On the Road

We have had a busy Christmas break and a lot of it has been on the road.
Nate finished school on the 15th, I finished teaching on the 16th, then we headed south to Poky on the 17th.
Moscow-Poky: 556 Miles.

The 1st week of Christmas break consisted of relaxing, sleeping in, spending time with family and grandparents, shopping, and preparing for Christmas day.
This week was needed since the week after Christmas would be spent on a road trip.

Christmas Eve was spent with the Nielson's.
Dinner consisted of ham and potato casserole with warm homemade rolls.
We then had a little program. We read Christmas stories and sang Christmas songs.

Christmas Day was split between the Nielson's and Cuoio's.
The morning was spent with the Nielson's.
We started the day off going to church.
We then indulged ourselves with pumpkin waffles.
Opening presents came next.

This year, I was surprised with the presents I received.
The past couple of years I have picked out most of my presents but this year I did not really know what I wanted so I left it up to my mom and Nate to find me things.

My first pair of toms

I cannot wait to use my new cast iron pot!
Nate had no ideas for presents either.
He received money...
and more money... He was excited!

The kids showing off clothes and my new boots.

Christmas afternoon was spent with the Cuoio's.
We enjoyed dinner and opening presents with the whole family.
We came away with money, clothes, a fun black and white camera and a photo/history book about the Cuoio family. No photos:(

Now for our long Road Trip.
Started in Pocatello and headed south for Las Vegas: 590 Miles.
We spent Monday Evening-Thursday Morning in Vegas with the Nate's parents, Andrew and Camille.
We enjoyed
the Australian Bee Gees.
the circus.
It was my first circus and I was very entertained.
Nate loved this guy. He did a routine with a whip.

the Cosmo.

walking the strip with the lights.


On Thursday Morning we headed to Sacramento to spend the weekend with the Nielson's.
Vegas to Sacramento: 559 Miles.
Thursday night we went to the Sacramento Kings vs. Chicago Bulls basketball game.
We watched Jimmer and Derrick Rose go head to head and Derrick totally won.

Before the game we watched the teams warm up.
Jimmer is going in.
Derrick Rose at the line.
He was really fast.
He was amazing to watch.
He made playing basketball look so easy.
Friday we went to Fairfield, CA.
Sacramento-Fairfield: 42.8 miles.
We spent the morning at the Jelly Bean Factory.
There are a lot of pictures made out of jelly beans. Did you know Jelly Beans became famous because of Ronald Reagan.

That afternoon we shopped.

In the evening we attended another wedding reception for Cole and Sara.
Nate was this happy to be thereAs the night went on, he cheered up.

Saturday we went to San Francisco.
Fairfield to San Fran and back: 94.8 Miles.
We started off at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Then Lombard Street
(the crookedest street in the world)

We then headed to Fishermans' Wharf for some clam chowder and shrimp.
Pier 39 was next.
Alcatraz not too far from Pier 39
Our last stop of the day was Union Square to look around and shop.
They had a Macy's in two buildings with 6 stories each.
All the merchandise was overwhelming.
How does someone choose what to buy when there is so much to choose from?

Union Square has some interesting people.
Actually San Fran has a lot of interesting people.
They dress up to make money.
Angel dude.
That evening we headed back to Fairfield to ring in the New Year at Sara's house.
We ate good food, Nate played b-ball and noodle hockey, and I did some dancing before midnight struck.

Nate bought these lovely glasses in Vegas to help ring in the New Year.
They were a hit.

On Sunday we hit the road back to Poky.
Fairfield- Poky: 740 Miles.

In a few days we will make our way back north to Moscow.
Poky to Moscow: 556

At the end of our Christmas break we will have traveled 3,138.6 miles + all the miles driving in the cities.

There was a lot of time spent on the road this Christmas but we have enjoyed spending time with both families.
Once we get back to Moscow we will hibernate from driving long distances for the semester.

We love weddings

October and November consisted of weddings on the Nielson side.

Derek and Cole found amazing girls.
They are wonderful. We love them both!

The weddings took place in the Salt Lake Temple.
Both days were chilly but they were beautiful.

In October, Derek and Alli were married. I already posted about this but I am going to post photos from the photographer.

It's official.
Love this one.
Reception
We love dancing!
November was Cole and Sara's wedding.
They were married the weekend before Thanksgiving and the celebrating lasted for a week.
There was a dinner the night before their marriage, a reception in North Salt Lake on the wedding day and then the next week their was a reception in Pocatello.

Bridals

Wedding Dinner

The Happy Couple

Utah Reception
First dance
Grandpa Stratford with the couple.

My cousin Ella
The day after the wedding, my parents took us to Grand America for brunch.
They have the best brunch.
The food is top notch.
Way too much food was eaten but it was delicious.
The happy newlywed couple also joined us.

The growing family
Between bites, we laughed.
Adored Noah.
Enjoyed one another.

Pocatello Reception
My mom sure knows how to decorate.
Mom's creamed pie.

Noah with his new tie I made him.
There was a lot of celebrating these past couple of months.
We enjoyed spending time with family and are grateful for the new additions to our family.

Give Thanks

November is the month to be thankful.
Not that we shouldn't be grateful all the time but I think it is more on our minds
during the month of November.

This semester, Nate and I have been blessed with some great opportunities that are occurring now and in the future.
We are Grateful for these opportunities that have come to us.
We are very blessed.

Blessing #1.
In September, Nate tried out for the Mock Trial team.
It was more work than he thought it would be and he often wondered why he did it?
In the end, it was worth it and he made the team!
He actually made the Boise team, which means we will be heading to Boise for Nate's 3rd year of Law School.
Being on the team will give Nate the opportunity to put what he is learning into action before he actually graduates and applies for jobs.
It is like hands on experience.
We are excited to move but I think it will be hard to leave Moscow.
As I live in Moscow longer, and the more friends I meet, the more I like it and it will be sad to leave a place that we consider home.
However, being in Boise will allow us to be closer to family (we might actually have visitors!), be in a bigger city with more things to do, have better shopping, and more restaurants to choose from.

Blessing #2.
A couple of weeks ago, Boise City Attorney's offered Nate and internship for this upcoming summer.
We could not be more grateful for this opportunity.
Finding out so early about an internship has allowed us to relax.
No more worrying about if Nate will get an internship or not.
Nate is really excited and thinks it will be a great learning experience.

Blessing #3.
As you may or may not know, I am a substitute teacher in Moscow and Lewiston.
It has been a good job for me because I choose if I want to work or not (Nate might not like this but believe I still need some of my own time).
When I first started I thought I would only work in Lewiston when my mentor
teacher needed a sub and try and get the majority of my jobs here in Moscow.
Well that plan has not worked out so well.
I have only subbed in Moscow 4 times and 3 of those times have been PE and all but one have been half day.
Lewiston, on the other hand, contacts me weekly to sub.
So, I do a lot of driving, which doesn't help with the pay.
I do, however, get to see the sun rising over the hills, which is amazing and beautiful!
But a great blessing has come from working.

The blessing that has come out of working is this:
When I need more days to work,
I pray and ask that I will have opportunities to work.
Without fail, the next day I am called.
When I get those calls in the morning, I often want to say no because I want to sleep but how can I say no when my prayer was answered.
It has strengthened my testimony of prayer and that my Heavenly Father hears and answers my personal prayers.
It has been a miracle in my life.

Blessing #4.
This week I was given a long-term substitute position in Lewiston.
I will be subbing for my mentor teacher so I will be teaching 2 of the same classes
I taught last year as well as 2 new classes.
I start on the 14th of November and I will teach till Christmas break.
It will be a lot of work because I will be doing lesson planning but I am grateful for this chance I have to work, to get more experience and to keep me busy.
It will also be nice to have a little more money coming into the bank account.

This month.
And every month after.
Live in Thanksgiving Daily.
Even for the small things.
That make my life beautiful.

Halloween

Have you ever been in a flash mob?

I have.

On Halloween night.

We danced to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

In front of a hundred people.

I cannot believe I did it.

But I did.

Here is proof.

Did you see Cat Woman?

Photo from the Halloween party we went to the week before Halloween.
The one where we won best costume!

Moscow friends!

Guess Who?

Can you guess who my husband decided to be for a Halloween Party?

By the way, I whipped out my mad sewing skills to make his mask, cape and booties.

"Catwoman"

FYI: We won best costume...and a dance off.
It was pretty amazing.

If you guessed Nate was a luchador...
you are a winner!

I need one of these...

One of the best parts about going home for 10 days was spending time with Noah.
He was such a good baby and didn't even wake me up at night. (thanks!)
Feeding him, changing his diaper, giving him baths, rocking him to sleep, and trying to make him smile made me fall more in love with him!


He is adorable.
He is beautiful.
He is so fun.
I absolutely love him.
And I am pretty sure he loves me.


I need a Noah for myself.
Noah...next month you need to spend lots and lots of time with
Uncle Nate so he will want a Noah, too.

Wedding Fun: Part 1

At the end of September I went home to help my mom prepare for Derek and Alli's wedding.

It felt like I did more for this wedding than my own wedding.

A week before the wedding there was an open house in Pocatello.
My mom took on the stressful job of making all the food and decorating.
She is so talented at envisioning what a party should look like.
She really made the yard look beautiful for the open house.
The wonderful 90 degree weather also helped.
(wish we could of had that kind of weather for my own reception)

The yard and decorations.

My mom ordered the hydrangeas online.
They arrived bigger than what my mom expected but they were amazing!

The food was displayed beautifully.

Chocolate cupcakes, pumpkin bars, oatmeal bars, caramel apples,
turkey and ham sandwiches with this amazing spread on top,
huckleberry popcorn, strawberries, and grapes.
The food was amazing!

The happy couple!

More to come of the wedding in Salt Lake!