Happy Birthday Peyton!

Our cute nephew Peyton turned 2 today! It's kinda crazy how fast time has gone...it seems like just yesterday we were so excited to hear that he was on his way and we were holding this brand new baby at the hospital. Now he is 2 and loving Thomas the Train and ignoring Aunt Ashley sometimes because he thinks it is funny. We love him to pieces though. :) We went down to Ryan & Amy's house for cake, ice cream, and presents tonight. Here are some pictures of our present: Peyton opening his Thomas the Train blanket. I knew I didn't want to give him toys because he got a ton of those for Christmas, so I decided to make him a blanket to match his new Thomas the Train bedroom. :) A better view of the blanket. :) We love you Peyton! We are happy that you are our nephew!

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Well this year started off pretty quickly for us. Casey started school Monday and so far he loves it :) I put him in 3 classes that pertained to his major so that he would enjoy school more this semester. I will admit I already miss school. I am the type of person that likes school a lot. It is fun to hear him come home and talk about his classes though. :) This is the breakfast that Casey made me yesterday :) He is an awesome husband! I am still subbing...I will be honest I don't really love it. I miss feeling like I have a class that is my own and I miss the planning. It is hard to establish any authority in a classroom since I am only there for 1 day. I don't know...it's just a learning experience I guess. There are some positive aspects to it though...

• I don't have to be there very early and I get to leave once the kids leave
• Even though I do miss the planning, I don't have to plan anything really
• If the kids are absolute terrors I don't really have to sub their class again if I don't want to
• It's better than the alternative...making no money at all

I am ready to have a job with benefits and things, but for now I will just be patient and learn what I am supposed to from subbing. :)

Christmas/New Years

Our holiday season was a lot busier than I had planned on it being this year. We did Christmas with the King's the week before Christmas so that I could go to Pocatello on Thursday to see my family. We got spoiled at their house. We got a tent, 2 sleeping bags, and a propane stove for camping. (I'm not a huge camper, but the things will come in handy someday). I also got a surprise gift from Connie.... This wooden chest! :) Casey started it in his high school shop class and a neighbor was willing to finish it so that I could have it for our home. I love it. :) I went to Pocatello on Thursday and Casey joined us on Saturday night. Here is a view of what the tree looked like...an explosion basically! We had such a great time in Pocatello with family :) Haha I love this one... Carly is OBSESSED with Justin Bieber, so she was pretty psyched about this doll that Scott gave her. He was pretty excited about this game from Mom & Scott :) He is also wearing his new LA hat from Derek. He got a TON of great stuff this year. :) Our beautiful quilt from Nick & Ellen :) Ellen is so good at making picture quilts! We love it! We are planning on hanging in on a wall, but the only problem is the fact that we have no wall to hang it on... I kind of have a lot of pictures and things, so there really aren't any empty walls in this apartment...oops. One thing about our holiday season that just wasn't fun was all of the sickness...Branden was admitted to the ER and had surgery, and Grandpa Bob spent 11 days in the ICU in Arizona. His heart & lungs are only functioning at 15% and won't get any better, so mom & I took a quick trip down there to see him. It was good to see him :) Our New Year wasn't very exciting at all...I was in a hotel in Mesquite by myself with no service, so I had to Facebook Casey to tell him Happy New Year. Casey was at home alone wondering if I was ever coming back. Let's just hope that the last few weeks of the year aren't indicative of what is to come this year!

A few things that have made me happy lately...

• I felt my nephew kick yesterday! At first he wasn't kicking at all and Aaron said that when he is crying he will just hand him to me and he will probably settle down and be quiet (which I am totally okay with! Who doesn't love holding a little baby!?)...but then he all of a sudden kicked me like 5 times. I was totally psyched about it. It made me excited for the day when I am pregnant and get to experience that feeling. Totally cool. :)
• Nick & the boys have come for a quick visit, so I get to see them!
• It's Christmas Break...oh my. Today was killer subbing. No one wanted to be there...including Mrs. King. :)
• I am going to Pocatello tomorrow! Yay for seeing family! :)

Holiday Q & A

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate for sure... i've never been an egg nog drinker! 2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Well he puts things in our stockings and then usually has one gift outside of the stocking for us (sometimes wrapped, sometimes not). 3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White for sure 4. Do you hang mistletoe? I never have... never even thought about it to be honest! 5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually after Thanksgiving, but this year it was up on November 13th...and I am honestly kind of sad to see all of the decorations go. 6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Hmmm....potatoes of some kind probably? 7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? I have to agree with Aubri...our Christmas Elf was pretty awesome...we had such a magical childhood :) 8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I just kind of stopped believing in him and eventually my mom told me... then we got to help set up the younger sister's stockings :) 9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Usually no...unless we are at Dad's! Then we get our Christmas PJ's. 10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Silver, Black, & Pink...my husband is a trooper! 11. Snow! Love it or dread it? DREAD. I hate snow. I want to move to Arizona pretty much year round, but especially in the winter. Gross. 12. Can you ice skate? Haha I attempt it, but it scares the crap out of me! 13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My first laptop! I was pretty excited about that! I am also a fan of when I get Grey's seasons :) 14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Spending time with family for sure. I don't see mine enough, so it's always great to see family! 15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Hmmm.....cookies probably. I love cookies all year though :) 16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Giving/Receiving 3 gifts because that is what the Savior received. Parents are total geniuses on that one! 17. What tops your tree? We have had the angel before, but I want to get a crown. Is it totally snobby of me to have the last name King and want a crown on my tree? :) 18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Giving for sure... it is so fun to buy gifts for others and watch them open them! 19. Candy canes: yuck or yummy? Meh...not really either. 20. Favorite Christmas show? The Santa Clause :) 21. Saddest Christmas song? Christmas Shoes. Sheesh. Tear jerker that one is. 22. What is your favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night by Josh Groban...that man sings like an angel... no one can sing like he can! I TAG ANYONE WHO READS THIS POST! :) MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I am....

• officially a sub for Davis School District! My background check finally cleared today and I subbed for the first time today! I have another job tomorrow and have 2 of the 3 days next week full!
• still waiting to hear from the job that I interviewed for...the waiting is a killer, but at least I can sub right!?

Temple Lights

We went to see the temple lights with the fam on Sunday! :) It had been 6 weeks since we had seen most of my family, so it was nice to finally get to spend some time with them! I can't wait to go home for Christmas! It's been way too long since I just got to spend time with my family! Yep... I ruined one of the only good pictures by closing my eyes. Fabulous. All of the kids :) Mom took this picture :) isn't it gorgeous!? Young love! :) Aren't they cute?