cali here i come!

Oh hey. Don't be too jealous, but right now I am at the AIRPORT! Woohoo! I got me some top notch Wendy's and now we're just waiting for a pleasant male voice to announce the departure of our flight.

Our destination is Reno. Then Northern California. A whole week without school, work, stress, or maybe even make-up? Oh yeah, it's gonna be a good week. 

This is me trying to point to my game face shirt without drawing attention to myself. 

gingerbreadless graham cracker houses

I am done! My last final was on Thursday. As I was walking to my apartment from the bus stop, feelings of accomplishment, joy, and a little bit of angst swarmed in my head. I had done it.I had finished my first semester in the Elementary Education program! Now I'm just waiting to find out my final grades. (That's where the angst comes in).

The rest of the day was filled with Christmas music, Spongebob episodes, and gingerbread house making.

WARNING: Photo overload!

      

 Ammon's house

Matt had the idea to put Ammon's house on top of Mark's tower. Of course we all jumped out of our seats in amazement. The best part is that when it fell, Ammon's house survived.

 My house

 Nephi's house

Becca came a little late and so she worked with what she had.

I think she said this was an Indian reservation, but I think it looks like a prison. :)

Rachelle's house. 

I can't think of a better ending photo for our gingerbread making evening.

The next day we went Christmas shopping at Walmart. It was really foggy and cold. 

Here's me waiting for our dumb bus that was running 10 minutes late. The bus driver must have been new to the route because he was holding a map in front of him while he was driving the whole time! We were relieved when we finally got off the bus.

That night we went and saw the Hobbit with my family and Ammon's friend Doug. 

And because I forgot to take pictures at the theater, I figured I would just take a picture of my ticket. 

But I think ticket pictures are kind of boring, so I improvised.

 I mean, which one is more exciting, this one:

or this one:

I think this one's a keeper for sure. 

D.I.Y crafts i actually made

{one: felt flowers} {two: fort-making kit} {three: winter wreath} {four: ribbon wreath plates}

faith cancels and extends assignments

On Sunday I signed up to feed the missionaries today.

Logically speaking I shouldn't have because I am up to my ears in procrastinated homework and projects.

But I had faith it would work out.

Here's just a little bit of how Heavenly Father gave me more time:

my 7 a.m. math test was changed to a take home test
the State Ethics exam website was having issues and now i don't need to take it
the second portion of my math test was extended to Thursday
and of course it helps that my incredibly wonderful hubby did all the grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning for the missionaries. 

i have faith in God. 

i attribute my cancelled and extended assignments to Him

and for reminding me why i fell in love with Ammon.

sense of self

Oh hey. 

Just listening to Christmas music over here using Pandora. 

{a lil o' bit of T swift, josh groban, david archuleta, trans siberian orchestra, glee cast, and charlie brown?}

I think Pandora is getting confused from all the thumbs up and thumbs down I've been doing.

       Christmas music
plus Watching Ammon and Nephi play chess.
plus Counting down the days until the end of the semester.
plus Getting really excited to make crafts with all my upcoming free time.
plus A lot of insightful thoughts running through my head.
                                                                                                             
EQUALS the perfect time to blog

Earlier today was one of those moments where I felt so incredibly helpless. It was a momentary feeling, but it was a little scary. It's during moments like that where I realize the standing of my testimony. What do I know to be true and what am I still unsure about?

Here's what I know to be true:
-There were 2 plans up in Heaven before I came here.
-Satan's plan left no room for agency; a road with no rocks or cracks to trip over.
-Christ's plan not only has rocks and cracks to fall on, but mountains to climb and canyons that seem impossible to cross.
-Without those mountains and canyons, I wouldn't learn a thing. My life on earth would be pointless.
-People who get back up every time they fall are the coolest people I know. They have become something rather than just existing.
-And that's why I'm grateful for trials; they help me actually become something.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to hear from Kevin Kling.
He was born with a birth defect on one arm and then later completely lost the use of his other arm in a motorcycle accident. Do you think I was listening closely when he gave advice? Oh yeah.
He said the following quote:

And I think he's absolutely right.

thanksgiving break

My Thanksgiving Break was

glorious! 

Pre-Thanksgiving festivities

 riding the bus as always

 the dentist for me...blah...

snagging disney classics from D.I. and watching all of them in just a few days

Thanksgiving Day: Provo

ammon and me holding our Brick Oven pumpkin pie 

 playing with the kids at ammon's grandma's

Thanksgiving Evening: Riverton

oh just my super cute cousin amber.

 here's us with mosiah

 and mary

 oh just swinging on a swing. in a room!!
i want one.

playing with dinosaurs. watch the movie here

my uncle's sister visited and of course we all wanted to hold her beautiful 2 week old baby boy!

i got a little very baby hungry.

The thanksgiving break was also great because I was able to set up all the Christmas decorations. 

Ammon helped with the tree and lights.

We've got:

 christmas lights outside the apartment that scream: "we are so excited for christmas!"

our first christmas tree!

  stockings

a christmas event calendar

and a dishcloth to boot

My mom-in-law is the greatest. I owe all our decorations to her.
The only thing we had to go out and get was the tree.

I am so excited for CHRISTMAS!!

a sneak peak at my thanksgiving

Some say that a picture is worth a thousand words. 

So does that mean a video is worth even more than that?

I think so.

Here's a little somethin' I put together after spending Thanksgiving Day with my cousins.

Enjoy!

{I told you I was going to put my movie making skills into action and actually amaze you.}