live nativity

our stake put on a live nativity this last weekend. as we were getting ready to go we put this white jacket on blake and laurel was sure that it was hers. she was telling us 'it's mine, no dad it's mine'. so we had to explain to her that she grew up and got to big for it so she gave it to blake. she responds 'oh, your welcome blakey'. we got a good laugh out of that.

it was really fun to go to. we went last year, but this year laurel really was into in.

the nativity was on the font lawn at church. laurel LOVES church. so she was devastated that we were at the church but i wouldn't let her go into the church. so we had a few tears there for a minute.

there really was something so special about the nativity. laurel was a little nervous but she wanted to go and look at baby Jesus. so we let her go up and i just love the spirit that was there.

santa visit

we went to go see santa last weekend. i thought for sure that laurel would love him, but she was terrified. blake on the other hand was loving him. we got some awesome pictures!

this was the closest laurel would get to him. literally, i didn't know how to handle it because she loves everyone and will talk to anyone she sees. maybe next year we will get a picture with both girls on his lap. but for now i would call that a success.

xo - stephanie

stained glass oranges

i have really been trying to get more festive and come up with decorations that don't cost an arm and a leg. so when i saw on instagram that mama waters, from the home song blog,was making garland out of oranges i knew i had to try it.

and it is so simple! minus the fact i burned them the first day.... haha
directions:
cut oranges in thin slices
dab the slices on paper towel to get rid of extra moisture
place on a cookie sheet and cook at 170 degrees for 5-6 hours
( and maybe set a timer if you are forgetful like me so you don't forget about them and burn them )
when you are done let them cool and tada! beautiful homemade dehydrated oranges! like pretty little stained glass windows.

im a little obsessed with them. and did i mention how amazing my house smelled while they were cooking? now all i have to do it string them together and decorate! and maybe ill try it with some grapefruit too....

xo - stephanie

christmas cards

i love this time of year. fall, when the air get crisp and leaves begin to change. everything about it is just perfect. and along with this time of year are the holidays! which means christmas:) 

i am so excited to share some different christmas card designs that i have been working on! they will be live on etsy this week! we just got some family pictures taken that i am obsessed with! so obviously i had to use them in my designing:) take a look and let me know what you think!

xoxo
s

christmas blessing

for christmas we were so lucky to be able to go back home to idaho. we didn't find out till the week before that we could actually make it work. but we were able to find a super cheap ticket out of vegas. so we flew up christmas morning. my mom and dad knew we were coming but hannah and beth had no idea. so christmas morning my dad faked a phone call for a work emergency telling the girls they had to wait to open presents till we got back. he was actually coming to pick us up! so when we got there, they were so surprised! many tears were shed. it was precious. we had fun opening gifts and then headed over to rhett's house. his mom didn't know we were coming so it was fun to surprise her.

on the first we had the great opportunity of blessing our sweet little L. we did it at rhett's parents house and had so many friends and family there. rhett gave laurel a beautiful blessing. we are so lucky to have this perfect little girl in our lives. 

i actually made laurel's dress. my inspiration came from a blog that i follow that you can see the dress here. my mom helped a little and i am so happy with how it turned out. i wish it would fit me! 

( most of the pictures are on my mom's camera and i didn't get them before we left :/ )

Elise and her family was able to come up from Burley to come L's blessing. I was so glad that they could make it! Elise had a little boy 6 days after L, and before they were born i bought them matching pj's. so we had to take a picture of them together! he is a tank.

and apparently punching your cousin is the way to take pictures. cuties. 

L is usually a super good sleeper, but on the trip it was rough. minus the lack of sleep the trip was wonderful and made it hard to come home. we flew back into vegas on sunday the 4th and on the drive home we got suck in awful, terrible traffic. the 3 hour drive took us 5.5. kill me. but L was a champ and didn't really cry at all. we got lucky with this girl. and the best part was she slept the whole night first night home. our sleeper is back! mostly :)

I feel like since we got home she has grown up so much! she has totally found her lungs. she squeals so loud and talks non-spot. i love it. and she turned 3 months! i don't know where the time has gone, but i sure love spending my days with this precious little girl! some times i just look at her and don't know how i got so lucky to have her. she is so animated and smiles all the time. unless she is tired.... but i just can't believe how wonderful she is. she does crunches all day. is starting to giggle. hates tummy time, but is getting so strong! LOVES showers, like as soon as she knows she is getting in, she is in the best mood ever. but hates putting clothes on after the shower. i feel so blessed. 

it's been a while

You know what is sad?....  Letting so much of my life pass by and not recording any of it. I can't believe that it is already 2014 and in a few short months our time here at BYU-Idaho will be over. Rhett and I will be graduating and headed off to start our new adventure. The closer graduation is getting the more I realize how much I am going to miss this place. I look out the window today at the blizzard and don't think I will ever miss that. But this town, this school will always have a very special place in my heart. 

But before we go I still have hours and hours of homework in front of me. Sweet! Not. But I am excited to see what all I will accomplish this semester. Rhett and I both have a few challenging classes, so the struggle now is just to stay motivated... It's only 4 days in and I am already unmotivated. We will see how this goes I guess! Wish us luck! 

For a little bit of an update....

We finished out the summer in Bear Lake and were so excited to leave the trailer behind and actually be living in an apartment! It was a happy day to move into a place with a real shower. We were sad to see the summer go but glad to be moving on all at the same time! We had such a fun time this summer! 

Then fall semester came along. I was really busy all semester. I was taking really hard classes and had about 4 semester long group project and my senior project. It made for a rough time some days but I survived! 

The semester came and went without to much excitement. We went home for Thanksgiving break. My family ditched us and went to San Diego... Lame. So we stayed with Rhett's family. We had a lot of fun. And of course Rhett and his brothers had to play in the Turkey Bowl. 

After Thanksgiving we tried really hard to finish out the semester strong.... It was tough but we survived! Thank goodness! Christmas break was so wonderful! It was a much needed break. We stayed the first week at Rhett's then spent the second part at my house. It was so fun to spend time with family and get a little break so we would be ready for our LAST semester:) 

That is what is going on in our lives for right now. Nothing to exciting just living the life. But here is to 2014, and I have a feeling it will be the best year yet!