Finally, it's Christmas Time!

There are so many reasons to LOVE Christmas! Not only do I get excited for Christmas in July but when it is finally here in December--nothing is better. I love the snow, the lights, the songs, the family, and this year I have a new reason...NO WORK! Being a teacher has its perks and holiday breaks is most definitely one of them. After Thanksgiving break I only had to teach three weeks and now I am free to do as I please{but the last day of school was a crazy one}. I have two whole weeks to look forward towith Adam because he took the week off with me. Adam and I have already been enjoying ourselves.

For starters we woke up at nine, nine! It is such a treat to sleep in. But sleeping in wasn't what made me so happy. What made me so happy was the snow that coated the ground when we woke up. Then we had breakfast at Adam's parents house this morning. If you haven't heard about Adam's father, Dave's, breakfasts then you must not know us very well. Dave is an amazing breakfast cook. He made us pancakes and eggs. You are probably thinking pancakes and eggs--what's so special about that. My reply is everything! They are to die for. If you don't believe me you'll have to try them next time with us.

{Adam and I in the rhino getting ready to go for a ride.}

After breakfast we played in the snow. We tied a tug rope to the rhino(like a 4 wheeler) and pulled kids on sleds behind it. Being in the "oh, so competitive" Nelson family, we later played "King of the Sled" with the adults afterwards. I was terrible but Adam rocked! Adam was officially the longest "King of the Sled" but paid a nice price with the huge elbow he ended up getting. He burst some sack on his elbow{like a big brust} and it is was got huge. It looked like a golf ball was inside his skin. It looked so weird we couldn't help but laugh at it. Poor Adam. He has been icing and taking ibuprofen all night.

{Adam and I posing in front of the snowman I made}

{Our sister and brother in law, Carly and Jeff, are here for Christmas from Seattle!}

We sledded from 11:00 a.m. til 3:00 p.m. It was a blast. I LOVE THE SNOW! However, when Adam and I went home I found time to make this wonderful photo board {picture to come}. I am very proud that my craftiness has grown. I suppose having time has something to do with it and teaching takes up all my time--but I love it.


Oh, Christmas is honestly the best time of the year. I love the traditions and festivities. Tomorrow I will be making truffles, carmel pretzels, and chocolate covered popcorn, along with creating curtains for my kitchen window (look behind the board and you can see the matching curtains). Share the love of the season and Merry Christmas!

{Some of the other fun Festivities we have enjoyed have been going to the lights at Temple Squre, enjoying a Holiday Soiree at the Barlows, attending two work Christmas parties, and going Christmas shopping!}

Pictured below are the wonderful ladies I carpool with every morning to school. We decided that the last week of school we would wear "festive (ugly) Christmas sweaters." We each brought a sweater and then we traded everyday. So we wore each sweater once. The students started to notice and would say funny comments like "Miss. Dansie has that same sweater!" I would reply with a naive "Really? We must shop at the same places." The best was on Friday when a student of mine, and Miss. Garfield, and Miss. Dansie looked at my awesome red turtleneck sweater and said, " I get what you guys are doing." It only took her a week ;-)

{Me, Cali Dansie, Molly Garfield, Sarah Shore}

We took a vote for the most festive sweater and the red turtleneck won! It seriously got some great looks not to mention the gobs of jewels on it and the shoulder seams that go down to my elbow. Oh, the joy of Christmas sweaters.

Thanksgiving and a hot glue gun

Adam and I really enjoyed our Thanksgiving break. We didn't do anything work related. It was wonderful. I am discovering that although I love teaching it is hard at times having the long breaks during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer is well needed, enjoyed, and deserved! Adam and I didn't have to work from Wed--Fri. I got so much done and enjoyed just being with Adam. Plus we saw so many movies.

My first craft project was this Noel sign below. It was easy and turned out to be really festive (bad lighting and ugly blinds--don't look at them).

This is a closer image of what it ended up looking like--nice and sparkly. And for your information, the other day I told Chelsea Alder that I didn't own a glue gun.
Chelsea: "How do you do crafts?"
Brittany: "look at my house... I don't do crafts. I buy them ready made."

I have decided to mature myself in the area of crafts and I went out and bought a glue gun in order to make my lovely Noel sign.

The second craft I ventured to make were these stockings. Chelsea--my decision maker--helped me pick out the fabric a while back and I created a pattern myself. Not too shabby for a homemade fabric. Plus, I got to put to use my graduation present--my sewing machine!

I also decorated for Christmas, as you might gather from the stockings, and enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner that my mother, sister, and I made at my mothers house. We got together with my Harrison side of the family for a mini reunion on Friday and I got to see my grandmother.

Somehow between Thanksgiving Dinner, family, sleeping in, crafts (not Adam), and decorating Adam and I managed to see four movies!

1. We saw Twilight which I already mentioned--However, I did go see it a second time.

2. Quatom of Solace.


3. Australia (which by the way I really liked)

4. Four Chritmases (funny, but awkward at some moments)

Twilight

Adam and I went and saw the Twilight Movie on Saturday night after the BYU vs Utah game. Honestly, I really liked it. In fact, Adam even liked it. He said he wouldn't mind seeing the sequels and I have to agree. I was a little worried that Edward wouldn't do it for me, but I was impressed with Edward and Bella. In fact, Jaspar was the one who was a little weird to me. I didn't imagine him being so creepy and timid. I have to admit that when Carlise made his entrance I laughed a little because he was too pale and chalky looking--he looked better as th movie wI thought the movie was very true to the book. The one scene that I wished they would have done was the scene when Edward helps Bella after she faints from her blood in Biology class. Overall, I think I want to go see it again. If you have not seen the movie yet, you are missing out. Let me know what you thought of the movie. I think I am going to go re-read the book again!

Happy 2nd Anniversary

Adam and I have been married for two years today! Every year gets better and better. Last year Adam planned our 1st Anniversary so this year I planned our 2nd. I wanted it to be a surprise for Adam and I wanted it to be somewhere tucked away in the mountains so that it would feel like we got away somewhere--and I did just that!
So, about one month ago a booked a hotel room--without him knowing. I then told him on Friday morning not to plan anything for that evening. Adam asked, "Why"? I told Adam, "It is not for you to worry about--just be ready to leave when you get home from work." Little did he know that I was taking him here:

The Stein Erickson Lodge.
It is in Deer Valley--right above Park City. It is the most amazing resort I have ever been too! It is a 5 star hotel and a 5 star Restaurant.
Since Adam was driving he wanted to know where he were going. I told him that I would simply read him the directions when the time came, he smiled and we were off!

Adam thought that I was taking him to the Zermatt Resort in Midway but when I told him to turn onto Main street in Heber he suddenly had no idea where we were going--I didn't either for that matter because I had never been to Deer Valley before. It was a little adventure getting up there--and in the dark.

So, after driving up the mountain until we thought we were lost, we reached what is literally the top of the mountain and pulled into this beautiful Lodge.

Adam and I were amazed. I had only seen pictures and Adam had no idea that the so called Lodge would be this fancy. We pulled in and the valet parking took care of our car and the bell boy took our luggage. We felt spoiled to say the least.

After checking in we were taken to our room, while the bell boy carried our luggage :) Because I am the one that booked the room I knew we had a luxary room with a fire place, hot tub, jetted tub, and plasma screen tv--but Adam didn't know that :) Here is a sneak peak of our luxary room.


They provided us with these declicious truffles that were covered in a soft colored candy. Delicious! If I had any left I would let you try one but we ate them all.


Adam and I eat dinner at the Glitritind, which just happens to be a five star restaurant. It has to be the best food that Adam and I have ever eatten. Adam orderd a flavorful corn and lobster soup for his appetizer which popcorn on the side of the bowl for a garnish, the Berkshire Pork Porterhouse with buttermilk Mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts(that I ate), and spiced apple sauce for his Entre, and vanilla Creme Brule with strawberries and pound cake for dessert. I on the other hand ordered Half Crispy White Asparagus for my appetizer, the Grilled Fillet Colorado Beed with cauliflower and mornary sauce, and a Root Beer Float. I know!--a root beer float at a fancy restaurant like this--but the waiter convinced me of it. It was actually rootbeer flavored ice cream with cream soda and candy pretzels on top of cotton candy. We left that dinning room so full--yet so delightfully satisfied. It was worth every penny and every bite!

When we woke up we had this view waiting for us. We quickly opened the cutrains to enjoy the beautiful scence we had from our balcony. We were litterally on the ski slopes.


When it was time to go, the bell boy was nice enough to take a picture for us while we waited for our car to be brought to us--brought to us. Adam and I have never had this kind of luxary or spoiling before. We enjoyed it while it lasted because we knew as soon as we left we would be back to Provo and our condo. It was so nice to get away for the weekend and this was the best way to accomplish that.


I felt successful in my quest of surprising Adam for our Anniversary and it even surprised me how wonderful it was. We can't wait to go back.

I also need to add in that Adam surprised me with a dozen roses at school today. He dropped them off himself and got to meet some of my students too. It was so fun to see him during the day. He always done a perfect job of keeping me suprised on occasions like this. I have the best husband in the world. I feel so blessed that he waited through two years of dating for me to finally agree to marriage. I realize this is a blog that many people can read so I won't give you the gushy paragraphy about how wonderful and cute Adam is to me, but just know that he is an amazing husbnad who I love so much.

Happy Anniversary Adam!

Spooky

Yes, This is a late post but I still want to share with you what Adam and I did for Halloween.

Every year my family carves pumpkins about a week before Halloween. Adam and I carved a bat and a witch. I always look forward to carving pumpkins and seeing them lit up after we are done--it is one of my favorite family traditions.

On Halloween, Chelsea, Jamie, and I put together a Halloween party. It was held up at our Sundance cabin and it was a hit! We even had a photo booth--thanks to Burke Alder! Adam and I went as Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson. A lot of people have been telling Adam that he looks like Tony Romo (and he kindof does) so we tried to pull it off.

Yes, Fall is finally here!

I love fall! It may be my favorite season. I love when the leaves fall and the weather turns a bit chilly. Pulling out my turtle neck tops and boots makes me so happy! Not only do I love Fall because of the weather that changes, but I love it because Adam and I were married in the Fall, specifically November. More reason to love the month of November. I also love to VOTE! Something about voting makes a more proud citizen of the United States. I wear my "I Voted" sticker with pride. Although the polls may not turn out how I like, I still support that fact that my vote does count. There are so many wonderful reasons to love the season of Fall and to start getting excited for Christmas. Happy Fall!

Fun Fall Activities

1. My family went to the Haunted Village at This is the Place Monument in Salt Lake City. It was so much fun. It was scary but not too scary--I had a couple really good scared. Go ifyou get a chance!

2. We went to the HEE HAW Farms with the Alders to get pumpkins. Carving pumpkins is one way that we like to embrace our Halloween side. After getting the pumpkins and going on the hay ride we went to Paradise Bakery in American Fork. Can we say DELICIOUS!

HEE HAW Farms Entrance

Hay Ride

Our beautiful Pumpkins!

Recent Happenings

1. Adam and I went for a drive up the canyon to look at the leaves. Two years ago from conference weekend Adam and I took our Bridal pictures in Sundance. The leaves were beautiful. Adam promised me a horse back ride before the leaves fall--Lets hope the weather stays warm so that the ride is enjoyable.

2. Adam plays on an Flag Football team as the quarterback. I took a few action shoots to show him off.

3. The Alder's went to Red Mango with us to enjoy some delightful frozen Yogurt.

4. I CUT MY HAIR. I took off 51/2 inches. See above pictures for the new style. I like it but I don't know if I LOVE it yet. However, it is growing on me.

Abby's Wedding

I went to Newport, CA on Friday for one of my best friends weddings--Abby Sheffield now Waldrip. It was a beautiful wedding--and Abby looked stunning! It started with a wedding brunch, then we went to the Newport temple for the Sealing, and later the reception in Laguna Hills. It was so wonderful to be there with her on her wedding day--I am so happy for Matt and Abby.

Matt and Abby right out of the temple--they looked amazing!

Abby and I at the breakfast brunch.

Abby's wedding was perfect in so many ways, and I am glad that I was there to experience it with her. Cat, Darci, Fletch, and I all enjoyed our time together with Abby and Matt. They were so cute together it made me want Adam there with me because --I know this sounds cheesy--but seeing them so in love made me love Adam more. Now that Abby is finally married and we could hang out she moves to DC--I guess Adam and I will have to plan a trip out there.

Seattle

Our trip to Seattle was Amazing! We did and saw just about everything. It was wonderful to be with family and enjoy the beautiful city of Seattle. There are a ton of pictures for you to enjoy because I think pictures are more fun to see than reading about our adventures.

The first thing we did was go to a Yankees Mariners game--the Mariners won! The game was almost a no hitter against the Yankees--it was awesome.

Saturday was game day--all day long. This is the fam in our pre-game mode.

Adam and I at Husky Stadium. It was a beautiful stadium that you can see Lake Washington from. It hold 72,500 people--more than Lavell Edwards stadium holds. We didn't dare get up to take a picture until after all the Washington fans had left. Most of the fans were great but some were kind of hostile and we didn't want to mess with them.

The family photo after an intense win. There were maybe 25,000 BYU fans as the game--it was unreal! We all sang the fight song after we scored and you could hear us around the entire stadium because there were so many fans and we were so loud.

We walked around campus after the game. It is a beautiful campus. This is one of the prettiest parts with the green trees, water fountain, and Mt. Rainer behind us.

Aftef the game and walking around campus we packed into this Jeep Cherokee--when I say we I mean 12 people--and shuttled to our other two cars because we didn't want to walk back to where we parked. It was hilarious. Casey, Jeff, and Adam all fit in the trunk. They were so squished. Adam's entire leg was knumb and he couldn't walk when he go out.

Here is the rest of the famiy scrunched together.

On Sunday we went to this popular park that has one of the most gorgeous views of the city.

While at Pikes Market in downtown Seattle we stopped by my families favorite bakey Le Paniera and got my favorite baggets.

Adam and I at the Fish Toss at Pikes.

View of the Seattle and Mt. Rainer.

We also went to the Locks and the Fish ladder. Boats use the locks after they have been out the ocean and want to come back to the Lake. The difference from the ocean water to the lake water is 40 feet. The lock were built to allow ships to go back a forth by lowering and raising the water level by flooding inorder to let boats pass through. This is the water level after the locks were flooded. (kindof like the Panama Canal)

The locks were right by a Botanical Garden and this flower was so interesting. We had never seen anything like it before. Maybe you have?

The Locks at sunset and the bridge being lowered to let a sail boat with a huge mast come through.

Monday, we went back to campus to see the library. It is like a cathedral--or more so like the library in Beauty and the Beast. I have never see a library like it with the stained glass windows and enormous celinings.

Carly and Jeff are good friends with their Bishop, who just happens to live on Lake Washington. We stopped by their house to see the lake and hang out on their dock. I wish we could have used this diving board.

Lucky for us we the Bishop let us take his boat on the lake for a joy ride. It was Awesome! We got to see all the huge houses and enjoy the sunshine.

This plane landed right in front of us.

Adam, me, Carly, Heather.

Don't worry, this wasn't all we did--when you are with the Nelson's there is always tons are eating involved and we did eat--a lot! It was a wonderful vacation and the fact that the Cougars won made it even better. Thanks Carly and Jeff for the fun weekend away.