SOCIAL MEDIA

Monday, December 31, 2012

As 2012 Comes to an End

I know I already blogged once today, but here I am once again. I realized earlier as I was about to blog a wrap up about our crazy awesome year that I never blogged about Christmas. Talk about a slacker. Anyways, back to 2012. Like I said crazy awesome.

January--Went ring shopping
February--Got ENGAGED!
March--Engagement pictures, beach trips, sounders games, and roller skating
April-- Tulip Festival
May-- Another semester of school down for me!
June-- Received my endowment in Seattle with all of my loved ones there
July-- Last beach trip as a single woman, bachelorette party, Got MARRIED to Brad for Time and all Eternity, Honeymoon Cruise to the Bahamas
August-- Moved to Washington State, Turned 21! Lots of blackberry picking!
September-- Became an AUNT to the prettiest baby, Fairs, Company Picnic, Camping
October-- Pumpkin Carving, Hike to La Push, First ferry ride
November-- Went to Zoe's blessing, Moved to New York, Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
December-- First REAL Christmas Tree, 29 inches of snow and counting, HOME to Georgia, sledding & snowman, Christmas lights

So much happened this year and I'm not sure how 2013 will top it! We are feeling so blessed this year and so thankful for the life and joy that we have. We are happy and healthy and looking forward to many more years! Can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us! Happy New Year! Can't wait to read about everyone's goals, I know it has been our minds a lot lately as we've been nearing the end of the year! Love fresh new beginnings! 

Our First Christmas

Our first Christmas together as a married couple was very low key. We chose to do all of our first holidays by ourselves so it was just the two of us! On Christmas Eve we Skyped with my family so that we could open each others gifts. My mom did a Christmas Eve themed gift which was so fun. We got phase ten, a gift card to go on a date, the hardest puzzle of our lives, the classic Christmas movies, a book of our wedding pictures, and of course Christmas pajamas! On Christmas eve we put on our Christmas pj's and hopped in the car to go to Lights on the Lake where we sipped on my mom's fabulous hot chocolate and listened to Christmas music while driving through a winter wonderland of lights. Christmas day we woke up to Skype with Brad's family to open the gifts they had gotten us. Tyler {Brad's youngest brother} drew our name this year and we got the new dance central game for kinect, we also got calendars, and ornaments for Brad's collection. After we were done skyping with Brad's family we opened our stockings that we did for each other and then made a big breakfast for Christmas Morning. 

Here are some pictures from the two days!

Hope Everyone Had A Merry Christmas!
Looking forward to 2013
Sunday, December 23, 2012

Dreams of a White Christmas

All the natives here say this is a "mild" winter. However, this is more snow than I have ever seen in my life combined. Growing up in Georgia you just don't get much snow. So while everyone is blowing off these 5 inches to be mild, I feel like a child in the best winter wonderland, and that dream of a white Christmas will finally come true.The neighbors may laugh at us out there playing in the snow but we might as well enjoy it while we have it.

On Saturday we went out to build a snowman, however it was a failed attempt because the snow was to dry to compact. So we went inside to grab our sleds and head for the hills. However on our way out Brad realized he couldn't find his phone. We looked EVERYWHERE. Turns out that phone got dropped in the snow {see ya in the spring little phone}. Luckily for Brad he was due for an upgrade so he got a new phone. I'm telling you that boy is hitting the jackpot of Christmas gifts! 


Today we went to church. We had a great Christmas Program and I absolutely loved Sunday School. We all shared our favorite scripture of the Savior from the Book of Mormon and shared our testimonies of Jesus Christ, for He is the Greatest Gift to us all. What a great reminder it was for us to remember that He is what Christmas is all about. We missed about half of Priesthood and Relief Society due to the fact that we are getting callings next week! We are so thrilled to be getting put to work! After church we came home, ate lunch, changed, and went to go build a snowman because today the snow was in prime condition for snowman building. We had such a blast and our sweet neighbor even offered to take pictures of us together with our snowman! {Hurray for no awkward stretched out arms or self timer!}


Tonight, the eve of Christmas Eve, we are sleeping under our beautiful Christmas Tree! I can't believe we have kept it green and alive for so long. It hasn't even shed yet! Glad Brad did his research so we could pick a good one!

I can't believe Christmas is already here! This year has flown by and we have so much to be grateful for here in the Schmidt household! Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Georgia on my mind

This past weekend I was able to go home to Georgia! I always miss my family so much and always enjoy going home and being around them. It had been 5 months since I was home last and I was definitely home sick so Christmas break came just in time! While I was there Mo actually had the day off so we spent it shopping and having girl time. She also worked so hard on making Brad and I Christmas stockings! I'm so lucky that she loves me and was willing to sew for me! I love how they turned out! {THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MOM!}On Saturday, my family headed to Tybee Island for the day. Our family made it a goal at the beginning of the year to go to the beach every month this year and we had to make sure they could cross the month of December off and achieve their goal! Living away from my family has made me realize how precious my time with my family is, and how blessed I am to have each one of them in my life. I love that each one of us has a role and contributes to our family. I am so thankful that families can be together for eternity, because that means I will never be without my best friends! 

Now for some pictures from the trip:

Tybee Island-Beach Trip

Traditional Gingerbread House


Our cute stockings!


 
Saturday, December 8, 2012

Home Tour

Now that we have finally gotten all settled in our new home I thought I would give y'all a little preview. 

First up the living room. Our last living room was HUGE so our new space has been a little bit of an adjustment for us, and our new one is laid out kind of funny. I love having a fireplace though, it's been nice to have on all the chilly days we have so often here. 


Next up the kitchen and dining area. Probably my favorite part of our new place is that there is wood floor and a dining area within the kitchen. 


Our bedroom and bathroom are pretty much the same as they were before, just different layouts. So if anyone would like pictures of those leave a comment below and I'll edit the post and add them! 

We are absolutely loving our new place and being so close to Brad's work once again. I hope everyone is getting in the Christmas spirit. We have been blasting Christmas music around here and putting up the few Christmas decorations that we have. I love that we used ornaments as part of our reception decor because we get to put them out every year!


We received a beautiful nativity from the cutest family in my parents ward. It is from Kenya and is made of banana leaves, it is very detailed and we absolutely love it! 


I am going back to Georgia next week for 6 days. I am so excited to see my family and spend some time with them. I have missed them so much! Then it's back to my mancub to spend our first Christmas together as a married couple! We are so excited!
Sunday, December 2, 2012

Random Ramblings {Take 3}

I have realized that lately I just blog about random things. I have mixed feelings about this. I am a very Type A personality kind of gal, so I like my order and organization. I would love to have themed posts that release every week on certain days. However, life seems to be full of random thoughts and moments so I feel as though this is the best way to document all of that. So here we go.

We haven't even been living in New York for a month yet but it has been such an incredible change so far. We have already made a couple of new friends from our ward. Speaking of our ward, we absolutely love it. It is small, sweet, and simple. Brad's job here allows him to be home more which makes this wifey happy. Happy wife equals happy life. Our apartment just feels so much more like home here. I am loving having hardwood and tile floors (with radiant heating) and a fireplace (which I'm pretty sure we turn on every day). We have the nicest neighbors here who are so helpful and so kind. Plus we are on the same time zone as our families which makes me super happy.

I absolutely LOVE Christmas. Seriously what's not to love? I have my wonderful mother to thank for my love of Christmas. She does Christmas the best with all her Nativities and themed trees! Brad and I got a real Christmas Tree this year. I have never had one in my life so I am soaking it all in. We had such a great time going to the Christmas Tree farm, picking one out, cutting it down, and setting it up (while listening to Christmas music, of course). I love that we get to incorporate pieces from our reception into our Christmas decorations, we call it our classy Christmas Tree. We are excited to establish our own Christmas traditions this year, plus we will more than likely have a white Christmas since it has already snowed here.   

School is wrapping up for the year for both of us which will give us more time to spend with one another for a little bit. I can't believe we have almost been married for 5 months. Time sure does fly when you're having fun. We are LOVING married life and have such a blast together!

Happy Sunday! I hope everyone has a fabulous week! I will try to post more often to keep everyone updated, I know I've been slacking in this area!