Christmas Time in Arizona

Well, we survived Christmas all on our own! Since I had to work Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas, there wasn't time for us to go home :( so we had Christmas all on our own! Just the two of us! It was splendid! We didn't really miss the snow (well I didn't) and we got to relax all day. Of course it wouldn't be Christmas day without some monkey bread, so I made sure to make some first thing when we woke up. 

 The tree on Christmas day! 

 Austin really wanted to be in charge of sorting all the presents in to piles, so while I worked on the monkey bread he made the piles. 

 We got lots of goodies including a new Christmas sweater for church...

 new basketball shorts... 

 a surprise gift! 

 That's right a Dewalt sander haha He hadn't asked for one, but I thought it would be a fun gift for both of us. He gets another Dewalt and I get a sander for crafts! 

 So I ended up buying all my Christmas presents this year, all but one. Austin surprised me with one awesome gift! I had no idea it was coming :) He is such a trickster! 

 A new coach wallet! 

 My other favorite gift... my new boots! I bought these boots back on Thanksgiving break and have been dying to wear them for the last month! 

 Last but not least, new iphones! This was by far Austin's favorite gift. Going from a three year old blackberry to a new iphone was quite the change for Austin. 

 Ready for Christmas church! 

 The one good picture we got together on Christmas :) 

 Then today I was so exited to wear my new boots that Austin insisted we take a picture. 

We really did have a great Christmas, just the two of us. Now that I can actually take a few days off from work, my family is coming down! Hooray for the holidays!

I Love Traditions

It's that time of year again when Austin and I make sugar cookies! It is something we started back when we were dating, and every year we have a little holiday date night while making and decorating cookies together! I think the only reason we really stick to this tradition every year is because these are Austin's favorite sugar cookies, and it's the only time he get them! I still love doing it though :) Austin really helped out this year! Usually I make everything and then Austin joins in the decorating, but this year he was there through the whole process.

Getting ready to roll out the dough

 Almost there...

 Lookin' good! 

 This was my favorite cookie :) 

 Santa will love these cookies ;D haha 

I sure love the Christmas season, almost as much as I love date nights with my husband! 

Christmas Time is Here!

I'm not gonna lie, I haven't really been in the Christmas spirit lately! With the weather being in the sunny 70's it just wasn't feeling like Christmas. Well then today a cold front blew in and it really is starting to hit me that it's December!

I added a feather boa to the tree this year. Austin doesn't like it much because it sheds feathers, but I think it looks like snow! 

Thanksgiving

After enjoying a short trip to Litchfield, we spent the rest of the break just hanging out around Arizona. It's sad to say but it didn't really feel like much of a break for me... We had to stay so I could work the wonderful madness of Black Friday (never again will I do that!), but fortunately we had a visitor to keep us company! I was so sad that I didn't take many pictures over the break but we still had an awesome time! On Thanksgiving day we had our own little dinner with some med school friends. Josh and Bonnie were nice enough to host it at their house. We had tons of food and it was good to get together with everyone! That night I went in to work the midnight madness as the mall called it. It truly was an eye opening experience.

I did manage to get two pictures with Ashley the last day she was here. After working all day Friday, I took Saturday off and we did a little shopping around Scottsdale Fashion Square. We also had to stop by Sprinkles Cupcakes before she left.

We really did have an awesome time with Ash, and we were so happy she wanted to be down here with us for Thanksgiving!

Litchfield in Pictures

Last Friday Austin & I took a quick trip back to Litchfield. I was sad it wasn't longer, but with my job I have to be around during the holidays. Here is an overview of our trip in pictures...

Austin made me stop and take these pictures because he says when he thinks of Litchfield, this is what comes to mind :)

Of course it wouldn't be a trip to Litchfield without going to Wal-Mart! They had Cardinals stuff everywhere! Austin made me take a picture with it... so rude! 

 We also had to visit Cassie while we were out and drop by some flowers :) 

Yes I hear from Austin all the time that Route 66 runs through Litchfield! I finally snapped a picture.

We love how Steve and Diane's house is nestled in the woods like this!  So pretty

 And we got to try out Steve & Diane's rope swing this time around! 

 Underdog!! 

I got to ride the new reindeer at Wade & Debbie's house! (Good thing Wade didn't see me do this or else I might have been in big trouble!) 

On Monday we took a trip to Springfield and stopped by the new store, Scheels. It's kind of like a Cabella's, or Bass Pro Shop but this one had a ferris wheel inside, a huge fish tank, and tons of games. It was crazy! 

Austin got a Rams hat. I think this was the highlight of the trip for him! 

 House divided haha 

 Get em' Steve! 

 Cheese :D 

 Austin's favorite... the Ram! 

 We had to test out the Nascar racing while we were there! 

While we were in Springfield we also had to stop by Steak 'n Shake. Another one of Austin's favs! I got myself an eggnog shake. So good! 

 Chunk!

Tuesday was our last day there, and before we left we got to go with Wade to the stake temple day. Austin's grandma, aunt and uncle were there too! I had never been to the St. Louis temple. I was a great day :) 

We had such a fun trip! It really was too short... but we kept the fun going with Wade! He came back with us to Arizona. Of course we had to take him to our favorite spot... On The Border! We take everyone there :D

Thanks to Austin's family for such an enjoyable time!