To all the men who want their wives to have long, luscious hair

The Tradeoff:

*This post, if viewed by any males, will probably disqualify me as a potential dating partner. But heck, nothing is happening in that arena anyway, and they probably need a more realistic view of what it's like to live with women.

sistertime

 Luckily I there were a few days in SLC when I was not sick that Catherine and I got to hang out. Here we are at Temple Square looking at the lights!

 I also took her to SLC's most famous hot chocolate. The store is called "Hatch's Hot Chocolate" and is owned by a couple of "little people." Soooooooo good, hence the glazed look:

 Guess what else we did? We got to go skiing (my FIRST TIME! and Cath's 6th). Considering that I love 20 minutes from 3 of Utah's most famous ski resorts/mountains, I figured I better learn some time. Here we are after dieing through some scary-dangerous hills and loving the easy part that followed thereafter. By the end of the night, I felt like I got more of the hang of how to turn and what it feels like to shift your weight. I can't wait to go again.

 Sarah my roommate took us and (bless her heart) dealt with us at some very difficult points. *roommate brag moment: she does double black diamonds. Yeah, that's my roommate, what up!! I'm cool by default, right? (she's on the left)

 I loved it, apparently:

 Cath and I also went to see "Les Miserables," which I may or may not have cried through. So good.

 And we ate lots and lots of food, including Guru's famous sweet potato fries (mmmm)

 And watched the BYU men's volleyball game (those guys are hotties even if they are nineteen, eww, *no judgment policy)....

I loved having Catherine and her and already feel the void. Thanks to her for paying $850 to come see me and make my holiday wonderful! Family is the best!

Christmas 2012 in Southern Utah

I spent Christmas this year in Moab with my two sisters. 

I loved the bright white snow on the red, red rocks.

Although I pretty much felt like this the entire break (I got hit with viral bronchitis and sinusitis one after the other) and also only wanted to wear these clothes:

 ....my sisters were saints and still put up with me. Bless their hearts, seriously.

Despite the circumstances, I still really enjoyed spending time with my adorable nieces, L & H, and my adorable (but in a grown-up way) sisters.

The break was spent doing lots of fun things, like painting Liesel's nails:

(This is the face she made when I told her to smile for the camera):

I love Angela and Brian's family. Here they are on Christmas Eve. Not quite as picturesque, but probably more true to life. ;)

 Liesel seemed to love (opening gifts) eating the lucky charms out of her stocking on Christmas morning!

We also braved the snowstorm and went on a hike in Moab. !! Although I complained a little (who wants to go hiking when they are sick?), it was beautiful and I loved wearing my stretchy pants and (sister's) puffy out in public.

Here we are at the top of the hike overlooking all of Moab. Although this picture raises all sorts of questions (Why is the bridge of my glasses in the middle of my forehead? My does Anglea look 40 years old? Why is Catherine such a hottie? Why do I look 12?) it's one of those pictures you can't really skip over. 

I love snow. (photo cred: Cathy!)

 Liesel loved her first sledding experience.

However, she did not feel the same about her first snowball fight.

Cathy-poo and I on the hike to Corona Arch!

*Note: random guy is Catherine's "friend" (just in case you thought we picked up a stranger) ;)

Night hike with da sistahs!!

Nice pose, Ang

oh the irony

So one time, Christmas 2012, my sister Catherine flew out to Utah to visit for Christmas.


A few weeks before her arrival, we had a conversation about Christmas and I told her I had just gone to my ward's Christmas party. I had taken lots of fun photobooth pictures with my friends (see previous post!), complete with Santa and elf hats, delighted in a magic show, and socialized. She expressed the concern about how Christmas festivities never provide service activities and how all she wanted was service.

 

 About a week later, I texted Catherine and asked her what she wanted for Christmas. She responded with one word: "Service."

Well, fast forward a few weeks and Catherine has arrived. I am on my death bed with (presumably) viral bronchitis (*note: ALL second grade teacher at my school were sick all Christmas break, cool). I ended up feeling so crappy the few days she was here, that all she could really do was....

SERVE.

Just what she wanted! I couldn't help but laugh at the pathetic irony of it all. Here is a picture of Catherine vacuumming my whole house:

 And of the chicken soup she made me (so tenderhearted!):

 (which we promptly dumped down the toilet - apparently you can't put whole wheat mac & cheese noodles in chicken noodle soup)

 and resumed taking pictures with mustache coasters that I bought for her birthday 

I guess Catherine got her Christmas wish afterall (bless her hide!)

Christmas in SLC

Meet my roommate Sarah. I love her.

Meet some other wardie friends. Love them.

as of late

I love Christmas. It is one of my favorite times of the year - and I love how much I think about Christ and service, helping others and gratitude. This year I will not be in North Carolina for Christmas, but I will be spending it with two of my bestest friends, who also happen to be my sisters, which I am super excited about. Catherine flies in tomorrow. It still has not hit me that Catherine will be HERE visiting me. I'm not going to a lie, I have missed family a lot these past few months as I have transitioned to living in Salt Lake City. There are things I love, love, love about where I live. But one of them is not being far from family, North Carolina, and my wonderful parents. 

Today I made nuskifels (sp?) and it reminded me of home. I also went caroling to Grandpa Hatch and he compared me to my mom and dad - biggest compliment I have ever received. I've been thinking a lot about my parents. They have been some of my biggest supporters during these difficult four months teaching. I have called my dad many-a-time at 7:30 am crying, not knowing how I would make it through another day at work. He always picked up. And I have called my mom many a time, crying about how the things I have struggled with. I am so, so, so grateful for them. 

I digress. One of the things I do love about the Big. Bad. S.L.C. is all of the fun things to do here. 

These are some things I've been up to lately, outside of trying to stay sane at work:

 playing bannanagrams at the train station

having old friends visit

taking the trax

eating Korean food (new fav: bolgogi) 

kimchi, anyone?

 

visiting with more old friends

dying my hair darker

wearing my bangs down for once

going to the famous hot chocolate place owned by midgets who's last name is also Hatch

best dark chocolate drink I've ever had

 eating at one of the other five billion delicious restaurants, like Blue Iguana

 visiting my old boss and co-worker in p-town

 and hangin with jenelise, who I haven't seen in forever

 and going to the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas concert with old friends and new one's

and being inspired by all the good people in the world

and seeing the Christmas lights

and trying not to be angry that my camera is dumb and never focuses (erg)

and realizing that people have bigger problems

and being grateful for the fact that my I will see two of my sisters

so soon...