Since my Last Post- Wrapping up 2012

Well, its been a while since I have updated the blog. I have high hopes for getting a little more regular with the posts. Lots of things have happened since October! How about a little recap?

Before October:
Michael and I got back from St. Louis mid-August, just in time for me to start my new campus job in the Howard W. Hunter Law Library. We moved into a more spacious apartment a couple blocks south of Center St. We loved the split-level layout of this apartment, the only downfall was not having a dishwasher. I would joke that Michael was my new dishwasher :) I started my senior year of college and Michael started his 2nd and last year of his MPA. Michael started working for one his professors as a TA/Research Assistant. Life was busy but we tried to savor our last few months of living in Provo, before heading off to who knows where.
October 2012:
This was the middle of fall semester, I can't remember too much of what was happening. I do remember that we made the switch from the family ward to the married student ward (or it could have been September). Either way, it was a much better fit for us and where we were in life. We really loved our time in the Provo Married Student 33rd ward. Just wish we could have been in it longer than 7 months! The first activity we went to was the Halloween party. Michael and I had threw together some last minute costumes and had fun dressing up as Shawn and Juliet from the TV show Psych.

We were also able to spend a couple days in Huntsville. Michael's niece came with us for a night- she helped us decorate the house for Christmas, we made cookies, played lots of Candyland and called vegetables by their Spanish name to trick her into eating them (it kind of worked). 

November 2012:
We bought a new car this month! We found a great deal on a dark gray, 2008 Hyundai Elantra. In true Michael fashion, it needed a name, we settled on Glinda (like in Wicked). 6 month's later we are still happy with our purchase! Later that afternoon I headed to Salt Lake City to go shopping at the City Creek Mall with Courtney and Jessica. Love these girls, and our monthly girls days!!

Can't remember much more that we did this month except enjoy a few days off for Thanksgiving. We spent a few days in Huntsville, and enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at Michael's sister's house in Ogden. My one request for Black Friday shopping was an artificial Christmas tree (our first real tree since being married). Michael and I shopped around and found a great deal at K-Mart and they were even open Thursday night so we didn't even have to get up early and brave the crowds on Friday. Score! Misty and Kiara came up on Friday and helped us rake leaves at the house. It was definitely nice to have the extra hands...there were lots of leaves!

December 2012:
December brought the end of another semester at BYU. We also celebrated our 2nd Anniversary on the 18th. We didn't do much, just both took work off and spent the whole day together! It was quiet and simple, the way we like it. Michael thought it would be fun to go out to eat for every meal. It ended up being just lunch and dinner since we decided to sleep in, but it was nice not to have to cook at all! We went to a favorite Chinese restaurant of ours on Center St. for lunch. Then spent some time walking the mall, getting my wedding ring cleaned, and enjoyed a redbox movie at home. We had hoped to try a new sandwich place for dinner, but of course it was also the night of their work Christmas party and so they had closed early. We settled for some yummy burgers and fries from Burger Supreme. A few days later we headed to Logan for Michael's younger brother's wedding. We headed up to Huntsville the night before right after, and then traveled the rest of the way the next morning. It was nice to be able to spend some time with Tanna and the kids and my Grandma before the wedding festivities began that evening.

2nd Anniversary...it was a snowy day! 

Huntsville Patio...we made a big pot of soup for the wedding, but need it to cool down before putting it in the fridge for the night. It was plenty cold outside so Michael decided to surround it with snow. It worked! 

Evan joined us to go visit my Grandma, we also took a trip to the Pepperidge Farm outlet store and got some snacks for our upcoming roadtrip to CA. He picked out some cookies for his family and decided on the plainest ones they sell- Chessmen. Michael and I were totally expecting him to pick something with chocolate. He also prefers just vanilla ice cream...I think he takes after my Dad :) 

 That night after the wedding we drove back to Provo, finished up some last minute packing, hit the sack around 1 am and then woke up around 6 the next morning to drive to CA for the rest of our Christmas break. I am disappointed that I didn't take more pictures of our trip. Some highlights were: Bowling with Spencer, Anie, and their kiddos and Bailey, Christmas Eve shopping with my Dad and Corinne, Japanese dinner with the Tao's, going to the Rose parade on New Year's morning, Downton Abbey marathons with Mom and Corinne, testing out my new sewing machine, meeting the family for lunch at 5 Guys, hiking the overlook hike at Sycamore Canyon with Michael, Chloe and my Mom, one last trip to the Sand Hill along Hwy 1 the night before we left to head back to UT.

CA Tournament of Roses Parade! Nearly front row seats and a great view!  

This is turning into a REALLY long post. This wraps up 2012- I think I will save the first few months of 2013 for another post :)