Random things

Llama Collection
I have a *slight* obsession with llamas.  I've been in love with them ever since the movie "The Emperor's New Groove" came out in 2000 (that's almost half of my lifetime!).  I'm sure most people thought the obsession would wear off after the movie wasn't so new anymore, but they were all so very wrong.  I plan to own a real llama some day, and Machu Picchu in Peru is at the top of my list of places in the world to visit.  In the meantime, I'm just enjoying my llama collection, which is slowly growing (I received 3 out of the 4 for Christmas and the other one for my birthday last year.  My family and friends know me well.)

Pretty Sunrise
I wake up at 6:45 every morning, just in time to see the sun rise!  Some mornings it's really pretty.

A very warm January

The last half of this month has been extremely warm.  There were a few days right after Christmas that the high was below 20 degrees, but ever since then, it's been in the 50's and even the low 60's a few days!  I had to roll down my window in the car a few times to cool it down!  It's so weird, I feel like we're back in Arizona!

And...... some very exciting news! (No, we're not pregnant)
MY BROTHER GOT HIS MISSION CALL!!  This is the first one in my immediate family, and it's so exciting!  The call came pretty unexpectedly (only 10 days after he submitted his papers), so I was pretty surprised when I got a text from Jake on Friday asking if we wanted to Skype that night.  It was fun to see him open it, even through Skype - I felt like we were really there.

He got called to the Everett Washington English-speaking mission, leaving May 22!!!  I am so proud of Jake.  I know he'll be a great missionary and that he'll learn a lot from doing this.  I'll miss him tons during those 2 years, but I'm so excited to hear about all the neat experiences he'll have.

{If there's anyone reading this who isn't familiar with the LDS religion, you can click here to find out more about missions}

New Years

New Year's was a little different this year since Brody was in Fort Collins, and I was in Logan.  He went to a party with some of our friends in CO and I went to a party with some friends in UT.  But, despite the fact that we weren't together and that I was the odd ball of the group that night, I still had fun.

New Year's Eve
We spent the night eating lots, playing tons of fun games, watching the ball drop and sending off lanterns (definitely the best part!)

While everyone was getting ready to smooch their significant other when the clock struck midnight, I stood in the background like a creeper taking pictures..... ha ha!

The lanterns were such a fun and different way to ring in the new year!

New Year's Day
The next day, I went snowshoeing with my family, and some extended family (the Skeens and the Bundy's).  It was a lot of fun, but since I didn't have any of my proper snow gear, it was a little cold.

It helped though when we got to our destination and made a fire.

That night we had a yummy dinner with everyone and played some games.

We had a wonderful 2012 and I'm excited to see what 2013 has to offer!

Christmas Break

Here are some details and pictures of the rest of our Christmas Break (minus Christmas Eve and Day)

I had two weeks off work, so we headed to Utah on Friday the 21st after I got home from work.  I was lucky enough to be able to stay for the whole two weeks, but Brody wasn't as fortunate.  He went home after just one week, in order to study for the QE's which will take place on January 14th.  He's been really stressed about this test (he only gets two chances to pass, otherwise he can't continue in the PhD program. Only 50% of students typically pass), so it was good for him to be able to study for a whole week with no distractions.  He took Sal home with him in the car and I'm flying home later this evening (Sat. Jan 5).  Here's a look at some of the things we did both when Brody was here and after he left (this will be everything except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)

Hair Cut:
We both got a hair cut and chopped quite a bit off.  I didn't take a picture of Brody, so you'll just have to look at his hair in other pictures, but I did get one of me.  I cut about 6 inches off, and I love it!

Family Pictures:
We had family pictures with Brody's side.

Hot Tub:
My parents got a hot tub this summer, so we sat in it almost every other night!  It's the perfect winter activity (especially when you're sick, which I was for a few days... it was so relaxing!)

The boys thought it would be fun to do the polar plunge (getting out of the hot tub, rolling around in the snow, and then getting back in).  Crazies!

Back-country Skiing:
Brody was able to get in some back country skiing while he was here with his buddy Nate.  He loved it and said the snow was awesome!

Games:
We played a lot of games and came up with a new fun thing to go along with each game we play, and that is: whoever loses, has to eat a handful of the yucky flavor of jelly beans (like popcorn, coffee, black licorice, bubblegum, cinnamon, etc).  It was pretty funny to watch people eat them, some of those combinations are NOT good together.

Brody's trip home & week of studying:
Brody sent me this picture on his way home and I just laughed because it's soooo typical of Sal.  We put a barrier up in the middle, but he still sneaks in through the side.

Here's a picture Brody took in the library at school. . . . . he's just studying his brains out!

(If you're really observant, you'll notice that this was actually taken before our trip, because he still has long hair - but it still counts as a studying picture!)

When I was here by myself, I just had fun relaxing, shopping and hanging out with my family.  It was great to be here for so long, but I did really miss Brody.

I went to visit my niece and nephew one day (on Brody's side)

They're such cuties!

Another night I had a "sleepover" with my two nieces (on my side).  They were so excited about it, even though it was a school night and they had to go to bed early.  We had dinner, played games, (including hide and go seek - their favorite), then I helped put the girls to bed (we brushed our teeth together and I read them a story).  Then me, Jess and Linny stayed up late talking and painting our toenails.  It was a lot of fun!

Went to the new Brigham City Temple with my parents

A few more pictures of the snow, because it snowed so much while we here and it was just sooo pretty!

Details about New Year's to come!