year it has been harder to get into the Christmas spirit.  I don't know what it is, but it has just been harder.  I find that I have to remind myself that Christmas isn't about the presents or the house being decorated or treats being made (although, I made some pretty yummy ones this year!), it's really about remembering the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  I have always loved the story of Christ's birth.  So simple, yet so profound.  Before we could open presents on Christmas morning, my Dad would read the story to us from the Bible and remind us that even though we receive presents, to never forget the True Meaning of Christmas.  This is something that I have carried onto my own little family.  At first Clint thought it was weird, but now I think he secretly likes it.  I know our Savior lives and that He loves each one of us.

 

 I hope each one of you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!