Stake Women's Basketball Game

 So, today I conquered on of my fears and went back to playing basketball.  If any of you know me you all know that I am a huge sports fan.  I love basketball and always have.  I used to play when I was in Young Women's and always tried to play it while on my P-days on my mission.  I quit playing once I hurt my knee in high school and was always careful.

Well, after I hurt my back I was very cautious of doing anything but my new ward has a basketball team.  Well, kinda.  We had three sisters show up today to the game. We borrowed some other girls and had a blast.  It meant we had to play all game which was a challenge.  It was so fun to be back playing basketball.  I scored a total of 8 points and even made the first basket.  I was so scared to play again but it was so fun.  I have been sick with not sure what but it has made breathing normal kinda hard.  So, after half time I was ready to die but I went back in and tried my best.  Unfortunately we lost today 31-29 but that is alright. We had fun and I made some new friends in our ward. It felt good to get some good exercise in again.  

Presiden'ts Day Weekend

We left for Chester to visit Jason's side of the family for the weekend.  Chad, Jason's younger brother was getting his Eagle Scout award Saturday night.  We went to help cut up fruit, make chocolate, frost brownies and cupcakes and help set up.  It was a good ceremony.  I have never been to an Eagle Scout of Honor award ceremony.  There was a slide show presentation that told us how he got to be an Eagle Scout.  Jason had gotten some letters from the mayor and some certificates to give Chad at the ceremony. There was this neat candle lighting ceremony that explained what an Eagle Scout was.  It was sweet. 

After we had a small reception where people could talk and mingle and eat. We had a chocolate fountain and very awesome desserts to eat.  Of course it began to snow as we were waiting for the ceremony to start so it was very pretty.  People were worried about the roads so we went to church late and only had Sacrament meeting and had a linger longer.  It was pretty much the best Sunday of church ever--all joking aside. After church we went to spend some time with Jason's dad and his wife Laura. It was her birthday and we had cake and ice cream with them before we drove home.

 Unfortunatley, I had to be at a mandatory meeting on President's Day.  It was from 8-5pm.  It was pretty boring, but at least I got paid for it. We spent a whole hour cleaning our classroom. Our room is very small a and I had cleaned it the Friday before.  It was an interesting work training.  We had a group called power brain that tried to get us moving and tried to get us to think like our kids. It was pretty fun and helped us all destress by doing these silly activities and movements.  It was a good weekend. 

We are both very proud of Chad for getting his Eagle Scout award and for his decisions to choose the right.

Valentines Day 2013

flowers close up

flower, card, and chocolates from Jason and my mom

This year for Valentine's Day I wanted to be different in my gift to Jason. I was searching on pinterest and I found a 14 day Valentine Day gift idea.  It had these cute sayings that went along with a candy bar like: A snickers bar that says I am nuts for you.  It was fun to do it and he enjoyed it.  A sweet family from my work gave us a gift card for Christmas to go to a nice restaurant so for Valentine's Day we went to the restaurant called Sweet Water Tavern.  It was Texas style decorations and had great food.  Luckily since I called ahead we had reservations and were able to walk right in.

We ate really good steak and mashed potatoes that night.  It was very delicious.  We had a good time talking and enjoying each others company.  Jason surprised me with roses and a box of chocolates and a sweet card.  My sweet toddlers had a card exchange and some of them remembered their teachers.  It was so cute.  It was a good day and a good reminder of why I love my awesome husband Jason.

Places where we went to eat, so delicious

Flowers and a heart

Washington Car Show

February 2nd we won half off tickets to the Washington car show here in Washington D.C.  We were pretty excited.  We rode the metro to the convention center and saw some crazy cars.  There was a car announcer lady that told us about a 2014 red sports car that goes from 0 to 60 in four seconds. They only made 500 of them and they just sold the last one. It only cost four hundred thousand dollars. So crazy. Jason and I had a blast at the place. Trying out all the cars and checking them all out.  We took pictures with the Kia Soul rats. All these new cars in one big room was crazy.  

Me and the Kia Rat

Sweet blue hot wheels camaro

Jason and the Kia rat

Sweet silver car

the New Lexus car that they only make 500 of them

 

Feeling so blessed

The design we did for my classroom door for Valentine's

I have been feeling so incredibly blessed and lucky.  My little sister was in a small accident where she slid off the road in Utah on the day they had freezing rain.  It was scary because I was talking to her on the phone, via speaker phone.  It was so nice to know that there were people who were able to step in when I was not near.  Luckily her car was fine, minus being stuck in rocks and had to get towed out.  It is still drivable and she only had a minor headache for a day or so.  I really love my sister and we are so close.  I am so glad that Heavenly Father kept her safe. 

I have also felt so blessed to be able to work with young toddlers.  I work in the toddler class at my preschool. There between the ages of 16 months-24 months. They are so cute.  I have a few "Boyfriends" as the other teachers call them.  There so cute, they get excited when they see me after they wake up from nap.  They all call me Tina since Cristina was too hard.  I enjoy working with these kids. They get so excited when they learn new things and say new words.  It's amazing to me how much they learn each day. Right now they are learning Spanish and they are doing so well. 

Also, most of you know I hurt my back my first week of starting my new job.  I was in physical therapy for three months and it has helped a lot.  I was sent to a orthopedic surgeon and after some x rays they told me nothing was wrong with my spine. So, I still have some pain but nothing like it was at the beginning.  I am so grateful.

Just some random thoughts but I hope you all are blessed as well. 

New Years Eve 2012

New Years Eve we drove down to spend time with Jason's Dad and Laura and his brothers.  We played apples to apples and watched some sports. Apples to Apples was so funny to play with the people we played with.  It was a good night with a fire going all night in the fireplace.  We had good chili and yummy desserts to snack on all night.  I think I over ate that night.

At midnight we watched the ball drop and drank some sparkling cider.  I also was lucky to get my midnight kiss from Jason.  I love a New Year because it is a time to start over.  This year I have decided I want to be more spiritual.  I need to be better at scripture reading and coming closer to my Savior.  Also, I need to be better at working out.  Jason and I wanted to be better at working out.  We did pretty good the first few weeks of January.  Luckily, we have a gym in our apartment complex so we worked out together but then it got really cold. I need to suck it up and go more often.  

I hope everyone has a great 2013 and that this year brings you happiness.

Christmas 2012

Basketball tournament at Richmond Coliseum

Gingerbread house we decorated

This year we spent Christmas with Jason's family.  We went down to spend a few days with them since we both had to work the day after Christmas.  It was a good weekend with family.  We drove down late Friday December 21st to spend time with Jason's dad, Laura, his brothers and Grandma Barber.  We spent some time together and talking.  I always love going to church the Sunday either near or on Christmas Day.  It always has such a sweet spirit.  Saturday we went with Ann to a basketball tournament.  Richmond spiders, George Mason, Virginia and Old Dominon.  It was so fun. We had some intense games and some awesome seats. Sunday night we went to a garden that had all these beautiful Christmas lights up.  It was pretty but super cold. 

On Christmas Eve we went to Grandma and Grandpa Fairholm's house to eat fondue, both with meat and veggies and had a chocolate fountain.  It was delicious.  We always read the scripture story about Jesus and open one gift.  It was nice to spend time with family.  We even brought the family dog, Ace with us.  Christmas morning we opened up gifts.  I got a new coat, watch, sewing machine and sewing things, shoes, some movies, and other great things.  It was a good day.  Since Jason and I are both short I need to learn how to hem our pants so it's cheaper.  Everyone came over for breakfast. It was very delicious too.  French toast, eggs, bacon, cinnamon rolls and juice.  I was so full.

Jason and I got all packed up and packed our car.  Later that afternoon we went back to Jason's grandparents house for Christmas lunch.  We had ham, rolls, funeral potatoes and jello.  It was yummy.  After that Jason and I drove back home so we could be at work the next day.

I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and for the opportunity we have to celebrate his birth.