It's That Time of Year....

Merry Christmas!

Well, here we are almost near the end of another year. It is hard to believe that 2014 is right around the corner!

While this year has been fairly quiet for the both of us it has also been a little chaotic. Here is just a few highlights of our year...

I graduated from UCMT in May and again in August when I completed the Master body worker program. I have been working at Massage Envy as a Licensed Massage Therapist since June and love working with the clients that I have. 

We made a few adventures to the zoo this year. One of the highlights was being able to see the Lego display of various animals. The picture that you see is one of those creations. It is life size and has way to many white Legos for me to remember the exact number...needless to say it was a big number!!!

We also ventured out, with some really awesome friends, to the Salt Lake County fair or whatever its technical name is. This was both fun and a let down since it rained most of the day and made things a little soggy to really enjoy it. Here you see our view from atop the Ferris wheel looking over the damp surroundings. Hopefully if we go next year, it won't be near as wet. 

A big thing for us this year, was this bad boy. Yes, we bought a car (because, well leasing wasn't exactly an option due to mileage). We love the Honda CR-V and it has already come in handy with Mark's and mine schedules. Plus, I don't have to walk to work anymore which is a good thing because right after we bought it, the weather got nasty and cold and wet...I digress. Having this vehicle makes it easier to take trips (it has cruise control!!!!) and to allow myself to take my massages on the go because my table will fit in the back! Now, the only problem is, we fight over who gets to drive it...

A few months ago, Mark and I decided that we would make it a goal to attend the temple at least once a week. We had been great at this until the holidays hit, not to mention a few of the temples have been closed for maintenance and cleaning til the end of the year. One day we decided that we would go. It was on a Monday and most of the temples around here are closed, except for a select few like Salt Lake and Provo. Well, we decided that we would hit up the Provo temple and do a session. We drove all the way down there just to find out it was closed for maintenance and cleaning too! So since we were all dressed up and no where to go so to say, we decided we would go and look at a few of the temples the church was building. The picture above is of the Payson temple. It looks like it will be beautiful when it is completed. Aren't most of them beautiful though? We also stopped by the Provo Center Temple that day as well.

(not my picture. credit to www.heraldextra.com)

But the trip wasn't a complete bust, I did get my first visit to an actual  Krispy Kreme store. Yeah, there is something to be said about a freshly made, warm off the belt Krispy Kreme doughnut. YUMMY!

Guess who got a new calling in church? Mark did. OK so maybe it wasn't to the nursery (I just liked the meme) but he did help the bishop get tithing settlement done because he is now the Executive Secretary! That is right folks, he went from the frying pan (ward mission leader) to the fire and been roasting there for about a month give or take. He seems to be enjoying it, even though it does take up a little bit more of his time but I am excited for him! As for me, they have me playing the organ of all things. I know hell has frozen over...

One of the funnest things we have done this year was going to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This was my second time seeing them live and Mark's first. We had amazing seats and enjoyed just feeling and seeing the awesomeness that is TSO. If you haven't seen one of their shows in person, you need to go if you have the opportunity to. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. 

This was also the first year we had a tree. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but to me it was. It ushered in the spirit of the season and allowed us to really start our own Christmas traditions that we want to carry on for our kids. 

But among the trips and adventures and Christmas, I believe the biggest highlight of the year has been the celebration of our one year anniversary. Can you believe it has been one year already! It seems like an eternity and yet both of us are still alive (we haven't killed each other yet)! 

Needless to say the year has been filled with its ups and downs, mostly ups though and we are looking forward to an equally exciting 2014. Thank you all for the love and support you all have shown us this past year. We love you all!