One of Those Days

Today I had my first Higher-Steps tutor session at an Elementary. It did not go how I expected it to. I realized today just how much I don't know about teaching. I am overwhelmed and wonder how it will be to teach an entire class, when it's hard teaching one student a particular concept. With homework piling and a lot of other responsibilities beside school, I am definitely stressed. On my way home from school, I decided I needed some cheering up. I stopped by "Mrs. Backers Pastry Shop" on South Temple. (Probably not the best place to go when you've had a bad day). I ended up buying way more sweets than I ever intended to eat; they just all looked so wonderful.

It's a good thing I'm going to the gym for YW's tonight!

As always, Ziggy helps to cheer me up. He is such a great example to me. His character is so simple with only one emotion, "happiness." I just love him.

Life is Good

After a long day of school, I walked in my door and found this.

My sweet husband had cleaned the house and bought me some beautiful flowers.

{It made my day}

Shanghai

Kandice called last week to let us know she was in town for a few days, so we decided to go up Tuesday night to hang out with her. We played Shanghai, {the Muhlestein's favorite card game} and had fun talking and hanging out with one another. I can't remember who won the game, but that's not important, right? {obviously I didn't win, haha}

We're excited to have Mark and Kandice move back to Utah. It will be fun to have them live close by again.

Snowbird

A few days after new years, Michael and I got to go skiing with Marci at Snowbird. It was a blast and the snow was great! We took Marci through the tunnel in the mountain. {If you've never done it I suggest you do, it's kind of cool.} :) Michael took us on some crazy runs and although challenging, they were really fun. These pictures are at the top of Little Cloud. It was so beautiful up there with a brilliant blue sky; something I definitely missed when driving back down into the inversion.

It was fun to spend so much time with Marci over the break. We were able to see each other quite a bit this time! However, we did miss Dan. We can't wait until they come in February. :)

The New Year

On New Years Eve day, Michael decided to take Zig snowshoeing with him while I got a few things done at the house. After getting his little booties on, he put him in the kennel and off they went. Ziggy loves the snow and CRAVES the exercise. He has been pretty cooped up this winter because Michael and I are gone a majority of the day. We've learned to get him some exercise before leaving in the morning; he has been quite the mischievous one lately and I don't think his stomach can handle much more of it! In the past month he has eaten a loaf of (seeded) bread, a box of cookies, 8 fruit leathers, a package of gum and anything he can get his paws on from inside the garbage can. So needless to say, there has been quite the disciplinary action going on at our house. I feel bad getting mad at the poor boy though, he's just got a case of cabin fever!

That night we went up to my in-laws to celebrate ringing in the new year. Paula and Marci had made chicken enchiladas and Jess & Ryan made paella! It was a delicious meal paired with the best of company. We spent the night sharing our resolutions, laughing at Michael's mustache and playing with Gracie & Pearl. When the clock struck midnight, Jess & Ryan brought out the silly string and we all got covered in it. {I think Paula got the worst of it}

What a fun night it was and it got me thinking about the coming year. Thoughts of excitement, stress, reluctancy and renewal came into my mind. I'm never sure how to feel about starting a new year, but this year {I told myself} is going to be different. I am officially going into this year with all of the best hopes. I decided that I cannot and will not worry about things that I cannot change. I am going to relax and stop writing "lists," which have added almost too much order to my life. I am going to try and be flexible and take one day at a time. And last but not least, I'm going to try and take more time building relationships with those who matter most to me.

I just found the following quote on life and love it!

"Always remember to slow down in life; live, breathe, and learn; take a look around you whenever you have time and never forget everything and every person that has the least place within your heart." -Anonymous

Lucy

Nick, Carly and the family were sick on Christmas Day, so they ended up coming to my parents the day after Christmas. It was fun to see Nick & Carly and "especially" a treat to see little Lucy. Isn't she just adorable? I just love her.

Christmas Day!!

I woke up around 8:00 Christmas morning to let Ziggy out and couldn't go back to sleep! I made Michael get up and made some hot chocolate for the both of us before heading in to unwrap our presents. {We kind of did our Christmas early this year, or so I thought until I opened my presents. Michael got me some skis at the end of November and gave them to me early so I could use them! I gave Michael some ski pants and pedals for his new mountain bike early as well.}

While drinking our hot chocolate, Michael and I started opening our presents. He got some sturdy boots for snowshoeing, a shirt, sweater and some patagonia shoes. I loved watching him open his presents. He had two presents under the tree for me. One was small and the other was huge. In the small present was some skiing socks! Just what I needed so I won't use Michaels ski socks anymore. I opened the big present last and Michael kept saying, "Don't get your hopes up." I started to open the present and couldn't believe what was inside, "A Camera!" I screamed. I couldn't believe it; I was so excited! I never in a million years would've expected it, he totally spoiled me. All the pictures below are taken with my new camera! I'm still trying to learn and get used to it, so have patience with the blurry ones.

We went up to my parent's house around 11:30 and had breakfast with my mom and dad and Wes & Jess and the kids. We watched Morgan, Carson and Malia open their presents. (That was the funnest part of the whole day). Their reactions were priceless. Morgan and Carson got these funny shoes that blow up and (supposedly) make you jump really high. We all tried them on and found that they did not do much, but the boys loved them! Malia got a baby doll with a high seat, crib and stroller. I can't believe what motherly instincts she has at such a young age. She was feeding, holding and pushing that doll as if it were her baby.

Oh! I almost forgot, Santa stopped by... and so did two little elves! It is tradition for Michael's dad and sister to dress up and deliver presents to families on the Harley on Christmas Day. They stopped by in the afternoon to say hello. Morgan stayed in the kitchen because he was nervous to see Santa, so Santa went into the kitchen to talk to him. Morgan wouldn't look or say anything, then all of the sudden he turned around and said "Thank you for my remote control car!" really fast and then turned back around. I then told Morgan that Santa's elves were with him and he needed to go say hi. Morgan went into the entry way and hugged Ryan (Jessica's boyfriend) and told him thanks for his presents. Morgan is 6 1/2 years and I thought he'd for sure be skeptical of Santa by now, but he really believes in him; it was cute.