Holidays Part 1

We started out the holiday season with one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving. This year we were so lucky to be able to go to Utah with the Williams Family. We made the 9 hour drive to Ogden where Laura, Steve, and Dagny live. We spent the week with Jared's parents, sister Laura and her family, Craig and Jessica and Mary. Jared's grandma and all his aunts live there too, so it was a fun and crazy week! We had a delicious dinner, did lots of shopping, talking, and laughing, and even got to see the temple lights in Temple Square. I have only been to Temple Square once so it was a treat to be back! 

We also scored a FREE 7.5 ft Christmas Tree all thanks to Jared's sister who found it on the side of the road and stuck it in the truck for the drive up to AZ. It is brand new and was pre-lit... but none of the lights worked. So we spent the night taking off all the lights (which each bulb was either zip-tied or hooked on) and there was over 1000 bulbs. then we bought some new white lights and bam! gorgeous christmas tree! I am in Heaven!

 I also got a bit crafty this year and made my own garland with real christmas tree branches and mod podged different christmas paper to the back of a frame! After lots of spray paint, I have my favorite thing in my home! (J helped a lot... so credit to him!)

 Jared worked so hard on an Accounting project this semester. His accounting class was definitely the hardest this semester. His final project was analyzing the financial condition of 3 hospitals and giving recommendations. Jared spent many MANY hours on researching, highlighting, power pointing, etc all to get THE HIGHEST GRADE IN HIS COHORT AND WIN A $1500 SCHOLARSHIP! 

He also ended the semester with STRAIGHT A'S (and high ones too... ) 

I am so proud of him and all his work. He loves this program and loves being able to learn so much from his friends and professors. 

 We also had a ward ugly sweater party this year!

Jared and I should have won... but unfortunately because of Jared's school schedule... we were late. 

We had the best sweaters of the night (Ask anyone!) haha

Also, Did i mention we have made some AMAZING friends here?!?!?

And of course... I turned 22 on the 26th of November. Jared spoiled me rotten with my favorite perfume, a new watch, and dinner and shopping the weekend before! We spent my birthday driving to Utah but it was so worth it! Jared's family also spoiled me with new clothes and piano music and jewelry and so much more! I even got 2 packages from my parents and sister ... which if you don't know me... packages are like my favorite thing ever! I LOVE MAIL! I felt so loved by all of my friends and family for all the birthday wishes and everything! It was the best birthday week! :) 

 We are so excited to head to Arizona for a couple weeks for Christmas and New Years! I am so grateful for so many things this holiday season but Jared is the best thing of them all. We have been married for 13 months now and I can't even begin to express how wonderful this past year has been! He knows me better than i know myself and loves me unconditionally. I never thought it was possible to be with someone like him but I am so grateful he chose me to be his wife! Jared is the perfect man and I am so happy we get to spend forever together! I love him and his family and am so grateful to be a Williams!