Here is the latest update on my life:
In November, Sam and I traveled to Lake Jackson for Addy's 1st birthday. We loved getting the chance to visit Mary and Colton's new home. Addy had an adorable birthday party with a smash cake that Mary decorated herself. And we got to go to the beach!
Later in November, Sam and I went to Austin with our friends Ricky and Ali. They had never explored Austin before so we took them around town and had some adventures of our own. That night we went to the Light's Festival which was a very neat experience. I would definitely do it again! We went to a large clearing where there was live music and food trucks and tiki lights lit. We each had a lantern and were given a marker to write a wish on the lantern. Then we lit the lantern's and let them fly into the sky. Watching all the lanterns in the sky was a wonderful experience!
"I love you so much"
We went to lunch at "Gordoughs". They make everything with doughnuts! But not just sweet doughnuts, they are savory doughnuts.
Sams burger with a doughnut bun.
My club sandwich with a doughnut bun.
At the Lights festival waiting for the "lighting" to start
Sitting around, eating snacks and talking while listening to the music
Lighting the lanterns
Letting go
Sam and I spent thanksgiving here in San Antonio with my family. Elaine (my aunt) and her children, as well as Colton, Mary and Addy. Mary, Elaine and I divided up the cooking responsibilities and we all feasted on a delicious meal.
Sam playing at our Ward's turkey ball on Thanksgiving morning.
We went to dinner with Mary and Colton the day after Thanksgiving (their wedding anniversary). It was fun getting to spend this time with them.
And then all of the sudden, it was December! I was so excited to put up our Christmas tree! Sam and I were given 5 beautiful ornaments as wedding gifts, and for a week or two, that's all we had on the tree. My mother in law (Connie) sent Sam and I a care package with Christmas decorations for our home as well as some ornaments from when Sam was a child.
My husband attempting to teach me how to play "Magic the Gathering"
One Friday Night, Date Night, Sam and I decided to go to Windcrest to see the lights. We had gone there last year with friends and it was RIGHT after our first date when Sam had held my hand. We hadn't even talked about what had happened (holding hands) and it was an incredibly awkward time. But Sam ended up putting his arm around me (because we were squished in the car). It was fun reminiscing about those memories.
We came upon a house with the largest real mistletoe ball in Texas. I made Sam pull over the car so he could kiss me under the mistletoe. Fun Fact: This was the first kiss under mistletoe for both of us :)
We went to a few ward Christmas parties. Our ward had a Christmas brunch and most people showed up in their pajamas. I thought it was put together really well! We watched a video of the nativity, sang carols, ate pancakes and breakfast casseroles, and then decorated gingerbread houses.
Ward Christmas Party
When we entered the building, they had a photo booth set up. SO FUN!
One weekend night, Sam and I decided to have a sleepover in our living room. We put our air mattress in the living room and watched Christmas movies and eventually fell asleep with the Christmas tree lit. Such a fun night!
Of course we had to visit the Riverwalk to see the Chrsitmas Lights. I wonder if I'll ever get tired of visiting the riverwalk?
Sam admitted to me that he has never been to a drive-in movie theatre. Like Ever! This shocked me. Going to the drive-in was such a big part of my childhood. So one friday, for date night, we went to the drive-in which is in New Braunfels. I think its pretty cool that it's open year round, because i'm used to it being a seasonal thing. Oh Texas! We went and bought movie theater candies from the store and got Cane's chicken for dinner. We watched the new Star Wars movie (Rogue One) and loved it! It was so fun munching on our goodies while we watched the movie.
A friend of ours, Jared, graduated from UTSA. We went with a group of friends to the graduation. I forgot how LONG graduation ceremonies can be. I just kept thinking, I'll get to do this again in May for Sam. Yay! Sam and his friends, being the good friends that they are, screamed "you dumb idiot" when Jared walked on the stage. Jared appreciated that. Boys are weird.
After the ceremony, we went to Whataburger for dinner and then went to Jared's house to go caroling in his neighborhood. Im glad I asked to go home and change first because a cold front came in while we drove home and the temperature dropped like 40 degrees!!! It was freezing! So we only ended up caroling to one house and then sang while we walked back to the house and then played games. :)
December 19th was our one year anniversary from our first date to six flags. We had planned to go back to Six Flags to celebrate, but the weather was SO COLD! So we just had a "normal day" instead. Sam however, decided to buy me roses and get me a super sentimental card saying that this has been the best year of his life and that "we belong together". I couldn't agree more!
About a week before Christmas, I got a suprise call from Maria saying that she was in San Antonio and wanted to come visit me! I was so excited. She came by my apartment and I got to meet her cute new puppy. It was so fun sitting and chatting and catching up. I realized she and I haven't been able to do that in ages! It was such a nice surprise!
For Christmas this year, we spent it here in Texas with our Hazen family. We left work on thursday and traveled up to Austin to stay at Sam's parents house. Connie really outdid herself with the decorations. The house was BEAUTIFUL! I made Sam give me a tour of all the Christmas decorations...and I took pictures to I can share with ya'll. :)
A better picture of the size of the tree.
The "candy tree" conveniently placed in the breakfast nook next to all of our Christmas snacks/goodies that we snacked on the whole time.
Christmas Gun. Just kidding. This is just a normal gun that happens to be super fancy. But we DID use it to blow up our gingerbread houses...so I'll call it the Christmas gun. :)
The "family history" tree, All of the ornaments are pictures of family members. Past and present. So fun.
Sam giving me the Christmas Decoration Tour. Smile Sam!
The stockings placed along the fireplace.
And it wouldn't be complete without a NATIVITY!!!
That night, when Neils and Kelly got into Austin, we all packed into "the van" (Vince and Connie borrowed a commercial van from a friend. I wish I had a picture of it...it was wild!) and went to Zilker Park to see the Trail of Lights. We ate at food trucks and rode a carousel and Ferris wheel. It was a pretty fun family activity and definitely got me in the "Christmas spirit".
Neils and Kelly on the Ferris Wheel
Sam and I on the Ferris Wheel
The view of the Austin Skyline
The next day, we went to the State Capitol building (where I took my bridal pictures) and listened to Tubas play Christmas Carols. Afterward we went to do our first Challenge (1 of 5) for the Hazen Family Challenge. We played miniature golf. The rest of the challenges included : bowling, Gingerbread house decorating, Christmas trivia, and a minute to win it type obstacle course. There were cash prizes for 1,2, and 3 place for each challenge and then also for the overall top three winners. The overall winner won a real silver cup ( Which can be seen on the fireplace in the fireplace picture above). Neils Won. Sam got third place. It was a lot of fun! But next year that Silver cup will be in our home ;)
Sam LOVES to pester the cat.
On Saturday, We went to see a gingerbread house display to get some motivation for our own gingerbread houses that we would be decorating later that day. It was a story book themed display. I loved it!
Here is MY gingerbread house... I won third place. Our decorating was interrupted a few times due to going out to lunch with some of Neils and Sam's old high school friends, as well as setting up chairs at the church building for church the next day, but they all turned out so well!
This is Hattie's gingerbread house...she won 1st place of course. It was amazing!
On Saturday night, Christmas Eve, We had a "Back to Bethlehem Dinner". We ate Mediterranean food outside by the fire. I tried a lot of new foods. Some of the food was familiar, like Matza, hummus, lamb, grape juice, and fig newtons, but all the other food was new to me. All of us women wore scarves to make it more authentic. Oh, and we ate off of wooden plates and bowls.
The Ladies
Wearing one of Connie's scarves that she got from one of their many travels.
Our "Back to Bethlehem" feast!
The fireplace
My plate with all the different food items.
The Next day was CHRISTMAS DAY!!!! We had a delicious breakfast and then got dressed to go to Church. After church, we came back to open our stocking and presents. I was spoiled. Sam was spoiled. And everyone liked the gifts we got them. It was a success!
We all had a lazy Christmas day, in our matching Christmas jammies that Connie bought for all of us. and the later that night we had our Christmas Feast. PRIME RIB!!!
Christmas table setting
My meal. Yes. I took a picture.
One of my favorite gifts was this picture of Christ. It's so beautiful! I had been wanting a large picture of Christ to hang in our home and this is one of my favorites!
On Monday, or was it Tuesday? The days are starting to mesh in my mind...we traveled to visit the Ranch to see the progress on the ranch house. It's coming along so nicely. Every time I visit, I'm just in awe of how big it is and how cool its going to be when its completed.
Sam and I taking in the view.
The lower part of the ranch below the house
We also, shot our gingerbread houses. They had boxes of Tannerite next to them which helped them to explode.
Vince teaching me how to use the gun.
Finding my target.
My house had the smallest amount of Tannerite and this was all that was left!?!
That night Sam and I traveled back to San Antonio to start work again the next day. Back to real life.
Jumping back into work again was hard but I also started working PRN as well so it was even more difficult. Longer days. But that means better pay checks right?
For New Years Eve, our friends Mike and Ally, invited us to share New Years Eve with them and their children and Ricky and Ali. We all brought yummy food and played "Just dance" and other games and then watched fireworks (New years eve fireworks are a much bigger deal in Texas than the fourth of July...because its not the dry season)
Watching Fireworks
A pink Firework Exploding behind us
This is the time for reflections and goals.
I'm sitting here thinking about my past year. This has been one of the happiest years of my life. I found my best friend and fell in love. I gained a new family and I traveled to new places. 2016 has been good to me.
Hopefully 2017 will be good too. I'm looking forward to the adventures that lie ahead. :)
