Our office!

Shay and I were finally able to find a desk for our office. I love it! It is so nice to have a separate space now to study both scriptures and for school. It has tons of natural light and is really cozy. I bought a chair for my reading nook and some decorations. I also hung up Shay's bachelors degree from Weber State and my award from the education department. I was selected for the Professor's Honor Roll, both of which we worked very hard for...so why not display them! Here are a few pictures. :)

Change is hard, but necessary and worth it

Holy Cow it's been a while since I've posted! So much has happened. Shay and I are doing fantastic. He is currently getting his masters and is MIA every Tuesday and Thursday night. I am in the middle of summer vacation, but might as well be going to school because I'm studying to take the PRAXIS. It is a test for teacher's to get their license! Crazy it has already come to that point. Lots of mixed emotions.....excited, scared, nervous, anxious, relieved! haha Shay and I both have two semesters left of school before we both graduate for good from school. Hallelujah there is a light at the end of the tunnel ;)

Other than school, life has been more than generous to us. At the beginning of April we received a calling in our ward as primary teachers for 6 and 7 year olds. In our class was a little Autistic boy. He literally changed our lives. Shay and I have never had a calling before were we have been so tested. I truly believe our Heavenly Father knows us individually and what we need. I know our primary president was guided by the Spirit to suggest us for that calling. Just a week before we received the calling we studied Autism in my Special Needs class. It helped me to not only reach out to the little boy, but it helped both Shay and I meet his needs and understand how to help him to the best of our abilities. I will definitely miss him and all the other little ones we taught. They are what made Sundays worth it. Nothing defines the Gospel like little children and learning to become like them.

However, the biggest change that has happened is that Shay and I moved! We got out of the dreaded apartment complex living and into a more suitable home, environment, and location. The last couple of weeks we were in our old apartment were some of the hardest. Shay and I were both on our last straw! When it came time to move last weekend I couldn't wait. We decided to rent the top part of a house up by Weber State. What we loved the most was the location and character of the house. It is older than the apartment we previously had, which was pretty much brand new, but with each day I am here, I can't help but develop a greater love for this little house. I love the views and the feel of the neighborhood. It reminds me of my childhood and living in inner city Ogden. In fact the other day I went for a run and was able to go right past my old elementary and my grandpas house. It brought back so many memories and has given me the extra comfort I have needed with this hard and difficult change. I wouldn't trade this experience and new leg of my journey with Shay for anything. We are truly blessed.

The front of the house! Looks so much better than when we moved in. :)

My flower garden that I worked so hard on. I'm pretty proud of myself. It was nothing but weeds and grass. 

The living room. One of my favorite places :)

Breaking in the kitchen by doing homework. We have a second bedroom, but still need to get a desk. For now this will do :) 

Our awesome assortment of pots and pans! haha

Our awesome view that I have missed so much. You don't get much of this in West Haven haha

Our Very First Christmas Together!

So I know there is still a week before it is December, but there is no reason why Christmas can't start right after Thanksgiving. It does everywhere else! haha so yesterday after I got off work at 615 I talked Shay into going to Walmart and getting Christmas Decorations. Even though he was absolutely exhausted and had no desire to go, he went.....to make me a happy girl. I love that man! haha He knows what's good for him ;) haha Just Kidding. He does it out of love. So after going on a trek to Walmart we returned with a tree, ornaments, and lights! I was sooooo excited! Then about an hour after we arrived home our first Christmas tree was up and lookin BEA-utiful! Here are some pictures. Enjoy and bask in the glory of our tree! haha

Getting ready to assemble the tree :)

Now it's time to put on the lights :D

He was pretty dang good at hanging lights....I was impressed....not gonna lie haha

Complete with lights and ornaments....now just needs ribbon!

Now just the star!

Tada! Finished and looking lovely :)

 

Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal!

So I know it is a little early for a Christmas post, but I am so excited!!!!! I LOVE Christmas....LOVE! haha But I have refrained from listening to Christmas music for now, even though every time I get in my car I am so tempted to turn it to FM 100.3....so tempted! The way I look at it is if I wait till after Thanksgiving....then I am somewhat sane and then it makes it okay to listen to it...right? haha but what I am most excited about is sharing it with just Shay. Like waking up on Christmas morning and just having it be the two of us. Watching Christmas movies like Elf, "You sit on a throne of lies!", Christmas Story "You'll shoot your eye out kid", Christmas Vacation "Is your house on fire Clark? No, Aunt Bethany, those are Christmas lights.", to Home Alone "Merry Christmas ya filthy animal." haha all of these make me laugh SOOOO much! I also love watching the cute little old cartoons on ABC Family. I think I look forward to those the most....Plus it always means school is out till the new year! Late nights, hot cocoa, and the beautiful snow. Dear Christmas hurry up...because I am ready for you :) Sincerely, Sarah

Park City!

For Fall Break this year Shay and I decided to plan a little trip to Park City! So about a month before Fall Break we booked a room at Stein Erickson Lodge for two nights. The first day of our trip we headed to SLC. However, we first stopped at the Bountiful temple and did a session and it was amazing! A perfect way to start off the trip. After that we headed to the Brigham Young Beehive house and then to City Creek. Then to top off the night we headed to temple square and then ate at the Spaghetti Factory!Yum Yum!

Top of the Church Administration Building 

Amazing view!

Then after the Spaghetti Factory we headed to the lodge. The next day we woke up and spent the day in Park City. We went shopping at the outlets, visited Olympic Park and went and saw Frankenweenie!

The view from our cute little deck :)

Deer Valley Resort. Gorgeous!

Some games at the Ski Museum at Olympic Park

The torch from the 2002 Winter Olympics! Way Cool! 

A swimming pool the snowboarders use to practice their aerial tricks :)

Our room :)

Saying goodbye :(

It was a great weekend. Nice and relaxing and much needed. Can't wait for the next vacay!

Halloween fun!

This Halloween was a blast and I am so sad it's over :( Lame! But here are a few of the things Shay and I did to get into the Halloween Spirit :)

Eating pizza before we head to Black Island Farms 

Cute little goats!

Donkeys!

They were licking my fingers. Ah!

Scary Llamas

Going to the corn maze was so much fun. We got completely lost in one, but because we are so dang awesome we were able to find our way out! The best part though was getting to dress up for Halloween. The night before Halloween I finally decided what I wanted to be haha and Shay and I thought Hippies!!! Why not?? haha so we went and borrowed the stuff from his parents and the next day went trunk or treating with my little sisters and step mom dressed as Hippies :)

Phoebe and Shay 

I love the Holidays and can't wait for Thanksgiving! WOHOO!