Brandon's Birthday Party

We were in Walla Walla for Brandon's birthday this year. So we got to celebrate his birthday with my family. I knew Brandon does not care for cake so we decided on some angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream... Yum! Brandon got his gifts from me a little early (I will post pictures of them later I am sure). My family gave him a spedometer for his bike, goldtoe socks, and some beef jerky. Thanks family! Brandon loved all of the gifts.

This is my sister Sharon and her husband Gary holding my littlest sister, Crystal. It was so fun to be able to spend some time with them this Christmas. Sharon and Gary left to go back home (to Utah) monday morning. We miss them already!

Before we left...

Before we left for Walla Walla, I took a few pictures of some of the Christmas decor around our apartment. This is a picture of a nativity I found at a yard sale last fall. I was SUPER ecited about it as we are trying to collect nativities from around the world. We also have a Samoan one that Brandon brought home from his mission to Samoa some years ago.

This year I decorated our tree with little red bows.... making it a girl tree.

And here is the tree all decorated... I am sad to take it down when we get back! I have really enjoyed turning on its lights during the evenings when it is dark. It brings a spark of energy and life to the room when it is lit.

Something Beautiful

I have a lot to catch up on with blogging and all. This last semester was probably one of the busiest semesters I have ever experienced since Brandon and I have been married. One thing is certain- there was never a dull moment. I was very busy working full-time and also taking a finance class. I did not realize how much time that class would require! Let's just say I am VERY glad it is over and I will not be taking a class this next semester because of it.

I feel very blessed as I look back on the happy and the sad moments this year. I will admit that I am looking forward to the New Year. I love Christmas but I think my least favorite time is the period between Christmas and the New Year.... it is like a stalling period. When Christmas is over, I most always want to take everything Christmas-like down right away and make changes to bring in the New Year. However, this year I am enjoying that stalling period I think... It has turned out to be a much needed break.

As for the flowers in this post, they are flowers that Brandon got for me the week before finals of this last semester. He usually gets me flowers the week before finals because he knows that the last few weeks are the hardest for me (and probably every other wife of a law student) to get through, but we made it! Three semesters down and 5 more to go!

New Year's resolution: Survive another two semesters!

Burley, ID Visit

During the Thanksgiving holiday, we were able to spend some time with Brandon's family in Burley, ID. One of my favorite things about visiting Burley is the drive. It is a beautiful drive from Moscow to Boise and we were very fortunate to have clear roads traveling both to and from Burley.

One of our first stops on the way to Burley was in Boise. Just after Brandon and I got engaged (February 2007), Brandon took me out to Tucanos (this was in Provo, UT). We had not been to Tucanos since then. So it was really fun to eat there in Boise. Brandon absolutely LOVES that place. Are you surprised? It is all meat! Tucanos to him is what Olive Garden is to me (food from heaven).

I love this picture because I think it looks like Scottie (nephew) is break dancing.

Brandon's mom is a very talented sewer. One year she made this really cool Twister quilt and the two die that she is rolling in this picture. We like to get it out when the nieces and nephews are over. They love it!

Who is that? Yeah, that is Lee Commard (#24) who played for BYU just last year!!! One of Brandon's relatives had two extra tickets to a basketball game. Supposedly it is a game where a bunch of graduated college ball players work to get drafted for the NBA. It was Boise against a Utah team and we had a blast watching!

At one point during our stay in Burley, I was not feeling well. Brandon surprised me with this cute little lunch. He even brought it to me in bed. I thought it was cute. Thank you sweetheart!

One of the highlights of our visit was going out to eat with two of Brandon's brothers and their families. We ate at a hamburger joint called Steve-O's The food was delicious and I think Brandon's family got too good of a laugh when I pointed out that I had never seen anyone who looked more like a monkey than our waitress (mean, I know... but very true).

Can you guess what this turkey means? The Mini Cassia Turkey Trot happened Thanksgiving morning and yes, we participated! There was no gettin' out of that one for Brandon.

We really did "jog" this race. So we definitely had some steam left to burn at the end..... (watch where we are in relation to the girl in the blue in front of us)

And yes, we did beat that girl. I have too much of that (trying to beat the person in front of you at the end in a full out sprint) left in me from the old days of cross country and track. Boy do I miss running competitively like I used to! Thankfully, I have a husband that will give me a good competitive run and then let me win, barely.

We miss you Burley!!!