Christmas 2012

Christmas was a ton of fun this year.
We had a good chunk of time to spend in Utah.  We went down on Thursday and left on Christmas Day (Tuesday).   The trip started out on adventure.  We had to go to Preston Idaho for Brock's work. Preton is a small town.  We went to the outskirts of Preston, as in we had to take a dirt road to get there.  (The dirt road was on our GPS though, kinda funny).  We were pretty nervous about driving on an unknown dirt, mountain road that was covered in snow and ice.  Here's a peek:

 

When you think of the middle of nowhere, that is where we were.

My parents had all of the grandkids come over for a sleepover which was a ton of fun.  My mom found this kit to make a cardboard train that they could color on.  It was super random but totally kept them occupied the WHOLE time.  We had a fun breakfast the next morning and then they went home.

 

Emma, Jamie, Timmy

 

 

Rylee and Addie

 

 

Davy, Michael and Dallin

 

 

Saturday evening we had a very unique experience.  My parents have always loved Hale Theater in Salt Lake.  We all had season tickets last year that we got for Christmas the previous year.  My dad made a donation to the theater and to show gratitude for him, the provided a night at theater for all of his guests.  They had signs with his and my mom's name, they had a private room with refreshments, we got a private tour of the whole theater and then free tickets to see "A Christmas Carol" and refreshments throughout the play, what a blast!  So grateful for my awesome dad and that he has always encouraged us to be involved in the arts.

 

All of us that were there when they honored Dad.

Brock and I by the sign

On Sunday we went to my parents' ward.  Since we didn't have a ward choir Christmas program in our student ward, I was able to jump in and sing with the ward choir in the ward I grew up in.  My whole life I have performed during the Christmas season so it just isn't Christmas time without singing Christmas carols to spread the Christmas spirit.  I absolutely loved every second, I frequently miss learning new pieces and singing in a choir.

Monday was Christmas Eve.  We started the day early and met up with my good friend Checko (Molly Rogers), her husband Jordan, her twin sister Chelsea, our friend Angela Glade, and Steve Hall.  It was a blast to see them all as everybody has moved to different parts of the country and we very rarely see each other.

After that, we headed to Provo to go see Garrett and Leanne and the boys.  We had a brunch with them.  Leanne made this amazing french toast and syrup, it was delicious!!   Then we played games and kicked it.  Bradley was so excited for Santa to come and told us his entire wish list, it was so cute.

Then we headed back up to Murray to get ready for dinner.  Christmas Eve dinner is probably my favorite part of Christmas.  My mom makes an elaborate meal, we get to eat off of my Great-Grandma Olpin's China that my Grandpa brought back from the Orients for her when he fought in the war.  Following dinner, we got a chance to video conference with Brock's sister Rachel who is serving her mission in Kazakstan right now.  It was such a blast to talk to her and see her face.  She bore her testimony in Russian and it was absolutely beautiful and so sweet.  There is such a special and sacred night to worship our Savior and think about his humble example in life.

Christmas Eve Dinner

Video call with Rachel

Christmas morning we got up early.  Vicki and Logan were staying at Mom and Dad's too, so we were excited to watch them open presents.  It was super fun, Addie got a pink bike that she had been wanting.  They were so cute!  I got an awesome Whirley Pop popcorn maker and  Brock got a new set of scriptures.  Then we had Christmas breakfast, Caramel Rolls and Egg Souffle.  It was pretty slippery outside so rather than Grandma Neiswender coming over, Brock and I took breakfast to her so that we could see her before we left town.  After that we got to go up to Heber to see cousins and Grandma and Grandpa Olpin.  I always try to take advantage of a chance to see them because we never know when it will be the last time we see Grandpa.

Addie with her pink bike

As soon as we got back from Heber we hit the road back to Rexburg.  I had to work the following morning so we couldn't stick around.  It was nice to have time together with just the two of us on the holiday.  It was so much fun to have lots of time with the family and to not feel rushed.  We had time to do everything we wanted and I loved every minute of the trip.  I am so grateful for the holiday season and the joy that is felt during this time of year.

Oh ya, this was Brock's first white Christmas.

Thanksgiving Weekend

This last weekend for Thanksgiving we went to Utah.  We had Thanksgiving dinner with the Olpin side of the family at Grandma and Grandpa Olpin's house in Heber.  It was fun to see all the kiddos and my cousins and even their kiddos!  We hung out with my family as well as with the Barlow side of the family.  We had fun shopping with Kate and Melinda and going to dinner with them and Garrett and Leanne and the boys.  We also went shopping with my mom and Aunt Kathy and tried a great restaurant called Blue Lemon, man it was yummy!  We got some great deals and completed most of our Christmas shopping.  It really was a great weekend, lots of fun with friends and family.

I have so much to be grateful for.  I am married to the man of my dreams.  I never imagined that I would actually find a guy that met everything I always dreamed for, but I did.  I have an absolutely awesome family that always has my back.  I married in to a great family that has made me feel so welcome as the newest addition to their family.  I am blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints.  I am grateful for education and work.  I am grateful for the beauty of nature and the peace and serenity that can be found there.  I am grateful for life!!

This was a find at the new outlets at Traverse Mountain.

Yes.  This is a mother's room.

It's huge.

Bring on the Christmas Decorations!

Idaho

Well, we have now lived in Idaho for 7 1/2 months.  I randomly take pictures on my phone of things I see while I'm driving or doing this and that.  So tonight, as I pulled pictures off my phone, I figured I would share some of Idaho with you.  Here it is!

 A gajillion bug guts on the car windshield.

 This is almost a daily occurrence to be slowed by 

tractors on the road.

One day, I even saw a caravan of tractors.  On the highway.

Only in Idaho.

 Cheapest. Potatoes. Ever.

Or so I thought.  They are now 15 lbs for this

price.  If you need some, let me know!

Now for some pretty pictures.  Idaho is absolutely beautiful and I have been lucky enough to snap a few great shots, not as many as I wish, but a few.

 Idaho falls Temple, by the falls

 The view as you walk out of the Rexburg

temple just after rain on the new crops

Grand Tetons

Taken in Saint Anthony while Brock was "Diggin' spuds"

for Spud Harvest

 Also taken in Saint Anthony

The Rexburg Temple after a snowstorm.

BYU Football

This is just a reminder that I love BYU football.  It hasn't been the most exciting lately, but I love them anyways.  We were given tickets while in Utah to go to the game this last weekend.  It was freezing cold and we left part way through the 2nd quarter because we were up by 35 points.  But I love going to the football games and being on the campus!

 Ready to face the cold for a bit!

I got a little emotional when they brought this

out for the national anthem.

It was very emotional after the election that

earlier in the week.

Visitors!!

This last weekend we had some visitors!  My parents came in to town on Friday night.  We mostly just sat around and chatted.  We tried to convince them that they needed a new TV with a blu-ray player.  I don't know if we convinced them, but it was fun.

Saturday morning me and my parents got up early before Brock and made breakfast for him since it was his birthday!  We made pancakes, eggs, bacon, orange juice, syrup, the works.  It was fun to just hang out with them and to have them in on the surprise.

I had to work for a few hours that day, but when I got off of work, we went to Big Jud's.  It's a grease pit.  A delicious grease pit.  You know the kind with the pounder challenge?  Eat the whole one pound hamburger, one pound of fries, don't throw up and you get all for free.  Ya, that place.  I am not too embarrassed to admit that we love that place.  Best fries ever.  Seriously.  (Even though you can feel your arteries clogging just by looking at them.)  So we introduced my parents to it.  It was a great meal.  Then we went to the Rexburg Air Museum.  I bet you didn't know Rexburg had one of those.  I am learning that lots of small town's have air museums, and they are pretty cool!

Brock gave my parents the tour of the town while I was at work.  Mom and Dad brought their old grill up so Dad and Brock worked on cleaning that, you know, a good manly task.  So we now have a grill of our own and we got a great chance to show Mom and Dad our apartment and where we live.  We love having visitors!!

 Check out the size on that puppy.

We decided to tease Travis with this picture

(He was supposed to do yoga at home that

night and didn't)

They are all attempting a yoga pose.

Campaign 2012/Vegas

So there we were on a Wednesday night.  Me, Brock, Amanda and Jessica. (the Kirkby girls, Brock's cousin's daughters)  We were playing games at our kitchen table when Brock mentioned that he had seen a job posting to go to Vegas for a couple of days to help with the campaign for a non-profit group called American's for Prosperity.  It was 11 pm on that Wednesday night and the bus was leaving at 2 pm the following day.

We decided to be spontaneous and go.  We had to make some special arrangements, but we pulled it off.  It was the longest bus ride I've ever been on!  The bus didn't leave Rexburg until 6pm.  We had to stop in Logan, Salt Lake, and Provo to pick up more people, and then rest stops in Fillmore and St. George.  We finally got to Vegas about 6 am Vegas time.  We checked in to the hotel room and slept for about an hour and a half and then we were up and at it for a 12 hour day at work.  We went door to door surveying people about the election and issues the country is facing.

Sitting around waiting for our assignments

 Helping stack the waters using the bellhop cart

After working that day we took a quick trip to the strip.  One of the girls in the group had never been to Vegas so we showed her the basics.  We made it to the Bellagio fountains, which is of course, the most classic part of the strip.

 Brock and I at the Bellagio, don't mind that we look a little gross after walking all day

 Jessica and Amanda

So thankful for these girls living

in Rexburg!!

The next day we got up bright and early again and had another day of knocking doors.  We called it quits a little earlier because the group was sponsoring a program to raise awareness.  We had VIP tickets to this event.  3 Doors down did a concert.  They were big when I was in Jr High and High School.  It was a ton of fun to sit so close and because it was Brock's first concert outside of church related concerts.

After that we got on to the bus and drove through the night again and got back to Rexburg at 11:30 am.  It was a long and exhausting weekend, but we had so much fun!!  We laughed a lot, we worked hard, we stood up for a cause that we believe in.  And it was an all expense paid trip to Vegas and we were able to earn money at the same time.

 Check out how close our seats were!!

 Oh ya, and we will NEVER be able to watch Madagascar 3 again.  EVER.

One final picture of a very sleepy boy.  We both slept for about 5 hours at least when we got back home.  I secretly love seeing him when he is asleep, I don't know why, but I do.

Birthday Wish Come True

I love Disneyland!!  I have always had two dreams with Disneyland.

Dream 1:  Go to Disneyland on my birthday.

Dream 2:  Go to Disneyland with my sweetheart.

Check and check.  Thank you to Brock for an awesome day and making both of those come true!

I got a special birthday pin, call me a 5 year old, but it was sweet.  They even gave Brock a pin that said he was celebrating.  The park opened at 10 and closed at 8 so we didn't have a ton of time, but we still got through both parks with time to spare.

Cars Land just opened a couple months ago so I had really been looking forward to going.  It was awesome!!  They did such a good job with everything, I literally felt like I was in Radiator Springs.  The rides are mostly geared towards little kids, but the "Radiator Springs Racers" were awesome!!  What a fun, fun, clever ride!

World of Color, was of course, AMAZING!!!!  Brock was blown away by it which was so fun.  He said that World of Color alone was worth what we paid to get in to the park.  And since that is one of my favorite parts of Disneyland, I was glad he liked it!  We had a great day and it was just so fun to be there on my birthday with the man of my dreams.

The rest of the California trip was fantastic as well.  We stayed with Corrine and Alisa which was way fun.  I got to meet Brock's brother Todd for the first time.  He is on base in San Diego right now so we got to drive down and see him.

We spent lots of time with the nieces and nephews, we had a blast playing with them and they were excited to see us.  Exhibit A:

Mac was all over the place goofing off and making us laugh

We got to go to all the kids sporting events on Saturday, we went to 5 soccer games and 1 football game.  It was a long day but it was an absolute blast and we loved supporting the kiddos!

Hallie scored 5 goals!

Brock working on technique with Ty

Mac's team ready to go

The Bird kids on game day

It was a fun trip and a great week long vacation from work and the day to day life.

Oh ya, and we bought a new car while we were there. :D