Christmas 2010

The past 3 years we have tried to make it different places to spend Christmas with Adam's family...but it has usually ended up with us or our destination getting snowed in...well we finally made to Colorado this year! And we had so much fun! We got to celebrate Christmas a few days this year. We celebrated our own little Christmas that Monday, we opened each others presents so we didn't have to travel with them. Adam spoiled me like usual...I got a cute new pair of shoes, some clothes and jewelry, Despicable Me (my new fav. movie), and a KITCHEN AID! I was SO excited! I've wanted one since we got married. I got him some clothes, basketball stuff, NBA Jam and a finance game he really wanted.

My parents got us a Wii & Wii Fit...we we are SUPER excited for!

We headed down to Utah after we opened our presents and stayed with my sister Mary. We had a lot of fun there like usual. Our flight flew our early on Wednesday morning, so we had to leave at 4:30 am that morning. Mary works the graveyard shift. So I thought I would keep her company that night...so I ended up not going to sleep at all that night before we left, because we stayed up talking all night. So most of my first day in Denver was sleeping. The next day we were able to go to the temple to do a session, they had a cool nativity set up outside of the temple.

Adam's dad Jim, made us delicious breakfasts most of the morning...here's him and his famous crepes.

Christmas day was a lot of fun at the Gooch's, Adam's mom made him really cool scrapbooks of him growing up and a mission scrapbook, so those were awesome. They got him some clothes, and me my favorite willow tree statue, and a lot of lotion.

One of their traditions they had growing up was Nerf guns in their stocking, and they would just shoot each other all morning. So we got some in our stocking and had a lot of fun...Adam just LOVED shooting his parents all morning.

Sunday night Adam's brother's Aaron and Mike and their families were able to come over for Christmas dinner. It was so fun to see everyone again! We ate, opened more presents, and played games.

Adam reading Aspen a book....

The real life Grizwalts! This is our friend Eric Farmer parent's house...I've heard all about it for years, that his dad goes all out every year...and it's true! He does...it was awesome!! I was amazed when we went there, and while we were there there were a ton of people that were driving by to look at it, it was quite the happening place.Adam's mom lives in Castle Rock...and this is THE castle rock that you can climb. The weather was so nice there all week! It was around the 50's, so one morning we decided to take the kiddo's hiking, and it was so fun, it was such a nice little hike.Adam, Pif, Chad, Troy & James

Grandpa Gooch & Aspen

We went bowling with everyone, very fun! The kids were so cute to watch.The last day there was a King Tut exhibit in Denver, which was very cool. They had a lot of replica's of ancient Egypt things, and a lot of things that were in King Tut's tomb. We had a great vacation, it was really fun to spend it with Adam's family! Now we are just re cooperating from a week of fun.

Salt Lake Get Away

The weekend before Thanksgiving we decided we wanted to get out of Rupert for a little bit. So we had a weekend getaway...to Salt Lake City. It was really fun. We got a hotel right in downtown, like one block from Temple Square, and one block from the Jazz arena. It was the perfect location. We went to a jazz game the first night, and it was funny because we just went a little early and scalped for tickets and we asked the first guy we saw how much his were, so we said cool we'll keep looking around but we'll be back. And after that, he said the f bomb to us like 3 times, he was kind of a tool. But we did end up getting tickets, we were in the very last row. But the game was still fun. It was Jazz vs. Spurs, it's been a while since we've been to a NBA game so we had a good time.

The next morning we walked to the Gateway Mall and did a lot of our Christmas shopping most of the day. That was SO much fun! It's been a while since we've done that too. It's always fun to go shopping and actually buy stuff. The night we had some friends that we worked with in Baltimore that got married, so we went to the wedding and had a good time with everyone that we haven't seen for about a year.

It was such a good weekend. It was quick...but It was good to get away for a little bit.

Thanksgiving

We had a really fun Thanksgiving this year. We just stayed in Rupert and had it with my side of the family. Rachel's & John's family's, my Grandma & Grandpa Fennell, and the normal Rupertites were there. Dinner was AMAZING as always....we ate to much as always, and just had a great time...as always. Later that evening the boys went and played some basketball while the girls watched a chick flick. Then that night we decided we would go out and enjoy some black Friday deals. We have gone every year, we actually kind of enjoy it. This year was a little different. There were 5 of us that went, and we all split up to get what we were all there for, Adam was getting me something so I had to avoid him, and then wait for him to pay for it and come back in to finish our shopping. Well...but that time the lines had formed...and that is bad news! The past years we get what we came for and get out...but not this year--we were in line for almost 3 hours! And it was getting a little irritated towards the end...but we did get some great deals, and that's all that counts. I was horrible with the camera that weekend so this is the only shot we captured, at like 2:00 am....

The next day we went to Megamind as a family. That movie was pretty cute. And then just hung out with the family the rest of the weekend. I just love the holiday's!

Kids Made My Day

So I had to go in the Library and watch a class for a couple of minutes and once I walked in a group of boys run up to me really excitedly and were like "MRS GOOCH!!!! WE FOUND YOUR PICTURE IN A BOOK!!!!" So I was like...I don't think I've ever been in a book, and they were like "Yes you have! But you've changed your name." So interested I had them show me who they thought I was...and this is the pictur they showed me....They were like "SEE THATS YOU!!!...You just changed your name and didn't tell us." So being very flattered I was like, believe me, I wish I was her do you know who that is?? So I told them she won American Idol and now she's a country singer. They didn't believe me, so now everytime they pass my desk they are like "hi country singer." Don't hate it :)

One last story, I was doing my favorite thing for my job....head lice checks...not, and it was a class of kindergarteners and we had them line up outisde of the sick room, and I was checking the first girl and asked her if her head has been itching, so the next girl in line yells out..."MY HEAD DOESN'T ITCH...BUT MY BUTT ALWAYS ITCHES!" Really?? Thanks for that info :) I was trying SO hard not to laugh, hillarious.

Happy Halloween!

So at school on Friday the kids got to dress up, and I figured since I was at an Elementary School I better dress up so when I got asked all day what I was I could have an answer. So we went out on a quest to Wal-Mart to find the cheapest possible costume I could find. Aka cat ears or something simple, well they didn't have any so I bought this little girl bunny outfit which consisted of ears, bow and a little tail. And this is what I looked like....Well we had a parade that day for parents to come and watch their kids walk around, and they just line the halls and fill the school. So the parade was just about to start and there were tons of parents right there by the office. There were two really old ladies that were "whispering" to eachother...very loudly, and they said "Wow! Doesn't she just look like a play boy bunny." Um...rude! A: I work in an Elementary and dressed modestly B: it was a little girls outfit and C: I am definately NOT endowed...and I think that would have a lot to do with it. So thank you, ya old farts for sharing your opinion with EVERY one in the front lobby.

Last week for FHE we had a fun night carving pumpkins. Which I always think is a lot of fun! I think they turned out pretty good :) And to celebrate the Halloween weekend, we went over to our friend's Garrett & Sarah Condie's house and had a really fun party playing games and hanging out. Sportin the sweats :)

3 Years!

We celebrated our 3 year anniversary on Tuesday. We can't believe how fast time has flown! And it's just been 3 FABULOUS years! I have just been SO happy with him! Greatest decision of my life! Can't wait for the years to come. I came home to my favorite flowers...one for each year we've been married. Then we went to dinner at one of our favorite restuarants here. It was a fun anniversary.

Craft Fair

The craft fair went really well. There were TONS of people there! Which was good. It was a little bit of a long day, we were there from 8-6, but it was really fun to spend the weekend with Rachel. Adam was a good sport...since I ditched out on him the whole weekend. I'm just glad it's over for this year :)

Summer is Officially Over

I know that people have come to the realization of this a while ago, but I just didn't want to admit it. But now that the temp has gotten down to freezing...the trees are different colors and the grass is turning ugly brown. I guess that means that it time to hibernate inside for the next 5 months and just be depressed for how quickly summer went by! I always hate this time of the year! Yes...we are definate winter HATERS! We hate being cold. So I thought I would do an 'Ode to Summer' post...about the things that will be missed.

Being outside all the time...fires...camping...walks, the good stuff

Adam Shooting Things...

Catching Birds...
Floating the River...

A litte fishin on the beautiful summer evenings...

Love. My. Job.

So this year I got a new job as the Rupert Elementary Secretary...and I love it!!! It is just the greatest job!! I just love all of the little kids they are just adorable! I've decided that I would just love to be a kindergarten teacher, those little kids are the cutest! But I have decided that if you want to feel great about yourself, work at an Elementary school...kids just seem to always look on the bright side and most the time are positive and nice to you :) No matter where I go in the school I ALWAYS hear how tall I am...especially when I walk down the kindergarten/1st grade hall they honestly cock their head all the way back so they are looking straight up at me and are like "YOU ARE SOOOOO TALL!!!!" And then as I walk away they are all talking about how gigantic I am. One time I walked into a first grade class and a little girl was like

"you are SOOOO tall"
me: "why yes I am"
girl: "is your husband tall??"
me: "yes he is...he is taller than I am"
girl: "WOW!!! He's taller than you!?!? You must have a HUUUUUGE bed!!!"

It's funny there's been a few little boys that will compliment my clothes, like one time this little kindergartener was like "that dress is sooo cuuuuuute! You look so pretty" Aww..that made my day. And here are a few more of my favorite sayings so far...

So there's a rumor going around the school that I was a cheerleader...tons of kids have asked me about it...

girl: (very cute...will probably be a cheerleader some day...was so excited when she asked me) "were you a cheerleader???"
me: no...I played sports
girl: (looking very disappointed) "well you look like you were a cheerleader...I wish you were a cheerleader"

I am also the school nurse, which is fun I like babying the little kiddos. One day a little girl was sick so I was calling her parents...

me: "do you know your phone number"
girl: : "yes"
me: "...ok....what is it?"
girl: "2"
me: "ok..."
girl: "1"
me: : "ok..."
girl: "thats it" (with a huge smile on her face that she knew her phone number)

I also had a little kindergarten boy that peed his pants so he was waiting for his Dad to bring a change of clothes so he was waiting back in the sick room, during lunch time...which is the busy time for the sick room. So as he was sitting there, there were like 3 kids that came in at the time and I was walking the into the sick room, and the little boys face just lit up and he was SO excited and was like "DID YOU GUYS PEE YOUR PANTS TOO?!?!?!?!"

Everyday I laugh at all the cute things that are said and done...never a dull moment.

Lately...

Last weekend was such a ball! We had a girls weekend in Logan at Time out For Women...and it was SO good and SO much fun! Just to give a little taste--Friday night was Sheri Dew as the speaker and the music was by Dylan Bailes, oh my gosh! He was AMAZING! He is Phantom and has been Raoul, in the braodway in New York, he preformed all over the world. And he started out in Les Miserables. He was absolutely fantastic! We loved listening to him. And then Saturday the speakers were Kris Belcher, Deanne Flynn, Wendy Ulrich, & Brad Wilcox, and the music was by Hilary Weeks, and they were just all awesome! If you haven't ever heard of those speakers, just got to Deseret Book, they've written a lot of the books that are sold there :) It was so good and uplifting, the theme was Infinite Hope. We got a hotel that night and that was fun to stay together and play games, and then the next day we hung out at the conference all day and went to lunch at Olive Garden, and it was so much fun. Great weekend.

I just thought I would show this off, I saw a recipe and thought it looked AWESOME, so I tried it...and it was! I was proud of myself :)

Two weekends ago we went to Rexburg, and of course we had fun there. We Stayed with John and Meagan and had a lot of fun with them. And that Saturday we went to Ashton with a couple of our friends and floated the river with them. And we had so much fun! Thats such a pretty float! Adam and I had rafts from Wal-Mart, so we were nice and comfy but the other two just had tire tubes and I felt so bad for them...the water was FREEZING! And towards the end it was cloudy and getting kind of cold outside, but we had fun none the less. We also got to float right by a black bear, it was down in the water drinking and then it turned around and went up the hill. That was pretty cool. We sure miss all of our college buddies.