December Review

December is over? When did that happen? When did December even happen? I don't remember December actually going on... True story.

Basically nothing happened this month. We had finals. We moved. We struggled to pay bills. We celebrated Christmas. Our new place is still unorganized and chaotic. And that's basically my December. So this post will be incredibly short compared to my other Monthly Review posts.

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The month started out with finals. My finals were incredibly easy this semester and I am so grateful for it. I worked super hard this semester and plan on working even harder this next semester! Here are my final grades for the semester:

Yay me! Passing grades! I really think I can do better by working harder. I'm happy with these grades though. I passed! :)

We moved and I have no pictures of our next place yet because it's not ready to be seen yet. It's a work in progress and I hope we all get settled soon.

And then suddenly it was Christmas. I had a fantastic Christmas! I wrote about it in THIS POST. But we actually did a lot more around Christmas time as well. We went to Zoo Lights, we visited Temple Square Lights, we played countless games, we rode Trax, we hung out with my grandma and Nana, we went to my cousin's baptism, I got my haircut, we ate so much good food and gained lots of weight (much to our enjoyment), and we had a fantastic Christmas break! ...and it's not over yet! We're going to my in-law's condo on New Years to snowboard, for my first time! I'm so nervous and excited! Here are just a few (okay, a lot) pictures from our break so far:

Driving around to see Christmas lights (although Logan doesn't have any)

My favorite Christmas treat: Candy Cane Kisses, BEST CANDY EVER!! 

Finding a house barricaded with snow! 

Going down the stairs Christmas morning to see what Santa brought us!

Christmas!! Yes, we love our onesies! 

Posing with a rhino at Zoo lights!

Zoo lights

More Zoo Lights!

Nativity scenes at Temple Square

The Salt Lake Temple! So beautiful! Also, check out our new coats! 

The temple does the best tree lights. 

Love this temple! 

Light tree

Having fun! 

Oh, and yes, my hat is a cow, and yes, I did get in for Christmas. Thanks Michelle!!! 

Giant Christmas tree!! 

I don't know why I love this picture so much! 

After my haircut my cousin curled my brothers hair. 

He looked so beautiful! ;)

Love you Nick! 

I love my new haircut and my Pikachu shirt! 

For some strange reason this month I've gotten more page views than any other month so far, and for this I am super grateful to you, my readers! You are so fantastic and I love you all! Thank you for making Things I'm Good At my most popular post this month. For me it was very personal and eye opening. I loved writing it and I'm glad you all enjoyed it. Thank you so much for the support you give me! You keep me writing! 

Did you have a good December? What would be in your December Review? Please leave a comment below and tell me all about it! 

THANKS FOR READING!! 

The Best Christmas Ever

My dad says that I use that phrase too much. He says every birthday I say "this is the best birthday ever!" But honestly, every holiday as I get older gets better and better. And while this week's Christmas may not actually have been the "best Christmas ever" it's definitely one I'll remember.

This Christmas was my first Christmas being married to Chris. And that meant change. And when it comes to Christmas, I was NOT ready for change. I wanted MY Christmas. The kind of Christmas I've always had with my family. I wanted to buy all my family members multiple gifts like I always do. I wanted our Christmas Eve sibling sleepover where we read How The Grinch Stole Christmas and watch Santa Claus is Coming to Town. I wanted to spend all day with my family in my pajamas. Because that's the Christmas I knew and loved.

But being married meant I didn't get to do all that. I have a husband now and not only did I have to include him in my plans, but his family as well. I grew very upset when I had this realization last Sunday and may or may not have cried. I loved my husband and his family and I loved spending Thanksgiving with them, but I wanted MY Christmas. And it was becoming clear that wasn't going to happen.

My amazing husband became incredibly selfless (Abnegation ) the second I began expressing how upset I was (possibly with tears). He rearranged his own family plans to make me happy, and I cannot express how happy I am that he did that and also how much I love him. He loves me more than anything and will do anything to make me happy and I owe him so much for letting me have my Christmas.

So Chris arranged his family plans, changed his work schedule, and we were able to drive home Christmas Eve afternoon, as opposed to late at night, to see first his mom, then my family. We spent Christmas Eve with my family and we were able to relive my sibling traditions, like singing "Santa's coming tonight, tonight" every chance we get.

We had shrimp scampi for dinner, and played games with my family, my favorite being 5 Second Rule. Then we all went upstairs for our traditional sibling sleepover, being locked in the bedroom so Santa could come (yes all the siblings are over 18 but does that really change anything?). We read How The Grinch Stole Christmas as a group. We then got into our beds: my brother and sister on the king size bed and Chris and me on a mattress on the floor. We turned on Santa Claus is Coming to Town and slowly went to sleep.

We all woke up around eight and left the bedroom to find our parents, careful not to look into the living room at what Santa brought us. We gathered as a family in the front room and read together the Bible story of Jesus's birth, because that's the reason we celebrate Christmas. Then my dad read a poem that he wrote (which is amazing and I really want to share it on this blog someday) about Christmas and giving. It was fantastic.

Then we got to go downstairs and look at gifts. We dug through our stockings to see what Santa brought us. Santa even had a stocking for Chris with just as many items as the rest of us. Then we all split up the gifts under the tree and handed them out. My family always opens gifts one at a time going youngest to oldest. So Nick opens a gift, then me, then Chris, then Michelle, then mom, and finally dad, and then the cycle starts all over.

We got through two cycles before Chris's missionary brothers called us on Skype. My amazing family waited patiently through our nearly two hour phone call before opening any more gifts. We ate our cinnamon rolls and they watched the Disneyland parade as Chris and I talked to his brothers that we haven't seen in six months. It was such a touching experience.

After the call we were able to open the rest of our gifts. I got so many wonderful things, none of which I asked for (I didn't ask my parents for anything this year). I felt so spoiled and blessed knowing my parents love me, and Chris so much. After opening gifts we played some of the games that we had gotten for Christmas. Then Chris and I got dressed and left my house to go to his parents house.

At the Farnes house we got a second Christmas. We opened up stockings, we opened up gifts, and we had an amazing second Christmas! Again, we felt so spoiled and loved! We ate dinner and played games with Chris's family and had a wonderful night. I was truly happy even if I wasn't with my family, because they are family too.

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We are currently at my parent's house, we haven't gone home to Logan yet and I have much more to write about my Christmas week, but I'm going to wait.

I was seriously doubting this Christmas. I was so upset that things would change. But it ended up being such a wonderful and memorable Christmas! My husband and my in-laws are so incredible and I loved spending half of my Christmas with them! I was being selfish before by not wanting things to change, but I shouldn't have been selfish, I should have been selfless like my sweet husband and made it a special Christmas for him.

I absolutely loved this Christmas! I have been so spoiled and blessed and have felt truly loved by everyone I spent Christmas with. I don't know if it was truly "The Best Christmas Ever" but I loved it and will cherish it in my heart forever. I love my husband and I he did to give me a wonderful Christmas! But most of all, I am grateful for the reason for the season, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Was your Christmas wonderful, unexpected, memorable, special, crazy, etc.??? Please leave a comment below and tell me about your Christmas! 

THANKS FOR READING!! 

The Best Day of Work Ever

At a daycare the kids are adorable and wonderful and just amazing! But bring in Santa Claus and everything doubles!!

We were out in the gym and there's a window to the second floor so the parents can watch on their kids if they want. But today Santa came and stood in the window. The kids went running to the side of the gym all waving up at Santa and his elf friend. It was the most adorable moment ever! We took pictures of the magical Christmas moment.

I was in charge of crafts today and it was a Santa letter. It was so funny to hear what they wanted for Christmas! Such as:

• iPad mini
• Batsuit
• iPhone touch
• Rainbow pony
• A rainbow pony that flies without touching it
• A metal Star Wars Storm-trooper costume

So I'm supposed to sit at the craft table and not leave unless one of my coworkers comes to replace me. So at one point I had to use the bathroom. I had one of my favorite little girls sitting on my lap and she starting moving around more so I told her to stop because I had to go to the bathroom. And the three girls surrounding me immediately shouted "Go to the bathroom!" 

So I laughed and told them I wasn't allowed to leave the table. But they kept yelling and saying that I had to go "RIGHT NOW!" and that I wasn't allowed to pee my pants. Next thing I know, one of the girls is running across the room to one of my coworkers and quickly informs her "The teacher has to go to the bathroom!" So I'm laughing because it's just a ridiculous situation and another coworker comes over laughing and takes my spot at the table. 

Moral of the story is that moms these days are good at teaching their children to go to the bathroom right away and that they shouldn't wait because they aren't allowed to pee their pants. That's a good thing I guess. 

Anyways, best day of work ever! All thanks to Santa Claus! 

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

With one week left till Christmas I feel I should make my Christmas wishes known.

I've been very good this year... well maybe... I failed some classes... and then left school... but I am going back to school next year!! That's good. I haven't completely given up. And I stopped being gothic... sort of. I still wear dark makeup and mostly wear black, but my makeup isn't quite as dark anymore. My eyeliner is technically gray. But my nails aren't black anymore... although I prefer them that way...

Anyways, I've been very good.

So I have a few wishes for Christmas this year. The first one being Christmas itself. Everyone keeps saying the world is going to end...

... but I really enjoy Christmas every year!!! I don't want the world to end before Christmas! And I'm pretty sure every child in the world wants Christmas too. I work with kids, I know a few things. So, yeah? You'll help keep the world from ending? I heard you're in a new movie where you save the world with Chris Pine... ahem, I mean Jack Frost. So you can do it! I believe in you! Besides, I really want to get married to my Christopher, so if the world ends before that happens, I won't be too happy. I'm sure you're tight with our Heavenly Father anyways (Jesus is the reason for the season!) and I know he'd be willing to help out with a good cause.

I want a car for Christmas. And if not a car, then the hope and possibility that I'll get one this upcoming year. My dad has been saying he'll buy me a car for the past three years, and it hasn't happened yet. So if you could just give him a little push that would be great. (and I actually really like the Honda Fit

It doesn't have to be new, but I do love this car.)

Hmm... what else?

Well the usual, clothes, itunes money, shoes, jewelry, etc. I typically have fairly basic needs.

Most importantly I want this to be the best Christmas ever!! With me getting married, this is sort of like my last Christmas with just my family! It has to be perfect! And by perfect, I don't mean tons of gifts or even a single expensive gift (like a car). I just want my family to be together and to be happy and to just enjoy the day together! I have been blessed with the most wonderful family!! Please make it a wonderful Christmas for us!

Thank you Santa for all you do! You really are getting the kids at my work excited. They are very anxious about you coming in on Thursday! Me too. It will be lots of fun!

Thanks again Santa!

Love,

Kaylee