Christmas Time!

Last year we didn't get a tree or even put up any christmas decorations because I went out to Utah the whole time. But this year Gabe will be here the whole time and I am only going to leave over new years so we will get to spend Christmas at home. Gabe has to work a lot but oh well, I will enjoy my time off with a lot of sleeping in and christmas movies!! We got our tree last night and got it all decorate. We went with a lot smaller tree this time, last time we got a tree that filled up the whole corner. But now we have room to put this little elelctric fireplace next to the tree and I even hung our stockings above it!! My goal is to now get the house cleaned this weekend so then I can really just sit, relax and enjoy the tree.

Weekend Get Away

Gabe and I flew down to South Padre Island early Friday morning. We got in around noon and it was freezing. You would thing because we were going to the southern tip of Texas almost into Mexico it would be warm, but no. A friend of ours has a sister who owns a condo down on the island and let us stay in it for free. Another reason for the trip was because the Texas Tech Basketball team and the BYU basketball team were playing in a tournament down there and Gabe also had another connection and scored us tickets to the whole tournament. The Condo we stayed in was awesome and right on the beach and right across the street from the games. I am definitely a beach girl and would love to live by the ocean one day.

Tech lost their first game by 20 points.. not good, But the Cougars won in double overtime which was very exciting on a buzzer shot. On Saturday Tech lost again by two we shot a 3 at the buzzer but lost. BYU beat St. Mary's in the championship game and it was really close again. Gabe and I were in the front row right behind the players and our family saw us on TV. My cute little niece told me I was in trouble for biting my nails.. it was an intense game. There were so many BYU fans there which made it really fun. I was sad for Tech but I will always be a Cougar fan so I was way excited they won.

There were so many jelly fish all over the beach. The first one we saw we weren't sure what it was, so Gabe popped it. Then we saw tons of them everywhere you walked. Pretty gross looking.

This was the end of the Island. We drove until the road ended I was scared driving because in parts half of the road was covered in sand we would have to drive on the wrong side. But plenty of cars were headed that way so Gabe swore we would be okay. The sand was awesome down there not so trashy and there were shells everywhere. I loved just walking down the beach with my best friend. I can picture us old and retired one day living by the beach and talking walks in the morning along the shore. That would be awesome!! We had such a great trip. I got to enjoy time with Gabe and on the beach and Gabe got to watch basketball so I think it was the perfect mini vacation! Next time we just need to go back when it is warmer so I can get a tan :)

Yeah Cougars!!!!! Way to win!

Thanksgiving

Gabe and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!! Our plans for Thanksgiving Day were uncertain for awhile. We were going to stay here and have it with friends, then we were going to go to Dallas to be with Gabe's Family. On Wednesday it was decided that we were just going to stay here. Well I had a turkey but nothing else and I really didn't feel like getting up early to start cooking and it was just going to be Gabe, Casi, Jonathan and I. So instead we slept in on Thursday, Gabe went and played football we got dressed and the four of us went out to a Japanese Steakhouse for an early dinner! The food was great and I didn't have to worry about preparation or clean up. It was really fun, who needs turkey to celebrate what you are thankful for, I had Teriyaki Chicken and it was delicious! Afterwards we went and saw Tangled and it was great! It reminded me of going with my family to Disney movies on holidays and how I still wish I was a princess :)

Thriller Night!!

This week we had our annual Thriller week at the rec center. My instructors taught the entire Thriller Dance 3 nights during our group exercise classes. On the last night we encouraged them to dress up and we decorate the room and give out prizes. It is always one of my favorite nights, even though my instructors and I are typically the only ones dressed up. This year we had over 200 people participate in the 3 days. It really was a lot of fun and any excuse to dress up in a fun costume I will take it. I loved the weird looks I got as I was driving home last night stopped at all the different lights. Here are some fun photos from the event. Because not many people dressed up, Abby my student supervisor and I even made it into the campus paper on the Front page I might add! I hope I don't get bombarded with people asking me for my autograph today. I have a tough job but someones got to do it! Also I would like to thank my sister Lindsay for providing me with this dress. It worked great for my whole Zombie Princess look. Who says you can't wear bridesmaid dresses again, and I didn't even have to shorten it!

What I do when Gabe goes out of Town

So Gabe was gone this past weekend. So I had a lot of time by myself. I decided to go to my favorite place on Friday that Gabe doesn't like to go with me...Hobby Lobby. I know Ive said it before but I love that store, if I had money my house would be overly decorated with everything in there. I have been wanting to make some more hair accessories this time out of fabric. So I found some cute fabrics and got a few cute embellishments. I made 2 headbands and 3 bows. We recently got netflixs so I think I stayed up until 2am making my creations and watching cheesy romantic comedies. Saturday I got the whole house cleaned mopped and everything. Don't worry Gabe I saved the game/Laundry room for you to clean. And then I saw a great movie with a friend. Life as We know it. It was so cute and I recommend it for others who need a girls night out or can convince their spouses to go see it. Gabe definitely wasn't heart broken that I saw it with out him!

I also kind of want to start sewing, I have always said Never that sewing wasn't for me, but I have gotten into Project Runway this season and I kind of want to see if I can create something.. So I might need to borrow a sewing machine soon and see if I can tackle something easy.

Well here a few photos of my cute bows and flowers! Gabe thinks I'm crazy because my whole dresser is covered in these now.

Surprise visit from my Mom!

Last Saturday night Gabe said he had to go up to work so I was just watching TV in my room, when he got home at 10:30pm He came in and told me to come out to the living room to see something so I went out and my Mom was standing there. I was so surprised I was not expecting that all. I started to cry because no one had ever come to visit me before and I think I was just so surprised too.
My mom stayed until Thursday afternoon. We had so much fun. I showed her around the rec center where I work and then we walked all around Texas Tech Campus. She came to my Zumba class and did a great job. We went to a couple museums and then just went and looked around at a lot of fun shops and stores. It was so fun to have here and show here all around Lubbock, there's not much to see but It it was fun to show here my life here in Texas.
Thank you Mom for coming to visit me!
Gabe thinks he can use this good gesture to earn points. Granted it was really sweet, but this morning a whole week later, he said Hey I have surprise for you, I brought your mom here last week. Sorry Honey you can't milk that one forever. Plus he brought here so I wouldn't be alone last week when he went to D.C to go golfing.

Life as I know it

Well I have done a few things in the last month. At the begining of last month I turned the big 26. So that was exciting I guess. I'm not sure if my life is exactly what I thought it would be at 26 when I was younger, but I can't complain. I have an awesome husband and great job I love and pretty much everything I need. We celebrated with tons of friends and then finished the night with the Bachelorette Finale. It was a great birthday.

I also go the change to fly out to Richmond last month and visit Lindsay and her family. It was so fun spending a few days there. I have the cutest nieces and nephews. We played, got to go to the beach, swam and just had a great time. I should of took pictures but i didn't.

Texas Tech Started back up so my job is pretty busy, I love having the campus full though and seeing all the classes here at the rec center so busy. I am even teaching a Zumba class once a week. I might not be able to shake it like other teachers but I think my class is pretty fun.

This past weekend I flew out to SLC to see my family. Gabe works weekends now and I decided I didn't want to spend my 3 day weekend home alone. It was so fun to see everyone. We got to spend a lot of time with Lisa, Jonathan and the twins. We went swimming, ate great food, and went to the Payson parade. I got to hang out with one my best friends Patrice and reminisce. It was so good to be around a family even if it was just for the weekend. It gave me the little break I needed to make it through the next three and half months. The weather was absolutely beautiful and it made me miss Utah, Provo and BYU. I really did have some of the best times ever out there. I did take a few pictures!