March Madness

Even though March Madness has to do with basketball, it truly describes our month as well!  With snow finally showing up Bryce was swamped at work while school was in the heart of the semester.  I was also going all over the place and trying to remember what day it was.  We did have some fun times despite it all.

Ski day!  Last year we took my dad skiing and he enjoyed it so much he did what he does best - invites the rest of the family for the next time!  Chris and Shea came up for spring break and Lindsay was able to come as well.  It was a beautiful day of spring skiing!  I was impressed with my sister who hasn't skiied since junior high and what I remember of that day was her throwing a tantrum on the mountain side and fighting with my mom.  Needless to say I was nervous what was going to happen!  She did excellent - everyone did!  Even Susan who brought us hot chocolate, hot soup, sandwiches, chips, drinks, and treats.  It was amazing - I don't know how she does it.  We skiied the whole day and then went back to rest and later had dinner that Susan once again whipped up for all of us.  I justify it saying we burned a lot calories.  I'm so grateful to Bryce for getting us all of the passess and equipment - it makes skiing an activity all of us can do!

Star Valley Wyoming - our friends, the Jessens, invited us to their parent's cabin in Wyoming and we happened to have the 4 days off when they said they were going.  The cabin was beautiful and so was the landscape.  There are a lot of Bagleys in Star Valley and at the first place we stopped when Bryce paid for something with the credit card he was bombarded with questions asking if he knew so and so's friend or so and so's teacher, etc ha ha.  Unfortunately Bryce doesn't really know anyone there ha ha.  We went shopping in Jackson Hole one day and I loved it!  Especially the boutiques where there are a lot of cute items that are one of a kind.  We ate at unique places to the town and walked all over.  We saw mountain goats, tons of elk, and a moose on our drives from place to place.  We rented a ridiculous amount of movies and played SO many board games.  We must've played Sorry at least 10 times and I learned that Taboo gets my adrenaline pumping.  We slept in every day, we also got to go sledding, and even went to church which I loved.  Sarah had overly planned our meals and one night we had grilled salmon, grilled asparagus, and cheesy potatoes.  I'm drooling just thinking about it now.  They grilled chicken especially for me because I don't like fish, but once I tried it I actually liked it!  The Jessens love to fish so it was what they'd caught themselves.  We kept saying we didn't want to go home, but alas the time for that came as always.  They said the summers there are fun as well so hopefully we get to go back!

Kelly Clarkson - My mom and sister have birthdays just days apart from each other at the end of March.  I always try to go see Kelly Clarkson when she comes to town because I love her so much and I was glad my mom's birthday was close to it so I could use it as an excuse to buy tickets!  My mom took me to her last concert for my birthday so I thought it would be fun to go again.  Of course Kelly rocked the house sounding EXACTLY like she does on her album - maybe even better because she does all sorts of freestyling.  We had great seats and sang ourselves hoarse.  It was such a great concert!  Lindsay turned 20 a few days later and we celebrated by going to Red Robin and eating disgusting Key Lime cheesecake that Lindsay wanted ha ha.  She's probably the only one who likes it, but that's what birthdays are for!  On Sunday Susan cooked dinner for 20 people to celebrate Lindsay's birthday.  It was definitely chaotic, but fun!  I can't believe she's already 20 - that means I turn 24 way too soon.  For her birthday we decided to do something fun together so it looks like pedicures and Zumba will be happening sometime in April!

And finally - we are Hunger Games fans (of the books not the literal event) and were so excited for the movie.  I had to sleep after a night shift the day it came out, but woke up so we could go to a matinee showing at the Gateway.  I loved it - it sounds like most people did as well.  Of course there are always those comments that the book was better, but that's why you have the option of doing BOTH.  I was surprised by my emotions that I felt during the movie that I hadn't in the book.  It's interesting that the different media can change that.  It was uncomfortable and heart wrenching to watch some parts of the movie even though they depicted exactly what the book was saying.  We took trax up to Cafe Rio and met the Leishmans there - delicous as always.  I could eat there 7 days a week - not kidding.  Then we went to the Jazz game vs the Denver nuggets.  We got to sit in a suite and it was pretty awesome!  We cheered a ton and watched them win the game.  It was a great night!

February Fun

The highlight of February is a tie between Groundhog Day and Valentine's Day.  Most people would say there is no comparison, but not in my family.  We cooked ourselves up a fat groundhog (aka Susan made her delicious meatloaf) and when we were good and full we had a ridiculous amount of treats with dad's homemade popcorn while watching Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day.  We watch it every year - I have way too many lines memorized - but I still find it so funny.  Susan hates the movie which just makes it more hilarious because we insist she participate in the tradition.  Until Hollywood makes another movie about Groundhog Day we are stuck with the same one!

For Valentine's day Bryce planned a surprise and woke me up to take me to get a couple's massage!  It was definitely the right time for this!  I didn't realize that even though I feel like I can handle my schedule well - slowly but surely the stress creeps up on you and your muscles hold a lot of tension.  I felt like a new woman afterwards!  Bryce decided to sluff school and we spent the day together.  For dinner we went to Fleming's at the gateway.  Never in my life would I pay that much for food, except we had a giftcard.  However, it was by far the BEST steak I've ever had in my life.  It didn't even need ketchup!  Ha ha.  Then we went and saw the movie The Vow.  We both were looking forward to it and the previews had me fooled.  Bryce and I had researched the actual couple the movie was based on and their story was so inspiring and they fought for their marriage and then you see the movie....I won't spoil it for you, but it was a let down.  It was still worth seeing considering both of our celebrity crushes were the stars :). 

And on President's day we went skiing with the some of the Bagley's!

January Journal

January was jolly.  I was trying to think of a j word and that's all I could come up with ha ha.  After our New Year's getaway we were really strapped down with responsibilities.  Bryce started his 2nd to last semester and we both were busy with work.  On our day off we got together with our adorable nephews and sister to go to the aquarium to see the playful river otters!  

I was trying to get a picture of the otter swimming by but Logan saw the camera and did this.  He's been trained!

Looking at the penguins with my one and only

What we'd look like to a snake or something - I can't remember ha ha

The otters are three brothers and are super playful

Ice skating - We had a weekend and it was time for another groupon date.  We love those!  I'm sure we went to dinner before heading to the Gallivan center to go ice skating.  I hadn't been since they'd built the new rink and I was very impressed.  There's lights almost like you're at a club and music playing.  Great facility - good job Salt Lake!  We didn't even realize we'd been skating two hours before we checked the clock because we were so tired.  It was even better because it was such a warm evening that we ended up ditching our coats.  And the highlight of the evening - nobody fell!

Dad's birthday - My dear old dad had a birthday on January 25th.  He's reached 49!  Hard to believe he's almost 50.  He loves doing fun things with his family so he invited all of us to go out for dinner and bowling.  He even crammed in a jazz game for him and Susan after our activity.  We had a ton of fun, I was awful as usual, but I had a pink ball so at least there was some style going on.  The best part of the evening was when Bryce assumed he was the clear winner and Susan got a turkey in the 10th frame to beat him 150 to 149...there was some serious pressure and when she delivered it made the crowd go wild.  Nice job Sus!

New Years 2012 - Las Vegas

New Years came around this year and we decided we wanted to get outta here!  We jumped in the car and headed south for warmer weather to Viva Las Vegas.  I love being able to be spontaneous and Bryce definitely brings that side out of me.

Eyes on the road

My phone just made the picture look like this - and I thought it was awesome

We stayed at Caesars palace which was fun because we didn't have to drive anywhere.  We did tons of walking and talking and just enjoying time off together.  We laid out at the pool and ate delicious food and just had a great time.

At Caesar's

The BEST milkshake I've ever had! I love whipped cream so that's a plus

The Venetian was decorated to look like winter time - it was my favorite!

So I thought this hat/scarf/mitten combo was a joke until I saw TONS of people  wearing these everywhere.  Like they were cool!  I was in disbelief.

Best Friends

Super excited!

 On our way out of town we stopped at the pawn shop from the show Pawn Stars.  Bryce watches the show religiously and read the owner's autobiography.  I enjoy it too, just not quite as much ha ha.  It's such a dive!  The show doesn't really portray that.  Unfortunately the owner's were on vacation for one more week so Bryce didn't get his picture with them, but he was still a giddy school boy for seeing the place in person.

I love our adventures together!  Cheers to many more in 2012!

Christmas 2011

Did Christmas really come and go already?  We had an excellent holiday season full of fun and Christmas spirit.  We started off with an ugly sweater party with friends - thank you Walmart.  We had a fun time!

A nice woman's vest

A great $5 investment

 We had a fun groupon date to Hogle Zoo to see the zoo lights.  It was fun!  We saw reindeer, my favorite bengal tigers, and had hot cocoa while wandering around like the two love birds that we are.

wearing 7 layers because I do NOT like being cold

We had a lovely Bagley girls night with my Mom & sister-in-laws getting pedicures, eating dinner, and doing some shopping.  It was some much needed R&R with the girls!

We stuck with tradition and saw the Messiah sing-along (gospel style) in which my mom has sang in the past couple of years and this year my sister sang in the choir too.  As usual it was a riot.  We did our share of hollering, clapping, and "hallelujah" shouting.

 We only have room for a tiny Christmas tree and this year I went with the silver/blue theme.  It's wonderful decorating a tree together and being done in 5 minutes.  I don't know what I will do with a big tree someday.

 Of course it wouldn't be Christmas without my FAVORITE tradition of making bratzlis.  I love that we have second cousins that have moved here for school and things so that we are truly keeping the tradition of my great-grandparents alive.  We love handing out these cookies, but we probably ate as many as we gave out as gifts.  They are so yummy!

The crew!  

The wisest bratzli maker of us all - teaching me his ways

 For a couple years now Susan has found a Christmas craft, bought the supplies, learned how to make it, set everything up, and made us dinner so my sister and I can each make our own with her.  It's a sweet deal!  This year we made this Jingle display and I love it!  Much thanks to Susan.

 I lost track of how many things we bought during December and said "It will just be for Christmas" ha ha.  But I do have to admit that I LOVE my new ski boots!  I've never had a pair of my own and they are amazing compared to rentals which have such a generic fit.  I used to anticipate getting my boots off as soon as possible at the lodge or after skiing, but now I can keep them on forever because they are so comfy.  Skiing this year hasn't been the best because of the weather, but I do have to say when we've gone it's been such a blast!  I actually was so fast once that Bryce couldn't catch up to me.  Thank you new ski boots :)

An outdoor wedding reception for my cousin - I love my sister's "melting"!  I'm considering it myself...

 And finally...Christmas day!  I was so lucky this year to have the 3 days before, Christmas Eve, & Christmas day off from work.  Tons of family time!  We decided since Christmas was on Sunday this year to go to the medical branch at the University of Utah hospital to help visit the members there and bring them the sacrament.  It was great to visit with people and wish them a Merry Christmas even though they were not in the best of circumstances.  Next it was off to dad's house for gifts & visiting and then to mom's for dinner, more gifts, and a great night of fun playing games and singing Christmas carols.  We had a lot to be grateful for this holiday season!

Our present for dad - the computer geek :)

Both smiling in the same picture...miracle

And of course it wouldn't be Christmas without my grandparents.  I love them dearly!