First Day Back at School

So, today was my first day back at school since October. A little background, I worked as a substitute teacher back in Utah before we moved, because we were moving only 3 months into the school year I couldn't sign on for another year of teaching :( And, boy do I miss it. I miss seeing the kids everyday, interacting with other teachers, and just all of it. Of course it was a stressful job, and took A LOT of time, but I miss it.

Like I said, today was my first day back at school since then. I am a TA for a preschool here in Colorado. It is not the job that I particularly wanted, but it was what I really needed. That is not to say that I don't like it, because I really do like it. The main teacher is way nice, the other TA is nice also and it's really easy going. It's totally for me :)

I cannot wait until I can get an interview in for next school year. This TA position is a blessing, and exaclty what I/we needed right now so that I had something to occupy my day :) The Lord totally knew that for my sanity and Josh's, I needed a job that was going to just be enough to occupy my time, but still give us, "us" time we need with all these changes we've had! The Lord is so awesome that way!

Merry Christmas!

We had a great Christmas! Josh and I drove to my parents' house for Christmas morning, and then drove down to Josh's parents for another "Christmas morning." We had such a great time. The drive wasn't too bad, we brought movies to occupy the 7 and a half hour drive... We enjoyed ourselves a ton at my parents' house playing Wii, watching movies, visiting with friends and family and just enjoying being with the fam। Josh surprised me with a Wii for Christmas (little did I know there was more to come)... I was so excited because I had been wanting one for a while now!

The Christmas Tree at my parents' house

Josh and I on Christmas morning

Um... I guess I get into boxing a little on the Wii, huh? Hehe
We drove down to his parents' house a few days later for our Christmas morning there, and had a blast again! My husband is so awesome and totally surprised me with the CUTEST gift ever. He got me a beagle puppy. His name is Gus, and he is so fun! We had been talking about getting one, but kept going back and forth so we just both agreed to just wait, and see when would be a good time. Well, a friend of Josh's was having beagle puppies (which is what we wanted), and he had it all planned out and bought one from them like a month ago or something, and they just took care of him until we got down there. I still get so excited thinking about how well he surprised me (he's really good at them, so it doesn't really surprise me that he did so well at keeping it secret). I am so excited because he will keep me company when he is gone for work... our bird just wasn't cutting it... hehe. We had such a great time with the family down there... playing Wii (of course), EATING, playing with Gus, and just visiting with the fam and getting caught up!

My very first time meeting Gus. Josh hid him in the laundry room and I had to go on a mini scavenger hunt for him...

Another ravishing game of boxing on the Wii

I was super excited for the sleep sound my sister-in-law got for me!

This was the funniest book that Josh's brother got for their sister who is pregnant! We obvisouly found it funny!

On the drive home (9 hours with lots of breaks for little Gus), we were talking about how great this Christmas was। We had such a great time with family and feel really blessed that we got to celebrate this awesome season with the ones we love!

Yum... Cookies

So, we are leaving for my parents' house for Christmas tomorrow morning... There are lots of things I still need to get done. One of which is making some delicious cookies. There is this wonderful place called "Paradise Bakery" and they have these amazing sugar cookies (along with other yummy ones). I was bored one night when Josh was gone for work, so I decided to do an oh-so-successful google search for the recipe of those cookies... and... I found it :)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup powdered sugar

2 cups shortening

3/4 teaspoon vanilla

1 large egg, beaten

4 1/3 cups cake flour (*important*)

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Plain or colored sugar, for decorating

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, cream together sugars and shortening using an electric mixer. Mix on slow speed 30 seconds, then scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Increase speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes.Slowly add vanilla and beaten egg while mixing.In a separate bowl, combine cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mixing on slow speed until just blended. Do not overmix. Scoop with an ice cream scoop and roll in sugar. Place on baking sheet. Flatten slightly with palm of hand. Bake 9 to 10 minutes. Cookies are done when small cracks appear and are pale golden. Ideally, do not let edges brown.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

I have made this a couple of times... and it is so important to follow it exactly... They are pretty delicious!

Merry Christmas!!

Well, Here We Are

I have no idea how to really do this blogging stuff, but I thought it would be fun for us to stay caught up with friends and family while we are here in Colorado :)