Christmas this year was a busy one. My Mom and Dad were able to come down and visit us in Rexburg and lucky for us bring some of our Christmas decorations that were in storage. Below is the finished product of our tree with us standing by it and below that was us putting it together (yep, we have a fake tree). Mike thinks its better for the environment to have fake ones :)

I love Christmas! Growing up it was probably one of my favorite holidays, I just loved all of the decorations and the spirit of the season. I remember every year we use to go around and count all of the nativities my mom had-she collects them and has A LOT! Since my dad's stroke we haven't put them all up and I've missed that even though it is understandable since it usually would be an all weekend event and my dad had to help a lot, especially with the outside life size nativity. Anyways, I have started getting nativities as well and loved putting them up along with our Christmas tree.

Here's the start :)

Then we headed off to Texas and on our flight down we were offered 1st class seats since they were full! Can you say lucky? I've never been more lucky than when I married Mike. He's the luckiest guy I know! It was a fun experience, but both Mike and I decided that it certainly wouldn't be worth the extra money we have riding coach.

For Christmas Mike got hockey tickets to one of his favorite teams, the Red Wings. I was able to get a really good deal off ebay and I'm glad I got them. Mike said they were by far the best present I've given him so far. Did you doubt me before about Mike being lucky? Well get this...we arrived early and went down on the floor seats to take some pictures of the team practicing (the picture above). When the game started, no one had come for the seats we were in so we just stayed! We were able to sit there for over half of the game! Right behind the goalie! It was really incredible. Then we went up to our seats and the view was still pretty decent, and it was on the other side of the rink where we were able to see five goals made by the Red Wings! So cool :) I don't know why someone would pay all the money for floor seats and then not show up till half way through the game, but it was a fun experience for us :)

When we got back, Mike got on his own hockey team and loved every minute of it. He did really well too and his team ended up placing second in the end of the semester tournament. His coach helped the guys improve a lot and was a really good player and awesome guy. Mike got to be pretty good friends with him and really enjoyed his team.

This is an awesome shot of Mike going after the puck and almost making a goal. He did make a goal during the season, just not this one, but we both love the action displayed in this pic.

Mike was also able to go skiing with his brother Kevin, Stu and their friend down in Utah. It was a good experience for Mike even if he got extremely sore from it all :)

It was also this winter that we became avid BYU basketball watchers. Jimmer (pictured above) was an incredible player and it was fun having friends over to watch him play. Mike was able to find his autograph (again pictured above) on ebay for really cheap and couldn't pass up buying it. Since then the price has gone up, so we're lucky he got it when he did.

And finally to end our winter semester break, we had the privilege of going down and seeing my sister, Angela, and her family, Moe (husband), Kenya, Naomi, and Micah, be angels in the Savior of the World production their stake put on. They put in a lot of hours for this and it paid off. It was a beautiful production and we're so glad we were able to be close enough to go! Thanks for inviting us! :) Pictured above are the family members able to go. Moe's sister Kristi, Ashley, Mom, Dad, Kenya's friend, Grandma Norine, Jeanine, and Mike and I.

Texas and Park City

We sure did a lot of traveling during the seven week break! But it was all good and fun and I'd do it again in a heart beat. One of the places we were able to go was to Texas! We headed off after the family reunion and then spent about 1 1/2 weeks there. It was a lot of fun and I know that I really appreciated Mike's sisters and brothers putting up with us for so long. It was really nice for me to spend time with them and get to know everyone better. I'm so use to being so close to my family and seeing them frequently that this is quite the change only getting to see the majority of Mike's family a few times every year. But yes...this was a very fun trip where we did lots of stuff...above is a picture of Mike holding Emily and Kate at his feet, at a water park called Slitterbaughn...is that spelled right? I'm trying to remember from my memory which is always a scary and unreliable thing to do! :-/ But anyways, we went there, and also to this HUGE farmers market that was amazing and fun and so delicious! And we had a Phineas and Ferb party were we had ice cream sundaes (we don't have pics of that...sorry) and then we went swimming a lot, and went to play miniature golf and such. It was all just so much fun!

My handsome husband holding a gorgeous girl...one of the few that I'll let him hold other than myself ;)

Me in the swimming pool on pool day with Emily and Ellie...such sweet girls!

Mike with Kate and Emily (Kate's on the left and Emily on the right) watching the trailer for the new Tinker Bell movie that's coming out.

The next set of pictures is when we were able to make it down for a weekend to Park City to see his parents and Kevin and Angela with their family. We went on some nature hikes which is pictured above with me and Kate and below with me and Kate again.

This little stud muffin is Parker who is so cute, but he was so tired on this hike as you'll see later on :)

Mike's Mom and his sister Stephanie! We were so glad Steph could make it up!

Angela with Emily

Mike and I

A picture from the mountain of the place we were staying at.

See what I mean? Parker was out!

Emily and I...please pay more attention to her face...I absolutely love it! That's the only reason I'm including this pic...my face is less than flattering!

Emily Bemily with the bear that was outside of the entrance.

Riding up to ride down the alpine slides. Papa, Katers, and Grandma

Katers and Papa on the coaster.

Emily and Kev.

Stephanie and Mike's Mom coming down.

Aww...we found our way back! This is the place...the fire pit, the bench, where almost a year ago Michael got down on one knee and asked me to be his for all eternity! I'm so glad you did :) It was so good to see everyone over the break! Thanks for letting us visit and letting us into your homes! I'm glad we had the opportunity to do it and can't wait to do it again, much sooner than later I think too! :)

Rachel and Jacob PLUS a Triathlon? CRAZY!! :)

And here we have the infamous Jacob and Rachel. These two are the best of friends being the oldest grandkids and in the same grade. I sure do love them and I know Mike and I enjoyed them coming to visit. I just wish it hadn't been so short or that I had been so busy! I had a lot of Relief Society duties and meetings, and then my triathlon 1st timer meeting, but it was still fun :) Its funny because we were discussing how close we are in age (Rach was born when I was 7, almost eight, and Jacob when I was eight) and that I'm closer in age to these two then I am to their moms, Heidi and Valerie! Crazy! :) Its weird having them grow up...they're both almost 14 now and time has just flown by way too fast. But back to their visit. Above is a picture of us being goofy. Well, no matter what we did to Rach, she still looked normal and good...she can pull of any look! Jacob on the other hand...well you have eyes! He's a goof! :) But such a good sport..thanks for putting up with us Jake.

Gangstas...true blue gangstas

Me trying to be cool...they're succeeding more then me. Well, maybe not Jacob :)

If you're wondering where Mike is, he's taking the Pics...he wasn't in the mood to dress up with us. Though can you blame him? He might've ended up like Jake! ;)

Getting Ice Cream at Maverick...it was pretty disgusting not gonna lie.

Jacob's awkward cone with Rachel's professional cone done by yours truly...Michael.

Us with my cone...Mike didn't want one.

Day two of their visit we went and played laser tag...yea, we totally won! We were playing another team or a group of kids, who got mad at our amazing skills. Above is in the arcade and was this jump rope thing that really addicting!

Michael on the Jump Rope thingy.

Jacob getting mad that he messed up and jumping off. I thought it looked cool. And sorry Rach, for some reason I couldn't find the one we got of you :(

We also did minature golf which was way fun, but you have to watch out for Jacob...he doesn't know how to hit soft! And poor Rachel...haha, well...nevermind ;)

Now on to their last day and also the day of, drum roll please....THE TRIATHLON!! Yep, that's right folks...I did my first triathlon this year in Rexburg, Idaho. Its called The Rush, and I can only tell you its true...you get such a rush while doing it and after thinking about what you accomplished. I only wish I had trained harder...I know I could have done better. But that only means that there will be that much more room for improvement next year right? I can't wait! It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be really. Yea I was tired after, but during there was so much adrenaline and everything that helped me keep going. The hardest part for me was the swimming...I hate to swim and hadn't been practicing much before hand and had forgotten all the techniques of how to swim. By the end I felt like I'd lapped up half the lake and was feeling pretty bogged down. It was also really hard for me to swim straight without any land marks beneath the water or in the sky. I think I swam way more then the half mile that was required from all the zig-zagging. Oh well...better next time!

This is before the race...a stick on tattoo that helped people in the transition areas know that I was a first timer so that they could treat me extra nicely :)

My AMAZING fan club! Their Shirts read, "Go Cammille Reese". Yep, Cammille. Haha, when I saw the shirt I asked, "Umm, honey...do you know how to spell my name?" It was pretty early when they did them though, so I had to let him off the hook. And then he decided it was just to symbolize when I was in the water, shivering, causing the extra "m". :) Oh honey...I love you so much! :)

The beginning...the half mile swim!

Lots of swimmers...

I'm just barely coming outta the water...I'm the one without the wet suit. The water was actually pretty warm. An advantage to having a wet suit, however, would be that it would help me float, something I needed being water logged!

Here I am again...coming out and with my complimentary cap still on.

Stage II...the 14 mile bike ride. If you look really closely you can see my left leg is marked with my number. That took me an awfully long while to scrub off afterwards.

Biking...just got done with the big temple hill and feeling good!

Another bike shot.

Heading into transition III area...

Rachel's sweet rock sign she made for me while they were waiting. You're such a sweet heart! :)

Coming into the track after the 3 mile run.

Crossing the finish line...it was amazing and I'd certainly do it again! I highly recommend it to anyone! You can do it! If I can, you can!

Everybody got a medal. Here's my bright cherry red face showing off mine :)

This was later that same day...I'm sporting the shirt they gave me and am with Rachel in the "tornado simulator". It was kinda cool...kinda messed up my hair though.

And here is Mike and Jacob in it as well....once again, love the face Jake! :) And there you have it...the fun times we had with Jacob and Rachel were awesome and we're so glad you guys were able to make it!