Monday, December 26, 2016

Summer into Fall and Christmas!

Since is has been so long since I blogged last, this post will be a quick update on our lives to get us up to date here (and will mostly consist of photos)

My company sponsored a game for the Idaho Falls Chuckars this summer and because of that we got some tickets to the game! Steven and I aren't huge baseball fans at all but it was fun to go and see a live sport here in our area. We even got to witness a fight break out on the field which was kind of exciting!



We spent a good portion of our summer relaxing outside in the yard since Steven didn't have school or homework to do anymore we really took advantage of it!


Of course football season is big at our house. We put together a fun football food themed dinner for our season opener. (Unfortunately, our team did horrible this year--so we didn't make much of a fuss with any of the other games. We may do something for the Super Bowl for the tradition of it of course)


This summer we were so happy to have adopted our sweet little Obi!! He was about 4 months old when we brought him home. He was a puppy in foster care and we are so blessed to have this cutie in our lives! He is a great little companion to have around the house and is so sweet! He learns very quickly too--even though we have a lot of training left to go!
What a cutie!! He tipped over from being so tired just after this photo

...And he tipped over out of exhaustion--it was quite a day for him on his adoption day!

On the way to his fur-ever home!

First family photo!

Morning after snuggles!!

First family road trip!

Shortly after we adopted our sweet pup, we bought a house! Talk about huge life changes all at once!! We are so excited to be in a home of our own!!


My newest niece was also born this summer! This picture was from the weekend we spent in Boise for her baby blessing!


Playing with my pup!

Temple date and lunch afterwards!

OFFICIALLY CLOSED ON THE HOUSE!!!! 
For my job I had the opportunity to go to the U.S. Virgin Islands to be on set for our annual photoshoot for our new swimwear line! It was SO much work but it was quite the experience!
On the ferry from St. Thomas to St. John

Sunset from our villa

First photoshoot location

Some visitors by our set up

More views from our villa


This little guy greeted me one morning!

Behind the scenes!


Lunch break



Maho Bay

Maho


After we got to go snorkeling on our last day on the island!

Trunk Bay

Cinnamon Bay

Behind the scenes at an underwater shoot


The whole crew!
(From left to right)
Tanner, Jerry, Trina, Steve, Janet, Rose, Alex

And a crazy downpour to send us off!

Ferry ride back to the airport
 Thankfully I made it back home in time to celebrate Steven's birthday! Since we had JUST moved 3 days before I left on my business trip and I JUST got home the night before his birthday, we kept it pretty low-key. I bought him a german chocolate cake from the store and his nieces and nephews sang him happy birthday over the phone.

Just because my dog is so handsome :)

Steven and I wanted to give our new fireplace a face lift so he took the old grates that were on it and took them to work to sandblast and powder coat them. They used to have this old brass color on them that was chipping off anyways so I am glad he did! They look brand new!
BEFORE

AFTER

 None of the windows in the house had blinds when we moved in--the first set we bought were for our bedroom. I really like them!


We spent thanksgiving in Utah with my family this year. It was nice to see my family and we even got to take our sweet Obi with us!








While we were there we visited my aunt who just moved into a new house they built. She had a few light fixtures leftover that she didn't want to use and was SO kind and gave them to us to replace some of the old, ugly ones that were in my house! They are a great alternative to what we had before!!!!
Before--old dusty fan above the dining table (yuck)

New fixture!! Yay!!

So bright!!!

Steven's work offered tickets to the BYU-Idaho Christmas concert so, of course, we hopped on the opportunity!! We had an incredible time and felt very uplifted! David Archuleta and Nathan Pacheco came as a part of their Christmas tour!


My sweet boys!

New home all ready for Christmas!
Steven's sister sent us a box of snowman activities to do and since we had a few days off at home leading up to Christmas--we decided to make some of them. These were the melted snowman bark candy she sent!


Obi makes a good football watching buddy

<3

He likes to snuggle when I come home at lunch from work

Lots of snow at our house!

Obi was having a blast bouncing around in the snow!


Steven cooling down some soup I made so we could put it in bags to freeze it.

Road trip to Steven's parent's house for Christmas!

He thinks he gets to drive

Driving must wear him right out.

Obi loved his Christmas presents!
 We got to come home to even MORE snow after Christmas! There is probably around 20" of snow on the ground now! We had to shovel out some in our yard so the dog could have a place to go potty! It's about up to his head now!


Christmas Day!

He loves to snuggle up by the fire!
We have had an exciting last few months! Everything is still going well with work for the both of us (though, we really did enjoy having the last week or so off to relax). Steven just started working on his teaching certification and is hoping to get called in for an interview here soon (they are already starting the hiring process because they need teachers so bad around here!) He is hoping things work out so he can get a new job by next fall.  

Until next time!